THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 155 



either : yet Camden observes, there is a river in Dorsetshire 

 that abounds with Tenches, but doubtless they retire to the 

 most deep and quiet places in it. 



This fish hath very large fins, very small and smooth scales, 

 a red circle about his eyes, which are big and of a gold colour, 

 and from either angle of his mouth there hangs down a little 

 barb. In every Tench's head there are two little stones which 

 foreign physicians make great use of, but he is not commended 

 for wholesome meat, though there be very much use made of 

 them for outward applications. Rondeletius says, that at his 

 being at Rome, he saw a great cure done by applying a Tench 

 to the feet of a very sick man. This, he says, was done after 

 an unusual manner, by certain Jews. And it is observed that 

 many of those people have many secrets yet unknown to 

 Christians; secrets that have never yet been written, but have 

 been, since the days of their Solomon, who knew the nature 

 of all things, even from the cedar to the shrub, delivered by 

 tradition, from the father to the son, and so from generation 

 to generation, without writing ; or, unless it were casually, 

 without the least communicating them to any other nation or 

 tribe ; for to do that they account a profanation. And, yet, it 

 is thought that they, or some spirit worse than they, first told 

 us that lice swallowed alive were a certain cure for the yellow 

 jaundice. This, and many other medicines, were discovered by 

 them, or by revelation ; for, doubtless, we attained them not by 

 study.* 



Well, this fish, besides his eating, is very useful, both dead 

 and alive, for the good of mankind. But I will meddle no 

 more with that my honest humble art teaches no such bold- 

 ness : there are too many foolish meddlers in physic and 

 divinity that think themselves fit to meddle with hidden secrets, 

 and so bring destruction to their followers. But I'll not 

 meddle with them any farther than to wish them wiser ; and 

 shall tell you next, (for I hope I may be so bold,) that the 

 Tench is the physician of fishes, for the Pike especially ; and 

 that the Pike being either sick or hurt, is cured by the touch of 

 the Tench.f And it is observed that the tyrant Pike will not 

 be a wolf to his physician, but forbears to devour him, though 

 he be never so hungry. 



This fish, that carries a natural balsam in him to cure 

 both himself and others, loves yet to feed in very foul water, 

 and amongst weeds. And yet, I am sure, he eats pleasantly, 

 and, doubtless, you will think so too, if you taste him. And 

 I shall therefore proceed to give you some few, and but a few, 



f This must be quite a fancy. J.R. 



