20 THE AXGLER AND HUNTSMAN 



tiquity of it that Seth, one of the sons of Adam, taught 

 it to his sons, and that by them it was derived to posterity ; 

 others say that he left it engraven on those pillars which 

 he erected, and trusted to preserve the knowledge of the 

 mathematics, music, and the rest of that precious knowl- 

 edge and those useful arts, which by God's appointment 

 or allowance and his noble industry were thereby preserv- 

 ed from perishing in Noah's flood. 



These, sir, have been the opinions of several men that 

 have possibly endeavored to make angling more ancient 

 than is needful or may well be warranted; but for my part, 

 I shall content myself in telling you that angling is much 

 more ancient than the Incarnation of our Savior for in the 

 prophet Amos, mention is made of fish-hooks; and in the 

 book of Job, which was long before the days of Amos. 

 for that book is said to be writ by Moses, mention is made 

 also of fish-hooks, which must imply anglers in those times. 



But my worthy friend, as I would rather prove myself 

 a gentleman by being learned and humble, valiant and in- 

 offensive, virtuous and communicable, than by any ford 

 ostentation of riches; or, wanting those virtues myself, 

 boast that these were in my ancestors (and yet I grant 

 that where a noble and ancient descent and such mer- 

 it meet in any man, it is a double dignification of that per- 

 son) : so if this antiquity of angling, which for my part I 

 have not forced, shall, like an ancient family, be either an 

 honor or an ornament to this virtuous art which I profess 

 to love and practice, I shall be the gladder that I made an 

 accidental mention of the antiquity of it, of which I shall 

 say no more, but proceed to that just commendation which 

 I think it deserves. And for that, I shall tell you that in 

 ancient times a debate hath arisen, and it remains yet un- 

 resolved; whether the happiness of man in this world doth 

 consist more in contemplation or action? 



Concerning which, some have endeavored to maintain 

 their opinion of the first, by saying that the nearer we 



