,transcriber's ,notes4 ,hyphenation has been standardised4 ,the ,contents list has been created by the ,transcriber and is placed in the public domain4 ,changes made are noted at the end of the book4 ,,contents ,,chap4 ,i4-- ,when to provide tools and how to make them4 ,,chap4 ,,ii4-- ,divers sorts of angling2 first1 of the fly4 ,,chap4 ,,iii4-- ,of the ,artificial ,fly4 ,,chap4 ,,iv4-- ,of angling at the ground4 ,,chap4 ,v4-- ,of all sorts of baits for each kind of fish4 ,,chap4 ,,vi4-- ,to keep your baits4 ,,the ,,experienced ,,angler2 ,,or ,,angling ,,improved4 ,j4 ,johnson1 ,printer1 ,brook ,street1 ,holborn1 ,london4 ,,the ,,experienced ,,angler2 ,,or ,angling ,improved4 ,,imparting ,,many ,,of ,,the ,,aptest ,,ways ,,and ,,choicest ,,experiments ,,for ,,the ,,taking ,,most ,,sorts ,,of ,,fish ,,in ,,pond ,,or ,,river4 ,,by ,,col4 ,,robert ,,venables4 8,i have read and practised by many books of this kind1 formerly made public2 from which1 although ,i received much advantage1 yet without prejudice to their worthy ,authors1 ,i could never find in them that height of judgment and reason1 manifested in this1 as ,i may call it1 ,epitome of ,angling40 ,isaac ,walton4 ,,london3 ,,septimus ,,prowett1 ,,old ,,bond ,,street1 ,,and ,,thomas ,,gosden1 ,,bedford ,,street1 ,,covent ,,garden4 #ahbe4 ,,to ,,his ,,ingenious ,,friend ,,the ,,author1 ,,on ,,his ,,angling ,,improved4 ,,honoured ,,sir1 ,though ,i never1 to my knowledge1 had the happiness to see your face1 yet accidentally coming to a view of this discourse before it went to the press2 ,i held myself obliged in point of gratitude for the great advantage ,i received thereby1 to tender you my particular acknowledgment1 especially having been for thirty years past1 not only a lover but a practiser of that innocent recreation1 wherein by your judicious precepts ,i find myself fitted for a higher form2 which expression ,i take the boldness to use1 because ,i have read and practised by many books of this kind1 formerly made public2 from which1 although ,i received much advantage in the practice1 yet1 without prejudice to their worthy ,authors1 ,i could never find in them that height of judgment and reason1 which you have manifested in this1 as ,i may call it1 epitome of ,angling2 since my reading whereof ,i cannot look upon some notes of my own gathering1 but methinks ,i do puerilia tractare4 ,but lest ,i should be thought to go about to magnify my own judgment1 in giving yours so small a portion of its due1 ,i humbly take leave with no more ambition than to kiss your hand1 and to be accounted ,,your ,,humble ,,and ,,thankful ,,servant1 ,,isaac ,,walton4 ,,memoir ,,of ,,col4 ,,robert ,,venables4 ,of the author1 ,colonel ,robert ,venables1 but little is known1 and that little not very satisfactory4 ,among the ,manuscripts in the ,harleian ,collection1 are several ,pedigrees of the ,families of ,venables3 particularly in that marked #8#acic1 f4 #ci1' where the great ancestor of ,venables is stated to have been ,gabriel ,venables1 who came over with ,william the ,conqueror1 and afterwards received the ,earldom of ,kinderton1 in ,cheshire1 from ,hugh ,lupus4 ,another ,manuscript1 ,no4 #bjei1 recites a deed from one of the family1 residing at ,northwich1 as early as anno #abfj4 ,but reverting more immediately to the subject of this notice1 the ,harleian ,manuscript #8#aiic1 f4 #eb4' contains a paper1 partly in the hand writing of ,colonel ,venables1 which furnishes a detailed account of the time he served in the ,parliament ,army in ,cheshire1 and of the pay due to him from #afdc to #afdf4 ,from this authority it appears1 that in #afdd he was made ,governor of ,chester2 and from other sources we learn1 that in #afde1 he was ,governor of ,tarvin4 ,in #afdi1 he was ,commander in ,chief of the ,forces in ,ulster1 in ,ireland1 and had the towns of ,lisnegarvy1 ,antrim1 and ,belfast delivered to him4 ,his actions in the sister kingdom1 are recited in an excessively rare book1 entitled #8,a ,history1 or ,briefe ,chronicle of the ,chief ,matters of the ,irish ,warres1' printed at ,london1 in #afej1 #dto4 ,from this period no trace of him is discoverable1 and it is probable that he was unemployed1 until ,cromwell1 at the instigation of ,cardinal ,mazarine1 fitted out a fleet for the conquest of ,hispaniola1 in #afed1 when ,colonel ,venables1 and ,admiral ,penn1 were invested with the command of that armament4 ,it appears however1 to have been undertaken in an evil hour1 and a contemporary manuscript in the ,editor's possession1 and which has not been printed till now1 furnishes the most valuable information respecting the disasters which they underwent4 ,the manuscript is evidently addressed to some one1 and it commences3-- ,sir1 ,the opinion ,i was of1 in that discourse we had at----1 touching the ,western ,voyage of the ,english in #afed4 ,i have been since abundantly confirmed in1 by the perusal of some ,papers and ,memoirs of a ,person of no mean character throughout that action1 whose employment gave him opportunity to know all1 at least the most considerable of its transactions1 and ,i have reason to believe1 by the account ,i have had of him1 he was sufficiently able to take his measures of them aright4 ,the substance of what ,i gathered from his notes1 and from orders of the ,councils of ,war1 as well of the ,commissioners1 and from declarations of the ,army1 and letters from persons who held posts in that ,army1 all which ,i had the favour to inspect1 ,i will here faithfully present you with4 ,for indeed ,i am very desirous to beget in you the same sentiments of that affair1 which ,i have1 ,i think1 with good reason entertained4 ,and the rather1 because the course you design to steer will give you opportunity of converse with those persons1 who are most inquisitive after1 as most concerned to know1 matters of this nature2 and yet1 perhaps1 under greater mistakes in this particular1 than any others4 ,it was doubtless1 none of the least ends which that fox1 ,oliver1 had in that design2 to rid himself of some persons whom he could neither securely employ1 nor safely discard3 which end seemed chiefly to influence the managery of the whole business1 as you will perceive by the story4 ,it was pretended at first it should be carried on with great secrecy2 but the delay was so great1 and thereby the notice of it so public1 as alarmed the ,spaniards to provide for their reception4 ,venables moved to have had soldiers for this service drawn out of the ,irish ,army1 which he had been well acquainted with2 but it was peremptorily denied1 and they were appointed to be drawn out of the army in ,england1 whose officers generally gave out of their several companies the rawest and worst armed they had4 ,and these being hastily shipped off at ,portsmouth1 the chief of the land officers1 who were to go with them1 were never suffered to rendezvous1 or see together till they came to ,barbadoes1 where they arrived ,january #bi1 #afed-e4 ,here they found them to want #ejj of the number promised1 being but #bejj men in all1 and not above half of those well armed4 ,and though they had been assured they should find #aejj arms at ,barbadoes1 yet they could not there make up #bjj arms2 and all the help they had was to make half-pikes1 wherein1 and in fixing those arms they had1 they met with some difficulty1 their smith's tools being on board their store ships1 which were not yet come to them4 ,for those ships took in their provisions at ,london1 and they were promised should meet them at ,portsmouth1 and there they were told that they should reach them at ,barbadoes2 which yet they did not1 nor till at least six months after4 ,so that much of the provision1 which was defective at first taking in1 was by that time grown very corrupt4 ,while they staid at ,barbadoes it was plainly discovered that not only the inhabitants there were against the general design1 but that the seamen bandied against the land-men1 and gave them not that assistance and furtherance which was in their power4 ,notwithstanding the land-soldiers great want of arms1 ,penn and the sea-officers would not be prevailed with to furnish them with any1 nor so much as to lend them a pike or a lance2 though he had above #abjj of the former to spare1 and great numbers of the latter were put aboard on purpose for the army to kill cows with4 ,at their leaving that place1 the seamen had their full allowance of victuals and brandy on their fish-days2 when the land-men had for four days in the week1 but half their proportions1 the other three fish-days1 only bread and water4 ,in this condition they left ,barbadoes1 ,march the last1 #afee4 ,by the way they touched at ,st4 ,christopher's1 whence they took aboard a regiment of soldiers1 who had been raised in that island2 among whom they were pleased to find two ,englishmen1 ,cox and ,bounty1 who had then lately come from ,hispaniola1 where the former had lived twelve years1 and served as a gunner in the castle of ,st4 ,domingo4 ,now when they were far out at sea1 a dormant commission1 not before discovered1 was broken up1 whereby two others1 ,winslow and ,butler1 were joined in commission1 and equally empowered1 with the two generals ,venables and ,penn2 and nothing was to be done without their joint advice and orders3 yea1 when on shore1 ,venables1 7though he had by his own commission a command of all the land forces in chief17 yet he was by this commission restrained from acting any thing without the concurrence of the commissioners1 or such one1 or more1 of them as was present with him4 ,a great debate now arose between these ,commissioners about dividing the lion's skin1 before he was caught1 which occasioned much heat among them1 and gave great dissatisfaction to the soldiers4 ,there was a clause in this joint commission1 that all prizes and booties got by sea or land should be at the disposal of the commissioners1 for the advance of the present service and design4 ,this the greater part of the ,commissioners judged was to be extended to all sorts of pillage4 ,venables thought it was meet to interpret it only of ships and their lading1 and large quantities of treasure and goods in towns and forts3 and that to extend it to all booty1 by whomsoever got1 would be both impossible to put in execution1 and hugely disgustful to the soldier to attempt4 ,when he could not prevail to have his sense of this hard clause pass1 he propounded a middle way3 that none should conceal or retain any arms1 money1 plate1 jewels1 or goods1 to his private use1 on pain of forfeiting his share in the whole1 c4 but that all should be brought in unto officers1 chosen by mutual consent1 and sworn to be faithful therein2 and then distribution to be made to each man according to his quality and desert4 ,and agreeably thereto he framed both an order for the ,commissioners to sign1 and a declaration for the officers of the army to subscribe1 testifying their submission to the order1 and that they would endeavour that all under their respective commands should observe it2 and further1 that when their several pays should be discharged1 they would acquiesce in the disposal of the surplus by the ,commissioners1 either in rewards to the deserving1 or in necessaries for the public service1 c4 ,this the ,commissioners so far approved as to appoint it to be writ fair1 and copies made1 for each regiment one4 ,the officers and soldiers were also content1 and satisfied therewith2 but when it came to the point1 only ,venables and ,penn signed the order1 and so the declaration fell too4 ,which surely was a great oversight in the ,commissioners who refused1 for by this means they would have soothed and pleased the army with a fair flourish1 but in reality had by common consent obtained the whole to be at their own disposal4 ,then the ,commissioners propounding a fortnight's pay to the soldiery instead of the pillage of ,st4 ,domingo1 the chief city of ,hispaniola1 ,venables prevailed with them to be content with six weeks pay4 ,but when that would not be yielded to by the ,commissioners1 he requested the officers and soldiers1 without standing on any terms1 to venture their lives with him1 and trust to ,providence for the issue and reward2 which they agreed unto for that time1 but withal many of them declared they would never strike stroke more1 where there should be commissioners thus to controul the general and soldiers1 but would forthwith return for ,england4 ,by this time they drew near to ,hispaniola2 the land general and officers were for running the fleet into the harbour of ,st4 ,domingo1 but they of the fleet opposed it1 ,penn assured them there was a bomb which would hinder their advance2 though ,cox1 being called in1 said he believed there was none1 yea1 declared among the soldiers1 that he conceived the harbour was incapable of any thing of that kind4 ,during the debate about this matter1 ,captain ,crispin1 who commanded a frigate1 offered to venture the running in of his vessel into the harbour1 and bore up so near as to fire on the castle of ,st4 ,domingo1 and discovered nothing of any bomb1 or other obstruction1 as he after declared2 yet was he commanded off by ,penn4 ,then they of the army resolved at a council of war1 among other things1 that one regiment staying to land to the east of the city1 which fell by lot to ,col4 ,butler2 the rest of the army should land some miles distant at the river ,hine1 the place where ,drake landed1 and force the fort which stood at the mouth of it3 yet they of the fleet carried the army westward to ,point ,nizas1 whence they had to march above thirty miles north to the city1 through a strange1 woody1 and very hot country1 where no water could be found1 and many of them had but two days victuals delivered them from the fleet1 none above three4 ,the mean while ,cox1 who was designed to be guide to the land forces1 had been sent by ,penn a fishing1 and was not returned1 nor could be heard of at the landing2 in the want of him1 ,venables desired to have had ,bounty1 or ,fernes1 who also was acquainted with the ,island1 but ,penn would not part with either of them4 ,so soon as they were landed1 the ,commissioners appointed the publishing of an order against plundering1 and that all pillage should be brought in unto a common store2 but therein gave ,venables liberty to promise the soldiers1 in case the city should be taken by storm1 six weeks pay1 or a moiety of the pillage1 excepting arms1 ammunition1 and such like3 or in case it should be surrendered1 three weeks pay1 or a third of the pillage4 ,this was signed by ,penn1 ,winslow1 and ,butler4 ,the soldiers1 who were before disgusted1 were by this exasperated into mutiny4 ,a sea regiment1 which came ashore1 was the first that laid down arms2 and by their example all the rest4 ,and much ado ,venables had in any sort to pacify them2 at last they were persuaded to march1 though with much discontent3 and in that unsatisfied1 mutinying humour1 they marched four days without any guide1 tormented with heat1 hunger and thirst1 when they might have landed at the place best fitted for attack1 fresh on the first day4 ,the mean while ,col4 ,buller had1 according to his order1 essayed to land eastward of the city2 but finding no place for it1 was afterwards appointed by the ,commissioners to land at ,hine river1 but with express order not to stir thence till the army came up4 ,accordingly he landed on ,monday1 ,april #ag1 and with him ,col4 ,houldip1 and #ejj of his regiment1 having ,cox in their company4 ,at their approaching1 the ,spaniards abandoned the fort near the river mouth1 leaving two great guns dismounted1 and the walls1 as much as their haste would allow1 dismantled4 ,this encouraged ,buller to pursue them towards the city2 but in the narrow passes of the woods1 he missed his way1 and came to some plantations vacant and waterless1 purposing there to expect the army3 yet next morning sent out a party to descry the fort ,st4 ,hieronimo1 who exposed themselves too much to view1 and alarmed the ,spaniards4 ,soon after ,buller had marched from the fort where he landed1 the army came to the other side of the river ,hine1 but could not pass it1 wanting a guide to shew them the ford1 which induced them to march five