THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 35- 



And to parallel this cock, there be divers tishes that cast their 

 spawn on flags or stones, and then leave it uncovered, and ex- 

 posed to become a prey, and be devoured by vermin, or other 

 fishes ; but other fishes, as, namely, the barbel, take such care 

 for the preservation of their seed, that, unlike to the cock or the 

 cuckoo, they mutually labor, both the spawner and the melter, 

 to cover their spawn with sand, or watch it, or hide it in some 

 secret place, unfrequented by vermin, or by any fish but them- 

 selves. 



Sir, these examples may, to you and others, seem strange ; but 

 they are testified some by Aristotle, some by Pliny, some by 

 Gesner, and by many others of credit, and are believed and 

 known by divers, both of wisdom and experience, to be a truth ; 

 and indeed are, as I said at the beginning, fit for the contempla- 

 tion of a most serious and a most pious man. And doubtless 

 this made the prophet David say, " They that occupy themselves 

 in deep waters see the wonderful works of God :"* indeed such 

 wonders and pleasures too as the land affords not. 



And that they be fit for the contemplation of the most prudent, 

 and pious, and peaceable men, seems to be testified by the prac- 

 tice of so many devout and contemplative men, as the patriarchs 

 and prophets of old, and of the apostles of our Saviour in our 

 latter times ; of which twelve, we are sure he chose four that 

 were simple fishermen, whom he inspired and sent to publish his 

 blessed will to the Gentiles, and inspired them also with a power 

 to s[)eak all languages, and by their powerful eloquence to beget 

 failh in the unbelieving Jews, and themselves to suffer for that 

 Saviour whom their fore-fathers and they had crucified ; and. in 

 their sufferings, to preach freedom from the incumbrances of the 

 law, and a new way to everlasting life. This was the employ 

 mcnt of these happy fishermen, concerning which choice, some 

 have made these observations. 



First, That he never reproved these for their employment or 

 calling, as he did scribes and the mone}' -changers. And second- 

 ly, he found that the hearts of such men by nature were fitted 

 for contemplation and quietness ; men of mild, and sweet, and 



• Ps. cvii., 23-24. 



