_Viat_. My friend _Piscator_, you have kept time with my thoughts, for the Sun is just rising, and I my self just now come to this place, and the dogs have just now put down an _Otter_, look down at the bottom of the hil, there in that Meadow, chequered with water Lillies and Lady-smocks, there you may see what work they make: look, you see all busie, men and dogs, dogs and men, all busie. _Pisc_. Sir, I am right glad to meet you, and glad to have so fair an entrance into this dayes sport, and glad to see so many dogs, and more men all in pursuit of the _Otter_; lets complement no longer, but joine unto them; come honest _Viator_, lets be gone, lets make haste, I long to be doing; no reasonable hedge or ditch shall hold me. _Viat_. Gentleman Huntsman, where found you this _Otter_? _Hunt_. Marry (Sir) we found her a mile off this place a fishing; she has this morning eaten the greatest part of this _Trout_, she has only left thus much of it as you see, and was fishing for more; when we came we found her just at it: but we were here very early, we were here an hour before Sun-rise, and have given her no rest since we came: sure she'l hardly escape all these dogs and men. I am to have the skin if we kill him. _Viat_. Why, Sir, whats the skin worth? _Hunt_. 'Tis worth ten shillings to make gloves; the gloves of an _Otter_ are the best fortification for your hands against wet weather that can be thought of. _Pisc_. I pray, honest Huntsman, let me ask you a pleasant question, Do you hunt a Beast or a fish? _H_. Sir, It is not in my power to resolve you; for the question has been debated among many great Clerks, and they seem to differ about it; but most agree, that his tail is fish: and if his body be fish too, then I may say, that a fish will walk upon land (for an _Otter_ does so) sometimes five or six, or ten miles in a night. But (Sir) I can tell you certainly, that he devours much fish, and kils and spoils much more: And I can tell you, that he can smel a fish in the water one hundred yards from him (_Gesner_ sayes, much farther) and that his stones are good against the Falling-sickness: and that there is an herb _Benione_, which being hung in a linen cloth near a Fish Pond, or any haunt that he uses, makes him to avoid the place, which proves he can smell both by water and land. And thus much for my knowledg of the _Otter_, which you may now see above water at vent, and the dogs close with him; I now see he will not last long, follow therefore my Masters, follow, for _Sweetlips_ was like to have him at this vent. _via_. Oh me, all the Horse are got over the river, what shall we do now? _Hun_. Marry, stay a little & follow, both they and the dogs will be suddenly on this side again, I warrant you, and the _Otter_ too it may be: now have at him with _Kil buck_, for he vents again.