miles up the river1 seeking one2 and at last1 the day being spent1 they were forced to quarter that night without either food or good fresh water4 ,next day1 after three miles march more1 a ford was found1 and the river passed1 and they had not gone far1 when a farm with water chancing in their way1 gave them great refreshment4 ,where making a halt1 and consulting what was meet for them to do1 they resolved to go to the fleet at the harbour for provision for their hungry men2 to which an ,irishman1 then brought in by some stratagem1 offered to guide them the shortest way4 ,and though ,venables was jealous of him1 and would not have heeded him1 yet ,commissioner ,butler would have him followed1 and charged them by virtue of their instructions so to do2 and follow him they did1 till a fruitless march three or four miles the contrary way1 proved him a liar4 ,at last1 hearing ,buller's drums1 they made towards him1 and met with him near the strong fort1 ,st4 ,hieronimo1 a regular and well fortified pier1 in the road to the city4 ,venables being at this time in the van1 which he had led all their long march1 went himself with the guide1 for the officers being all very weary1 were willing to be excused2 to search the woods before the army1 and discovered the ,spaniards in ambush1 before they stirred2 who presently1 thereupon advancing1 the ,english forlorn immediately fired upon them too hastily and at too much distance1 which gave the ,spaniards advantage to fall in with them with their lances1 before they could charge again1 and so gave them some disorder1 and killed some officers2 among whom1 to their great loss1 ,captain ,cox perished2 but the ,english quickly recovering themselves1 beat the enemy back1 and pursued them within cannon shot of the city4 ,these weary spent men1 drawn on by their eagerness to this skirmish1 forgot that thirst1 which1 so soon as the pursuit was over1 they fainted under2 many1 both men and horse1 dying on the place for very thirst4 ,venables1 being much endangered at this action in the route of the forlorn1 was earnestly entreated and pressed by the officers not to hazard himself so again1 but to march with the body4 ,this over1 they called a council of war1 where1 considering their want of match1 which was spent to three or four inches1 and of provision1 which all had been without two days1 and some longer1 and had no other sustenance but what fruits the woods afforded2 they once again resolved to return to their ships1 which the ,irishman's relation1 and ,commissioner ,butler's peremptory charge had diverted them from1 and caused them to lose many men and horses with thirst and hunger in marching back that way1 which otherwise had been saved4 ,some four or five days were spent at the harbour in refreshing the tired1 fainting soldiery1 and taking new resolutions for a second march and charge4 ,wherein1 they could not well be more speedy1 for ,penn and ,winslow1 two of the ,commissioners1 keeping at sea with the fleet1 7which rode some leagues off from the fort by ,hine river17 and refusing to come ashore1 ,venables1 though then ill with the flux1 was forced to make many dangerous passages to and from them in small ,brigantines for their concurring counsel1 which often differing1 caused much delay1 and gave the ,spaniards time to gather heart and strength for better defence4 ,the common soldiers this mean while1 were but ill treated from the fleet4 ,those that by sickness or wounds in the last action1 were disabled for further service1 7they having no tents or carriages ashore to dispose of them in7 were sent a ship board1 and there they were kept forty-eight hours on the bare decks1 without either meat1 drink1 or dressing2 that worms bred in their wounds1 which would soon be in that hot country1 and some of them by that very usage perished1 particularly one ,captain ,leverington1 a brave man4 ,the others ashore being furnished with the worst1 and most mouldy of the biscuits2 no beef1 altogether unwatered1 and no brandy to cheer their spirits2 had their thirst greatly enraged1 which that river1 even where it was fresh1 yet coming from copper1 rather augmented than assuaged4 ,and this usage and diet1 together with the extraordinary rains that fell on their unsheltered bodies1 cast them all into violent fluxes2 sorry encouragements and preparatives for a second attempt1 which yet was at last resolved on4 ,tuesday1 ,april #be4 ,they had with them one mortar-piece1 and two drakes1 in the drawing whereof1 and carrying of mattocks1 spades1 and calabashes of fresh water1 the strongest men were employed till all were reduced to almost a like weakness2 and the cruel sea-officers offered them no more brandy with them1 than would be about a good spoonful to a man4 ,one night they lodged in the woods2 the next day they advanced toward the fort of ,st4 ,hieronimo1 which they resolved to attack1 being in their way1 about a mile from the town1 and not fit to leave at their backs4 ,april #bf4 ,adjutant-,general ,jackson had this day the command of the forlorn1 consisting of four hundred men2 in the van whereof1 he put ,captain ,butler1 and himself brought up the rear4 ,also he marched without any wings on either hand to search the woods1 and discover ambushes1 which was expressly contrary both to order1 and their daily practice throughout their whole march from ,point ,nizas4 ,with the forlorn thus managed1 and all ready to faint with thirst1 having marched eight miles without water1 in a narrow pass in the thick woods1 where but six could well march abreast1 they fell into an ambuscado of the ,spaniards1 who suffered the forlorn all to march within them1 and then charged them both in van and flank4 ,captain ,butler with the van undauntedly received the charge1 and in order1 fired again1 and all of them stood till he fell2 but the rear ran away without abiding a charge1 ,jackson himself being the first man that turned his back4 ,venables1 his regiment1 with ,ferguson his ,lieutenant ,colonel in the head of them1 being next1 charged their pikes on ,jackson and his flying men2 but they being too well resolved to be stopt1 first routed that regiment1 and then most of ,heanes's regiment4 ,these all came violently upon the sea regiment1 which was led by ,venables and ,goodson1 then ,vice-,admiral1 who with their swords forced the runaways into the woods1 choosing rather to kill1 than be routed by them4 ,at the same time1 which much advantaged them1 the rear part of ,heanes's regiment having opened and drawn themselves on either side into the woods1 counterflanked the ,spaniards1 and charged their ambuscadoes1 which the ,spaniards perceiving1 and that the sea regiment advanced unrouted1 retreated4 ,the ,english then charged them afresh1 pursued them1 and beat them back beyond the fort1 and so regained the bodies of the slain1 and the place of fight1 which ground they kept the rest of that day1 and the night following1 though the guns from the fort all that time1 as well as during the skirmish1 played hotly upon them1 and killed sometimes eight or nine at a shot4 ,in this action1 the valiant ,heanes1 major general1 and ,ferguson before mentioned1 and such other officers of those regiments as knew not what it was to fly1 fell by the swords and lances of the ,spaniards2 and many common soldiers with them4 ,the ,english now about the fort1 ,venables commanded to assault it1 and that to that end1 they should play the mortar-piece against it1 and had it drawn up for that purpose4 ,but he himself being before brought very low with his flux1 the toil of the day had so far spent him1 that he could not stand or go but as supported by two2 and in that manner he moved from place to place1 to encourage the men to stand1 and to plant it4 ,but the latter he could not prevail on1 neither by commands1 entreaties1 or offers of rewards4 ,at last1 fainting among them1 he was carried off1 and ,fortescue1 who succeeded major general1 in the stead of ,heanes1 took the command1 who laboured much also to get the mortar-piece planted1 but without any effect4 ,for the spirits of the ,english soldiers were so sunk1 by their want of water and provisions1 the excessive heat1 and their great sickness occasioned thereby1 that not any one upon any account could be got to plant it4 ,night drawing on1 whilst the soldiers buried the dead1 they called a council of war of all the colonels1 and field officers1 where it was agreed1 no man dissenting1 that the difficulties of thirst were not to be overcome1 and that if they staid there1 though they beat the enemy1 they must perish for want of water4 ,whereupon1 it was resolved to retreat next morn at sun rise1 if the mortar-piece could not play before4 ,the morning came1 and no place found to plant the mortar-piece1 nor men that would work1 the guns from the fort beating them off from every place1 they buried their shells1 drew off their mortar-piece1 drakes1 spades1 c4 and making a strong rear-guard1 retreated to their ships at the harbour4 ,in this attempt against the fort1 the common soldiers shewed themselves so extremely heartless1 that they only followed their officers to charge1 and left them there to die1 unless they were as nimble footed as themselves4 ,and of all others1 the planters1 whom they had raised in those parts1 were the worst1 being only forward to do mischief2 men so debauched as not to be kept under discipline1 and so cowardly as not to be made to fight4 ,being come to the harbour1 they betook themselves to the examination and punishment of the cowardice of some1 and of divers miscarriages and disorders of others4 ,jackson was accused4 #a4 ,that contrary to express order1 he had marched without any to search the woods4 #b4 ,that he took but few pikes1 and those he placed in the rear1 as if he feared only his own party4 #c4 ,that he put others in the van1 and himself brought up his rear4 #d4 ,that he was the first man that run1 and when there was a stop1 he opened his way with both hands to get foremost4 ,these being proved before a council of war1 he was sentenced to be cashiered3 his sword broken over his head3 and he made a swabber to keep the hospital ship clean1 which was executed accordingly4 ,and well it might1 for sure it was much gentler than he deserved4#a #a ,the ,revolution in ,england1 having necessarily raised great numbers of individuals to the rank of officers1 from the lowest stations1 a kind of equality reigned among the soldiery4 ,the following instance of that equality is a curious fact1 and displays equally the republican manners1 and uncivilized spirit of that age4 ,adjutant-,general ,jackson1 who had been the first to run during the engagement1 was tried by a court-martial1 convicted of cowardice1 cashiered with ignominy1 and condemned to serve as a ,,swabber on board the hospital ship66--,general ,venables1 with a naivet common to the writers of that age1 which1 though seldom respectable1 is always pleasing1 makes the following observations on this sentence4 ,after mentioning the terms of it1 he adds1 8,and justly1--for the benefit of the sick and wounded1 who owed their sufferings to his mis-behaviour4 ,a sentence too gentle for so notorious an offender1 against whom some of the ,colonels made a complaint for whoring and drunkenness at ,barbadoes2 but not being able to prove the fact1 he escaped2 though considering his former course of life1 the presumptions were strong1 he and a woman lodging in one chamber1 and not any other person with either1 which was enough to induce a belief of his offence1 he1 having two wives in ,england1 and standing guilty of forgery2 all which ,i desired ,major-,general ,worsley in joining with me to acquaint his ,highness 7,cromwell7 with1 that he might be taken off1 and not suffered to go with me1 lest he should bring a curse on us1 as ,i feared4 ,but his ,highness would not hear us4--,after this1 both perjury and forgery were proved against him1 in the case of a ,colonel or ,general1 at ,barbadoes1 ruined by him1 by that means4 ,upon the complaint1 and with the advice of the said ,general1 ,i rebuked him privately2 which he took so distastely1 that as it afterwards appeared1 he studied and endeavoured nothing but mutiny2 and found fit matter to work upon1 as with an army that has neither pay nor pillage1 arms nor ammunition1 nor victuals1 is not difficult3 but this ,i came to understand afterwards40--,,venables' ,narrative4 ,a serjeant also1 who in the skirmish threw down his arms1 crying1 8gentlemen1 shift for yourselves1 we are all lost20 and ran away1 was hanged4 ,other offences met with meet punishments4 ,now the business was1 to consult what was next to be done4 ,commissioner ,winslow came ashore to press for a third attempt1 which the officers of the army would not be persuaded to undertake2 for they all1 with one consent1 declared they would not lead on their men1 saying1 they would never be got to march up to that place again2 or if they did1 they would not follow them to a charge1 but they freely offered to regiment themselves1 and to live and die together4 ,whereupon1 the ,commissioners judging it needful to try to raise the soldiers by some success in a smaller exploit1 resolved to attempt some other plantation1 and at last ,jamaica was pitched on to be the place4 ,during this debate1 the soldiers on land were in great want and streights2 for though all their provision was spent1 yet ,penn forbade any supply to be sent them from the fleet1 that their scarcity1 yea1 famine1 grew so high1 that they ate all the horses1 asses1 and dogs in the camp2 yea1 some ate such poisonous food1 that they fell dead instantaneously4 ,but beyond all this1 a motion was made1 that setting sail for ,england1 the soldiers1 whom they of the fleet usually called dogs1 should be left ashore to the mercy of the enemy2 which motion1 ,venables in behalf of the land-men1 stiffly opposed1 detesting so great inhumanity4 ,yet the soldiers were so apprehensive of such a trick1 that when they came to go aboard1 their officers would not suffer the sea regiment1 which was on shore1 to be first shipped1 lest they should be so left in the lurch4 ,the fifth day after they set sail from ,hispaniola1 they came before ,jamaica1 where remembering the cowardice of the soldiers1 which if not experienced1 would scarce have been believed so great in ,englishmen1 they published an order against runaways1 that the next man to any that offered to run1 should kill him1 or be tried for his own life4 ,which done1 ,penn and ,venables placed themselves in the martin galley1 and sailed up to the fort1 and played upon it with their great guns1 as it did upon them all the time that the soldiers were getting into the flat bottomed boats4 ,which so soon as they had done1 a fresh gale of wind arose1 which drove the boats directly upon the fort2 this the ,spaniards seeing1 and a major1 their best soldier1 being disabled by a shot from the martin galley1 they were so daunted that they took to their heels1 and left the fort to the ,english4 ,the army finding fresh water here1 and fearing to advance further1 lest 7it being then three o'clock7 they should in a strange country1 and without guides1 be inconveniently overtaken with night1 in some place where they might be more exposed to the enemies assaults1 and beating up their quarters1 they resolved to stay at that fort1 and landing place that night1 and rest their weak and sick men4 ,next morning they marched early1 and about noon1 came to a ,savanna near the chief town of the island1 ,st4 ,jago1 where two or three ,spaniards appeared at a distance1 making some signals of civility4 ,the like number of ,english was sent to them1 upon which they rode away1 but making a stand1 one was sent to them to know what they desired2 they answered1 #8a treaty4' ,the ,english1 replied1 they would treat when they saw any impowered thereunto4 ,after some time1 a priest and a major were sent from the town4 ,the ,english as an introduction to the treaty1 first demanded to have one hundred cows1 with cassavia bread proportionably1 sent them immediately2 and so daily while the treaty lasted4 ,cows were sent in1 but no bread2 that being1 as they said1 scarce with them4 ,whereupon ,commissioners were appointed on