AN ANGLER, A HUNTER, AND A FALCONER 



VEN. Sir, I am now become so full of expectation, that I 

 long much to have you proceed ; and in the order that you 

 propose. 



Pise. Then first, for the antiquity of Angling, of which I 

 shall not say much, but only this ; some say it is as ancient as 

 Deucalion's flood : others, that Belus, who was the first inventor 

 of godly and virtuous recreations, was the first inventor of 

 Angling: and some others say, for former times have had their 

 disquisitions about the antiquity of it, that Seth, one of the sons 

 of Adam, taught it to his sons, and that by them it was derived 

 to posterity : others say, that he left it engraven on those pillars 

 which he erected, and trusted to preserve the knowledge of the 

 mathematics, music, and the rest of that precious knowledge, 

 and those useful arts which by God's appointment or allowance 

 and his noble industry, were thereby preserved from perishing 

 in Noah's flood. 



These, Sir, have been the opinions of several men, that have 

 possibly endeavoured to make Angling more ancient than is 

 needful, or may well be warranted; but for my part, I shall 

 content myself in telling you, that Angling is much more 

 ancient than the Incarnation of our Saviour : for in the Prophet 

 Amos mention is made of fish-hooks ; and in the Book of Job, 

 which was long before the days of Amos, for that book is said 

 to be writ by Moses, mention is made also of fish-hooks, which 

 must imply Anglers in those times. 



But, my worthy friend, as I would rather prove myself a 

 gentleman by being learned and humble, valiant and inoffensive, 

 virtuous and communicable, than by any fond ostentation of 

 riches, or wanting those virtues myself, boast that these were 

 in my ancestors, and yet I grant that where a noble and 

 ancient descent and such merits meet in any man, it is a double 

 dignification of that person : so if this antiquity of Angling, 

 which for my part I have not forced, shall, like an ancient 

 family, be either an honour or an ornament to this virtuous art 

 which I profess to love and practise, I shall be the gladder that 

 I made an accidental mention of the antiquity of it ; of which I 

 shall say no more, but proceed to that just commendation which 

 I think it deserves. 



And for that I shall tell you, that in ancient times a debate 



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