contracts her self by taking her Tail as suppos'd in her Teeth then like a well-tempered Spring that suddenly and smartly unbends and flies off even so doth the Salmon with a strange Dexterity mount the Air out of the Water an incredible height But because unprecautioned how to distinguish the Elements and perhaps wanting foresight of this imminent Danger she frequently encounters the boiling Water which no sooner she touches but her Life is snatch'd away by the suffocating Fumes that immediately strangle her and thus the poor Salmon becomes a Prey to the Native when only in the pursuit of Nature's Dictates whose Laws and Rules are circumscrib'd and bounded by the Soveraignty of him that made the Creation Th. This I must needs say is a barbarous Practice but a quick way of Cookery Ar. Such kind of Cookery will serve a Scots Commoner as lives on the Bray and Skirts of the Highlands But we relinquish these pleasant Streams of Errit to patrole the Fields of Cooper in Angus where Scotland's great General the Earl of Leven was born promiscously of obscure Parents In this little Corporation of Cooper in Angus the chief Magistrate is a Bayliff Master sometimes of a Brewster-house where we may refresh our selves before we trample the Sands of Ilay imbellished with Rocks and lofty Trees that shade her shining murmuring Streams and shelter her numerous Sholes of Fish especially towards her Source where you may observe the Shores shine of a golden Colour resembling the glittering Sands of Tagus And the River Dean so fam'd for Pike though unfortunate for Trout gulphs into Ilay near Mighill-bridg Th. What place is this Ar. Old Drumkelbo an ancient supernnuated Castle that adjoins to a certain Moor called Tipprosin which in my Opinion resembles the Stygean Lake rather than the Elizium Fields whose solitary Bounds are large and spacious mossy and boggy full of Pits and horrid Blackness a Resemblance to my fancy of the Courts of Death Now this Tipprofin got its Name from an unfortunate Priest that travelling those unfrequented Tracts accidentally fell into a Mossy Moorish Boggy Pit which sudden Disaster surpriz'd the Priest and the rather because when to see himself plung'd into the Arms of Death without any prospect of timely relief this made the poor Priest unlock the doors of his Lips that like double Diapazons unlock'd the Air sooner than the Ears of the obdurate Native that inhabited the Verge of this solitary Moor. So that by this time finding his Complaints insuccessful only the repetition of his dolorous Cries from reverberating Rocks and Cavities of Earth it stirr'd up a sorrowful Silence in the Priest which at last led him into a profound Contemplation fancying to himself he liv'd now in his Grave and every Object a Caput Mortuum Th. The Priest I perceive was in a very bad Pickle Ar. And so would you had you been in his Case but this Meditation no sooner expires when the Bogs and Moors ecchoe again with such hideous Shouts and dismal Cries from the terrified Priest as if some Evistre or Apparition had presented before him the horrible and terrible Apprehensions of Death but it hapned otherwise and it 's well it did for some Natives and Inhabitants of the Fields in Angus were breaking of Earth and digging for Turf who hearing a Noise and an imperfect Sound as they thought breathing from the Bowels of the Earth it dreadfully startled them at first but after some time deliberating among themselves and resolving if possible to sum up the Cause of these horrible Cries their Ears were a second time assaulted by a fresh supply of miserable Lamentations that sprung from the repeated Complaints of the poor pensive Priest who was almost come to a Period and winding up the Bottoms of his dolorous Howlings Th. But the Priest I hope got relief at last who it may be till then had forgot how to pray Ar. You cannot forbear jerking the Priest who by this time seem'd destitute of all moral Comforts and as little hopes of Relief notwithstanding his breathings forth of a formal Penance lamenting his unfortunate unlucky Mischance that threatned his Exit if no more Priests in Scotland So in a fainting Fit he faintly cries out with an articulate Voice because his Breath began now to expire which certainly had in a very short time extinguished had not the Inhabitants pursued the Ecchoes to that dismal Pit where the Priest lay bogg'd imploring the Deity with Eyes and Hands held up towards Heaven using these and the like Expressions Ex profunditatibus te inclamavi Iehova And though the People understood not his Latin yet their Lenity and common Charity with other requisite Endeavours brought him Relief and hal'd him sorth out of his formidable Confinement Since which remarkable Time to this very Day the Natives and Inhabitants that inhabit thereabouts do call this Moor by the Name of Tipprofin Th. Why then it seems he christned the Moor. Ar. And you seem here to christen the Priest for the Priest gave Name to the Moor of Tipprofin and the Witches if there be such gave name to Pitloil as if Priestcraft and Witchcraft were inseparable Companions Th. What 's amiss now at the Lough of Pitloil Ar. You shall have it when I can come at it and that won't be long first South and by East from these mountanous Elevations we discover two large and spacious Loughs the one of them is called by the Name of Loundy but the other Lough is called Pitloil divided from each other by an Isthmus of Land or the interposition of a small Mountain I frequented them both to fish for Perch because to my Experience the largest in Scotland if twenty Inches and better can be thought a large Perch and having to my Curiosity examined them apart more especially Pitloil I declare it as my Opinion from several Examinations and approved Experiments that both of them super-abound with plenty of Perch which infinitely augments the Angler's Entertainments Nor do the Waters mingle one with another when each of them find a different Passage to discharge themselves into the Streams of Tay. But in this Narrative I thought requisite to inform you that Lundy exceeds by much in plenty though Pitloil to a Miracle exceeds in largeness But Van Helmont tells you in Fol. 684. That in the Lake of Lemane a Trout doth oftentimes ascend unto an hundred pound Weight And the Natives that inhabit this solitary Part of Angus will tell you of Trouts of such vast Dimensions that I dare not report without being suspected so render my self and Relation ridiculous A Trout also was taken in the River at Ware and presented to Charles the First then King of England which Trout was of such a vast Proportion as would seem incredible for me to report which for any Man's satisfaction the Figure of it as yet remains for ought I know at the George-Inn in Ware to convince the Incredulous if any be suspicious A Pike also Van Helmont
