NORTHERN MEMOIRS, CALCULATED FOR THE MERIDIAN OF SCOTLAND ; TO WHICH IS ADDED, THE CONTEMPLATIVE AND PRACTICAL / ANGLER. WRIT IN THE YEAR 1658, RICHARD FRANCK, PHILANTHROPIC. Plures necat Gula quam Gladius. NEW EDITION, WITH PREFACE AND NOTES. EDINBURGH : PRINTED FOR ARCHIBALD CONSTABLE AND CO. EDINBURGH; AND HURST, ROBINSON, AND CO. LONDON. 1821. CONTENTS. PAGE. PREFACE, ....:. 1 To Mr J. W. Merchant in London, v DEDICATIONS. To the Virtuosos of the Rod in London, xiii To the Academicks of Cambridge, . . . xxi To the Gentlemen Piscatorians of Not- tingham, xxviii The Author's Preface, xxxiii The Author to his Book, xliii RECOMMENDATORY POEMS. By John Richards, . . . xliv By Mercurius Hermon, . xlv By John Slator, .... xlvi By Richard Johnson, . . xlix The Author to the Poet, 1 NORTHERN MEMOIRS, 1 Notes on the Northern Memoirs, 363 The Angler ; from Browne's Britannia's Pastorals, . . 378 PREFACE. THE following reprint of a scarce book will afford, it is hoped, amusement as well to the topographical antiquary as to the lover of the angle, since it con- tains some curious particulars respecting the state of Scotland during the sixteenth century. Of Richard Franck, the author, nothing is known beyond what he himself has intimated. He was born at Cambridge, as is stated from one of his three dedications, and during the reign of James VI., as appears from his having lived du- ring the reign of five sovereigns. But, as Franck repeatedly mentions his slender education, it is not likely he participated, to any extent, in the ad- vantages of the university, although one would think some degree of learning was necessary to have formed so very uncommon and pedantic a style. He informs his worthy and honoured friend Mr J. W. merchant in London, that the impend- ing Civil Wars drove him from the university to London ; and if he was born about 1624 (James died in 1625) he would be seventeen years of age in the fatal 1641. Richard Franck seems to have resided at Not- tingham, but in what capacity he give us no op- portunity of conjecturing, nor whether it was be- fore or after his expedition to Scotland ; he cer- tainly served in the Parliament's cavalry during the wars in Scotland, to which he makes repeated allusion, and thence, probably, he derived the title of Captain, given to him by Richard Johnson in his commendatory verses. In religion, Franck appears to have been an Independent, but upon a mystical system of his own, which was no uncommon cir- cumstance in that age. He censures occasionally both Prelate and Presbyter, and throws out, from time to time, his own peculiar tenets, which, in- deed, he was at the pains to publish more at length, though not more intelligibly, in a separate work, called Rabbi Moses, written expressly for that pur- pose. It is singular that, under all these circumstances, Richard Franck, a Cromwellian trooper, and Inde- pendent, should have been represented as an un- fortunate Royalist, who undertook his tour to Scot- land to escape the persecution of the dominant party during the Commonwealth. His enumera- tion of " the six great patriots of the English na- tion," Ireton, Vane, Nevill, Martin, Marvel, and Cromwell,* as well as his subsequent panegyric upon the Protector,f ought to have prevented this misrepresentation. The truth seems to be, that the author's journey into Scotland was owing to his de- sire of withdrawing himself from the disturbances which seemed like to arise in the Commonwealth. At what exact period this occurred, is not surely settled. If written in 1658, the journey must have been performed in 1656 or 1657, in which case the disturbances apprehended might be those betwixt the republicans and the faction of Crom- well, which led to the plot for which Sinder- * Pp. 253-4. f P. 286. 4 combe suffered in 1 656. No doubt, the uncertain state of things which succeeded Cromwell's death, in 1658, was still more likely to have induced a prudent man to withdraw himself from approach- ing evil. But, first, Cromwell only died 3d Sep- tember 1658, rather too late in the season for commencing a fishing tour as far as Sutherland ; and, secondly, an event so remarkable would have been hinted at in the dialogue betwixt Arnoldus, Theophilus, and Agrippa, which precedes the re- solution of the two first to visit Scotland. The general route adopted by Arnoldus (Franck) and his companion, (for in description he often de- viates from it,) contains a very extensive tour in Scotland, which they enter by Dumfries and San- quhar. They then traverse Ayrshire, and come to Glasgow by Kilmarnock, visit Lochlomond and its romantic environs, from thence go to Crieff by Stirling, and from Crieff return southwards to Perth. From Perth the travellers descend Strath- more by Meigle, Forfar, and Brechin, and from thence journey northward by Fettercairn, Cairnie- mount, and Kincardine O'Neall to Loch Ness. From Inverness they proceed to Sutherland, and visit Dimrobin, and the small town of Tain in Ross-shire ; Cromarty is also visited, and the tra- vellers return by Castle Gordon, Aberdeen, and the coast-road which traverses Stonehaven, Mon- trose, Dundee, Bruntisland, to Edinburgh. From Edinburgh the pilgrims return to England by Dunbar and Berwick ; and, finally, repose at Not- tingham, where, as we observed, the author seems at one time to have had his ordinary residence. The sketch of such a tour, made during the se- venteenth century, promises, it must be allowed, a great deal more curiosity and interest than the reader will receive from the actual perusal. The rage of fine writing had unfortunately seized on Richard Franck, Philanthropes, with inveteracy unparalleled, unless perhaps in the case of Sir Thomas Urquhart of Cromerty ; and instead of acquainting us with what actually befel him, like a man of this world, he generally renders himself obscure, and sometimes altogether unintelligible, by his affected pedantry and obscurity. Probably no reader, while he reads the disparaging passages in which the venerable Isaac Walton is introduced, can forbear wishing that the good old man, who had so true an eye for nature, so simple a taste for her most innocent pleasures, and withal, so sound a judgment, both concerning men and things, had made this northern tour instead of Franck ; and had detailed in the beautiful simplicity of his Arcadian language, his observations on the scene- ry and manners of Scotland. Yet we must do our author the justice to state, that he is as much su- perior to the excellent patriarch Isaac Walton, in the mystery of fly-fishing, as inferior to him in taste, feeling, and common sense. Franck's con- tests with salmon are painted to the life, and his directions to the angler are generally given with great judgment. Walton's practice was entirely confined to bait-fishing, and even Cotton, his dis- ciple and follower, though accustomed to fish trout in the Dove, 'with artificial fly, would have been puzzled by a fish (for so the salmon is called, par excellence, in most parts of Scotland) of twenty pounds weight ; both being alike strangers to that noble branch of the art, which exceeds all other uses of the angling-rod, as much as fox-hunting excels hare-hunting. It must not be omitted, that the Northern Me- moirs, though less rich in local description and anec- dote than might have been hoped, contain a great deal of interesting matter, concerning the state of Scotland, during the Civil Wars. They appear to have been committed to writing in 1658 ; but cer- tainly not drawn out at length until 1685 ; so that the author's reflections often relate to events which took place long after the term of his own journey. This is the remark of his friend Theophilus, who says, " You writ your book in 58, and spread the net to 85."* There may be reason to think, that the first Dedication to " Mr J. W., merchant in London," was written for the rough draught of the Memoirs, and that the " prudent and valorous prince," who is pointed out as healing the wounds of the Civil Wars, was the Protector Oliver, whose death and its consequences may have prevented the publication of the work. But this supposition, the reader must be aware, rests on the same arguments which were formerly alleged, for supposing the tour was made in 1656, or 1657. If these do not ap- * P. 285. 8 pear convincing*, and they are by no means offered as conclusive, the " victorious prince" must mean William III., applied to whom, the epithet is of doubtful propriety. At length, so late as 1696, the Northern Memoirs were given to the public. During the interim it would seem, from his publication entitled Rabbi Moses, that the author had been in America, which was a general place of refuge to the soldiers or followers of the Com- monwealth, as soon as the Restoration rendered England an unpleasant or dangerous abode for them. The full title is, " A Philosophical Trea- tise of the Original and Production of Things Writ in America in a Time of Solitude. By R. Franek, London, 1687." At the end of the Northern Memoirs, the same work is advertised as " Rabbi Moses, or a Philosophical, &c. to be Sold by the Author at his House in Barbican." If the Northern Memoirs were published in the year 1694, Richard Franek, the author, born, as we have calculated, during the last years of King James the First's reign, must have attained the age of seventy and upwards ; so probably did not survive the publication many years ; and these few a notices are all the particulars of his life, which ail attentive perusal of his work has enabled us to trace. Franck, as already noticed, seems to have enter- tained peculiar and mystical notions in theology, yet, in general, expresses himself as a good Chris- tian, and well-meaning man. His praise of Mon- trose and others, opposed to his own party, is, to say the least, liberal and candid ; and his view of Scotland, under so many circumstances of national discouragement, and affording, doubtless, most ex- quisite reasons for the censure which the travel- lers occasionally cast upon the sluttishness of the cookery, and the inferiority of accommodation which they met with, indicates much good-humoured li- berality. It is remarkable, that he does not appear to have experienced that hospitality which Taylor, at an early period, and many tourists since his day, have received in Scotland, and which we are accustomed to consider as characteristic of the country. Captain Franck does not mention having experienced the civility of any native from the be- ginning of his tour to the end ; for the hospitable Commandant of Dumbarton was undoubtedly an b 10 Englishman. If this was owing to the dislike in which Franck's countrymen were held at that time in the land, which they kept in subjection, the circumstance makes his candour the more re- markable, and every Scotchman must look with some favour on an author, who, so circumstanced, could have described Caledonia as " a legible fair draught of the beautiful creation, dressed up with polished rocks, pleasant savannas, flourishing dales, deep and torpid lakes, with shady woods, immerged with rivers and gliding rivulets, where every foun- tain overflows a valley, and (which is especially to the author's purpose) every ford superabounds with fish." It only remains to say, that a young friend ha- ving undertaken the present edition of a rare work, (of which only a limited number of copies has been printed,) these remarks, and a few trivial notes, were contributed by one who may subscribe him- self with John Richards, in his Recommendatory Poem : No FISHER, BUT A WELL-WISHER To THE GAME. EDINBURGH, January 3, 1821. THE TROUT, THE DACE, THE PIKE, THE BREAME, THE EELE, THAT LOVES THE TROUBLED STREAME, THE MILLER'S THOMBE, THE HIDING LOACH, THE PERCH, THE EVER-NIBLING ROACH, THE SHOALES WITH WHOM IS TAVIE FRAUGHT, THE FOOLISH GUDGEON QUICKLY CAUGHT, AND LAST, THE LITTLE MINNOW-FISH, WHOSE CHIEFE DELIGHT IN GRAVELL IS. Britannia's Pastorals.. WILLIAM BROWNE. TO MY WORTHY AND HONOURED FRIEND, MR J. W. MERCHANT IN LONDON. SIR, As this compendious volume of my North- ern Memoirs contains nothing of obscenity whereat I may blush, so I hope no absurdi- ty worthy your reprehension : Yet because modelized in the plain methods of an Eng- lish dress, will perhaps occasion the sciolist to interpret me but a junior academian ; and truly so he may, if when to consider my slender education. However, I have endea- voured, as much as in me lies, to avoid all prolixity, and long parentheses, which pos- sibly would relish unpleasant in your ear ; so have I abhorred repeated tautologies, lest fearing to nauseate and surfeit your appe- tite. a VI For that end, sir, I'll be brief in my de- scription of Scotland, and as concise as pos- sible in my Contemplative Angler ; so sum up both as compendiously as I can. In Cambridg, it's true, I had my education; but travel having the ascendent over me, I afterwards rambled the remote northern tracts of Scotland ; where, to admiration, I inspected that little artick world, and every angle of it. It's true, travel always affected me, and to travel by books, when nothing else presented to transport me, was a soli- tary kind of satisfaction, but no fruition. I must confess 'twas in an ill juncture of time, when the nation was alarm'd by the fatal approach of an intestine war (that perplex'd my anxious thoughts with various inquie- tudes) because then to see a preternatural cloud arise, that neither men nor counsels were prophetick enough to consult, where- by to stop the deluge of this hostile inun- dation that threatned to involve the king- dom in blood. In this dilemma I left the university to seek umbrage in the city of London ; but my retirements contributed equal trouble, VII for now a smoak began to rise in every cor- ner, and like a meteor, it blaz'd out at last into fuliginous flames, that overspread the beautiful prospect of peace ; which not on- ly distracted the minds but the manners of men ; because then to behold a storm rise out of a calm, that not only threatned pre- rogative and privilege, but a national exit, unhappily calculated to compel the people to see their own ruins wrapt up in the des- tiny of war. Where some, because never enough satisfied by being well, endeavoured by inadvertency to make themselves worse, and striking their breasts with their own weapons, forced all the kingdom to bleed at last. So that now every man runs to seek a pleget to stanch, if possible, the reeking wound ; yet no man so propitious to find his own cure, by which he fancied all the rest incurable. That now so generally and epidemically the kingdom was diseased, that deliriated and distracted, they let one an- other blood. Nor stop'd it here neither, for the cultivated fields stained all over with English blood (beyond all precedent) bled, Vlll till the life of that nonsuch Charles expi- red. But now since England is so happily blest under the prudent conduct of a valorous prince (whose heroick vertues like a corona surround him) presents me an opportunity to step into Scotland, to examine there her remoter stars, fed by the vital flames of our southern orb ; supposing it no riddle, to fancy any man ridiculous that holds up a ta- per to illuminate the sun : for if when to con- sider, that the beautiful Cynthia sheds her nocturnal beam abroad, only to sprinkle the universe with cold influences, from thence we conclude that the major luminary (viz. the sun) adds to her obscurity his bright re- flections, since she of herself is but a bor- rowed light, that can neither warm the world, nor cherish it with vegetation. But the light of the sun not only invigorates the creation with light and warmth, but is also a crea- tional good in the ends of production. Come then, whilst it is day, let us step into Scotland, to rummage and rifle her rivers and rivulets, and examine her flou- IX rishing streams for entertainment; there the rocks and the groves will be our solent re- ception, and the cities and citadels supply us with accommodation ; and there I fancy our time will be well enough spent to view the country, and give a description of all her curiosities : which I here present you, my worthy patron, in this short narrative, not doubting your clemency to absolve my stripling muse, though not fleg enough to elevate it self to the lowest elevations of your generous acceptation. But I'll do what J can in these northern tracts, to bring you a discovery of some of her rarities, whose solitary shades strike a damp to my pen, because to behold there such unexpected landskips, meanders and labyrinths (which I frequently met with) as exposed my reso- lution to a farther progress, whereby to dis- cover all her northern gaities that shin'd so splendidly in every fir-wood, as also in her lofty domineering hills, that over-top'd the submissive shady dales, and over-look'd the rapid torrents of rivers, and pretty purl- ing gliding rivulets ; where the polish'd rocks, and imbellish'd fortifications beyond belief, so surpriz'd my genius, that it puz- zles me to report these remote curiosities. For you are to consider, sir, that the whole tract of Scotland is but one single se- ries of admirable delights, notwithstanding the prejudicate reports of some men that represent it otherwise. For if eye-sight be argument convincing enough to confirm a truth, it enervates my pen to describe Scot- land's curiosities, which properly ought to fall under a more elegant stile to range them in order for a better discovery. For Scot- land is not Europe's umbra, as fictitiously imagined by some extravagant wits : No, it's rather a legible fair draught of the beau- tiful creation, drest up with polish'd rocks, pleasant savanas, flourishing dales, deep and torpid lakes, with shady fir-woods, immerg'd with rivers and gliding rivulets j where every fountain o'reflows a valley, and every ford superabounds with fish. Where also the swelling mountains are covered with sheep, and the rnarish grounds strewed with cattle, whilst every field is fill'd with corn, and every swamp swarms with fowl. This, in my opinion, proclaims a plenty, and pre- sents Scotland, a kingdom of prodigies and products too, to allure foreigners, and en- tertain travellers. So that now Scotland represents a star that reflects a beam on our southern orb ; but England is the magnet that attracts this northern Chalybs by sweet influences, (and mild condescensions) whereby the fruits of peace and tranquillity protrude, and bud up to unite interests in one another. The orbs were made for the erratick stars ; and every star as a lesser orb (destinated for light and discovery) renders the creation beautiful to excess, by divine appointment of the divi- nest. For the sun we see is not impaired, be- cause to lend us a ray of light ; nor does it lessen superiours (in any degree) to commu- nicate their virtues to influence inferiours, Do stars run retrograde to make subjects slaves, when the whole creation is but un- der subjection by divine condescension of the great Creator ? Nor is there any thing of slavery (save only servility) except man who enslaves himself to his lust ; or by ty- ranny imposed upon his fellow creature. And now, sir, I have done, in doing my XII duty, not only to my country, but singly to your self : give me leave therefore to wind up my epistle, and solicit pardon if any thing be amiss j supposing my language runs harsh and rugged ; but that I cannot help, because drawn from the rough draught of a martial pen, which shews my stile may be somewhat unpolished. Nor can I flatter the times, for I never was a parasite nor a time-server ; so that, errors excepted, I may hope a pardon and an easy penance from so mild, so moderate and judicious a pa- tron, under whose patronage I lodg my sen- timents, and subscribe my self, Worthy sir, yours to serve you, PHILANTHROPUS. DEDICATION TO THE Virtuosos of the Rod in Great Britain's Metro* polls, the famous City of London. GENTLEMEN, I WAS somewhat unwilling my Angler should pass the press, till sedulously examined by some of your ingenious society ; and the ra- ther, because it's eminently known, that many amongst you are experienced profi- cients, in the mystical art and intrigues of angling : whose approbation will indisputa- bly accommodate my design, provided it come time enough, before my Angler en- counter the press. However, if it come XIV short, I shall satisfy my self (as if already confirmed) that you'l please to embarque in these my solitary examinations of those ri- vers and rivulets in England and Scotland, where the fields in winter are paved with frost ; yet are the meadows in summer- time beautified with greens, and deck'd and adorn'd with redolent sweets, that perfume the air, whose delightful fords are furnish- ed with trout ; and to advance recreation, the generous race of salmon : an entertain- ment perhaps not every where understood, nor is it by every angler (I perswade my self) throughly examined. But, gentlemen, I have brought you some- what else ; which, for ought I know, may prove a friendly diversion, if you please to inspect this narrative and survey of Scot- land, where perhaps you'l meet with such entertainment, as may not only benefit, but in some measure delight you, after your ex- ercise of fishing for trout. What then if you step from the water-side, and contemplate nature ; so raising your scenes, you'l ad- mire the Creator, in his rare and admirable XV creational work ; there you may see the ope- ration of elements and stellate influences ; there also you may see the curious and va- rious amalgamations of earth into crista- line forms and opacous bodies ; and there you may see how the luminaries are adapt- ed parents of polite stones, metals and mi- nerals : How vegetables also protrude and bud up, because impregnated with prolifick vegetation ; and how the principles naturally operate in animals, inspired and animated by the soul of the world. We have also considered some moral du- ties, in reference to men of sober conversa- tion : nor are we altogether barren of soli- tudes, and divine contemplation. The stars we consider as fiery objects, and he that made them thus gloriously to shine, made them also to influence and impregnate the universe : for God through wisdom hung up aloft these bright, shining, and globical bodies, whereby to illuminate this stupen- dous creation ; and that by reason of their rapidity and circular rotation, they impreg- nate the earth with prolifick virtue : and as XVI we see the stars surround the earth, the orbs beyond dispute immure the stars ; but the heavens encircling both the orbs and ele- ments, plainly demonstrate that from the divinest, every created individual has both ends and means naturally and specifically appropriated to it self, whereby to make it visible ; and visibility terminates in time. Which notion, to explain in a philosophical sense, seems to imply, that both matter and form results in their own proper and natu- ral beginning. Know therefore that cor- ruption is the child of putrefaction, and pu- trefaction is the prison and sepulchre of death ; death therefore precedes the resur- rection, and the resurrection is the clavis that opens eternity. But, gentlemen, pray excuse me if I wan- der too far from the water-side, to aze and 7 o admire these glorious metaphors, the divine oracles of him that made them, so not on- ly lose my opportunity of angling, but en- danger to lose my self in these solitary me- anders ; rarely frequented and trod by the vulgar. Give me leave therefore to retrieve XV11 my self, and introduct you into the slen- der margin of this my uncultivated book ; and examine the volume, if provided any thing may be found there worthy your inge- nious entertainment, or the general accep- tation of so splendid a society, that gives laws and rules to all the anglers in Eng- land ; that accommodates every county with rods for diversion, and inriches every ri- ver with hooks and lines ; that circumspect- ly prescribes critical hours for recreation, and consults both the mean and elevation of angling, whereby to augment and quicken the spur of pleasure. But I'm sorry I can raise my scenes no higher, to elevate this admirable piscatorian science, beyond the Elizium of the angler's Arcadia. For had I that pre-eminence of pen and fancy, to il- lustrate what the art of it self deservedly re- quires, I should impoverish England, nay it may be all Europe, if not all the world, to select expressions, to express and deci- pher it's deserved encomium. But finding my self unable to accomplish this great un- dertaking, I'll silently sit down satisfied, XVlll under the rhapsodies of contemplation ; in- viting my associates so to do, when encoun- tring the rocks and rivers for recreation. Now, gentlemen, since magnetism is so little known among artists, I less blame the indigency of those that know not how na- ture by innate quality attracts her own like- ness, than other inconsiderate rationals, that sport away their time in pursuit of their lusts. Let the angler therefore (if he please) select contemplation, and pity such others that are destitute of those heavenly advan- tages, till the strokes of grace and a pious example or education, compel them to write memorandums of the glorious creation, in the fair and legible copy-book of wisdom ; so imitate nature in her daily progress, till ariving at the super-excellency of practical Christianity, which truly to know, is wisdom in the abstract, that transmutes our nature into grace, and our humanity into divinity. But this you'l alledg is heavenly transmu- tation ; and so it is beyond the mediums and discovery of art, or the indication of nature (improper therefore to introduce un- XIX dergraduats) : It's true, it is so v ; but what then ? can't they omit the thoughts of ele- ments, to mingle sometimes their contem- plations with things more sublime ? Can't they relinquish their exercise, to converse with heavenly objects ? This I advise to, and my book will instruct them. Now I have given you a plat-form for contemplation, which opens the windows of the mind to inspectulate (if possible) in- visible objects ; but not to darken your sight by gazing too much at the sun ; for the more amiable and illustrious any thing is, the more astonishing is that thing, and ought therefore to be the more admired, conse- quently desired, before the methods of in- dustry, or the lineal progress of art. But in as much as angling is a great part of our business, let me admonish the more inge- nious artist to be mindful of experience, lest peradventure he slide into the slippery tract of an author, so unman himself of practical demonstration. Against which hypothesis I exhort the angler, whilst capable to trace 12 XX the silver sands, or florid meadows of Thames and Trent, to con sort with ingenuity amongst rocks and meanders, where probably he may meet with his friend PHILANTHROPUS. A ,3OOi DEDICATION :. .'