both sides to treat1 and in conclusion1 the ,spaniards yielded to render the island and all in it1 and all ships in the havens unto the ,english2 the ,spaniards and inhabitants having their lives granted them1 and such as would1 to be at liberty by a certain day to depart the island1 but to take nothing1 save their wearing apparel1 and their books1 and writings with them4 ,articles of agreement to this purpose being signed on both sides1 the ,english for their true performance1 demanded and had the ,governor of the island1 and the ,spanish ,commissioners for hostages2 and so they seemed to be in a fair way of settlement1 with little ado4 ,yet after this1 a colonel among the ,spaniards1 who had no good will to the governor1 and was a man of interest among the commonalty1 persuaded them to drive all the cattle away to the mountains1 and thereby starve out the ,english4 ,which being understood1 one of the ,spanish ,commissioners1 ,don ,acosta1 a ,portuguese1 sent his priest1 an understanding negro1 to dissuade them from their purpose4 ,but they being resolute1 and instigated by the colonel1 hanged the negro1 which enraged ,acosta1 and to be revenged on them for the death of his priest1 whom he loved1 advised the ,english that the cattle must necessarily1 in a while1 come down into the plains to drink4 ,and by his direction1 the ,english recovered the cattle1 and prevented their mischief4 ,after this an order was published1 that no private soldier should go out to shoot cows1 which was done for two reasons2 first1 because the soldiers straggling about and going single1 were often knocked on the head2 and next1 because they maimed and marred more than they killed2 for it being a very woody country1 unless a beast was shot dead1 which was but seldom done1 it escaped its pursuer1 though it often died of its wounds2 and many hundreds were found in the woods that had been so slain1 and very many running about hurt and wounded4 ,thus great destruction was made of them1 to no bodies advantage1 that in the end1 they must need have smarted for the want of those which had been thus lavishly spoiled and lost4 ,besides1 the cattle which at their first coming1 were seen by great numbers1 and so tame1 that they might have been easily managed and driven up1 were so affrighted by the soldiers disorderly chasing and shouting after them1 that they were now grown wild and untractable4 ,and therefore1 commanded parties with their officers were thenceforwards ordered out to fetch in cattle as there was need2 and by that means they were sufficiently supplied1 and no waste made4 ,but bread they still much wanted1 for their own store ships not having yet reached them1 they had no bread but what came from the fleet1 whence it was very sparingly sent1 and scarce any but what was bad and corrupt4 ,i find it noted1 that in seventeen days time1 they had but three biscuits a man2 that they could seldom get any thing from the fleet1 unless the ,commissioner would sign remittances for greater proportions than were indeed delivered2 that of above a hundred tuns of brandy1 which was put on board in ,england for this service1 and above thirty tuns more taken in at ,barbadoes1 it could not be observed1 that the land-men ever had ten tuns to their use1 between the middle of ,april and the middle of ,july4 ,so that the soldiers being put to feed wholly on fresh flesh and fruits1 without either brandy1 or any kind of bread2 and that after they had been long at a scanty diet1 upon salt meats1 it hugely increased sickness among them1 insomuch1 that after their coming to ,jamaica1 they died by fifty1 sixty1 and sometimes a hundred in a week1 of fevers and fluxes4 ,their streights and distresses being so great1 put them on necessity of hastening to distribute the soldiers to plant for themselves1 that they might have somewhat of their own to subsist on1 without depending on the courtesy of others4 ,and accordingly several of the regiment were dispersed into several places2 but though such was their occasion1 each for his particular private goods and necessaries1 yet they could not without much difficulty1 and many fruitless labours1 obtain to have their trunks and stuff ashore to them2 and many never had them at all1 but they were carried back with the fleet into ,england4 ,some discontents grew among the great ones4 ,venables telling ,commissioner ,butler of his drunkenness1 which he was often guilty of1 and in that condition1 had discovered too much to the ,spaniards1 and reproving him for it1 made him his enemy1 and to practise against him1 and thenceforwards he endeavoured to make factions1 and raise disgusts in the army4 ,penn gave notice of his intentions1 suddenly to set sail for ,england1 and would not be dissuaded4 99 99 99 99 99 ,here the manuscript ends1 but in continuation1 ,oldmixon#b observes1 that 8they arrived in ,england in ,september1 when they were both imprisoned for their scandalous conduct in this expedition1 which would have been an irreparable dishonour to the ,english ,nation1 had not the island of ,jamaica1 which chance more than council1 bestowed upon them1 made amends for the loss at ,hispaniola40 ,their imprisonment would seem to have received general approbation1 as in certain ,passages of ,every ,dayes ,intelligence1 from ,sept4 #ba to #bh1 #afee1 published by authority1 it is said1 8,gov4 ,penn and ,gen4 ,venables1 would be petitioning his ,highnes1 the ,lord ,protector for their enlargement out of the ,tower again2 but it is a little too soon yet2 it were not amiss that they stayed till we hear again from the ,west ,indies40 ,his subsequent liberation1 and the particulars of his life after this period1 with the time of his decease1 and his residence when he quitted the cares of this world1 are alike unknown to the writer1 and have baffled all attempts at discovery4 #b ,british ,empire in ,america1 #agdj1 #hvo4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,experienc'd ,angler1 or ,angling ,improved4 ,sold by ,rich3 ,marriott in ,st ,dunstans ,church-yard4 ,vaughan ,sculp4 ,,the ,experienced ,angler3 ,,or ,,angling ,,improved4 ,,being ,a general ,discourse of ,angling2 ,imparting many of the aptest wayes and choicest ,experiments for the taking of most sorts of ,fish in ,pond or ,river4 ,,london3 ,printed for ,richard ,marriot1 and are to be sold at his ,shop in ,st4 ,dunstan's ,church-yard1 ,fleet-street4 #affb4 ,,prefatory ,,address ,,to ,,the ,,reader1 ,,from ,,the ,,edition ,,of ,,mdclxii4 ,,prefatory ,,address4 ,delight and ,pleasure are so fast rivetted and firmly rooted in the heart of man1 that ,i suppose there are none so morose or melancholy1 that will not only pretend to1 but plead for an interest in the same1 most being so much enamoured therewith1 that they judge that life but a living death1 which is wholly deprived or abridged of all pleasure2 and many pursue the same with so much eagerness and importunity1 as though they had been born for no other end1 as that they not only consume their most precious time1 but also totally ruin their estates thereby3 for in this loose and licentious age1 when profuse prodigality passes for the characteristical mark of true generosity and frugality1 ,i mean not niggardliness2 is branded with the ignominious blot of baseness4 ,i expect not that this under-valued subject1 though it propound delight at an easy rate1 will meet with any other entertainment than neglect1 if not contempt1 it being an art which few take pleasure in1 nothing passing for noble or delightful which is not costly2 as though men could not gratify their senses1 but with the consumption of their fortunes4 ,hawking and ,hunting have had their excellencies celebrated with large encomiums by divers pens1 and although ,i intend not any undervaluing to those noble recreations1 so much famed in all ages and by all degrees1 yet ,i must needs affirm1 that they fall not within the compass of every ones ability to pursue1 being as it were only entailed on great persons and vast estates2 for if meaner fortunes seek to enjoy them1 ,acton's fable often proves a true story1 and these birds of prey not seldom quarry upon their masters3 besides those recreations are most subject to choler and passion1 by how much those creatures exceed a hook or line in worth3 and indeed in those exercises our pleasure depends much upon the will and humour of a sullen cur or kite1 7as ,i have heard their own passions phrase them72 which also require much attendance1 care and skill to keep her serviceable to our ends4 ,further1 these delights are often prejudicial to the husbandman in his corn1 grass and fences2 but in this pleasant and harmless ,art of ,angling a man hath none to quarrel with but himself1 and we are usually so entirely our own friends1 as not to retain an irreconcilable hatred against ourselves1 but can in short time easily compose the enmity2 and besides ourselves none are offended1 none endamaged2 and this recreation falleth within the capacity of the lowest fortune to compass1 affording also profit as well as pleasure1 in following of which exercise a man may employ his thoughts in the noblest studies1 almost as freely as in his closet4 ,the minds of anglers being usually more calm and composed than many others1 especially hunters and falconers1 who too frequently lose their delight in their passion1 and too often bring home more of melancholy and discontent than satisfaction in their thoughts2 but the angler1 when he hath the worst success1 loseth but a hook or line1 or perhaps1 what he never possessed1 a fish2 and suppose he should take nothing1 yet he enjoyeth a delightful walk by pleasant rivers in sweet pastures1 amongst odoriferous flowers1 which gratify his senses and delight his mind2 which contentments induce many1 who affect not angling1 to choose those places of pleasure for their ,summer's recreation and health4 ,but1 peradventure1 some may alledge that this art is mean1 melancholy1 and insipid2 ,i suppose the old answer1 de gustibus non est disputandum1 will hold as firmly in recreations as palates1 many have supposed ,angling void of delight1 having never tried it1 yet have afterwards experimented it so full of content1 that they have quitted all other recreations1 at least in its season1 to pursue it2 and ,i do pursuade myself1 that whosoever shall associate himself with some honest expert angler1 who will freely and candidly communicate his skill unto him1 will in short time be convinced1 that ,ars non habet inimicum nisi ignorantem2 and the more any experiment its harmless delight1 not subject to passion or expence1 he will probably be induced to relinquish those pleasures which being obnoxious to choler or contention so discompose the thoughts1 that nothing during that unsettlement can relish or delight the mind2 to pursue that recreation which composeth the soul to that calmness and serenity1 which gives a man the fullest possession and fruition of himself and all his enjoyments2 this clearness and equanimity of spirit being a matter of so high a concern and value in the judgments of many profound ,philosophers1 as any one may see that will bestow the pains to read1 de ,tranquilitate ,animi1 and ,petrarch de ,utriusque ,conditionis ,statu3 ,certainly he that lives ,sibi et ,deo1 leads the most happy life2 and if this art do not dispose and incline the mind of man to a quiet calm sedateness1 ,i am confident it doth not1 as many other delights2 cast blocks and rubs before him to make his way more difficult and less pleasant4 ,the cheapness of the recreation abates not its pleasure1 but with rational persons heightens it2 and if it be delightful the charge of melancholy falls upon that score1 and if example1 which is the best proof1 may sway any thing1 ,i know no sort of men less subject to melancholy than anglers2 many have cast off other recreations and embraced it1 but ,i never knew any angler wholly cast off1 though occasions might interrupt1 their affections to their beloved recreation2 and if this art may prove a ,noble brave rest to thy mind1 it will be satisfaction to his1 who is thy well-wishing ,friend4 ,illustration ,,angling ,,improved3 ,,or ,,profit ,,and ,,pleasure ,,united4 ,,chap4 ,i4 ,,when ,,to ,,provide ,,tools1 ,,and ,,how ,,to ,,make ,,them4 ,for the attaining of such ends which our desires propose to themselves1 of necessity we must make use of such common mediums as have a natural tendency to the producing of such effects as are in our eye1 and at which we aim2 and as in any work1 if one principal material be wanting1 the whole is at a stand1 neither can the same be perfected3 so in ,angling1 the end being recreation1 which consisteth in drawing the fish to bite1 that we may take them2 if you want tools1 though you have baits1 or baits1 though you have tackle1 yet you have no part of pleasure by either of these singly3 nay1 if you have both1 yet want skill to use them1 all the rest is to little purpose4 ,i shall therefore first begin with your tools1 and so proceed in order with the rest4 #a4 ,in ,autumn1 when the leaves are almost or altogether fallen1 which is usually about the ,winter solstice1 the sap being then in the root2 which about the middle of ,january begins to ascend again1 and then the time is past to provide yourself with stocks or tops3 you need not be so exactly curious for your stocks as the tops1 though ,i wish you to choose the neatest taper-grown you can for stocks1 but let your tops be the most neat rush-grown shoots you can get1 straight and smooth2 and if for the ground-rod1 near or full two yards long1 the reason for that length shall be given presently2 and if for the fly1 of what length you please1 because you must either choose them to fit the stock1 or the stock to fit them in a most exact proportion2 neither do they need to be so very much taper-grown as those for the ground1 for if your rod be not most exactly proportionable1 as well as slender1 it will neither cast well1 strike readily1 or ply and bend equally1 which will very much endanger your line4 ,when you have fitted yourself with tops and stocks1 for all must be gathered in one season1 if any of them be crooked1 bind them all together1 and they will keep one another straight2 or lay them on some even-boarded floor1 with a weight on the crooked parts1 or else bind them close to some straight staff or pole2 but before you do this you must bathe them all1 save the very top1 in a gentle fire4 ,for the ground angle1 ,i prefer the cane or reed before all other1 both for its length and lightness3 and whereas some object against its colour and stiffness1 ,i answer1 both these inconveniences are easily remedied2 the colour by covering it with thin leather or parchment1 and those dyed into what colour you please2 or you may colour the cane itself1 as you see daily done by those that sell them in ,london1 especially if you scrape off the shining yellow outside1 but that weakens the rod4 ,the stiffness of the cane is helped by the length and strength of the top1 which ,i would wish to be very much taper-grown1 and of the full length ,i spoke of before1 and so it will kill a very good fish without ever straining the cane1 which will1 as you may observe1 yield and bend a little2 neither would ,i advise any to use a reed that will not receive a top of the fore-mentioned length4 ,such who most commend the hazel-rod1 7which ,i also value and praise1 but for different reasons71 above the cane2 do it because1 say they1 the slender rod saveth the line2 but my opinion is1 that the equal bending of the rod chiefly1 next to the skill of the ,angler1 saveth the line1 and the slenderness ,i conceive principally serveth to make the fly-rod long and light1 easy to be managed with one hand1 and casteth the fly far1 which are to me the considerations chiefly to be regarded in a fly-rod2 for if you observe the slender part of the rod1 if strained1 shoots forth in length as if it were part of the line1 so that the whole stress or strength of the fish is borne or sustained by the thicker part of the rod1 which is no stronger than the stronger end of such a top as ,i did before direct for the ground-rod1 and you may prove what ,i say to be true1 if you hang a weight at the top of the fly-rod1 