190 THE COMPLETE ANGLEB. [PART I. 



But if these relations be disbelieved, it is too evident to 



relation was inserted as an article of news in one of the London papers, 

 Jan. 2nd, 1765 : 



Extract of a letter from Littleport. Dec. 17. 



"About ten days ago, a large pike was caught in the river Ouse ; which 

 weighed upwards of twenty-eight pounds, and was sold to a gentleman in 

 the neighbourhood for a guinea. As the cook -maid was gutting the fish, 

 she found, to her great astonishment, a watch with a black ribbon, and 

 two steel seals annexed, in the body of the pike ; the gentleman's butler, upon 

 opening the watch, found the maker's name, Thomas Cranefield, Burnham, 

 Norfolk. Upon a strict inquiry, it appears that the said watch was sold to- 

 a gentleman's servant, who was unfortunately drowned about six weeks 

 ago, in his way to Cambridge, between this place and South-Ferry. The 

 watch is still in the possession of Mr. John Roberts, at the Cross Keys, in 

 Littleport, for the inspection of the public." 



And this in the same paper, the 25th of the same month and year: 



"On Tuesday last, at Lillishall lime-works, near Newport, a pool about 

 nine yards deep, which has not been fished for ages, was let off, by means 

 of a level brought up to drain the works ; when an enormous pike was 

 found : he was drawn out by a rope fastened round his head and gills, 

 amidst hundreds of spectators, in which service a great many men were 

 employed : he weighed upwards of one hundred and seventy pounds and 

 is thought to be the largest ever seen. Some time ago, the clerk of the 

 parish was trolling in the above pool, when his bait was seized by this 

 furious creature, which by a sudden jerk pulled him in, and doubtless 

 would have devoured him also, had he not by wonderful agility and dex- 

 terous swimming, escaped the dreadful jaws of this voracious animal." 



In Dr. Plot's "History of Staffordshire, 1 ' p. 246, are sundry relations of 

 pike of great magnitude ; one, in particular, caught in the Thame, an ell 

 and two inches long. 



The following story, containing further evidence of the voracity of this 

 fish, with the addition of a pleasant circumstance, is in Fuller's "Worthies, 

 Lincolnshire," p. 144: 



"A cub fox, drinking out of the river Arnus in Italy,, had his head 

 seized on by a mighty pike, so that neither could free themselves, but 

 were ingrappled together. In this contest a young man runs into the 

 water, takes them out both alive ; and carrieth them to the Duke of 

 Florence, whose palace was hard by. The porter would not admit him, 

 without promising of sharing his full half in what the duke should give 

 him ; to which he (hopeless, otherwise, of entrance) condescended. The 

 duke, highly affected with the rarity, was about giving him a good reward ; 

 which the other refused, desiring his highness would appoint one of his 

 guard to give him an hundred lashes, that so his porter might have fifty, 

 according to his composition. And here my intelligence leaveth me how 

 much farther the jest was followed." 



Fuller also relates from a book entitled " Vox Piscis," printed in 

 1626 that one Mr. Anderson, a townsman and merchant of Newcastle, 

 talking with a friend on Newcastle bridge, and fingering his ring, let it fall 