. ; ':' TO THE Academicks in Cambridg, the place of my Nativity. vf GENTLEMEN, I PRESENT you with a fair opportunity to travel Scotland, and stay at home : but then you'l lose the benefit of tracing those north- ern tracts, where you may pick up admira- ble curiosities in every angle, because na- turally replenished with great variety. But not that 1 commend the country to flatter her inhabitants, nor intend I to exceed in my method and stile, when only to describe her cities and citadels, towns and castles, &c. For that end expect an impartial ac- b XX11 count from a candid and (I would, if per- mitted, say) a regular pen, that neither pro- fits nor loses by imbellishing or demolish- ing either her towns, cities, forts, or fortifi- cations, But the longer I comment upon this northern subject, the more arguments I bring to convince the incredulous, that Scot- land's national stores, and commodious ma- ritime ports, will treat you with good accom- modation and civil entertainment. Nor do I seem to contradict my self, when modest- ly concluding every impartial examinant under the perswasion of my opinion : nor doubt I to convince him, that shall hereaf- ter trace her delightful shores, and observe the various and distinct classes of her num- berless numbers of fish and fowl, her lofty and domineering mountains, and mountain- ous ascents burdned with firs, her pleasant and fertil fields fill'd with corn, and her meadows and pastures crowded with herds of cattle, but that he will conclude with me, that her cities and sea-ports flourish under the conduct of trade and navigation. And where the gilded Highlands are the Low- XXlll landers prospect, and the skirts of the hills sanctuary to the bordering planes, shading her plants from the fiery strokes of the sun in summer, that defends them against im- petuous and immoderate cold in winter, in- cident there to in regard so situated, that it lies north latitude near fifty nine degrees, though reaching the cusp of our southern situations. Formerly, I confess, I flattered my self with Scotland's intemperance ; but my opi- nion is otherwise now, because having suf- o ficiently examined to the contrary, and ad- judg it an error in any man to denounce sentence before examination. Are the Ar- tick and Antartick Poles at variance, be- cause of distance and seemingly contrary actings ? or stand they in opposition one to another, because Aristotle's philosophy could not reconcile them ? Must it there- fore follow that there's no correspondency, no congruity nor harmony betwixt them ? when it's evident they are exerted by the universal spirit of nature, whereby they act and react upon one another : else would the tides of themselves stand still, and because 11 XXIV wanting motion, the ocean would stagnate, and at last result in putrefaction ; so by consequence invite a new creation. Let Scotland therefore be England's Cha- lybs, and let England be unto a Scotland a magnet to attract, contemporate, and min- gle those northern severities, by southern softned reflections of moderate heat ; lest peradventure the rose withers, and the this- tle meet with the fatal stroak of the syeth. Nature is but one in all her operations. So let these two famous and flourishing king- doms survive their enemies, whilst I strip off some of Scotland's sweetest flowers, to present them to Cambridg, the place of my nativity, with this legitimate fair one ; in- tending her an academian there, because I fancy in time she may grow a proficient, when at present to appear so amiable in rags ; and probably deserves better orna- ments than my slender education is capable to give her, whereby to manuduct her to point the ground, till she her self treads the stage of the world, as her heroick ancestors o have done before her. In the mean time, let me flatter my self, XXV that no gentleman will be so ingenteel to censure my survey, because not lineally ar-^ tificial. I grant my methods might have been reformed by riper judgments, and my discourse placed in better order, which pos- sibly merits a reproof: but I have this for answer, that I'm but a young practitioner in the press ; and because finding my self obliged to conduct and pilot a northern princess ashore, I laboured all I could to bring her to the Borders, expecting some others in readiness there to give her enter- tainment. But I found my self defeated, and this beautiful fair one neglected, not- withstanding all the shores were crowded with spectators, that viewed and reviewed her modest approaches, yet none had the manners to bid her welcome. However, since she is come, I'll present her to the angler that treads the shady tracts and beau- tiful shores of Cam : together with the rest of the fraternity of the rod, that ramble the margin of famous Thames, Trent, Severn, Owse, Tweed, Tine, Eden, Ask, Dove, Dar- win, Tees, Yor, Air, Need, &c. Now since no art more than angling ele- XXVI vates and advances thegenerous mind of the contemplative angler, let me invite and en- courage him to patrole the solitary streams of Trent, if he purpose to undergo the toil of the art, before he publish himself an art- ist : for the practicks of angling won't ap- pear legible, whilst the theory remains pa- radoxically unintelligible, (here's a cypher prick'd down instead of a figure) so that should I emblazon or intitle my self an art- ist, or a proficient of the rod, how can I avoid running the risque of being reputed ostentatious ? On the other hand, to remain silent after the periods of forty years exer- cise, every angler will censure me ignorant, and my silence interpret me wilfully obsti- nate. Thus I steer betwixt Sylla and Cha- rybdis. But as I cannot impede or hinder the thoughts or suggestions of any man, so by the law of retaliation, no man ought to hinder or misinterpret my modest resolu- tions, when but to challenge the degree of an under-graduate in the art. Nor have I confidence to raise my ambitions higher, than to superscribe my self an admirer of the rod, and a lover of silent and solitary xxvn streams. Let my writings therefore remon- strate my experiments, and my experiments manifest my zeal for solitudes, and my na- tural affection to the place of my nativity, which can never be wanting whilst I'm in a capacity to speak or write my name, PHILANTHROPUS. A DEDICATION TO THE Gentlemen Piscatorians inhabiting in or near the sweet Situations of Nottingham, North of Trent. GENTLEMEN, IF to violate faith (though but with infi- dels) we forfeit not only our reason, but re- ligion ; so not to dedicate some part of my experiments to your ingenious society, might justly prohibit me the freedom of tracing your flourishing fields and fragrant meadows, inamel'd with flowers, that per- fume the beautiful suburbs of Trent ; upon whose delightful banks I formerly used to spend some solitary hours, in pursuit of the scaly fry, and where the plenty and sweet situations invited me not only to contem- plate, but improve this mystical art of an- gling : though it's true, the rudiments (in XXIX the minority of youth) were laid in Cam ; yet silver Trent's orient streams graduated my juniour experiments, by unfolding her meanders, and making obvious the intrigues of her rapid fords, replenished with variety; nay so great variety offish, that only to ex- press it would almost bring truth into sus- picion ; when from the more profound and solitary deeps, the artist (if expert) may summons up lucit, and the generous race of salmon. But, gentlemen, I am not angling now, I'm only telling you those original motives to this solitary (and piscatorian) science, that grew up with me when an adult ; for then I courted the shady streams of Cam ; but Trent (as I told you above) gave me education. To Trent therefore (and the place of my nativity) I direct my influences, let malice do its worst ; nor are they extra- vagant notions, nor broken fragments, col- lected from foreign nor domestick authori- ty, but lineal and practical experiments and demonstrations, drawn up and cultivated by the mediums of art, and the exact me- thods of observation ; which without vanity, I dedicate to your Society inhabiting the XXX flourishing ports of Nottingham ; which I doubt not you'l accept of, though not much to inrich you ; however you may taste of those solitary hours laboriously spent in Great-Britain's Hellespont, (the famous Trent) where I used to refresh my self, and ramble up and down her delightful fords, to gratify and satisfy others as well as my self with the fruits of experience. So that should I call sea and land Elizium, it's not alto- gether improper so to do, since earth and water compleat but one globe. In those florid fields, near the fords of Trent, I frequently wandred up and down to crop the buds of experience ; yet I plun- dred no man's orchard to enrich my arbory, nor borrowed 1 other men's labours to adorn my discoveries : the bounty of Heaven, that always blest me with benevolent success, restrained me from rifling the records of my ancestors ; when to put a rod in my hand, and place a river before me ; so that I should offer violence to reason and art, if now to consult the authority of others, when such a large and legible folio to write by, as the great and stupendous volume of the crea- tion ; which to contemplate, interprets the divine practice of solitudes, and becomes not only con tributary to the present, but the future generations. To study contemplation is the high way to heaven, where the suburbs consist of a divine composition, and where you may read by those oracles the stars, the beauti- ful order of celestial bodies, and the great and lesser world all harmony ; for heaven and earth are correlates, which duly to con- template, poises our passion, and baffles our pride ; which necessarily pursues the foot- steps of generation, as naturally as rust fol- lows copper, which without dispute is the death of the compound : consequently tra- dition, if penitentially admitted, and igno- rance opposed to the mediums of art ; there uncultivated arts present no dispondencies, nor need a man solicite reality in practicks. But this I oppose, and confidently assert, he that licks up the fabulous fiction of slip- pery authority, to confirm his false and un- tenable position, brings unsound arguments to prop and support the slender faith his opinion leans on ; whereby he exposes him- self to clamour and reproach, and the cen- sure of every judicious examinant. XXX11 Give me leave therefore to remonstrate my resolution, since the arguments and al- legations in my book are my own. Yet had I rob'd Virgil to adorn my muse, peradven- ture my fancy had been more fruitful ; but take it as it is, since so freely dedicated to the Virtuosos of the Rod, from whom in modesty I may reasonably expect some cha- ritable censures of this my sober and con- templative angler ; advising them to direct to the gnomen of practicks, omitting theo- ry, and the useless prescriptions of the an- tients. Then shall no man need to grope the invention of others, but manifest every truth by plain demonstration. Thus far I may safely sail under the angler's protec- tion ; but should I write marginal notes, and place them to the test of unpractical anglers, beyond dispute I should split on a rock, and wanting a pilot to bring me off, I might live without hope, and die in despair ; which I resolve against whilst capable to write my name, PHILANTHROPIC. ' THE PREFACE. COURTEOUS READER, LET me manuduct you through the slender mar- gin of my uncultivated boo/f, to contemplate the evangelical sweets of reason and religion, two re- quisite and necessary principles for a Christian. For since it hath pleased God, through infinite mercy, to breathe into man a rational soul, where- by he was made lord of all the creation, to govern and conduct the creatures committed to his charge, with respect of duty to his Sovereign Creator : this capacitates man to act pi*udentially ; for im- prudent actions proceed from rashness, and the inconsiderate poize of reason. So to be religious, it's the Christian's corona, that enables him to contemplate liis present state and future felicity : Which to accomplish, he must cruciate himself with his thoughts and his lusts, and strip himself of all imaginary vanities, to ruminate how the XXXIV certain uncertain state of mortality in a moment breaks up and terminates in death. And ifs re- quisite it be so, since the body's solution displays the soul's glorious ascension out of this elemen- tary tabernacle of cartJi and clay ; whereby with more vivacity she may elevate her self on the icing of faith, by divine attraction, to those glorious and invisible exaltations : which beatifical vision no mortal tongue can well express, nor can mortality conceive nor enjoy here, save only by a divine faith, and a holy and heavenly speculation. Now, how necessary is the study and practice of Christianity, the true, noble, and the heavenly birth ! For a Christian is such by regeneration, aud to be regenerate is a child of God ; and a child of God is a saint here. For militant saints in grace here, shall be triumphant saints in glory hereafter, made beauteously to shine in the New Jerusalem, and wear the royal badg of heaven, and that's an immortal angelical crown ; to which is affix 'd the diadem of the Divinest, in legible and intelligible characters of the Cross. God in love with his own image, beautifies and adorns the soul with immortality. Ifs true, Heaven knows no limit nor dimension ; but earth has periods. With what circumspection, therefore, ought we to travel through this mortal pilgrimage, to the sa- cred temple of piety and devotion, where the bless- ed sweets of eternity, are perpetually tasted by XXXV contemplating a preparation for death. And what is death but the key of eternity f These and such like pious considerations, lift up the standard of the mind to the elevations of contemplation. For if the progress of life be but one single scene of a tragedy, of necessity tJie world must be the thea- tre, life the prologue, heaven the design, and death the exit. So not only to live, but to live well, im- ports a well-dying ; and to die to sin, is to live eternally. Thus whilst premeditating the life of solitudes, give me leave to publish to the world this mysti- cal art, and the intrigues of angling ; and because animated by the mediums of experience, I thought it argument good enough to gratify the age, and reward the industrious with trophies of the art, which indeed is the ultimate end and period of ex- periment. Now tell me a better accommodation than what naturally Jlows from solitary hours so- lemnly dedicated to the Divinest ; when to dis- course ivith birds in shady bowers, and converse with Jish in rivers and rivulets ; to obliterate the world and vain conversation ; so take our flight as high as heaven, by divine faith and heavenly contemplation : such a life as this explains the angler not only a monument of patience, but expe- rience : so that ambition can never be a bait to en- snare him, that already is delivered from pride, and the arrests of arrogancy. O, how sweetly XXXVI does such a man's habitation smell, whose enter- tainment and salutation is the dialect of peace, where every action, if thorowly examined, reads harmonious lectures of concord and content, la- bouring what in him lies to stand a distance from this ambiguous world, whilst the world pursues her flattering admirers, and such only as vainly heap up accursed riches to perplex themselves, and blast posterity. But I fancy, and it may be but a fancy, that some prevaricating Zoilist will arraign my hypothesis, and stigmatize anglers (and the art] with those black blemishes of barba- rity and cruelty, when only designed to kill a fish. To which I reply, that the creatures in the crea- tion (by divine appointment] were appropriated for use, and what may that use be, if not the re- freshment and nourishment of mankind ? Adam had a commission from the King of Heaven, im- powering him lord over all sublunary creatures : Will any one question this privilege ? And Peter was commanded to arise, kill, and eat ; when doubting with himself the legality of the thing, who disputes this commission ? Now for any man to question these divine truths, (except a Banian,} he questions the Scriptures, the authority of truth. The creatures in the creation (we must grant] were designed for nutrition and sustentation ; yet no man had a commission so large to take away life upon no other account than to gratify his lust. xxxvn Then the next question arising will be, whether the rod or the net is rather to be approved of? I liave only this to answer, (since both contribute to health and maintenance,} the apostles themselves they used the one, why then may not the angler plead for the other ? Thus far I enter the angler's list, and resolve to encounter this critical age by promulgating the series of the art of angling. But to shape out rods, twist lines, and appropriate times and seasons, with variety of waters, and sutability of baits ; as also the making of instruments, arming of hooks, forming the accurate proportion of flies, shaping of corks, staining of quills, forming of swivels, and drawing out wiers, besides casting of plumbs, and moulding of shot, I resolve against ; for its nothing" my business, though a task neither intricate nor tedious to the several and various artificers pregnant in the art. For that end you may dedicate your opinion to what scribling pu- tationer you please ; the Compleat Angler, if you will, who tells you of a tedious flij story, extrava- gantly collected from antiquated authors, such as Gesner, Dubravius, 8te. but I rather commend you to famous Isaac Owldham, whose experiences sprung from the Academy of Trent : so did that eminent angler, George Merrils ; and as eminent as he was John Fawlkner, whose known abilities XXXV111 to cultivate this science (both for directions and manuels) I modestly prefer before any other. Yet how frequently is this art promulged by mudlers, and under the plausible pretence of ang- lers ? when upon examine you'lfind them deficient in practicks, and indigent in the lineal and plain tracts of experience ; yet so fortified with confi- dence and ignorance, enough, I declare, to make an artist blush, if only but to hear them assert, that from one river in a nation, all the rest may be nationally understood : which preposterous im- pertinent opinion, if I should not publickly op- pose, it would seem to confirm and assign me a confederate with the rout and rabble so ignorant- ly opinionated. But I shall offer my reason, to avoid the suspicion of an imposture, lest I be thought to traduce my proselytes into the extreams of an error ; otherwise I had shrowded my self under a taciturnity, had not I dreaded the cen- sure of other able and practical anglers, that in reason may expect a replication from me. For that end, I publish this Treatise to the world, where my arguments are synonymous, connect to- gether like links in a chain, in opposition to that inconsiderate opinion, that by one river all the ri- vers in England, &c. may be included for fish and diversion. Which is alike probable, that an orchard without cultivation, should produce fo- reign fruit : or the Peak in Derbyshire, should XXXIX assign us gold instead of lead, or the minera of oar. Now supposing this eminent difficulty resolved, yet some will be solicitous to puzzle themselves about baits and seasons ; so that I foresee it will aggravate and fret their intoxicated patience : Where note, such may search (as already pre- noted) in the mouldy records of Androvanus, Du- bravius, Gesner, or Isaac Walton, whose autho- rity to me seems alike authentic^, as is the gene- ral opinion of the vulgar prophetick : for neither all nor one of them is an oracle to me, experience is my master, and angling my exercise ; yet mo- derated so, that I don't always employ my self with throwing in, nor haling out, as pochers do, that covet more than their panniers contain ; this makes the sweet of their labours unprofitable, when the angler only designs diversion the final end of his recreation. However, somewhat of this nature is expected from me, otherwise the prejudicate will conclude me ignorant, or affected with paucity : but I shall prevent that suspicion, by publishing to the world this Treatise of Angling ; wherein the practicks are manifestly divulged, though the contemplative be but in part expressed. And what hinders (I pray you] to withdraw sometimes from the trembling streams of Trent, to dedicate your vacant hours to the shrines of solitudes ; to sit upon rocks, or in shady groves ; there to content- xl plate the beautiful creation, and meditate our pre- sent and eternal future state ; so with a holy and reverential fear, call to mind the Creator and Ori- ginal of all things, through whose wisdom kings rule, and princes decree justice ? But doubting some may want other moral inducements, to such I have brought a glass of morality, wherein they may view the world's state of inconstancy ; but to the more religious and contemplative angler, a model of piety, (Jacob will struggle hard for a blessing,] where he may see the inamour'd and seraphick soul surmount the cctlicr, whilst earth- worms like otters prey below upon fish. Now to such as love travel, I have brought them history, but to such others as love fish and pleasant waters, my Treatise : for the studious geographer, here are cities and countries ; but far the active engineer, castles and citadels. Should thy fancy be mean, here are shallow brooks ; deep rivers require the skilful art of swimming. Thus my book seems a mart, ivhere a man may trade for trifles, or merchandise for things of greater value. The ivorld is all purchase, and death the pay-master. Think not, therefore, to naturalize earth into heaven, since every thing adheres and partakes of its own nature. I advise, therefore, the lovers of a solitary life, to study sobriety, tern- perance, patience, and chastity ; for these divine blessings are the gift of God. So is contempla- 13 xli tion, which never shines so clearly as when retired from the world and worldly incumbrances. Woods, rocks, grottos, groves, rivers, and rivulets, are places pick'd out for contemplation; where you may consider creational work, and melt with the warbling notes of Philomel, and the innocent har- mony of musical birds, that deliciate the air, and delight the attention. Or you may proportion your meditations with the pulse of the ocean, or the soft and murmuring complaints of purling streams, that imprint their passions as they pass along, when melting the smiling Jlorid banks. Nature consults no artificer to imbellish and adorn her illaborate works ; and shall the God of Heaven, the great Creator, draw his lines from the faint sliadows of nature f Pray, but consider, who makes the sea keep her regular motion, the constellations their rotations, and the erratick stars roll in their several orbs ? Are not all the reins of government in the Divine Hand of him that made them ? Is not the Christianas diadem, and the pur- chase of the Cross there ? liberty and freedom there f the sweet tranquillity of peace there ? the blessed society of saints and angels there ? jus- tice and mercy there f the results also of life and death there ? and where shall we be found if not there, in those everlasting arms of beatitude, that exert our souls by the divine ray of contempla- tion ? xlii Study patience, practise humility, and let re- pentance be our daily exercise ; since these with other vertues, are duties incumbent. Then may we sing hallelujahs at an angelical pitch ; and that 8 a strain above the worlds Ela. These, and such like divine impressions, we ought to imprint on our immortal minds, when with impatiency we pursue our exercise, either to the river, or solitary lough. For the taper burns, and the thread of life (be- cause lapd up in this fine tiffany web of mortali- ty] like a meteor terminates sometimes in a blaze : Too late then to confer with reason, or think of religion. Sofarewel, and be happy in the rules of friendship ; but happier to live in the amiable arms of vertue, ever honoured, and admired, by thy friend, PHILANTHROPIC. xliii MY BOOK. Go, tell those men that bait their hook with gain, That plow the Hellespont, and cross the main, To fish for gold in ev'ry muddy pit, And hourly wait for evVy paltry bit ; That make their shops the fishponds, and the fry, Knacks of all sorts, to catch the standers-by ; That trole with silver hook, but use no rod, And freely strike, perchance the line but nod : That use no other links than such as are Compos'd of golden threads, not stone-horse-hair : Such mudling anglers, all the baits they lay Tempt nothing more than arguments of clay. Not well consid'ring, all this while they paddle In Craesus wealthy ponds, their eggs prove addle. For when they come to scale their fry, and cook, EVry surprize reach'd them with silver hook ; They must conclude more fin than fish was caught, 'Cause ev'ry action proves an empty thought. Come, trace the angler's footsteps, he will lead Thy genius to some grove, or rock : there feed Thy thoughts with contemplation ; whilst most men Think such retirements but a cave, or den : And I'll assure thee when thou com'st to know Those vertues that from contemplation flow, Thou surely wilt conclude the whole creation Was made for man ; man, but for contemplation. PuiLANTHROrUS. xliv TO MY HONOURED FRIEND, CAPTAIN RICHARD FRANCK, UPON HIS Contemplative I AM no fisher, But a well-wisher To the game : And as oft as I look And read in your book, So oft I blame My minutes spent with frothy recreation, Whilst others live aloft by contemplation. It's true, sometimes I read In Cambden and Speed, And sometimes Mercator : Yet in them I can't spy How the scaly fry Floats in the water. We grant those anglers were elaborate To fish the world ; but you the anglers state. JOHN RICHARDS. xlv TO MY WORTHY AND HONOURED FRIEND, CAPTAIN R. F. ON HIS Contemplatiuc SIE, you have taught the angler that good fashion Not to catch fish with oaths, but contemplation. No man that's wise, but out of good intention Will hug your plot, and well-contriv'd invention. To take the fowl, and fowler let alone ; That's not the killing two birds with one stone. But he that catches fish, and fisher too, Has done as much as man or art can do. Honour's the bait for one ; but silly flies Are mortal engines for the scaly fries. And he that thinks to scape the present danger, .Fastens himself, thinking to noose the stranger. For one or other's still catch'd in the net, When politicians have the pool beset. And haling to and fro, to fill their dish, Lites on a chub perchance, or some such fish, That dies without redemption, unless he Amphibion-like, can live by land, or sea : But in the calms of silver silent Trent, There's no such danger in the turnaraent. For you may fish till sun-set, nay all night, Find but your gamesters a fresh appetite ; And that a bait will do, when you would court Your game ashore, that dius to sec the sport. MERCURIUS HERMON. xlvi TO MY HONOUR'D FRIEND, CAPTAIN R. F. AUTHOR OF THE Contemplatttie Angler. I KNOW, ingenious sir, that Sol's bright rays Make tapers useless ; so will be my praise Of this your Angler, for what I express Can nothing add to that illustrious dress : Except in this, as colours dark, we know, Cause brighter colours far more bright to show. The garb it's clothed in, indeed is rich ; Made up of neatest ornaments of speech ; Grac'd with most pleasant fancy, and the flow'rs Of purest elegance, pick'd at such hours When you have sat to hear the Muses sing On the sweet banks of the Castalian spring : Adorn'd with most curious observations, Join'd with most sober contemplations : Things both divine and moral, and withal Pleasant descriptions geographical : Full of ingenious variety, Mixt here and there with dainty poesy. So that there's scarce a line throughout the book That is not furnish'd with its line and hook, With which the reader will be caught, wheii's eye Is searching how to cheat the scaly fry. Ladies will make it their companion, xlvii And learn by it to fish in Hcllicou. Who, when that their fair eyes shall chance to view Your active fancy, will with haste pursue After the same, to see its utmost flight ; And so involve a progress of delight. Here's nothing to offend their eyes or ears, Nor fill their tender breasts with dismal fears. No horrid plots, nor base conspiracies, Nor noise of arms from Mars his nurseries : No fields of blood, nor air disturbed with tones Of harshest discords sent from dying groans. Arnoldus and Theophilus will lead Them in more pleasant paths : They now may tread On Scotish ground with pleasure ; for that place Looks brisk and fair, since you have wash'd its face. 'Twill please them when they do behold the state Of this new structure bravely situate : And then immediately they'l fall in love With that alluring and delightful grove ; And those harmonious birds that sit and sing, Whilst ev'ry pretty purling pleasant spring Doth murmur as it glides, and loth to be Deprived the sweets of such societie. Here may be found those vertuous harmless sports, That far transcend the vanities of courts. Here may be seen each hill's majestick brow Smile on the amorous valley that's below. Here may a man enjoy such pleasant naps, As poets have upon the Muses Japs : Whilst gentle Zephyrus from rosie lips Sends whispers, which through fragrant bushes skips Upon the gentle streams, that glide away Whilst lambs do bleat, and pretty fishes play. xlviii And thus through paths that strewed with content, You bring the reader to the silver Trent, Upon whose fertil banks methinks I see Apollo's darlings making melodie : Led by your fancies thread from their own spring, And in delightful tones sit sonneting : Who when they mention you in their sweet lays, May th' angler eccho your deserved praise. JOHN SLATOE. xlix TO MY HONOUR'D FRIEND, CAPTAIN R. F. AUTHOR OF THE Contemplative ATLAS I've seen, and I have read your book, ,' /< Where ev'ry argument's a line and hook To catch the curious reader ; let him throw But to surprize the fish, he's surpriz'd too. For whilst in shady streams the anglers watch To catch the fish, the silly purdues catch'd. Nay I have seen, when I have seen you spread The trembling streams with neither silk nor thread, That you with horse-hair upon throwing in, >>n Has fish surpriz'd that never wagg'd a fin. Mussles in Trent, IVe seen them leave the water, And swim ashore as if 'twere them you sought for. Cheese after meat prohibits other dishes, And after shell-fish rarely other fishes. Now anglers look about you, whilst you draw Your game ashore, and preach the common-law Of destiny, as if it were a favour To sentence death beyond all good behaviour : You know not but your selves in project may Be angled for, whilst you devour the prey. If so, the fisher with the fish takes share, And both alike their fortunes equal are. RICHARD JOHNSON. THE AUTHOR TO THE POET. T IT'S true, you do allow a man may fish In Trent's calm streams, and complement his wish. What then ? were Trent all fish, without content I'd neither covet fish, nor value Trent. The glorious eye of speculation differs From airy things that's hung about with ciphers. It's not the man that's rich, it is the mind That makes him happy 'cause it's unconfin'd. Riches remonstrate horrid shades of night The day puts off, which Phoebus puts to flight. And fear our flight pursues, so that where e're We lodg our fears, death he brings up the rear. But solace and content, is such a thing, And so divine ; it's great Jehovah's ring, With which he weds the world, to make earth's portal The celebration of things more immortal. For heaven and earth in unity repose, From thence our contemplation sweetly flows. The great and lesser world's all harmony ; The spheres are vocal pipes, man's but the key, That when Jehovah's fingers touch to play, The ravish'd soul shakes off this mould of clay ; And hov'ring with her wings, at last makes flight Unto those endless cords of true delight. PHILANTHROPIES. Northern Memoirs, Calculated for the Meridian of SCOTLAND. Wherein most or all of the CttteS, Castles, jFotte, and HittMletS, are compendiously described. Together with choice Collections of various Dis- coveries, Remarkable Observations, Theological Notions, Political Axioms, National Intrigues, Polemick Inferences, Contemplations, Specula- tions, and several curious and industrious In- spections, lineally drawn from Antiquaries, and other noted and intelligible Persons of Honour and Eminency. To which is added Cfje Contemplative anfc Practical Singlet, by way of Diversion. With a Narrative of that dextrous and mysterious Art experimented in England, and per- fected in more remote and solitary Parts of Scotland. By way of Dialogue. Writ in the Year 1658, but not till now made publick, By BtCfjatfl jftancfe. Philanthropic. Plures necat Gula quam Gladius. LONDON, Printed for the Author. To be sold by Henri/ Morlclack, at the Phenix, in St. Paul's Church-yard. 1694. