The gentleman's recreation in four parts, viz. hunting, hawking, fowling, fishing : wherein these generous exercises are largely treated of, and the terms of art for hunting and hawking more amply enlarged than heretofore : whereto is prefixt a large sculpture, giving easie directions for blowing the horn, and other sculptures inserted proper to each recreation : with an abstract at the end of each subject of such laws as relate to the same.

OF FISHING. The Introduction.

ANGLING is an excellent Art, which as it pleads great Anti∣quity, so the knowledge thereof is with much difficulty to be ob∣tained: and indeed it bears some similitude to Poetry in this, that as it is said, Poeta nascitur, non fit, so ought the Piscator or Fish∣er-man to have a natural inclination unto the Art of Angling, or his knowledge therein will be always dull and imperfect; not but that it may be much heightned by practice and experience.

Now he that intends to be his Crafts-master in this harmless Pastime or Recreation, must not onely diligently search and enquire into the mysteries and depths of this Art, but must also be furnished, as aforesaid, with a natural propensity thereunto, attended with observa∣tion and Patience: And having gotten by observa∣tionand practice a competent knowledge, or having

conquer'd the difficulties of Angling, it will then not onely prove pleasant, but profitable, and be like Ver∣tue, a Reward to it self.

Now that I may farther commend this ingenious profession, be pleased to take notice of the Antiquity thereof; some saying it is as ancient as Deucalion's Flood. Some attribute it to the invention of one Be∣lus, the first Author of vertuous Recreations. Others say that Seth left the knowledge of Angling to his posterity ingraven on brazen Pillars with the first Ru∣diments of the Mathematicks, and other useful Arts; by which means they were preserved from perishing in the universal Deluge

Divers are the opinions of men concerning the An∣tiquity of this Art: let it suffice, that certainly it is older than Christ's Incarnation; for both Job and the Prophet Amos make mention of Fish-hooks, and con∣sequently there must be Anglers then in those days

The next thing that offers it self in the commen∣dation of this Art, is the benefit of Contemplation, which is acquired hereby; which is a thing (accor∣ding to the opinion of some learned Cloister'd men) to be preferred before Action, because say they) it makes us mortals the nearer to come to the Crea∣tor by way of imitation; for he is all Contemplation of his own infinite Power Goodness, &c.

But waving this, I cannot let slip the expression of an ingenious Forreiner, who said, That Rivers and the Inhabitants of the watry Element were made for wise men to contemplate, and fools to pass by without conside∣ration. Modesty will not permit me to rank my self in the number of the first; and I shall endeavour to clear my self from the scandal of the last, by giving you a short account of Rivers and their watry Inha∣bitants.

I shall first discourse of Rivers: one whereof I have

read of, scituate in Epirus, which hath a strange double and contrar property; the one is, that it will extin∣guish any Torch that is lighted: and the other is, to light a Torch never lighted before.

The River Silarus in a few hours will (as report saith) convert a Rod into Stone. And I my self know a Lough in Ireland, that in some years will convert Wood into Stone, of which are made the best Hones. Cambden makes mention of a Well near Kerby in Cumberland, that ebbs and flows several times every day.

The same Author makes mention of the River Mole in Surrey, which, running several miles under ground, being opposed by Hills, at last breaks out again so far off, that the Inhabitants thereabout boast (as the Spaniards of the River Ama) that they feed seve∣ral Flocks of Sheep on a green Bridge. There is such another green Bridge in Wales, the River running a great way under ground, and there di••∣emboguing it self into the Sea. Some thereabout report, that they have put a living Goose into the Hole where the Wa∣ter falls, and she hath swum out at the other end; but with no Feathers on her back.

Mr. Thomas May in his History of The Reign of King Henry the Second, relates two strange things from Gri∣caldus Cambrensis, of certain Wells in Ireland. His Words are these:

A Well there is in Munster to be seen, Within whose Waters whosoe're hath been Once drench'd, his Hair streight takes an hoary dye. Another Fountain of quite contrary Effect to that in Ulster Springs; for there Those that have washed once, how old soe're, Shall never after have an hoary Hair.