after good Success Shall we spread the Water this Morning with our angling Artillery and examine the Fords before we feast our selves Resolve this Morning's Exercise my Benevolence only stand by and furnish me with Directions Ar. Your Motion inclines me to promote the Adventure and the rather because to introduct you into the Anglers Society Hold forth your Hand and grasp this Rod take also this Box and this dubbing Bag of Flies and select a Choice The Complextion of the Water must also be considered and Depths and Shallows are necessary Observations But above all mind carefully the Clifts of those craggy Rocks from whence you must expect the head of your Game if you angle for Trout And be circumspect and cautious when and how you strike lest peradventure Passion provoke your Discretion so indanger the loss of what you labour for Th. These are Soveraign Admonitions Ar. Mind therefore your Directions and fish like an Artist for here if your Line but reach the Water you raise a Trout or it may be a Salmon Where note if you be indigent of this generous Art and unskilful to manage so eminent an Encounter perchance you 'l sacrifice your Labours to loss so in conclusion lose your Reputation Th. I shall be mindful of that Ar. Then direct your Eye to those bubbling Streams at whose murmuring Descents are most profound Deeps But then again there 's Cataracts and falls of Water from whose fair Invitations neither doubt nor despair of Incomparable Entertainments That 's the Sirenes Seat of Trophies where Trouts tumble up and down for Diversion don't you see them pick and cast themselves on the Surface of the Streams amongst those knotty stumpy Rocks almost drown'd in Water Lay but your Line in at the tail of that Stream where it 's sheltred with craggy rocky Stones and manage your Game with Art and Discretion I 'le uphold you sport enough but be circumspect be sure and look well to your Line lest peradventure your Tackle be torn to pieces Th. Doubt not of my Care and Circumspection Ar. Then take your Lot and cast in your Line and flourish your Fly for it 's dub'd with Bears Hair and the Point of your Hook it 's so snug and so sharp that as it ought it must always hang downward Moreover it 's proportioned of an excellent Compass wing'd also with the dapple Feather of a Teal a dangerous Novel to invite a desperate Fish and sutable to the Day and Season in regard it 's bright Th. Why thus to capitulate let us in amongst them Ar. Two words to a Bargain be better advised Th. It 's past that now and I 'm past my Senses to feel such Trepidations on a sudden invade me What 's the matter with me that I 'm thus out of Order Ar. I perceive you disordred but not much deliciated Th. If I were it 's folly to complain when past all hope to expect redress Ar. How know you that Th. I know you won't tell me what it is that tugs thus Ar. It may be a Trout or it may be a Salmon Th. Or it may be both for ought I know for it 's almost impossible that one single Fish should raise the Water to such Eruptions Ar. And impossible for you I perceive to reclaim him Th. Do but resolve me what it is and then I 'le resolve my self what to do Ar. Make your own choice what would you have it Th. I would have it a Fish Ar. So it is and it may be a Fish of the largest size therefore look well about you Th. I may look which way I will and despair at last what makes the Water swell with Ebullitions Ar. Nothing I suppose but a change of Elements the Fish has no mind to come a Shore Th. And I have as little inclination to go to fetch him Ar. Then were your Hazards equal and hitherto as I apprehend you have much the Odds. Th. Odd or Even I know not how to manage him Ar. Would you put a force upon Neptune to compel his Subjects a Shore Th. Had I Skill enough I would certainly do it Ar. So I perceive but you 'r almost now at a stand Pull Th. On the other hand he strives to pull all in pieces which he will certainly do if I do not reclaim him But where is he now Ar. Gone to the bottom it may be Th. And it may be I begin to smell the Plot he courts the Deeps for Self-security Ar. Then you fancy the Streams won't protect him because there 's no Plot in them Th. Plots for the most part you know lie deepest so he sinks to the Bottom for Self-preservation and creeps to Death as if of old Acquaintance Ar. Rash Results reap Repentance mistake not your self by dooming his Death he 's but slipt to the Bottom to recruit himself and indenture with Stones to oblige their Protection Th. What must we have now another Vagary Is my Scaly Companion surrounded and compounded of nothing but Frolicks which for ought I know may cost him his Life if he is not mindful to look to his Hitts Ar. And you must be advised to look well to yours for he 'l not come a Shore to beg his Life Stand fast therefore and call to mind your former Rudiments for trust me I shall give you no other Supply than some friendly Admonishments to reconcile you together Th. What no Directions nor any farther Instructions Ar. If two to one be odds at Football and against the Rules and Law of fair Play the very Thoughts on 't would make me blush and appear shamefac'd if but to think two Anglers should at once consult together to encounter one Fish Th. Then I 'le fight him my self and run my own Destiny See where he comes tumbling and tossing and volting himself in the stiffest Streams Can no Element contain his active Violence Will he twist his Tail to cut my Line for an Experiment But this kind of cunning may perchance defeat him he may prick his Chaps and yet miss my Bait. Ar. And you may miss him that won't stand upon a Trifle Th. A Trifle did you say I 'le trifle him no longer Ha Boys he 's gone again Ar. I suppose he 's gone where you can't come at him and that 's to the Bottom for another Insurrection Th. So it appears for he 's invisible in a Moment This is a kind of Hocus pocus Surely I fancy he has out liv'd his Time Ar. Flatter not your self with that fly-blown Opinion for I 'm apt to perswade my self he 'l live beyond the Art of your Exercise this I know and perceive by his working that if you work not wisely he 'l work a Reprieve Th. Then I 'le work with him and trifle him a Shore to examine the Point and exchange of Elements I see he 's convulst by fluttering his Fins and I 'm sure he 's half dead by rigling his Tail nay more than that he lies still without Motion And are