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE CITIES, CITADELS, &c. IN SCOTLAND. WITH THE CONTEMPLATIVE ANGLER. Theophllus. IT was in April, when every bough look'd big with blessings, and the florid fields and fragrant meadows, (adorn'd with green,) sent forth their sweet and redolent perfumes to re- fresh the universe. Chanticleer then gave the day a summons, and the early lark, earlier than the sun, salutes the air, whilst blushing Phebus paints and gilds the azure globe, whose celestial influence, (by refulgent magnetism,) blest all the world with prolifick blessings ; so that the whole creation began to vegitate, and every vegetation A 2 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. sent forth sweet aromas ; the birds began now to build their nests, and every bird to choose his mate ; whilst the groves and delightful springs, as also the forests and unfrequented desarts, ce- lebrated the fragrant spring; when the frigid congelations of frost and snow were all struck dead by the blazing fiery strokes of the sun. Arnoldus. What infer you from these pretty metaphors ? Theoph. I infer thus much : The vernon ingress smil'd a blessing, when she sent the me- lodious harmony of birds to melt the air. The nightingale with her warbling notes, the black- bird, thrush, linnet, and golden-jay, besides the canary and delicious bulfinch, fill'd all the woods with their solitary strains ; and because beating the air with such proportionable har- mony, every bush became an aviary, and every grove a mellifluous concert, whilst the purling springs, and more shady rivulets, softned by the gentle breathings of Zephyr us, seemed tacitly to express a secret, whispering, silent praise. Am. To whom ? Theoph. To whom think you ? Unto Jeho- vah the great Creator. Arn. Very well exprest ! Proceed. Theoph. Things thus posited, under such a NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 3 rectoral governance, my reason and all my fa- culties were excited to contemplate the excel- lent beauty of this stupendous creation ; but above all, when to consider man lord of this creational work, and invested with power to conduct the creatures, and intrusted with the cargo of the whole creation ; this, I confess, was very surprizing, when but to conside him in a natural state, and compare him with the excellency of celestial beings. Am. What observe you from thence ? Theoph. I observe him complicated, and com- pounded of elements ; and elements of them- selves they drop in sunder. Am. But what if you take him translated into a state of grace and regeneration ? Theoph. Why, then, I'll grant the first death is past, and the second death shall have no power to hurt him. Arn. So far you'll grant him to excel all crea- ted beings. Theoph. Yes. But not as he stands in a na- tural state. Am. Do but consider him a living monu- ment of praise, inrich'd with all the endowments of natural perfection, besides those eminent qua- lifications of piety, which intitle him excellent, and confirm him a creature adorn'd with all the 4 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. signal marks and shining characters of this stu- pendous creation. Theoph. Why so ? Am. And why not so? Does not the lion and the leopard, with the tiger, wolf, panther and vulture, pay their veneration to him ? Does not his very aspect confound the croca- dile ? And, with one superficial glance of his eye, he mortifies the basilick. Consider the composure of his face and features, together with the delicate frame, and his well compos'd fabrick of body. Do not these present him a composition of majesty ? Surely it does ; for all the creatures honour and adore him, which de- monstrates him a monarch, and of such a princely soveraignty, that the whole creation pay their services to him. Theoph. You wilfully misinterpret me, or prevaricate your own judgment, by taking wrong measures. That dignity and vertue (you sum up) that formerly shin'd as a ray about him, is now become a cloud, a promiscuous cloud to obscure him. Arn. How can I mistake myself, when, to consider him in a most eminent state, and such a capacity of beauty and excellency, that the maz'd world think him more than a monarch ? Theoph. They may think what they will of NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 5 his primitive state, but convinc'dby experience, he is not so now. It's true, the time was when all the creatures, with a solid submission, humbled themselves before him ; but that was then in his state of innocency, in Eden's fair fields, before transgression, before he unhappily found out the art of sinning ; then and there it was they paid their veneration, but do they so now ? We experience to the contrary ; for the beauty and majesty of that glorious image was so macerated and torn by the talons of sin, that it has grown up since to a flood, to deluge pos- terity. This act of disobedience divested our protoplast, and influenced his successors so, that every generation since Adam has laboured un- der the same predicament ; for that dethron'd Adam in Paradise, disinherited us and Adam's posterity ; there it was man lost his prerogative, and here it is sin makes us less than men. Am. Can one single act in our protoplast so vacate the royal grant of prerogative, to ener- vate the conduct of succeeding generations ? Surely no. The glorious act of government shines universally in man, and will so to the succeeding generations. The whole creation was placed in a posture of servitude to Adam, as he himself stood a subject in obedience to his Creator. So that, if I rightly understand crea- tional work, the great end was to discover hid- 6 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. den things and manifest ideas, with the conse- quent of production of their various species. So that, under submission, I may as rationally con- clude, that the creatures in the creation have now, as then, a natural right to bend their sub- missions to man's princely soveraignty. Theopli. I very much doubt it ; for no sooner Adam lost his prerogative, but he felt a trepe- dation invade all his vitals, and his soul began to blush within him, because afrighted with the aspect of sin, that at a distance presented him the picture of death : now the same death that strangled him, strangles all his posterity. Thus it was when Adam lost his government, and thus it is with us when governing imprudent- ly ; for, till then, the creation was unacquainted with disguise ; nor, till then, did the creature re- linquish his authority, till he relinquished his primitive simplicity. Arn. What happened then ? Theopli. There happened a change in all the creatures, because they perceived a change in their conduct ; where note, ever since that gene- ral revolt, the creatures have been cautious to repose a trust under mortal protection, because destitute of power to govern himself. Arn. Will you deny man a soveraign power and divine right, to intitle himself universal monarch ? NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 7 Theoph. That is not the point in dispute. I have already granted that Adam's divine graces sprung spontaneously from the refulgent ray of the majesty of God. But what is that to us ? Can we restrain our hands from blood, and our hearts from malice and precogitated sin ? Now, every man knows the reward of sin is not death simply, but divine justice ; ai^d divine justice bars out all the footsteps of mercy. Arn. That's undeniable ; however, I'm con- vinced, that could we but govern our own irre- gularities, our passions, our ambitions, and ex- orbitant desires, we should shine like stars (among men,) and seem, in some sort, almost immortal. Theoph. That word (almost) was well put in. But to the argument as to point of government. If unlike Christians we govern ourselves, we ta- citly slide into the inconveniency of slaves ; and such we may suspect ourselves to be, because to sink under the weight of every single temp- tation, by which means we sully all those excel- lent privileges that adorned our protoplast in his primitive state. Arn. What state, then, must we call this, a state of apostacy ? Theoph. You may call it what you please ; for every man is in a state good or bad ; but worst of all is that state that lifts up its hand to rebel against Heaven : Such were the giants in the 8 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. days of old, and such are we now, because over- grown in sin. How often have we violated the authority of our commission ? and how often have infring'd the liberties of the creation ? Now, in the primitive state, there were no such pro- ceeds ; for then the creatures flew as naturally to Adam's hand, as terrified now they fly from ours. The turtle then was heard in every grove, now they coo nowhere except in aviaries ; all the families of birds then filTd the air, now they are compell'd to whistle in cages ; then they ex- prest their gratitude with demonstrations of joy now they lament their destiny, because doomed to die. This was the golden age our an- cestors liv'd in, but it's the iron age we live in now. For innocency, in effect, is almost lost, and it's well if we lose not ourselves. Am. However, I cannot yield to this conclu- sion ; that Adam's commands were so torn and macerated, that surviving posterity should ne- glect their obedience ; for if, when to consider how many generations have travelled through the map of time, (from our ancestors to us,) and time you know informs us of experience, how rational is it then to conclude (but I only offer it for argument sake) that, was Adam repos- sess'd of paradise again, and premonished of sin, (as we are daily precautioned,) whether or no it might not be thought to raise a circumspection NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 9 in him, to evade the serpent, the sin, and the woman's temptation ? Into this opinion most ages have crept ; and our modern assertors and predicators approve on't. Theoph. That's a point beyond my sphere ; I meddle not with why may nofs ; however, I allow you a privilege and freedom of thinking or saying what you please ; but then you ought not to circumscribe bounds to another. How- ever, this I assert, that such was the original purity of Adam, in his state of innocency, that his graces then shined with heavenly rays, and heaven we know is all generosity. But every generation since Adam has so diminished that beauty and lustre, that from men we are almost dwindled into morts. Am. Ay, but, my friend, have you well con- sidered how that the formal fabrick of man's na- tural body, doth represent unto us the world's epitome ? Why not then by the glorious spe- culation of his mind, (under a renovating and re- generate state of grace,) he may represent some- thing of the invisible glories ? TJieoph. You come near to the point. Did not the generations more and more degenerate ? But this, beyond precedent, has outdone all the rest ; for, by offering violence against all that's good, will at last offer violence against itself; and tins is but just by the law of retaliation. Arn. Why so ? 10 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. Theoph. Because, so vehement in the pursuit of sin, we outdo our ancestors and what's the conclusion ? Adam, you see, was made an exile, ? Jompell'd to relinquish the sunshine of pa- radise he was forced to sit down under the shades of Mesopotamia ; but we renounce both law and gospel to monopolize the world and ag- grandize posterity. This is now our deplorable state ; compare it with Adam's, and give your opinion. Am. My opinion in short is, Adam comes short of us ; for, as he was the father of all his posterity, so, as father, we patronize all manner of impiety. Now, I have given you my opi- nion, how do you approve on't ? Theoph. I'll sum it up thus. Whilst Adam stood in purity, his beauty shin'd without de- formity ; so that by the will of the divinest, had he kept his station, posterity had never been doom'd to die by the cold and icie finger of death. Am. O, Theophilus ! that one single sin should so deform him, that was elevated and exalted above the beauties in the creation ! Theoph. Just so it happ'ned to that bright star Lucifer, (and his aspiringconspirators,) whose ambition dethron'd him, and so it will us. He, striving to get above that that was super-excel- lent, lost that excellency the Supreamest had given him. So we, placing our affections on ex- NORTHEHN MEMOIRS. 11 teriour objects, we but inamour ourselves with our own similitudes. Judg of the consequence. Am. Is the law of nature a standing rule or no ? If it be a rule, it ought to be obeyed ; for it is natural in kind to answer kind. TJieoph. Can nature, as nature, exert our zeal, to stir up in us the lively act of Faith ? Surely faith is no part of creational work ; it's rather a bough or branch that buds up from regenera- tion. The excellency, therefore, of the things that are, are not of themselves, but dependent on some other, infinitely more glorious. Such is the Creator, Am. He that made the world had no need of assistance ; but all things that are made were made by him alone. Creational work, therefore, was discovering hidden ideas, and making invi- sibles to appear visible. Theoph. God, the Creator, made himself ma- nifest in time, by his glorious act of power in creating ; who, by his eternal wisdom and pro- vidence, upholds it that it drops not asunder. Arn. That's manifest by the eye of sense ; but he that sees by the eye of faith, sees beyond the creation, for he sees the Creator ; and, in see- ing him, he sees his Redeemer. Theoph. Why then struggle we so hard after superficial knowledg, to defeat ourselves by the dull prospect of sense ; for if, when to create in- 12 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. quietudes in ourselves, we labour and toil with unprofitable anxiety ? Am. What but the curse anticipates the bless- ing ? Man and the creation were made in time ; and time was drawn out by the wisdom of God ; but the understandings of most men, different- ly discerning, differently distinguish, till time, the harbinger of eternity, eats out his character, so translates him to the shades of his silent se- pulchre. Theoph. What infer you from this ? Am. Solomon was a man inspir'd with wis- dom, and endued with understanding ; and God gave him eyes to foresee the vicissitude and re- volution of times and states. Theoph. Solomon had a divine soul, incorpo- rated with humane nature, whose ambition, (if proper to say so,) coveted wisdom rather than wealth, and God answered his desires. In that day Solomon was the Jewish oracle ; but every day is the Almighty's holy-day, and time arid the world like a globe in his hand. Consider, there- fore, the same excellency of spirit Solomon had hovers still over us, like a glory about us, and, by divine permission, over every generation. But, because falling short of Solomon's know- ledg (and divine speculation,) we do not, as So- lomon, all alike discern. Arn. Grant the argument admits of no con- NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 13 tradiction ; yet you will find it a task difficult enough to study the art of self- resignation. Theoph. Solomon, you grant, he refused wealth for wisdom. But what think you of Saul, that went as far as Endor, and rak'd up the ashes of the dead to enquire a victory ? Arn. I think the case different, both in na- ture and quality. The one chose wisdom, but the other witchcraft ; so to connect them toge- ther draws on a false conclusion. Theoph. Then the consequence follows. Saul's reasoning with flesh and blood, as it was im- pious so his application to sorcerers and necro- mancers was also diabolical ; who, to accomplish the end of his conspiracy, consults not Endor only, but the brood of infernals. Arn. He did so, who denies it ? I know what you'll alledg, you'll tell me the tree is known by its fruits. I grant all this, and what then ? yet I dare not interpret Saul a son of perdition. God's mercy never wants wings to fly to the disconsolate penitent, whose mercy super-excels his divine acts of justice. Therefore, judg not Saul, lest we judg ourselves ; when, by the heart only, things are legibly construed. Theoph. It's true, the heart made legible dis- covers a phenix or a vulture ; the first living, (as Hippocrates says) and the last dying ; so that 14 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. neither physick nor philosophy can make mortal immortal. There's neither energy nor excellen- cy in the superficial form. Vertue lies conceal'd as a jewel in a cabinet. No man, therefore, can be read by his species. Arn. To grant your conclusion, proves the thing less difficult in knowing others, than to search within to know ourselves. Solomon had wisdom and divine discoveries ; and Saul had courage to encounter the Philistines. Theopli. That authority that tolerates Solo- mon to have wisdom, the same authority con- cludes Saul inquisitive after witches. Arn. Admit it does, (what then?) that power that gives life a being, is indisputably more noble than the thing that has life. God created the w r oiid, and by \visdom animated it with life ; so that life shines everywhere, in every in- dividual. This is manifest to every man, and every creature, that breaths in the creation. Theopli. This I agree in ; but I can't recon- cile myself to your opinion, that Solomon and Saul's case run in parallel lines. Lucifer and Michael, though stars of the first magnitude, yet they paid not equal adoration to their sovereign superiour. Am. I don't question but you will grant that nothing has life of itself, but from something 3 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 15 else that's eminently superiour. That the world is governed by Divine Providence, and that every beginning is destinated to death in time. Theoph. All this I grant what infer you from thence ? Arn. I infer, and observe, you are somewhat too severe in censuring Saul's sin, by the rule of your judgment unpardonable. Now, for one man to take upon him to judg another, he be- trays his rashness, because his judgment is not infallible. Theoph. I know where it pinches, you'll hinge upon mercy. Arn. I must tell you that God is a merciful judg, whose mercy, as recorded, is above all his works ; and a mystery so sacred and secretly conceal'd, that angels themselves dare not pry into it. How then shall man discover this ad- mirable arcanum of mercy, when lock'd up in the secret cabinet of heaven ? Let us not assume such previous conjecturals, but rather consult and expostulate death, since death is the wages and the reward of sin. Man and the world ter- minate in the arms of death, because they alike consist of elementary principles ; but death will be found the extinguisher of life, except that life that's lighted by the torch of regeneration ; that life will outlive the second death. Theoph. But you'll agree in this, that a vi- 1 6 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. cious man living (and reigning) in sin all the days of his life, his life may be taken for a living death. Am. I'll comply with any thing except cen- soriousness ; for that end trumpet not Solo- mon's praise too loud, least the eccho resounding, ecchoes ostentation. On the other hand, not to hope an indemnity for Saul, we straiten God's mercy, which is infinitely boundless. So let's leave it to the Judg of all the world ; for if the world be left to determine this case, she'll de- nounce a false judgment, because of her partial- ity. Nay, she may be suspected uncharitable too ; and such are we, if children of the world, because subject to err by the rule of instability. Theoph. You bear hard upon me, yet I'm loth to give up the cause ; there's little or no difference in the length of our weapons ; but this I'll say, so drop the argument. Solomon was an oracle of wisdom and learning, and the blazing star that shin'd in Jerusalem. And Saul was a king, and the first king in Israel ; but then he was that king God gave in his wrath, which was soon after removed, for David stood in Saul's way. Arn. So did Uriah in his, when inamoured on his wife. Theoph. But David was a prophet, and a man of God ; and Saul was censured for his im- NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 17 pious exorcisms, as if the tincture of regenera- tion was obliterated in him. Arn. God forbid that the sting of sin should be so venemous a poison, that no antidote can cure it ! Did not the Lord of Life die to con- quer sin, and death, and hell, in every believer ? Let us be so charitable as to parallel Saul with Sampson, who had his Dalilah, as Saul had his Endor. Here we read, that David found re- pentance after the prophet's reproof; and Samp- son had his satisfaction upon the lords of the Philistines. These two had their pardon seal'd before death ; and fain would I be so charitable to conclude rso of Saul. Theopli. Ay, but Saul's fault is writ in capi- tal characters. Arn. That's instituted for our admonition, and the reformation of succeeding generations. TJieoph. O, Arnoldus ! the generations to come will abominate this, that inflames itself to set the rest of the world on fire. Arn. Then let them burn and consume one another ; for lust and pollution augment the flames. Theoph. Do not all the nations and king- dom s about us exhaust their treasures to indulge themselves, and devote their services to the hy- pocrisy of the times ? Arn. It's rare (to a miracle) to find faith B 18 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. amongst men, especially such as daily expose conscience to the wreck of opinion. And he that makes a god of his belly devotes all his ser- vices to his luxurious appetite. Thus, men, as by machination, traduce one another into the devil's school, to brazen themselves against the modesty of a blush, lest sin should be thought to be shame-fac'd. And others raking up the embers of revenge, fire themselves by quench- ing the flames. Theoph. So let them. But what's all this to our angling design ? Am. Stay a little till we come to the water- side: In the meantime I have a question to put, and that's this ; How comes it to pass that the hinge and poize of politick states move and turn about with such rapid motions, that kingdoms and potentates are dash'd in pieces ? Theoph. The naturalist, we see him consult natural causes, and the judicial astrologer, pla- netary events ; but the more religious devotes himself to the providence of God. Is there not a time for frost, and a time for hail ? a time for rain, and a time for fair weather ? a time for re- volution, dissolution and death ? and all these times and various changes are exercised by Him that holds the poize and ballance of government. That naturalist, therefore, that concludes a divi- nity in celestial influences, does but grope in NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 19 the dark ; and the astrologer pins his faith upon other mens sleeves. Arn. You tread upon the heels of my former assertion. Theoph. What if I do ? I hope not to hurt you. The Prince of this world rules in the air, insinuating himself into the heart of man, from whence comes war, and the rumours of war, as rapine, ravages, murder and blood. Does not pride strut up in the face of piety, and hell pre- sume to justle heaven ? And can good and evil (think you) run in parallel lines ? No, Arnoldus, I perswade myself, this age lives within one step of destruction, were it not upheld by an Al- mighty Providence. Arn. O the subtilty of man's heart, that no- thing but arrows from the Almighty can reach it! Theoph. He that reads his own heart, with- out a perspective, reads all the world ; but to know God is life eternal, and that's more than the world knows, because wanting the key of knowledg. Arn. Man is like a ship in a turbulent sea, where every wave threatens him with death, and every gust of wind one step to his grave. How mindful, therefore, ought he to be of well- living, which answers the ends of well-dying. Theoph. Divinely alluded ! Man, therefore, 20 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. by how much the more honourable he is than the rest of his fellow creatures, by so much the more nobly and divinely ought he to be exer- cised in the piety of Christianity and self-resig nation. Arn. This is good advice, but still methinks I see a storm coming ; not that I prognosticate another revolution ; no, no, rather a desolation by sword or famine, for sin, like a granade, tears up all before it, and rips up the foundation of kingdoms and commonwealths. Theoph. It is true, sin is the original cause of all national calamity, and there is no satisfaction for sin, but the death of a Saviour. The cross must purchase the crown : the old man must die to seal the regenerate birth. What have we to do but consider the transitory state of things, and the stability of that that gave them a being ? Here's nothing but rumbling and jumbling about us, till He come, whose right it is to reign, and subdue all monarchs, and make their thrones his footstool. Arn. By this prophetick discourse, methinks I smell a strong scent of invasion. But where the storm will fall, God he only knows. Are not the nations about us like an acaldemy of blood, that darkens the air, and terrifies my pen to write such dismal and tragical apprehensions ? Will not the sword, plague, and famine, contend 3 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 21 for victory ? O how sad will it be to see the fa- ther fall by the dint of sword, the mother crawl by the infected walls of a pesthouse, and the poor innocent and comfortless infant perish in the streets, and pine away with hunger ? Three such merciless and unsatiable conquerors, and all to keep the field at once, will totter the strongest camp in Christendom. TTieoph. Then where's our security, and what signifies the strength or the artifice of man, when God has a controversy with the kingdoms of the world ? The Christian's arms then will prove the best security. He that cruciates his lusts, outlives the vice of impiety. Arn. What then becomes of him that throws vertue into the embracements of vice, and pros- titutes justice before every clamorous derider ? that lifts up the standard of impiety, to justle religion, and profanes the altar by superstitious adorations ? that mounts ambition on the theatre of luxury and hypocrisy, and opposes the Gos- pel and Divine Oracles to humane tradition, and the vain imaginary inventions of men ? that in defiance of heaven opens the portals of hell, and advances the curse instead of the cross ? What must we conclude from such dreadful conse- quences, but that God will tear the nations in pieces ? Theoph. There was a time when the law 22 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. shin'd bright ; yet at the same time the Gospel shin'd behind the horns of the altar ; (but in this our time neither law nor gospel shines ;) the Di- vinest then had his residence in the Sanctum Sanctorum ; but hell is let loose now, and hea- ven violated with oaths and imprecations. Arn. The times were bless'd in those halcion days, when our patriarch Jacob was clothed with innocency ; but in this our day we are all turn'd Esaus, to pursue the world and inconstant va- nities : And though no gospel-star then shin'd amongst them, nor was Christianity known in their courts ; it's well if we that are Christian professors live up to the practice of sound mo- rality. Theoph. We read in the Sanhedrim, that the seed of Hagar stood in opposition to the seed of Sarah. But Abraham's God will dwell in tents, rather than in temples with the Prince of this world ; Yet Rachel had her idols, who adds sa- crilege to idolatry, by taking away, (or stealing,) those of her fathers. Arn. When the Turk turns Christian, there's hope the Persian will fight under the banner of the cross. Theoph. Then he'll be fit to turn Roman Catholick, to stamp the cross on every service, and vengeance with a simiter on the breasts of Protestants ; to immure their proselytes betwixt NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 23 stone-walls, so starve them to death under pre- tence of sanctity ; and because not to die a vio- lent death, the anchorite fancies he dies not at all. Is not this a fine way to mortify the flesh, when at the same time they'll surfeit with fish ? that grope in the dark at noon-day, and hold up a taper to illuminate the sun ? that like spiders, they'll unravel their own bowels, though it be but to entrap a silly insect. Am. I look on the hierarchy of the Church of Rome, like men that encounter a blasted fate : Where priests are saints bells, but defective of sound ; and oracles at the altar, but dumb in ex- planation ; that kindle their tapers to blaze in the temple, and consecrate sacrifices without a blessing ; so cover their nakedness with a Baby- lonish garment : Where mattins are metamor- phosed into masquins, collects translated into collations, and St Anthony's bells into nocturnal cabals. These are the men that can mode reli- gion, and dress it up to humour the times. Theoph. Religion of late is very much dis- cours'd, and after some sort crept into most men's mouths ; but least in practice of any thing practicable. If they tell you that Asians are Athenians, you are bound to believe them ; and that Turks are Christians, you cann't disprove them, since France and the Port have been con- federates. Nay, there are some blear-ey'd Ro- 24 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. manists, under pretext of Christianity, will swear, that to worship images is no idolatry. And some others of such voracious appetites, that they'll eat the horse and digest the stirrups. And some amongst them (I speak what I know) are never satisfied till glutted with spoil, which exposes every man to the lust of his adversary, whose power is as equal to restrain his w'll; as the body to refrain from drought in a fever. Am. I make no doubt on't, we have Coper- nicans amongst us, that can fancy the earth, as the orbs, turn round ; so rapid are the minds of some in this adultrous generation, to be winding and turning, till He comes that will overturn and dissolve the elements like ice in warm wa- ter ; so melt down the creation with one single blast, and strike that dead that violates his regal commands. The all-glorious beatifical star of heaven's high tribunal is already risen in our earthly horizon, which virtually lifting up itself by magnetick power, lifts up our souls also by a magnetism of Divine sympathy, whereby we shall ascend above these muddy cisterns of earth and clay, to blaze aloft in those illustrious and most illuminated mansions of beatitude and eternity. Theoph. I grant what you say. There are a sort of men that flatter themselves with self-right- eousness, and shape out condemnation as a re- NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 25 ward to others ; that can spy the mote that de- forms their brother's eye, but the beam that shades their own is no impediment. Thus some gaze at their own pageantry, and too frequent- ly answer their own petitions ; that say to them- selves, all is well, when nothing's well but what is ill ; that live so'near the portalls of death, as if there were no death in dying. Such men as these think the sun shines blessings no where but in their chimney-corners ; that build their habitation upon a sandy foundation ; that judg and pre-judg both moralist and heathen, (that rather deserves their pity and charity ;) and cen- sure all the world, when they themselves cann't live without it. Arn. What crazy props such men lean upon, that exchange their profession for profit. If Christ be our foundation, let's believe as Christ- ians ; not barely to honour the appellation of Christianity, but live the life and practice of Christians, otherwise we build on a sandy foun- dation, that sinks beneath the surface, or tumbles down in the storm. We daily observe the earth a fix'd body, yet it bears not the heavens, nor itself neither ; because it hangs by poize of its own, and the providence of God supports it. For our blessed Saviour that made the world, is the support of the world ; for none less than he that made the world, had power to redeem man, 26 NORTHERN MEMOIRS and save the world. This is the water of life that's drawn from the inexhaustible fountain of Christ our Redeemer. This is the true Physician of life, that blots out the dismal characters of death. Thus, whilst the formal Christian draws streams" from the muddy cisterns of the ambigu- ous world, his devotion reaches no higher than himself, and the gaudy titles of ambition and hypocrisy. Theoph. Shall I oblige Arnoldus to entertain us with a contemplation of seraphick joys, whilst the silent night passes away, and the blazing torch of the sun appears, that causes an early blush in Aurora. Am. Every day has a new birth, but time and the world had but one beginning. The night was made to shadow the day, but the sun to light and illuminate the universe ; and this was ordain'd by the wisdom of Him that stuck the stars in this beautiful order, before whose triumphant throne the devout penitent pros- trates his devotion, and pours forth his orizons and sweet adorations in the presence of that great and ineffable Good, that made the glitter- ing spangled orbs, and is himself the light of the world ; before whom every nation and kingdom must bow or break ; whose mercy infinitely ex- cels all his works, and whose justice and judg- ment who shall dispute ? NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 27 Theop* O Arnoldus ! pray go on. Am. The elements, nay the heavens contain him not, nor is he comprehended within the cir- cular globe of the spherical orbs. These lumi- nous bodies of sun, moon and stars, were ordain- ed by him to light the creation ; for he that made them gave them a being, and dignified them also with prolifick virtue, adapting them parents of vegetation, procreation, and prolong- ation of life, whereby to regulate and reform times and seasons ; as also to distinguish betwixt summer and winter. The greater light he made to govern the day, but the moon he made to patrole the night ; and that they have influence upon secondary causes, no man is so irrational, I hope, as to question it. Theop. For my part I do not ; pray proceed. Arn. Thus the stars and constellations have divine order and influence ; and the celestial powers and principalities, as angels and arch- angels, thrones and vertues, have dominion also over humane frailties. And where the patriarchs and the prophets are with the apostles and evan- gelists, with the whole quire of saints, cherubims and seraphims, perpetually singing praises and glory to him that sits on the throne, and rides triumphant on the wings of the wind. O let the silent deeps and the ponderous mountains, with every thing that has breath, praise the Lord ! 