Another thing, though against Nature, yet for the strangeness of it I cannot choose but relate, and that is of a certain River near Harwood in Bedfordshire, which in the year of our Lord 1399, (a little before the Civil Wars between the Houses of York and Lan∣caster burst forth) of a sudden stood still, and divi∣ded it felf asunder, so that men might pass three miles together on foot down the midst of the Channel, leaving the Waters like a Wall behind them. Speed in his Descript. Bedford.

I shall conclude with two of the strangest Rivers that ever were heard of. The first is a River called Eleusina, which is so merrily disposed, (if you will believe a man of no less Authority than Aristotle) that it will dance to a Fiddle, bubling at the noise of Mu∣sick, and will grow very muddy; but as soon as the Musick ceaseth, it ceaseth its motion, returning to its former calmness and clearness. The other is as won∣derful, and (if you will believe Josephus that learned Jew) it is a River in Judaea, which runs very swisth all the six days of the Week, but resteth on the Se∣venth, which is the Jewish Sabbath.

And now a word or two concerning Fish: Plin∣saith, That Nature's great and wonderful powers more demonstrated in the Sea than on the Land: and this may appear by those numerous and various Crea∣tures which inhabit in and about that Element; which will appear more at large, if you will read their Histo∣ry written either by Rondeletius, Gesner, Johnstonus, or Aldrovandus. The number and the various shapes o•• these Fishes are not more strange, than their different Natures, Inclinations and Actions. Give me leave to speak a little hereof.

There is a Fish called the Cuttle-fish, which w•••• cast a long Gut out of her Throat, with which she a••∣gles: For lying obscurely in the Mud, she perm••••

small Fish to nibble at it, and by that means draws them near her by little and little, till coming within her reach, she leaps upon them and devours them: hence she is called the Sea-Angler.

The Hermit is a Fish that when she grows old will seek out a dead Fish's shell, fit for her purpose, and there dwell secluded from all company, studying no∣thing more than how to defend her self against the injuries of Wind and Weather.

The Sargus is a Fish so lascivious, (as Du-Bartas expresseth it rarely well) that when he cannot find change of Mates enough in the Sea, he will get ashore and Cuckold a Goat.

Goes courting She-Goats on the grassy Shore, Horning their Husbands that had Horns before.

Whereas it is reported that the Mullet is so chast, that when she is deprived of her Mate, she will follow him to the shore and dye.

The Torpedo, or Cramp-fish, is a Fish of so baneful and poysonous a nature, that all other Fish that come within her reach are immediately stupified and with∣out motion, so that they easily become her prey; nay, she will so suddenly convey her Poyson up the Rod and Line of the Angler, when she feels her self entangled, that his Hands and Arms immediately losing their strength, become nummed and senseless.

The Scolopendra hath as rare and strange a way of defending her self from the Anglers subtilty, as any Fish whatever, if we may credit the relation of Du-Bartas, whose words are these:

But if the Scolopendra have suckt in The sowre-sweet morsel with the barbed pin, She hath as rare a Trick to rid her from it; For instantly she all her Guts will vomit; And having clear'd them from the danger, then She fair and softly sups them in again, So that not one of them within her Womb Changeth his Office or his wonted room.

The Remora is a Fish of so strange and secret a pro∣perty (and for that reason is often used for a Meta∣phor) that as the same Du-Bartas saith,

Let all the Winds in one Wind gather them, And (seconded with Neptune's strongest stream) Let all at once blow all their stiffest gales, Aftern a Galley under all her sails; Let her be holpen with an hundred Oars; Each lively handled by five lusty Rowers; The Remora fixing her feeble Horn Into the Tempest-beaten Vessels Stern, Stays her Stone-still.

In the year of our Lord 1180, near Orford in Suf∣folk, there was a Fish taken in the perfect shape of a Man; he was kept by Bartholomew de Glanvile in the Castle of Orford above half a year; but at length, not being carefully looked to, he stole to the Sea, and was never seen after. He never spake, but would eat any Meat that was given him, especially raw Fish, when he had squeezed out the juice: He was often had to Church, but never shewed any sign of Adoration.

Let what is already spoken of Fish suffice, since it will not onely be impertinent to enlarge farther, but

impossible here to give an account of the natures of all Fish: I shall therefore refer you to such Authors who have made it their business to write large Vo∣lumes.

Before I put an end to this Introduction, permit me to insert something in the praise of Fishermen and Fishing.