you shall bear mine to morrow; for my intention is to accompany you a day or two in fishing.

Pisc. Sir, your request is granted, and I shall be right glad, both to exchange such a courtesy, and also to enjoy your company.

VEN. Well, now let's go to your sport of Angling. PISC. Let's be going with all my heart. God keep you all, Gentlemen, and send you meet this day with another Bitch-Otter, and kill her merrily, and all her young ones too.

VEN. Now, Piscator, where will you begin to fish? Pisc. We are not yet come to a likely place, I must walk a mile further yet, before I begin.

VEN. Well then, I pray, as we walk tell me freely, how do you like your lodging and mine Host and the company? Is not mine Host a witty man ?

Pisc. Sir, I will tell you presently what I think of your Host; but first I will tell you, I am glad these Otters were killed, and I am sorry that there are no more Otter-killers: for I know that the want of Otter-killers, and the not keeping the Fence-months for the preservation of fish, will in time prove the destruction of all rivers; and those very few that are left, that make conscience of the laws of the nation, and of keeping days of abstinence, will be forced to eat flesh, or suffer more inconveniences than are yet foreseen.

VEN. Why Sir, what be those that you call the Fence-months?

PISC. Sir, they be principally three, namely, March, April, and May, for these be the usual months that Salmon come out of the Sea to spawn in most fresh rivers, and their fry would about a certain time return back to the salt water, if they were not hindered by wears and unlawful gins, which the greedy fishermen set, and so destroy them by thousands, as they would, being so taught by nature, change the fresh for salt water. He that shall view the wise Statutes made in the 13th of Edward I. and the like in Richard II. may see several provisions made against the destruction of fish: and though I profess no knowledge of the Law, yet I am sure the regulation of these defects might be easily mended. But I remember that a wise friend of mine did usually say, "That which is every body's "business, is no body's business." If it were otherwise, there could not be so many nets and fish that are under the Statute-size, sold daily amongst us, and of which the conservators of the waters should be ashamed.

But above all, the taking fish in Spawning-time, may be said to be against nature; it is like the taking the dam on the nest when she hatches her young: a sin so against nature, that Almighty God hath in the Levitical law made a law against it.

But the poor fish have enemies enough beside such unnatural fishermen, as namely, the Otters that I spake of, the Cormorant, the Bittern, the Osprey, the Sea-gull, the Heron, the King-fisher, the Gorara,

the Puet, the Swan, Goose, Ducks, and the Craber, which some call the Water-rat: against all which any honest man may make a just quarrel, but I will not, I will leave them to be quarrelled with, and killed by others; for I am not of a cruel nature, I love to kill nothing but fish.

:

And now to your question concerning your Host; to speak truly, he is not to me a good companion for most of his conceits were either Scripture-jests, or lascivious jests; for which I count no man witty, for the Devil will help a man that way inclined, to the first: and his own corrupt nature, which he always carries with him, to the latter; but a companion that feasts the company with wit and mirth, and leaves out the sin which is usually mixed with them, he is the man ; and indeed such a companion should have his charges borne, and to such company I hope to bring you this night; for at Trout-hall, not far from this place, where I purpose to lodge to night, there is usually an Angler that proves good company: and let me tell you, good company and good discourse are the very sinews of virtue: but for such discourse as we heard last night, it infects others, the very boys will learn to talk and swear as they heard mine Host, and another of the company that shall be nameless; I am sorry the other is a gentleman, for less Religion will not save their souls than a beggar's; I think more will be required at the last great day. Well, you know what example is able

to do, and I know what the Poet says in the like case, which is worthy to be noted by all parents and people of civility:

Owes to his country his religion:

Many a one

And in another would as strongly grow,

Had but his nurse or mother taught him so.

This is reason put into verse, and worthy the consideration of a wise man. But of this no more, for though I love civility, yet I hate severe censures : I'll to my own art, and I doubt not but at yonder tree I shall catch a Chub, and then we'll turn to an honest cleanly Hostess, that I know right well; rest ourselves there, and dress it for our dinner.

VEN. Oh Sir, a Chub is the worst fish that swims, I hoped for a Trout to my dinner.

PISC. Trust me, Sir, there is not a likely place for a Trout hereabout, and we staid so long to take our leave of your Huntsmen this morning, that the Sun is got so high, and shines so clear, that I will not undertake the catching of a Trout till evening; and though a Chub be by you and many others reckoned the worst of fish, yet you shall see I'll make it a good fish, by dressing it.

VEN. Why, how will you dress him?

PISC. I'll tell you by and by, when I have caught him. Look you here, Sir, do you see? but you must stand very close, there lie upon the top of the water in this very hole twenty Chubs, I'll catch

only one, and that shall be the biggest of them all : and that I will do so, I'll hold you twenty to one, and you shall see it done.

VEN. Ay, marry Sir, now you talk like an artist, and I'll say you are one, when I shall see you perform what you say you can do; but I yet doubt it.

PISC. You shall not doubt it long, for you shall see me do it presently look, the biggest of these Chubs has had some bruise upon his tail, by a Pike or some other accident, and that looks like a white spot; that very Chub I mean to put into your hands presently; sit you but down in the shade, and stay but a little while, and I'll warrant you I'll bring him to you.

VEN. I'll sit down and hope well, because you seem to be so confident.

PISC. Look you Sir, there is a trial of my skill, here he is;

That

very

Chub that I shewed you with the white

spot on his tail: and I'll be as certain to make him