,,izaak ,,walton    ,,the ,,compleat    
,,angler     ,to the ,right worshipful  
,john ,offley  of ,madeley ,manor1 in   
the ,county of ,stafford  ,esquire1 ,my 
most honoured ,friend  ,sir1--,i have   
made so ill use of your former favours1 
as by them to be encouraged to entreat1 
that they may be enlarged to the        
patronage and protection of this ,book3 
and ,i have put on a modest confidence1 
that ,i shall not be denied1 because it 
is a discourse of ,fish and ,fishing1   
which you know so well1 and both love   
and practice so much4  ,you are assured1
 though there be ignorant men of another
 belief1 that ,angling is an ,art3 and  
you know that ,art better than others2  
and that this is truth is demonstrated  
by the fruits of that pleasant labour   
which you enjoy1 when you purpose to    
give rest to your mind1 and divest      
yourself of your more serious business1 
and1 which is often1 dedicate a day or  
two to this recreation4  ,at which time1
 if common ,anglers should attend you1  

and be eyewitnesses of the success1 not 
of your fortune1 but your skill1 it     
would doubtless beget in them an        
emulation to be like you1 and that      
emulation might beget an industrious    
diligence to be so2 but ,i know it is   
not attainable by common capacities3 and
 there be now many men of great wisdom1 
learning1 and experience1 which love and
 practice this ,art1 that know ,i speak 
the truth4  ,sir1 this pleasant         
curiosity of ,fish and ,fishing1 of     
which you are so great a master1 has    
been thought worthy the pens and        
practices of divers in other nations1   
that have been reputed men of great     
learning and wisdom4 ,and amongst those 
of this nation1 ,i remember ,sir ,henry 
,wotton1 a dear lover of this ,art1 has 
told me1 that his intentions were to    
write a ,discourse of the ,art1 and in  
praise of ,angling2 and doubtless he had
 done so1 if death had not prevented    
him2 the remembrance of which had often 
made me sorry1 for if he had lived to do

 it1 then the unlearned ,angler had seen
 some better treatise of this ,art1 a   
treatise that might have proved worthy  
his perusal1 which1 though some have    
undertaken1 ,i could never yet see in   
,english4  ,but mine may be thought as  
weak1 and as unworthy of common view2   
and ,i do here freely confess1 that ,i  
should rather excuse myself1 than       
censure others1 my own discourse being  
liable to so many exceptions2 against   
which you1 ,sir1 might make this one1   
that it can contribute nothing to ,,your
 knowledge4 ,and lest a longer epistle  
may diminish your pleasure1 ,i shall    
make this no longer than to add this    
following truth1 that ,i am really1     
,sir1  your most affectionate ,friend1  
and most humble ,servant1  ,iz4 ,wa4    
,the epistle to the reader  ,to all     
,readers of this discourse1 but         
especially to the honest ,angler  ,i    
think fit to tell thee these following  
truths2 that ,i did neither undertake1  
nor write1 nor publish1 and much less   

own1 this ,discourse to please myself3  
and1 having been too easily drawn to do 
all to please others1 as ,i propose not 
the gaining of credit by this           
undertaking1 so ,i would not willingly  
lose any part of that to which ,i had a 
just title before ,i began it2 and do   
therefore desire and hope1 if ,i deserve
 not commendations1 yet ,i may obtain   
pardon4  ,and though this ,discourse may
 be liable to some exceptions1 yet ,i   
cannot doubt but that most ,readers may 
receive so much pleasure or profit by   
it1 as may make it worthy the time of   
their perusal1 if they be not too grave 
or too busy men4 ,and this is all the   
confidence that ,i can put on1          
concerning the merit of what is here    
offered to their consideration and      
censure2 and if the last prove too      
severe1 as ,i have a liberty1 so ,i am  
resolved to use it1 and neglect all sour
 censures4  ,and ,i wish the ,reader    
also to take notice1 that in writing of 
it ,i have made myself a recreation of a

 recreation2 and that it might prove so 
to him1 and not read dull and tediously1
 ,i have in several places mixed1 not   
any scurrility1 but some innocent1      
harmless mirth1 of which1 if thou be a  
severe1 sour-complexioned man1 then ,i  
here disallow thee to be a competent    
judge2 for divines say1 there are       
offences given1 and offences not given  
but taken4  ,and ,i am the willinger to 
justify the pleasant part of it1 because
 though it is known ,i can be serious at
 seasonable times1 yet the whole        
,discourse is1 or rather was1 a picture 
of my own disposition1 especially in    
such days and times as ,i have laid     
aside business1 and gone a-fishing with 
honest ,nat4 and ,r4 ,roe2 but they are 
gone1 and with them most of my pleasant 
hours1 even as a shadow that passeth    
away and returns not4  ,and next let me 
add this1 that he that likes not the    
book1 should like the excellent picture 
of the ,trout1 and some of the other    
fish1 which ,i may take a liberty to    

commend1 because they concern not       
myself4  ,next1 let me tell the ,reader1
 that in that which is the more useful  
part of this ,discourse1 that is to say1
 the observations of the nature and     
breeding1 and seasons1 and catching of  
fish1 ,i am not so simple as not to     
know1 that a captious reader may find   
exceptions against something said of    
some of these2 and therefore ,i must    
entreat him to consider1 that experience
 teaches us to know that several        
countries alter the time1 and ,i think1 
almost the manner1 of fishes' breeding1 
but doubtless of their being in season2 
as may appear by three rivers in        
,monmouthshire1 namely1 ,severn1 ,wye1  
and ,usk1 where ,camden observes1 that  
in the river ,wye1 ,salmon are in season
 from ,september to ,april2 and we are  
certain1 that in ,thames and ,trent1 and
 in most other rivers1 they be in season
 the six hotter months4  ,now for the   
,art of catching fish1 that is to say1  
,how to make a man that was none to be  

an ,angler by a book1 he that undertakes
 it shall undertake a harder task than  
,mr4 ,hales1 a most valiant and         
excellent fencer1 who in a printed book 
called ,a ,private ,school of ,defence  
undertook to teach that art or science1 
and was laughed at for his labour4 ,not 
but that many useful things might be    
learned by that book1 but he was laughed
 at because that art was not to be      
taught by words1 but practice3 and so   
must ,angling4 ,and note also1 that in  
this ,discourse ,i do not undertake to  
say all that is known1 or may be said of
 it1 but ,i undertake to acquaint the   
,reader with many things that are not   
usually known to every ,angler2 and ,i  
shall leave gleanings and observations  
enough to be made out of the experience 
of all that love and practice this      
recreation1 to which ,i shall encourage 
them4 ,for ,angling may be said to be so
 like the ,mathematicks1 that it can    
never be fully learnt2 at least not so  
fully1 but that there will still be more

 new experiments left for the trial of  
other men that succeed us4  ,but ,i     
think all that love this game may here  
learn something that may be worth their 
money1 if they be not poor and needy    
men3 and in case they be1 ,i then wish  
them to forbear to buy it2 for ,i write 
not to get money1 but for pleasure1 and 
this ,discourse boasts of no more1 for  
,i hate to promise much1 and deceive the
 ,reader4  ,and however it proves to    
him1 yet ,i am sure ,i have found a high
 content in the search and conference of
 what is here offered to the ,reader's  
view and censure4 ,i wish him as much in
 the perusal of it1 and so ,i might here
 take my leave2 but will stay a little  
and tell him1 that whereas it is said by
 many1 that in fly-fishing for a ,trout1
 the ,angler must observe his twelve    
several flies for the twelve months of  
the year1 ,i say1 he that follows that  
rule1 shall be as sure to catch fish1   
and be as wise1 as he that makes hay by 
the fair days in an ,almanack1 and no   

surer2 for those very flies that used to
 appear about1 and on1 the water in one 
month of the year1 may the following    
year come almost a month sooner or      
later1 as the same year proves colder or
 hotter3 and yet1 in the following      
,discourse1 ,i have set down the twelve 
flies that are in reputation with many  
anglers2 and they may serve to give him 
some observations concerning them4 ,and 
he may note1 that there are in ,wales1  
and other countries1 peculiar flies1    
proper to the particular place or       
country2 and doubtless1 unless a man    
makes a fly to counterfeit that very fly
 in that place1 he is like to lose his  
labour1 or much of it2 but for the      
generality1 three or four flies neat and
 rightly made1 and not too big1 serve   
for a ,trout in most rivers1 all the    
summer3 and for winter fly-fishing it is
 as useful as an ,almanack out of date4 
,and of these1 because as no man is born
 an artist1 so no man is born an        
,angler1 ,i thought fit to give thee    

this notice4  ,when ,i have told the    
reader1 that in this fifth impression   
there are many enlargements1 gathered   
both by my own observation1 and the     
communication with friends1 ,i shall    
stay him no longer than to wish him a   
rainy evening to read this following    
,discourse2 and that if he be an honest 
,angler1 the east wind may never blow   
when he goes a-fishing4  ,i4 ,w4        
,the first day  ,a ,conference betwixt  
an ,angler1 a ,falconer1 and a ,hunter1 
each commending his ,recreation         
,chapter ,i  ,piscator1 ,venator1       
,auceps  ,piscator4 ,you are well       
overtaken1 ,gentlemen6 ,a good morning  
to you both6 ,i have stretched my legs  
up ,tottenham ,hill to overtake you1    
hoping your business may occasion you   
towards ,ware1 whither ,i am going this 
fine fresh ,may morning4  ,venator4     
,sir1 ,i1 for my part1 shall almost     
answer your hopes2 for my purpose is to 
drink my morning's draught at the       
,thatched ,house in ,hoddesden2 and ,i  

think not to rest till ,i come thither1 
where ,i have appointed a friend or two 
to meet me3 but for this gentleman that 
you see with me1 ,i know not how far he 
intends his journey2 he came so lately  
into my company1 that ,i have scarce had
 time to ask him the question4  ,auceps4
 ,sir1 ,i shall by your favour bear you 
company as far as ,theobalds1 and there 
leave you2 for then ,i turn up to a     
friend's house1 who mews a ,hawk for me1
 which ,i now long to see4  ,venator4   
,sir1 we are all so happy as to have a  
fine1 fresh1 cool morning2 and ,i hope  
we shall each be the happier in the     
others' company4 ,and1 ,gentlemen1 that 
,i may not lose yours1 ,i shall either  
abate or amend my pace to enjoy it1     
knowing that1 as the ,italians say1     
,good company in a journey makes the way
 to seem the shorter4  ,auceps4 ,it may 
do so1 ,sir1 with the help of good      
discourse1 which1 methinks1 we may      
promise from you1 that both look and    
speak so cheerfully3 and for my part1 ,i

 promise you1 as an invitation to it1   
that ,i will be as free and open hearted
 as discretion will allow me to be with 
strangers4  ,venator4 ,and1 ,sir1 ,i    
promise the like4  ,piscator4 ,i am     
right glad to hear your answers2 and1 in
 confidence you speak the truth1 ,i     
shall put on a boldness to ask you1     
,sir1 whether business or pleasure      
caused you to be so early up1 and walk  
so fast8 for this other gentleman hath  
declared he is going to see a hawk1 that
 a friend mews for him4  ,venator4 ,sir1
 mine is a mixture of both1 a little    
business and more pleasure2 for ,i      
intend this day to do all my business1  
and then bestow another day or two in   
hunting the ,otter1 which a friend1 that
 ,i go to meet1 tells me is much        
pleasanter than any other chase         
whatsoever3 howsoever1 ,i mean to try   
it2 for to-morrow morning we shall meet 
a pack of ,otter-dogs of noble ,mr4     
,sadler's1 upon ,amwell ,hill1 who will 
be there so early1 that they intend to  

prevent the sunrising4  ,piscator4 ,sir1
 my fortune has answered my desires1 and
 my purpose is to bestow a day or two in
 helping to destroy some of those       
villanous vermin3 for ,i hate them      
perfectly1 because they love fish so    
well1 or rather1 because they destroy so
 much2 indeed so much1 that1 in my      
judgment all men that keep ,otter-dogs  
ought to have pensions from the ,king1  
to encourage them to destroy the very   
breed of those base ,otters1 they do so 
much mischief4  ,venator4 ,but what say 
you to the ,foxes of the ,nation1 would 
not you as willingly have them          
destroyed8 for doubtless they do as much
 mischief as ,otters do4  ,piscator4    
,oh1 ,sir1 if they do1 it is not so much
 to me and my fraternity1 as those base 
vermin the ,otters do4  ,auceps4 ,why1  
,sir1 ,i pray1 of what fraternity are   
you1 that you are so angry with the poor
 ,otters8  ,piscator4 ,i am1 ,sir1 a    
,brother of the ,angle1 and therefore an
 enemy to the ,otter3 for you are to    

note1 that we ,anglers all love one     
another1 and therefore do ,i hate the   
,otter both for my own1 and their sakes 
who are of my brotherhood4  ,venator4   
,and ,i am a lover of ,hounds2 ,i have  
followed many a pack of dogs many a     
mile1 and heard many merry ,huntsmen    
make sport and scoff at ,anglers4       
,auceps4 ,and ,i profess myself a       
,falconer1 and have heard many grave1   
serious men pity them1 it is such a     
heavy1 contemptible1 dull recreation4   
,piscator4 ,you know1 ,gentlemen1 it is 
an easy thing to scoff at any art or    
recreation2 a little wit mixed with ill 
nature1 confidence1 and malice1 will do 
it2 but though they often venture       
boldly1 yet they are often caught1 even 
in their own trap1 according to that of 
,lucian1 the father of the family of    
,scoffers3       ,lucian1 well skilled  
in scoffing1 this hath writ2            
,friend1 that's your folly1 which you   
think your wit3      ,this1 you vent    
oft1 void both of wit and fear1         