28 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. For the earth is his, and the fulness thereof; by whose wisdom the world was made, and time begot ; and by whose infinite power the separa- ted elements live still in harmony ; who form'd the fetus of earth, and made the firmament its swadling-band ; and in the vast circumference of heaven he hung up the glorious creature the sun, whereby to illuminate and illustrate the world ; whose centre nor circumference contains him not ; nor the excellency of his glory that super-excels all creatures and creations ; from whom the deplorable sons of men wail for de- liverance and redemption from sin. And now let's contemplate the nocturnal Muses. Sleep first presents us with an emblem of death ; yet is it the poor man's solace, though the rich man's terror ; a repose and recreation to the wearied limbs, but a disease of inquietude to the voracious mind ; the body's requiem, and death's effigies. Now death is the desired hope of him that truly contemplates the state of im- mortality ; and as mortality is the end of sor- row, so by consequence it's the beginning of joy ; a period of misery, but the trophy of vic- tory ; the resurrection of life, and the bloomings of eternity. For as the barren ground thirsts after rain, so does the oppressed seek deliverance in death. Great and good is our glorious Creator, whose NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 29 divine excellencies super-excel the creation ; whose infinite wisdom display'd itself before time and the world had as yet a beginning. Pardon my presumption, most sovereign Power, when to prostrate my humilities before thy sa- cred shrines, that with a holy reverence and di- vine piety, all my devotions may be acceptable to thee. We are but finite, but thou art infinite infinite in power to create the world, and infi- nite in wisdom and providence to uphold it. Thy government is in heaven, yet thou rulest upon earth ; but thy habitation here is the ta- bernacle in man. O sacred Divinest ! direct us in thy paths of wisdom, to lead us the ready way to thyself; for thou rewardest every man answerable to his works, and our works (as Paul saith) do certain- ly follow us ; then will they as certainly be an orb to environ us ; and because an object conti- nually before us, we can neither evade nor shake them off, whereby they'll delight or be a ter- ror unto us. " As the tree falls, so it lies ; and in the grave there is no repentance ;" therefore seek the Lord early in a spirit of meekness, for the meek are said to inherit the earth, whilst the proud that exalts himself shall be abased. Thy powerful arm has often reached deliverance ; the righteous, therefore, shall rejoice in thy salva- tion ; and all that sollicit thy paths of peace, 30 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. shall be found in their duty as by wisdom di- rected ; but destruction as a judgment is pre- pared for the scornful : Therefore let the pious rejoice in his hope, for the end of the wicked shall be an abomination. Lord ! when we contemplate our mortal state below, and those invisible immortal powers above, blest for ever to behold the glory of thy majesty ; it brings us to consider the beginnings of time, and to ruminate where we were when the foundations of the world were laid and stretch'd out ; and who but thyself (by infinite power) fastened the ends thereof, and lifted up the curtains of heaven's glorious canopy, and caused the face of the firmament to shine ? Who but thy admirable arm could separate light from darkness, the sea from dry land, and confine them with barrocades of rocks and sand ? Who made those stormy winds to blow, and those boisterous hurricanes, (the rage of the Almighty) so tempestuously to roar, and roll themselves on the face of the deeps ? O what hand, except the Divinest, could make mortal immortal, and bring salvation from the loins of Jesse ! Can the shades of darkness speak the wonders of thy praise, or the night discover the eye-lids of the morning, that when the sun prepares his course like a giant, will the clouds clap their hands, and the stars and constellations shout for joy ? NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 31 But the dead shall arise, and mortality shall be clothed with an immortal livery, that shall never tarnish, nor never diminish, but survive and out- live the ides of time, and flourish when time shall be no more. Then let us consider our present state, the shortness of time, the vanity of things, and how light all ourservices and best performances weigh in the ballance. Let us also consider the morn- ing-star ; the illustrious Aurora is rising upon us, and then it will be a perpetual day. Let us im- print on ourselves the characters of our eminent ancestors ; but above all, the lively sufferings of our blessed Saviour on the cross, and no longer paddle in these puddles of sin, nor stumble in the face of the sun at noon-day ; for wounding ourselves by sin, makes our Saviour bleed afresh. We have excellent precedents, that of David, notwithstanding his integrity, and that other of Solomon, tho the prince of wisdom ; of Heze- kiah too, though a very good king; of Josiah and others ; of Paul, a convert ; of Peter, a de- vout reluctant ; of Job's patience, Moses his meekness, Abraham's faith. All these were men, (besides hundreds more in holy writ) now emi- nent saints, whose pieties like so many trophies hang up aloft in the new Jerusalem, to adorn that beautiful and divine habitation, where the Lamb is the light, and where no darkness can 32 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. approach, nor night close the casements of their eyes any more, nor the pale aspect of death the second time seal the indenture of a profound si- lence. Consider it seriously, for piety is good policy ; and a holy, devout, and penitent life, no impediment to a vertuous Christian : And so good rest, Theophilus, that sleeps in silence. Theoph. Silent I am, but not asleep ; nor do I dream when I contemplate the everlasting praise of the great Creator. How quickly has the night dismantled herself of those shady sables that covered day, and concealed the flaming steeds of the sun, when advancing to approach our northern horizon ? Am. Come then, let us rise, and shake off security ; for as sleep is no solid direction to point out to us the way to heaven, so death (tho at a distance) is no long reprieve (nor as- sured protection) from the grave. Theoph. Our former ancestors lap'd not them- selves in downy quilts, but made the earth their common reception. But this age degenerates from potentates to pedanticks ; and carnally de- vote their services to every idle and voluptuous fancy. Do we not see with what eagerness some men pursue all dishonest actions, whilst some others, under the consideration of riches, hug a conceal'd joy in their ill-got treasures ? where- by they contrive the calamity of the poor, and NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 33 at the same time rejoice at the misery of the or- phan, whose morsel they swallow down as greed- ily as they devour the widow's habitation ? Thus some contrive calamity, and sin by whole-sale, magnifying their ambitions more than men, when at the same time they dwindle into morts. Arn. But if beginnings have periods, as cer- tainly they have, the poor will rise up in judg- ment against such ; and a jog of conscience, be- sides the consequence of blood, attend their door. Their favourites and familiar flatterers then will dismiss themselves, and vanish like a mist, and the dark night of horror overshadow all their enjoyments : Their delicate and delect- able morsels will melt into moonshines, and them- selves transformed into dust and ashes. This is the lot, and will be the fate of all those that per- vert blessings into profane impieties. But I for- get my self, for the sun appears, and the day will suddenly gain ground upon us ; let us arise and fit ourselves for a solitary march. TJieoph. We shall soon be ready, it's only dis- mounting our apartments to mount our horses. What shady groves are those, and what wan- dring object's that, that courts the sycamores, and talks to the silent rocks, as if there were a remorse in stones ? Surely it's Agrippa. Arn. I'm of your opinion, what makes him there ? 34 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. Theop. I know not, except he's come to sum- mons us home. Arn. Pray examine him ; I think it's thrice three months since the last time I saw him. Theoph. Shall I call him to us ? Arn. Prethee do. Theoph. Agrippa, from whence comest thou ? Agrippa. From the flourishing fields in Al- bion. Theoph. What's the news there, this is an age of inquisition ? Arn. So it is ; have you brought us any thing ? Agrip. I'm no competent judg of the times, nor of national affairs ; but I'll present you with some books and letters. Arn. Have you no scheme of modern trans- actions ? nothing verbal ? Agrip. What can be discours'd of the times, and the various projects of men of the times ? Arn. Recollect your memory, and refresh yourself; but when the sun advanceth the me- ridian, repair to that solitary grove, where Theo- philus with me, will stay your coming ; be sure you disappoint us not, and bring your narrative of all the proceeds. Theoph. I question not he will be very mind- ful. Arn. Come then, let us chat a while, and dis- course Rome divided among the Romanists. NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 35 Nay, what will you say to see the church look asquint at the Pope, and Portugal to lift up his heel to kick against his elder brother of Spain ? It's madness rather than manners to hear them wrangle and jangle about religion, when there's nothing left on't but bare opinion ; which if you won't conform to, they'll stamp the character of a stelletto upon you, or the bloody impressions of an Inquisition. Theoph. What, no better entertainments in the Spanish Court, than such rough salutes as inquisitions and stellettos ! I should rather ap- prove, that vertue in a Prince is the richest dia- dem in his crown ; and clemency to his subjects (the vital part of his kingdom) more obliging than all the gilded baits of flattery. Money, it's true, is the sinew of war ; and honours and dignities gaudy accomplishments. What of all this ? when all comes to all, honesty is the best policy. Arn. Let me tell you, Theophilus, gold chains best become great men, but not that gold makes goodness, nor dignity greatness, any otherwise, than a badg of honour makes a man truly ho- nourable ; nor is honour more legitimate than inherent worth ; both spring from one root ori- ginally, and live above the smiles or frowns of fortune. Nor can such a man be perverted that hates the nauciating scent of a parasite, that dis- 36 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. claims against pensioners that pick his pocket, and abominates sycophants that fawn and flatter, and seem to adore the rising sun ; yet with im- patience longs to see it set. Not but that no sun shines without some cloud, nor any court is kept without some flatterers, till that time comes (and I hope is at hand) that vertue shall naturally flow from the streams of piety, (and not from imitation,) which spontaneously spring from the celestial fountains of pure Christianity. T/ieoph. When Democrasians dagger the crown, then the perplex'd native stands a tiptoe (every minute) expecting some fatal event ; and so it is, when insolency justles justice, then the magistrate suffers affronts in his legal justiciary proceeds. Such scorpions as these wound and infect the body politick. Ami. From thence I observe, whenever pride is most predominant, there of necessity a nur- sery of war is planted, that in time will murder the blessings of peace. We have learn'd by ex- perience, that fulness of bread (without a bless- ing) perverts into wantonness, so into a curse, that by degrees grows up into such a vice, that murders all it meets with, and kills without care ; it's a vertue therefore to shun its acquaint- ance. Theoph. Come, Arnoldus, let us enter this so- litary grove ; here we may dwell among rocks, NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 37 consort with the creation, and keep time with the pulse of the fluctuating ocean. Here we may refresh our ears with the relishing notes of tunable birds, and astonish our eyes with the beautiful model of heaven ; where, whilst we gaze on those glittering orbs, our hearts, as in- spired, may breath forth flames. Am. A solitary life I always approv'd of, to trace the polite sands, to sit down under the shades of woods and rocks, and accost the rivers and rivulets for diversion, (as now we do) and trample on the beautiful banks and florid me- dows, beautified with greens, that will not only refresh our senses with their redolent perfumes, but enamour us beyond express, when to see their banks bath'd by such silver streams. Come and let's pitch our tents in these delightful plains, where every shady grove as an umbrella, will shelter us from the scorching fiery beams of the sun, till the earth sends forth her sweet aromas ; over which the burnish'd and beautiful firma- ment of heaven surrounds all the earth (and the blessed creation) with melody like birds, and murmuring streams ; I fancy it a kind of coun- ter-paradise for mortal content. And how sweet and sublimeis that contemplation that surmounts angels for divine associates ! Observe, Theophi- lus, that little rowling rivulet, where every eye may evidence fish in those purling streams court- 38 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. ting the sun, as if naturally enamoured with stars and celestials. Such observations flow from our present state, let us therefore consider both the Author and the end. TJieoph. If ends and beginnings have a like fate and period (as indisputably they have) then time and our latter end contemplates eternity our future hope ; so that a retired life, of all lives in my opinion, will be most agreeable to our present condition ; for I like not the aspect of our friend Agrippa. Arn. Nor 1 neither ; but be it what it will be, the rocks and the woods, if I calculate right, shall contribute to Arnoldus ; any man may read in legible characters a discontented frown on his martial brow. Theoph. What if it be ? it won't make new breaches in our loyal breasts. Arn. Nor cement old ones ; for here's a breast ready to receive the charge of danger, tho death be conduct. I value not the swellings of my adversaries, were every one of them as great as Goliah, as deep-mouth'd as the Cyclops that roar in Mount ^Etna, or as formidable as thun- der, that cleaves the cedars and the sturdy oaks ; yet the shrubs may escape, and live in hope to see a purgation of such eminent contenders. Theoph. If ill omens presage fatal conclusions, I like not Agrippa's aspect. NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 39 Am. Nor I that resolution, that only endea- vours self- security. Theopk. Would you have me turn the point upon myself? Arn. No, nor your friend neither, by turgid repetitions ; come what will come, let's talk no more on't : high tides have their low ebbs ; and the higher any man rises, the greater is his fall expected. 1 know the world is such an inviting morsel, that, attempting to swallow it, some have been choaked. Alexander, of all men, bid fair- est for the world, yet, when he went out of it, a sepulchre of six foot serv'd to inter him. Theoph. It's just so now ; have not we a sort of senators, that, impatient of destruction, pull down the house upon their own heads, to noose other folks in the same snickle ? Arn. There's nothing can stand against the rapid torrent of a giddy multitude ; it's good to stand clear of male-contents, that justle superiors, and call Parliaments pick-locks, and robbers of the people, under the pretence of publick faith. Theoph. Such Furiosos, 1 must confess, are of an odd kidney, that can silence justice, and sentence the laws ; that sit uneasy under go- vernments, tho of their own contrivings ; that are angry with any thing that's uppermost ; nay, they shall arraign themselves, if no superior to contend with : Such men, I question not, will 40 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. condemn us for victims, tho without breach of law, or affront to good manners. Am. That can never be done by any, except such as exchange their loyalty for luxury, that degenerate from native English men, and re- nounce their oath in baptism ; that swear they do not swear, and be religious to boot. But the great acts of former famous men, will li ve upon record on the stage of the world, whilst the world has a being ; more especially such great actions as drew life from vertue : Such heroes we have had (but asleep now) whose memories still blos- som, and after death smell sweet in the dust. Theoph. What then ? must we despair of our- selves, as poor silly birds do that are seiz'd in a gin, and wait deliverance from the wretched fowler, as if death would solace our captivated fears, and refer them and us to the grave for re- conciliation ? Am. I am not ignorant that the rape of a sword results in a scar, and amputates sometimes to the loss of a limb, lest peradventure the whole body be hurried into a fever ; for the sword, you must know, is death's cold harbinger, that de- populates kingdoms, and lays countries in waste, sucking the lives of the subjects and treasure of the nation, till at last, like a cripple, it creeps to its grave. Theoph. But what if the banks overflow with NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 41 plenty, and the nation superabound with luxu- rious inhabitants, may not a war in such case be thought requisite to purge the kingdom of su- perfluous vagrants ? Am. Where excess and intemperance extend the veins by surfeit or pleurisy beyond their na- tural bounds, it's better to bleed than blow up a kingdom. Theoph. I'm of your opinion in that matter : in all acute distempers, there ought to be ade- quate and expeditious expedients : but, without offence, may I ask you one question ? Am. Two, if you please, if I can answer them. Theoph. Why those signal interruptions so oft invade you, that seemingly discover some odd apprehensions ? Am. If they do, what then ? is it more than the consideration of distracted times ? Theoph. Sooner may the tides forget their natural course, than I forget to sigh a penance for my native country. Am. But then, have you considered the pas- sion of such corrumpant grandees, that think whole kingdoms gobbets not great enough to gobble down, to satiate their appetites, till com- pleatly made victorious over life and fortune ? Theoph. The only way, then, to stop the glut of such furious drivers, is to interpose ourselves, whilst others more innocent escape their fury. 4- 42 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. Arn. You almost perswade me into a kind of pity. Theoph. Or rather, it may be into a passion. Arn. That's a sin entail'd on posterity, as na- turally as wax subjects it self to the impression of a seal ; so that, should I call affection passion, it but represents a moral glass, wherein every man may read his own face by reflection. Theoph. And no sooner to retrieve or with- draw, when immediately he forgets both form and features. Arn. Then let all suspicions suspend them- selves ; so steer your course to some other point, and call Agrippa from behind that sy com ore. Theoph. I'll step and call him : So ho, Agrippa. Agrip. What voice do I hear in those unfre- quented woods and solitary streams ? Diana's fountain, nor was Dodona's grove, otherwise than an emblem of such mortal contents ; what rivers are enrich'd with trout and salmon, and trees burdened with the harmony of birds ; for such a life, who would not covet banishment ? Arn. What news, Agrippa, from the coast of Albion ? Agrip. We have a generation of people, that can make as good Papists to morrow, as them- selves are Protestants to day ; that if Popery were but turn'd up trump, would produce you their charter in Queen Mary's days ; they'll walk to NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 43 church with you, and lie in her bosom so long, till they sting both her and you to death, which makes all mankind stand a tiptoe to see a totter- ing government sink, and press down itself under its own weight. Am. What ! have the grandees no influence on the people, are they grown void of natural affections to themselves ? Agrip. What charity they have for themselves I know not ; but this I know, they have none for one another ; nor will they contribute one single sigh for the kingdom's calamity, but ra- ther shove the burden upon the peoples shoul- ders. Am. This is forty one all over : O, the mise- ries that forty one brought upon the nation ! (thus some cry out,) but not a word of the wick- edness of the preceding years that brought the misery upon forty one. Those barbarous stig- matizings, brandings, gaggings, pillorings, whip- pings, cutting off ears, like lopping of trees, op- pressive judgments, unheard-of proceeds by the High- Commission, and Star-Chamber-Courts ; judicatories fitter for the Spanish Inquisition, than free-born Englishmen and Christians ; by which means, liberty and property were invaded at pleasure. Theoph. I remember what King Ahab said to Elijah the prophet, " Art thou the troubkr of Is- 44 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. rael?" And I remember what the prophet replied to the King, " No, but thou and thy father's house are, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and followed after Balaam" Here we see the king charges the prophet, and the prophet he charges the king ; but the prophet proves the charge upon him. Arn. This was the case in forty one ; the king demands some of the members of the house, and they return'd the king for answer, It was a breach of privilege of the house ; but if his ma- jesty pleased to order a charge against them, they would proceed to speedy justice. Theoph. Was it in forty, or forty one, when the king with an army invaded the Scots, and spent his money to little purpose ? Arn. Yes truly, it was about that time ; for then was the massacre calculated for Ireland, and Archbishop Laud's publication of his Book of Sports for the profanation of the Sabbath in England : here you see prelacy and policy went hand in hand together to murder religion and property, which brought them under the seve- rities of justice. Theoph. Ay, but how came the king to be made a publick example ? Arn. Not because he had married with a Po- pish princess, that gave great encouragement to the Papists in England : Not for sending a con- NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 45 gratulatory letter to the Pope ; not for abdica- ting himself from his parliament ; nor for advan- cing his standard royal at Nottingham, and pro- claiming open war against his subjects. There was something under his own hand appear'd against him, besides countenancing Papists, and protecting delinquents from justice. Theoph. The Scots betray 'd him, (I have been told so) every body says they sold their king. Am. As much as you sold him : it's true, the king threw himself upon the Scots, and the Scots threw him back again upon the English ; this is matter of fact, but few understand it, and fewer will believe it. T7ieopk. For the love of friends, let us have truth whate're it cost. Am. The naked truth is ; the parliament of England about that time, when the king at Newark threw himself upon the Scots, owed or was in arrear to them L. 200,000 Sterlin, for service done ; for which they had for hostage, Newcastle, Carlisle, and Berwick upon Tweed ; but upon paying them one moiety down, they resigned their hostage, and withdrew into Scot- land, tendring the king to the English com- missioners, who at that time had no instructions concerning him, till they sent to the parliament to know their further intentions, who ordered 46 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. the commissioners to apply themselves to the king to know his royal pleasure. Theoph. And what was his answer ? Am. He desired to be removed to one of his southern palaces, in order to which they remo- ved him to Holmby. But the jest lay here, the English without instructions could not take See Ludlow's ^ m > an( ^ * ne Scots by instructions Reply to would not take him : this was the cri- Hollingworth. . tical time when nobody would have him ; and the reason the Scots gave for it was this: That he had made such breaches in the bowels of England, they were unwilling to take him into the bowels of Scotland. This is the truth on't, and this is the Scots selling their king. But where's Agrippa? what have you done with him ? And I would as gladly know what our proud superiors intend to do with us, except to spin out our lives with the wealth of the na- tion. The&ph. Agrippa, shall I ask you one single question? Whether is best, a petty king in every county, or a parochial bishop in every classis, to ride the people but half way to Heaven ? Agrip. I approve of neither ; though some oppose a single person to an eye- sore in the kingdom, and at the same time conclude a NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 47 Heptarchy more than enough totally to devour them. Theoph. Such a government would enervate the people, and such superiors live upon the spoil of the country. Am. Is this the present state of things, and the project that prevails in every man's head ? What, is their no trimming nor neutrality left amongst 'em ? Agrip. Yes, there's enough of that, and soli- citations for peace among sober men and me- chanicks. Am. But what say the people as to church government ? Is one religion or more in fashion ? Agrip. Religion is made a meer stalking horse, to answer the ends of every design, and worn so threadbare, that there's nothing left to cover it, save only the name on't. It's true, there's some small alteration in the church, so is there in the state, by a late purgation ; the army also is de- cimated, and it's thought the mystery of law will be made legible, to speak our modern dialect : but the priest paramount is the bravest fellow, because Presbyter John struts a horse-back, whilst the proselyte like a pensioner holds the bridle ; but to speak plain English, most hold the stirrup. Am. What say Mercurius, and Publicus An- glicus ? 48 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. Agrip. You have them both, and the National Diary to boot, where you may read the various products of men, frequent tumults in every cor- ner, general discontents in families ; heatings, but no healings, in their grand consults. Theopli. What do they vary for? Agrip. Something superlative ; but the gene- rality cry, tempora mutantur. Theopli. By this I perceive some dig deep to hide their counsels. Am. Deep or shallow, it's a tiffany plot ; any man with half an eye may easily see through it : who is it cries up peace, only those men whom the times court, and the Constitution flatters ? such men as these may cry up for peace, while others sollicit an every day's novel : No,Theophi- lus, there's nothing pleasant, every thing seems in a hurly burly ; and France and Spain at sword's point. Theopli. O, but then what becomes of our force in Flanders? and what prospect have we of the Sweeds expedition ? Arn. The Sweed you may read looks asquint on the Dane, the Portugal in trouble, the Ve- netian unsafe, and the Turk infested with in- testine war. Poor Europe, who can but pity thee! more especially our native country Al- bion, where every politician expects to be made NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 49 a monarch ; and where every ambitious clown aspires to the eminency of a crown. Theoph. Now for a book and a brook, to con- template and recreate ; this rises to the standard of the philosopher's solitudes. Rocks and rivers with hermetick groves, shadowed with myrtles and purling streams, will, for ought I know, bet- ter answer our present occasion, than a foreign hope can insure us accommodation. Arn. These elementary bodies, the beautiful rags of flesh and blood, what present they but moving shadows, that vanish in a moment at death's appearance? TJieoph. And do not some men undermine themselves by supporting themselves on the crutch of mortality ? But the arm that shakes the foundation, cannot that arm shelter us from the storm ? Arn. Yes sure, since he that made the world gives it nutrition, who by his act of providence makes provision for its continuation. Yet there's nothing that had a beginning, but has its period, and in conclusion melts into invisibility. Theoph. That's certainly true, for the wages of sin is death ; all men therefore must die, so must that proud tyrant of France, whose sins above knee-deep have sunk him up almost to the chin : so that whoever comes within com- D 50 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. pass of his steerage, he splits the vessel, or in- evitably oversets her ; exposing his natives and others to a malicious fate : therefore how diffi- cult it is to sail betwixt Sylla and Charibdis ? Am. And as difficult almost to weather the times at home ; for whenever a state stands a tiptoe, the common people are threatned exiles. Theoph. I would not be thought so rash to pre- anticipate before trial ; nor would I truckle to uneven tempers of men and times, by a supine complacency, so to be coaks'd out of my life by the sugared temptation of designers. Am. Unthinking men, whilst the storm is yet rising, rise before it, so fool away their lives : he that falls in with a discontented family, pro- pounds to build on another man's ruin. The divine powers shake the arm of flesh ; and what is too difficult for God to do? He that made the world, can throw it down and dash it in pieces. Theoph. Yes sure, and us too, if we stand within distance (I mean in his way of justice against impenitents.) O my friend, let's remove further off. Arn. What star must direct us ? and whither must we go ? Theoph. Into the solitary shades of Scotland ; for every eye will trace us out here. Arn. What ! so unjust to ourselves, to fly NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 51 without an offence! so condemn ourselves be- fore trial ! when our own innocency, I should think, were enough not only to clear us, but al- so to protect us. Theoph. Time's sandy glass slides swiftly into eternity ; and so may some of these eminent contenders slip into their graves. That wind blows high that makes our fortunes stagger. Am. Nor could thunder shake the courage and constancy of David to Jonathan : Here we have for precedent two of the worthies in that age, the one no less than a king and a prophet ; and the other no less than the son of a king. Come, let's stand the charge, there's no man knows what a day may bring forth. Theoph. Yes, I'm so prophetick to foresee a stone doublet, or something worse ; why then to con tribute such ad vantages to men of no faith? Nay, I wrong 'em not, to say faithless to themselves. Am. On the other hand, who would harbour or engender fear, which lively prefigurates a faint repulse, that never got honour by inches ? so that I resolve against preparing for flight, and alike resolve not to think of fear. Theoph. Such resolutions will stem the tide, and struggle with death ; but who can with- stand the torrent of invaders, or stifle a mutiny that invades the camp ? Am. I should forfeit both my reason and dis- 10 52 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. cretion, to