dead when calling to mind my former fatal Precipitancy that invited me to a Loss and so may this Adventure prove if I look not well about me to land and strand him on that Shelf of Sand where I resolve with my Rod to survey his Dimensions Then have at All or it may be Nothing however it succeeds well for I 'me insured of a Victory Welcome a Shore my languishing Combitant if only to entertain our Friend Arnoldus I am fast again or have hold of another Fish but I 'le undermine his Design by an old Stratagem for now I have got the way of catching them I only want the knack of Cookery to dress them The Exercise of Angling obliges me to love the Art and I see it 's good to hearken to Counsel for had I neglected that I had run retrograde to Reason so lost my Reward But this Fish I fancy is not so resolute as the former this yields himself Captive upon slight Summons so dies by the Law and Force of Artillery My Hook I perceive has divested him of Power and I shall deny him Capitulation for Life who must also change Elements with his late Predecessor or I 'le lose all I have to compass my Design I fancy I have hold of another Fish if so I shall want Arguments to express the Sweets of this Exercise and the Pleasure of Solitudes to the Contemplative Angler By this you may perceive it 's necessarily requisite at all times especially upon Emergencies to hearken to Counsel for indisputably had I pursued irregular Measures and slighted Arnoldus his solid Instructions so followed the Dictates of my former Resolution of making Fish fly all had flown in pieces And how fondly then had I betrayed my own Folly by exposing my self and my Reputation to a loss On the contrary I can triumph and say all is well and tell what Execution my Minews have done that my Rod and Line and Swivel's secure Where note I think now to pack up my Impliments and hasten to the Place we formerly agreed upon approving it necessary in all Societies to observe the Punctilio's of Promise among Friends Another thing secretly affects me and that is to think what an Artist Arnoldus will extol me Aquil. This is the Place and the prefix'd Time of Agreement is at hand yet on these glittering Sands there 's no Tract to trace the impress of the Feet of Arnoldus or Theophilus Surely Angling's all Charms to break the Links of the golden Chain of Promise But whither will these rash Presumptions hurry me what to suspect Friendship the Diadem and Darling of Human Society Yonder he advances to the Place appointed I 'le step and salute him and make a Present of my fortunate Successes These are the Toils and the Fruits of my Labour which I freely dedicate to our Friend Arnoldus Ar. Where kill'd you these Trouts With what Artifice did you surprize them Aquil. With nothing but a Minew some call it Penk Ar. I understand your meaning but where did you Fish Aquil. In those purling Streams at the foot of that Rock Ar. I should have thought it impossible did not these Evidences convince me that so small a Rivulet should lodg and harbour so large a Fish Here 's a Salmon Aquilla that I but newly tickled to Death with a Fly accept my adventure I have another for Theophilus when he comes up with us Aquil. He is yonder I see him coming and could heartily wish he had seen but the Death of this brace of Salmon to put a zealous spur to his Exercise Ar. Besides these Salmon I have two brace of Trouts that would make a Cockney's Teeth stand a Water and spring a Leek for no other purpose than to tap his Mouth Aquil. Our Fortunes are unequal the Garland is yours and never may it wither from your Heroick Brow Now we shall see what improvement Theophilus has made in this Piscatorian Negotiation Yonder he comes let us hasten to meet him Ar. Welcome Theophilus are our Fortunes equal What Phenomena of Pleasures spring from solitary Rocks How fancy you this inoffensive Life to sit in the Sun-shine then remove into Shades near the Brinks of bubling murmuring Rivulets that sigh a pleasant silent softness whilst the Birds harmoniously deliciat the Air and Fish in frolicks dance Coranto's to the Angler whilst Man Lord of the Creation is captivated with Divine Contemplation fancying to himself a kind of an Elizium representing the shady Fragrancies of Paradise Th. O Arnoldus I was certainly enamoured to see how the shady Trees hung dangling about me whilst the murmuring Streams through the Lungs of Zephyrus made Musick to my Fancy tho not to the pitch of the melodious Philomel and the Chorus of Birds that beat the Air with their mellifluous Quires which springs fresh thoughts of the Non-age of Time when the Constitution of the Creation was a composition of Harmony Ar. But the luxurious Angler admires another Consort He loves no Musick but the twang of the Line nor any Sound save the Ecchoes of the Water no Rest nor Pause but impatient till they bite no Flats nor Sharps but solitary Pools and rapid Streams no Beats nor Shakes but strugling and strangling and in short no close except that of the Panier So that I may properly call his Harmony their Haltering Th. Just such Success I had for Art was useless to catch such Fish as careless of their Lives they cast them away Look here Arnoldus I have brought my Evidences this Brace I caught and this catch'd me Ar. Here 's sutable Diversion our Exercise has equaliz'd the Ballance of Success Not an Artist amongst us barren of Sport Aquil. Nor the Water out of temper if it hold so to Morrow we may flatter our selves the Town 's our own Ar. It may be so if all hits right What two Sundays in one Week Don't you observe it rain already However let us trace these glittering Sands to those solitary Fields that direct to Dumbarton we have spent the time to sufficient Advantage had there been nothing more in it than initiating Theophilus whom I perswade my self will consult the Art and manifestly in time approve himself Eminent Th. Come Gentlemen Piscatorians and Vertuoso's of the Rod Dumbarton begins to present unto us where like Heros we may triumph because from these Fords to carry off such Trophies as will evidence for us the Remarks of Spoil and where the Inhabitants must be indigent of Civility if not civilly to treat us whilst we commode them with the choicest Treasures of Loemon What think you Gentlemen your Opinion on the Measures I have taken Aquil. I approve on 't very well Ar. So do I. But first if you please let us enter their Ports and examine the Distinction betwixt Diet and Disease As also we may consult if their Beds are burdensome after Exercise which I desire to experience and the rather in regard as I perceive by those Signals the sprinkling
