86 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. PART I. 



Auceps. Sir, I shall by your favour bear you com- 

 pany as far as Theobalds *, and there leave you ; for 

 then I turn up to a friend's house, who mews a Hawk 

 for me, which I now long to see. 



Ven. Sir, we are air so happy as to have a fine, 

 fresh, cool morning, and I hope we shall each be the 

 happier in the other's company. And, Gentlemen, 

 that I may not lose yours, I shall either abate, or amend 

 my pace to enjoy it ; knowing that, as the Italians 

 say, Good company in a journey makes the way to 

 seem the shorter. 



Auc. It may do so, Sir, with the help of good 

 discourse, which, methinks, we may promise from you, 

 that both look and speak so chearfully: and for my 

 part I promise you, as an invitation to it, that I will 

 be as free and open-hearted, as discretion will allow mo 

 to be with strangers. 



Ven. And, Sir, I promise the like. 



Pise. I am right glad to hear your answers ; and, in 

 confidence you speak the truth, I shall put on a bold- 

 ness to ask you, Sir, whether business or pleasure caus- 

 ed you to be so early up, and walk so fast ; for this 

 other gentleman haul declared he is going to see a 

 hawk, that a friend mews for him. 



Ven. Sir, mine is a mixture of both, a little busi- 

 ness and more pleasure ; for I intend this day to do all 

 my business, and then bestow another day or two in 

 hunting the Otter, which a friend that I go to meet, 

 tells me, is much pleasanter than any other chace what- 

 soever ; howsoever I mean to try it ; for to-morrow 

 morning we shall meet a pack of Otter-dogs of noble 

 Mr. Sadler's, upon Amwell-hill, who will be there so 

 early, that they intend to prevent the sun-rising. 



* Theobalds, in the county of Hertford ; a house built by Lord Bur- 

 leigh, and much improved by his son, Robert Earl of Salisbury ; who 

 exchanged it with King James the First for Hatfield. Camdj Brit. 

 HERTFORDSHIRE. See also, Sir A. Weldon's Court and CLar. of King 

 James, 51. 



The park has been converted into farms. The small remains of 

 Theobalds were demolished in 1765 by Mr. Prescott, who leased out the 

 rite of it to a builder, and erected a house for himself, about a mile to the 

 south of it. It is now (1807) the seat of Sir G. W. Preicott, Bart. 