foresee danger approach, and run head- long into ruin ; want of foresight (not to forsee) argues to me but a purblind sight : and that re- solution I always approv'd of, that's best under- stood by a constant courage ; the morals of equi- ty justify a cause, and the justness of a cause puts a period to doubts. Theoph. The Supreamest gives wisdom, and man a capacity to choose it ; which, if he re- fuses, it argues an irreverend neglect, both of the donor and the gift. Am. Do we not see nature commissioned from the Divinest, to dress up and beautify this stupendous creation; and how Wisdom and Pro- vidence give a blessing to preserve it ? and do we act our reason to throw both away, Wisdom that made us, and Providence that preserves us ? Theoph. It's true, the limit and bound of na- ture, is by the sacred decrees of Providence; and wisdom has no limitation, because essentially from the Creator himself. Am. Art imitates nature, and necessity is the mother of invention; science also invites to study and practicks, but theory gives the prospect, and operation finishes the project. From whence it follows, that arts are sold to ingenuities, and the reward of labour and industry to experience, and the promulgation of health and maintenance. What tho Csesar and Pompey contend for an NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 53 empire? Alexander Magnus bids fair for the world. Tlieopli. I have waded to the chin in the practicks of experience ; but never attempted knee-deep in the rudiments of politicks. Arn. And 1 have liv'd under various dispen- sations of Providence, by the divine power and protection of the Divinest. Tlieopli. Nectar and Ambrosia have fill'd my cup almost to an overflowing ; while my asso- ciates were the pious and the penitent, (but not the politick,) with Apollo sometimes to bear a part, with musical instruments that never spoke treason ; this is a life that lives above the world. Arn. O, the heavenly raptures that flow from contemplation ; they'r enough to raise the mind by divine faith, and a holy speculation, to the very suburbs and portals of Paradise. Theoph. And such is unity, for it's the key of harmony ; which, if but touch'd by the divine finger of the great Jehovah, how quickly the world is put in tune. Arn. And quickly out of tune, where policy is planted in the room of piety. Now, I always thought piety the best policy, when beautified with the ornaments of true Christianity. For, since God himself has blest man with reason, and to his rationality added intellectual under- standing, let us act above sense, for that enslaves 54 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. us ; and once enslav'd, we're captivated with fears. Theoph. Were I a wise expositor, I should interpret this sentiment by the rule of travel. Am. And whither would your fancy direct you? Theoph. Into the very centre and bowels of Scotland. Am. What would you propound to your self, when there ? Theoph. The exercise of the rod, and learn to fish. Am. And who shall instruct us ? Theoph. Our selves ; who should ? You shall be my tutor, and I'le be your pupil. Am. Must I be didactick to initiate this art ? Theoph. No man (than your self) knows it better. Am. If so, you must arm yourself for angling encounters ; for I best approve of a resolute com- bitant, whose conduct and courage equally strive against all vicissitude of fortune, and smiles when at the precipice of danger. Such a man bears the triumphant standard of constancy in all difficul- ties, and doubtful uncertainties. Theoph. Are lectures to be read in features ? Am. Are lovers by sympathy capable to feel those amorous flames that scorch their hearts in each other's breast ? NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 55 Theoph. If that axiom be true, my breast has burnt long enough. Arn. With what ? Theoph. It may be with passion. Arn. And it may be with suspicion. Theoph. Let all suspicion (and the nature of it) be for ever suspended. Arn. If that be your resolution, give me your prospect. TJieoph. The flourishing fields, and the plen- tiful streams in Scotland. Arn. Shall we ramble the Highlands ? Theoph. Ay, and the Lowlands too ; for Tie hazard my fortunes with my friend, and share in his adventures. Arn. Is that your resolution ? Theoph. Yes, that's my resolve ; I must con- fess, I had rather go than stay. Arn. Stay, then, and I'le go with you. Theoph. Why, now, I'm answer'd, doubts can have an end ; And so have mine, since lodg'd in such a friend To nature, human learning, sense, and reason ; Compounds of purest peace ; no plot, nor treason Harbours in that calm breast, where Art and Science Bud up like twins, and bid a bold defiance T' Ignorance and Prophaneness ; let thy lot Be what it will, and see if mine be not The same adjusted ; know that I can bear The hazard of my fortunes any where To vie Arnoldus, if Arnoldus lay Commands on him that's ready to obey. 56 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. Am. This looks somewhat like a foreign doc- trine. Theoph. However, you'l find it an innate principle. Am. If so, then we run but one single risque ; which, of necessity, will incorporate us in one single adventurer : in order thereto, let us first dispatch Agrippa, whose countermarch will very much advance our progress. Theoph. That's well consider'd ; pray, let it be so, that without interruption we may ramble all Scotland. Am. And the studious art of angling must not we make that our employment ? Theoph. Yes, sure ; but how must we accom- modate our selves with rods, and other conveni- ent manuals and instruments, whereby to pursue this mysterious art ? Am. Trouble not your self with that little affair. Here, Agrippa, take you these letters, and sweeten your rhetorick with returns of Ar- noldus, so oft as enquired for by my dear Con- stantia. Agrip. Can the tides forget their natural course? I'le court sun and moon to sprinkle the tracts with propitious beams, to return me prosperous. Arn. But when you approach those harmo- nious ports where Constantia dwells, be well ad- NORTH KKN MEMOIRS. 75 vis'd what you say or express : let not one word slip that may cause a tear ; for if one star falls, all the heavens lowre. Theoph. And remember me (honest Agrippa) to the vertuosos in Nottingham ; together with the generous society of anglers, that traverse the fragrant banks of those silver, silent, and mur- muring streams of the famous Trent. Am. Near whose cultivated shores, and florid medows, shines the life of my life, in the con- stant breast of my dear Constantia. Agrip. I'le observe your punctims, and pay your respects. Arn. Do so. Theoph. Agrippa, farewel ! and forget not Theophilus, who petitions their welfare, and thy prosperous journey. Agrip. Heavens influence your designs. Arn. Now, he is gone, (nor will he be long in going ;) in the meantime, let us contemplate the beauteous creation, and retire to those solitary rocks, to defend us from the radient and reful- gent beams of the sun, that direct their strokes upon us \ such retirements will moderate ex- treams : afterwards, we may stretch our limbs to encounter our recreation, and sport ourselves with the princely trout, in the flourishing rivers and rivulets in Scotland, which probably may contribute as much satisfaction as any other ri- 58 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. vers in the promontories of Great Britain, if dex- trously examined, and industriously managed with patience, and other requisites, sutable and agreeable to the methods of art. We may also in our progress, as we travel the country, take a survey of their towns, forts, and fortresses. The like we may do of their cities, castles, and citadels ; with their rivers, rivulets, and solitary loughs, which will furnish us with fish enough, provided we can furnish ourselves with baits. But to furnish every angler with a new bait, was the studious invention of Isaac Walton, author (as you may read) of the Com- pleat Angler, who industriously has taken care to provide a good cook, (supposing his wife had a finger in the py,) which will necessarily be wanting in our northern expedition, where the fry are numerous, (nay numberless almost,) in some of those rapid and trembling streams ; from whence the artificial fly (if that exercise be well understood) will contribute as much as any thing to court them ashore, and sweeten our recrea- tion. But I speak more peculiarly to ingenious artists, not to those flegmetick fellows indigent of art ; such only I allot an accidental fate. TheopJi. Methinks I grow impatient to at- tempt these silver streams with our harmless ar- tillery. Here needs no auxiliary force to guard our approaches, when only to trample these de- NORTHEIIN MEMOIRS. 59 licious, pleasant, and fragrant banks, enameled with flowers, and green coverings, where every chrystal purling stream is overshadowed with a stately fir tree, or some spreading sycomore, through which Zephyrus inspires a softned breath of air, to curl the surface of the milder streams ; and where the glittering shores shine like Peru, or the golden sands of the admired Tagu s, as if purposely erected for a tomb or se- pulchre, therein to inter the generous trout, which is the angler's trophies, and the ultimate period of art. Reach me that rod, Arnoldus, and furnish me with tackle to try my fortune. Are these flies proper, and sutable to the sea- son ? Is the line tapred, and the rod rush- grown ? Every thing answers to promise suc- cess, and now have amongst them ; for I resolve, beyond dispute, to approve myself an angler, or shame the art. Am. An angler ! an allegator rather ; to rush so rudely upon a river, and forget your rudi- ments. Theoph. My passionate zeal, hurried on by avarice, confirm'd the difficulty of catching fish, no more than a cast of my fly to summon them ashore. Am. That wou'd excuse your over-forward- ness to put a force upon your exercise. The 60 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. angler's direction, and the mediums of art, are the Pole-star you must steer by. Theoph. You do well to reckon up my errors, and lay down rudiments to oblige me to reform. All that I sollicite is, to be master of my exercise; that theory and practice be made legible and in- telligible ; Nature, then, will demonstrate her- self obvious to the artist. Arn. You have hit the mark ; it's true what you say. Art, at the best, is but Nature's imi- tation ; instructions made legible gratify the in- genious, whilest the ignorant read but lectures in their ABC. TJieoph. Then I need not despair. However, as I'm soh'citous after the secrets of the art, di- rect me how to flourish a fly in a torpid, deep, and melancholy water, such as this is. Arn. Stand close, be sure, that's your first caution ; and appear least in sight, that's your second direction ; and dibble lightly on the sur- face of the water, that's your third and final in- struction. Now order and manage the affair as we ... YOU can. Theoph. So I will ; and fancy that a city is more than half conquered, where resolution has got footing in the besieger's camp. Arn. From your inference I must conclude, that confident Theophilus will approve himself NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 61 an artist, because he's so forward in the art of angling. Theoph. I'le observe the angler's axioms. Arn. So you must, if you intend to be an art- ist. But how will you flourish a fly in that so- litary water, whereby to compleat yourself lord of your own exercise ? Consider it seriously. In the next place, you must mind the season of the year. Small rains, fair weather, and intermit- tent sun-shine, all these contribute to your en- tertainment ; but snow-broth and storms stand in opposition to your recreation. You must al- so observe the rack of clouds, and the hovering winds that curl the streams. These circum- stances judicially observed, an ordinary artist may kill a trout, provided he purdue himself at a reasonable distance. But what must be done when the air is undisturbed, nor the least breath of wind to fan the sholes ? Can you then kill a fish to recompence your labour, and sweeten your toil ? Come, lend me your* rod, and I'le hazard my skill to puzzle the art, or lay a trout in your lap. Theoph. That's as much as to say, you will give me handsel. Arn. And I do but little, if I do not do that. Observe that bush, whose slender branches wan- tonly dangle, sporting themselves on the cusp of the water ; there's no stream you may observe, 62 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. nor any thing of motion, nor the least breath of air to invade the calms. Put case, I kill a trout from that silent surface, what will you think on't? Theoph. I'le think you an artist. Arn. When ? Theoph. When I see your success. Arn. Have amongst them, then. Now there's what I promised you. Theoph. And I'le promise you, you are a man of your word. Arn. I seldom use to be less. Theoph. And I'le never desire to be more. But one thing I observe, and that's very re- markable : Why so circumspect in making your approaches, when accosting the river, as an en- gineer approaches a fortification ? Arn. There's reason for what I do. Theoph. Then there's reason you resolve me what I shall do, since trouts are so difficult to deal with. Arn. You will tell me more (I question not) when you come to examine them. Theoph. And that won't be long if I have my liking. But what an admirable fish is the trout for shape, beauty and proportion ? Arn. Such is the char ; next to him the um- bar. NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 6$ Theoph. And are they of as much agility of body? Am. In every respect. Theoph. Of necessity, then, they must be ex- cellent companions to consort with the angler, whiles the miser and avaricious hugs his bags, the epicure his luxurious, voracious appetite, and the wretched and covetous angler his paunch and pannier. Let art, industry, and experience gratify the artist. But as fortune favours you in your second adventure, such are my resolves to magnify the art. Arn. You do well, I perceive, to do nothing rashly. Theoph. And you do it better, by doing on r t advisedly. Arn. Then have at all ; and I think I have him ; look how he leaps and struggles for life ; but this prognosticks a sign of death : for, when the swan sings his own funeral epitaph, which of the family of birds join in consort with him ? so when the trout dances corantos to the angler, what but the line rings his funeral passing-peal ? Now, see how he lies gasping for breath, though every breath of air is as bad as opium ; and la- ments his misfortune to be so unfortunate, be- cause not to live out half his time ; where every cheque of the line challengeth death, and sends him a summons to prepare for the pannier. So 64 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. that you see he is no sooner deprived of natural strength, but submits himself to the fatal doom of the angler, who assures him no better quar- ter than death. Are not these terrible argu- ments to terrify the fish out of his element ? who, whilest he endeavours to evade the angler, falls foul upon the art with equal hazard ; and ? designing flight, pursues the pursuer ; so strug- gles with the artist to cheat his appetite, by proffering his life for a silly fly. By this you may see it's not difficult to court him, when with little difficulty he comes to hand, nay, to his grave, meerly for a mouthful ; for this sim- ple novelty cost him his life. And what was it think you ? only a fly of another figure, and of a different complexion ; the one artificial, but this was natural ; and there he lies, natu- rally devoted yours, not daring to petition his judg's reprieve. Where note, for your en- couragement, I present you with my conquest, and dedicate both my practice and experience to your self, purposing, perhaps, a farther exa- mination. For since to find fish so prodigal as to meet me half way, what cause have I to doubt of carrying them to their journey's end ? Theoph. Here's lucky handsel for a young beginner. Am. And you are that young beginner ; pray accept of handsel. NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 65 Theoph, Thanks, Amoldus, if thanks be ar- gument good enough to retaliate your bounty. But what must we think of those hovering clouds ? Am. I think they'l bring us summons of night, other ways I am loth to relinquish these pleasant streams, that divert the angler with such profitable entertainments. Theoph. If the night approach, it's time to withdraw ; but to withdraw from such sweet diversion, goes against the grain. Eden, fare- wel. Nay, I'le repeat it twice ; Farewel, Eden. With what reluctancy do I relinquish thy smiling fords, though to solace myself in the fortress of Carlisle. Am. You are shrewdly hurt. Will refresh- ment incommode you after the toils of recrea- tion ? and your observation of this late encoun- ter invalidate the art ? Ingenuously tell me, what your observation directs to ? Theoph. This I observ'd worthy my obser- vation, that it was a field fairly fought, but I cannot say without loss of life. Am. And I declare it a conquest of an easy purchase, where arms and artillery (the rod ex- cepted) amounts not to sixpence. Theoph. Was it six shillings, what a purchase is that to experience art and tantalize fish ? What's the single hazard of a hook and line, (a E 00 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. valuable considerable loss, indeed) to lose the value of two-pence, to purchase a fish worth tenpence ? Pray, what is it more than earnest- ing the river with a hook and line, to stem the adventure ? which I value not a rush, was every hair a thread of gold, and the barbed hook of superfine silver ; I'd expose the worth on't for the fin of a fish. Am. This resolution surmounts the adven- ture. TkeopJi. Besides all this, here's another obser- vation well worth your own and the angler's con- sideration ; and that is, our labour and travel : It's no more than a walk to trample the delici- ated and cultivated fields, on the fragrant banks that bridle the meandring streams. O, who would not solicite patience to crown such charm- ing rewards, intail'd upon anglers, in their soli- tary recreations ? Instruct me, dear Arnoldus, in this liberal art, and ingenuously tell me how you took these trouts ? Am. With nothing, upon reputation, but a natural fly, which I suddenly snatch'd from that slender twig. For, if you remember my turn- ing to that bush, I mean that hawthorn that flourishes behind you, there it was I discovered some insects, which, properly to consult, are as truculent as death, more especially in the ides of April and May. It was only with dracks NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 67 that I kill'd these trouts ; nor is there any bait that excels it at the tail of a bush, or the brow of a bank, provided always you appear least in sight ; dibble but lightly on the surface of the calms, you infallibly raise him ; and the better to secure him, stand but close, and you certainly kill him. Theopli. This plain discovery speaks both theory and practice. Such instructions as these (except to an indigent artist) will indisputably compleat him an angler in an instant. Arn. Come then, if you please, let us lap up our lines, and trace these pleasant fields to the town of Carlisle, where we may refresh ourselves with the country curiosities. Theoph. I think it very good and wholesome advice, to comply with your motion for a mo- dicum : For when the water with exercise exti- mulates our stomachs, I fancy diet will relish better than discourse ; and when we have closed up the orifice of our appetites, clean linen, I fancy, will be very acceptable. Then for the morning watch, trust to my diligence, for I'll rise with the sun, or it may be before day, to be in readiness to survey this ancient city, citadel, castle, cathedral, ports, vanports, curtains, coun- terscarps, bastions, redoubts, &c. of all which I purpose a brief description, and that you may expect before our departure. 68 NORTHEHN MEMOIRS. Arn. You direct good measures ; but let me first advise you to observe access, situation, and strength, the complement and resolution of their armed men ; their arms also, ammunition and artillery ; what stock of provisions is stored in their providers ; and whether nature or art chal- lenges the superiority in her fortifications. This is part of the task you impose upon yourself; and by noon be in readiness for our depar- ture ; about which time (if I calculate right) the tide will commode us for our northern pas- sage over the trembling tottering sands. In the meantime, let not the night nor our sleep invade us, nor our watchings slide into wanton embracements. For the Watchman of the night will declare against such, and a serpent conceal'd in the secrets of conscience, shall gnaw and de- vour our habitations with ourselves. Theoph. Vainly and profusely to lavish time, we but flatter ourselves with sordid delusions, that vanish if but touch'd by the cold icy finger of death. How in a trice honours become fugi- tive before us ; and mortality, in a moment, in- corporates with the grave ; tissues and orris hangings become a prey to the moth ; and po- lish'd pavements of jasper, with those others of marble, how quickly time translates them into tombstones. Nay, those delicacies and viands that surprized the palat, are by this also con- 7 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 69 verted into nauseous excrements. So that upon the whole, this elementary composition in con- clusion results in dust and ashes. Am. It's very true ; for did man but consi- der the instability of transitory enjoyments, he might read himself more miserable in living than dying ; but there is a state (tho unknown to the ignorant) that is too great and glorious for mortals to purchase ; but Christ hath already done that for inglorious man, whose longest progress of life on the stage of this world, is no more than a dream to the length of eternity. Theoph. Now the fair star Aurora springs upon us, I must be stirring, Arnoldus ; you know I have set myself a task to survey this city and fortress of Carlisle, which I purpose to describe. Am. That will be time enough about noon. Theoph. And it may be I can do it now as well. Am. Come then, let us have it ; I see you're in haste. Theoph. Carlisle, I have considered it but a little city, a little observation, therefore, shall serve to describe it. However, it's a fortifica- tion (that's true) tho it stands in a nook, or more properly to call it, a corner of England, whose foundations are rocky, and surrounded with a stone wall. At the south entrance, you may observe a small citadel, fronted with stone, 70 NOllTHERN MEMOIRS. and such are the houses of the same material ; nor are they much elevated into the air, where the battlements are seen above the houses, which argues the wall a serviceable defence. In the midst of the market-place they parade their guards ; and at the north-west end of the city stands their castle, (strong and formidable) upon whose bulky battlements several pieces of can- non are planted, to scatter fury in every quar- ter. There is also a cathedral situated south from the bastions of the castle, worthy any man's description, were it not so torn to tatters that there's little to describe, which only serves now as a monument to gaze at, because impoverish'd by the strokes of time. But the ports and sal- ly ports of this northern fortress are girt about with rocky stone ; and the wash of Eden bathe some of her sconces ; that river, I mean, where Arnoldus fish'd when he slew the trouts. Am. It's very true, the river Eden floats near the skirts, and the fortifications of Carlisle. But then you must consider there's another river, commonly known by the name of Amion, (of a more rapid motion, and more resolute streams) which issues from the famous top of Erricsteen, not far from as famous a mountain called Tintaw. This Annon glides along the southern marshes of Scotland, which afterwards espouseth with the ocean westward, and gives NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 71 name to a dale, commonly called Annon's Dale. But there's another river the natives call Ask, which juts just upon Annon, on the Scottish promontories, so tumbles into the sea at N. Nor- west, as near as I can guess at the Quaking Sands. Theoph. Pray, give us that relation. Arn. I remember on a time as I travelled these parts, to admiration, I saw two thousand horse, all advance in divisions over those silly shores, which so prest and deprest the tottering- surface, that not till then, nor before, I had ever seen sands shap'd into vallies, then again into mountains ; nay, such prodigious overgrown mountains as almost amaz'd me ; because, when to behold from such palpable levels, mountains, as it were, rais'd up in a moment ; and in the twinkling of an eye, all melted into vallies. And the nearer the bodies approached one ano- ther, the farther they seemed to be asunder. So that upon the matter, the advance of this bri- gade was little more than to make new hills, and depress and sink them again into dales. So that looking behind me, when discharging the fords, there was nothing remaining but sea and sand, chequer'd as it were, parte perpale. This is the first of our northern wonders, and the ra- rity is almost beyond belief, were it not so com- monly experienced by almost every traveller 72 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. that travels these northern remote parts : other- wise it might render me ridiculous to report it, and look too fabulous to gain a reputation. But he that has beheld this admirable prospect will credit my relation, whilst the more ignorant and prejudicate suspend their censures. Theoph. And must we adventure to attempt these tottering sands ? Arn. Yes, indisputably we must. Theoph. In my opinion, then, it's requisite we summons a guide. Arn. That's well considered, for there's no passing without one. Theoph. So, ho ! Jockey ! Servus. Wha's there ? Theoph. Here's one or two want a good guide to pilot us over these sinking sands. Servus. Ise come belive. Arn. Prethee come now, and direct us over these quaking sands. Servus. Marry sail I ; Ise be your guide, 1 tro, to speer oot the bliethest and the bonnyest gate I con. Hand a plack, Ise but fet my spere and cutrements, whelk, in guid fa, I may not won without. Arn. Then take 'em with you. Servus. Marry sail I ; sa that now and then, as I gang by the gat, gif the bourn be clear, and Ise pre a guid blink ; Ise wap a samon ore NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 73 the crage I tro, than with a grip ore his luggs we my ene hand : I tro, Ise hold him a bit ; an, for au his struggle, Ise mar his march to sea any mare. Come ben, me joes, and won awaugh. Span yar groond ore this silly bourn ; Ise pre it and prieve it ; it's guid enogh : Come awaw, folio me now. Whelk way won ye, ken ye I tro ? Guid fa, sirs, yar misleard ; won away thick way, mare and mare yet to thick bond ; for an the quick sands get a grip au yor nagg's shakle bene, gude fa, sirs, heel womble doun the bourn, an whar are ye then ? But au's weel enof now ; for now ye treed on bonnie Scotish grond. Theoph. I know not what ground it is, nor what to call it ; but this I know, that I'm glad we can welcome our selves on this side danger. What think you, Arnoldus, have not we made an eminent exchange, to truck a southern rose for a northern thistle ? Farewel, Old England ; I shall venerate thy memory, and thy fertile medows, and never forget thy florid fields that glut the sithe, nor thy fragrant gardens that per- fume the air. Arn. And welcome Scotland, I say ; for this night I purpose to lodg in Dumfreez. But who must carry our impliments and our fish ? Theoph. Let us catch 'em first, and then con- sider their portage. 74 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. Arn. That's but little difficult to do, where every field is accommodated with rivulets, and every rivulet furnished with trouts, as we travel along this mountainous coast of Galloway. Look but before you, and view those ports ; such are the entrances into the decays of Dumfreez, whose situation and buildings bespeak it spacious, and a town that will furnish us with fish and flesh ; where we may stay till to morrow, and solace our selves with her flourishing streams ; w r hose lofty banks barrocade the beautiful Pontus Ar- notus, a pleasant portable river below the situa- tion of the town (unplundered of exercise) that will recreate and recruit us with fish enough, if the season but serve to experiment the art. Theoph. I approve very well of your motion, but a modicum first will be very seasonable. Let us summons the cook to know what he's got in the kitchin ; and give charge to the chambermaid, (if there be such a thing in Scot- land,) to take care that the windows be deck'd and adorn'd with flowers, whilst the boards and floors are strewed with greens ; for I'll examine every thread in our beds, to see if they be clean- ly wash'd, and throughly dried, the better to accommodate us in our northern expedition. Arn. Do so ; and I resolve in the morning to examine your breviate of the various particulars of this night's entertainment, how you approv'd NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 75 of your lodging, with the memorable apprehen- sions of England in Scotland. The sauce, also, you must tell how that savoured ; and the rest of your delicates, how they digested ; together with your linen, how richly perfumed. Theoph. Were not complaint a ridiculous ora- tor, I would tell you, the mutton was small, but good ; but cookery, 1 perswade myself, never worse contriv'd: And the linen was sweet, and clean enough, of a modest complexion, but not lavender- proof. Then for their pewter, (the like was never seen) it was tarnish'd with nothing but a face of lead. The beds, I confess, were soft enough, and, if I don't mistake myself, short enough ; yet every angler may, without diffi- culty, resolve how sweetly rest relishes after re- creation, and how grateful solace seems after good success. Shall we spread the water this morning with our angling artillery, and examine the fords before we feast ourselves ? Resolve this morning's exercise, my benevolence ; only stand by, and furnish me with directions. Arn. Your motion inclines me to promote the adventure, and the rather because to intro- duct 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 complexion of the water must al- so be considered ; and depths and shallows are 76 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 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 perad- venture passion provoke your discretion, so in- danger the loss of what you labour for. Theoph. These are soveraign admonitions. Arn. 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. Theoph. I shall be mindful of that. Arn. Then direct your eye to those bubbling streams, at whose murmuring descents are most profound deeps. But then, again, there's cata- racts and falls of water ; from whose fair invita- tions neither doubt nor despair of incomparable entertainments. That's the Sirene's seat of tro- phies, where trouts tumble up and down for di- version. 