18 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. [part i. 



increased from it's first rooting to weigh an hun- 

 dred pound weight more than when it was first 

 rooted and weighed ; and you shall find this aug- 

 ment of the tree to be without the diminution of 

 one drachm weight of the earth. Hence they infer 

 this increase of wood to be from water of rain, or 

 from dew, and not to be from any other element. 

 And they affirm, they can reduce this wood back 

 again to water ; and they affirm, also, the same may 

 be done in any animal or vegetable. And this I take 

 to be a fair testimony of the excellency of my ele- 

 ment of Water. 



The Water is more productive than the earth. 

 Nay, the earth hath no fruitfulness without showers 

 or dews ; for all the herbs, and flowers, and fruit, 

 are produced and thrive by the water ; and the very 

 minerals are fed by streams that run under-ground, 

 whose natural course carries them to the tops of 

 many high mountains, as we see by several springs 

 breaking forth on the tops of the highest hills ; and 

 this is also witnessed by the daily trial and testi- 

 mony of several miners. 



Nay, the increase of those creatures that are bred 

 and fed in the water, are not only more and more 

 miraculous, but more advantageous to man, not 

 only for the lengthening of his life, but for the pre- 

 venting of sickness ; for 'tis observed by the most 

 learned physicians, that the casting off of Lent and 

 other fish-days, — which hath not only given the lie 

 to so many learned, pious, wise, founders of col- 