Dews to moisten the florid marly Banks and tinged as you may see with a Rubido they strike a vivid Tincture into the flourishing Streams and thus the Complexion of the Water was changed once upon a Time when I fished those Streams where the Trouts to divert me and augment my Entertainment came ashore to court me and courteous beyond curiosity laid their Lives in my Hand Th. Then they gave you handsel I perceive but this is some Aenigma pray explain it Ar. It 's no more an Aenigma than a Trout is a Trout for you must suppose him an active Fish who no sooner finds himself intangled but he plunges and breaks the Surface of the Streams thinking thereby to disintangle himself and reprieve himself from the danger of Death that already has laid an Arrest upon him Thus by picking and casting he casts his Life away so swims ashore to hear the Angler's Doom in whose Breast lies the Sentence of Life and Death On a certain solitary and gloomy Day the Face of the Firmament was sullied with Clouds that roll'd to and fro but did not melt I remember I armed with a glittering Fly the Body composed of red twisted Silk intermingled with Silver and an Eye of Gold the Water in temper as you now observe it but the wing of my Fly was the dapple Feather of a Teal the Day as prenoted promiscuous and gloomy and the Clouds as I told you stained with blackness but no noise of Thunder disturb'd the Air nor was there any Symptom or appearance of Rain save only some sprinkling scattering Drops that trickled down the marly Banks and moistned the Cheeks of the craggy Rocks so amalgamizing the mollified Earth with Water to my Observation invited the Fish from their Habitations insomuch that the Streams were not Charms strong enough to contain them for in Frolicks as I apprehended they made haste to meet me and that was as much as to complement Death but the Landing I confess was difficult enough by reason of Distance and the hazardous Passages I frequently encountred because of Rocks which with difficulty I evaded But that I need not recount when only designing to recite the executive Part of Angling in order to which my ensuing Discourse will instruct you in the Art and in the mystical Intrigues of the Angler also Th. Ingenious Instructions will signalize the Art easy and impregnate the Artist Let the Luxurious furfieit with the Sins of the Age I 'le trace the Angler's Footsteps and pursue this inoffensive Life and silver Streams to propagate and cultivate the Art so compleat my self an Artist in this mystical Artillery for I can raise my Ambition no higher than the Device Fashion and Form of Flies with Advice also for their management together with seasonable Time and Use. Ar. That was my Intention had you never mentioned it but were it to another I should rather refer him to our modern Assertors For indeed the frequent exercise of Fly-fishing though painful yet it 's delightful more especially when managed by the Methods of Art and the practical Rules and Mediums of Artists But the Ground-bait was of old the general Practice and beyond dispute brought considerable Profit which hapned in those Days when the Curiosity of Fly-fishing was intricate and unpracticable However Isaac Walton late Author of the Compleat Angler has imposed upon the World this monthly Novelty which he understood not himself but stuffs his Book with Morals from Dubravius and others not giving us one Precedent of his own practical Experiments except otherwise where he prefers the Trencher before the Troling-rod who lays the stress of his Arguments upon other Mens Observations wherewith he stuffs his indigested Octavo so brings himself under the Angler's Censure and the common Calamity of a Plagiary to be pitied poor Man for his loss of Time in scribling and transcribing other Mens Notions These are the Drones that rob the Hive yet flatter the Bees they bring them Honey Th. I remember the Book but you inculcate his Erratas however it may pass Muster among common Mudlers Ar. No I think not for I remember in Stafford I urged his own Argument upon him that Pickerel weed of it self breeds Pickerel Which Question was no sooner stated but he transmits himself to his Authority viz. Gesner Dubravius and Androvanus Which I readily opposed and offered my reasons to prove the contrary asserting that Pickerels have been fished out of Pools and Ponds where that Weed for ought I knew never grew since the Nonage of Time nor Pickerel ever known to have shed their Spawn there This I propounded from a rational Conjecture of the Heronshaw who to commode her self with the Fry of Fish because in a great measure part of her Maintenance probably might lap some Spawn about her Legs in regard adhering to the Segs and Bull-rushes near the Shallows where the Fish shed their Spawn as my self and others without curiosity have observed And this slimy Substance adhering to her Legs c. and she mounting the Air for another Station in probability mounts with her Where note the next Pond she happily arrives at possibly she may leave the Spawn behind her which my Compleat Angler no sooner deliberated but drop'd his Argument and leaves Gesner to defend it so huff'd away which rendred him rather a formal Opinionist than a reform'd and practical Artist because to celebrate such antiquated Records whereby to maintain such an improbable Assertion Th. This was to the Point I confess pray go on Ar. In his Book intituled the Compleat Angler you may read there of various and diversified Colours as also the Forms and Proportions of Flies Where poor Man he perplexes himself to rally and scrape together such a parcel of Fragments which he fancies Arguments convincing enough to instruct the Adult and Minority of Youth into the slender Margin of his uncultivated Art never made practicable by himself I 'm convinc'd Where note the true Character of an industrious Angler more deservedly falls upon Merril and Faulkner or rather upon Isaac Owldham a Man that fish'd Salmon but with three Hairs at Hook whose Collections and Experiments were lost with himself Th. That was pity Ar. So it was but to thee Theophilus so well improved if Salmon or Trout be your Recreation remember always to carry your Dubbing-Bag about you wherein there ought to be Silks of all sorts Threads Thrums Moccado-ends and Cruels of all sizes and variety of Colours diversified and stained Wool with Dogs and Bears Hair besides twisted fine Threads of Gold and Silver with Feathers from the Capon Partridg Peacock Pheasant Mallard Smith Teal Snite Parrot Heronshaw Paraketta Bittern Hobby Phlimingo or Indian-flush but the Mockaw without exception gives flames of Life to the Hackle Thus arm'd at all Points with Rods Rush-grown Hooks well temper'd and Lines well tapered you may practise where you please in any River in Scotland provided always the Season be sutable And forget not be sure
