38 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. [part i. 



And if this hold in reason, as I see none to the 

 contrary, then it may be probably concluded, that 

 Moses, who, I told you before, writ the book of Job, 

 and the Prophet Amos, who was a Shepherd, were 

 both Anglers ; for you shall in all the Old Testa- 

 ment find fish-hooks, I think but twice mentioned, 

 namely, by meek Moses the friend of God, and by 

 the humble Prophet Amos. 



Concerning which last, namely, the Prophet Amos, 

 I shall make but this observation, that he that shall 

 read the humble, lowly, plain style of that prophet, 

 and compare it with the high, glorious, eloquent 

 style of the Prophet Isaiah, though they be both 

 equally true, may easily believe Amos to be, not only 

 a shepherd, but a good-natured, plain Fisherman. 

 Which I do the rather believe by comparing the 

 affectionate, loving, lowly, humble, Epistles of St. 

 Peter, St. James, and St. John, whom we know were 

 all Fishers, with the glorious language and high me- 

 taphors of St. Paul, who we may believe was not. 



And for the lawfulness of fishing it may very 

 well be maintained by our Saviour's bidding St. 

 Peter cast his hook into the water and catch a fish, 

 for money to pay tribute to Cesar. And let me tell 

 you, that Angling is of high esteem, and of much 

 use in other nations. He that reads the Voyages of 

 Ferdinand Mendez Pinto, shall find, that there he de- 

 clares to have found a king and several priests 

 a-fishing. 



And he that reads Plutarch, shall find that Angl- 