,meaning another1 when yourself you     
jeer4  ,if to this you add what ,solomon
 says of ,scoffers1 that they are an    
abomination to mankind1 let him that    
thinks fit scoff on1 and be a ,scoffer  
still2 but ,i account them enemies to me
 and all that love ,virtue and ,angling4
  ,and for you that have heard many     
grave1 serious men pity ,anglers2 let me
 tell you1 ,sir1 there be many men that 
are by others taken to be serious and   
grave men1 whom we contemn and pity4    
,men that are taken to be grave1 because
 nature hath made them of a sour        
complexion2 money-getting men1 men that 
spend all their time1 first in getting1 
and next1 in anxious care to keep it2   
men that are condemned to be rich1 and  
then always busy or discontented3 for   
these poor rich-men1 we ,anglers pity   
them perfectly1 and stand in no need to 
borrow their thoughts to think ourselves
 so happy4 ,no1 no1 ,sir1 we enjoy a    
contentedness above the reach of such   
dispositions1 and as the learned and    

ingenuous ,montaigne says1 like himself1
 freely1 ,when my ,cat and ,i entertain 
each other with mutual apish tricks1 as 
playing with a garter1 who knows but    
that ,i make my ,cat more sport than she
 makes me8 ,shall ,i conclude her to be 
simple1 that has her time to begin or   
refuse1 to play as freely as ,i myself  
have8 ,nay1 who knows but that it is a  
defect of my not understanding her      
language1 for doubtless ,cats talk and  
reason with one another1 that we agree  
no better3 and who knows but that she   
pities me for being no wiser than to    
play with her1 and laughs and censures  
my folly1 for making sport for her1 when
 we two play together8  ,thus freely    
speaks ,montaigne concerning ,cats2 and 
,i hope ,i may take as great a liberty  
to blame any man1 and laugh at him too1 
let him be never so grave1 that hath not
 heard what ,anglers can say in the     
justification of their ,art and         
,recreation2 which ,i may again tell    
you1 is so full of pleasure1 that we    

need not borrow their thoughts1 to think
 ourselves happy4  ,venator4 ,sir1 you  
have almost amazed me2 for though ,i am 
no ,scoffer1 yet ,i have1 ,i pray let me
 speak it without offence1 always looked
 upon ,anglers1 as more patient1 and    
more simple men1 than ,i fear ,i shall  
find you to be4  ,piscator4 ,sir1 ,i    
hope you will not judge my earnestness  
to be impatience3 and for my simplicity1
 if by that you mean a harmlessness1 or 
that simplicity which was usually found 
in the primitive ,christians1 who were1 
as most ,anglers are1 quiet men1 and    
followers of peace2 men that were so    
simply wise1 as not to sell their       
consciences to buy riches1 and with them
 vexation and a fear to die2 if you mean
 such simple men as lived in those times
 when there were fewer lawyers2 when men
 might have had a lordship safely       
conveyed to them in a piece of parchment
 no bigger than your hand1 though       
several sheets will not do it safely in 
this wiser age2 ,i say1 ,sir1 if you    

take us ,anglers to be such simple men  
as ,i have spoke of1 then myself and    
those of my profession will be glad to  
be so understood3 ,but if by simplicity 
you meant to express a general defect in
 those that profess and practice the    
excellent ,art of ,angling1 ,i hope in  
time to disabuse you1 and make the      
contrary appear so evidently1 that if   
you will but have patience to hear me1  
,i shall remove all the anticipations   
that discourse1 or time1 or prejudice1  
have possessed you with against that    
laudable and ancient ,art2 for ,i know  
it is worthy the knowledge and practice 
of a wise man4  ,but1 ,gentlemen1 though
 ,i be able to do this1 ,i am not so    
unmannerly as to engross all the        
discourse to myself2 and1 therefore1 you
 two having declared yourselves1 the one
 to be a lover of ,hawks1 the other of  
,hounds1 ,i shall be most glad to hear  
what you can say in the commendation of 
that recreation which each of you love  
and practice2 and having heard what you 

can say1 ,i shall be glad to exercise   
your attention with what ,i can say     
concerning my own recreation and ,art of
 ,angling1 and by this means we shall   
make the way to seem the shorter3 and if
 you like my motion1 ,i would have ,mr4 
,falconer to begin4  ,auceps4 ,your     
motion is consented to with all my      
heart2 and to testify it1 ,i will begin 
as you have desired me4  ,and first1 for
 the ,element that ,i use to trade in1  
which is the ,air1 an element of more   
worth than weight1 an element that      
doubtless exceeds both the ,earth and   
,water2 for though ,i sometimes deal in 
both1 yet the air is most properly mine1
 ,i and my ,hawks use that most1 and it 
yields us most recreation4 ,it stops not
 the high soaring of my noble1 generous 
,falcon2 in it she ascends to such a    
height as the dull eyes of beasts and   
fish are not able to reach to2 their    
bodies are too gross for such high      
elevations2 in the ,air my troops of    
,hawks soar up on high1 and when they   

are lost in the sight of men1 then they 
attend upon and converse with the ,gods2
 therefore ,i think my ,eagle is so     
justly styled ,jove's servant in        
ordinary3 and that very ,falcon1 that ,i
 am now going to see1 deserves no meaner
 a title1 for she usually in her flight 
endangers herself1 like the son of      
,daedalus1 to have her wings scorched by
 the sun's heat1 she flies so near it1  
but her mettle makes her careless of    
danger2 for she then heeds nothing1 but 
makes her nimble pinions cut the fluid  
air1 and so makes her highway over the  
steepest mountains and deepest rivers1  
and in her glorious career looks with   
contempt upon those high steeples and   
magnificent palaces which we adore and  
wonder at2 from which height1 ,i can    
make her to descend by a word from my   
mouth1 which she both knows and obeys1  
to accept of meat from my hand1 to own  
me for her ,master1 to go home with me1 
and be willing the next day to afford me
 the like recreation4  ,and more2 this  

element of air which ,i profess to trade
 in1 the worth of it is such1 and it is 
of such necessity1 that no creature     
whatsoever--not only those numerous     
creatures that feed on the face of the  
earth1 but those various creatures that 
have their dwelling within the waters1  
every creature that hath life in its    
nostrils1 stands in need of my element4 
,the waters cannot preserve the ,fish   
without air1 witness the not breaking of
 ice in an extreme frost2 the reason is1
 for that if the inspiring and expiring 
organ of any animal be stopped1 it      
suddenly yields to nature1 and dies4    
,thus necessary is air1 to the existence
 both of ,fish and ,beasts1 nay1 even to
 ,man himself2 that air1 or breath of   
life1 with which ,god at first inspired 
mankind1 he1 if he wants it1 dies       
presently1 becomes a sad object to all  
that loved and beheld him1 and in an    
instant turns to putrefaction4  ,nay    
more2 the very birds of the air1 those  
that be not ,hawks1 are both so many and

 so useful and pleasant to mankind1 that
 ,i must not let them pass without some 
observations4 ,they both feed and       
refresh him2 feed him with their choice 
bodies1 and refresh him with their      
heavenly voices4 ,i will not undertake  
to mention the several kinds of ,fowl by
 which this is done3 and his curious    
palate pleased by day1 and which with   
their very excrements afford him a soft 
lodging at night4 ,these ,i will pass   
by1 but not those little nimble         
musicians of the air1 that warble forth 
their curious ditties1 with which nature
 hath furnished them to the shame of    
art4  ,as first the ,lark1 when she     
means to rejoice1 to cheer herself and  
those that hear her2 she then quits the 
earth1 and sings as she ascends higher  
into the air and having ended her       
heavenly employment1 grows then mute1   
and sad1 to think she must descend to   
the dull earth1 which she would not     
touch1 but for necessity4  ,how do the  
,blackbird and ,thrassel with their     

melodious voices bid welcome to the     
cheerful ,spring1 and in their fixed    
months warble forth such ditties as no  
art or instrument can reach to6  ,nay1  
the smaller birds also do the like in   
their particular seasons1 as namely the 
,laverock1 the ,tit-lark1 the little    
,linnet1 and the honest ,robin that     
loves mankind both alive and dead4  ,but
 the ,nightingale1 another of my airy   
creatures1 breathes such sweet loud     
musick out of her little instrumental   
throat1 that it might make mankind to   
think miracles are not ceased4 ,he that 
at midnight1 when the very labourer     
sleeps securely1 should hear1 as ,i have
 very often1 the clear airs1 the sweet  
descants1 the natural rising and        
falling1 the doubling and redoubling of 
her voice1 might well be lifted above   
earth1 and say1 ,lord1 what musick hast 
thou provided for the ,saints in        
,heaven1 when thou affordest bad men    
such musick on ,earth6  ,and this makes 
me the less to wonder at the many       

,aviaries in ,italy1 or at the great    
charge of ,varro's ,aviary1 the ruins of
 which are yet to be seen in ,rome1 and 
is still so famous there1 that it is    
reckoned for one of those notables which
 men of foreign nations either record1  
or lay up in their memories when they   
return from travel4  ,this for the birds
 of pleasure1 of which very much more   
might be said4 ,my next shall be of     
birds of political use4 ,i think it is  
not to be doubted that ,swallows have   
been taught to carry letters between two
 armies2 but 'tis certain that when the 
,turks besieged ,malta or ,rhodes1 ,i   
now remember not which it was1 ,pigeons 
are then related to carry and recarry   
letters3 and ,mr4 ,g4 ,sandys1 in his   
,travels1 relates it to be done betwixt 
,aleppo and ,babylon1 ,but if that be   
disbelieved1 it is not to be doubted    
that the ,dove was sent out of the ark  
by ,noah1 to give him notice of land1   
when to him all appeared to be sea2 and 
the ,dove proved a faithful and         

comfortable messenger4 ,and for the     
sacrifices of the law1 a pair of        
,turtle-doves1 or young ,pigeons1 were  
as well accepted as costly ,bulls and   
,rams2 and when ,god would feed the     
,prophet ,elijah1 after a kind of       
miraculous manner1 he did it by ,ravens1
 who brought him meat morning and       
evening4 ,lastly1 the ,holy ,ghost1 when
 he descended visibly upon our ,saviour1
 did it by assuming the shape of a      
,dove4 ,and1 to conclude this part of my
 discourse1 pray remember these wonders 
were done by birds of air1 the element  
in which they1 and ,i1 take so much     
pleasure4  ,there is also a little      
contemptible winged creature1 an        
inhabitant of my aerial element1 namely 
the laborious ,bee1 of whose prudence1  
policy1 and regular government of their 
own commonwealth1 ,i might say much1 as 
also of their several kinds1 and how    
useful their honey and wax are both for 
meat and medicines to mankind2 but ,i   
will leave them to their sweet labour1  

without the least disturbance1 believing
 them to be all very busy at this very  
time amongst the herbs and flowers that 
we see nature puts forth this ,may      
morning4  ,and now to return to my      
,hawks1 from whom ,i have made too long 
a digression4 ,you are to note1 that    
they are usually distinguished into two 
kinds2 namely1 the long-winged1 and the 
short-winged ,hawk3 of the first kind1  
there be chiefly in use amongst us in   
this nation1      ,the ,gerfalcon and   
,jerkin1     ,the ,falcon and           
,tassel-gentle1     ,the ,laner and     
,laneret1     ,the ,bockerel and        
,bockeret1     ,the ,saker and ,sacaret1
     ,the ,merlin and ,jack ,merlin1    
,the ,hobby and ,jack3     ,there is the
 ,stelletto of ,spain1     ,the         
,blood-red ,rook from ,turkey1     ,the 
,waskite from ,virginia3     ,and there 
is of short-winged ,hawks1     ,the     
,eagle and ,iron     ,the ,goshawk and  
,tarcel1     ,the ,sparhawk and ,musket1
     ,the ,french ,pye of two sorts3    