bright and almost transparent for that end I counsel and advise the Angler when designing to approach the Deeps for Diversion that he take some always with him to heighten his Exercise or influence and inamour his Game It is not so difficult to put some in a Box made of Wood called Lignum Vitae perforated with Holes besmearing or anointing it over first with the Chymical Oil of Bays Sulphur Barbadoes Tar Ivy Cornu-Cervi or indeed almost any other Oil that has but a strong and foetid Empyruma will serve well enough where the Oil of Oesprey is generally wanting With these requisite Circumstantials we approach the Deeps and the strongest Descents and Falls in the stiffest Streams the like we do in Eddies and turns in back-Waters for the Salmon you must know loves a solitary Shade Arm well be sure and fish as fine as you can Isaac Owldam used to fish with but three Hairs at Hook and forget not the Swivel as above precautioned and the running Line be sure you remember Stand close I advise you and keep your distance especially when approaching the rapid Fords because there for the most part the Streams run clear and you with design come on purpose to destroy him as it 's probable you may provided your Art Skill and Ingenuity do but serve to manage so eminent an Encounter Now give me leave but to step from the Water-side to numerate and describe the various Brood of Salmon so to distinguish them according to Mode or as some will have it the Custom of the Country Where note in the South they call him Samlet but if you step to the West he is better known there by the name of Skeggar when in the East they avow him Penk but to the Northward Brood and Locksper so from thence to a Tecon then to a Salmon Now to recreate with the Fly meaning the Artificial that 's another sort of Exercise for the Angler's Diversion which ought to be considered and diversly consulted in regard of so great variety of Form Lustre Beauty and Proportion For that end let me advise you that the ground of your Fly be for the most part obscure of a gloomy dark and dusky Complexion fashioned with Tofts of Bears-Hair blackish or brownish discolour'd Wool interwoven sometimes with Peacocks Feathers at otherwhiles lap'd about with Grey Red Yellow Green or Blewish Silk simple Colours or Colours sometimes intermingled For instance Black and Yellow represent the Wasp or Hornet and a promiscuous Brown the flesh Fly so of the rest For that end consult the Humour of the Fish who to humour your Exercise puts himself out of Humour chiefly and principally when he parts with his Life These requisite Precautions ought to be the study of every studious and ingenious Angler together with the knowledg of Time and Season when to resort to the River for Recreation The next thing necessary is the shape of your Rod which ought in all respects to represent the Rush in its growth for that end we call it Rush-grown and be sure it be streight and plient Your Line also that must be accurate and exactly taper'd your Hook well compassed well pointed and well barbed and be mindful that your Shank exceed not in length I mean not so long as when you drag with the Ground-Bait Nor is it proper for the Artist to court a Stream except he be always provided of his dubbing Bag wherein are contained all sorts of Thrums Threads Silks Moccado-Ends Silver and Gold Twist which are of excellent use to adorn your Fly and in a great measure quicken the sight of your Game provided the Day be promiscuous and dark occasioned by smooty and discoloured Clouds Now should I enumerate the multiform variety of Animals the various Colours and Proportion of Infects with the diversity of Flies it would but redouble my Labour and Trouble since already I have discoursed them in another place where the Artist also if he be ingenious may consult and examine the Methods of Experiments so make himself Master of this solitary Mystery otherwise let him remain silent among Proficients and a profest Ignoramus among Practitioners And among the variety of your Fly-adventurers remember the Hackle or the Fly substitute form'd without Wings and drest up with the Feather of a Capon Pheasant Partridg Moccaw Phlimingo Paraketa or the like and the Body nothing differing in shape from the Fly save only in ruffness and indigency of Wings Another necessary Observation is the Wing of your Fly which ought to proceed from the Teal Heron Malard or Faulcon The Pinion and Wing thereof ought to lie close and so snug as to carry the Point exactly downward But the last thing material is the moderate Stroak which always proves Mortal and best succeeds if used without Violence the Line also keep that streight as occasion requires so that nothing be remiss nor any thing wanting and the necessity of the Wheel be sure you remember The Salmon loves those rapid Rivers where The craggy Rocks above the Streams appear In deepest Waters and in strongest Streams He lives yet like a Martyr sometimes dies in flames The TROVT I have already told you that the Salmon is King in the Freshes And now I must tell you that the Princely Trout has his residence and principality in the same fluctuating Element partaking very much of the Nature of Salmon admiring stiff and rapid Streams in the Vernon Ingress but he accosts the solitary Deeps most Months in the Winter In the Spring you shall observe this active Animal scud to the Fords where he flutters his Fins at every silly Fly for that 's his Rendezvouz and there you 'l find him picking and gliding against Stones in the Bottom to scour off if possible the slimy Substance and Scurf from his sickly Sides frequently occasioned through want of Motion So that when the Sun vegetates and invigorates the Creation then is he invigorated with Motion and Activity