42 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



other's company. And, gentlemen, that I may not lose yours, 

 I shall either abate or amend my pace to enjoy it, knowing that, 

 as the Italians say, good company in a journey makes the way to 

 seem the shorter. 



Auceps. It may do so, sir, with the help of good discourse, 

 which, methinks, we may promise from you, that both look 

 and speak so cheerfully : and for my part, I promise you, as an 

 invitation to it, that I will be as free and open-hearted as dis- 

 cretion will allow me to be with strangers. 



Venator. And, sir, I promise the like. 



Piscator. I am right glad to hear your answers; and in 

 confidence you speak the truth, I shall put on a boldness to 

 ask you, sir, whether business or pleasure caused you to be 

 so early up, and walk so fast ? for this other gentleman hath 

 declared he is going to see a hawk that a friend mews for him. 



Venator. Sir, mine is a mixture of both, a little business and 

 more pleasure ; for I intend this day to do all my business, and 

 then bestow another day or two in hunting the otter, which a 

 friend that I go to meet tells me is much pleasanter than any- 

 Other chase whatsoever : howsoever, I mean to try it ; for 

 to-morrow morning we shall meet a pack of otter dogs of noble 

 Mr Saddler's,* upon Am well Hill, who will be there so early 

 that they intend to prevent the sun rising. 



Piscator. Sir, my fortune has answered my desires, and my 

 purpose is to bestow a day or two in helping to destroy some 

 of those villainous vermin ; for I hate them perfectly, because 

 they love fish so well, or rather, because they destroy so much ; 

 indeed so much that, in my judgment, all men that keep otter 

 dogs ought to have pensions from the king, to encourage them 

 to destroy the very breed of those base otters, they do so much 

 mischief. 



Venator. But what say you to the foxes of the nation, would 

 not you as willingly have them destroyed ? for doubtless they 

 do as much mischief as otters do. 



Piscator. Oh, sir, if they do it, it is not so much to me and 

 my fraternity, as those base vermin the otters do. 



Auceps. Why, sir, I pray of what fraternity are you, that you 

 are so angry with the poor otters ? 



Piscator. I am, sir, a brother of the angle, and therefore 

 an enemy to the otter : for you are to note, that we anglers 



* Sir Henry Chauncy, in speaking of this gentleman, says, that, " lie 

 delighted much in hawking and hunting, and the pleasures of a country 

 life ; was famous for his noble table, his great hospitality to his neighbours, 

 and his abundant charity to the poor ; and, after he had lived to a groat 

 age, died on the 12th dav of February, lti<>0, without issue; whereupon 

 this manor descended to Walter Lord Aston, the son and heir of Gertrude, 

 his sister." Historical Antiquities of Hertfordshire, p. 2\9. 