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 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 77 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. Theoph. Doubt not of my care and circum- spection. Am. Then take your lot, and cast in your line ; and flourish your fly, for it's dub'd with bear's hair ; and the point of your hook, it's so snug and so sharp, that, as it ought, it must al- ways hang downward. Moreover, it's propor- tioned 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. Theoph. Why thus to capitulate ? let us in amongst them. Arn. Two words to a bargain ; be better ad- vised. Theoph. It's past that now, and I'm past my senses, to feel such trepidations on a sudden in- vade me. What's the matter with me that I'm thus out of order ? Arn. I perceive you disordred, but not much deliciated. Theoph. If I were, it's folly to complain, when past all hope to expect redress. Arn. How know you that ? 78 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. Theoph. I know you won't tell me what it is that tugs thus. Am. It may be a trout ; or it may be a sal- mon. Theoph. 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. Arn. And impossible for you (I perceive) to reclaim him. Theoph. Do but resolve me what it is, and then I'le resolve myself what to do. Arn. Make your own choice, what would you have it ? Theoph. I would have it a fish. Arn. So it is ; and it may be a fish of the lar- gest size ; therefore, look well about you. Theoph. I may look which way I will, and de- spair at last ; what makes the water swell with ebullitions ? Arn. Nothing I suppose but a change of ele- ments, the fish has no mind to come a shore. TJieoph. And I have as little inclination to go to fetch him. Arn. Then were your hazards equal ; and hi- therto, as I apprehend, you have much the odds. Theoph. Odd or even, I know not how to ma- nage him. Arn. Would you put a force upon Neptune, to compel his subjects a shore ? NORTHEKN MEMOIRS. 79 Theoph. Had I skill enough, I would certain- ly do it. Am. So I perceive ; but you'r now almost at a stand. Pull. Theoph. 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? Arn. Gone to the bottom, it may be. Theoph. And it may be, I begin to smell the plot ; he courts the deep for self-security. Arn. Then you fancy the streams won't pro- tect him ; because there's no plot in them. Theoph. Plots for the most part, you know, lie deepest ; so he sinks to the bottom for self-pre- servation, and creeps to death as if of old ac- quaintance. Arn. Rash results reap repentance ; mistake not your self by dooming his death ; he's but slipt to the bottom to recruit himself, and inden- ture with stones to oblige their protection. Theoph. What, must we have now another va- gary ? 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. Arn. And you must be advised to look well to yours ; for he'l not come ashore to beg his life. Stand fast, therefore, and call to mind your for- mer rudiments ; for trust me, I shall give you 80 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. no other supply than some friendly admonish- ments to reconcile you together. Theoph. What, no directions ; nor any farther instructions ? Arn. If two to one be odds at football, and against the rules and law of fair play, the very thought 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. Theoph. Then I'le fight him myself, 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 vio- lence ? 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. Arn. And you may miss him, that won't stand upon a trifle. Theoph. A trifle did you say ? I'le trifle him no longer. Ha, boys ! he's gone again. Arn. I suppose he's gone where you can't come at him ; and that's to the bottom for another in- surrection. Theoph. So it appears, for he's invisible in a moment. This is a kind of hocus pocus : Surely I fancy he has outliv'd his time. Arn. Flatter not yourself with that fly-blown opinion ; for I'm apt to perswade myself he'l live NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 81 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. Theoph. 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 not all these mortal signs of submission ? Am. And if he submits, he dies without re- demption ; and death, you know, is a total sub- mission. Theoph. I'le kill this fish, or forfeit my repu- tation. Arn. Take your chance, for I know you are resolute. Theoph. I'le take my chance, and return vic- torious. Arn. But there's no triumph, you know, till possest of the trophies. Theoph. And I am pretty near them, was it not that one or two stratagems strangely amuse me ; the one of them is the casting himself on the surface, as if designing thereby to cut my line ; and the other, his fastning himself in the bottom, thinking, as I apprehend, to tear all in pieces ; which, if he do, I lose my reputation : F o 82 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. besides I grow weary, and would fain horse him out. Arn. You may do what you please, you are lord of your own exercise ; the law is in your hand, manage with discretion. Theoph. I'le manage it with all the industry I have. Arn. Do so, and you will see the event. Theoph. Then have at all. Arn. And what have you got ? Theoph. I have got nothing but the foot-steps of folly. Arn. And nothing out of nothing is folly in the abstract ; was not I prophetick ? Theoph. An oracle too true to confirm my loss ; for what have I left ? nothing but folly, to lament and condole this fatal conclusion : to be rob'd by a fish that I reckoned my reward : is not this felony, to steal my tackle, and ruin an angler ? but he's mark'd for my own, and let whose will take him, I'le challenge an interest. Arn. That's very pleasant ; when another has catch'd him, you'l put in your claim. Theoph. So I will, where-e're I find him ; for his marks I am sure will certainly betray him. Arn. As if he wore your livery to no other purpose than to describe his servitude. Theoph. So he does ; for my hook I am sure NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 83 hangs still in his chaps, and part of my line is entailed to it. Am. I thought all along what it would come to, for I knew well enough there was nothing wanting but the exercise of patience to kill this fish. Theoph. What would you have done had it been your case ? Am. I would not have handled my play-fel- low so rudely. Tlieoph. What ! you rather laugh at me, than pity my loss. Am. I pity the fish to feed upon such sharp commons. Theoph. Peradventure the hook may go near to choak him. Am. That it will never do, nor hardly check him upon a fresh entertainment. Theoph. Why so ; will the hook remain in his chaps without detriment to the fish ? Am. Some small season it may remain ; but time and action soon discharges it. For if when to consider his frequent motion, his continual gliding and glancing against stones, it loosens the part without detriment to the fish, so that the hook of it self leisurely drops off. Theoph. How comes this to pass ? it's incre- dibly strange. Am. Yet not so strange as true that you have 84 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. lost a line, as compleat a line as art could pro- portion ; it's well you kept your rod, for I'le as- sure you it's exactly taper'd, and as streight and plient as ever flourish'd a fly to facilitate death by dexterity. But this artificial novel you lost but now, gives no more satisfaction to a voraci- ous appetite, than a witch's banquet ; or the un- limited desires of a wretched usurer, who never desists the pursuit of riches, till tantaliz'd, like your game, to death with a trifle. And now, Theophilus, I must reprove your precipitancy, because a great error in young anglers. Patience must be moderated to pro- mote the art, and time procrastinated to pro- claim the angler an artist. These precepts I have laid down oftner than once, always pro- vided your swim be clear, your line long, and strong enough ; then shall you see the fruits of your labour, and the fish himself act the part of a felon, that puts a knife to his own throat, wherewith he secretly murders himself ; and that this desperado had certainly done, upon ex- change of elements, so become his own execu- tioner ; who, beyond dispute, had struggled to strangle himself, which, without difficulty, is easily and the more expeditiously done, by fre- quently but cautiously exposing him to air ; for that suffocates his vitals, whereby he necessarily falls under very fatal consequents. And how NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 85 little a thing blots out the character of life, every one knows, that knows air is as opium to force a sleepy pulse ; that deprives of motion, and makes passage for death. Be mindful, therefore, to observe directions in handling and managing your rod and line, and cautiously keeping your self out of sight ; all which precautions are requisite accomplish- ments, which of necessity ought to be under- stood by every ingenious angler. And so is that secret art of striking, which ought never at any time to be used with violence ; because, with a moderate touch, and a slender propor- tion of strength, the artist for the most part has best success. Another caution you must take along with you ; and that is, when you observe your game begins to make an out ; that is, when he bolts, or when he launcheth himself forth to the ut- most extent of your rod and line, which a well- fed fish at all times frequently attempts, upon the least advantage he gains on the angler ; be mindful, therefore, to throw him line enough, if provided you purpose to see his destruction ; yet with this caution, that you be not too libe- ral. On the other hand, too streight a line brings equal hazard ; so that to poize your fish, and your fore-sight together, is, by keeping one eye at the point of your rod, and the other be sure 86 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. you direct on your game ; which comes nearest the mediums of art, and the rules and rudiments of your precedent directions. But this great wound is easily solv'd ; for if, when to discover your fish fag his fins, you may rationally conclude he then struggles with death ; and then is your time to trifle him a shore on some smooth shelf of sand, where you may boldly land him, before his scales encoun- ter the soil, which he no sooner apprehends by the prospect of death approaching ; as a dying man that grasps every twig, because thinking thereby to save himself; so will your game ex- tinguish his strength, and blaze out the flames of his life with a struggle. Another expedient is the landing-net, or the landing- rod, which I rather approve of; let the swim be deep, or let it be shallow, we direct this artifice to amuse the fish, and facilitate his destruction, when he struggles with difficulties : Notwithstanding all this, some hazards must be encountred, by the more ingenious that flies high at his game. Incomparable sport the sal- mon makes, and so did this, for he made me laugh. Theoph. Why so severe to run at my misfor- tune ? take the rod if you please, and display your skill, Tie defy all your art to discover such a lish ; though unfortunate, I must confess, to NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 87 hazard my reputation, with such ill' success ; whereby to lose such an eminent encounter : but I am come to that point of resolution now, that fish that comes next but to smell my hook, shall prize the scent on't so long as he lives ; where an inch of my line shall cost him an ell of his life, though he attempts to saw my line in sunder, with the ragged and jagged teeth of his tail. Am. And is this the earnest you intend to handsel us with ? Such a small stock of experi- ence will neither admit of general nor particu- lar directions to instruct and initiate proficients in the art, to try their skill with a resolute fish. Reach hither your rod, and that bag of flies. Now should fortune contribute equal success, we need not despair of a hungry breakfast ; however, 1'le adventure, and have in amongst 'em ; did you see him show ? Theoph. Yes, yes, I see something make a show ; and it may be fish. Arn. What, a fish with an it, and a may be too ? Stand close, I advise you, for he'l rise again, provided as hitherto he has made no dis- covery. 4W Theoph. What then, will you discipline and teach him the art of invasion ? Arn. I'le teach him to know that if one ele- ment won't contain, him, another must ; so, so, 58 NORTHERN MEMOIHS. I have him fast enough to distinguish the dif- ference. And now for the landing-rod to mea- sure his dimensions. See where he lies, and tell me how you like him ; can you think him as large as that you encountred ? Theoph. It's no matter what I think ; it may be he's inferiour, or it may be superiour. Arn. That's modestly ingenious, to lessen your loss by advancing my reputation. Theoph. And you more than fortunate to suc- ceed so well ; shall we lap up our lines, and re- turn to Dumfreez ? Arn. With all my heart, for the clock strikes ten ; and the sun is in his elevation towards the meridian. This is no time for farther exa- mination, till about four after noon, except in an obscure and clowdy day ; for the crisis and critical time for diversion, is late in the evening, or early in the morning. Theoph. It's enough I perceive ; your gene- rous motion moves me to wave the present re- creation. On the other hand, your experience, I must confess, promulges the art, and your self an artist. All this I grant, and more than this, since to confirm this evidence quickens my ap- petite. Arn. Ay, but what think you of the wing of an ox ? would not such a modicum melt sweetly in your mouth ? NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 89 Theoph. If luxurious dreams and witches banquets are equally alike impoverish'd vanity ; then to contemplate England in the bowels of Scotland, will represent to us but fictitious delu- sions. Rather would I have you tell me how you like the commons, and tell me then how you approve the cookery, Arn. I like it so well, that I could heartily wish it had been better ordered for your enter- tainment ; but the difficulty is such in this northern latitude, that good cooks and good fish seldom dwell together. Theoph. Then let them dwell asunder ; how- ever, it's well it is as it is, better ill-cooked than none at all. However, in the mean while reflect on your self, and give us a description of the town of Dumfreez. Arn. I fancy e're long you will change your note, when you traverse these pleasant northern tracts. In the mean time I'll gratify you with a breviate of Dumfreez, where a provost, as su- perintendent, supplies the place of a mayor, a magistrate almost as venerable as an English constable. Theoph. That's wittily applied ; what comes next? Arn. Nay, hold a little, 1 have not done yet with the eminencies and the remarks of the town of Dumfreez ; for you are to consider it 90 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. was anciently a town girt about with a strong stone wall ; but the late irruptions, or perhaps some state-disagreement, has in a manner de- faced that regular ornament, otherwise thecank- rous teeth of time have gnawn out the impres- sions, as evidently appears by those ruinous heaps. Nor is the Arnotus in all parts portable, notwithstanding her shores are so delightful. Theoph. What, is there more yet ? pray, go on. Am. In the midst of the town is their mar- ket-place, and in the centre of that stands their tolbooth, round about which the rabble sit, that nauseate the very air with their tainted breath, so perfum'd with onions, that to an English- man it is almost infectious. But the kirk is comely, and situated south- ward, furnished once a week with moveable spectrums, (you know what that means,) yet the outside than the inside is more eminently imbellished, if sepulchres and tombstones can be said to be ornaments ; and where death and time stand to guard the steeple, whose rings of bells seldom or rarely exceed the critical num- ber of three. Here also you may observe a large and spa- cious bridg, that directly leads into the country of Galloway, where thrice in a week you shall rarely fail to see their maid-maukins dance co- NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 91 rantos in tubs. So on every Sunday some as seldom miss to make their appearance on the stool of repentance. Theoph. Then it seems by your relation they keep time with their Comers, that hazard their reputation for a country-custom (or the love of liquor) rather than omit a four-hours drinking. Am. That's true enough ; and it's an antient practice among the female sex, to covee together (about that time) as naturally as geese flock'd to the Capitol. Now the very name of Comer they mightily honour ; but that of Gossip they utter- ly abominate, as they hate the plague, or some mortal contagion. So that whether to conclude it a vulgar error, and an abomination among the Scots to lick up an English proverb, it matters not ; or, whether to fancy a more laudable em- phasis in the word Comer, then there is in Go-sip. I leave you to judg of that, and those other abo- minable customs, that drink till they sigh to do penance for their sins. Will this expiate the crime, and extenuate the fact ? Theoph. Yes, when oil quenches fire ; or fire forgets its natural force to burn. So let us leave Dumfreez, and accommodate our selves with the country-curiosities ; and to make our design yet more sweet and pleasant, let us rally what des- criptions of places we can, not only to gratify our selves but others. In the mean time, favour 92 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. me with your bad fortune of the dish of sewins, and the duck Moggy drest, when she flung it into the fire, to singe off the feathers. Am. Why thus to reflect on the country-ab- surdities ? Had you been then in place, distress'd as we were, I doubt not but that duck had gone daintily down, notwithstanding you think it so sluttishly cook'd. Hunger at no time solicits sauce to incite ; and necessity as little as any thing disputes dainties. The landskip of want invades natural strength, and reads lectures le- gibly in any man's features. But the manner of their cookery, or rather Scotish sluttery, I'll tell you the story, and how it was. Theoph. I shall be very attentive. Arn. Near the English promontories stands the town of Jedard, whose skirts are wash'd by the famous Tweed. But westward from thence (and inclining yet more norward) are the remark- able antiquities and ruins of Bog-hall ; and not far from thence is the admirable Tintaw, a pro- digious mountain over-looking the Marshes. From whence, or from Erricsteen (that's not far from it) there issue forth three eminent and con- siderable rivers ; as that of the Tweed, Loyd, and the river Annon : But of these three rivers we shall discourse more at large, as opportunity presents in its proper place. And now let's advance to our country cottage, NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 98 since compelled by the extremity of rain, and encreasing waters. To which place when we ar- rived, like men in amaze, we stood gazing at one another, because to see the sheep grazing on the tops of those houses, where there was hardly grass enough to graze a goose in. By this you may conclude their buildings but low, and I'm sure their doors and entrances were so strait, that they exercised our strength beyond our art. Ar- chimedes' engines signified but little, till the soul- diers set their shoulders to support the eves, by which means the horse got an entrance in ; and that horseman that was not throughly wet, was doom'd that night to go supperless to bed. Thus in a storm we stormed the town, and 'twould make a man storm to be treated only with oatmeal, of which we made cakes ; for every souldier became a baker ; and the flesh- meat they procured us was drest without slaugh- ter ; for none we had except my duck, (you for- merly discours'd) so that most of us roosted with an empty appetite ; and every man that went that night to bed, was sufficiently alarum'd be- fore it was day. Oat-straw was our sheets, and port-mantles our pillows. It's true, some had cloaks, and 'twas well they had them, otherwise they had been constrained to use plads ; and he that used one but to cover his carcass, mustred (I uphold him) more gray coats than black coats, 94 NORTHERN MEMOIRS- that claw'd him more perniciously than a Mid- dlesex bailiff'. The next day we recruited with some coun- try ale, but so thick and roapy it was, that you might eat it with spoons. Besides, some small quantity of mutton was brought us, enough to discover the cookery of the country : and the li- nen they supplied us with, were it not to boast of, was little or nothing different from those female complexions that never washed their faces, to retain their Christendom. But among the rest I had almost forgot to remind you that the soul- diers and people were jointly agreed to part without the loss of one tear in the morning. Tkeoph. I hope not to see, nor would I will- ingly dream of such bad commons, a hungry belly, and nothing to bite on ; nay, worse than that, more sluts than cooks ; and in every house fowl women, fowl linen, and fowl pewter ; yet in their rivulets such silver streams. What, not a bed, nor a thread (but linsey lowsy) to keep a man dry ! who could project or contrive worse entertainment for the worst of his enemies ? Arn. Why, how now, Theophilus, is it that time of day ? he's an early angler that angles by moonshine. Theoph. Mistake not your self, I'm only grop- ing for baits ; it may be I propose to angle early. Arn. Who questions it, when you catch 'em NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 95 so fast before sun-rise, what will you do when it's break of day ? Theoph. O, Arnoldus, I'm almost worried to death with lice, my skin is all motled and dapled like an April trout. Can you blame me to re- linquish this lowsy lodging, when my batter'd sides are pinck'd full of ilet-holes ? One brigade pursues another, and flight I find the best expe- dient ; for my enemies, I perceive, are so despe- rately resolv'd, that they'll rather die than quit the field. Dangers foreseen are the sooner pre- vented, and I design to sleep in a whole skin as long as I can. Zanker, farewel, I am glad to see thee behind me, and no need of a chirurgion. Am. Did you think of Boghall, when the ver- min last night were so busy about you ? the story of my duck was pleasant to you, and so is this to me. Those characters and impressions seal'd on your sides (by these Scotish interlo- pers) will oblige you to remember Zanker these seven days. You have not been used to such coarse entertainment, nor treated as I have been, with such Scots commons. Is this the fruits of private practice to compleat your self a gradu- ate, tho you steal your preferment from a nitty corporation ? at the best you can be but batche- lor of Backbiter's-hall. But now jesting is done, and you're half undone I perceive ; what will 96 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. you do now in reference to Zanker ? can you give a relation of that corporation ? Theoph. Yes, that I can, and will do, not- withstanding the difficulties I have encountred. Zanker stands situate on a flat or level, surround- ed, as you see, with excellent corn-fields : but more remote it's besieged with mountains that are rich in lead-mines. The planets I fancy them very benevolent to influence this swompy rocky earth, and shine metallick blessings into them, to commode the indigent and almost un- cultivated native. Heaven, it's true, is always propitious, because never to impose the law of of sterility, when to supply the whole world with the bounty of increase. And tho the people here- abouts are destitute of ingenuity, and their fields for the most part impoverish'd for want of cul- tivation ; yet are their rivers and rivulets reple- nished with trout, because undisturb'd with the noosy net, which augments the angler's, if not the artizan's entertainment. Am. Here's no character of Zanker all this while. Theoph. I am just coming to tell you, that Zanker is a town and a corporation too ; tho not bulky in buildings, yet there is a bailiff, master sometimes of a brew-house, whose entertainments (in my opinion) may easily be guest at, provided you reflect on our late accommodation. NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 97 There is also a market-place, such an one as it is, and a kind of a thing they call a tolbooth, which at first sight might be suspected a prison, because it's so like one ; whose decays, by the law of antiquity, are such, that every prisoner is threatned with death before his trial; and every casement, because bound about with iron bars, discovers the entertainments destined only to fe- lons. Now the market-place is less worthy of a description than the tolbooth ; for no man would know it to be such, were he not told so. There is also a kirk, or something like it ; but I might as reverently call it a barn ; because so little to distinguish betwixt them, and the whole town reads daily lectures of decays ; so do her ports, her avenues, and entrances. Where note, I call her the child of antiquity, by reason of her ruins and irreparable decays. It's true, I was not murdered, nor was I kill'd outright, yet I nar- rowly escaped as eminent a danger, when almost worried to death with lice. Arn. However, I am glad you escaped with- out scars ; and advise for the future, that you examine your lodging before you make your for- mal entrance. In the mean time, let me resti- tute some part of amendment, by an easy, tho solitary journy over this mountanous country, to sweeten your entertainment. And, in regard G 98 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. of your unexperience in these northern tracts, I shall direct our course through the coast of Gal- loway, a compendium of the Highlands im- merg'd in the arms of the Low-lands: and I'll ap- peal to your self, when you have seen her fertili- ty, if you do not envy her blest inhabitants, be- cause inrich'd with the plenty of rivers and ri- vulets, woods and groves ; besides benevolent fields, and profitable pastures. Yet sometimes we must ramble o're some rotten bogs, as now we do ; and permit our feet (as at other times) to climb those knotty craggy mountains, that, like a gnomen, direct to the town of Kilmar- nock, a kind of a corporation, where we may ex- pect the comfortable issues of good entertain- ment ; for worse than the last is madness to con- template. Theoph. Is that the town that presents at a distance ? Am. Yes, that is Kilmarnock, an antient cor- poration, heap'd up and crowded with men and mechanicks ; through the midst of whose crazy tottering ports, there runs a river replenished with trout, where we may treat our appetites, as already our apprehensions, with the entertain- ments of Dumbarton, whose rapid streams, when we come to examine them, are enough, one would think, to surfeit the angler. To which place it is now but one day's journy, nor need NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 99 we hackney it at more than an ordinary rate, be- fore we discover those beautiful ascents, and the hostile habitation of our friend Aquilla, that dwells in those western florid fields, who will bid us welcome, and rejoice to see us. Nor will Glasgow be any impediment in our way, whilst we only survey her beautiful palaces, so direct to the lofty turrets of Dumbarton. Theoph. Let the sun, or his star the beautiful Aurora, arrest me, if otherwise 1 arise not be- fore break of day, and be in readiness for a march to the famous Glasgow, where you purpose to refresh, and briefly examine the city curiosities ; as also the customs of their magnificent situa- tions ; whose academick breasts are a nursery for education, as the city for hospitality. And let this be your task as we travel to Dumbarton, to give us a narrative of the antiquities of Cloyd, as also of the town of Kilmarnock, where we slept this night, that so bravely refresh'd us. Arn. That I can do as we ride along. Theoph. Do so, it will be very acceptable. Arn. Then to expostulate the antiquities of Kilmarnock; as it would puzzle the pen of an ingenious historiographer, so I, for that end, was thinking to evade it, and refer it to some other of more mature judgment ; since you yourself, and consequently others that read my relation, will probably reduce me to the probate of a cen- 8 100 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. sure. On the other hand, the native who lives under an expectation, would equally condemn me for my taciturnity, should I silently pass by and imprint no remarks on their silty sands, and silver streams. To this dilemma I am driven by the censures of some, nor can I escape the cla- mours of others ; so that I sail betwixt Sylla and Charibdis. However, I shall use my best en- deavours to gratify both as near as I can, and consult the mean and mediums of veracity, so far as experience and discovery can inform me : So that I shall say but little more than to tell the world that Kilmarnock is an antient corpora- tion, crowded with mechanicks and brew-houses. Theoph. But that's not all. Arn. If not enough, then you must have more, it seems ; and not only for yourself, but tor those that are more inquisitous. And what will they say ? Why you and they both will tell me, it's only rifling into ruins. Nor, indeed, is it other, when in our progress we proceed to prove little more, save only a discovery of ruins and decays. Theoph. Be it what it will, however, let us have it. Arn. Well, then, if to go one step further, surely it won't cripple me ; let me tell you, then, it's an antient manufactory. NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 101 Theoph. And what of all that ? Is this more than what we formerly knew ? Am. It's more than I knew, that you knew so much. But this discourse, Theophilus, bet- ter becomes an antiquary, than one that queries ; for, should I but step into her dirty streets, that are seldom clean but on a sun-shiny day, or at other times, when great rains melt all the muck, and forcibly drive it down their cadave- rous channels into the river Marr, whose streams are so sullied then, that the river loses its natu- ral brightness, till the stains are wash'd out, so become invisible. All which to examine, is enough to convince you, that the influence of planets are their best scavenger : for the natives in this northern latitude, are naturally so ad- dicted to idleness and nastiness, that should not the heavens contribute the blessings of rain, they would inevitably surfeit with their own uncleanliness. Theoph. All this we will grant you ; the foot- steps are evident, Am. Where, note, these inhabitants dwell in such ugly houses, as, in my opinion, are but little better than huts ; and generally of a size, all built so low, that their eves hang dangling to touch the earth ; nor are they uniform, nor hold they correspondency one with another ; and that which is worse than all the rest, is 102 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. their unproportionate ill contrivance ; because, when to consider a dwarf of a house so cover- ed over with a gigantick roof. By which, you may imagine, our former projectors had but lit- tle project for curious contrivances ; and, to speak plain English, as little costly. The next thing in course that falls under our consideration, will be their artificers. But the Moors (more than all the rest) have gain'd the reputation for the temper of dirks, razors, and knives, whose temper is so exact, that it super- excels all the mechanicks in Scotland. Where, note, you may observe there are artists amongst them, though not one good structure to be found in Kilmarnock ; nor do I remember any wall it has, but a river there is, as I formerly told you of, that runs