which argues a very great and unpardonable Absurdity in the ignorant and incredulous Angler to fancy that Peregrination debilitates and weakens him when apparently it adds an additional Strength not well considering they were only told so or peradventure they had read it in some printed Book concluding from thence an Infallibility in the Press But as I intend not to burden you with Circumlocutions for brevity sake I shall range the Trout under the consideration of the first Classis of Fish For that end I must signalize his Vivacity and Vigour his Activity and Courage how naturally they spring from the Nature of this Fish till Age or Accident indispose and deprive him not only of Activity but of natural Ability who struggles with himself to out-do Motion and out-live if possible the Law of his Life So that to prohibite him Travel you totally destroy him since he is a Fish that can't live under Confinement And thus it happens to the Race of Salmon for Nature's Laws are alike to both In
the Burbolt's Epitaph he dreams That baulks the Calms to search him in the Streams That Angler that will court him to his Dish Must bring him Gudgeons to obtain his Wish FLOVNDER The Flounder is a Fish that bites before any Man's Face not dreading the Aspect of an Invader It 's true he 's a Fish that 's as bold as a Buccaneer of much more Confidence than Caution yet nothing more curious one that loves good Meat and is good Meat himself whose Appetite is open as early as his Eyes and contemplates Day before Sun-rise frequently busying himself about Break-fast half an Hour sometimes before break of Day and delights I must tell you to dwell among Stones so does he among Stakes and gravelly Bottoms besides he 's a great admirer of Deeps and ruinous Decays yet as fond as any Fish of moderate Streams and none beyond him except the Perch that is more solicitous to rifle into Ruins insomuch that a Man would fancy him an Antiquary when to consider him so affected with Reliques yet of that undaunted Courage that he dares to feed before any Man's Face provided there be but Water enough to cover him though not to conceal him Moreover he adheres so close to the Bottom that a Man would think him inoculated to it or at least an Inmate in another Element For that end let us consider the Flounder a resolute Fish and one that struggles stoutly for a Victory with the Angler and is more than ordinarily difficult to deal with by reason of his Built which is altogether flat as it were a Level so that if it happen your Tackle be fine and the Bottom as it sometimes falls out to be foul you run the risk of your Adventure and Artillery Now some Folks beyond measure admire this Fish because opinionated he is so nutricious And truly he 's good Food which makes him so desirable though seldom or rarely not over-cautious to come by if the Angler be industrious but to bring him a Bait that he likes and that is but reasonable Present him with a Lob-worm he 'll retaliate your Courtesy or in exchange a depurated Dew-worm he 'll not be ungrateful for he loves variety of all sorts of Worms the Tag or Tagil besides Bradlins and Gild-tails which will at any time intice him to die for what he loves for you must know he 's a Fish so fond of a Worm that he 'll go to the Banquet tho he die at the Board He that intends the Flounder to surprize Must rise betimes and fish before Sun-rise But if the Sluggard cannot rise so early Let him nod on perhaps at Noon he 'll parly EEL or CONGER The Eel insinuates himself into all sorts of Waters and can live in a Stream or without it in the deepest Pit or the shallowest Rivulet in dirty muddy Ditches and silty owsy Bottoms or in rocky Cavities in any Rivers wetting his Fins sometimes with the Ocean Now some are conceited that Eels are Insects and content not themselves with the Law of Germination And if so then it seems that Nature was more unactive about the Race of Eels than other Animals committed to her Conduct because to protrude and thrust them forth as Inanimates after the manner of Vegetation Such are the ignorant Conceptions of Gesner and the unthinking Rabble of his ridiculous Proselytes who because to suck in such pernicious Principles have tainted nay poisoned themselves by infecting others For had they but considered that Eels have Eggs tho not so long as other Fish to bear them about them without dispute it would expose some of them to a Blush if when to reflect on their erroneous Rashness that causeth the Artist to laugh at their Ignorance But that Eels do germinate is past dispute for if the Roe or Spawn be the Product of Germination then Eels as other Animals may germinate in specie because furnished with all the Qualities for Germination as is observed by the female Fish whose burdened Belly in the Spring if examined will sufficiently convince the Incredulity of such as would by Advice be better informed whilst permitting others to content themselves with the vanity of Ignorance that Eels are Insects The Eel therefore you shall find him in Caverns and the Cavities sometimes of hollow Rocks Grips and Gullies devised on purpose by Engineers for the draining of Grounds Or else you may observe him in Holes or hollow Banks the Flaws in Bridges and broken Breaches occasioned sometimes by Inundations of Water out of which Abscondments any Man may angle him that contrives but a Worm neatly on the end of a Wand which Artifice is Probing and some call it Proking but we dispute not the Term. Now a more expeditious Invention though not half so genteel is that Engine or Artifice some call a Gleave but some others the Eel-spear Then there 's Bobbing with a bunch or cluster of Worms strung upon Threads non-commissionated by Anglers Yet Night-hooks were never prohibited nor need they since the Eel bites in the heat of the Day You must therefore consider him a Fish of an odd Humour that the sight of a Worm shall tempt him ashore though he sacrifice his Life to the Lust of his Adversary The Eel and Conger lies in sandy Bays On gravel Beds and sometimes in Decays In hollow Banks or Stanks in Bridges there You 'll find this Fish as soon as any where LAMPRE The Lampre or Suck-stone frequently accosts the Streams in Severn and is conversant also with many other Rivers in the Kingdom of England A Fish that makes more sport in the Pie than the Pool but of no great acquaintance nor familiarity with Anglers and that is the reason he is so little discours'd as if there were no such thing in being But assure