ale; my service to you.

Now I

envy not the daintieft court gallants in the land, that are asleep on their beds of down.

Painter. I am amazed how fome fluggards will lie a-bed almost till dinner time.

Angler. They know none of the ingenuous delights of fishermen. So let us blefs God, that we have not only a mind to rife with the fun, but the power to it, for that is ftill better. And, as plain-hearted Mr. Walton says, 'that

our present happiness may appear to be greater, 'and we the more thankful for it, I will beg 'you to confider with me, how many do, even 'at this very time, lie under the torment of the 'ftone, the gout, and the tooth ache, and this we are free from; and every misery that I miss ' is a new mercy.'

Painter. And how many are now languishing in the fad captivity of dungeons, feeding ( on bread of affliction, and water of affliction.' -But, come; tell me how it has fared with you, fince we parted from each other's company, now two days agone, when you refolved to entertain yourself with fome hours fishing in the lower parts of the River Dove, near to the town of Uttoxeter.

Angler. That I will relate to you by and by, as we journey towards Afhbourne; and be

cause the morning wears apace, let us take another cup of barley wine and be gone; for we have some hours, and many more miles, on this fide Alftonfields, where you and I must lodge to-night.

Painter. It is well thought; fo Mistress Hoftess here is payment for your choice breakfaft, and thanks for your civility, and fo we wish you good morrow. -And now, brother, seeing we are past Derby Bridge, and are come out of the town, look forth on the freshness of the landscape, and the dewdrops that hang on every blade and bush, sparkling in the beams of

the fun.

Angler. What happy thoughts poffefs a man's mind when he breathes the air of the morning, and contemplates the bounties of nature!

Painter. Aye; then the heart is full of unspeakable thoughts that foar upward from earth to heaven, and so higher still on the spiritual wings of reverential love unto HIM, who is above this vault so beautiful, so vast, and is the Creator and Sustainer of all.

Angler. And liften to the very fong-birds chirping their untaught morning harmony to God, who 'caufeth the day-spring from on high to know his place.'

Painter. This fimple feathered choir teaches mankind to be cheerful, and to fing joyful pfalms, and to make melody in their heart to the Lord: nay, what can be pleasanter than to do this, when the very morning stars fing toge'ther.' And what says even the learned heathen, Epictetus? *_ If we have any wisdom, 'what is more becoming in public and in pri'vate, than to fing hymns to the Deity? If I 'were a nightingale, I should do as the nightin'gales do-if a fwan, as the fwans; but because 'I am a reasonable creature, I must the rather 'praise God. So I will never leave that practice 'myself, and I do exhort all others to it.'-And now give me leave to put you in mind to tell me fomething of your lonely walks round about Uttoxeter, that we may beguile the way with cheerful converfation between this and Afhbourne.

Angler. That I fhall willingly do: and first, you are to know, I passed by the great forest of Needwood, that has fome of the pleasantest chases and parks in all England, and is fo full of marvellous big oaks and fat bucks; then, after Needwood I came to Tutbury. Painter. Indeed!

* Arrian. Epict. l. 1. c. 16.—ED.

'The battle was fought near Titbury town,
'When the bagpipes baited the bull ?'*

Angler. Come, Sir, if you have that choice ballad by memory, pr'ythee let us hear it.

'Kind gentlemen, will ye be patient awhile ?
Aye, and then you shall hear anon,
'A very good ballad of bold Robin Hood,
'And of his man, brave little John.'

Painter. Some parts I could repeat; but rather let me hear of your walk from Tutbury: and pr'ythee when thou waft thereabouts, didst 'demaunde one bacon flyke, hanging in the Halle of the Lord of Whichenovre?’+

Angler. Nay-do you take me for a Benedick? Let the flyke be claimed by the wondrous wight that would not chaunge his 'wife for none other, farer ne fowler,

*A new ballad of bold Robin Hood; fhowing his birth, breeding, valour, and marriage at Titbury Bull'running. Calculated for the meridian of Staffordshire, 'but may ferve for Derbyshire or Kent.'—ED.

+ See Plott's Hiftory of Staffordshire, p. 437, for an account of the primitive right to claim the Flyke of Bacon, which Sir Philip de Somerville was bound to keep hanging in his Hall, in token of his fealty to John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, for the manors of Whichenovre and others. The fame custom prevails at Dunmow in Effex.-ED.

‘rycher ne pourer of alle the wymen of the 'worlde.'

Painter. And how is his highness, the 'king of the minstrels ? '*

Angler, Gone to his reft, with brave John of Gaunt, and the Prior of Tutbury. Alas! fince the roundheads once kept watch and ward in Tutbury Castle, the merry minstrelsy is hushed in the hall. But now you may confider me to be arrived in the town of Uttoxeter, full of composed thoughts, and there I found a tidy house of refreshment, and put myself to bed betimes, that I might be away before the day dawn; and so I was, and let me tell you my first waking thoughts, after remembering my prayers, were of the River Dove, and my happy practice of angling.

Painter. That indeed was natural, and I make bold to think you caught some brace of trouts before breakfast?

Angler. Not fo, brother; for you are to note

* No doubt, in allufion to the Charter granted in 1381, by John of Gaunt, to the troop of minstrels maintained at Tutbury Castle, in that time of its fplendour. The chief was appointed by the title of 'King of the Minstrels;' and he had wardens and other officers under him to maintain the rules of the Fraternity, and to levy fines for any disorders.—Plott's Hift.-Ed.