THere is an old English Proverb, [...]hat Truth must not be utter'd at all Times, nor to all Persons; and that is the reason, I suppose, why Men of late publish their Sentiments in Masquerade. We have already seen the Parables of the Bear-bait­ing, and the Magpies; now give me leave to present you with that of the Shark and the Her­ring-Pond, since after Four-footed Beasts, and Birds, Fish comes next in course.

There was a Time, when the scaly Inhabi­tants of the Ocean were divided into several Empires, Kingdoms, Commonwealths and Pro­vinces; each watry Nation being subject to their respective Sovereigns, even as 'tis here on the Land.

Among the rest, the Shark reign'd over the Gudgeons; he a voracious, cruel; tyrannical Fish; they silly, tame, weak, despicable Ani­mals, cut out for Slavery and Contempt. This Shark, or King of the Gudgeons, was the worst of all his Race; for he wou'd enter into Leagues with other Royal Fishes, his Neighbours, only to render them the more secure, whilst he a­mass'd up huge Treasures by Oppression of his Subjects, and rais'd great Armies, with design, to rush suddenly upon his Friends and Allyes to bring them into Contribution and Slavery.

He had one potent Neighbour, who was an Emperor among the Fish, and had many Princes subject to him. The Shark bore a great spight to this Imperial Fish, and often invaded his Ter­ritories, and made great Havock and Devasta­tion among his Subjects; for he would come on the suddain, (as 'tis the nature of that sly Fish,) and snap off a whole Limb, or Branch of the Empire, together, at a Mouthfull; and this at such time as they were all in Peace, and ne­ver dream'd of any such Usage. And to shew that he absolutely design'd the total Ruin of the Imperial Fish, and all his Dependants, the Shark sent Ambassadors to the Whale, a mighty Fish; and who had the largest Dominions, the strong­est Armies, and richest Treasury of any Royal Fish in the Ocean: A proud Fish also, proud as Lucifer; for disdaining all Earthly Emblems, he wore the Moon for his Crest, and styl'd him­self the Shadow of God. To this terrible Whale, I say, the Shark sent Ambassadors, and made private Leagues with him, against the Imperial [Page 2] Fish, persuading him to send Armies to invade the Imperial Territories. Thus whilst the Im­perial Fish was buried on one side, in defending himself and his Empire against the Incursions of the Whale, the Shark takes the Opportunity; and breaking all his Treaties of Peace, leaps suddainly into the Bowels of the Empire, plun­dering, murthering and desolating all, where­soever he came.

Yet the Shark, not content thus to ruin the Imperial Fish, sets upon another King among the Scaly Nations, that was a near Relation, Friend and Allye of the Imperial Fish: He sends Armies, and invades the Territories of this King also, who was called the Sea-Bull; lays waste his Dominions, leads his Subjects into Captivity, and does him all the Mischief that his Malice, Ambition, Covetousness and Pride could prompt him to.

Thus [...] Wars [...]ed [...] the [...] Nations for many Years, great Ma [...]e [...] and Depopulations were committed by the Shark, the Whale, and their Armies, so that the Sea was dyed red with Blood.

Whilst these things were transacting, it so fell out, that the Crocodile was made King over the Whitings, Salmons, Maykrills, Pikes, and other Fish; having by various cunning Trains, and wheadling Artifices, persuaded that inno­cent sort of Fish, that he was a Dolphin, and no Crocodile; and having made them large Promises, confirming them also with an Oath, that they should enjoy their ancient, native Free­dom and Liberty in all things. So that the poor Whitings, deluded by these fair Words, and the insinuating Stories of the Maykrills, and over power'd by the Salmons, Pikes, Stur­geons, Eels, and other Fish, were contented that the Crocodile should reign over them.

But in process of Time the Crocodile began to appear in his naked Colours, and not only broke his Word with the Whitings, but also stretch'd forth his Tail to the Maykrills, and en­trench'd upon their Privileges. He also made a private League with the Shark, the Whale, and the Allegators of the Mediterranean; which gave great Suspicion to his own Subjects, as well as to the neighbouring Princes and States among the Fish. Great were the Discontents of the Maykrills, the Whitings, and other Fish under the Crocodile's Dominion: They found they were mistaken in their King, who now prov'd a real Crocodile, a Fish of Prey, and dai­ly impos'd on his Subjects such Laws and Or­ [...]ers, as plainly tended to enslave both them and their Posterity. This made them cabal, and lay their Heads together how to save themselves from imminent Ruin: So at length it was agreed upon, among the Maykrills, Salmons, Pikes, Eels, and other Fish under the Crocodile's Dominion, to remonstrate their Case to the Dolphin, and invite him to come and deliver them from the Crocodile's Tyranny; for indeed, the Dolphin had a kind of Title to the Government of the Whi­tings, &c. being descended of the Blood of their ancient Kings. So the Dolphin makes prepara­tion to go against the Crocodile, being assisted by the Commonwealth of Herrings, among whom this Prince kept his Court. In a Word, Upon the first Approach of the Royal Dolphin, with his Army of Herrings, the Crocodile's Sub­jects deserted him, and joyn'd the Dolphin's Ar­my; so that the Crocodile was forc'd to swim away, and take Sanctuary with the Shark.