your self there is and the plenty of such in the River Cam and some other Rivers as Thames and Trent that I dare to assert and divulge them numerous But as torpid Deeps do not always delight him so transparent Streams do not altogether transport him nor admires he the Torrents of rapid Rivers And because no constant Housekeeper we have considered him as unconstant to Diet. It 's true I have no Commission to assign him a Traveller and yet he is seldom or rarely at Home At Home did I say surely I mistook my self because he has no Home to go to who lives like an Intruder insinuating himself into all sorts of Company and puts a Foot under every ones Table for we find him a Fish altogether in suspicion therefore seldom admitted among the scaly Society who prefers Sand and Gravel-beds infinitely before muddy Recrements and loves to be casting and sucking Stones because it 's a great part of his Life and Maintenance except otherwhiles he stumbles upon Offil or Garbage which if he do he feasts himself like a Country-Farmer when at other times like a shotten Herring he is forced to take up with shorter Commons and such are the roots
though formented by the Sons of Zoilus shall never darken it so as totally to deface it but will shine forth a Light to discover their Shame with the Vice of the Times and Exorbitancy of Life I write to the Intelligent and not to Alphabet Anglers that wander up and down besides themselves to lick up the spumous Froth of Fiction and rally the Records of fabulous Pamphleteers to swell their impoverished empty Volumes on purpose spread abroad to amuze the unwary but this I resolve against by exhorting Ingenuity to consult Experience notwithstanding my Rudiments and laborious Directions for without due observation in the Exercise of Angling besides Speculation in the Progress of Theory in this or indeed in any other Art no Man shall level a right Foundation Th. Such signal Remonstrations like a ingressive Spirit strike deep Impressions into my thoughtful Breast It must be a Master and what Masteâ— but Experience must we have to induct us iâ—â—â— the Methods Mediums and Regularities of Science Does Experience any more obliterate Theory than Rudiments rip up the Foundation of Art which they do not nor cannot then ought the Rules of Practicks to be the solicitation of every Artist which Analysis of necessity I cannot but comply with or let the surviving Ages engrave on my Tomb-stone Post est occasio calva Ar. To compleat a Scholar therefore we are to consider that every Pedagogue that initiates his Novice into the Rudiments of Grammar gives him Literature first After the same manner and not altering my Methods I have laid down the Rules and Hypotheses of the Ground-bait Where note I prefer the Worm for the Angler's Exercise if artificially scoured as a general Bait before any other and upon all Occasions inordinate Seasons excepted if purposing thereby to consult the Bottom as also the innumerable families of Fish and so farewel for it 's almost Sun-set Theophilus What tho the Night 's dark Scenes and Shades display The bright Sun's absence can't the Stars make Day Arnoldus Can those obscurer Tapers light the World Whose Lights are from the Sun 's bright Furnace hurl'd Motion they have it 's true that causes wonder But God that join'd their Rays takes them asunder Theophilus From what bright Influence then do Comets borrow Their radiant Beam Arnoldus The Stars they strike them thorow Theophilus Must we conclude the World all Vegetation Humane Race excepted by Generation Arnoldus The slippery Womb of Earth in time sent out A thing uncapable to walk about Till God in love out of a pure Compassion Made Man the Margin of this great Creation Theophilus Why then do Mortals fight against Superiours And pull down Angels to advance Inferiours Arnoldus Man may attempt it but his slender Arm Has hardly warmth in 't for to keep him warm Theophilus No why then presumes he by force to raise His Fires so high to make the Heavens blaze Arnoldus That 's a mistake Man 's but a Minute's Breath Blown out of Doors but with one puff of Death Theophilus And yet immortal too strange Prodigy That Man the Lord of all should live to die Arnoldus 'T is true a Star fell on a Shrine of Earth That touch'd Mortality and gave it Birth Conduct and Reason and a Soul immortal Lit by the Lamp of Heaven's glorious Portal Made all Miraculous yet this won't please Heaven must die to cure the World's Disease And yet this mortal Wonder we call Man Is still averse e're since the World began Theophilus Vngrateful Creature who by Heaven's Decree Was made to live and had the Sov'raignty Of the Creation What to say I know not Nor what to think for Thoughts are things that do not Arnoldus Since Days and Nights all terminate in one And Stars made Emblems of their Sovereign Sun Then to be Loyal each a Star must be But to be Royal claims the Sov'raigntie The Gordian Knot 's so knit none can unty But he that made the World's great Harmony For God with Nature such sublime things blended That Man nor Dev'ls Angels themselves can't find it We can but climb the gradual Steps of Sense And they 'r but Motives to Intelligence But those sweet melting Cords in a Saint's Brest That lives by Faith of things yet unexprest Invigorate the Soul and lends her Eyes to see That Earth and Heaven all 's but Harmony Theophilus Then Rocks are Organs and the ambient Air But the harsh sound of Heaven's softer Quire Waters make Musick so all things by Art Where Nature freely her free Gifts impart Speak Harmony and divinely shows That from another Fountain this thing flows Arnoldus Consider but the Chaos in Creation When the Divinest made a Separation How that the Earth stood still whilst he rais'd higher The Sun's bright Torch or all had been on Fire Theophilus Amazing Wonder see Aurora now Strips off the Sables from Night's shady Brow That Sol no sooner peeps to gild the Skies But all the Mists before his Presence flies Arnoldus 'T is true they do and he that sees their flight Sees Darkness gradually transform'd to Light Yet let him not mistake himself for Day Is but Time's Copy-Book cast that away And what presents Death more obscure than Night Through whose dark Pilgrimage we creep to Light LAUS DEO FINIS ADVERTISEMENT RABBI MOSES or A Philosophical Treatise of the Original and Production of Things Writ in America in a Time of Solitudes By R. Franck. And are to be sold by the Author at his House in Barbican See Ludlow's Reply to Hollingworth
