CHAP. I. THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 2] 



by God's appointment or allowance, and his noble in- 

 dustry, were thereby preserved from perishing in Noah's 

 flood. 



These, Sir, have been the opinions of several men, 

 that have possibly endeavoured to make angling more 

 ancient than is needful, or may well be warranted ; but 

 for my part, I shall content myself in telling you, that 

 angling is much more ancient than the incarnation of our 

 Saviour ; for in the Prophet Amos, mention is made of 

 fish-hooks; and in the book of Job, (which was long 

 before the days of Amos, for that book is said to have 

 been written by Moses,) mention is made also of fish- 

 hooks, which must imply anglers in those times. 



But, my worthy friend, as I would rather prove 

 myself a gentleman, by being learned and humble, valiant 

 and inoffensive, virtuous and communicable, than by any 

 fond ostentation of riches, or, wanting those virtues my- 

 self, boast that these were in my ancestors ; (and yet I 

 grant, that where a noble and ancient descent and such 

 merit meet in any man, it is a double dignification of 

 that person ;) so if this antiquity of angling, which for my 

 part I have not forced, shall, like an ancient family, be 

 either an honour or an ornament to this virtuous art which 

 I profess to love and practise, I shall be the gladder that I 

 made an accidental mention of the antiquity of it, of 

 which I shall say no more, but proceed to that just com- 

 mendation which I think it deserves. 



And for that, I shall tell you, that in ancient times 

 a debate hath risen, and it remains yet unresolved, 

 whether the happiness of man in this world doth consist 

 more in contemplation or action ? 



Concerning which, some have endeavoured to maintain 

 their opinion of the first ; by saying, that the nearer we 

 mortals come to God by way of imitation, the more 

 happy we are. And they say, that God enjoys himself 