The News of thi [...] famous Expedition of the Dolphin, and the [...] of the Crocodile, was quickly spread through the Scaly Nations, and all rejoyc'd at the good Success of the Dolphin, who was soon chosen King of the Whitings, Maykrils, Salmons, &c. Then Ambassadors were sent from all Parts to congratulate his Ac­cession to the Crocodile's Throne, and to enter into League with Him, against the Shark, the Whale, the Crocodile, and the Allegators of the Mediterranean. Armies were raised on all sides, and many fierce Battels were fought between them: The Dolphin was look'd upon as the great Protector and Deliverer of all the Con­federate Fish, from the cruel Oppressions and Encroachments of the Whale and the Shark. But in regard the Maykrills (who were chiefly instrumental in bringing the Dolphin to the Crown) proved treacherous, and held a private Correspondence with the Shark and the Croco­dile, other Measures were taken by the Impe­rial Fish, the Dolphin, the Commonwealth of Herrings, the Sea-Bull, and the rest of the Con­federated Fish. And because they could not entrust their secret Counsels to any Ambassador's Envoys, or Agents, without manifest danger of Discovery; therefore they all resolved to meet together in Person, appointing the Herring-Pond to be the place of their Rendezvouz.

In the mean while it was thought convenient for the Dolphin to send an Ambassador to the Whale, in Quality of a Mediator for Peace be­tween the Whale and the Imperial Fish. When the Shark heard of this, he order'd his Am­bassador at the Whale's Court to oppose the Re­ception of the Dolphin's Ambassador with all [Page 3] his might; but all his Rhetorick proved ineffe­ctual, for the Dolphin's Ambassador was kindly receiv'd by the Whale, and his Overtures of Peace were hearkned to, which gave great Encouragement to the Confederated Fish to hope, That an Accomodation might be conclu­ded between the Imperial Fish and the Whale, whereby the former would be in a better Ca­pacity to make War upon the Shark, his power­ful Neighbour and old Enemy.

Well, the Time came, when the Confede­rated Sovereigns of the Fish were to meet to­gether; great Preparations were made to ho­nour so Royal and Illustrious a Congress; and especially to welcom the Dolphin to the Herring-Pond, who was made Guarrantee of this Princely League. In fine, they meet at the Time and Place appointed, not without great danger of the Dolphin's Life or Liberty, who as he was swimming to the place of Rendezvouz hap­pened to be benighted, and stuck his Fins fast on a Shelf of Ice, so that he could not disengage Himself in less than 18 Hours time, whereby he was liable to have been starv'd to Death with Hunger and Cold, and likewise to have been kill'd or taken Prisoner by any of the Shark's Scouts, who used to lie in wait in those parts. But Neptune and Heaven were kinder to him, and next Day he happily got rid of this Re­mora, and arrived safe at the Herring-Pond, to the inexpressible Joy and Satisfaction of all the Fish in those parts.

Monsieur the Shark finding all Things to suc­ceed well to the Confederated Fishes, and that he himself was like to be caught in a Net, they having surrounded Him with Armies on all Hands, and having made a fair Step towards the concluding of a Peace with the Whale; considering these things, I say, he sent an Am­bassador to the Congress at the Herring-Pond, with specious Pretences, and insinuating Whea­dles, in order to an Accomodation. This Am­bassador was a Fish of no small Quality and Extraction, a cunning Statesman and good O­rator: ( For the Fish do not come a whit behind the Birds and Beasts in all manner of Accomplish­ments) He addresses himself therefore to that August Assembly in Words to this effect:

Monsieur Gudgeon the Shark's Embassador, having thus delivered his Masters Last Will and Testament to the Princes and Lords of the Con­gress, was order'd to withdraw, whilst they consulted about an Answer. There needed no great Deliberation in an Affair, which they were all provided for; wherefore after some time taken for Form's sake, the Shark's Ambassa­dor was call'd in again, and the Speaker of the Congress told him in the Name of the Princes and States there assembled together. That the Shark, the said Ambassador's Master, had so often broke his Word, violated his Promises and Oaths, that they were all unanimously resolved never to treat with him again, but to take those measures as shou'd seem most expedient to themselves without giving him any farther Ac­count, Reason or Answer.

Away swims poor Pilgarlick the Gudgeon with this short Reply to his Master the Shark, who found himself caught in a Trap, and knew not which way to escape. He flutterr'd and flounc'd from one side of his Trap to another, like a Captive Mouse; but all in vain, for the Herrings, the Whitings, the Salmons, the Flounders and innumerable other sort of Fish had besieg'd him and hem'd him in, resolving every one to have a touch at his old Jacket before long. What the Issue was, you shall hear, as soon as I receive the Intelligence from Neptune's Courrier. In the mean while expect the Parable of the Top-Knots.