_Viat_. Sir, I am now become so ful of expectation, that I long much to have you proceed in your discourse: And first, I pray Sir, let me hear concerning the antiquity of it. _Pisc_. Sir, I wil preface no longer, but proceed in order as you desire me: And first for the Antiquity of _Angling_, I shall not say much; but onely this; Some say, it is as ancient as _Deucalions_ Floud: and others (which I like better) say, that _Belus_ (who was the inventer of godly and vertuous Recreations) was the Inventer of it: and some others say, (for former times have had their Disquisitions about it) that _Seth_, one of the sons of _Adam_, taught it to his sons, and that by them it was derived to Posterity. Others say, that he left it engraven on those Pillars which hee erected to preserve the knowledg of the _Mathematicks, Musick_, and the rest of those precious Arts, which by Gods appointment or allowance, and his noble industry were thereby preserved from perishing in _Noah's_ Floud. These (my worthy Friend) have been the opinions of some men, that possibly may have endeavoured to make it more ancient then may well be warranted. But for my part, I shall content my self in telling you, That _Angling_ is much more ancient then the incarnation of our Saviour: For both in the Prophet _Amos_ [Chap. 42], and before him in _Job_ [Chap. 41], (which last Book is judged to be written by _Moses_) mention is made _fish-hooks_, which must imply _Anglers_ in those times. But (my worthy friend) as I would rather prove my self to be a Gentleman, by being _learned_ and _humble, valiant_ and _inoffensive, vertuous_ and _communicable_, then by a fond ostentation of _riches_; or (wanting these Vertues my self) boast that these were in my Ancestors; [And yet I confesse, that where a noble and ancient Descent and such Merits meet in any man, it is a double dignification of that person:] and so, if this Antiquitie of Angling (which, for my part, I have not forc'd) shall like an ancient Familie, by either an honour, or an ornament to this vertuous Art which I both love and practise, I shall be the gladder that I made an accidental mention of it; and shall proceed to the justification, or rather commendation of it. _Viat_. My worthy Friend, I am much pleased with your discourse, for that you seem to be so ingenuous, and so modest, as not to stretch arguments into Hyperbolicall expressions, but such as indeed they will reasonably bear; and I pray, proceed to the justification, or commendations of Angling, which I also long to hear from you. _Pisc_. Sir, I shall proceed; and my next discourse shall be rather a Commendation, then a Justification of Angling: for, in my judgment, if it deserves to be commended, it is more then justified; for some practices what may be justified, deserve no commendation: yet there are none that deserve commendation but may be justified.