A CONFERENCE BETWIXT 



advantageous to man, not only for the lengthening of his life, 

 but for the preventing of sickness ; for 'tis observed by the most 

 learned physicians, that the casting off of Lent and other fish- 

 days, which hath not only given the lie to so many learned, 

 pious, wise founders of colleges, for which we should be 

 ashamed, hath doubtless been the chief cause of those many 

 putrid, shaking, intermitting agues, unto which this nation of 

 our's is now more subject than those wiser countries that feed 

 on herbs, sallads, and plenty of fish ; of which it is observed in 

 story, that the greatest part of the world now do. And it may 

 be fit to remember that Moses, Lev. xi. 9, Deut. xiv. 9, appointed 

 fish to be the chief diet for the best common-wealth that ever 

 yet was. 



And it is observable, not only that there are fish, as namely, 

 the Whale, three times as big as the mighty Elephant ; that is 

 so fierce in battle ; but that the mightiest feasts have been made 

 of fish. The Romans in the height of their glory have made fish 

 the mistress of all their entertainments ; they have had music to 

 usher in their Sturgeons, Lampreys, and Mullets, which they 

 would purchase at rates rather to be wondered at than believed. 

 He that shall view the writings of Macrobius, or Varro, may be 

 confirmed and informed of this, and of the incredible value of 

 their fish and fish-ponds. 



But, Gentlemen, I have almost lost myself, which I confess 

 I may easily do in this philosophical discourse ; I met with most 

 of it very lately, and, I hope, happily, in a conference with a 

 most learned physician, Dr. Wharton, a dear friend ; that loves 

 both me and my art of Angling. But however, I will wade no 

 deeper in these mysterious arguments, but pass to such obser- 

 vations as I can manage with more pleasure, and less fear of 

 running into error. But I must not yet forsake the waters, by 

 whose help we have so many known advantages. 



And first, to pass by the miraculous cures of our known 

 baths, how advantageous is the sea for our daily traffic ; without 

 which we could not now subsist? How does it not only furnish 

 us with food and physic for the bodies, but with such obser- 

 vations for the mind as ingenious persons would not want? 



How ignorant had we been of the beauty of Florence, of the 

 monuments, urns, and rarities that yet remain in, and near unto 



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