,these are reckoned ,hawks of note and  
worth2 but we have also of an inferior  
rank1      ,the ,stanyel1 the ,ringtail1
     ,the ,raven1 the ,buzzard1     ,the
 ,forked ,kite1 the ,bald ,buzzard1     
,the ,hen-driver1 and others that ,i    
forbear to name4  ,gentlemen1 if ,i     
should enlarge my discourse to the      
observation of the ,eires1 the          
,brancher1 the ,ramish ,hawk1 the       
,haggard1 and the two sorts of          
,lentners1 and then treat of their      
several ,ayries1 their ,mewings1 rare   
order of casting1 and the renovation of 
their feathers3 their reclaiming1       
dieting1 and then come to their rare    
stories of practice2 ,i say1 if ,i      
should enter into these1 and many other 
observations that ,i could make1 it     
would be much1 very much pleasure to me3
 but lest ,i should break the rules of  
civility with you1 by taking up more    
than the proportion of time allotted to 
me1 ,i will here break off1 and entreat 
you1 ,mr4 ,venator1 to say what you are 

able in the commendation of ,hunting1 to
 which you are so much affected2 and if 
time will serve1 ,i will beg your favour
 for a further enlargement of some of   
those several heads of which ,i have    
spoken4 ,but no more at present4        
,venator4 ,well1 ,sir1 and ,i will now  
take my turn1 and will first begin with 
a commendation of the ,earth1 as you    
have done most excellently of the ,air2 
the ,earth being that element upon which
 ,i drive my pleasant1 wholesome1 hungry
 trade4 ,the ,earth is a solid1 settled 
element2 an element most universally    
beneficial both to man and beast2 to men
 who have their several recreations upon
 it1 as horse-races1 hunting1 sweet     
smells1 pleasant walks3 the earth feeds 
man1 and all those several beasts that  
both feed him1 and afford him           
recreation4 ,what pleasure doth man take
 in hunting the stately ,stag1 the      
generous ,buck1 the wild ,boar1 the     
cunning ,otter1 the crafty ,fox1 and the
 fearful ,hare6 ,and if ,i may descend  

to a lower game1 what pleasure is it    
sometimes with gins to betray the very  
vermin of the earth2 as namely1 the     
,fichat1 the ,fulimart1 the ,ferret1 the
 ,pole-cat1 the ,mouldwarp1 and the like
 creatures that live upon the face1 and 
within the bowels of1 the ,earth4 ,how  
doth the ,earth bring forth herbs1      
flowers1 and fruits1 both for physick   
and the pleasure of mankind6 and above  
all1 to me at least1 the fruitful vine1 
of which when ,i drink moderately1 it   
clears my brain1 cheers my heart1 and   
sharpens my wit4 ,how could ,cleopatra  
have feasted ,mark ,antony with eight   
wild ,boars roasted whole at one supper1
 and other meat suitable1 if the earth  
had not been a bountiful mother8 ,but to
 pass by the mighty ,elephant1 which the
 ,earth breeds and nourisheth1 and      
descend to the least of creatures1 how  
doth the earth afford us a doctrinal    
example in the little ,pismire1 who in  
the summer provides and lays up her     
winter provision1 and teaches man to do 

the like6 ,the earth feeds and carries  
those horses that carry us4 ,if ,i would
 be prodigal of my time and your        
patience1 what might not ,i say in      
commendations of the earth8 ,that puts  
limits to the proud and raging sea1 and 
by that means preserves both man and    
beast1 that it destroys them not1 as we 
see it daily doth those that venture    
upon the sea1 and are there shipwrecked1
 drowned1 and left to feed ,haddocks2   
when we that are so wise as to keep     
ourselves on earth1 walk1 and talk1 and 
live1 and eat1 and drink1 and go a      
hunting3 of which recreation ,i will say
 a little1 and then leave ,mr4 ,piscator
 to the commendation of ,angling4       
,hunting is a game for princes and noble
 persons2 it hath been highly prized in 
all ages2 it was one of the             
qualifications that ,xenophon bestowed  
on his ,cyrus1 that he was a hunter of  
wild beasts4 ,hunting trains up the     
younger nobility to the use of manly    
exercises in their riper age4 ,what more

 manly exercise than hunting the ,wild  
,boar1 the ,stag1 the ,buck1 the ,fox1  
or the ,hare8 ,how doth it preserve     
health1 and increase strength and       
activity6  ,and for the dogs that we    
use1 who can commend their excellency to
 that height which they deserve8 ,how   
perfect is the hound at smelling1 who   
never leaves or forsakes his first      
scent1 but follows it through so many   
changes and varieties of other scents1  
even over1 and in1 the water1 and into  
the earth6 ,what music doth a pack of   
dogs then make to any man1 whose heart  
and ears are so happy as to be set to   
the tune of such instruments6 ,how will 
a right ,greyhound fix his eye on the   
best ,buck in a herd1 single him out1   
and follow him1 and him only1 through a 
whole herd of rascal game1 and still    
know and then kill him6 ,for my hounds1 
,i know the language of them1 and they  
know the language and meaning of one    
another1 as perfectly as we know the    
voices of those with whom we discourse  

daily4  ,i might enlarge myself in the  
commendation of ,hunting1 and of the    
noble ,hound especially1 as also of the 
docibleness of dogs in general2 and ,i  
might make many observations of         
land-creatures1 that for composition1   
order1 figure1 and constitution1        
approach nearest to the completeness and
 understanding of man2 especially of    
those creatures1 which ,moses in the    
,law permitted to the ,jews1 which have 
cloven hoofs1 and chew the cud2 which ,i
 shall forbear to name1 because ,i will 
not be so uncivil to ,mr4 ,piscator1 as 
not to allow him a time for the         
commendation of ,angling1 which he calls
 an art2 but doubtless it is an easy    
one3 and1 ,mr4 ,auceps1 ,i doubt we     
shall hear a watery discourse of it1 but
 ,i hope it will not be a long one4     
,auceps4 ,and ,i hope so too1 though ,i 
fear it will4  ,piscator4 ,gentlemen1   
let not prejudice prepossess you4 ,i    
confess my discourse is like to prove   
suitable to my recreation1 calm and     

quiet2 we seldom take the name of ,god  
into our mouths1 but it is either to    
praise him1 or pray to him3 if others   
use it vainly in the midst of their     
recreations1 so vainly as if they meant 
to conjure1 ,i must tell you1 it is     
neither our fault nor our custom2 we    
protest against it4 ,but1 pray remember1
 ,i accuse nobody2 for as ,i would not  
make a watery discourse1 so ,i would not
 put too much vinegar into it2 nor would
 ,i raise the reputation of my own art1 
by the diminution or ruin of another's4 
,and so much for the prologue to what ,i
 mean to say4  ,and now for the ,water1 
the element that ,i trade in4 ,the water
 is the eldest daughter of the creation1
 the element upon which the ,spirit of  
,god did first move1 the element which  
,god commanded to bring forth living    
creatures abundantly2 and without which1
 those that inhabit the land1 even all  
creatures that have breath in their     
nostrils1 must suddenly return to       
putrefaction4 ,moses1 the great lawgiver

 and chief philosopher1 skilled in all  
the learning of the ,egyptians1 who was 
called the friend of ,god1 and knew the 
mind of the ,almighty1 names this       
element the first in the creation3 this 
is the element upon which the ,spirit of
 ,god did first move1 and is the chief  
ingredient in the creation3 many        
philosophers have made it to comprehend 
all the other elements1 and most allow  
it the chiefest in the mixtion of all   
living creatures4  ,there be that       
profess to believe that all bodies are  
made of water1 and may be reduced back  
again to water only2 they endeavour to  
demonstrate it thus3  ,take a willow1 or
 any like speedy growing plant newly    
rooted in a box or barrel full of earth1
 weigh them all together exactly when   
the tree begins to grow1 and then weigh 
all together after the tree is increased
 from its first rooting1 to weigh a     
hundred pound weight more than when it  
was first rooted and weighed2 and you   
shall find this augment of the tree to  

be without the diminution of one drachm 
weight of the earth4 ,hence they infer  
this increase of wood to be from water  
of rain1 or from dew1 and not to be from
 any other element2 and they affirm1    
they can reduce this wood back again to 
water2 and they affirm also1 the same   
may be done in any animal or vegetable4 
,and this ,i take to be a fair testimony
 of the excellency of my element of     
water4  ,the water is more productive   
than the earth4 ,nay1 the earth hath no 
fruitfulness without showers or dews2   
for all the herbs1 and flowers1 and     
fruit1 are produced and thrive by the   
water2 and the very minerals are fed by 
streams that run under ground1 whose    
natural course carries them to the tops 
of many high mountains1 as we see by    
several springs breaking forth on the   
tops of the highest hills2 and this is  
also witnessed by the daily trial and   
testimony of several miners4  ,nay1 the 
increase of those creatures that are    
bred and fed in the water are not only  

more and more miraculous1 but more      
advantageous to man1 not only for the   
lengthening of his life1 but for the    
preventing of sickness2 for it is       
observed by the most learned physicians1
 that the casting off of ,lent1 and     
other fish days1 which hath not only    
given the lie to so many learned1 pious1
 wise founders of colleges1 for which we
 should be ashamed1 hath doubtless been 
the chief cause of those many putrid1   
shaking intermitting agues1 unto which  
this nation of ours is now more subject1
 than those wiser countries that feed on
 herbs1 salads1 and plenty of fish2 of  
which it is observed in story1 that the 
greatest part of the world now do4 ,and 
it may be fit to remember that ,moses   
appointed fish to be the chief diet for 
the best commonwealth that ever yet was4
  ,and it is observable1 not only that  
there are fish1 as namely the ,whale1   
three times as big as the mighty        
,elephant1 that is so fierce in battle1 
but that the mightiest feasts have been 

of fish4 ,the ,romans1 in the height of 
their glory1 have made fish the mistress
 of all their entertainments2 they have 
had musick to usher in their ,sturgeons1
 ,lampreys1 and ,mullets1 which they    
would purchase at rates rather to be    
wondered at than believed4 ,he that     
shall view the writings of ,macrobius1  
or ,varro1 may be confirmed and informed
 of this1 and of the incredible value of
 their fish and fish-ponds4  ,but1      
,gentlemen1 ,i have almost lost myself1 
which ,i confess ,i may easily do in    
this philosophical discourse2 ,i met    
with most of it very lately1 and1 ,i    
hope1 happily1 in a conference with a   
most learned physician1 ,dr4 ,wharton1 a
 dear friend1 that loves both me and my 
art of ,angling4 ,but1 however1 ,i will 
wade no deeper into these mysterious    
arguments1 but pass to such observations
 as ,i can manage with more pleasure1   
and less fear of running into error4    
,but ,i must not yet forsake the waters1
 by whose help we have so many known    

advantages4  ,and first1 to pass by the 
miraculous cures of our known baths1 how
 advantageous is the sea for our daily  
traffick1 without which we could not now
 subsist4 ,how does it not only furnish 
us with food and physick for the bodies1
 but with such observations for the mind
 as ingenious persons would not want6   
,how ignorant had we been of the beauty 
of ,florence1 of the monuments1 urns1   
and rarities that yet remain in and near
 unto old and new ,rome1 so many as it  
is said will take up a year's time to   
view1 and afford to each of them but a  
convenient consideration6 ,and therefore
 it is not to be wondered at1 that so   
learned and devout a father as ,st4     
,jerome1 after his wish to have seen    
,christ in the flesh1 and to have heard 
,st4 ,paul preach1 makes his third wish1
 to have seen ,rome in her glory2 and   
that glory is not yet all lost1 for what
 pleasure is it to see the monuments of 
,livy1 the choicest of the historians2  
of ,tully1 the best of orators2 and to  

