THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 9 



Pisc. Sir, I hope you will not judge my earnestness to be im- 

 patience : and for my simplicity, if by that you mean a harm- 

 lessness, or that simplicity which was usually found in the primitive 

 Christians, who were, as most anglers are, quiet men, and follow- 

 ers of peace ; men that were so simply wise, as not to sell their 

 consciences to buy riches, and with them vexation and a fear to 

 die ; if you mean such simple men as lived in those times when 

 there were fewer lawyers ; when men might have had a lord- 

 ship safely conveyed to them in a piece of parchment no bigger 

 than your hand, though several sheets will not do it safely in 

 this wiser age ; I say, Sir, if you take us anglers to be such 

 simple men as I have spoken of, then myself and those of my 

 profession will be glad to be so understood. But if by simplicity 

 you meant to express a general defect in those that profess and 

 practise the excellent art of angling, I hope in time to disabuse 

 you, and make the contrary appear so evidently, that if you will 

 but have patience to hear me, I shall remove all the anticipations 



alwayes look'd upon Anglers as m.ore patient, and more simple 

 men, then (I fear) I shall finde you to be. 



Fiscal. Sir, I hope you will not judge my earnestnesse to be 

 impatience : and for my svnphcitie, if by that you mean a harm- 

 lesnesse, or that simplicity that was usually found in the Primitive 

 Christians, who were (as most Anglers are) quiet men, and fol- 

 lowed peace ; men that were too wise to sell their consciences to 

 buy riches for vexation, and a fear to die. Men that lived in 

 those times when there were fewer Lawyers ; for then a Lord- 

 ship might have been safely conveyed in a piece of Parchment 

 no bigger then your hand, though several skins are not sufficient 

 to do it in this wiser Age. I say, Sir, if you take us Anglers to 

 be such simple men as 1 have spoken of, then both my self, and 

 those of my profession will be glad to be so understood. But if 

 by simplicitie you meant to expresse any general defect in the 

 understanding of those that professe and practise Anglings I hopa 

 to make it appear to you, that there is so much contrary reason 

 (if you have but the patience to hear it) as may remove all the 

 anticipations that Time or Discourse may have possess'd you 

 with, against that Ancient and laudable Art. 



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