AUTHORS ON SEA AND RIVER FISHING. 57 



unseasonableness of the weather, the breeding of the stormes, 

 and from what coasts the winds are ever dehvered. 



" Hee should be a good knower of countries, and well used to 

 high wayes, that by taking the readiest pathes to every lake, 

 brook, or river, his journies may be more certaine and lesse 

 wearisome. Hee should have knowledge of proportions of all 

 sorts, whether circular, square, or diametricale, that when hee 

 shall be questioned of his diurnal progresses, he may give a 

 geographical description of the angles and channels of rivers, 

 how they fall from their heads, and what compasses they fetch 

 in their several windings. He must also have the perfect art of 

 numbering, that in the sounding of lakes or rivers, hee may know 

 how many foot or inches each severally contayneth, and by 

 adding, substracting, or multiplying the same, hee may yie'd the 

 reason of every river's swift or slow current. Hee should not be 

 unskillfuU in musick, that whensoever either melancholy, heavi- 

 nesse of his thought, or the perturbation of his owne fancies, 

 stirreth up sadnesse in him, he may remove the same with some 

 godly hymne or an theme, of which David gives him ample 

 examples. 



" Hee must then be full of humble thoughts, not disdaining, 

 when occasion commands, to kneele, lye down, or wet his feet or 

 fingers, as oft as there is any advantage given thereby unto the 

 gaining the end of his labour. Then hee must be strong and 

 valiant, neither to be amazed with stormes nor affrighted with 

 thunder, but to hold them according to their natural causes and 

 the pleasure of the Highest : neither must he like the foxe which 

 preyeth upon lambs, imploy all his labour against the smallest 

 frie, but, like the lyon, that seazeth elephants, thinke the greatest 

 fish which swimmeth a reward little enough for the paines which 

 he endureth. Then must he be prudent, that apprehending the 

 reasons why the fish will not bite, and all other casuall im- 

 pediments which hinder his sport, and knowing the remedies 

 for the same, he may direct his labours to be without trouble- 

 somenesse." 



But here we had better say farewell to Gervase Mark- 

 ham, lest ani^ling readers should feel too proud in con- 