which you shall see ply and bend1 in the stiff and thick part1 more or less as the weight is heavy or light4 ,having made this digression for the cane1 ,i return to the making up of the top1 of which at the upper or small end1 ,i would have you to cut off about two feet1 or three quarters of a yard at most2 and then piece neatly to the thick remaining part1 a small shoot of black thorn or crab tree1 gathered in due season as before1 fitted in a most exact proportion to the hazel1 and then cut off a small part of the slender end of the black thorn or crab tree1 and lengthen out the same with a small piece of whale-bone1 made round1 smooth1 and taper2 all which will make your rod to be very long1 gentle1 and not so apt to break or stand bent as the hazel1 both which are great inconveniences1 especially breaking1 which will force you from your sport to mend your top4 #b4 ,to teach the way or manner how to make a line1 were time lost1 it being so easy and ordinary2 yet to make the line well1 handsome1 and to twist the hair even and neat1 makes the line strong4 ,for if one hair be long and another short1 the short one receiveth no strength from the long one1 and so breaketh1 and then the other1 as too weak1 breaks also2 therefore you must twist them slowly1 and in the twisting1 keep them from entangling together1 which hinders their right plaiting or bedding4 ,further1 ,i do not like the mixing of silk or thread with hair1 but if you please1 you may1 to make the line strong1 make it all of silk1 or thread1 or hair1 as strong as you please1 and the lowest part of the smallest lute or viol strings1 which ,i have proved to be very strong1 but will quickly rot in the water1 you may however help that in having new and strong ones to change for those that decay2 but as to hair1 the most usual matter whereof lines are made1 ,i like sorrel1 white1 and grey best2 sorrel in muddy and boggy rivers1 and both the latter for clear waters4 ,i never could find such virtue or worth in other colours1 to give them so high praise as some do1 yet if any other have worth in it1 ,i must yield it to the pale or watery green1 and if you fancy that1 you may dye it thus4 ,take a pottle of allum water1 and a large handful of marigolds1 boil them until a yellow scum arise1 then take half a pound of green copperas1 and as much verde-grease1 beat them into a fine powder1 then put those with the hair into the allum water1 set all to cool for twelve hours1 then take out the hair and lay it to dry4 ,leave a bought1 or bout1 at both ends of the line1 the one to put it to1 and take it from your rod1 the other to hang your lowest link upon1 to which your hook is fastened1 and so that you may change your hook as often as you please4 #c4 ,let your hooks be long in the shank1 and of a compass somewhat inclining to roundness1 but the point must stand even and straight1 and the bending must be in the shank2 for if the shank be straight1 the point will hang outward1 though when set on it may stand right1 yet it will after the taking of a few fish1 cause the hair at the end of the shank to stand bent1 and so1 consequently cause the point of the hook to lie or hang too much outward1 whereas upon the same ground the bending shank will then cause the point of the hook to hang directly upwards4 ,when you set on your hook1 do it with strong but small silk1 and lay your hair upon the inside of the hook1 for if on the outside the silk will cut and fret it asunder2 and to avoid the fretting of the hair by the hook on the inside1 smooth all your hooks upon a whetstone1 from the inside to the back of the hook1 slope ways4 #d4 ,get the best cork you can without flaws or holes1 as quills and pens are not of sufficient strength in strong streams2 bore the cork through with a small hot iron1 then put into it a quill of a fit proportion1 neither too large to split it1 or so small as to slip out1 but so as it may stick in very closely2 then pare your cork into the form of a pyramid1 or small pear1 and of what size you please1 then on a smooth grindstone1 or with pumice make it complete1 for you cannot pare it so smooth as you may grind it3 have corks of all sizes4 #e4 ,get a musquet or carbine bullet1 make a hole through it1 and put in a strong twist1 hang this on your hook to try the depth of river or pond4 #f4 ,take so much parchment as will be about four inches broad1 and five long1 make the longer end round1 then take so many pieces more as will make five or six partitions1 sew them all together1 leaving the side of the longest square open1 to put your lines1 spare links1 hooks ready fastened1 and flies ready made1 into the several partitions2 this will contain much1 and will also lie flat and close in your pocket4 #g4 ,have also a little whetstone about two inches long1 and one quarter square2 it's much better to sharpen your hooks than a file1 which either will not touch a well-tempered hook1 or leave it rough but not sharp4 #h4 ,have a piece of cane for the bob and palmer1 with several boxes of divers sizes for your hooks1 corks1 silk1 thread1 lead1 flies1 c4 #i4 ,bags of linen and woollen1 for all sorts of baits4 #aj4 ,have a small pole1 made with a loop at the end1 like that of your line1 but much larger1 to which must be fastened a small net1 to land great fish1 without which1 should you want assistance1 you will be in danger of losing4 #aa4 ,your pannier cannot be too light2 ,i have seen some made of osiers1 cleft into slender long splinters1 and so wrought up1 which is very neat1 and exceeding light3 you must ever carry with you store of hooks1 lines1 hair1 silk1 thread1 lead1 links1 corks of all sizes1 lest you should lose or break1 as is usual1 any of them1 and be forced to leave your sport in quest of supplies4 ,,chap4 ,,ii4 ,,divers ,,sorts ,,of ,,angling2 ,,first1 ,,of ,,the ,,fly4 ,as there are many kinds and sorts of fish1 so there are also various and different ways to take them2 and1 therefore1 before we proceed to speak how to take each kind1 we must say something in general of the several ways of angling1 as necessary to the better order of our work4 ,angling1 therefore1 may be distinguished either into fishing by day1 or1 which some commend1 but the cold and dews caused me to dis-relish that which impaired my health1 by night2 and these again are of two sorts1 either upon the superficies of the water1 or more or less under the surface thereof3 of this sort is angling with the ground-line1 with lead1 but no float1 for the ,trout1 or with lead and float for all sorts of fish1 or near the surface of the water for ,chub1 ,roach1 c4 or with a troll for the ,pike1 or a minnow for the ,trout2 of which more in due place4 ,that way of angling upon or above the water1 is with cankers1 palmers1 caterpillars1 cad-bait1 or any worm bred on herbs or trees1 or with flies as well natural as artificial2 of these last shall be our first discourse1 as comprising much of the other last-named1 and as being the most pleasant and delightful part of angling4 ,but ,i must here beg leave to dissent from the opinion of such who assign a certain fly to each month1 whereas ,i am certain1 scarce any one sort of fly continues its colour and virtue one month2 and generally all flies last a much shorter time1 except the stone-fly1 by some called the ,may-fly1 which is bred of the water cricket1 creeps out of the river1 and getting under the stones by the water side1 turns to a fly1 and lies under the stones2 the ,may-fly and the reddish fly with ashy grey wings4 ,besides the season of the year may much vary the time of their coming in2 a forward ,spring brings them in sooner1 and a late ,spring the later4 ,flies being creatures bred of putrefaction1 take life as the heat furthers or disposes the seminal virtue by which they are generated into animation3 and therefore all ,i can say as to time is1 that your own observation must be your best instructor1 when is the time that each fly comes in1 and will be most acceptable to the fish1 of which ,i shall speak more fully in the next section4 ,further also ,i have observed1 that several rivers and soils produce several sorts of flies2 as the mossy boggy soils have one sort peculiar to them2 the clay soil1 gravely and mountainous country and rivers2 and a mellow light soil different from them all2 yet some sorts are common to all these sorts of rivers and soils1 but they are few1 and differ somewhat in colour from those bred elsewhere in other soils4 ,in general1 all sorts of flies are very good in their season1 for such fish as will rise at the fly1 viz4 ,salmon1 ,trout1 ,umber1 ,grayling1 ,bleak1 ,chevin1 ,roach1 ,dace1 c4 ,though some of these fish do love some flies better than other1 except the fish named1 ,i know not any sort or kind that will ordinarily and freely rise at the fly1 though ,i know some who angle for ,bream and ,pike with artificial flies1 but ,i judge the labour lost1 and the knowledge a needless curiosity2 those fish being taken much easier1 especially the ,pike1 by other ways4 ,all the fore-mentioned sorts of fish will sometimes take the fly much better at the top of the water1 and at another time much better a little under the superficies of the water2 and in this your own observation must be your constant and daily instructor2 for if they will not rise to the top1 try them under1 it being impossible1 in my opinion1 to give any certain rule in this particular3 also the five sorts of fish first named will take the artificial fly1 so will not the other1 except an oak-worm or cad-bait be put on the point of the hook1 or some other worm suitable1 as the fly must be1 to the season4 ,you may also observe1 what my own experience taught me1 that the fish never rise eagerly and freely at any sort of fly1 until that kind come to the water's side2 for though ,i have often1 at the first coming in of some flies1 which ,i judged they liked best got several of them1 yet ,i could never find that they did much1 if at all value them1 until those sorts of flies began to flock to the rivers sides1 and were to be found on the trees and bushes there in great numbers2 for all sorts of flies1 wherever bred1 do1 after a certain time1 come to the banks of rivers1 ,i suppose to moisten their bodies dried with the heat2 and from the bushes and herbs there1 skip and play upon the water1 where the fish lie in wait for them1 and after a short time die1 and are not to be found3 though of some kinds there come a second sort afterwards1 but much less1 as the orange fly2 and when they thus flock to the river1 then is the best season to angle with that fly4 ,and that thou may the better find what fly they covet most at that instant1 do thus3 ,when you come first to the river in the morning1 with your rod beat upon the bushes or boughs which hang over the water1 and by their falling upon the water you will see what sorts of flies are there in greatest numbers2 if divers sorts1 and equal in number1 try them all1 and you will quickly find which they most desire4 ,sometimes they change their fly2 though not very usual1 twice or thrice in one day2 but ordinarily they do not seek another sort of fly till they have for some days even glutted themselves with a former kind1 which is commonly when those flies die and go out4 ,directly contrary to our ,london gallants1 who must have the first of every thing1 when hardly to be got1 but scorn the same when kindly ripe1 healthful1 common1 and cheap2 but the fish despise the first1 and covet when plenty1 and when that sort grow old and decay1 and another cometh in plentifully1 then they change2 as if nature taught them1 that every thing is best in its own proper season1 and not so desirable when not kindly ripe1 or when through long continuance it begins to lose its native worth and goodness4 ,i shall add a few cautions and directions in the use of the natural fly1 and then proceed3 #a4 ,when you angle for ,chevin1 ,roach1 or ,dace1 with the fly1 you must not move your fly swiftly2 when you see the fish coming towards it1 but rather after one or two short and slow removes1 suffer the fly to glide gently with the stream towards the fish2 or if in a standing or very slow water1 draw the fly slowly1 and not directly upon him1 but sloping and sidewise by him1 which will make him more eager lest it escape him2 for1 should you move it nimbly and quick1 they will not1 being fish of slow motion1 follow as the ,trout will4 #b4 ,when ,chub1 ,roach1 or ,dace shew themselves in a sun-shiny day upon the top of the water1 they are most easily caught with baits proper for them2 and you may chuse from amongst them which you please to take4 #c4 ,they take an artificial fly with a cad-bait1 or oak-worm1 on the point of the hook2 and the oak-worm1 when they shew themselves is1 better upon the water than under1 or than the fly itself1 and is more desired by them4 ,,chap4 ,,iii4 ,,of ,,the ,,artificial ,,fly4 ,having given these few directions for the use of the natural fly of all sorts1 and shewed the time and season of their coming1 and how to find them1 and cautioned you in the use of them1 ,i shall proceed to treat of the artificial fly4 ,but here ,i must premise1 that it is much better to learn how to make a fly by sight1 than by any written direction that can possibly be expressed1 in regard the terms of art do in most parts of ,england differ1 and also several sorts of flies are called by different names2 some call the fly bred of the water cricket or creeper a ,may-fly1 and some a stone-fly2 some call the cad-bait fly a ,may1 and some call a short fly1 of a sad golden green colour1 with short brown wings1 a ,may-fly3 and ,i see no reason but all flies bred in ,may1 are properly enough called ,may-flies4 ,therefore1 except some one that hath skill1 would paint them1 ,i can neither well give their names nor describe them1 without too much trouble and prolixity2 nor1 as ,i alledged1 in regard of the variety of soils and rivers1 describe the flies that are bred and frequent each3 but the angler1 as before directed1 having found the fly which the fish at present affect1 let him make one as like it as possibly he can1 in colour1 shape1 proportion2 and for his better imitation let him lay the natural fly before him4 ,all this premised and considered1 let him go on to make his fly1 which according to my own practice ,i thus advise4 ,first1 ,i begin to set on my hook1 placing the hair on the inside of its shank1 with such coloured silk as ,i conceive most proper for the fly1 beginning at the end of the hook1 and when ,i come to that place which ,i conceive most proportionable for the wings1 then ,i place such coloured feathers there1 as ,i apprehend most resemble the wings of the fly1 and set the points of the wings towards the head2 or else ,i run the feathers1 and those must be stripped from the quill or pen1 with part of it still cleaving to the feathers1 round the hook1 and so make them fast1 if ,i turn the feathers round the hook2 then ,i clip away those that are upon the back of the hook1 that so1 if it be possible1 the point of the hook may be forced by the feathers left on the inside of the hook1 to swim upwards2 and by this means ,i conceive the stream will carry your flies' wings in the posture of one flying2 whereas if you set the points of the wings backwards1 towards the bending of the hook1 the stream1 if the feathers be gentle as they ought1 will fold the points of the wings in the bending of the hook1 as ,i have often found by experience4 ,after having set on the wing1 ,i go on so far as ,i judge fit1 till ,i fasten all1 and then begin to make the body1 and the head last2 the body of the fly ,i make several ways2 if the fly be one entire colour1 then ,i take a worsted thread1 or moccoda end1 or twist wool or fur into a kind of thread1 or wax a small slender silk thread1 and lay wool1 fur1 c4 upon it1 and then twist1 and the material will stick to it1 and then go on to make my fly small or large1 as ,i please4 ,if the fly1 as most are1 be of several colours1 and those running in circles round the fly1 then ,i either take two of these threads1 fastening them first towards the bend of the hook1 and so run them round1 and fasten all at the wings1 and then make the head2 or else ,i lay upon the