CHAP. I. THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 15 



it to comprehend all the other elements, and most allow 

 it the chiefest in the mixtion of all living creatures. 



There be that profess to believe that all bodies are 

 made of water, and may be reduced back again to water 

 only : they endeavour to demonstrate it thus : 



Take a willow, or any like speedy growing plant, newly 

 rooted in a box or barrel full of earth, weigh them all to- 

 gether exactly when the tree begins to grow, and then 

 weigh all together after the tree is increased from its first 

 rooting, to weigh an hundred pound weight more than 

 when it was first rooted and weighed ; and you shall find 

 this augment of the tree to be without the diminution of 

 one drachm weight of the earth. Hence they infer this 

 increase of wood to be from water of rain, or from dew, 

 and not to be from any other element. And they affirm, 

 they can reduce this wood back again to water ; and they 

 affirm also, the same may be done in any animal or vege- 

 table. And this I take to be a fair testimony of the excel- 

 lency of my element of water. 



The water is more productive than the earth. Nay, 

 the earth hath no fruitfulness without showers or dews ; 

 for all the herbs, and flowers, and fruit, are produced and 

 thrive by the water; and the very minerals are fed by 

 streams that run under ground, whose natural course 

 carries them to the tops of many high mountains, as we 

 see by several springs breaking forth on the tops of the 

 highest hills; and this is also witnessed by the daily trial 

 and testimony of several miners. 



Nay, the increase of those creatures that are bred and 

 fed in the water, are not only more and more miraculous, 

 but more advantageous to man, not only for the lengthen- 

 ing of his life, but for preventing of sickness ; for it is 

 observed by the most learned physicians, that the casting 

 off of Lent, and other fish-days, which hath not only given 

 the lie to so many learned, pious, wise founders of col- 



