62 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



to her own brood more than doubled, even to such a height 

 that our Saviour, in expressing His love to Jerusalem, 

 Matt, xxiii. 37, quotes her for an example of tender affection; 

 as His Father had done Job for a pattern of patience. 



And to parallel this cock, there be divers fishes that cast 

 their spawn on flags or stones, and then leave it uncovered 

 and exposed to become a prey and be devoured by vermin, 

 cr 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 labour, both the spawner 

 and the melter, to cover the spawn with sand, or watch it, or 

 hide it in some secret place, unfrequented by vermin or any 

 fish but themselves. 12 



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 contemplation 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 practice 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 speak all languages, 