hook1 wool1 fur of hare1 dog1 fox1 bear1 cow1 or hog1 which1 close to their bodies1 have a fine fur1 and with a silk of the other colour bind the same wool or fur down1 and then fasten all3 or instead of the silk running thus round the fly1 you may pluck the feather from one side of those long feathers which grow about a cock or capon's neck or tail1 by some called hackle2 then run the same round your fly1 from head to tail1 making both ends fast2 but you must be sure to suit the feather answerable to the colour you are to imitate in the fly2 and this way you may counterfeit those rough insects1 which some call wool-beds1 because of their wool-like outside and rings of divers colours1 though ,i take them to be palmer worms1 which the fish much delight in4 ,let me add this only1 that some flies have forked tails1 and some have horns1 both which you must imitate with a slender hair fastened to the head or tail of your fly1 when you first set on your hook1 and in all things1 as length1 colour1 as like the natural fly as possibly you can3 the head is made after all the rest of the body1 of silk or hair1 as being of a more shining glossy colour than the other materials1 as usually the head of the fly is more bright than the body1 and is usually of a different colour from the body4 ,sometimes ,i make the body of the fly with a peacock's feather1 but that is only one sort of fly1 whose colour nothing else that ,i could ever get would imitate1 being the short1 sad1 golden1 green fly ,i before mentioned1 which ,i make thus3 take one strain of a peacock's feather1 or if that be not sufficient1 then another1 wrap it about the hook1 till the body be according to your mind2 if your fly be of divers colours1 and those lying long ways from head to tail1 then ,i take my dubbing1 and lay them on the hook long ways1 one colour by another1 as they are mixed in the natural fly1 from head to tail1 then bind all on1 and fasten them with silk of the most predominant colour2 and this ,i conceive is a more artificial way than is practised by many anglers1 who use to make such a fly1 all of one colour1 and bind it on with silk1 so that it looks like a fly with round circles1 but in nothing at all resembling the fly it is intended for3 the head1 horns1 tail1 are made as before4 ,that you may the better counterfeit all sorts of flies1 get furs of all sorts and colours you can possibly procure1 as of bear's hair1 foxes1 cows1 hogs1 dogs1 which close to their bodies have a fine soft hair or fur1 moccado ends1 crewels1 and dyed wool of all colours1 with feathers of cocks1 capons1 hens1 teals1 mallards1 widgeons1 pheasants1 partridges1 the feather under the mallard1 teal or widgeon's wings1 and about their tails1 about a cock or capon's neck and tail1 of all colours2 and generally of all birds1 the kite1 c4 that you may make yours exactly of the colour with the natural fly4 ,and here ,i will give some cautions and directions1 as for the natural fly1 and so pass on to baits for angling at the ground4 #a4 ,when you angle with the artificial fly1 you must either fish in a river not fully cleared from some rain lately fallen1 that had discoloured it2 or in a moorish river1 discoloured by moss or bogs2 or else in a dark cloudy day1 when a gentle gale of wind moves the water2 but if the wind be high1 yet so as you may guide your tools with advantage1 they will rise in the plain deeps1 and then and there you will commonly kill the best fish2 but if the wind be little or none at all1 you must angle in the swift streams4 #b4 ,you must keep your artificial fly in continual motion1 though the day be dark1 the water muddy1 and the wind blow1 or else the fish will discern and refuse it4 #c4 ,if you angle in a river that is mudded by rain1 or passing through mosses or bogs1 you must use a larger bodied fly than ordinary1 which argues1 that in clear rivers the fly must be smaller2 and this not being observed by some1 hinders their sport1 and they impute their want of success to their want of the right fly1 when perhaps they have it1 but made too large4 #d4 ,if the water be clear and low1 then use a small bodied fly with slender wings4 #e4 ,when the water begins to clear after rain1 and is of a brownish colour1 then a red or orange fly4 #f4 ,if the day be clear1 then a light coloured fly1 with slender body and wings4 #g4 ,in dark weather1 as well as dark waters1 your fly must be dark4 #h4 ,if the water be of a whey colour1 or whitish1 then use a black or brown fly3 yet these six last rules do not always hold1 though usually they do1 or else ,i had omitted them4 #i4 ,observe principally the belly of the fly1 for that colour the fish observe most1 as being most in their eye4 #aj4 ,when you angle with an artificial fly1 your line may be twice the length of your rod1 except the river be much encumbered with wood and trees4 #aa4 ,for every sort of fly have three2 one of a lighter colour1 another sadder than the natural fly1 and a third of the exact colour with the fly1 to suit all waters and weathers1 as before4 #ab4 ,i never could find1 by any experience of mine own1 or other man's observation1 that fish would freely and eagerly rise at the artificial fly1 in any slow muddy rivers3 by muddy rivers1 ,i mean such rivers1 the bottom or ground of which is slime or mud2 for such as are mudded by rain1 as ,i have already1 and shall afterwards further1 shew at sometimes and seasons ,i would choose to angle1 yet in standing meers or sloughs1 ,i have known them1 in a good wind1 to rise very well1 but not so in slimy rivers1 either the ,weever1 in ,cheshire1 or the ,sow1 in ,staffordshire1 and others in ,warwickshire1 c4 and the ,black-water in ,ulster2 in the last1 after many trials1 though in its best streams1 ,i could never find almost any sport1 save at its influx in ,lough ,neagh2 but there the working of the ,lough makes it sandy2 and they will bite also near ,tom ,shane's ,castle1 ,mountjoy1 ,antrim1 c4 even to admiration2 yet sometimes they will rise in that river a little1 but not comparable to what they will do in every little ,lough1 in any small gale of wind4 ,and though ,i have often reasoned in my own thoughts1 to search out the true cause of this1 yet ,i could never so fully satisfy my own judgment1 so as to conclude any thing positively2 yet have taken up these two ensuing particulars as most probable4 #a4 ,i conjectured the depth of the loughs might hinder the force of the sun beams from operating upon1 or heating the mud in those rivers1 which though deep1 yet are not so deep as the loughs2 ,i apprehend that to be the cause1 as in great droughts fish bite but little in any river1 but not at all in slimy rivers1 in regard the mud is not cooled by the constant and swift motion of the river1 as in gravelly or sandy rivers1 where1 in fit seasons1 they rise most freely1 and bite most eagerly1 save as before in droughts1 notwithstanding at that season some sport may be had1 though not with the fly1 whereas nothing at all will be done in muddy slow rivers4 #b4 ,my second supposition was1 whether1 according to that old received axiom1 suo quque1 similima clo1 the fish might not partake of the nature of the river1 in which they are bred and live1 as we see in men born in fenny1 boggy1 low1 moist grounds1 and thick air1 who ordinarily want that present quickness1 vivacity1 and activity of body and mind1 which persons born in dry1 hilly1 sandy soils and clear air1 are usually endued withal4 ,the fish participating of the nature of the muddy river1 which is ever slow1 for if they were swift1 the stream would cleanse them from all mud1 are not so quick1 lively1 and active1 as those bred in swift1 sandy1 or stony rivers1 and so coming to the fly with more deliberation1 discern the same to be counterfeit1 and forsake it2 whereas1 on the contrary1 in stony1 sandy1 swift rivers1 being colder1 the fish are more active1 and so more hungry and eager1 the stream and hand keeping the fly in continual motion1 they snap the same up without any pause1 lest so desirable a morsel escape them4 ,you must have a very quick eye1 a nimble rod and hand1 and strike with the rising of the fish1 or he instantly finds his mistake1 and forces out the hook again3 ,i could never1 my eye-sight being weak1 discern perfectly where my fly was1 the wind and stream carrying it so to and again1 that the line was never any certain direction or guide to me2 but if ,i saw a fish rise1 ,i use to strike if ,i discerned it might be within the length of my line4 ,be sure in casting1 that your fly falls first into the water1 for if the line falls first1 it scares or frightens the fish2 therefore draw it back1 and cast it again1 that the fly may fall first4 ,when you try how to fit your colour to the fly1 wet your fur1 hair1 wool1 or moccado1 otherwise you will fail in your work2 for though when they are dry1 they exactly suit the colour of the fly1 yet the water will alter most colours1 and make them lighter or darker4 ,the best way to angle with the cad-bait1 is to fish with it on the top of the water1 as you do with the fly2 it must stand upon the shank of the hook1 in like manner with the artificial fly2 if it come into the bend of the hook1 the fish will little or not at all value it1 nor if you pull the blue gut out of it2 and to make it keep that place1 you must1 when you set on your hook1 fasten a horse hair or two under the silk1 with the ends standing a very little out from under the silk1 and pointing towards the line2 this will keep it from sliding back into the bend2 and thus used1 it is a most excellent bait for a ,trout4 ,you may imitate the cad-bait1 by making the body of chamois1 the head of black silk4 ,i might here notice several sorts of flies1 with the colours that are used to make them2 but for the reasons before given1 that their colours alter in several rivers and soils1 and also because1 though ,i name the colours1 yet it is not easy to choose that colour by any description1 except so largely performed as would be over large1 and swell this small piece beyond my intended conciseness1 which are easy and short1 if rightly observed1 are full enough1 and sufficient for making and finding out all sorts of flies in all rivers4 ,i shall only add1 that the ,salmon flies must be made with wings standing one behind the other1 whether two or four2 also he delights in the most gaudy and orient colours you can choose2 the wings ,i mean chiefly1 if not altogether1 with long tails and wings4 ,,chap4 ,,iv4 ,,of ,,angling ,,at ,,the ,,ground4 ,now we are come to the second part of angling1 viz4 under the water1 which if it be with the ground-line for the ,trout1 then you must not use any float at all1 only a plumb of lead1 which ,i would wish might be a small bullet1 the better to roll on the ground2 and it must also be lighter or heavier1 as the stream runs swift or slow1 and you must place it about nine inches or a foot from the hook2 the lead must run upon the ground1 and you must keep your line as straight as possible1 yet by no means so as to raise the lead from the ground2 your top must be very gentle1 that the fish may more easily1 and to himself insensibly1 run away with the bait1 and not be scared with the stiffness of the rod2 and if you make your top of black thorn and whale-bone1 as ,i before directed1 it will conduce much to this purpose3 neither must you strike so soon as you feel the fish bite1 but slack your line a little1 that so he may more securely swallow the bait1 and hook himself1 which he will sometimes do1 especially if he be a good one2 the least jerk1 however1 hooks him1 and indeed you can scarce strike too easily4 ,your tackle must be very fine and slender1 and so you will have more sport than if you had strong lines1 which frighten the fish1 but the slender line is easily broke2 with a small jerk4 ,morning and evening are the best times for the ground-line for a ,trout1 in clear weather and water1 but in cloudy weather1 or muddy water1 you may angle at ground all day4 #b4 ,you may also in the night angle for the ,trout with two great garden worms1 hanging as equally in length as you can place them on your hook2 cast them from you as you would cast the fly1 and draw them to you again upon the top of the water1 and not suffer them to sink2 therefore you must use no lead this way of angling2 when you hear the fish rise1 give some time for him to gorge your bait1 as at the ground1 then strike gently4 ,if he will not take them at the top1 add some lead1 and try at the ground1 as in the day time2 when you feel him bite1 order yourself as in day angling at the ground4 ,usually the best ,trouts bite in the night1 and will rise in the still deeps1 but not ordinarily in the stream4 #c4 ,you may angle also with a minnow for the ,trout1 which you must put on your hook thus3 first1 put your hook through the very point of his lower chap1 and draw it quite through2 then put your hook in at his mouth1 and bring the point to his tail1 then draw your line straight1 and it will bring him into a round compass1 and close his mouth that no water gets in1 which you must avoid2 or you may stitch up his mouth2 or you may1 when you have set on your hook1 fasten some bristles under the silk1 leaving the points about a straw's breadth and half1 or almost half an inch standing out towards the line1 which will keep him from slipping back4 ,you may also imitate the minnow as well as the fly1 but it must be done by an artist with the needle4 ,you must also have a swivel or turn1 placed about a yard or more from your hook1 observing you need no lead on your line1 for you must continually draw your bait up the stream1 near the top of the water4 ,if you strike a large ,trout1 and it should break either your hook or line1 or get off1 then near to her hole1 if you can discover it1 or the place you struck her1 fix a short stick in the water1 and with your knife loose a small piece of the rind1 so as you may lay your line in it1 and yet the bark be close enough to keep your line in1 that it slip not out1 nor the stream carry it away3 bait your hook with a garden or lob-worm1 your hook and line being very strong1 let the bait hang a foot from the stick1 then fasten the other end of your line to some stick or bough in the bank1 and within one hour1 you may be sure of her1 if all your tackle hold4 ,the next way of angling is with a troll for the ,pike1 which is very delightful2 you may buy your troll ready made1 therefore ,i shall not trouble myself to describe it1 only let it have a winch to wind it up withall4 ,for this kind of fish1 your tackle must be strong1 your rod must not be very slender at the top1 where you must place a small slender ring for your line to run through2 let your line be silk1 at least two yards next the hook1 and the rest of strong shoe-maker's thread2 your hook double1 and strongly armed with wire1 for above a foot2 then with a probe or needle1 you must draw the wire in at the fish's mouth and out at the tail1 that so the hook may lie in the mouth of the fish1 and both the points on either side2 upon the shank of the hook fasten some lead very smooth1 that it go into the fish's mouth1 and sink her with the head downward1 as though she had been playing on the top of the water1 and were returning to the bottom2 your bait may be small ,roach1 ,dace1 ,gudgeon1 ,loach1 or sometimes a ,frog2 your hook thus baited1 you must tie the tail of the fish close and fast to the wire1 or else with drawing to and again1 the fish will rend off the hook1 or1 which ,i judge neater1 with a needle and strong thread1 stitch through the fish on either side the wire1 and tie it very fast3 all being thus fitted1 cast your fish up and down in such places as you know ,pike frequent1 observing still1 that he sink some depth before you pull him up again4 ,when the ,pike rises1 if it be not sunk deep1 you may see the water move1 or at least you may feel him2 then slacken your line1 and give him length enough to run away to his hold1 whither he will go directly1 and there pouch it1 ever beginning1 as you may observe1 with the head swallowing that first1 thus let him lie1 until you see the line move in the water1 and then you may certainly conclude he hath pouched your bait1 and rangeth abroad