THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 149 



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 rise 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 the 

 place, and saw a brother of the angle sit under 

 that honeysuckle hedge, one that will prove worth 

 your acquaintance. I sat down by him, and pres- 

 ently we met with an accidental piece of merri- 

 ment ; which I will relate to you, for it rains 

 still. 



On the other side of this very hedge sat a gang 

 of gypsies, and near to them sat a gang of beg- 

 gars. The gypsies were then to divide all the 

 money that had been got that week, either by 

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

 legerdemain, 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 gypsies, according to their several de- 

 grees in their commonwealth. 



And the first or chiefest gypsy was by consent 

 to have a third part of the twenty shillings ; which 

 all men know is 6s. Sd. 



