chap, v.] THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 119 



Or, with my Bryan, and a book, 

 Loiter long days near Shawford-brook ; 

 There sit by him, and eat my meat, 

 There see the sun both me and set : 

 There bid good morning to next day. 

 There meditate my time away : 

 And Angle on, and beg to have 

 A quiet passage to a welcome grave. 



When I had ended this composure, I left this 

 place, and saw a Brother of the Angle sit under that 

 honey-suckle-hedge, one that will prove worth your 

 acquaintance. I sat down by him, and presently 

 we met with an accidental piece of merriment, 

 which I will relate to you ; for it rains still. 



On the other side of this very hedge sat a gang 

 of Gipsies, and near to them sat a gang of Beg- 

 gars. The Gipsies were then to divide all the mo- 

 ney that had been got that week, either by stealing 

 linen or poultry, or by fortune-telling, or legerde- 

 main, or, indeed, by any other sleights and secrets 

 belonging to their mysterious government. And 

 the sum that was got that week proved to be but 

 twenty and some odd shillings. The odd money 

 was agreed to be distributed amongst the poor 

 of their own corporation : and for the remaining 

 twenty shillings, that was to be divided unto four 

 gentlemen-gipsies, according to their several degrees 

 in their commonv/ealth. 



And the first or chiefest Gipsy, was by consent 