see the bay trees that now grow out of  
the very tomb of ,virgil6 ,these1 to any
 that love learning1 must be pleasing4  
,but what pleasure is it to a devout    
,christian1 to see there the humble     
house in which ,st4 ,paul was content to
 dwell1 and to view the many rich       
statues that are made in honour of his  
memory6 nay1 to see the very place in   
which ,st4 ,peter and he lie buried     
together6 ,these are in and near to     
,rome4 ,and how much more doth it please
 the pious curiosity of a ,christian1 to
 see that place1 on which the blessed   
,saviour of the world was pleased to    
humble himself1 and to take our nature  
upon him1 and to converse with men3 to  
see ,mount ,sion1 ,jerusalem1 and the   
very sepulchre of our ,lord ,jesus6 ,how
 may it beget and heighten the zeal of a
 ,christian1 to see the devotions that  
are daily paid to him at that place6    
,gentlemen1 lest ,i forget myself1 ,i   
will stop here1 and remember you1 that  
but for my element of water1 the        

inhabitants of this poor island must    
remain ignorant that such things ever   
were1 or that any of them have yet a    
being4  ,gentlemen1 ,i might both       
enlarge and lose myself in such like    
arguments4 ,i might tell you that       
,almighty ,god is said to have spoken to
 a fish1 but never to a beast2 that he  
hath made a whale a ship1 to carry and  
set his prophet1 ,jonah1 safe on the    
appointed shore4 ,of these ,i might     
speak1 but ,i must in manners break off1
 for ,i see ,theobald's ,house4 ,i cry  
you mercy for being so long1 and thank  
you for your patience4  ,auceps4 ,sir1  
my pardon is easily granted you3 ,i     
except against nothing that you have    
said3 nevertheless1 ,i must part with   
you at this park-wall1 for which ,i am  
very sorry2 but ,i assure you1 ,mr4     
,piscator1 ,i now part with you full of 
good thoughts1 not only of yourself1 but
 your recreation4 ,and so1 ,gentlemen1  
,god keep you both4  ,piscator4 ,well1  
now1 ,mr4 ,venator1 you shall neither   

want time1 nor my attention to hear you 
enlarge your discourse concerning       
hunting4  ,venator4 ,not ,i1 ,sir3 ,i   
remember you said that ,angling itself  
was of great antiquity1 and a perfect   
art1 and an art not easily attained to2 
and you have so won upon me in your     
former discourse1 that ,i am very       
desirous to hear what you can say       
further concerning those particulars4   
,piscator4 ,sir1 ,i did say so3 and ,i  
doubt not but if you and ,i did converse
 together but a few hours1 to leave you 
possessed with the same high and happy  
thoughts that now possess me of it2 not 
only of the antiquity of ,angling1 but  
that it deserves commendations2 and that
 it is an art1 and an art worthy the    
knowledge and practice of a wise man4   
,venator4 ,pray1 ,sir1 speak of them    
what you think fit1 for we have yet five
 miles to the ,thatched ,house2 during  
which walk1 ,i dare promise you1 my     
patience and diligent attention shall   
not be wanting4 ,and if you shall make  

that to appear which you have           
undertaken1 first1 that it is an art1   
and an art worth the learning1 ,i shall 
beg that ,i may attend you a day or two 
a-fishing1 and that ,i may become your  
scholar1 and be instructed in the art   
itself which you so much magnify4       
,piscator4 ,o1 ,sir1 doubt not but that 
,angling is an art2 is it not an art to 
deceive a ,trout with an artificial     
,fly8 a ,trout6 that is more            
sharp-sighted than any ,hawk you have   
named1 and more watchful and timorous   
than your high-mettled ,merlin is bold8 
and yet1 ,i doubt not to catch a brace  
or two to-morrow1 for a friend's        
breakfast3 doubt not therefore1 ,sir1   
but that angling is an art1 and an art  
worth your learning4 ,the question is   
rather1 whether you be capable of       
learning it8 angling is somewhat like   
poetry1 men are to be born so3 ,i mean1 
with inclinations to it1 though both may
 be heightened by discourse and         
practice3 but he that hopes to be a good

 angler1 must not only bring an         
inquiring1 searching1 observing wit1 but
 he must bring a large measure of hope  
and patience1 and a love and propensity 
to the art itself2 but having once got  
and practiced it1 then doubt not but    
angling will prove to be so pleasant1   
that it will prove to be1 like virtue1 a
 reward to itself4  ,venator4 ,sir1 ,i  
am now become so full of expectation1   
that ,i long much to have you proceed1  
and in the order that you propose4      
,piscator4 ,then first1 for the         
antiquity of ,angling1 of which ,i shall
 not say much1 but only this2 some say  
it is as ancient as ,deucalion's flood3 
others1 that ,belus1 who was the first  
inventor of godly and virtuous          
recreations1 was the first inventor of  
,angling3 and some others say1 for      
former times have had their             
disquisitions about the antiquity of it1
 that ,seth1 one of the sons of ,adam1  
taught it to his sons1 and that by them 
it was derived to posterity3 others say 

that he left it engraven on those       
pillars which he erected1 and trusted to
 preserve the knowledge of the          
mathematicks1 musick1 and the rest of   
that precious knowledge1 and those      
useful arts1 which by ,god's appointment
 or allowance1 and his noble industry1  
were thereby preserved from perishing in
 ,noah's flood4  ,these1 ,sir1 have been
 the opinions of several men1 that have 
possibly endeavoured to make angling    
more ancient than is needful1 or may    
well be warranted2 but for my part1 ,i  
shall content myself in telling you1    
that angling is much more ancient than  
the incarnation of our ,saviour2 for in 
the ,prophet ,amos mention is made of   
fish-hooks2 and in the book of ,job1    
which was long before the days of ,amos1
 for that book is said to have been     
written by ,moses1 mention is made also 
of fish-hooks1 which must imply anglers 
in those times4  ,but1 my worthy friend1
 as ,i would rather prove myself a      
gentleman1 by being learned and humble1 

valiant and inoffensive1 virtuous and   
communicable1 than by any fond          
ostentation of riches1 or1 wanting those
 virtues myself1 boast that these were  
in my ancestors2 and yet ,i grant1 that 
where a noble and ancient descent and   
such merit meet in any man1 it is a     
double dignification of that person2 so 
if this antiquity of angling1 which for 
my part ,i have not forced1 shall1 like 
an ancient family1 be either an honour1 
or an ornament to this virtuous art     
which ,i profess to love and practice1  
,i shall be the gladder that ,i made an 
accidental mention of the antiquity of  
it1 of which ,i shall say no more1 but  
proceed to that just commendation which 
,i think it deserves4  ,and for that1 ,i
 shall tell you1 that in ancient times a
 debate hath risen1 and it remains yet  
unresolved1 whether the happiness of man
 in this world doth consist more in     
contemplation or action8 ,concerning    
which1 some have endeavoured to maintain
 their opinion of the first2 by saying1 

that the nearer we mortals come to ,god 
by way of imitation1 the more happy we  
are4 ,and they say1 that ,god enjoys    
himself only1 by a contemplation of his 
own infiniteness1 eternity1 power1 and  
goodness1 and the like4 ,and upon this  
ground1 many cloisteral men of great    
learning and devotion1 prefer           
contemplation before action4 ,and many  
of the fathers seem to approve this     
opinion1 as may appear in their         
commentaries upon the words of our      
,saviour to ,martha4  ,and on the       
contrary1 there want not men of equal   
authority and credit1 that prefer action
 to be the more excellent2 as namely1   
experiments in physick1 and the         
application of it1 both for the ease and
 prolongation of man's life2 by which   
each man is enabled to act and do good  
to others1 either to serve his country1 
or do good to particular persons3 and   
they say also1 that action is doctrinal1
 and teaches both art and virtue1 and is
 a maintainer of human society2 and for 

these1 and other like reasons1 to be    
preferred before contemplation4         
,concerning which two opinions ,i shall 
forbear to add a third1 by declaring my 
own2 and rest myself contented in       
telling you1 my very worthy friend1 that
 both these meet together1 and do most  
properly belong to the most honest1     
ingenuous1 quiet1 and harmless art of   
angling4  ,and first1 ,i shall tell you 
what some have observed1 and ,i have    
found it to be a real truth1 that the   
very sitting by the river's side is not 
only the quietest and fittest place for 
contemplation1 but will invite an angler
 to it3 and this seems to be maintained 
by the learned ,peter du ,moulin1 who1  
in his discourse of the fulfilling of   
,prophecies1 observes1 that when ,god   
intended to reveal any future events or 
high notions to his prophets1 he then   
carried them either to the deserts1 or  
the sea-shore1 that having so separated 
them from amidst the press of people and
 business1 and the cares of the world1  

he might settle their mind in a quiet   
repose1 and there make them fit for     
revelation4  ,and this seems also to be 
imitated by the children of ,israel1 who
 having in a sad condition banished all 
mirth and musick from their pensive     
hearts1 and having hung up their then   
mute harps upon the willow-trees growing
 by the rivers of ,babylon1 sat down    
upon those banks1 bemoaning the ruins of
 ,sion1 and contemplating their own sad 
condition4  ,and an ingenious ,spaniard 
says1 that rivers and the inhabitants of
 the watery element were made for wise  
men to contemplate1 and fools to pass by
 without consideration 4 ,and though ,i 
will not rank myself in the number of   
the first1 yet give me leave to free    
myself from the last1 by offering to you
 a short contemplation1 first of rivers1
 and then of fish2 concerning which ,i  
doubt not but to give you many          
observations that will appear very      
considerable3 ,i am sure they have      
appeared so to me1 and made many an hour

 pass away more pleasantly1 as ,i have  
sat quietly on a flowery bank by a calm 
river1 and contemplated what ,i shall   
now relate to you4  ,and first          
concerning rivers2 there be so many     
wonders reported and written of them1   
and of the several creatures that be    
bred and live in them1 and those by     
authors of so good credit1 that we need 
not to deny them an historical faith4   
,as namely of a river in ,epirus that   
puts out any lighted torch1 and kindles 
any torch that was not lighted4 ,some   
waters being drunk1 cause madness1 some 
drunkenness1 and some laughter to death4
 ,the river ,selarus in a few hours     
turns a rod or wand to stone3 and our   
,camden mentions the like in ,england1  
and the like in ,lochmere in ,ireland4  
,there is also a river in ,arabia1 of   
which all the sheep that drink thereof  
have their wool turned into a vermilion 
colour4 ,and one of no less credit than 
,aristotle1 tells us of a merry river1  
the river ,elusina1 that dances at the  

noise of musick1 for with musick it     
bubbles1 dances1 and grows sandy1 and so
 continues till the musick ceases1 but  
then it presently returns to its wonted 
calmness and clearness4 ,and ,camden    
tells us of a well near to ,kirby1 in   
,westmoreland1 that ebbs and flows      
several times every day3 and he tells us
 of a river in ,surrey1 it is called    
,mole1 that after it has run several    
miles1 being opposed by hills1 finds or 
makes itself a way under ground1 and    
breaks out again so far off1 that the   
inhabitants thereabout boast1 as the    
,spaniards do of their river ,anus1 that
 they feed divers flocks of sheep upon a
 bridge4 ,and lastly1 for ,i would not  
tire your patience1 one of no less      
authority than ,josephus1 that learned  
,jew1 tells us of a river in ,judea that
 runs swiftly all the six days of the   
week1 and stands still and rests all    
their sabbath4  ,but ,i will lay aside  
my discourse of rivers1 and tell you    
some things of the monsters1 or fish1   

call them what you will1 that they breed
 and feed in them4 ,pliny the           
philosopher says1 in the third chapter  
of his ninth book1 that in the ,indian  
,sea1 the fish called ,balaena or       
,whirlpool1 is so long and broad1 as to 
take up more in length and breadth than 
two acres of ground2 and1 of other fish1
 of two hundred cubits long2 and that in
 the river ,ganges1 there be ,eels of   
thirty feet long4 ,he says there1 that  
these monsters appear in that sea1 only 
when the tempestuous winds oppose the   
torrents of water falling from the rocks
 into it1 and so turning what lay at the
 bottom to be seen on the water's top4  
,and he says1 that the people of        
,cadara1 an island near this place1 make
 the timber for their houses of those   
fish bones4 ,he there tells us1 that    
there are sometimes a thousand of these 
great ,eels found wrapt or interwoven   
together ,he tells us there1 that it    
appears that dolphins love musick1 and  
will come when called for1 by some men  

