364 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. [PART II. 



Pise. Believe me, no : and such as are intimately acquainted 

 with that gentleman, know him to be a man who will not 

 endure to be treated like a stranger. So that his accepta- 

 tion of my poor entertainments, has ever been a pure effect 

 of his own humility and good nature, and nothing else. But, 

 sir, we are now going down the Spittle Hill 1 into the town, 

 and therefore let me importune you suddenly to resolve, 

 and most earnestly not to deny me. 



Viat. In truth, sir, I am so overcome by your bounty, 

 that I find I cannot ; but must render myself wholly to be 

 disposed by you. 



Pise. Why that's heartily and kindly spoken, and I as 

 heartily thank you: and, being you have abandoned yourselt 

 to my conduct, we will only call and drink a glass on horse- 

 back at the Talbot, and away. 



Viat. I attend you. But what pretty river is this, that 

 runs under this stone bridge ? Has it a name ? 



Pise. Yes, 'tis called Henmore, 2 and has in it both trout 

 and grayling ; but you will meet with one or two better 

 anon. And so soon as we are past through the town, I will 

 endeavour, by such discourse as best likes you, to pass away 

 the time till you come to your ill quarters. 



Viat. We can talk of nothing with which I shall be more 

 delighted, than of rivers and angling. 



Pise. Let those be the subjects then. But we are now 

 come to the Talbot. 3 AVhat will you drink, sir, ale or 

 wine ? 



1 "Before entering Ashbourn, we took the old road (to the left of the 

 turnpike) down Spittle Hill, which was discontinued about four years since, 

 for the present improved one. The view from this hill is highly picturesque, 

 the town below, and the hill of Thorpe -cloud, &c., forming the vicinity of 

 Dove Dale, make such a composition as I have seen from the hands of 

 Graspar Poussin." Alexander's Journey, Sept. 9, 1815. 



2 At that time it was commonly so called, because it flowed through 

 Henmoor ; but its proper name is Schoo Brook. See a singular contest 

 regarding the right of fishing in this brook, as reported in Burrows, 2279. 

 Richard Hayne, Esq. of Ashborn v. Uriah Corden, Esq. of Clifton. H. It 

 has now neither trout nor grayling in it, and is a mere ditch of running 

 water, in which the boys of Ashbourn commence their angling career by 

 fishing for minnows. ED. 



3 The Talbot stood in the market-place, and was the first hostelry in the 

 town. About the year 1705, a wing of the building being divided off for 

 a private dwelling, the far-famed inn was reduced to an inferior pot-house ; 



