THE PIKE 



Walton, in fact, having described it as " too good 

 for any but anglers and very honest men." 



In an anonymous work of 1634, entitled "A 

 Strange Metamorphosis of Man," occurs the fol- 

 lowing description of the pike : — 



" The Pike is the Pirate of the Lake, that roves and 

 preyes upon the little fishermen of that Sea, who is so 

 covetous and cruell, that he gives no quarter to any . 

 when he takes his prize hee goes not to the shore to make 

 his market, but greedily devoures it himself; yea, is such 

 a Cormorant, that he will not stay the dressing of it. 

 He is called the Wolfe of the water, but is indeed a 

 monster of Nature ; for the Wolfe spares his kind, but 

 hee will devoure his own Nephewes ere they come to full 

 growth. He is very gallant in Apparell, and seemes to 

 affect to go rather in silver than in gold, wherein he spares 

 for no cost, for his Habit is all layd with silver plate downe 

 to the foot in scollop wise. Hee is a right Man of Warre, 

 and is so slender built, and draws so little Water, as hee 

 will land at pleasure, and take his prey where he list ; no 

 Shallop shall follow where he will lead. The Pikes 

 themselves are the taller Ships, the Pickerels of a middle 

 sort, and the Jacks the Pinnaces amongst them, which 

 are all armed according to their burden. The master or 

 pilot sits at the prore, yet hath he the rudder so at com- 

 mand, that he can winde and turn the Vessell which way 

 he will in the twinkling of an eye. He sets but up lit- 

 tle Sayles, because he would not be discovered who he 

 is, yea, many times no Sail at all, but he trusts to the 



vol. 11. — 4 49 