through the town ; over which there stood a bridg so wretchedly an- cient, that it's unworthy our commendations any otherwise, than as travellers commend the bridg they go over. Another part of their manufacture is knitting of bonnets, and spinning of Scotish cloth ; which turns to very good account. Then, for their temper of metals, they are without compeer ; Scotland has not better. And, as they are arti- zans in dirks, so are they artists in fudling, as if there were some rule in drinking. So that, to me, it represents as if art and ale were inse- NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 103 parable companions. Moreover, their wives are sociable comers too ; yet, not to compare with those of Dumblain, who pawn their petticotes to pay their reckoning. Theoph. Here's a jolly crew of alemen (but very few anglers) crowded together in the small compass of a little corporation, curiously com- pacted. For the houses, you may observe, be- siege the river ; and that river, to divide the ruinous ports, left only as reliques that remain discoverable ; however, it's my opinion, that a stone wall has incircled the town, since hitherto, as to observation, there's rarely a town of any eminency in Scotland, but is, or has been, belea- gured with a strong stone wall j but as to that I'le silence my self. Am. Well, then, I'le proceed to pilot you down these solitary descents that direct to the eminent ports of Air, near whose difficult en- trances stands a strong citadel, formidable and spacious, in the base of a pentagon, erected on purpose to reduce insurrectors. Tkeoph. Must we dismount these hills to traverse those valleys ? Arn. Yes, surely, we must, if designing to trace the fertil fields and beautiful plains of the now famous and flourishing Glasgow, where we may accommodate ourselves with various curio- sities ; for the days are long enough, and our 104 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. journey no more than a breathing to Dumbar- ton. Now, the first curiosity that invites us to gaze at, is a large and spacious bridg of stone, that directs to the fair imbellishments of Glas- gow. But our next entertainment is the plea- sant medows, and the portable streams of the river Cloyd, eminent in three capacities. The first is, because of her numberless numbers of trout. The second is, because of her multipli- city of salmon. But the third and last is, from her native original, and gradual descents ; be- cause so calmly to mingle her streams with the ocean. Not that we now consider her florid medows, nor shall we recount her nativity from Tintaw, because so strongly opposed and pre- sum'd from Erricsteen, distant from thence some few odd miles. Theoph. If you please, let that argument drop till farther opportunity. Am. I am thinking to do so, and proceed to discourse this eminent Glasgow. Which is a city girded about with a strong stone wall, with- in whose flourishing arms the industrious inha- bitant cultivates art to the utmost. There is also a cathedral (but it's very ancient) that stands in the east angle, supervising the bulk of the city, and her ornamental ports. Moreover, there are two parish churches ; but no more, to the best of my observation. Then, there is a col- NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 105 lege, which they call an university ; but I'm at a stand what to call it, where one single college com pleats a university. Now, let us descend to describe the splendor and gaity of this city of Glasgow, which surpas- seth most, if not all the corporations in Scot- land. Here it is you may observe four large fair streets, modell'd, as it were, into a spacious quadrant ; in the centre whereof their market- place is fix'd ; near unto which stands a stately tolbooth, a very sumptuous, regulated, uniform fabrick, large and lofty, most industriously and artificially carved from the very foundation to the superstructure, to the great admiration of strangers and travellers. But this state-house, or tolbooth, is their western prodigy, infinitely excelling the model and usual built of town- halls ; and is, without exception, the paragon of beauty in the west ; whose compeer is no where to be found in the north, should you rally the rarities of all the corporations in Scotland. Here the reader (it's possible) may think I hyperbolize ; but let him not mistake himself, for 1 write no ambiguities : Truth stands naked in plain simplicity ; and partiality I abhor as a base imposture. He that reads my relation, and the morals of this famous Glasgow, will vindi- cate my description, and place the fault to him that invents the fable ; for it's opposite to my 106 NORTHERN MEMOIRS genius, as also to my principles, either to deface a beautiful fabrick, or contract a guilt by "mag- nifying it beyond its due merit. I have, and therefore shall, as near as I can, in an equal poize ballance things aright. Permit me, there- fore, as a licentiat, to read you but a short, yet pertinent lecture, and I'le tell you what enter- tainments we met with in Glasgow, as also what hopes we have to meet with the like in the cir- cuit of our intended northern progress. But this I offer to the dubious only ; if, peradventure, there be any such as scruple, I'le refer them to the natives to evidence for me, which I am satis- fied they will with ten thousand manifesto's. In the next place, we are to consider the mer- chants and traders in this eminent Glasgow, whose store-houses and ware-houses are stuft with merchandize, as their shops swell big with foreign commodities, and returns from France, and other remote parts, where they have agents and factors to correspond, and inrich their ma- ritime ports, whose charter exceeds all the char- ters in Scotland ; which is a considerable advan- tage to the city-inhabitants, because blest with privileges as large, nay, larger than any other corporation. Moreover, they dwell in the face of France, and a free trade, as I formerly told you. Nor is this all, for the staple of their coun- try consists of linens, friezes, furs, tartans, pelts, NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 107 hides, tallow, skins, and various other small ma- nufactures and commodities, not comprehended in this breviat. Besides, I should remind you, that they generally exceed in good French wines, as they naturally superabound with fish and fowl ; some meat does well with their drink. And so give me leave to finish my discourse of this famous Glasgow, whose ports we relinquish to distinguish those entertainments of Dumbar- ton, always provided we scatter no corn. Theoph. What to think, or what to say of this eminent Glasgow, I know not, except to fancy a smell of my native country. The very prospect of this flourishing city reminds me of the beautiful fabricks and the florid fields in England, so that now I begin to expect a plea- sant journey. Pray, tell me, Arnoldus, how many such cities shall we meet with in our tra- vels, where the streets and the channels are so cleanly swept, and the meat in every house so artificially drest? The linen, I also observed, was very neatly lap'd up, and, to their praise be it spoke, was lavender proof; besides, the peo- ple were decently drest, and such an exact de- corum in every society, represents it, to my ap- prehension, an emblem of England, though, in some measure, under a deeper die. However, I'le superscribe it the nonsuch of Scotland, where an English florist may pick up a posie ; 108 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. so that should the residue of their cities, in our northern progress, seem as barren as uncultiva- ted fields, and every field so replenished with thistles that a flower could scarcely flourish amongst them, yet would I celebrate thy praise, O, Glasgow ! because of those pleasant and fra- grant flowers that so sweetly refresh'd me, and, to admiration, sweetned our present enterments. Am. Now the day-star springs, and the fla- ming steeds of the sun invite our departure. The smiles of the weather prognosticate we shall reach Dumbarton in very good time, where we may redress and refit such tackle as shall serve to accommodate both our art and ex- ercise; for near to those famous and flourish- ing ports there glides a rapid and peremptory river, that gulphs forth of the bowels of Loe- mon, replenished with trout, and, beyond all measure, of incomparable salmon, (if I calculate right) where we may sport to-day, and to-mor- row too, provided the season serve to our pur- pose. So from thence we may pass into the fields of Luss, (by fording the Loemon) where, beyond dispute, we shall gratify ourselves with such solitary entertainments as the angler most delights in ; so from thence, by crossing the Loemon eastward, we arrive in the steril fields of Bohanan, a situation, by some, thought al- NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 109 most inaccessible, by reason of hills and multi- plicity of boggs. TheopJi. What lofty domineering towers are those that storm the air, and stand a-tiptoe (to my thinking) upon two stately elevated pon- drous rocks, that shade the valley with their prodigious growth, even to amazement ? Be- cause to display such adequate and exact pro- portion, with such equality in their montanous pyramides, as if nature had stretch'd them into parallel lines with most accurate poize, to amuze the most curious and critical observer ; though with exquisite perspectives he double an obser- vation, yet shall he never trace a disproportion in those uniform piermonts. Arn. These are those natural, and not artifi- cial pyramides, that have stood, for ought I know, since the beginnings of time ; nor are they sheltred under any disguise, for nature herself drest up this elaborate precipice, without art or engine, or any other manual, till arriving at this period of beauty and perfection. And because, having laws and limits of her own, des- tinated by the prerogative royal of Heaven, she heap'd up these massy inaccessible pyramides, to invalidate art, and all its admirers, since so equally to shape a mountain, and to form it in- to so great and such exact proportions. Theoph. Then it's no fancy, I perceive, when 110 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. in the midst of those lofty and elevated towers, a palace presents itself unto us, immured with rocks, and a craggy front, that with a haughty brow contemns the invader. And where below at those knotty descents, Neptune careers on brinish billows, arm'd with Tritons in corslets of green, that threatens to invade this impreg- nable rock, and shake the foundations, which if he do, he procures an earthquake. Arn. This is the rock, and that which you see elevated in the air, and inoculated to it, is an artificial fabrick, invelop'd as you now observe in the very breast of this prodigious mountain ; which briefly, yet well enough, your observation directs to, both as to the form, situation, and strength. Moreover, it's a garrison, and kept by the Albions, where formerly our friend Fcele- cius dwelt ; who of late, upon preferment, is transplanted into Ireland : however, Aquilla will bid us /welcome; and, if I mistake not, he ad- vances to meet us ; look wishly forward, and you'l see him trace those delightful fields from the ports of Dumbarton. Aquil. What vain delusions thus possess me ! nay what idle dotages and fictitious dreams thus delude me ; if these be ghosts, which I fancy men. O Heavens ! it's our friend Arnoldus, and, (if I mistake not) Theophilus with him. Wel- come to Dumbarton. NORTHE11N MEMOIRS. Ill Arn. Thanks, dear Aquilla, thus friendly to salute us ; we are come to see you, and have de- serted the beautiful tracts of Albion, to trample the solitary fields in Scotland. Behold these evi- dences ; we have brought our rods, where note you may easily guess our design. Aquil. Above all men you are fortunate ; for had you studied an age to time your business for a day's diversion, the heavens could not shine stars more propitious. Do but see how the ground is chap'd and parch'd, and the streams so lean and barren of soil, as well they may, for no moisture has fallen to refresh the earth, nor drive down soil to recruit the rivers and feast the fish, this month or more, till yesterday ; and then the clouds began to dapple, the face of the fir- mament to lowre, the sky to discolour, the air to moisten, and the spouts of heaven seemingly to drop : yet when all came to all, it came to nothing ; for the tears of this storm converted into a calm ; so exhal'd into meteors, for ought I know : for when we expected a deluge of rain, there fell by chance but some few extravagant drops; which, for greediness, made the fish al- most forsake the water ; the complexion where- of being but a little changed, you may fancy, if you please, to fish under a colour. Arn. Notwithstanding all this I'm for the fly. 112 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. Theoph. And I'm for any bait, or any colour, so that I be but doing. Aquil. Then I'm for the ground-bait, and 1 perswade myself it will turn to best account, and prove most profitable to answer my expectation : For with but three sorts offish we must trifle our time (viz.) the active eel, the dextrous trout, and the incomparable salmon ; all which will as greedily pursue a worm, as a luxurious appetite pursues his paunch; Bring but a brandlin, or rather a gildtail, and try whether trouts be des- titute of an appetite. Theoph. They must have good stomachs sure, if they be always eating. Aquil. You are waggish, Theophilus, but really I am serious ; for now we begin to discover those silent and solitary deeps, those rapid and swift falls of water, besides those stiff and strong streams, that invite us to treat the family of fish. So that I conceive it is almost impossible to di- rect a line, and miss a reward : And the bottom, if you please, let us examine that with ground- bait, to prove the effects of our art and skill, to summons contribution from so generous an ad- venture. But if mid- water we consult, then I commend the canker, with the catter-pillar, or the grub ; or, if with a depinged locust, you will not lose your labour; nor will you starve your cause, if to strip off the legs of a grasshoper. All NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 113 these are excellent baits, but the green monket of the owlder-tree super-excels them all. Then there's the pink (which you call a minew) if dis- play'd with a swivel at mid- water ; or you may, if you please, drag him from the bottom of the deeps, so glide him all along through the region of limpid streams, the better to display this amo- rous charm, so obtain the point by the mediums of art, as already is advisable by consulting the artist. Theoph. Now I perceive we but trifle time, this tedious discourse obstructs recreation. Let us stretch our limbs with the length of the streams; we have day enough, and pleasant weather, why then so vainly to procrastinate time with flattering thoughts of suggested en- joyments, which signify no more than honour in dreams ? Come, my friends, let us reform that error by the progress of art. So that if our la- bours be spent to advantage, and our selves, like artists, sufficiently recompensed by the rod ; we may sport the day away, and lengthen our ex- pectation, that to-morrow's recreation, if the sea- son favour us, may glut us with pleasure, and burden us with spoil. Arn. We shall cross the old proverb, I per* ceive, since no arguments are engines strong enough to convince Theophilus, that haste makes waste ; whose unlimited zeal after recreation is H 114 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. boundless beyond measure ; insomuch that a grompus won't gratify him in point of diversion. Come, then, and trim up your line, and arm your self, and observe those translucid trembling streams that dash themselves against those rocks; hazard your fortune there for once, and be sure you begin at the head of the stream, and so gra- dually pursue the extent of your colony, and fish by direction according to prescription, both with worm and minevv ; then hope a prosperous issue, as I question not but you do. In the mean time let me caution you, that with cir- cumspection you purdue your self, if intending to surprize and captivate your game ; for by this time, I fancy, you have already beleagured them : Be advised, therefore, to repeat your discipline, and keep your distance. So I leave you to your fortune and a fair day, for I purpose to attempt the head of Loemon ; and about four hours, or it may be five, let us make our rendezvouz in the .caves of that rock. As for Aquilla, he needs no direction, whose knowledg and experience is so general in these streams, that an age to ex- amine them would not better improve him. Now let us separate, and each man to his adven- ture ; but be mindful of the place, and the pre- fix'd time appointed ; so that after the delicious toil of exercise, we may produce the issues and effects of our labours, when successfully we meet, NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 115 as I hope we may. Aquilla, farewel, and fare- wel, Theophilus ; to whom I contribute my wishes for thy fortunate success, to gain the laureat from the best of anglers that pursue the art. TJieoph. What, do you question it, that know so well my abilities ? Here I'le stand to my arms ; and in this solitary place, I'le hazard my rod and line with my reputation and fortune. Aquil. Resolv'd like a vertuoso of the rod and line ; there you may mingle meditations with your recreations, whilst you consult those purl- ing murmuring streams that rally from the top of those craggy mountains : see how they trick- ling tumble down those solitary rocks, whose descents, like diapasons, shap'd into musical sounds, must of necessity invite the fish to dance ; so that sometimes they elevate themselves so high, that I have seen them throw themselves a foot above water. This we call the Contemplative Angler's Harmony ; and it proves his harvest too, when they freely bite. So, farewel, Theophilus ; but remember the rendezvouz at the previous descent of that spacious rock, beautified with firs ; not far from thence stands a pleasant grove, through which there glides a glittering rivulet, begirt round about with admirable rocks ; search well those meanders, and you'l find me fishing. Theoph. It's very like I may, and what then ? 116 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. In the mean time, here I'm deprived of society, except to fancy fish my solitary companions, the cavities of rocks my sepulchre, and these shady flourishing trees an emblem of death ; for Aquil- la, he is gone, and Arnoldus has left me to la- ment myself, and five hours separation. But why so melancholy among these purling streams, that seemingly interpose betwixt my passion, and their silent murmurings ? jDo not these re- peated ecchoes (if I hit the key) lively remon- strate the life-touches of solitudes, and the true imitation of sweet contemplation ? Sympathy in affection, I call that amiable ; and the fair and beautiful prospect of the mind, that represents the real signature of friendship. But this pace, I perceive, won't carry on my design, nor are complaints proper engines or su- table instruments to surprize fish. How piti- fully it looks for the angler to lie puling, whilst fish, like allegators, are pulling all in pieces, let any man judg that's destinated to be undone. Most unfortunate Theophilus, but now too late to lament thy remissness ; and, rather than un- punished, let thy shameful loss be enough to torment thee. What, at once all vanished, no- thing left but thy self! so that were not I left, there was nothing to laugh at ; and I worthily deserve it, because to lose my reputation. What an opportunity have I lost in losing my rod, and NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 117 an equal fate to lose my exercise ? but from twig to twig I'le traverse the streams, and examine every bush to repair my misfortune ; so that at leisure I may lie down, and lament my remiss- ness, for, condemn'd by my self, there needs no judg to sentence me. Hold a little ! I discover some thing, either the stock of my rod, or a coun- terfeit. So, so, 1 shall patch up my losses by find- ing my rod, for it lay where I left it, and my bag of flies lies not far from it. And now I have a patent, I resolve to take toll, and examine what contribution these streams will advance me. However, lest precipitancy spoil my sport, I'le preponder my rudiments ; and they prognos- tiate here's a fish, or something like it ; a fair handsel for a foolish fisher. But here's the old game again that we had at Dumfreez. This capering, for ought I know, may cost him his life, for I resolve to hold his nose to the grind- stone : dance on and die, this is the way to your silent sepulchre ; for upon that silty gra- velly shelf of sand, I resolve to land him, or lose all I have. And now I fancy him weary of life, as aged people that are burdened with infirmities ; yet 1 want courage to encounter him, lest fearing to lose him, which if I do, I impair my reputation. However, I'le examine my stock of confidence, and see how far that will go ; but then I want a landing-hook, and 118 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. he is resolute to make an escape ; and I would be as resolute to restrain, and, if possible, to con- firm him my prisoner ; so that what progress to hope for in this solitary adventure, I know not, till farther examination. However, here's no body but trees to reprove me, except these rocks ; and they'l tell no tales. Well, then, as he wants no agility to evade me, I'le endeavour with ac- tivity to approach him ; so that the difference betwixt us will be only this, he covets acquaint- ance but with one element, and I would compel him to examine another. Navigators report, that fish can fly, and so shall this, or I'le forfeit my discretion ; and if it succeeds well that I conquer this fish, matricula- tion falls, in course, from the vertuosos of the rod. Now he runs to divert me, or himself; but I must invite him nearer home, for I fancy no such distance. Though his fins fag, his tail riggles, his strength declines, his gills look lan- guid, and his mettle decreaseth ; all which in- terpret tokens of submission ; yet the best news I bring him, is summons of death. Yet, let not my rashness preingage me to a loss of my game. For, to neglect my rudiments, is to ruin my de- sign, which, in plain terms, is the destruction of this resolute fish ; who seemingly now measures and mingles his proportion with more than one element ; and, doom'd to a trance, he prostrates NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 119 himself on the surface of the calmes, dead to ap- prehension ; save only I want credit to believe him dead, when calling to mind my former fa- tal 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 in- sured of a victory. Welcome a shore, my lan- guishing 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 strata- gem : for no\y 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 120 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. exercise, and the pleasure of solitudes to the con- templative 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 myself 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 impli- ments, and hasten to the place we formerly agreed upon ; approving it necessary in all socie- ties to observe the punctilios of promise among friends. Another thing secretly affects me ; and that is, to think what an artist Arnoldus will extol me. Aqutt. This is the place, and the prefix'd time of agreement is at hand ; yet on these glit- tering 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 so- ciety ? Yonder he advances, to the place ap- NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 121 pointed ; 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. Arn. Where kill'd you these trouts ? With what artifice did you surprize them ? Aquil. With nothing but a minew, some call it penk. Arn. I understand your meaning ; but where did you fish ? Aquil. In those purling streams, at the foot of that rock. Arn. 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 new- ly tickled to death with a fly ; accept my ad- venture, 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. Arn. 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 122 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. heroick brow. Now we shall see what improve- ment Theophilus has made in this piscatorian negotiation. Yonder he comes, let us hasten to meet him. Arn. Welcome, Theophilus ! are our fortunes equal ? AVhat phenomena of pleasures spring from solitary rocks ? How fancy you this inof- fensive life, to sit in the sun-shine, then remove into shades near the brinks of bubling mur- muring rivulets, that sigh a pleasant silent soft- ness, whilst the birds harmoniously deliciat the air, and fish in frolicks dance corantos to the angler ; whilst man (lord of the creation) is cap- tivated with divine contemplation ; fancying to himself a kind of an Elizium, representing the shady fragrancies of Paradise ? Theoph. O, Arnoldus, I was certainly ena- moured to see how the shady trees hung dang- ling 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. Arn. But the luxurious angler admires an- other concert. He loves no musick but the twang of the line ; nor any sound, save the NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 123 ecchoes of the water ; no rest nor pause, but im- patient 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 hal- tering. Theoph. 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. Am. Here's sutable diversion, our exercise has equaliz'd the ballance of success : Not an art- ist amongst us barren of sport. Aquil. Nor the water out of temper ; if it hold so to-morrow, we may flatter ourselves the town's our own. Am. 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 glit- tering sands, to those solitary fields that direct to Dumbarton : We have spent the time to suf- ficient advantage, had there been nothing more in it than initiating Theophilus, whom I perswade myself will consult the art, and manifestly in time approve himself eminent. Tkeopk. Come, gentlemen piscatorians, and vertuosos of the rod, Dumbarton begins to pre- 124 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. sent unto us ; where like heros we may triumph, because from these fords to carry off such tro- phies, as will evidence for us the remarks of spoil ; and where the inhabitants must be indi- gent 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. Arm. So do I. But first, if you please, let us enter their ports, and examine the distinction be- twixt 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 of rain, we must be forced to depart to-morrow morning. Aquil. A sentence too severe ; we cannot morally separate so soon. Am. Morally or naturally, it must be so ; for when the coverings of rain shut up the case- ments of day, and darkness as a pavilion over- shades the night, it's madness to contemplate recreation in angling, when the rivers are hour- ly recruited with rains. Aquil. I approve not of hasty resolves, as prog- nosticate a parting before we meet ; the law of friendship binds it otherwise. NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 125 Theoph. A very bad handsel to earnest our se- paration. AquiL So it appears : for should every man measure his present occasion by the rule of ne- cessity, my duty compels me to the turrets of Dumbarton : And how disconsolate shall I be to discourse rocks and stones, when deprived the society of my friends and associates ? Theoph. One day more, Arnoldus, will break no squares ; let time arrest us, I'le put in bail. AquiL Here's a friendly advocate to furnish us with fresh arguments, that may bring about, for ought I know, new and fresh results after the series of second thoughts : Who so unkind now to frame a parting, or denounce the sen- tence of a farewel to morrow ? Am. That must I, to wander in the fields of Luss by sun-rise ; otherwise we shall not reach Bohannan by sun-set. Theoph. So then, my mouth is stop'd, I per- ceive ; nor have I any thing more to offer by way of argument, only my lamentation for our so sudden separation. Aquilla, farewel ; Arnol- dus and I must jog on together : but assure your self, if my stars are but so propitious as to favour my return by the way of Dumbarton ; no body, I'le assure you, shall be more solicitous than Theophilus, to redouble a trouble upon 1 126 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. our friend Aquilla ; and for more than a night : And so farewel. Aquil. I cannot part. Am. Then go along with us. Aquil. That's morally impossible ; how can I leave my charge ? Am. Then pray discharge us ; for we are up- on duty. Aquil. Be prosperous and propitious, I'le pray your welfare ; and contemplate your enterprizes in all vertuous actions. Am. This your kindness obliges me to retali- ate, with as much piety as becomes a Christian. So farewel. Tlieoph. And with as much religion as be- comes an angler, accept of my charity : So fare- wel. Am. Now, Theophilus, let not sleep circum- vent us; the Loemon, I perceive, begins to swell. We must rise with the sun, or sooner, if possible : we must not trifle nor delay the time in crossing the Loemon, if we intend to stretch up the lofty mountains in the island of Luss. Theoph. I see 'tis day, for the blazing torch of the sun begins to paint the universe. Let us mount our horses, to mount this mountanous country of Luss, where the hills represent the lofty Alps. NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 127 Arn. Look back on those inferiour fabricks in the Low-lands ; whilst we ascend these emi- ment high High-lands, that supervise those shady valleys below them ; which we now relin- quish, though beautified with rivers and plea- sant rivulets. Theoph. What little Mediterranian is this ? Arn. The large and spacious Loemon, so ge- nerally discours'd for the floating island ; but it floats not here in these solitary Western Fields, as fictitiously supposed by the ignorant report- ers. But our travel will reform that error in time, when we come to trace the mountains be- yond Badanoch. Theoph. Is this Lough, as reported, so nu- merous in islands ? Arn. Yes sure ; however, I shall give you but a short description. This Loemon, as you see, is immerg'd with the High-lands. On the west it's bounded with the island of Luss ; but on the east with the barren fields of Bohanan : norward it's begirt with the pass of Inchcallow ; and southward by Dumbarton, and the bounds about it. But the length of this Loemon is twenty-four miles ; and twenty-four islands, the natives will tell you, are lodg'd in the arms of this spacious Lough. Her breadth, in the largest place, not to exceed three leagues over ; and in the narrowest part, some two or three miles. 