chap, i.] THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 19 



leges, for which we should be ashamed, — hath doubt- 

 less been the chief cause of those many putrid, 

 shaking, intermitting, agues, unto which this nation 

 of our's is now more subject than those wiser coun- 

 tries that feed on herbs, sallads, and plenty of fish ; 

 of which it is observed in story, that the greatest 

 part of the world now do. And it may be fit to 

 remember that Moses, Lev. xi. 9, Dent. xiv. 9, ap- 

 pointed fish to be the chief diet for the best com- 

 mon-wealth that ever yet was. 



And it is observable, not only that there are fish, 

 as namely, the Whale, three times as big as the 

 mighty Elephant ; that is so fierce in battle ; but 

 that the mightiest feasts have been of fish. The 

 Romans in the height of their glory have made fish 

 the mistress of all their entertainments : they have 

 had music to usher in their Sturgeons, Lampreys, 

 and Mullets, which they would purchase at rates 

 rather to be wondered at than believed. He that 

 shall view the writings of Macrobius, or Varro, may 

 be confirmed and informed of this, and of the incre- 

 dible value of their fish and fish-ponds. 



But, Gentlemen, I have almost lost myself, which 

 I confess I may easily do in this philosophical dis- 

 course; I met with most of it very lately, and, I 

 hope, happily, in a conference with a most learned 

 physician, Dr. Wharton, a dear friend ; that loves 

 both me and my art of Angling. But however, I 

 will wade no deeper in these mysterious arguments, 

 but pass to such observations as I can manage with 