for more2 then with your troll wind up your line1 till you think you have it almost straight1 then with a smart jerk hook him1 and make your pleasure to your content4 ,some use no rod at all1 but hold the line in links on their hand1 using lead and float4 ,others use a very great hook1 with the hook at the tail of the fish1 and when the ,pike rises1 then they strike at the first pull4 ,others put a strong string or thread in at the mouth of the bait1 and out at one of the gills2 then over the head1 and in at the other gill1 and so tie the bait to the hook1 leaving a little length of the thread or string betwixt the fish and the hook1 that so the ,pike may turn the head of the bait1 the better to swallow it1 and then as before2 after some pause1 strike4 ,some tie the bait-hook and line to a bladder or bundle of flags1 or bull-rushes1 fastening the line very gently in the cleft of a small stick1 to hold the bait from sinking more than its allowed length1 half a yard4 ,the stick must be fastened to the bladder or flags1 to which the line being tied1 that it may easily unfold and run to its length1 and so give the ,pike liberty to run away with the bait1 and by the bladder or flags1 recover their line again4 ,you must observe this way to turn off your bait with the wind or stream1 that they may carry it away4 ,some use1 for more sport1 if the ,pike be a great one1 to tie the same to the foot of a goose1 which the ,pike1 if large1 will sometimes pull under the water4 ,before ,i proceed to give you each sort of bait for every kind of fish1 give me leave to add a caution or two1 for the ground-line and fishing1 as ,i did for the natural and artificial fly1 and then we shall go on4 ,there are two ways of fishing for ,eels1 proper and peculiar to that fish alone2 the first is termed by some1 angling for ,eels1 which is thus3 take a short strong rod1 and exceeding strong line1 with a little compassed1 but strong hook1 which you must bait with a large well-scoured red worm1 then place the end of the hook very easily in a cleft of a stick1 that it may very easily slip out2 with this stick and hook thus baited1 search for holes under stones1 timbers1 roots1 or about flood-gates2 if there be a good ,eel1 give her time1 and she will take it2 but be sure she has gorged it1 and then you may conclude1 if your tackling hold1 she is your own4 ,the other way is called bobbing for ,eels1 which is thus3 take the largest garden worms1 scour them well1 and with a needle run a very strong thread or silk through them from end to end2 take so many as that at last you may wrap them about a board1 for your hand will be too narrow1 a dozen times at least1 then tie them fast with the other two ends of the thread or silk1 that they may hang in so many long bouts or hanks2 then fasten all to a strong cord1 and something more than a handful above the worms1 fasten a plumb of lead1 of about three quarters of a pound1 making your cord sure to a long and strong pole2 with these worms thus ordered1 you must fish in a muddy water1 and you will feel the ,eels tug strongly at them2 when you think they have swallowed them as far as they can1 gently draw up your worms and ,eels1 and when you have them near the top of the water1 hoist them amain to land2 and thus you may take three or four at once1 and good ones1 if there be store4 #a4 ,when you angle at ground1 keep your line as straight as possible1 suffering none of it to lie in the water1 because it hinders the nimble jerk of the rod2 but if1 as sometimes it will happen1 that you cannot avoid but some little will lie in the water1 yet keep it in the stream above your float1 by no means below it4 #b4 ,when you angle at ground for small fish1 put two hooks to your line1 fastened together thus3 lay the two hooks together1 then draw the one shorter than the other by nine inches1 this will cause the other end to over-reach as much1 as the other is shorter at the hooks1 then turn that end back1 and with a water-knot1 in which you must make both the links to fasten1 tie them so as both links may hang close together1 and not come out at both ends of the knot4 ,then upon that link which hangeth longest1 fasten your lead near a foot above the hook2 put upon your hooks two different baits1 and so you may try1 with more ease and less time1 what bait the fish love best2 and also very often1 as ,i have done1 take two fish at once with one rod4 ,you have also1 by this experience1 one bait for such as feed close upon the ground1 as ,gudgeon1 ,flounder1 c4 and another for such as feed a little higher1 as ,roach1 ,dace1 c4 #c4 ,some use to lead their lines heavily1 and to set their float about a foot or more from the end of the rod1 with a little lead to buoy it up1 and thus in violent swift streams1 they avoid the offence of a float1 and yet perfectly discern the biting of the fish1 and so order themselves accordingly2 but this has its inconvenience1 viz4 the lying of the line in the water4 #d4 ,give all fish time to gorge the bait1 and be not over hasty1 except you angle with such tender baits as will not endure nibbling at1 but must upon every touch be struck at1 as sheep's blood and flies1 which are taken away at the first pull of the fish1 and therefore enforce you1 at the first touch1 to try your fortune4 ,now we are to speak next of baits1 more particularly proper for every fish1 wherein ,i shall observe this method1 first to name the fish1 then the baits1 according as my experience hath proved them grateful to the fish2 and to place them as near as ,i can in such order as they come in season1 though many of them are in season at one instant of time1 and equally good4 ,i would not be understood1 as if when a new bait comes in1 the old one were antiquated and useless2 for ,i know the worm lasts all the year1 flies all the ,summer1 one sort of bob-worm all the ,winter1 the other under cow-dung1 in ,june and ,july2 but ,i intimate that some are found when others are not in rerum natura4 ,,chap4 ,v4 ,,of ,,all ,,sorts ,,of ,,baits ,,for ,,each ,,kind ,,of ,,fish1 ,,and ,,how ,,to ,,find ,,and ,,keep ,,them4 ,illustration3 ,,salmon ,the ,,salmon takes the artificial fly very well2 but you must use a troll1 as for the ,pike1 or he1 being a strong fish1 will hazard your line1 except you give him length3 his flies must be much larger than you use for other fish1 the wings very long1 two or four1 behind one another1 with very long tails2 his chiefest ground-bait a great garden or lob-worm4 ,illustration3 ,,trout #b4 ,the ,,trout takes all sorts of worms1 especially brandlings2 all sorts of flies1 the minnow1 young frogs1 marsh-worm1 dock-worm1 flag-worm1 all sorts of cad-bait1 bob1 palmers1 caterpillars1 gentles1 wasps1 hornets1 dores1 bees1 grasshoppers1 cankers1 and bark-worm2 he is a ravenous1 greedy fish1 and loveth a large bait at ground1 and you must fit him accordingly4 ,illustration3 ,,grayling #c4 ,the ,,umber1 or ,,grayling1 is generally taken with the same baits as the ,trout2 he is an eager fish1 biteth freely1 and will rise often at the same fly1 if you prick him not4 ,illustration3 ,,barbel ,the ,,barbel bites best at great red worms1 well scoured in moss2 gentles1 cheese1 or paste1 made of cheese with suet1 maggots1 and red worms2 feed much for this fish4 ,illustration3 ,,carp #d4 ,,carp and ,,tench love the largest red worms1 the ,illustration3 ,,tench especially if they smell much of tar2 to which end you may1 some small time before you use them1 take so many as you will use at that time1 and put them by themselves in a little tar1 but let them not lie long lest it kill them2 paste also of all sorts1 made with strong-scented oils1 tar1 bread1 grain boiled soft1 maggots1 gentles1 marsh-worm1 flag-worm1 especially2 feed much and often for these fish4 ,illustration3 ,,pike ,the ,,pike takes all sorts of baits1 save the ,fly1 ,gudgeon1 ,roach1 ,dace1 ,illustration3 ,,loach and young frogs in ,summer4 ,you may halter him thus3 fasten a strong line with a snare at the end of it to a pole1 which if you go circumspectly to work1 he will permit you to put it over his head1 and then you must by strength1 hoist him to land4 ,illustration3 ,,eel ,,eels take great red worms1 beef1 wasps1 guts of fowls1 and the minnow4 ,bait night-hooks for him with small ,roach1 the hook must lie in the mouth of the fish1 as for the ,pike2 this way takes the greatest ,eels4 ,illustration3 ,,gudgeon #g4 ,the ,,gudgeon1 ,,ruff1 and ,,bleak1 take the smallest red worms1 cad-bait1 gentles1 and wasps4 ,the ,,bleak takes the natural or artificial fly1 especially in the evening4 #h4 ,the ,,ruff taketh the same baits as the ,,pearch1 save that you must have lesser worms1 he being a smaller fish4 ,illustration3 ,,roach #i4 ,for ,,roach and ,,dace take small worms1 cad-bait1 flies1 bobs1 sheep's blood1 small white snails1 all sorts of worms bred on herbs or trees1 paste1 wasps1 and gnats4 ,the ,,bleak is an eager fish1 and takes the same baits as the ,,roach1 only they must be less4 ,you may angle for him with as many hooks on your line at once1 as you can conveniently fasten on it4 #aj4 ,the ,,chevin or ,,chub1 all sorts of earth-worms1 bob1 the minnow1 flies of all sorts1 cad-bait1 all sorts of worms bred on herbs and trees1 especially oak-worms1 young frogs1 wasps1 bees1 or grasshoppers1 on the top of the water2 cheese1 grain1 beetles1 a great brown fly that lives on the oak1 black snails1 their bellies slit that the white appear2 he loves a large bait1 as a wasp1 colwort-worm1 and then a wasp altogether4 ,illustration3 ,,bream #aa4 ,the ,,bream takes red worms1 especially those that are got at the root of a great ,dock1 it lies wrapped up in a knot1 or round clue2 paste1 flag-worms1 wasps1 green-flies1 butter-flies1 or a grasshopper1 his legs being cut off4 #ab4 ,,flounder1 ,,shad1 and ,,mullet1 love red worms of all sorts1 wasps1 and gentles4 ,as for the ,,minnow1 ,,loach1 ,,bull-,,head1 or ,illustration3 ,,miller',s ,,thumb being usually children's recreation1 ,i once purposed to have omitted them wholly1 but considering they often are baits for better fish1 as ,trout1 ,pike1 ,eel1 c4 ,neither could this discourse be general1 if they were omitted2 and though ,i should wave mentioning them1 yet ,i cannot forget them1 who have so often vexed me with their unwelcome eagerness2 for the ,illustration3 ,,minnow will have a part in the play1 if you come where he is2 which is almost every where1 you need not seek him3 ,i find him much oftener than ,i desire1 it is only in deep still places which he least frequents1 and is not over curious in his baits2 any thing will serve that he can swallow1 and he will strain hard for what he cannot gorge3 but chiefly likes small red worms1 cad-bait1 worms bred on trees1 and wasps4 ,the ,,loach and ,,bull-,,head are much of the same diet2 but their principal bait is small red worms4 ,having spoken before of pastes1 ,i shall now shew how you may make the same2 and though there be as many kinds as men have fancies1 yet ,i esteem these best4 #a4 ,take the tenderest part of the leg of a young rabbit1 virgin wax1 and sheep's-suet2 beat them in a mortar till they be perfectly incorporated1 then with a little clarified honey1 temper them before the fire into a paste4 #b4 ,sheep's-kidney suet1 as much cheese1 fine flower or manchet1 make it into a paste2 soften it with clarified honey4 #c4 ,sheep's blood1 cheese1 fine manchet1 clarified honey2 make all into a paste4 #d4 ,sheep's blood1 saffron1 and fine manchet2 make all into a paste4 ,you may add to any paste1 coculus-indi1 assa-ftida1 oil of polipody of the oak1 of lignum vit1 of ivy1 or the gum of ivy dissolved3 ,i judge there is virtue in these oils1 and gum especially1 which ,i would add to all pastes ,i make1 as also a little flax to keep the paste1 that it wash not off the hook4 ,,chap4 ,,vi4 ,,to ,,keep ,,your ,,baits4 #a4 ,paste will keep very long1 if you put virgin wax and clarified honey into it1 and stick well on the hook1 if you beat cotton wool1 or flax into it1 when you make your paste4 #b4 ,put your worms into very good long moss1 whether white1 red1 or green1 matters not2 wash it well1 and cleanse it from all earth and filth1 wring it very dry1 then put your worms into an earthen pot1 cover it close that they crawl not out2 set it in a cool place in ,summer1 and in ,winter in a warm place1 that the frost kill them not2 every third day in ,summer change your moss1 and once in the week in ,winter2 the longer you keep them before you use them the better3 clean scouring your worms makes them clear1 red1 tough1 and to live long on the hook1 and to keep colour1 and therefore more desireable to the fish3 a little ,bol ,amoniac put to them1 will much further your desire1 and scour them in a short time3 or you may put them all night in water1 and they will scour themselves1 which will weaken them2 but a few hours in good moss will recover them4 ,lest your worms die1 you may feed them with crumbs of bread and milk1 or fine flour and milk1 or the yolk of an egg1 and sweet cream coagulated over the fire1 given to them a little and often2 sometimes also put to them earth cast out of a grave1 the newer the grave the better2 ,i mean the shorter time the party hath been buried1 you will find the fish will exceedingly covet them after this earth1 and here you may gather what gum that is1 which ,j4 ,d4 in his ,secrets of ,angling1 calls #8,gum of ,life4' #c4 ,you must keep all other sorts of worms with the leaves of those trees and herbs on which they are bred1 renewing the leaves often in a day1 and put in fresh for the old ones3 the boxes you keep them in must have a few small holes to let in air4 #d4 ,keep gentles or maggots with dead flesh1 beast's livers1 or suet2 cleanse or scour them in meal1 or bran1 which is better2 you may breed them by pricking a beast's liver full of holes1 hang it in the sun in ,summer time2 set an old course barrel1 or small firkin1 with clay and bran in it1 into which they will drop1 and cleanse themselves in it4 #e4 ,cad-bait cannot endure the wind and cold1 therefore keep them in a thick woollen bag1 with some gravel amongst them3 wet them once a day1 at least1 if in the house1 but often in the hot weather3 when you carry them forth1 fill the bag full of water1 then hold the mouth close1 that they drop not out1 and so let the water run from them2 ,i have thus kept them three weeks1 or you may put them into an earthern pot full of water1 with some gravel at the bottom1 and take them forth into your bag as you use them4 #f4 ,the spawn of some fish is a good bait1 to be used at such time as that fish is spawning3 some days before they spawn they will bite eagerly2 if you take one that is full-bellied1 take out the spawn1 boil it so hard as to stick on your hook1 and so use it2 or not boil it at all1 the spawn of ,,salmon is the best of all sorts of spawn4 #g4 ,i have observed1 that ,,chevin1 ,,roach1 and ,illustration3 ,,dace bite much better at the oak-worm1 or any worm bred on herbs and trees1 especially if you angle with the same1 when they shew themselves at the top of the water1 as with the natural fly1 than if you use it under3 for ,i have observed1 that when a gale of wind shakes the trees1 the worms fall into the water1 and presently rise and float on the top1 where ,i have seen the fish rise at them1 as at flies1 which taught me this experience2 and indeed they sink not1 till tost and beaten by the stream1 and so die and lose their colour2 the fish then1 as you may see by your own on your hook1 do not much esteem them4 #h4 ,there are two1 some say three1 sorts of cad-bait2 the one bred under stones1 that lie hollow in shallow rivers1 or small brooks1 in a very fine gravelly case or husk1 these are yellow when ripe3 the other in old pits1 ponds1 or slow running rivers1 or ditches1 in cases or husks of straw1 sticks1 or rushes1 these are green when ripe3 both are excellent for ,,trout1 used as before directed1 and for most sorts of small fish4 ,the green sort1 which is bred in pits1 ponds1 or ditches1 may be found in ,march1 before the other yellow ones comes in2 the other yellow ones come in season with ,may1 or the end of ,april1 and go out in ,july3 a second sort1 but smaller1 come in again in ,august4 #i4 ,yellow bobs are also of two sorts1 the one bred in mellow light soils1 and gathered after the plough1 when the land is first broken up from grazing1 and are in season in the ,winter till ,march2 the other sort is bred under cow-dung1 hath a red head2 and these are in season in the ,summer only3 scour them in bran1 or dry moss1 or meal4 #aj4 ,bark-worms are found under the bark of an oak1 ash1 alder1 and birch1 especially if they lie a year or more after they have fallen1 you may find a great white worm1 with a brown head1 something resembling a dore bee1 or humble-bee1 this is in season all the year1 especially from ,september until ,june1 or mid-,may2 the ,umber covets this bait above any1 save fly1 and cad-bait2 you may also find this worm in the body of a rotten alder1 if you break it with an axe or beetle2 but be careful only to shake the tree in pieces with beating1 and crush not the worm3 you may also find him under the bark of the stump of a tree1 if decayed4 #aa4 ,dry your wasps1 dores1 or bees1 upon a tile-stone1 or in an oven cooled after baking1 lest they burn2 and to avoid that1 you must lay them on a thin board or chip1 and cover them with another so supported1 as not to crush them1 or else clap two cakes together3 this way they will keep long1 and stick on your hook well4 ,if you boil them hard1 they grow black in a few days4 #ab4 ,dry your sheep's blood in the air1 upon a dry board1 till it become a pretty hard lump2 then cut it into small pieces for your use4 #ac4 ,when you use grain1 boil it soft1 and get off the outward rind1 which is the bran2 and then if you will1 you may fry the same in honey and milk1 or some strong-scented oils1 as polypody1 spike1 ivy1 turpentine2 for ,nature1 which maketh nothing in vain1 hath given the fish nostrils1 and that they can smell1 is undeniable2 and ,i am persuaded1 more guided by the sense of smelling1 than sight1 for sometimes they will come to the float1 if any wax be upon it1 smell at it and go away4 ,we see also that strong scents draw them together2 as1 put grains1 worms1 or snails1 in a bottle of hay tied pretty close1 and you will1 if you pluck it out suddenly1 sometimes draw up ,,eels in it4 ,but ,i never yet made trial of any of these oils2 for when ,i had the oils1 ,i wanted time to try them2 or when ,i had time1 ,i wanted the oils3 but ,i recommend them to others for trial1 and do purpose1 ,god willing1 to prove the virtue myself1 especially that ointment so highly commended by ,j4 ,d4 in his ,secrets of ,angling4#c #c ,in the edition of #afac1 duod4 the receipt here referred to occurs at the end of the volume3 ,would'st thou catch fish8 ,then here's thy wish2 ,take this receipt ,to anoint thy bait4 ,thou that desirest to fish with line and hook1 ,be it in poole1 in river1 or in brook1 ,to blisse thy bait1 and make the fish to bite1 ,loe here's a means if thou canst hit it right2 ,take gum of life1 fine beat and laid to soak ,in oyle1 well drawn from that which kills the oak2 ,fish where thou wilt1 thou shalt have sport thy fill1 ,when twenty fail1 thou shalt be sure to kill4 ,probatum4 ,it's perfect and good ,if well understood ,else not to be told ,for silver or gold4 ,lauson1 who #8augmented with many approved experiments1' the second edition of the ,secrets of ,angling1 #afeb1 duod4 observes1 #8,this excellent receipt divers ,anglers can tell you where you may buy them4' ,on the subject of #8gum of life1' he continues1 #8,i have heard much of an oyntment that will presently cause any fish to bite2 but ,i could never attain the knowledge thereof1 the nearest in mine opinion1 except this ,probatum1 is the oyle of an ospray1 which is called ,aquila ,marina1 the ,sea-,eagle4 ,she is of body neare the bignesse of a goose2 one of her feete is web'd to swim withall1 the other hath talons to catch fish4 ,it seems the fish come up to her1 for she cannot dive4 ,some likelihood there is also in a paste made of ,coculus ,indie1 ,assa-,ftida1 ,honey and ,wheat-flour2 but ,i never tried them1 therefore ,i cannot prescribe4' #8,that which kills the oak1' is expressly said to signify #8the ,ivy1' edit4 #afeb4 ,in a third1 and hitherto unrecorded edition of the ,secrets of ,angling1 it is said1 #8,this excellent receipt you may buy ready and truely made1 at the signe of the ,flying ,horse1 an ,apothecaries in ,carter-,lane4' ,,editor4 #ad4 ,when you see ant-flies in greatest plenty1 go to the ant-hills where they breed1 take a great handful of the earth1 with as much of the roots of the grass growing on those hills2 put all into a large glass bottle1 then gather a pottle full of the blackest1 ant-flies unbruised1 put them into the bottle1 or into a firkin1 if you would keep them long1 first washed with honey1 or water and honey2 ,,roach and ,,dace will bite at these flies under water near the ground4 #ae4 ,when you gather bobs after the plough1 put them into a firkin1 with sufficient of the soil they were bred in1 to preserve them2 stop the vessel quite close1 or all will spoil2 set it where neither wind nor frost may offend them1 and they will keep all ,winter for your use4 #af4 ,at the latter end of ,september1 take some dead carrion that hath some maggots bred in it1 which are beginning to creep2 bury all deep in the ground1 that the frost kill them not1 and they will serve in ,march or ,april following1 to use4 #ag4 ,to find the flag-worm1 do thus3 go to an old pond1 or pit1 where there are store of flags1 or1 as some call them1 sedges1 pull some up by the roots1 then shake those roots in the water1 till all the mud and dirt be washed away from them1 then amongst the small strings or fibres that grow to the roots1 you will find little husks or cases of a reddish1 or yellowish1 and some of other colours2 open these carefully with a pin1 and you will find in them a little small worm1 white as a gentle1 but longer and thinner2 this is an excellent bait for the ,tench1 the ,bream1 and especially the ,carp3 if you pull the flags-asunder1 and cut open the round stalk1 you will also find a worm like the former in the husks2 but tougher1 and in that respect better4 ,,chap4 ,,vii4 ,,of ,,several ,,haunts ,,or ,,resorts ,,of ,,fish1 ,,and ,,in ,,what ,,rivers ,,or ,,places ,,of ,,them ,,they ,,are ,,most ,,usually ,,found4 ,this part of our discourse being a discovery of the several places or rivers each kind of fish do most haunt or covet1 and in which they are ordinarily found4 ,the several sorts of rivers1 streams1 soils1 and waters they most frequent1 is a matter1 in this under-valued art1 of no small importance2 for if you come with baits for the ,trout1 or ,umber1 and angle for them in slow muddy rivers or places1 you will have little1 if any sport at all3 and to seek for ,carp or ,tench in stony swift rivers1 is equally preposterous2 and though ,i know that sometimes you may meet with fish in such rivers and places1 as they do not usually frequent1 for no general rule but admits of particular exceptions1 yet the exact knowledge of what rivers or soils1 or what part of the river1 for some rivers have swift gravely streams1 and also slow1 deep1 muddy places2 such or such sorts of fish do most frequent1 will exceedingly adapt you1 to know what rivers1 or what part of them are most fit for your baits1 or what baits suit best with each river1 and the fish in the same4 #a4 ,the ,salmon loves large swift rivers1 where there is considerable ebbing and flowing1 and there that fish is found in the greatest numbers2 nevertheless1 ,i have known them to be found in lesser rivers1 high up in the country1 yet chiefly in the latter end of the year1 when they come thither to spawn1 he chooses the most swift and violent streams1 or rather cataracts1 and in ,england the clearest gravely rivers usually with rocks or weeds2 but in ,ireland1 ,i do not know any river1 ,i mean high in the country1 that hath such plenty of them as the black water1 by ,charlemont1 and the broad water1 by ,shane's ,castle1 both which have their heads in great bogs1 and are of a dark muddy colour1 and very few comparatively in the upper ban1 though clearer and swifter than they4 #b4 ,the ,trout is found in small purling brooks1 or rivers that are very swift1 and run upon stones or gravel2 he feeds whilst strong in the swiftest streams1 behind a stone1 a log1 or some small bank1 which1 shooting into the river1 the streams beareth upon2 and there he lieth watching for what comes down the stream1 and suddenly catches it up4 ,his hold is usually in the deep1 under a hollow place of the bank1 or a stone which lying hollow1 he loves exceedingly2 and sometimes1 but not so usually1 he is found amongst weeds4 #c4 ,the ,pearch prefers a gentle stream1 of a reasonable depth1 seldom shallow1 close by a hollow bank2 and though these three sorts of fish covet clear and swift rivers1 green weeds1 and stony gravel2 yet they are sometimes found1 but not in such plenty and goodness1 in slow muddy rivers4 #d4 ,carp1 ,tench1 and ,eel1 seek mud and a still water2 ,eels under roots or stones1 a ,carp chooseth the deepest and most still place of pond or river1 so does the ,tench1 and also green weeds1 which he likes exceedingly2 the greatest ,eels love as before2 but the smaller ones are found in all sorts of rivers and soils4 #e4 ,pike1 ,bream1 and ,chub1 choose sand or clay3 the ,bream1 a gentle stream1 and the broadest part of the river2 the ,pike1 still pools full of fry1 and shelters himself1 the better to surprise his prey unawares1 amongst bull-rushes1 water-docks1 or under-bushes2 the ,chub loves the same ground1 but is more rarely found without some tree to shade and cover him1 in large rivers and streams4 #f4 ,barbel1 ,roach1 ,dace1 and ,ruff1 seek gravel and sand more than the ,bream1 and the deepest parts of the river1 where shady trees are more grateful to them1 than to the ,chub or ,chevin4 #g4 ,the ,umber seeks marl1 clay1 clear waters1 swift streams1 far from the ,sea1 for ,i never saw any taken near it2 and the greatest plenty of them that ,i know of1 are found in the mountainous parts of ,derbyshire1 ,staffordshire1 as ,dovetrent1 ,derwent1 c4 #h4 ,gudgeon desires sandy1 gravely1 gentle streams1 and smaller rivers2 but ,i have known them taken in great abundance in ,trent1 in ,derbyshire1 where it is very large2 but conceive them to be in greater plenty nearer the head of that river1 about or above ,heywood3 ,i can say the same of other rivers1 and therefore conceive they love smaller rivers rather than the large1 or the small brooks1 for ,i never found them in so great plenty in brooks1 as small rivers2 he bites best in the ,spring1 till he spawns1 and little after till wasp time4 #i4 ,shad1 ,thwait1 ,peel1 ,mullett1 ,suant1 and ,flounder1 love chiefly to be in or near the saltish water1 which ebb and flow2 ,i have known the ,flounder taken in good plenty1 in fresh rivers2 they covet sand and gravel1 deep gentle streams near the bank1 or at the end of a stream in a deep still place3 though these rules may1 and do hold good in the general1 yet ,i have found them admit of particular exceptions1 but every man's habitation engaged him to one1 or usually at most1 to two rivers1 his own experience will quickly inform him of the nature of the same1 and the fish in them4 ,i would persuade all that love angling1 and desire to be complete ,anglers1 to spend some time in all sorts of waters1 ponds1 rivers1 swift and slow1 stony1 gravely1 muddy and slimy2 and to observe all the differences in the nature of the fish1 the waters and baits1 and by this means he will be able to take fish where ever he angles2 otherwise1 through want of experience1 he will be like the man that could read in no book but his own3 besides1 a man1 his occasions or desires drawing him from home1 must only stand as an idle spectator1 whilst others kill fish1 but he none2 and so lose the repute of a complete ,angler1 how excellent soever he be at his own known river4 ,furthermore1 you must understand1 that as some fish covet one soil more than another1 so they differ in their choice of places1 in every season2 some keep all ,summer long near the top1 some never leave the bottom2 for the former sort you may angle with a quill or small float near the top1 with a fly1 or any sort of worm bred on herbs or trees1 or with a fly at the top3 the latter sort you will1 all ,summer long1 find at the tails of wiers1 mills1 flood-gates1 arches of bridges1 or the more shallow parts of the river1 in a strong1 swift or gentle stream1 except ,carp1 and ,tench1 and ,eel2 in ,winter all retreat into deep still places2 where it ebbs and flows1 they will sometimes bite best1 but in the ebb most usually2 sometimes when it flows1 but rarely at full water1 near the arches of ,bridges1 wiers1 or flood-gates4 ,,chap4 ,,viii4 ,,what ,,times ,,are ,,unseasonable ,,to ,,angle ,,in4 ,there being a time for all things1 in which with ease and facility the same may be accomplished1 and most difficult1 if not impossible1 at another3 the skill and knowledge how to choose the best season to angle1 and how to avoid the contrary1 come next to be handled2 which ,i shall do first negatively1 viz4 what times are unfit to angle2 and then affirmatively1 which are the best seasons4 #a4 ,when the earth is parched with a great drought1 so that the rivers run with a much less current than is usual1 it is to no purpose to angle2 and indeed the heat of the day in ,summer1 except cooled by winds1 and shallowed with clouds1 though there be no drought1 you will find very little sport1 especially in muddy1 or very shallow and clear rivers4 #b4 ,in cold1 frosty1 snowy weather1 ,i know the fish must eat in all seasons1 and that a man may kill fish when he must first break the ice2 yet ,i conceive the sport is not then worth pursuing1 the extreme cold taking away the delight1 besides the endangering health1 if not life1 by those colds1 which at least cause rhumes and coughs3 wherefore ,i leave ,winter and night angling1 to such strong healthful bodies1 whose extraordinary delight in angling1 or those whose necessity enforceth them to seek profit by their recreation1 in such unseasonable times4 #c4 ,when there happens any small frost1 all that day after the fish will not rise freely and kindly1 except in the evening1 and that the same prove very pleasant4 #d4 ,if the wind be very high1 so that you cannot guide your tools to advantage4 #e4 ,when shepherds or countrymen wash their sheep1 though while they are washing1 ,i mean the first time only1 the fish will bite exceedingly well2 ,i suppose the filth that falls from the sheep draws them1 as like baiting a place together1 and then they so glut themselves1 that till the whole washing time be over1 and they have digested their fulness2 they will not take any artificial baits4 #f4 ,sharp1 bitter1 nipping winds1 which most usually blow out of the ,north or ,east especially1 blast your recreation2 but this is rather the season than the wind1 though ,i also judge those winds have a secret malign quality to hinder the recreation4 #g4 ,after any sort of fish have spawned1 they will not bite any thing to purpose1 until they have recovered their strength and former appetite4 #h4 ,when any clouds arise1 that will certainly bring a shower or storm1 though in the midst of ,summer1 they will not bite3 ,i have observed1 that though the fish bite most eagerly1 and to your heart's content1 yet upon the first appearing of any clouds1 that will certainly bring rain1 though my own judgment could not then apprehend1 or in the least conjecture1 that a storm was arising1 they have immediately left off biting2 and that has been all given me to understand that a shower was coming1 and that it was prudent to seek shelter against the same4 ,,chap4 ,,ix4 ,,the ,,best ,,times ,,and ,,seasons ,,to ,,angle4 ,we now come to the affirmative part1 which is the best season to angle1 that as before1 we discovered when it would be lost labour to seek recreation2 so now you may learn to improve opportunity1 when it offers itself to best advantage4 #a4 ,calm1 clear1 or which is better1 cool cloudy weather in ,summer1 the wind blowing gently1 so as you may guide your tools with ease2 in the hottest months1 the cooler the better4 #b4 ,when the floods