Northern memoirs, calculated for the meridian of Scotland wherein most or all of the cities, citadels, seaports, castles, forts, fortresses, rivers and rivulets are compendiously described : together with choice collections of various discoveries, remarkable observations, theological notions ... : to which is added the contemplative & practical angler ... / writ in the year 1658, but not till now made publick, by Richard Franck ...

A Dedication to the Virtuoso's of the Rod in Great-Britain's Metropolis, the famous City of London.

GENTLEMEN,

I Was somewhat unwilling my Angler should pass the Press, till sedulously examined by some of your Ingenious Society; and the rather, because it's emi∣nently known, that many amongst you are experienced Proficients, in the Mysti∣cal Art and Intrigues of Angling: whose Approbation will indisputably accommo∣date my Design, provided it come time enough, before my Angler encounter the Press. However if it come short, I shall sa∣tisfy my self (as if already confirmed) that you'l please to embarque in these my soli∣tary Examinations of those Rivers and Rivulets in England and Scotland, where the Fields in Winter are paved with Frost; yet are the Meadows in Summer∣time beautified with Greens, and deck'd and adorn'd with redolent Sweets, that perfume the Air, whose delightful Fords are furnished with Trout; and to advance Recreation, the generous Race of Salmon: an entertainment perhaps not every where understood, nor is it by every Angler (I

perswade my self) throughly examined.

But, Gentlemen, I have brought you somewhat else; which for ought I know may prove a friendly Diversion, if you please to inspect this Narrative and Sur∣vey of Scotland, where perhaps you'l meet with such Entertainment, as may not only benefit, but in some measure de∣light you, after your Exercise of fishing for Trout. What then if you step from the Water-side, and contemplate Nature; so raising your Scenes, you'l admire the Creator, in his rare and admirable Crea∣tional Work; there you may see the Ope∣ration of Elements and stellate Influences; there also you may see the curious and va∣rious Amalgamations of Earth into Crista∣line Forms, and Opacous Bodies; and there you may see how the Luminaries are adapted Parents of polite Stones, Me∣tals and Minerals: How Vegetables also protrude and bud up, because impregna∣ted with prolifick Vegetation; and how the Principles naturally operate in Ani∣mals, inspired and animated by the Soul of the World.

We have also considered some Moral Duties, in reference to Men of sober Con∣versation: Nor are we altogether barren of Solitudes, and Divine Contemplation.

The Stars we consider as fiery Objects, and he that made them thus gloriously to shine, made them also to influence and impreg∣nate the Universe: for God through Wis∣dom hung up aloft these bright, shining and globical Bodies, whereby to illumi∣nate this stupendous Creation; and that by reason of their Rapidity and circular Rotation, they impregnate the Earth with prolifick Virtue: and as we see the Stars surround the Earth, the Orbs beyond dis∣pute immure the Stars; but the Heavens encircling both the Orbs and Elements, plainly demonstrate that from the Di∣vinest, every created Individual has both Ends and Means naturally and specifi∣cally appropriated to it self, whereby to make it visible; and Visibility terminates in Time. Which Notion to explain in a philosophical Sense, seems to imply, that both Matter and Form results in their own proper and natural beginning. Know therefore that Corruption is the Child of Putrefaction, and Putrefaction is the Prison and Sepulchre of Death; Death therefore precedes the Resurrection, and the Resur∣rection is the Clavis that opens Eternity.

But, Gentlemen, pray excuse me if I wander too far from the Water-side, to gaze and admire these glorious Metaphors,

the Divine Oracles of him that made them, so not only lose my Opportunity of Angling, but endanger to lose my self in these solitary Meanders; rarely fre∣quented and trod by the Vulgar. Give me leave therefore to retrieve my self, and introduct you into the slender Margin of this my uncultivated Book; and exa∣mine the Volume, if provided any thing may be found there worthy your ingeni∣ous Entertainment, or the general accep∣tation of so splendid a Society, that gives Laws and Rules to all the Anglers in Eng∣land; that accommodates every County with Rods for Diversion, and inriches every River with Hooks and Lines, that circumspectly prescribes Critical Hours for Recreation, and consults both the Mean and Elevation of Angling, where∣by to augment and quicken the Spur of Pleasure. But I'm sorry I can raise my Scenes no higher, to elevate this admira∣ble Piscatorian Science, beyond the Elizium of the Angler's Arcadia. For had I that preeminence of Pen and Fancy, to illu∣strate what the Art of it self deservedly requires, I should impoverish England, nay it may be all Europe, if not all the World, to select Expressions, to express and decipher it's deserved Encomium.

But finding my self unable to accomplish this great Undertaking, I'll silently sit down satisfied, under the Rhapsodies of Contemplation; inviting my Associates so to do, when encountring the Rocks and Rivers for Recreation.

Now, Gentlemen, since Magnetism is so little known among Artists, I less blame the indigency of those that know not how Nature by innare Quality attracts her own Likeness, than other inconside∣rate Rationals, that sport away their time in pursuit of their Lusts. Let the Ang∣ler therefore (if he please) select Con∣templation, and pity such others that are destitute of those heavenly Advantages, till the Strokes of Grace and a pious Ex∣ample or Education, compel them to write Memorandums of the glorious Cre∣ation, in the fair and legible Copy-Book of Wisdom; so imitate Nature in her daily Progress, till ariving at the Super-excellency of practical Christianity, which truly to know, is Wisdom in the Ab∣stract, that transmutes our Nature into Grace, and our Humanity into Divinity. But this you'l alledg is heavenly Trans∣mutation; and so it is beyond the Medi∣ums and Discovery of Art, or the Indi∣cation of Nature (improper therefore to

introduce Undergraduats): It's true, it is so; but what then? can't they omit the thoughts of Elements, to mingle some∣times their Contemplations with things more sublime? Can't they relinquish their Exercise, to converse with heavenly Ob∣jects? This I advise to, and my Book will instruct them.

Now I have given you a Plat-form for Contemplation, which opens the Windows of the Mind to inspectulate (if possible) invisible Objects; but not to darken your sight by gazing too much at the Sun; for the more amiable and illustrious any thing is, the more astonishing is that thing, and ought therefore to be the more admired, consequently desired, before the Methods of Industry, or the lineal Progress of Art. But in as much as Angling is a great part of our Business, let me admonish the more Ingenious Artist to be mindful of Experi∣ence, lest peradventure he slide into the slippery Tract of an Author, so unman him∣self of practical Demonstration. Against which Hypothesis I exhort the Angler, whilst capable to trace the silver Sands, or florid Meadows of Thames and Trent, to consort with Ingenuity amongst Rocks and Meanders, where probably he may meet with his Friend,

Philanthropus.