128 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. This small Mediterrane (as you are pleased to call it) is surrounded with woods, mountains, rockey, boggy, sandy, and miry earth ; and is the greatest inland sea in Scotland ; nor is it parallel'd with any southward ; and all the north inferiour to it ; excepting only the Lough called Ness. Now from Loemon under the bray of these lofty hills, we pass to the Kirk of Drum- mon, that leads to Aberfoil ; a more remarkable pass than that of Inchcallow, if designing to make inroads into the bowels of the Highlands. Theopli. What place is this ? Am. Beautiful Bohanan, besieged with bogs, and barrocadoed with birch-trees ; the High- landers landskip, and the Lowlanders prospect ; whose boggy swamps incommode the traveller. However, the natives in the winter-season, em- ploy themselves only to recreate swine there, because a people uncultivated in agriculture. Where note, the accommodations of this soli- tary country is so rarely understood by the na- tives and inhabitants, that strangers for the most part are left destitute of a report. Tkeoph. What other fabrick's that, distant about a mile from Bohanan ? Am. That's Kilmarnock, the only relique of the Dukes of Lennox; a very strong stone house, that stands most sweetly situated on the NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 129 very brinks of famous Leven ; whose fields are inhabited by the clan of the Stewarts. Theoph. A royal name ; but a loyal poor clan, as I am told. Am. It's true enough ; so let us relinquish the suburbs of Leven, to trace the flourishing skirts of Calvin, whose smiling streams invite the angler to examine them ; for here one would think the stones were steep'd in the oil of Oes- pres, to invite the fish to come ashore : where you may observe every bubling stream reflect a smile on the amorous banks, covered with green, and enamell'd with flowers. Here also the syl- vans upon shady bushes bathe themselves in sil- ver streams ; and where trouts, to sport and di- vert the angler, will leap on shore, though with the loss of their lives : so that if demonstration be truth, and eye-sight evidence to convince the incredulous, there's not a rivulet in Scotland, upon the angler's examination, superexcels this Calvin, for diversion with small trout ; whose translucid streams, because so rich in themselves, and so numerous in trouts, make them not over- curious of self-preservation ; for with a rod in my hand (but I almost blush to report it, because suspecting the incredulity of some incredulous persons) I have ushered to those pleasant and delightful shores, ten or twelve brace of trouts in an hour. 130 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. Distant from Calvin about some two miles eastward, stands dull Dunkeeth, upon the head of a slaty rivulet, that's replenished with eel, and plenty of small trout : but more southward yet is craggy Cragbarnoch : from whence north and by east we discover the ruinous battlements and unpolished turrets of sooty Glorret. It's true, the natives call it a castle, but I fancy the name of a house would have served as well : near to which place glides the glittering Kaldar ; a large and spacious rapid river, accommodated both with trout and salmon : but the access lies too open, more especially amongst her pleasant gli- ding streams, where the angler, if lord of his exercise, may expect incredible entertainments : whose foundations are laid in gravelly sand, and interchangably mix'd with shining stones that look not unlike to golden granulaes : but were they such, I should fancy Tagus but a toy to it. Because to imprint in the angler's memory those remarkable characters of shining rocks, glitter- ing sands, and falls of water, which 'tis morally impossible he should ever forget. Not far from this dingy Castle of Glorret, stands delectable Kilsieth ; in whose martial fields Marquess Montross defeated his country- men. North-west from thence we must top those burdened mountains of Compsy, whose weeping rocks moisten the air, representing the NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 181 spouts ; and are a lively emblem of the cataracts of Nile. From whence we descend to the Kirk of Compsy ; near to which kirk runs the memo- rable Anderwick, a rapid river of strong and stiff streams ; whose fertil banks refresh the borderer, and whose fords, if well examined, are arguments sufficient to convince the angler of trout ; as are her deeps, when consulted, the noble race and treasure of salmon ; or remonstrate his ignorance in the art of angling. Besides this Anderwick, there are many other small rivulets that glide up and down these solitary parts, omitted in this paragraph, because not having time to insert them. Theapli. This travelling state (Arnoldus) re- minds me of the old proverb (viz.) A rolling stone gathers no moss, nor we any money ; which runs somewhat parallel. But it's all one in time, for time must be untim'd in the cusp of eterni- ty ; then shall we be found in an eternal state : and as eternity is infinite in it self, so is \t the ray of the majesty of God, who created the hea- vens, the elements and orbs ; and gave unto them perpetual motion and rotation, predestina- ted to the ends of time, immeasurable by any except himself. Whilst thus contemplating what's sacred and divine, we trace along the gli- ding streams of Anderwick, guarded with trees, and knotty rocks ; as delightful and pleasant, for 132 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. ought I know, as were the myrtle groves, so son- neted by poets. Am. As I am of your opinion in that, so I suppose you'r of mine in this, that though sin untune the strings of the soul, yet sin cannot unstring the soul ; the faculties are left still, though in such disorder, that all the wit of man can no more tune them, than the strings of an untim'd lute can dispose themselves for harmo- ny, without a skilful musician's hand. By this we know God governs the world, who also rules in the heart of man, and makes it a temple for the Holy Ghost. So let us pass on with our travelling design (by the house of Cardrus) to the ports of Sterling ; where stands a beautiful and imbellished Castle, elevated on the preci- pice of an impregnable rock, that commands the vallies, (as well as the town) and all those ha- bitable parts about it : those are the turrets that present before us, let us enter her ports, both strong and spacious ; whose incircling arms sur- round a city, (but not a great one) that's built all with stone ; so is her castle ; and situated close by the river Firth, as above explain'd, up- on lofty, craggy, and mountanous rocks, almost inaccessable. More southward yet the city spreads it self into many sweet situations, that invigorate the inhabitants, and accommodate the Low-land merchant rather than the mariner with NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 133 profitable returns from the hills, by the High- lander. The Firth runs here that washeth and melts the foundations of the city, but relieves the country with her plenty of salmon ; where the burgo-masters (as in many other parts of Scotland) are compell'd to reinforce an ancient statute, that commands all masters and others, not to force or compel any servant, or an ap- prentice, to feed upon salmon more than thrice a week. Theopk. Is there such a law in force now ? Am. Yes sure, for ought I know it remains to this day : and the reason of it is, as I conceive, from the plenty of salmon in these northern parts, that should the inhabitants daily feed upon them, they would inevitably endanger their health, if not their lives, by surfeiting ; for the abundance of salmon hereabouts in these parts, is hardly to be credited. And the reader I fancy will be of my perswasion, when he comes to consider that the price of a salmon formerly exceeded the va- lue of sixpence sterling, which I suppose no English man will grudg, nor think it unreason- able to give at any time ; so that the danger, in my opinion, lies most in the diet : for as salmon is a fish very apt to surfeit, more especially fresh salmon, when only boiled ; which if too frequent- ly fed on, relaxes the belly, and makes the pas- 134 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. sages so slippery, that the retentive faculties be- come debilitated ; so suffers the body to be hur- ried into a flux, and sometimes into a fever, as pernicious as death. Which is much better pre- vented by abstinency, than to stand the test of uncorrected physick. This famous Firth is the most portable river in Scotland, whose streams, because meandring, make it deep and torpid ; so fit it for naviga- tion ; for below Bridg there are neither streams nor sharps ; but above Bridg there's enough, more especially towards the flourishing fields of Montieth, which I rather prefer, than Alan and Althrvvery, for the angler's diversion, except Frith and Koak ; the one for pearl, but the other for trout. Theoph. What town is this ? Am. Dirty Dumblain ; let us pass by it, and not cumber our discourse with so inconsiderable a corporation ; our itch after Mockeny puts a spur to quicken our expectation ; for who knows but the various alteration of weather may in some measure frustrate those expectations we may have of those admirable streams to answer our designs ? Theoph. Do what you please. Arn. Truly I think it but time lost, to sur- vey the reliques of a ruinous heap of stones, that NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 135 lean o're the verge of a river, facing the moun- tains. The houses, it's true, are built with stone, but then to consider them low and little, it plain- ly demonstrates there's nothing eminent but nar- row streets, and dirty houses ; a convincing ar- gument there's no scavengers amongst them. And for their houswifery, let that alone ; for if you touch it, you sully your fingers. There is a market-place, such an one as it is ; but as for merchants, there's no such thing in nature. But a palace there is, and a cathedral too, otherwise Dumblain had nothing to boast of. But there is one thing remarkable, and that's the house of Domine Caudwel (a formal peda- gogue) that absolv'd the thief, and conceal'd the theft, so lost his breeches ; for you must know, the good woman his wife was a notable comer, one of the first magnitude ; who, with two more of her consorts, (as I was told, at a four hour's drinking,) guzled down as much ale and bran- dy, wine and strong waters, as amounted to the sum of forty pound Scots. But wanting money to pay her reckoning, she liberally pawned her husband's breeches ; and he, like a fop, to redeem his wife's reputation, would never redeem his breeches, lest suspecting they should smell of the tears of the tankerd. And here, as reported, was celebrated that famous union of Do/i and 136 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. Doris, stark love and kindness, a custom invio- lable. Here also resided jovial Bille Sincleer. Now, you are to consider, that this pittiful pedling corporation of Dumblain, has little or no trade amongst them, except now and then a truck with a brandy-man, a tobacco-merchant, or a brewster-wife ; for ale, tobacco, and strong waters, are the staple of the town : And so let us leave them, to pursue our intended design for Minever, and Dromon-Castle, that stands dis- tant about some three miles from the Bridg of Ardoh ; where there runs a small rivulet of a rapid motion, paved with a slaty bottom, but the access difficult. And here we cross the moor to Mockeny, whose limpid streams are pleasant beyond re- port, and her fords generally furnished with trout, as if nature had there designed to enter- tain the contemplative angler, in those liberal streams, where the artist in a storm may shelter himself under shady trees, elevated upon lofty mountains, over the melting amorous smiling banks; as if the boughs were barnicles, and ready to drop into the silent glittering streams, that glide softly along a delightful meadow ; except- ing here and there some small cataracts of water that tumble down a precipice of rocks, that en- circles and surrounds great stones in the sandy NO11THERN MEMOIRS. 137 foundation of this mystical Mockeny, whose glittering sholes are gently moved by the soft breathings of Zephyrus, that dash the smaller waves ashore, and discover to the angler the in- tricate angles of Mockeny, so that here we as- sume a poetick liberty, in some sort, to call Scotland Arcadia. Theoph. This is a pretty romantick notion. Am. Call it what you will, you will find it so, when you come but a mile below the bridg, over which we must pass from Dromon to Tille- barn ; there you'l see a large and spacious rock, that surrounds the water on every side, so makes a dam near the stern of a mill, on the skirts of Mockeny ; where swiftly, yet sweetly, the water glides along those knotty craggy torrs and cliffs, till at last ariving at an astonishing precipice, where, dilating it self, yet, as if unwilling to be divided, on a sudden you shall see such trepida- tions on the surface, as if the streams were sen- sible to apprehend a fear ; and waters not sepa- rate without grief at parting. Theoph. Now you begin to be metaphorical. Arn. There's no metaphor in't. Have not you seen burdened clouds embodied with the trea sures of rain, ready to distil ? if so, then look on the top of that craggy mountain, and there you may see, as if the waters, by a prophetick fore- sight, had foreknowledg of a disjunction, exprcst 138 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. by their melting drops : Nay, the rocks them- selves are heard to murmur, and the very winds to whisper rebellion. This is the place of those harmonious descants, which I fancy musical, and syrenical charming notes betwixt Neptune and JEolus. So that I'm of opinion waters make musick ; and he that doubts it, let him angle for anchovies. Thcoph. Surely you fetch'd this notion a great way from home. Am. It's no matter where I fetch'd it, it's here now. This natural precipice shall evidence for me, at the sun's declination, when he shades his beams in Thetis lap, and the purple pavilion of night overspreads the creation ; then you may see a chequered rocky pavement emboss'd like the firmament, with spangled stars ; where those elevated waters (emblems of clouds) no sooner approach this natural precipice, but Boreas bus- tles to curl the softned streams, with such surly salutes as force a separation, so makes obvious discoveries of nature's artifice, so naturally deli- neated, that the more ingenious observer would conclude it artificial. Over which precipice the waters pass with a swift, but silent motion, to a cristaline fountain guarded with the rocks, and the ornament of trees ; at whose descent runs a rivulet, that divides a medow worthy a descrip- NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 139 tion, could we but describe it, by reason of the variety it naturally affords. Theoph. I am still in the dark. What mean all these metaphors ? Arn. You will know the meaning of them by and by. Look up to those solitary mountains, situated south, and you shall see them send a pleasant smile towards the north. Yet, because wanting the beautiful ornament of trees, a sheep in a shower cannot shelter her self. But, on the north side, there stands inaccessible torrs, with cliffs and rocks well burdened with timber, re- sembling, as to my fancy, a hermit's cell, or a solitary reception for the Rosy- crucian. But na- ture (and not the native) appropriates them to other uses, where a country seems barren of so great devotion, I had almost said charity, but some will say humanity ; however, these holes serve the foxes to earth in, the rivers for fish, and the otter to swim in ; the meadows and pas- tures for sheep to graze in ; the trees, reception for innocent birds ; and the shrub, protection for the timorous hare. Theoph. There is something yet behind the curtain, I perceive. Arn. Mockeny, O Mockeny ! must I leave thee, when Thy banks o'reflow with pleasure ? Must I then Be banish'd from those pleasant draughts that I Have often stoln, when as thy streams stole by ? 140 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. Besides, those pleasant sleeps that I have had Upon thy rocks, until thy skies were clad Almost with darkness ; when the angler's art Exprest a grief; nay, double grief to part And leave such harmless toils : Tell me, can those That never knew the art, the art disclose ? How shall they know what patience is, and write Of mysteries they never had a sight ? None but the anglers can ; and this Fie say, None have the gift of patience more than they. Theoph. Now, it is out. Arn. And now you think you have it ; let us relinquish the sweet streams of Mockeny, and steer our course for Dromon ; and there you shall see the majestick brow of a rock, and a castle inoculated to it. Theoph. And what of that, if they are undis- tinguishable one from another ? Arn. There you'l see how the artist form'd this formidable structure to imitate nature, but the natural strength defaceth the ornaments of art. However, let us step one step further into the garden, (demolished with age, or rather ne- glect,) to view the curiosities of those remaining reliques. Theoph. What must we expect there ? Arn. A beautiful arbour adorn'd with primp hedges, and a sumptuous dial, to tell us the hour of the day. Theoph. A wonderful piece of curiosity. NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 141 Am. So it is, in this angle of Scotland ; for Dromon lies just at the foot of the Highlands, surrounded with woods of fir, ash, and elm ; but sycomores grow here to an amazing bigness, whose spreading arms shade the soil about them, and their bole and brisk burden the earth. Theoph. What else is there here remarkable ? Arn. The rills, rivers, loughs, and rivulets, that meander not far from Dromon. And Lead- nock, as I take it, is the first small rivulet, and Rothwel the next, both of them furnished with delicate small trout. But continuing our course, we advance to Lough Ern, immerg'd with moors and mountains, yet it floats on the skirts of the Highlands ; from whence rusheth forth a vio- lent torrent, whose boistrous streams are sud- denly converted into a river, which bears the name of the lough ; whose streams, if well exa- mined, are never unfurnished with trout, nor are her more solid deeps unaccommodated with the race of salmon, besides pike and perch ; and for silver-bellied eels, Scotland has none better ; nor, do I believe, any part of the world has. So that the river Ern, for variety and choice of fish, is inferiour to no other river in Scotland. Tlieopli. Now you say something to purpose ; pray, go on. Arn. Here we must cross some of these fords, if we intend to touch at Lough Minever, whose 142 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. flourishing deeps charm the angler, and enchant the fish. Nay, I must tell you, that this Lough Minever is plentifully stored with pike, that con- tributes to the artist, the largest Lutit in Scot- land ; on the skirts of whose rotten foundations, there remain as yet the reliques of an ancient castle, but so tatter'd and torn, and o're-grown with age, that nothing is left on it now worthy a description ; nay, probably in its flourishing times there was but little to describe. A little more than a mile from this Lough Minever, and nearer yet to the body of the Highlands, Lough Torret tumbles down her ra- pid streams that melt into a river, and is called Glen-Torret ; because, as I suppose, having its original from the glen, and the craggy clifts and tors to which it is espoused, where the angler may accommodate himself with eel and trout ; but for more varieties, he must fish somewhere else. Beneath the descents of Torret, are the swelling banks of Kelthy, in whose rocky bowels the trouts shine yellow. Distant yet more north, and inclining west, beyond this craggy Kelthy, there runs a rivulet which the natives call Shaggy, the only rivulet in Scotland for the contemplative angler; not only by reason of the great quantity of trout it contains ; nor is it because it's so narrowly be- girt with delightful hills and flourishing trees, 2 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 143 that hang dangling about them ; nor is it be- cause of her rocky mountains, through which the waters continually issue, and tumble down like the cataracts of Nile, though they make not such a noise ; but here it was that I found my self surrounded with fountains, and mellifluous aviaries of sweet singing birds that melted the air. And here it was above the Kirk of Moinee, where methought I only envied the rude in- habitants, because so happily bless'd with such sweet accommodations. But below this Kirk of Moinee stands a tottering bridg, and below the bridg there's a most pleasant level, where the sparkling sands seem gilded with glittering streams : And the river so naturally fretted and beautified with stone, as if nature intended there also to compensate the contemplative an- gler. Here also the trouts shine with a glitter- ing blackness, and swell with thickness ; yet never arrive to that magnitude of proportion, as to parallel and vie with those in Pitloyl. More south from Moinee, runs the river Al- mont, a derivative from the mountains, and not from the rotten and spungy foundations of the moors, through which it glides ; nor has it any claim or title from the Lough Minever, as su- perstitiously surmiz'd by the unintelligible in- habitant. Now besides this Almont, there's not another river or rivulet hereabouts worth our 144 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. mentioning, excepting the Poe, in whose little pools there are perch and pike, and now and then a lusty trout. But I had almost forgot the lough called Balloh, at the foot of Drumon, wherein there is perch, but not a trout ; and truly I question if there be a pike. TJieoph. O Arnoldus, who could ever have imagined such charming temptations amongst a people so unpolished in art, and a country without cultivation ? Here's all miracle of ri- vers and rivulets, and as miraculously furnish- ed with fish. What shall I say, or what shall I think, if not to contemplate these solitary fields, as pleasant and delightful as fools paradise, by fondlings called Elizium ? Who can deny him- self such diverting associates, (though in a rude part of a country,) when their rivers and rivu- lets are so liberally furnished with trout ? What pity is it to leave such entertainments behind us, to ramble the remote northern tracts of Scot- land, where the eves e're long will hang with icikles ? Arn. It may be so, for here we cannot stay to inhabit, nor any longer enjoy these solitary recreations ; we must steer our course by the North Pole, and relinquish those flourishing fields of Kintire and Innerary ; the pleasant bounds of Marquess Argile, which very few English-men have made discovery of, to inform NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 145 us of the glory of the Western Highlands, en- rich'd with grain, and the plenty of herbage. But how the Highlander will vindicate Bowhi- der and Lohabbar, with Reven in Badanoch, that I know not ; for there they live like lairds, and die like loons, hating to work, and no cre- dit to borrow, they make depredations, so rob their neighbours. But let not Kintire, like an ignis fatuus, lead us out of the way, our stars direct to Tippermore. Theoph. Why to Tippermore, is there any thing remarkable there ? Am. Yes, there's this remark as a monu- ment, (fatal to the Covenanters) for here again it was that Marquess Montross routed his coun- try-men. But our next stage is to the town of St Johnston's (very little different from those imbellishments of Sterling ;) east from the town lie those flourishing meadows they call the Ince, where a citadel was erected and surrounded by the navigable Tay, (that washes those sandy banks and shores^ which no sooner mingles her streams with Dundee, but she loseth her name by espousing with the ocean. Theoph. Is this the river Tay, so much dis- cours'd by the Highlanders ? Am. They have reason to discourse it, for it leads into the hills : Moreover, it supplies them, as all the inhabitants hereabouts, with fresh fish, 146 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. to whom she contributes all her accommodations. Now over this Tay, at the north end of 'the town, there stood a stone bridg that leads to Kennule ; a mountanous place that tantaliz'd the taylor with an invisible stone : it's a pleasant story, but I'm unwilling to tell it, lest fearing to draw the maleson of the natives upon me. Theoph. Never trouble your self with that ; was it my task, I should venture a relation free- ly, with all the circumstances, whatever came on't. Am. I think I dread their clamour as little as any body ; therefore I'le proceed, and tell you the story. In this town of St Johnstons liv'd a pragmatical taylor, (as taylors, you know, for the most part are) but here they call a taylor master-fashioner forsooth, and that you must know makes him one step higher. But to the story. This infatuated taylor, with some other idle coxcombs, in all respects as conceited as him- self, went on a certain time to these mountains of Kennule, to search thereabouts for an invisi- ble stone, that accidentally slipt from a stranger's hand, as he carelessly rid along to view the coun- try. 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 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 147 Lady of Kennule entertains the novel ; and re- solves an adventure for the invisible stone, who with her female attendants several times sur- rounded 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 even- ing) as some townsmen were returning from the ports of Dundee, and espying the taylor in- specting the stones, one of these townsmen (Pie warrant him a wag) dismounts from his horse, having dealt with his companions to take him to town : who, the better to manage his con- triv'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 wo- men had formerly done. I see ye, see ye me. But the taylor on a sudden, because seemingly 148 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. surpriz'd, replies, In fa, sir, I tro I see ye. How- ever, 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 Trim- mer) 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, lie 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 1 please, for no man can find me ; and take what I list, (for taylors are thievish), and no man de- tect 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 admi- NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 149 rablc 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 con- firm the miracle, on a sudden the taylor snatch'd up the stones again, lest fearing his companion should by some trick deprive him ; and fancy- ing himself, as formerly, invisible, they both ad- vance towards the town of St Johnston's. But the taylor went naked, who no sooner entred the ports of the town, but the mob and the rab- ble having combined together to pelt the poor taylor into his senses, if possible, who run the gantelop through thick and thin, young and old, 150 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 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, convinced him at last to believe himself visible. Theoph. I think the taylor met with his match. Am. 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 Johnston's, where a coker-boat serves now to transport their merchandize into the county of Angus, and some other parts ; which looks some- what 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 prac- tice amongst the natives there, that murder a salmon without a rod, net, or speer ; and cook him almost as soon as they catch him. Theoph. How can that be ? pray unfold the riddle. Am. It's discours'd by every body, when a stranger comes amongst them, that the inhabi- tants presently run and fetch a pot, which they circumspectly place upon some part of a rock, and then dextrously convey some live coals un- der it, (or it may be turf), which is no sooner fan'd by the breath of air, but immediately the NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 151 flames fly all about. Now you are to consider that the race of salmon, especially the female in the vernon sequinox, is for the most part pick- ing and casting against the rapid streams. 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 fa- cilitate 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. Theoph. I cannot approve of this murdering artifice. Arn. Nor I neither ; but the manner of ac- tion is thus performed. For the salmon, you must know, by reason of agility of body, (and considerable strength) so bends and 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 152 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 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. Theoph. This, I must needs say, is a barbarous practice, but a quick way of cookery. Arn. 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 promiscuously of ob- scure parents. In this little corporation of Coo- per 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 Hay, imbellished with rocks, and lofty trees, that shade her shining murmuring streams, and shelter her numerous sholes of fish, especial- ly towards her source, where you may observe the shores shine of a golden colour, resembling the glittering sands of Tagus. And the river NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 153 Dean so fam'd for pike (though unfortunate for trout) gulphs into Hay near Mighill bridg. Theoph. What place is this ? Am. Old Drumkelbo, an ancient superannu- ated castle, that adjoins to a certain moor called Tipprofin ; 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 black- ness ; a resemblance (to my fancy) of the courts of death. Now this Tipprofin got it's name from an un- fortunate priest, that travelling those unfrequent- ed tracts, accidentally fell into a mossy, moorish, boggy pit ; which sudden disaster surpriz'd the priest, and the rather, because, when to see him- self 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 dou- ble 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 reverbera- ting 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 ob- ject a Caput Mortuum. 154 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. Theoph. The priest, I perceive, was in a very bad pickle. Am. 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 hi- deous shouts, and dismal cries from the terrified priest, as if some evistre or apparition had pre- sented before him the horrible and terrible ap- prehensions of death : but it happened otherwise, (and it's well it did) for some natives and inha- bitants of the fields in Angus (were breaking of earth, and digging for turf) who hearing a noise, and an imperfect sound, as they thought, breath- ing from the bowels of the earth, it dreadful- ly startled them at first : but after some time de- liberating 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. Theoph. But the priest, I hope, got relief at last, who it may be till then had forgot how to pray. Am. You cannot forbear jerking the priest, who by this time seem'd destitute of all moral comforts, and as little hopes of relief, notwith- NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 155 standing 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 inha- bitants 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 pro- funditatibus te inclamavi, Jehova. And though the people understood not his Latin, yet their le- nity and common charity, with other requisite endeavours, brought him relief, and hal'd him forth out of his formidable confinement. Since which remarkable time, to this very day, the na- tives and inhabitants that inhabit thereabouts, do call this moor by the name of Tipprofin. Theoph. Why then it seems he christned the moor. Am. And you seem here to christen the priest, for the priest gave name to the moor of Tippro- fin ; and the witches (if there be such) gave name to Pitloil ; as if priestcraft and witchcraft were inseparable companions. Theoph. What's amiss now at the Lough of Pitloil ?