have carried away all the filth that the rain had washed from the higher grounds into the river1 and that the river keeps his usual bounds1 and appears of a whey colour4 #c4 ,when a sudden violent shower hath a little mudded and raised the river1 then if you go forth in1 or immediately after such a shower1 and angle in the stream at the ground1 with a red worm chiefly2 if there be store of fish in the river1 you will have sport to your own desire4 #d4 ,a little before any fish spawn1 your own observation will inform you of the time1 by the fulness of their bellies1 they come into the gravely1 sandy fords1 to rub and loosen their bellies1 and then they bite very freely4 #e4 ,when rivers after rain do rise1 yet so as that they keep within their banks1 in swift rivers the violence of the stream forces the fish to seek shelter and quiet ease2 in the little and milder currents of small brooks1 where they fall into larger rivers1 and behind the ends of bridges that are longer than the breadth of the river1 making a low vacancy1 where the bridge defends a small spot of ground from the violence of the stream1 or in any low place near the river's side1 where the fish may lie at rest1 and secure from the disturbance of the rapid stream2 in such a place1 not being very deep1 and at such a time1 you will find sport3 as regards myself1 ,i have ever found it equal to the best season4 #f4 ,for ,carp and ,tench early in the morning1 from sun rising1 until eight of the clock1 and from four after noon1 till night2 and from sun set1 till far in the night in the hot months4 #g4 ,in ,march1 in the beginning of ,april1 and at the latter end of ,september1 and all ,winter1 fish bite best in the warmth of the day1 when no winds are stirring1 and the air quite clear4 ,in ,summer months1 morning and evening are best1 or cool cloudy weather3 if you can find shelter1 no matter how high the wind be4 #h4 ,fish rise best at the fly1 after a shower that has not mudded the water1 yet has beaten the gnats and flies into the rivers2 you may in such a shower observe them rise much1 if you will endure the rain2 also the best months for the fly1 are ,march1 ,april1 ,may1 and part of ,june2 in the cooler months1 in the warmest time of the day2 or in warm weather1 about nine in the morning1 three in the afternoon1 if any gentle gale blow2 sometimes in a warm evening1 when the gnats play much4 #i4 ,also after the river is cleared from a flood1 they rise exceeding well2 ,i conceive that being glutted with ground-baits1 they now covet the fly1 having wanted it a time4 #aj4 ,a ,trout bites best in a muddy rising water1 in dark1 cloudy1 windy weather1 early in the morning1 from half an hour after eight1 till ten2 and in the afternoon1 from three1 till after four1 and sometimes in the evening2 but about nine in the morning1 and about three in the afternoon1 are his chief and most constant hours of biting at ground or fly1 as the water suits either2 ,march1 ,april1 ,may1 and part of ,june1 are his chief months1 though he bites well in ,july1 ,august and ,september4 ,after a shower in the evening1 he rises well at gnats4 #aa4 ,salmon1 at three in the afternoon1 chiefly in ,may1 ,june1 ,july1 and ,august1 with a clear water and some wind4 ,he bites best when the wind is blowing against the stream1 and near the sea4 #ab4 ,carp and ,tench1 morning and evening1 very early and late1 ,june1 ,july and ,august1 or indeed in the night4 #ac4 ,a ,chevin1 from sun rising or earlier1 at snails especially2 for in the heat of the day he cares not for them1 in ,june and ,july till about eight1 again at three in the afternoon at ground1 or fly2 and his chief fly which he most delights in1 is a great moth1 with a very great head1 not unlike to an owl1 with whitish wings1 and yellowish body1 you may find them flying abroad in ,summer evenings in gardens1 when some wind is stirring1 in large rivers chiefly1 streams or shade4 ,he will take a small lamprey1 or seven-eyes1 an eel-brood1 either of them about a straw's bigness4 #ad4 ,pike bites best at three in the afternoon1 in a clear water1 accompanied by a gentle gale1 in ,july1 ,august1 ,september1 and ,october4 #ae4 ,bream1 from about sun rising1 till eight1 in a muddy water1 a good gale of wind2 and in ponds1 the higher the better1 and where the waves are highest1 and nearer the middle of the pond1 the better2 from the end of ,may1 ,june1 ,july especially1 and ,august4 #af4 ,roach and ,dace all day long2 best at the top1 at fly1 or oak-worm principally1 and at all other worms bred on herbs or trees1 palmers1 caterpillars1 c4 in plain rivers or ponds1 under water-dock leaves1 or under shady trees4 #ag4 ,gudgeon from ,april1 and till he have spawned in ,may1 and a little after that1 till wasp time1 and then to the end of the year1 all day long4 #ah4 ,flounder all day in ,april1 ,may1 ,june1 and ,july4 ,,chap4 ,x4 ,,general ,,observations4 #a4 ,let the ,angler's apparel be sad dark colours1 as sad grey's1 tawny1 purple1 hair1 or musk colour4 #b4 ,use shoe-maker's wax to your silk or thread1 with which you make or mend either rod or fly2 it holds firmer1 and sticks better than any other4 #c4 ,into such places as you use to angle at1 once a week at least1 cast in all sorts of corn boiled soft1 grains washed in blood1 blood dried and cut into pieces1 snails1 worms chopped small1 pieces of fowl1 or beast's guts1 beast's livers2 for ,carp and ,tench you cannot feed too often1 or too much2 this course draweth the fish to the place you desire4 ,and to keep them together1 cast about twenty grains of ground malt at a time1 now and then as you angle2 and indeed all sorts of baits are good to cast in1 especially whilst you are angling with that bait1 principally cad-bait1 gentles1 and wasps1 and you will find they will snap up yours more eagerly1 and with less suspicion2 but by no means1 when you angle in a stream cast them in at your hook1 but something above where you angle1 lest the stream carry them beyond your hook1 and so instead of drawing them to you1 you draw them from you4 #d4 ,destroy all beasts or birds that devour the fish or their spawn1#d as the ,illustration3 ,,otter c4 and endeavour1 whether in authority or not1 to see all statutes put in execution1 against such as use unlawful nets1 or means to take fish2 especially bar-netting and night-hooking4 #d ,,the ,,otter',s ,,oration4 ,why stand we beasts abasht1 or spare to speake8 ,why make wee not a vertue of our need8 ,we know by proofe1 in wit wee are to weake1 ,and weaker much1 because all ,adams seed1 7,which beare away the waight of wit indeed7 ,do dayly seeke our names for to distaine1 ,with slanderous blotte1 for which we ,beasts be slaine4 ,first of my selfe1 before the rest to treate1 ,most men cry out1 that fishe ,i do deuoure1 ,yea some will say1 that ,lambes 7with mee7 be meate3 ,i graunt to both1 and he that hath the powre1 ,to feede on fish that sweeter were than sowre1 ,and hath yong flesh to banquet at his fill1 ,were fonde to fraunche on garbage1 graynes or swill4 ,but master ,man1 which findeth all this fault1 ,and streynes deuise for many a daynty dishe1 ,which suffreth not that hunger him assault1 ,but feedes his fill on euery flesh and fishe1 ,which must haue all1 as much as witte can wish1 ,us seely ,beasts1 deuouring ,beasts do call1 ,and he himsefe1 most bloody beaste of all4 ,well yet me thinks1 ,i heare him preach this ,text1 ,how all that is1 was made for vse of man3 ,so was it sure1 but therewith followes next1 ,this heauy place1 expound it who so can3 ,the very scourge and plague of ,god his ,ban1 ,will light on such as queyntly can deuise1 ,to eat more meate1 then may thir mouthes suffise4 ,now master ,man stand forth and here declare1 ,who euer yet could see an ,otter eate1 ,more meate at once1 then serued for his share8 ,who sees vs beasts sitte bybbing in our seate ,with sundry wynes1 and sundry kindes of meate8 ,which breede disease1 yfostred in such feastes1 ,if men do so1 be they not worse than beasts8 ,the beastly man1 must sitte al day and quaffe1 ,the ,beaste indeede1 doth drincke but twise a day1 ,the beastly man1 must stuffe his monstrous masse ,with secrete cause of surfeiting alway2 ,where beasts be glad to feede when they get prey1 ,and neuer eate more than may do them good1 ,where men be sicke1 and surfet thorough foode4 ,who sees a ,beast1 for sauery ,sawces long8 ,who sees a beast1 or chicke or ,capon cramme8 ,who sees a beast1 once luld on sleepe with song8 ,who sees a beast make venson of a ,ramme8 ,who sees a ,beast destroy bothe whelpe and damme8 ,who sees a ,beast vse beastly ,gluttonie8 ,which man doth vse1 for great ,cinilytie4 ,i know not ,i1 if dyuing be my fault1 ,me thinks most men1 can dine as well as ,i3 ,some men can diue in ,seller and in vault1 ,in ,parlor1 ,hall1 ,kitchen and in ,buttery ,to smell the ,roste1 whereof the fume doth flee3 ,and as for games1 men dine in every streame1 ,all frawdes be fishe1 their stomacks neuer squeame4 ,so to conclude1 when men their faults can mend1 ,and shunne the shame1 where with they beasts do blot1 ,when men their time and treasure not mispend1 ,but follow grace1 which is with paines ygot1 ,when men can vice rebuke1 and vse it not3 ,then shall they shine1 like men of worthy fame1 ,and else1 they be but ,beasts well worthy blame4 ,noble ,art of ,venerie1 #afaa1 #dto4 pp4 #bja-bjc4 #e4 ,get your rods and tops without knots1 they are dangerous for breaking4 #f4 ,keep your rod dry1 lest it rot1 and not near the fire1 lest it grow brittle4 #g4 ,in drought1 wet your rod a little before you begin to angle4 #h4 ,lob-worms1 dew-worms1 and great garden worms1 all one4 #i4 ,when you angle at ground1 or with the natural fly1 your line must not exceed the length of your rod4 ,for the ,trout at ground1 it must be shorter1 and in some cases1 not half the length as in small brooks or woody rivers1 either at ground1 or with the natural fly4 #aj4 ,when you have hooked a good fish1 have an especial care to keep your rod bent1 lest he run to the line1 and break your hook1 or his hold4 #aa4 ,such tops or stocks as you get1 must not be used till fully seasoned1 which will not be in one year and a quarter1 but ,i like them better if kept till they be two years old4 #ab4 ,the first fish you take1 cut up his belly1 and you may then see his stomach2 it is known by its largeness and place1 lying from the gills to the small guts2 take it out very tenderly1 if you bruise it1 your labour and design are lost2 and with a sharp knife cut it open without bruising1 and then you may find his food in it1 and thereby discover what bait the fish at that instant takes best1 either flies or ground-baits1 and so suit them accordingly4 #ac4 ,fish are frightened with any the least sight or motion1 therefore by all means keep out of sight1 either by sheltering yourself behind some bush or tree1 or by standing so far off the river's side1 that you can see nothing but your fly or float2 to effect this1 a long rod at ground1 and a long line with the artificial fly1 may be of use to you4 ,and here ,i meet with two different opinions and practises1 some will always cast their fly and bait up the water1 and so they say nothing occurs to the fish's sight but the line2 others fish down the river1 and so suppose1 the rod and line being long1 the quantity of water takes away1 or at least lessens the fish's sight2 but others affirm1 that rod and line1 and perhaps yourself1 are seen also4 ,in this difference of opinions ,i shall only say1 in small brooks you may angle upwards1 or else in great rivers you must wade1 as ,i have known some1 who thereby got the sciatica1 and ,i would not wish you to purchase pleasure at so dear a rate2 besides1 casting up the river you cannot keep your line out of the water1 which has been noted for a fault before2 and they that use this way confess1 that if in casting your fly1 the line fall into the water before it1 the fly were better uncast1 because it frightens the fish2 then certainly it must do it this way1 whether the fly fall first or not1 the line must first come to the fish1 or fall on him1 which undoubtedly will frighten him3 my opinion is1 therefore1 that you angle down the river1 for the other way you traverse twice so much1 and beat not so much ground as downwards4 #ad4 ,keep the sun1 and moon1 if night1 before you1 if your eyes will endure1 which ,i much question1 at least be sure to have those planets on your side1 for if they be on your back1 your rod will with its shadow offend much1 and the fish see further and clearer1 when they look towards those lights1 than the contrary2 as you may experiment thus in a dark night1 if a man come betwixt you and any light1 you see him clearly1 but not at all if the light come betwixt you and him4 #ae4 ,when you angle for the ,trout1 you need not make above three or four trials in one place1 either with fly or ground-bait1 for he will then either take it1 or make an offer1 or not stir at all1 and so you lose time to stay there any longer4 ,illustration3 ,,pearch ,,pearch bites exceedingly well at all sorts of earth-worms1 especially lob-worms1 brandlings1 bobs1 oak-worms1 gentles1 cad-bait1 wasps1 dores1 minnows1 colwort-worm1 and often at almost any bait1 save the fly4 ,he bites well all day long in seasonable weather1 but chiefly from eight in the morning till after ten1 and from a little before three in the afternoon till almost five4 ,illustration3 ,,chub #af4 ,a ,,chevin loves to have several flies1 and of divers sorts1 on the hook at once1 and several baits also at once on the hook1 as a wasp and colwort-worm1 or an old wasp1 and young dore1 or humble1 when his wings and legs are grown forth1 or a fly and cad-worm1 or oak-worm4 #ag4 ,take for a ,trout1 two lob-worms well scoured1 cut them into two equal halves1 put them on your hook2 this is an excellent bait4 ,in a muddy water1 a ,trout will not take a cad-bait1 you must therefore only use it in clear water4 ,if you desire to angle in a very swift stream1 and have your bait rest in one place1 and yet not over burthen your line with lead2 take a small pistol bullet1 make a hole through it1 wider at each side than the middle1 yet so open in every place1 as that the line may easily pass through it without any stop2 place a very small piece of lead on your line1 that may keep this bullet from falling nearer the hook than that piece of lead1 and if your float be made large enough to bear above water1 against the force of the stream1 the fish will1 when they bite1 run away with the bait as securely1 as if there were no more weight upon your line1 than the little piece of lead1 because the hole in the bullet gives passage to the line1 as if it were not there4 #ah4 ,when cattle in ,summer come into the fords1 their dung draws the fish to the lower end of the ford2 at such time angle for a ,chevin1 with baits fit for him1 and you will have sport4 #ai4 ,before you set your hook to your line1 arm the line by turning the silk five or six times about the link1 and so with the same silk set on your hook2 this preserves your lines1 that your hook cut it not asunder1 and also that it will not1 when using the cast fly1 snap off so easily1 which it is very subject to do4 #bj4 ,in very wet seasons ,trouts leave the rivers and larger brooks1 and retreat into such little brooks as scarce run at all in dry ,summers4 #ba4 ,to all sorts of pastes1 add flax1 cotton1 or wool1 to keep the paste from falling off your hook4 #bb4 ,deny not part of what your endeavours shall purchase unto any sick or indigent persons1 but willingly distribute a part of your purchase to those who may desire a share4 #bc4 ,make not a profession of any recreation1 lest your immoderate love towards it should bring a cross wish on the same4 ,illustration ,j4 ,johnson1 ,printer1 ,brook ,street1 ,holborn1 ,london4 ,transcriber's ,notes ,page #aj--;changed were to where -- where the fish lie in wait for them ,page #ad--;changed then run the the same round your fly -- then run the same round your fly4 ,page #af--;changed artifical to artificial4 ,page #bj--;changed fall to falls1 twice2 -- that your fly falls first -- if the line falls first ,page #bc-- changed get to gets -- and close his mouth so no water gets in4