Tlie nuicliBooke of 



conclude and knit up this matter :In Langucdoc withify the province of Marbon^ and i.i (5 

 ^> theierricorieof N^emaufium, there is a ftanding poole or dead water called Laterra, v^?hcrcin 

 men and Dolphins togetherjufe to fil"h :fbr at one certain time of the yeerejsn infinite number 

 of fifhes called Mullets, taking the vantage of the tide when the water doth ebbe, at certain mr^ 

 row weares and palTages with great force breake foorth of thefaid poolt into tlicfea i and by rea- 

 fon of chat violence, no nets canbec fet and pitched againft them (Irong enough to abide and 

 bearc their huge weight, and the ftreame ofthe water together,, if fo be men were not cunning 

 and craftie to wait and efpie their time to lay for them J and to entrap thenu In like manner the 

 Mullctsfor their part^inimediatly make Ipeed'to recover the deepe, which iheydoevery foOne 

 by rcafon chat the ehannell is nearc at hand : and their onely haft is for this, to efeape and pafle 

 that narrow place which affourdeth cpportunitic to the fi(hcrsto jftretchoutand fprcad their |^ 

 nets.Thcfillier-mcn being ware thereot, and all the people befidcs (for the multitude knowing 

 whcnfifhing time iscomejtun thither, andthe [rather for to fee the pleafant Iportjcrie as lowd 

 as ever they can to theDolphins for aidjand c2X\Smo,Simo^\o help to make an end of this their 

 game and paftime of filliing. The Dolphins fbon get the eare of their crie, and know what they 

 would have5andthebetter,iftheNorth-windsblow and carriethefounduntothem :forif itbe 

 a Southcrne wind^ic is later ere the voice bee heard, becaufe it is againft them. Howbeir, be ih^ 

 wind in what corner foever, theDolphins rcfort thither flock-mcale, foonerthan a man would 

 thinke/ortoafTift them in their filliing. And a wondrous pleafant fight it is to behold the fqua^ 

 dronsasitwereof thofcDolphins^ how quickly they take their places and be arraunged in bat- 

 taile ariray even againli the verie mouth of the faid poole, where the Mullets ufe to ihoot into I 

 the fca : to fee (I fay) how from the fea, they oppofe themfclves and fight againft them j & drive 

 the Mullets (once aHrightcd and skared)from thedeepjupon the flielves»Then come the ifirtjers 

 and befet them withnetandtoilejwhicluheybeareupand fortifie wiihflrong forkes : howbeit 

 for all that, the Mullets are lb quickc and nimblejthat a number of them whip ovcr^get awayjsnd 

 cfcape the nets. But the Dolphins then are readie to receive them : who contenting ihemielves 

 for the prefent to kill onlyjmakc foule worke and havocke among them ; and put otf the time of 

 preying and feeding upon, untill they have ended the battaile and atchieved the vidoric . And 

 now the skirmifh is bote, tor the Dolphins perceiving alfo the men at worke, are the more egre 

 and courageous in fight, taking pleafure to bee encloled within the nets, and fo moft valiantly 

 charge upon the Mullets: but for feare leaft the fame lliould give occafion unto theenemies and g 

 provoke tiiem to retire and flie backe \ bctweene the boats, the nets, and the men there fwim- 

 raing, they glide by fo gently and eafily, that it cannot be feene where they gat out. And albeit 

 they take great delight in lcaping,and have the call of itjyet none affaieth to gctforth^but where 

 the nets lie under them: but no Tboner are they out, butprefently a man lliail fee brave paftime 

 betweenethem, as thcyfcufflle and skirmifh as it were under the rampicr. AndlbtheconflicI 

 being ended and all the fifliingfport done, theDolphins fall to fpoile and eat thofe which they 

 killed in the firftlliocke and encounter . But after this fetviceperfourmed, the Dolphins retire: 

 not prefently into the deepe againe, from whence they were called, but ftay untill the morrow, 

 as if they knew verie well that they had fo carried thcmlclves, as that theydelerved a better re- 

 ward than one daies refedion and viduals: and therefore contented they arc not and fatisficd, L 

 iinlelle to their filli they have Ibme fops and crummes of bread given them foaked in wine, and 

 that their bellies full. makcth mention ofthefcmblable manner of fifhing, in thegulfe 



of laflbs : but herein is the difiCrence,for that the Dolphins come of their owne accord without 

 calling J take their part of the bootie at the fifhers hands; and every boat hath a Dolphin atten- 

 ding upon it as a companion^ although it be in the night feafon and at torch hghr. 



Over and befides, the Dolphins have a kind of common- wealth and publick focietieamong 

 themfclves 5 for icGhaLinceduponatime,that a king of Caria had taken a Dolphin, and kept 

 him faft as a prifoner within the harbor : whereupon amightie multitude of other Dolphins re- 

 forted thither, and by certaine figns of forrow and mourning that they madc,evident to be per- 

 ceived and underftoodjfeeraed to crave pardon and mercie for the priibner.-and never gave over fvl, 

 untill the king had given commaundemcnt that he lliould be enlarged and let go, Alfo the little 

 ones are evermore accompanied with fbme one of the bigger fort, as a guide to guard and keep 

 him.To conclude,they have been feen to carrie one of their fellowes when he is deadjintofome 

 placeof fecuritie^thathefhouldnotbedevouredrandiorneof other fea-a^onfters* 

 ' ' Chap, 