idle Coxcombs in all respects as conceited as himself went on a certain time to these Mountains of Kennule to search thereabouts for an invisible Stone that accidentally slipt from a stranger's Hand as he carelessly rid along to view the Country This strange Accident made a horrible Noise all here about and all diligence possible was used by the Taylor and his nitty Companions to find this Stone yet the Stone was invisible Now amongst the rest of our Admirers the Lady of Kennule entertains the Novel and resolves an adventure for the invisible Stone who with her Female Attendants several times surrounded the Hills and stooped to take up every shining Stone so that for the most part they were always in Motion except at other times upon the removal of Stones with Responses to one another in the Scotish Dialect I see ye see ye me till almost every Body see them all So asham'd at length to prosecute the Design any farther since stretch'd so far it was ready to break despairing of their Enterprize and the recovery of the Stone they left their Successes to the indefatigable Taylor and his prickear'd Crew that Day after Day so hounded these Hills as hitherto no Church-yard has been haunted with Goblins But on a certain Sun-shiny Day in the Evening as some Townsmen were returning from the Ports of Dundee and espying the Taylor inspecting the Stones one of these Townsmen I 'le warrant him a Wag dismounts from his Horse having dealt with his Companions to take him to Town who the better to manage his contriv'd Design and put a Trick upon the nitty Taylor kept at a distance behind him till at length he calls aloud as the Lady and her Women had formerly done I see ye see ye me But the Taylor on a sudden because seemingly surpriz'd replies in fa Sir I tro I see ye However the Townsman pretends to be serious and the rather because seeing the Taylor all alone till at length the Taylor concludes him in Earnest So that now being freed from Suspicion on both sides they jog on together like Tory and Trimmer the uneaven Tracts of these mountainous Ascents till the Taylor stooping to take up a Stone and confidently bleating aloud to the Townsman I see ye Sir see ye me In gude fa Sir no the Townsman replied where are you won Sir I can no see ye I am here quo the Taylor and can ye no see me I would you were any where the Townsman replied so that I could but tell where to find ye And smiling to himself looks another way then repeats it again But whar shall I find ye Now for certain quo the Taylor I have got the Stone by which means beyond measure I 'le inrich my self for I have tryed all ways to do it without a Court of Conscience How many People have sought for this Treasure but no Man so happy as my self to find it I may go where I will for no Man can see me and stand where I please for no Man can find me and take what I list for Taylors are thievish and no Man detect me and if Fear affrights me yet no Man can hurt me To convince the World therefore and Mankind in general of this rare and admirable invisible Stone I 'le strip off my Clothes and go stark naked through the Streets of the Town and so mist all the Eyes of the People about me that no Body shall see me nor any Body know me Know you says the Townsman no Body can see you then how should they know you Say you so quo the Taylor can no Body see me No says the Townsman since you made your self invisible Why then quo the Taylor I may do what I will and go where I list and no Man the wiser So you may says the Townsman since now you 'r Invisible But favour me I beseech you this small Request that before we depart I may once again see you With that the proud Taylor transported with Joy discharged both his Hands and laid down the Stones Which his subtile Associate no sooner observes but presently he cries aloud Now Sir I see you And more to strengthen and confirm the Miracle on a sudden the Taylor snatch'd up the Stones again lest fearing his Companion should by some Trick deprive him and fancying himself as formerly invisible they both advance towards the Town of St. Iohnston's But the Taylor went naked who no sooner entred the Ports of the Town but the Mob and the Rabble having combined together to pelt the poor Taylor into his Senses if possible who run the Gantelop through Thick and Thin Young and Old for every Boy had a switch at his Breech and those at a distance that could not reach him assaulted him with Stones which so claw'd the poor Taylor as by the marks on his Buttocks conviced him at last to believe himself Visible Th. I think the Taylor met with his Match Ar. So think I if he was not overmatch'd And so let 's leave him to lick himself whole whilst we return to the Bridg of the Town of St. Iohnston's where a Coker-Boat serves now to transport their Merchandize into the County of Angus and some other Parts which looks somewhat odly but it concerns not us for we can't redress it those that are compell'd may suffer by it So let her sleep the Sleep of Oblivion whilst we direct our Course towards the River Errit where we may inform our selves of a Practice amongst the Natives there that murder a Salmon without a Rod Net or Speer and cook him almost as soon as they catch him Th. How can that be pray unfold the Riddle Ar. It 's discours'd by every Body when a Stranger comes amongst them that the Inhabitants presently run and fetch a Pot which they circumspectly place upon some part of a Rock and then dextrously convey some live Coals under it or it may be Turf which is no sooner fan'd by the Breath of Air but immediately the Flames fly all about Now you are to consider that the Race of Salmon especially the Female in the Vernon Aequinox is for the most part picking and casting against the rapid And in this River Errit it 's always observable there are plenty of stumpy knotty Rocks to which the Native without difficulty can pass and repass from one Rock to another and the rather to facilitate this mortal Design they set the Pot on some seeming floating Rock to which as I am told their Observation directs them which Rock it may be is almost drown'd in Water Now this Artifice is no sooner perform'd by the rude Engineer but the Salmon because casting after her usual manner often casts away her Life by leaping into the Pot instead of the Pool Th. I cannot approve of this murdering Artifice Ar. Nor I neither but the manner of Action is thus performed For the Salmon you must know by reason of agility of Body and considerable Strength so bends and