or boys that know1 and use to feed them2
 and that they can swim as swift as an  
arrow can be shot out of a bow2 and much
 of this is spoken concerning the       
dolphin1 and other fish1 as may be found
 also in the learned ,dr4 ,casaubon's   
,discourse of ,credulity and            
,incredulity1 printed by him about the  
year #afgj4  ,i know1 we ,islanders are 
averse to the belief of these wonders2  
but there be so many strange creatures  
to be now seen1 many collected by ,john 
,tradescant1 and others added by my     
friend ,elias ,ashmole1 ,esq41 who now  
keeps them carefully and methodically at
 his house near to ,lambeth1 near       
,london1 as may get some belief of some 
of the other wonders ,i mentioned4 ,i   
will tell you some of the wonders that  
you may now see1 and not till then      
believe1 unless you think fit4  ,you may
 there see the ,hog-fish1 the ,dog-fish1
 the ,dolphin1 the ,cony-fish1 the      
,parrot-fish1 the ,shark1 the           
,poison-fish1 ,sword-fish1 and not only 

other incredible fish1 but you may there
 see the ,salamander1 several sorts of  
,barnacles1 of ,solan-,geese1 the ,bird 
of ,paradise1 such sorts of ,snakes1 and
 such ,birds'-nests1 and of so various  
forms1 and so wonderfully made1 as may  
beget wonder and amusement in any       
beholder2 and so many hundred of other  
rarities in that collection1 as will    
make the other wonders ,i spake of1 the 
less incredible2 for1 you may note1 that
 the waters are ,nature's store-house1  
in which she locks up her wonders4      
,but1 ,sir1 lest this discourse may seem
 tedious1 ,i shall give it a sweet      
conclusion out of that holy poet1 ,mr4  
,george ,herbert his divine             
,contemplation on ,god's ,providence4   
,lord6 who hath praise enough1 nay1 who 
hath any8     ,none can express thy     
works1 but he that knows them2     ,and 
none can know thy works1 they are so    
many1     ,and so complete1 but only he 
that owes them4      ,we all acknowledge
 both thy power and love     ,to be     

exact1 transcendant1 and divine2        
,who cost so strangely and so sweetly   
move1     ,whilst all things have their 
end1 yet none but thine4                
,wherefore1 most sacred ,spirit6 ,i here
 present1     ,for me1 and all my       
fellows1 praise to thee2     ,and just  
it is1 that ,i should pay the rent1     
,because the benefit accrues to me4     
,and as concerning fish1 in that psalm1 
wherein1 for height of poetry and       
wonders1 the prophet ,david seems even  
to exceed himself1 how doth he there    
express himself in choice metaphors1    
even to the amazement of a contemplative
 reader1 concerning the sea1 the rivers1
 and the fish therein contained6 ,and   
the great naturalist ,pliny says1 ,that 
nature's great and wonderful power is   
more demonstrated in the sea than on the
 land 4 ,and this may appear1 by the    
numerous and various creatures          
inhabiting both in and about that       
element2 as to the readers of ,gesner1  
,rondeletius1 ,pliny1 ,ausonius1        

,aristotle1 and others1 may be          
demonstrated4 ,but ,i will sweeten this 
discourse also out of a contemplation in
 divine ,du ,bartas1 who says3      ,god
 quickened in the sea1 and in the       
rivers1     ,so many fishes of so many  
features1     ,that in the waters we may
 see all creatures1     ,even all that  
on the earth are to be found1     ,as if
 the world were in deep waters drown'd4 
,for seas--as well as skies--have ,sun1 
,moon1 ,stars     ,as well as           
air--,swallows1 ,rooks1 and ,stares2    
,as well as earth--,vines1 ,roses1      
,nettles1 ,melons1     ,mushrooms1      
,pinks1 ,gilliflowers1 and many millions
     ,of other plants1 more rare1 more  
strange than these1     ,as very fishes1
 living in the seas2     ,as also ,rams1
 ,calves1 ,horses1 ,hares1 and ,hogs1   
,wolves1 ,urchins1 ,lions1 ,elephants1  
and ,dogs2     ,yea1 ,men and ,maids1   
and1 which ,i most admire1     ,the     
mitred ,bishop and the cowled ,friar3   
,of which1 examples1 but a few years    

since1     ,were strewn the ,norway and 
,polonian prince4  ,these seem to be    
wonders2 but have had so many           
confirmations from men of learning and  
credit1 that you need not doubt them4   
,nor are the number1 nor the various    
shapes1 of fishes more strange1 or more 
fit for contemplation1 than their       
different natures1 inclinations1 and    
actions2 concerning which1 ,i shall beg 
your patient ear a little longer4  ,the 
,cuttle-fish will cast a long gut out of
 her throat1 which1 like as an ,angler  
doth his line1 she sendeth forth1 and   
pulleth in again at her pleasure1       
according as she sees some little fish  
come near to her2 and the ,cuttle-fish1 
being then hid in the gravel1 lets the  
smaller fish nibble and bite the end of 
it2 at which time she1 by little and    
little1 draws the smaller fish so near  
to her1 that she may leap upon her1 and 
then catches and devours her3 and for   
this reason some have called this fish  
the ,sea-angler4  ,and there is a fish  

called a ,hermit1 that at a certain age 
gets into a dead fish's shell1 and1 like
 a hermit1 dwells there alone1 studying 
the wind and weather and so turns her   
shell1 that she makes it defend her from
 the injuries that they would bring upon
 her4  ,there is also a fish called by  
lian the ,adonis1 or ,darling of the    
,sea2 so called1 because it is a loving 
and innocent fish1 a fish that hurts    
nothing that hath life1 and is at peace 
with all the numerous inhabitants of    
that vast watery element2 and truly1 ,i 
think most ,anglers are so disposed to  
most of mankind4  ,and there are1 also1 
lustful and chaste fishes2 of which ,i  
shall give you examples4  ,and first1   
what ,du ,bartas says of a fish called  
the ,sargus2 which1 because none can    
express it better than he does1 ,i shall
 give you in his own words1 supposing it
 shall not have the less credit for     
being verse2 for he hath gathered this  
and other observations out of authors   
that have been great and industrious    

searchers into the secrets of nature4   
,the adult'rous ,sargus doth not only   
change     ,wives every day1 in the deep
 streams1 but1 strange6     ,as if the  
honey of sea-love delight     ,could not
 suffice his ranging appetite1     ,goes
 courting she-goats on the grassy shore1
     ,horning their husbands that had   
horns before4  ,and the same author     
writes concerning the ,cantharus1 that  
which you shall also hear in his own    
words3      ,but1 contrary1 the constant
 ,cantharus     ,is ever constant to his
 faithful spouse     ,in nuptial duties1
 spending his chaste life4     ,never   
loves any but his own dear wife4  ,sir1 
but a little longer1 and ,i have done4  
,venator4 ,sir1 take what liberty you   
think fit1 for your discourse seems to  
be musick1 and charms me to an          
attention4  ,piscator4 ,why then1 ,sir1 
,i will take a little liberty to tell1  
or rather to remember you what is said  
of ,turtle-doves2 first1 that they      
silently plight their troth1 and marry2 

and that then the survivor scorns1 as   
the ,thracian women are said to do1 to  
outlive his or her mate1 and this is    
taken for a truth2 and if the survivor  
shall ever couple with another1 then1   
not only the living1 but the dead1 be it
 either the he or the she1 is denied the
 name and honour of a true ,turtle-dove4
  ,and to parallel this land-rarity1 and
 teach mankind moral faithfulness1 and  
to condemn those that talk of religion1 
and yet come short of the moral faith of
 fish and fowl1 men that violate the law
 affirmed by ,st4 ,paul to be writ in   
their hearts1 and which1 he says1 shall 
at the ,last ,day condemn and leave them
 without excuse--,i pray hearken to what
 ,du ,bartas sings1 for the hearing of  
such conjugal faithfulness will be      
musick to all chaste ears1 and therefore
 ,i pray hearken to what ,du ,bartas    
sings of the ,mullet4      ,but for     
chaste love the ,mullet hath no peer2   
,for1 if the fisher hath surpris'd her  
pheer     ,as mad with wo1 to shore she 

followeth     ,prest to consort him1    
both in life and death4  ,on the        
contrary1 what shall ,i say of the      
,house-,cock1 which treads any hen2 and1
 then1 contrary to the ,swan1 the       
,partridge1 and ,pigeon1 takes no care  
to hatch1 to feed1 or cherish his own   
brood1 but is senseless1 though they    
perish4 ,and it is considerable1 that   
the ,hen1 which1 because she also takes 
any ,cock1 expects it not1 who is sure  
the chickens be her own1 hath by a moral
 impression her care and affection to   
her own brood more than doubled1 even to
 such a height1 that our ,saviour1 in   
expressing his love to ,jerusalem1      
quotes her1 for an example of tender    
affection1 as his ,father had done ,job1
 for a pattern of patience4  ,and to    
parallel this ,cock1 there be divers    
fishes that cast their spawn on flags or
 stones1 and then leave it uncovered1   
and exposed to become a prey and be     
devoured by vermin or other fishes4 ,but
 other fishes1 as namely the ,barbel1   

take such care for the preservation of  
their seed1 that1 unlike to the ,cock1  
or the ,cuckoo1 they mutually labour1   
both the spawner and the melter1 to     
cover their spawn with sand1 or watch   
it1 or hide it in some secret place     
unfrequented by vermin or by any fish   
but themselves4  ,sir1 these examples   
may1 to you and others1 seem strange2   
but they are testified1 some by         
,aristotle1 some by ,pliny1 some by     
,gesner1 and by many others of credit2  
and are believed and known by divers1   
both of wisdom and experience1 to be a  
truth2 and indeed are1 as ,i said at the
 beginning1 fit for the contemplation of
 a most serious and a most pious man4   
,and1 doubtless1 this made the prophet  
,david say1 ,they that occupy themselves
 in deep waters1 see the wonderful works
 of ,god3 indeed such wonders and       
pleasures too1 as the land affords not4 
,and that they be fit for the           
contemplation of the most prudent1 and  
pious1 and peaceable men1 seems to be   

testified by the practice of so many    
devout and contemplative men1 as the    
,patriarchs and ,prophets of old2 and of
 the ,apostles of our ,saviour in our   
latter times1 of which twelve1 we are   
sure1 he chose four that were simple    
fishermen1 whom he inspired1 and sent to
 publish his blessed will to the        
,gentiles2 and inspired them also with a
 power to speak all languages1 and by   
their powerful eloquence to beget faith 
in the unbelieving ,jews2 and themselves
 to suffer for that ,saviour1 whom their
 forefathers and they had crucified2    
and1 in their sufferings1 to preach     
freedom from the incumbrances of the    
law1 and a new way to everlasting life3 
this was the employment of these happy  
fishermen4 ,concerning which choice1    
some have made these observations3      
,first1 that he never reproved these1   
for their employment or calling1 as he  
did the ,scribes and the                
,money-changers4 ,and secondly1 he found
 that the hearts of such men1 by nature1

 were fitted for contemplation and      
quietness2 men of mild1 and sweet1 and  
peaceable spirits1 as indeed most       
,anglers are3 these men our blessed     
,saviour1 who is observed to love to    
plant grace in good natures1 though     
indeed nothing be too hard for him1 yet 
these men he chose to call from their   
irreprovable employment of fishing1 and 
gave them grace to be his disciples1 and
 to follow him1 and do wonders2 ,i say  
four of twelve4  ,and it is observable1 
that it was our ,saviour's will that    
these1 our four fishermen1 should have a
 priority of nomination in the catalogue
 of his twelve ,apostles1 as namely1    
first ,st4 ,peter1 ,st4 ,andrew1 ,st4   
,james1 and ,st4 ,john2 and1 then1 the  
rest in their order4  ,and it is yet    
more observable1 that when our blessed  
,saviour went up into the mount1 when he
 left the rest of his disciples1 and    
chose only three to bear him company at 
his ,transfiguration1 that those three  
were all fishermen4 ,and it is to be    

