Fisher.  Staye, staye, my frend this my case must not be opend till your case bee better lookt into.  Thou knowest who lost it, I who fownd it; thou the lord of it that was, I the owner that nowe is; thou who did possess it, I who doth injoye it; hee had it, I have it; hee might have kept it, I will keepe it; I venter’d for all, I will inherit all; and theres thy pittifull case layde open.

Clowne.  First proove this to bee thyne.

Fisher.  I can and by the fisherman’s rethorick.

Clowne.  Proceed sea-gull.

Fisher.  Thus land-spaniell; no man can say this is my fishe till hee finde it in his nett.

Clowne.  Good.

Fisher.  What I catche is myne owne, my lands my goodds my copy-hold, my fee-simple, myne to sell, myne to give, myne to lend, and myne to cast away; no man claimes part, no man share, synce fishinge is free and the sea common.

Clowne.[124] If all bee common that the sea yeelds why then is not that as much mine as thyne?

Fisher.  By that lawe, when wee bringe our fishe to the markett, if every one may freely chuse what hee lykes and take where hee lyst, wee shoold have quikly empty dorsers[125] and cleane stalls, but light purses.

Clowne.  How can’st thou proove that to bee a fishe that was not bredd in the water, that coold never swimme, that hathe neather roe nor milt, scale nor finne, lyfe nor motion?  Did ever man heare of a fishe cald a budgett?  What shape, what collor?

Fisher.  This shape, this collor, there’s nowe within better then the spawne of sturgeon; I must confesse indeed, they are rarely seene, and seldom fownd; for this is the fyrst I ever catcht in all the tyme of my fishinge.

Clowne.  All this sea-sophestry will not serve your turne, for where my right is deteind mee by fayre meanes I will have it by force.

Fisher.  Of what I caught in the sea?

Clowne.  Yes, and what I catch hold on ashore.  With what consciens can’st thou denye mee part of the gaine, when the owner heareinge it is in thy custody and within my knowledge, must eather find mee a principall in the theft, or at least accessary to the fellony.

Fisher.  I’l showe thee a redy waye to prevent boathe.

Clowne.  How’s that?

Fisher.  Marry, thus:  go thou quietly thy way, I’l go peacably myne; betraye thou mee to nobody, as I meane to impart to thee nothinge; seeke thy preferment by land as I have doone myne by sea; bee thou mute, I’l be dumbe; thou silent, I mumbudgett; thou dismisse mee, I’l acquitte thee; so thou art neather theife nor accessary.

Clowne.  Syrrah, though you bee owner of the boate I’l steare my course at healme.

Fisher.  Hands off, I saye.  But hark a noyse within Letts cease our controversy till wee see [Noyse.  An end of that.