214 THE LAWS OF ANGLING. 



his ground, he may take it damage feasant, but he can neither take it from 

 my person by force, nor break it, but he is a trespasser to me : which 

 seems clear by the case of Reynell and Champernon,* where Reynell 

 brought an action of trespass against Champernon for taking and cutting his 

 nets, the defendant justified for that he was seised in fee of a several fishing, 

 and that the plaintiff with others endeavoured to row upon his water, and 

 with the nets to catch his fish, and that for the safeguard of his fishing 

 he took and cut the nets and oars ; to which plea the plaintiff demurred ; 

 and there it was adjudged by the whole court, that he could not by such 

 colour cut the nets and oars, and judgment was thereupon given for the 

 plaintiff. 



Doubtless our forefathers well considered, that man to man was a wolf, 

 and therefore made good laws to keep us from devouring one another, and 

 amongst the rest a very good statute was made in the three-and-fortieth 

 year of Queen Elizabeth, whereby it is provided, that in personal actions 

 in the Courts at Westminster (being not for land or battery), when it shall 

 appear to the judges (and be so by them signified) that the debt or damages 

 to be recovered amount not to the sum of forty shillings or above, the said 

 judges shall award to the plaintiff no more costs than damages, but less at 

 their discretion. 



And now, with my acknowledgment of the advantage I have had both 

 by your friendship and your book, I wish nothing may ever be that looks 

 like an alteration in the first, nor anything in the last, unless by reason 

 of the useful pleasure of it, you had called it the ARCADIA OF ANGLING, 

 for it deserves that title, and I would deserve the continuance of your 

 friendship. 



* Mich. 7 Car. I. 