believed1 that all the other ,apostles1 
after they betook themselves to follow  
,christ1 betook themselves to be        
fishermen too2 for it is certain1 that  
the greater number of them were found   
together1 fishing1 by ,jesus after his  
resurrection1 as it is recorded in the  
twenty-first chapter of ,st4 ,john's    
gospel4  ,and since ,i have your promise
 to hear me with patience1 ,i will take 
a liberty to look back upon an          
observation that hath been made by an   
ingenious and learned man2 who observes1
 that ,god hath been pleased to allow   
those whom he himself hath appointed to 
write his holy will in holy writ1 yet to
 express his will in such metaphors as  
their former affections or practice had 
inclined them to4 ,and he brings        
,solomon for an example1 who1 before his
 conversion1 was remarkably carnally    
amorous2 and after1 by ,god's           
appointment1 wrote that spiritual       
dialogue1 or holy amorous love-song the 
,canticles1 betwixt ,god and his church3

 in which he says1 his beloved had eyes 
like the fish-pools of ,heshbon4  ,and  
if this hold in reason1 as ,i see none  
to the contrary1 then it may be probably
 concluded1 that ,moses1 who ,i told you
 before writ the book of ,job1 and the  
,prophet ,amos1 who was a shepherd1 were
 both ,anglers2 for you shall1 in all   
the ,old ,testament1 find fish-hooks1 ,i
 think but twice mentioned1 namely1 by  
meek ,moses the friend of ,god1 and by  
the humble prophet ,amos4  ,concerning  
which last1 namely the prophet ,amos1 ,i
 shall make but this observation1 that  
he that shall read the humble1 lowly1   
plain style of that prophet1 and compare
 it with the high1 glorious1 eloquent   
style of the prophet ,isaiah1 though    
they be both equally true1 may easily   
believe ,amos to be1 not only a         
shepherd1 but a good-natured plain      
fisherman4 ,which ,i do the rather      
believe1 by comparing the affectionate1 
loving1 lowly1 humble ,epistles of ,st4 
,peter1 ,st4 ,james1 and ,st4 ,john1    

whom we know were all fishers1 with the 
glorious language and high metaphors of 
,st4 ,paul1 who we may believe was not4 
,and for the lawfulness of fishing3 it  
may very well be maintained by our      
,saviour's bidding ,st4 ,peter cast his 
hook into the water and catch a fish1   
for money to pay tribute to ,caesar4    
,and let me tell you1 that ,angling is  
of high esteem1 and of much use in other
 nations4 ,he that reads the ,voyages of
 ,ferdinand ,mendez ,pinto1 shall find  
that there he declares to have found a  
king and several priests a-fishing4 ,and
 he that reads ,plutarch1 shall find1   
that ,angling was not contemptible in   
the days of ,mark ,antony and           
,cleopatra1 and that they1 in the midst 
of their wonderful glory1 used ,angling 
as a principal recreation4 ,and let me  
tell you1 that in the ,scripture1       
,angling is always taken in the best    
sense2 and that though hunting may be   
sometimes so taken1 yet it is but seldom
 to be so understood4 ,and let me add   

this more3 he that views the ancient    
,ecclesiastical ,canons1 shall find     
hunting to be forbidden to ,churchmen1  
as being a turbulent1 toilsome1         
perplexing recreation2 and shall find   
,angling allowed to clergymen1 as being 
a harmless recreation1 a recreation that
 invites them to contemplation and      
quietness4  ,i might here enlarge       
myself1 by telling you what             
commendations our learned ,perkins      
bestows on ,angling3 and how dear a     
lover1 and great a practiser of it1 our 
learned ,dr4 ,whitaker was2 as indeed   
many others of great learning have been4
 ,but ,i will content myself with two   
memorable men1 that lived near to our   
own time1 whom ,i also take to have been
 ornaments to the art of ,angling4  ,the
 first is ,dr4 ,nowel1 sometime dean of 
the cathedral church of ,st4 ,paul1 in  
,london1 where his monument stands yet  
undefaced2 a man that1 in the           
reformation of ,queen ,elizabeth1 not   
that of ,henry ,,viii41 was so noted for

 his meek spirit1 deep learning1        
prudence1 and piety1 that the then      
,parliament and ,convocation1 both1     
chose1 enjoined1 and trusted him to be  
the man to make a ,catechism for public 
use1 such a one as should stand as a    
rule for faith and manners to their     
posterity4 ,and the good old man1 though
 he was very learned1 yet knowing that  
,god leads us not to heaven by many1 nor
 by hard questions1 like an honest      
,angler1 made that good1 plain1         
unperplexed ,catechism which is printed 
with our good old ,service-book4 ,i say1
 this good man was a dear lover and     
constant practiser of ,angling1 as any  
age can produce3 and his custom was to  
spend besides his fixed hours of prayer1
 those hours which1 by command of the   
church1 were enjoined the clergy1 and   
voluntarily dedicated to devotion by    
many primitive ,christians1 ,i say1     
besides those hours1 this good man was  
observed to spend a tenth part of his   
time in ,angling2 and1 also1 for ,i have

 conversed with those which have        
conversed with him1 to bestow a tenth   
part of his revenue1 and usually all his
 fish1 amongst the poor that inhabited  
near to those rivers in which it was    
caught2 saying often1 that charity gave 
life to religion 3 and1 at his return to
 his house1 would praise ,god he had    
spent that day free from worldly        
trouble2 both harmlessly1 and in a      
recreation that became a churchman4 ,and
 this good man was well content1 if not 
desirous1 that posterity should know he 
was an ,angler2 as may appear by his    
picture1 now to be seen1 and carefully  
kept1 in ,brazen-nose ,college1 to which
 he was a liberal benefactor4 ,in which 
picture he is drawn leaning on a desk1  
with his ,bible before him2 and on one  
hand of him1 his lines1 hooks1 and other
 tackling1 lying in a round2 and1 on his
 other hand1 are his ,angle-rods of     
several sorts2 and by them this is      
written1 that he died #ac ,feb4 #afja1  
being aged ninety-five years1 forty-four

 of which he had been ,dean of ,st4     
,paul's church1 and that his age neither
 impaired his hearing1 nor dimmed his   
eyes1 nor weakened his memory1 nor made 
any of the faculties of his mind weak or
 useless4 ,it is said that ,angling and 
temperance were great causes of these   
blessings2 and ,i wish the like to all  
that imitate him1 and love the memory of
 so good a man4  ,my next and last      
example shall be that under-valuer of   
money1 the late provost of ,eton        
,college1 ,sir ,henry ,wotton1 a man    
with whom ,i have often fished and      
conversed1 a man whose foreign          
employments in the service of this      
nation1 and whose experience1 learning1 
wit1 and cheerfulness1 made his company 
to be esteemed one of the delights of   
mankind4 ,this man1 whose very          
approbation of ,angling were sufficient 
to convince any modest censurer of it1  
this man was also a most dear lover1 and
 a frequent practiser of the art of     
,angling2 of which he would say1 it was 

an employment for his idle time1 which  
was then not idly spent2 for ,angling   
was1 after tedious study1 a rest to his 
mind1 a cheerer of his spirits1 a       
diverter of sadness1 a calmer of unquiet
 thoughts1 a moderator of passions1 a   
procurer of contentedness2 and that it  
begat habits of peace and patience in   
those that professed and practiced it 4 
,indeed1 my friend1 you will find       
,angling to be like the virtue of       
humility1 which has a calmness of       
spirit1 and a world of other blessings  
attending upon it4 ,sir1 this was the   
saying of that learned man4  ,and ,i do 
easily believe1 that peace1 and         
patience1 and a calm content1 did       
cohabit in the cheerful heart of ,sir   
,henry ,wotton1 because ,i know that    
when he was beyond seventy years of age1
 he made this description of a part of  
the present pleasure that possessed him1
 as he sat quietly1 in a summer's       
evening1 on a bank a-fishing4 ,it is a  
description of the spring2 which1       

because it glided as soft and sweetly   
from his pen1 as that river does at this
 time1 by which it was then made1 ,i    
shall repeat it unto you3--      ,this  
day dame ,nature seem'd in love     ,the
 lusty sap began to move2     ,fresh    
juice did stir th' embracing vines4     
,and birds had drawn their valentines4  
,the jealous trout1 that low did lie    
,rose at a well-dissembled fly          
,there stood my ,friend1 with patient   
skill1     ,attending of his trembling  
quill4      ,already were the eaves     
possess'd     ,with the swift pilgrim's 
daubed nest2     ,the groves already did
 rejoice     ,in ,philomel's triumphing 
voice3      ,the showers were short1 the
 weather mild1     ,the morning fresh1  
the evening smil'd4     ,joan takes her 
neat-rubb'd pail1 and now1     ,she     
trips to milk the sand-red cow2         
,where1 for some sturdy foot-ball swain1
     ,joan strokes a syllabub or twain4 
,the fields and gardens were beset      
,with tulips1 crocus1 violet2      ,and 

now1 though late1 the modest rose       
,did more than half a blush disclose4   
,thus all looks gay1 and full of cheer1 
,to welcome the new-livery'd year4      
,these were the thoughts that then      
possessed the undisturbed mind of ,sir  
,henry ,wotton4 ,will you hear the wish 
of another ,angler1 and the commendation
 of his happy life1 which he also sings 
in verse3 viz4 ,jo4 ,davors1 ,esq4      
,let me live harmlessly1 and near the   
brink     ,of ,trent or ,avon have a    
dwelling-place     ,where ,i may see my 
quill1 or cork1 down sink     ,with     
eager bite of ,perch1 or ,bleak1 or     
,dace2     ,and on the world and my     
,creator think3     ,whilst some men    
strive ill-gotten goods t' embrace2     
,and others spend their time in base    
excess     ,of wine1 or worse1 in war   
and wantonness4      ,let them that     
list1 these pastimes still pursue1      
,and on such pleasing fancies feed their
 fill2     ,so ,i the fields and meadows
 green may view1     ,and daily by fresh

 rivers walk at will     ,among the     
daisies and the violets blue1     ,red  
hyacinth1 and yellow daffodil1          
,purple ,narcissus like the morning     
rays1     ,pale gander-grass1 and azure 
culver-keys4      ,i count it higher    
pleasure to behold     ,the stately     
compass of the lofty sky2     ,and in   
the midst thereof1 like burning gold1   
,the flaming chariot of the world's     
great eye3      ,the watery clouds that 
in the air up-roll'd     ,with sundry   
kinds of painted colours fly2     ,and  
fair ,aurora1 lifting up her head1      
,still blushing1 rise from old          
,tithonus' bed4      ,the hills and     
mountains raised from the plains1       
,the plains extended level with the     
ground     ,the grounds divided into    
sundry veins1     ,the veins inclos'd   
with rivers running round2     ,these   
rivers making way through nature's      
chains1     ,with headlong course1 into 
the sea profound2     ,the raging sea1  
beneath the vallies low1     ,where     

lakes1 and rills1 and rivulets do flow3 
,the lofty woods1 the forests wide and  
long1     ,adorned with leaves and      
branches fresh and green1     ,in whose 
cool bowers the birds with many a song1 
,do welcome with their quire the        
summer's ,queen2     ,the meadows fair1 
where ,flora's gifts1 among     ,are    
intermix'd with verdant grass between2  
,the silver-scaled fish that softly swim
     ,within the sweet brook's crystal1 
watery stream4      ,all these1 and many
 more of his creation     ,that made the
 heavens1 the ,angler oft doth see2     
,taking therein no little delectation1  
,to think how strange1 how wonderful    
they be3     ,framing thereof an inward 
contemplation     ,to set his heart from
 other fancies free2     ,and whilst he 
looks on these with joyful eye1     ,his
 mind is rapt above the starry sky4     
,sir1 ,i am glad my memory has not lost 
these last verses1 because they are     
somewhat more pleasant and more suitable
 to ,may-day than my harsh discourse4   

,and ,i am glad your patience hath held 
out so long as to hear them and me1 for 
both together have brought us within the
 sight of the ,thatched ,house4 ,and ,i 
must be your debtor1 if you think it    
worth your attention1 for the rest of my
 promised discourse1 till some other    
opportunity1 and a like time of leisure4
  ,venator4 ,sir1 you have angled me on 
with much pleasure to the ,thatched     
,house2 and ,i now find your words true1
 that good company makes the way seem   
short2 for trust me1 ,sir1 ,i thought we
 had wanted three miles of this house1  
till you showed it to me4 ,but now we   
are at it1 we'll turn into it1 and      
refresh ourselves with a cup of drink1  
and a little rest4  ,piscator4 ,most    
gladly1 ,sir1 and we'll drink a civil   
cup to all the ,otter-hunters that are  
to meet you to-morrow4  ,venator4 ,that 
we will1 ,sir1 and to all the lovers of 
,angling too1 of which number ,i am now 
willing to be one myself2 for1 by the   
help of your good discourse and company1

