'The Complete Angler. 1 3 



poffibly may have endeavoured to 

 make it more ancient then may well 

 be warranted. Butformy part,I 

 fhall content my felf in tellingyou, 

 That^ng/ingis much more ancient 

 then the incarnation of our Saviour : n . 



T^ 1 i - 1 T-* i A i Cnap.4.2. 



r or both in the Prophet Amos, and 

 before himinJ^whichlaftBook Cha P' 4I - 

 is judged to be written by MofesJ 

 mention is made offijh-hooks, which 

 muft imply Anglers in thofe times. 

 But(myworthyfriend)asl would 

 rather prove my felf to be a Gentle- 

 man, by being learned and humble, 

 valiant and inoffenjive ^ertuous and 

 communicable >\hen by a fondoften- 

 tation of riches, or (wanting thefe 

 Vertues my felf) boaft that thefe 

 were in myAnceftors; [And yet 1 

 confeife, that where a noble and an- 

 cient Defcent and fuch Merits meet 

 inanyman, itisadouble dignilica- 

 tion of that perfon: ] and fo, if this 

 Antiquitie of Angling (which, for 

 my part , I have not forc'd) fhaR. 



like 



