32 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. [part i. 



knew the mind of the Almighty, names ' this element the first in 

 the creation : this is the element upon which the Spirit of God 

 did first move, and is the chief ingredient in the creation : many- 

 philosophers have made 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 together exactly 

 when the tree begins to grow, and then weigh all together after 

 the tree is increased from its first rooting, to weigh a 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 vegetable. And this I take 

 to be a fair testimony of the excellency 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 moun- 

 tains, 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 lengthening of his life, but 

 for the 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 colleges, for which we should be ashamed, hath 

 doubtless been the chief cause of those many putrid, shaking inter- 

 mitting agues, unto which this nation of ours is now more subject, 

 than those wiser countries that feed on herbs, salads, and plenty 

 of fish ; of which it is observed in story, that the greatest part of 



VARIATION. 



7 names this the first in the creation : the element upon which the Spirit of God 

 iid first move, makes water the chief ingredient in the first creation. — ist and zd edit. 