 ,i have put on new thoughts both of the
 art of ,angling and of all that profess
 it2 and if you will but meet me        
to-morrow at the time and place         
appointed1 and bestow one day with me   
and my friends1 in hunting the ,otter1  
,i will dedicate the next two days to   
wait upon you2 and we too will1 for that
 time1 do nothing but angle1 and talk of
 fish and fishing4  ,piscator4 ,it is a 
match1 ,sir1 ,i will not fail you1 ,god 
willing1 to be at ,amwell ,hill         
to-morrow morning before sun-rising4    
,the second day  ,on the ,otter and the 
,chub  ,chapter ,,ii  ,piscator1        
,venator1 ,huntsman1 and ,hostess       
,venator4 ,my friend ,piscator1 you have
 kept time with my thoughts2 for the sun
 is just rising1 and ,i myself just now 
come to this place1 and the dogs have   
just now put down an ,otter4 ,look6 down
 at the bottom of the hill there1 in    
that meadow1 chequered with water-lilies
 and lady-smocks2 there you may see what
 work they make2 look6 look6 you may see

 all busy2 men and dogs2 dogs and men2  
all busy4  ,piscator4 ,sir1 ,i am right 
glad to meet you1 and glad to have so   
fair an entrance into this day's sport1 
and glad to see so many dogs1 and more  
men1 all in pursuit of the ,otter4 ,let 
us compliment no longer1 but join unto  
them4 ,come1 honest ,venator1 let us be 
gone1 let us make haste2 ,i long to be  
doing2 no reasonable hedge or ditch     
shall hold me4  ,venator4 ,gentleman    
,huntsman1 where found you this ,otter8 
,huntsman4 ,marry1 ,sir1 we found her a 
mile from this place1 a-fishing4 ,she   
has this morning eaten the greatest part
 of this ,trout2 she has only left thus 
much of it as you see1 and was fishing  
for more2 when we came we found her just
 at it3 but we were here very early1 we 
were here an hour before sunrise1 and   
have given her no rest since we came2   
sure she will hardly escape all these   
dogs and men4 ,i am to have the skin if 
we kill her4  ,venator4 ,why1 ,sir1 what
 is the skin worth8  ,huntsman4 ,it is  

worth ten shillings to make gloves2 the 
gloves of an ,otter are the best        
fortification for your hands that can be
 thought on against wet weather4        
,piscator4 ,i pray1 honest ,huntsman1   
let me ask you a pleasant question3 do  
you hunt a beast or a fish8  ,huntsman4 
,sir1 it is not in my power to resolve  
you2 ,i leave it to be resolved by the  
college of ,carthusians1 who have made  
vows never to eat flesh4 ,but1 ,i have  
heard1 the question hath been debated   
among many great clerks1 and they seem  
to differ about it2 yet most agree that 
her tail is fish3 and if her body be    
fish too1 then ,i may say that a fish   
will walk upon land3 for an ,otter does 
so sometimes1 five or six or ten miles  
in a night1 to catch for her young ones1
 or to glut herself with fish4 ,and ,i  
can tell you that ,pigeons will fly     
forty miles for a breakfast3 but1 ,sir1 
,i am sure the ,otter devours much fish1
 and kills and spoils much more than he 
eats4 ,and ,i can tell you1 that this   

dog-fisher1 for so the ,latins call him1
 can smell a fish in the water a hundred
 yards from him3 ,gesner says much      
farther3 and that his stones are good   
against the falling sickness2 and that  
there is an herb1 ,benione1 which1 being
 hung in a linen cloth near a fish-pond1
 or any haunt that he uses1 makes him to
 avoid the place2 which proves he smells
 both by water and land4 ,and1 ,i can   
tell you1 there is brave hunting this   
water-dog in ,cornwall2 where there have
 been so many1 that our learned ,camden 
says there is a river called ,ottersey1 
which was so named by reason of the     
abundance of ,otters that bred and fed  
in it4  ,and thus much for my knowledge 
of the ,otter2 which you may now see    
above water at vent1 and the dogs close 
with him2 ,i now see he will not last   
long4 ,follow1 therefore1 my masters1   
follow2 for ,sweetlips was like to have 
him at this last vent4  ,venator4 ,oh   
me6 all the horse are got over the      
river1 what shall we do now8 shall we   

follow them over the water8  ,huntsman4 
,no1 ,sir1 no2 be not so eager2 stay a  
little1 and follow me2 for both they and
 the dogs will be suddenly on this side 
again1 ,i warrant you1 and the ,otter   
too1 it may be4 ,now have at him with   
,kilbuck1 for he vents again4  ,venator4
 ,marry6 so he does2 for1 look6 he vents
 in that corner4 ,now1 now1 ,ringwood   
has him3 now1 he is gone again1 and has 
bit the poor dog4 ,now ,sweetlips has   
her2 hold her1 ,sweetlips6 now all the  
dogs have her2 some above and some under
 water3 but1 now1 now she is tired1 and 
past losing4 ,come bring her to me1     
,sweetlips4 ,look6 it is a ,bitch-otter1
 and she has lately whelp'd4 ,let's go  
to the place where she was put down2    
and1 not far from it1 you will find all 
her young ones1 ,i dare warrant you1 and
 kill them all too4  ,huntsman4 ,come1  
,gentlemen6 come1 all6 let's go to the  
place where we put down the ,otter4     
,look you6 hereabout it was that she    
kennelled2 look you6 here it was indeed2

 for here's her young ones1 no less than
 five3 come1 let us kill them all4      
,piscator4 ,no3 ,i pray1 ,sir1 save me  
one1 and ,i'll try if ,i can make her   
tame1 as ,i know an ingenious gentleman 
in ,leicestershire1 ,mr4 ,nich4         
,segrave1 has done2 who hath not only   
made her tame1 but to catch fish1 and do
 many other things of much pleasure4    
,huntsman4 ,take one with all my heart2 
but let us kill the rest4 ,and now let's
 go to an honest ale-house1 where we may
 have a cup of good barley wine1 and    
sing ,old ,rose1 and all of us rejoice  
together4  ,venator4 ,come1 my friend   
,piscator1 let me invite you along with 
us4 ,i'll bear your charges this night1 
and you shall bear mine to-morrow2 for  
my intention is to accompany you a day  
or two in fishing4  ,piscator4 ,sir1    
your request is granted2 and ,i shall be
 right glad both to exchange such a     
courtesy1 and also to enjoy your        
company4      ,the third day            
,venator4 ,well1 now let's go to your   

sport of ,angling4  ,piscator4 ,let's be
 going1 with all my heart4 ,god keep you
 all1 ,gentlemen2 and send you meet1    
this day1 with another ,bitch-otter1 and
 kill her merrily1 and all her young    
ones too4  ,venator4 ,,now1 ,piscator1  
where will you begin to fish8           
,piscator4 ,we are not yet come to a    
likely place2 ,i must walk a mile       
further yet before ,i beam4  ,venator4  
,well then1 ,i pray1 as we walk1 tell me
 freely1 how do you like your lodging1  
and mine host and the company8 ,is not  
mine host a witty man8  ,piscator4 ,sir1
 ,i will tell you1 presently1 what ,i   
think of your host3 but1 first1 ,i will 
tell you1 ,i am glad these ,otters were 
killed2 and ,i am sorry there are no    
more ,otter-killers2 for ,i know that   
the want of ,otter-killers1 and the not 
keeping the fence-months for the        
preservation of fish1 will1 in time1    
prove the destruction of all rivers4    
,and those very few that are left1 that 
make conscience of the laws of the      

nation1 and of keeping days of          
abstinence1 will be forced to eat flesh1
 or suffer more inconveniences than are 
yet foreseen4  ,venator4 ,why1 ,sir1    
what be those that you call the         
fence-months8  ,piscator4 ,sir1 they be 
principally three1 namely1 ,march1      
,april1 and ,may3 for these be the usual
 months that ,salmon come out of the sea
 to spawn in most fresh rivers4 ,and    
their fry would1 about a certain time1  
return back to the salt water1 if they  
were not hindered by weirs and unlawful 
gins1 which the greedy fishermen set1   
and so destroy them by thousands2 as    
they would1 being so taught by nature1  
change the fresh for salt water4 ,he    
that shall view the wise ,statutes made 
in the #acth of ,edward the ,first1 and 
the like in ,richard the ,second1 may   
see several provisions made against the 
destruction of fish3 and though ,i      
profess no knowledge of the law1 yet ,i 
am sure the regulation of these defects 
might be easily mended4 ,but ,i remember

 that a wise friend of mine did usually 
say1 that which is everybody's business 
is nobody's business3 if it were        
otherwise1 there could not be so many   
nets and fish1 that are under the       
statute size1 sold daily amongst us2 and
 of which the conservators of the waters
 should be ashamed4  ,but1 above all1   
the taking fish in spawning-time may be 
said to be against nature3 it is like   
taking the dam on the nest when she     
hatches her young1 a sin so against     
nature1 that ,almighty ,god hath in the 
,levitical law made a law against it4   
,but the poor fish have enemies enough  
besides such unnatural fishermen2 as    
namely1 the ,otters that ,i spake of1   
the ,cormorant1 the ,bittern1 the       
,osprey1 the ,sea-gull1 the ,hern1 the  
,king-fisher1 the ,gorara1 the ,puet1   
the ,swan1 ,goose1 ,duck1 and the       
,craber1 which some call the ,water-rat3
 against all which any honest man may   
make a just quarrel1 but ,i will not2 ,i
 will leave them to be quarrelled with  

and killed by others1 for ,i am not of a
 cruel nature1 ,i love to kill nothing  
but fish4  ,and1 now1 to your question  
concerning your host4 ,to speak truly1  
he is not to me a good companion1 for   
most of his conceits were either        
scripture jests1 or lascivious jests1   
for which ,i count no man witty3 for the
 devil will help a man1 that way        
inclined1 to the first2 and his own     
corrupt nature1 which he always carries 
with him1 to the latter4 ,but a         
companion that feasts the company with  
wit and mirth1 and leaves out the sin   
which is usually mixed with them1 he is 
the man1 and indeed such a companion    
should have his charges borne2 and to   
such company ,i hope to bring you this  
night2 for at ,trout-hall1 not far from 
this place1 where ,i purpose to lodge   
to-night1 there is usually an ,angler   
that proves good company4 ,and let me   
tell you1 good company and good         
discourse are the very sinews of virtue4
 ,but for such discourse as we heard    

last night1 it infects others3 the very 
boys will learn to talk and swear1 as   
they heard mine host1 and another of the
 company that shall be nameless4 ,i am  
sorry the other is a gentleman1 for less
 religion will not save their souls than
 a beggar's3 ,i think more will be      
required at the last great day4 ,well6  
you know what example is able to do2 and
 ,i know what the poet says in the like 
case1 which is worthy to be noted by all
 parents and people of civility3        
4444many a one     ,owes to his country 
his religion2     ,and in another1 would
 as strongly grow1     ,had but his     
nurse or mother taught him so4  ,this is
 reason put into verse1 and worthy the  
consideration of a wise man4 ,but of    
this no more2 for though ,i love        
civility1 yet ,i hate severe censures4  
,i'll to my own art2 and ,i doubt not   
but at yonder tree ,i shall catch a     
,chub3 and then we'll turn to an honest 
cleanly hostess1 that ,i know right     
well2 rest ourselves there2 and dress it

 for our dinner4  ,venator4 ,oh1 ,sir6 a
 ,chub is the worst fish that swims2 ,i 
hoped for a ,trout to my dinner4        
,piscator4 ,trust me1 ,sir1 there is not
 a likely place for a ,trout hereabout3 
and we staid so long to take our leave  
of your huntsmen this morning1 that the 
sun is got so high1 and shines so clear1
 that ,i will not undertake the catching
 of a ,trout till evening4 ,and though a
 ,chub be1 by you and many others1      
reckoned the worst of fish1 yet you     
shall see ,i'll make it a good fish by  
dressing it4  ,venator4 ,why1 how will  
you dress him8  ,piscator4 ,i'll tell   
you by-and-by1 when ,i have caught him4 
,look you here1 ,sir1 do you see8 but   
you must stand very close1 there lie    
upon the top of the water1 in this very 
hole1 twenty ,chubs4 ,i'll catch only   
one and that shall be the biggest of    
them all3 and that ,i will do so1 ,i'll 
hold you twenty to one1 and you shall   
see it done4  ,venator4 ,ay1 marry6     
,sir1 now you talk like an artist1 and  

