THE LAWS OF ANGLING. 105 



trespass against Champernoon for taking and 

 cutting his nets. The defendant justified, for 

 that he was seized in fee of a several fishing; 

 and that the plaintiff, with others, endeavoured 

 to row upon his water, and with the nets to catch 

 his fish ; and that, for the safeguard of his fishing, 

 he took and cut the nets and oars : to which plea 

 the plaintiff demurred, and then it was adjudged 

 by the whole court, that he could not by such 

 colour cut the nets and oars ; and judgment was 

 thereupon given for the plaintiff. 



Doubtless our forefathers well considered, that 

 man to man was a wolf, and therefore made 

 good laws to keep us from devouring one ano- 

 ther ; and amongst the rest, a very good statute 

 was made in the three-and-fortieth year of Queen 

 Elizabeth, whereby it is provided, that in per- 

 sonal actions in the courts at Westminster (being 

 not for land or battery), when it shall appear to 

 the judges (and be so by them signified), that 

 the debt or damages to be recovered amount not 

 to the sum of forty shillings, or above, the said 

 judges shall award to the plaintiff no more cost 

 than damages, but less, at their discretion. 



And now, with my acknowledgment of the 

 advantage I have had, both by your friendship 



