The Gompleat ^Angler 



others endeavoured to row upon bis waters, and witb tbe nets to catch bis ftsb, 

 and tbat for tbe safeguard of bis fishing be took and cut tbe nets and oars : to 

 wbicb plea tbe plaintive demurred ; and tbere was adjudged bg tbe wbole 

 court, tbat be could not bg sucb colour cut tbe nets and oars ; ano judgment 

 was therefore given for tbe plantive. 



Doubtless our forefathers well considered, tbat man to man was a wolf, and 

 therefore made good laws to Keep us from devouring one anotber, and amongst 

 tbe rest a verg good statute was made in tbe tbree and fortieth gear of <aueen 

 Blfsabetb, wberebg it is provided, tbat in personal actions in tbe courts at 

 Westminster (being not for land or batters), when it shall appear to tbe judges 

 (and be so Ug tbem signified), tbat tbe debt or damages to be recovered amount 

 not to tbe sum of fortg shillings or above, the said judges shall award tbe 

 Plantive no more costs than damages, but less at their discretion. 



and now witb mg acknowledgement of tbe advantage 3 have bad both bg 

 gour friendship and gour booh ; 5 wish nothing mag ever be tbat looks like an 

 alteration in tbe first ; nor angtbing in tbe last, unless, bg reason of tbe useful 

 pleasure of it, gou bad called it The Arcadia of Angling; for it deserves 

 tbat title, and 5 would deserve tbe continuance of gour friendship. 



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