ISO THE COMPLETE ANGLER. PART I. 



But, above all, the taking fish in spawning-time, may 

 be said to be against nature ; it is like the taking the 

 dam on the nest when she hatches her young, a sin so 

 against nature, that Almighty God hath in the Levitical 

 law made a law against it. 



But the poor fish have enemies enough beside such 

 unnatural fishermen ; as -namely, the Otters that I spake 

 of, the Cormorant, the Bittern, the Ospray, the Sea- 

 gull, the Hern, the King-fisher, the Gorara, the Puet, 

 the Swan, Goose, Duck, and the Craber which some call 

 the Water-rat : against all which any honest man 

 may make a just quarrel, but I will not; I will 

 leave them to be quarrelled with, and killed by others ; 

 for I am not of a cruel nature, I love to kill nothing but 

 fish. 



And, now, to your question concerning your host : 

 To speak truly, he is not to me a good companion ; 

 for most of his conceits were either scripture jests, or, 

 lascivious jests, for which I count no man witty ; for 

 the devil will help a man that way inclined, to the 

 first; and his own corrupt nature, which he always 

 carries with him, to the latter. But a companion that 

 feasts the company with wit and mirth, and leaves out 

 the sin which is usually mixed with them, he is the 

 man ; and indeed such a companion should have his 

 charges borne ; and to such company I hope to bring 

 you this night ; for at Trout-hall, not far from this 

 place, where I purpose to lodge to Anight, there is 

 usually an Angler that proves good company. And 

 let me tell you, good company and good discourse are 

 the very sinews of virtue. But for such discourse as 

 we heard last night, it infects others ; the very boys 

 willx learn to talk and swear, as they heard mine host, 

 and another of the company that shall be nameless : 

 I am sorry the other is a gentleman ; for less religion 

 will not save their souls than a beggar's : I think 



dictment was, For an affray, and an assault on a person authorized to seize 

 unstatutable net?; and the sentence of the offender, A year's imprisonment 

 in Newgate. 