,i'll say you are one1 when ,i shall see
 you perform what you say you can do3   
but ,i yet doubt it4  ,piscator4 ,you   
shall not doubt it long2 for you shall  
see me do it presently4 ,look6 the      
biggest of these ,chubs has had some    
bruise upon his tail1 by a ,pike or some
 other accident2 and that looks like a  
white spot4 ,that very ,chub ,i mean to 
put into your hands presently2 sit you  
but down in the shade1 and stay but a   
little while2 and ,i'll warrant you1    
,i'll bring him to you4  ,venator4 ,i'll
 sit down2 and hope well1 because you   
seem to be so confident4  ,piscator4    
,look you1 ,sir1 there is a trial of my 
skill2 there he is3 that very ,chub1    
that ,i showed you1 with the white spot 
on his tail4 ,and ,i'll be as certain to
 make him a good dish of meat as ,i was 
to catch him3 ,i'll now lead you to an  
honest ale-house1 where we shall find a 
cleanly room1 lavender in the windows1  
and twenty ballads stuck about the wall4
 ,there my hostess1 which ,i may tell   

you is both cleanly1 and handsome1 and  
civil1 hath dressed many a one for me2  
and shall now dress it after my fashion1
 and ,i warrant it good meat4  ,venator4
 ,come1 ,sir1 with all my heart1 for ,i 
begin to be hungry1 and long to be at   
it1 and indeed to rest myself too2 for  
though ,i have walked but four miles    
this morning1 yet ,i begin to be weary2 
yesterday's hunting hangs still upon me4
  ,piscator4 ,well1 ,sir1 and you shall 
quickly be at rest1 for yonder is the   
house ,i mean to bring you to4  ,come1  
hostess1 how do you8 ,will you first    
give us a cup of your best drink1 and   
then dress this ,chub1 as you dressed my
 last1 when ,i and my friend were here  
about eight or ten days ago8 ,but you   
must do me one courtesy1 it must be done
 instantly4  ,hostess4 ,i will do it1   
,mr4 ,piscator1 and with all the speed  
,i can4  ,piscator4 ,,now1 ,sir1 has not
 my hostess made haste8 and does not the
 fish look lovely8  ,venator4 ,both1    
upon my word1 ,sir2 and therefore let's 

say grace and fall to eating of it4     
,piscator4 ,well1 ,sir1 how do you like 
it8  ,venator4 ,trust me1 'tis as good  
meat as ,i ever tasted4 ,now let me     
thank you for it1 drink to you and beg a
 courtesy of you2 but it must not be    
denied me4  ,piscator4 ,what is it1 ,i  
pray1 ,sir8 ,you are so modest1 that    
methinks ,i may promise to grant it     
before it is asked4  ,venator4 ,why1    
,sir1 it is1 that from henceforth you   
would allow me to call you ,master1 and 
that really ,i may be your scholar2 for 
you are such a companion1 and have so   
quickly caught and so excellently cooked
 this fish1 as makes me ambitious to be 
your scholar4  ,piscator4 ,give me your 
hand2 from this time forward ,i will be 
your ,master1 and teach you as much of  
this art as ,i am able2 and will1 as you
 desire me1 tell you somewhat of the    
nature of most of the fish that we are  
to angle for1 and ,i am sure ,i both can
 and will tell you more than any common 
angler yet knows4      ,the third       

day-continued   ,how to fish for1 and to
 dress1 the ,chavender of ,chub         
,chapter ,,iii   ,piscator and ,venator 
,piscator4 ,the ,chub1 though he eat    
well1 thus dressed1 yet as he is usually
 dressed1 he does not4 ,he is objected  
against1 not only for being full of     
small forked bones1 dispersed through   
all his body1 but that he eats waterish1
 and that the flesh of him is not firm1 
but short and tasteless4 ,the ,french   
esteem him so mean1 as to call him ,un  
,villain2 nevertheless he may be so     
dressed as to make him very good meat2  
as1 namely1 if he be a large ,chub1 then
 dress him thus3  ,first1 scale him1 and
 then wash him clean1 and then take out 
his guts2 and to that end make the hole 
as little1 and near to his gills1 as you
 may conveniently1 and especially make  
clean his throat from the grass and     
weeds that are usually in it2 for if    
that be not very clean1 it will make him
 to taste very sour4 ,having so done1   
put some sweet herbs into his belly2 and

 then tie him with two or three         
splinters to a spit1 and roast him1     
basted often with vinegar1 or rather    
verjuice and butter1 with good store of 
salt mixed with it4  ,being thus        
dressed1 you will find him a much better
 dish of meat than you1 or most folk1   
even than anglers themselves1 do        
imagine3 for this dries up the fluid    
watery humour with which all ,chubs do  
abound4 ,but take this rule with you1   
,that a ,chub newly taken and newly     
dressed1 is so much better than a ,chub 
of a day's keeping after he is dead1    
that ,i can compare him to nothing so   
fitly as to cherries newly gathered from
 a tree1 and others that have been      
bruised and lain a day or two in water4 
,but the ,chub being thus used1 and     
dressed presently2 and not washed after 
he is gutted1 for note1 that lying long 
in water1 and washing the blood out of  
any fish after they be gutted1 abates   
much of their sweetness2 you will find  
the ,chub1 being dressed in the blood1  

and quickly1 to be such meat as will    
recompense your labour1 and disabuse    
your opinion4  ,or you may dress the    
,chavender or ,chub thus3  ,when you    
have scaled him1 and cut off his tail   
and fins1 and washed him very clean1    
then chine or slit him through the      
middle1 as a salt-fish is usually cut2  
then give him three or four cuts or     
scotches on the back with your knife1   
and broil him on charcoal1 or wood coal1
 that are free from smoke2 and all the  
time he is a-broiling1 baste him with   
the best sweet butter1 and good store of
 salt mixed with it4 ,and1 to this1 add 
a little thyme cut exceedingly small1 or
 bruised into the butter4 ,the ,cheven  
thus dressed hath the watery taste taken
 away1 for which so many except against 
him4 ,thus was the ,cheven dressed that 
you now liked so well1 and commended so 
much4 ,but note again1 that if this     
,chub that you eat of had been kept till
 to-morrow1 he had not been worth a     
rush4 ,and remember1 that his throat be 

washed very clean1 ,i say very clean1   
and his body not washed after he is     
gutted1 as indeed no fish should be4    
,well1 scholar1 you see what pains ,i   
have taken to recover the lost credit of
 the poor despised ,chub4 ,and now ,i   
will give you some rules how to catch   
him3 and ,i am glad to enter you into   
the art of fishing by catching a ,chub1 
for there is no fish better to enter a  
young ,angler1 he is so easily caught1  
but then it must be this particular way3
  ,go to the same hole in which ,i      
caught my ,chub1 where1 in most hot     
days1 you will find a dozen or twenty   
,chevens floating near the top of the   
water4 ,get two or three grasshoppers1  
as you go over the meadow3 and get      
secretly behind the tree1 and stand as  
free from motion as is possible4 ,then  
put a grasshopper on your hook1 and let 
your hook hang a quarter of a yard short
 of the water1 to which end you must    
rest your rod on some bough of the tree4
 ,but it is likely the ,chubs will sink 

down towards the bottom of the water1 at
 the first shadow of your rod 7for ,chub
 is the fearfullest of fishes71 and will
 do so if but a bird flies over him and 
makes the least shadow on the water2 but
 they will presently rise up to the top 
again1 and there lie soaring till some  
shadow affrights them again4 ,i say1    
when they lie upon the top of the water1
 look out the best ,chub1 which you1    
setting yourself in a fit place1 may    
very easily see1 and move your rod1 as  
softly as a snail moves1 to that ,chub  
you intend to catch2 let your bait fall 
gently upon the water three or four     
inches before him1 and he will          
infallibly take the bait4 ,and you will 
be as sure to catch him2 for he is one  
of the leather-mouthed fishes1 of which 
a hook does scarce ever lose its hold2  
and therefore give him play enough      
before you offer to take him out of the 
water4 ,go your way presently2 take my  
rod1 and do as ,i bid you2 and ,i will  
sit down and mend my tackling till you  

return back4  ,venator4 ,truly1 my      
loving master1 you have offered me as   
fair as ,i could wish4 ,i'll go and     
observe your directions4  ,look you1    
master1 what ,i have done1 that which   
joys my heart1 caught just such another 
,chub as yours was4  ,piscator4 ,marry1 
and ,i am glad of it3 ,i am like to have
 a towardly scholar of you4 ,i now see1 
that with advice and practice1 you will 
make an ,angler in a short time4 ,have  
but a love to it2 and ,i'll warrant you4
  ,venator4 ,but1 master6 what if ,i    
could not have found a grasshopper8     
,piscator4 ,then ,i may tell you1 ,that 
a black snail1 with his belly slit1 to  
show his white1 or a piece of soft      
cheese1 will usually do as well4 ,nay1  
sometimes a worm1 or any kind of fly1 as
 the ant-fly1 the flesh-fly1 or         
wall-fly2 or the dor or beetle which you
 may find under cow-dung2 or a bob which
 you will find in the same place1 and in
 time will be a beetle2 it is a short   
white worm1 like to and bigger than a   

gentle2 or a cod-worm2 or a case-worm2  
any of these will do very well to fish  
in such a manner4  ,and after this      
manner you may catch a ,trout in a hot  
evening3 when1 as you walk by a brook1  
and shall see or hear him leap at flies1
 then1 if you get a grasshopper1 put it 
on your hook1 with your line about two  
yards long2 standing behind a bush or   
tree where his hole is3 and make your   
bait stir up and down on the top of the 
water4 ,you may1 if you stand close1 be 
sure of a bite1 but not sure to catch   
him1 for he is not a leather-mouthed    
fish4 ,and after this manner you may    
fish for him with almost any kind of    
live fly1 but especially with a         
grasshopper4  ,venator4 ,but before you 
go further1 ,i pray1 good master1 what  
mean you by a leather-mouthed fish8     
,piscator4 ,by a leather-mouthed fish1  
,i mean such as have their teeth in     
their throat1 as the ,chub or ,cheven3  
and so the ,barbel1 the ,gudgeon1 and   
,carp1 and divers others have4 ,and the 

hook being stuck into the leather1 or   
skin1 of the mouth of such fish1 does   
very seldom or never lose its hold3 but 
on the contrary1 a ,pike1 a ,perch1 or  
,trout1 and so some other fish1 which   
have not their teeth in their throats1  
but in their mouths1 which you shall    
observe to be very full of bones1 and   
the skin very thin1 and little of it4 ,i
 say1 of these fish the hook never takes
 so sure hold but you often lose your   
fish1 unless he have gorged it4         
,venator4 ,i thank you1 good master1 for
 this observation4 ,but now what shall  
be done with my ,chub or ,cheven that ,i
 have caught8  ,piscator4 ,marry1 ,sir1 
it shall be given away to some poor     
body2 for ,i'll warrant you ,i'll give  
you a ,trout for your supper3 and it is 
a good beginning of your art to offer   
your first-fruits to the poor1 who will 
both thank you and ,god for it1 which ,i
 see by your silence you seem to consent
 to4 ,and for your willingness to part  
with it so charitably1 ,i will also     

teach more concerning ,chub-fishing4    
,you are to note1 that in ,march and    
,april he is usually taken with worms2  
in ,may1 ,june1 and ,july1 he will bite 
at any fly1 or at cherries1 or at       
beetles with their legs and wings cut   
off1 or at any kind of snail1 or at the 
black bee that breeds in clay walls4    
,and he never refuses a grasshopper1 on 
the top of a swift stream1 nor1 at the  
bottom1 the young humble bee that breeds
 in long grass1 and is ordinarily found 
by the mower of it4 ,in ,august1 and in 
the cooler months1 a yellow paste1 made 
of the strongest cheese1 and pounded in 
a mortar1 with a little butter and      
saffron1 so much of it as1 being beaten 
small1 will turn it to a lemon colour4  
,and some make a paste for the winter   
months1 at which time the ,chub is      
accounted best1 for then it is observed1
 that the forked bones are lost1 or     
turned into a kind of gristle1          
especially if he be baked1 of cheese and
 turpentine4 ,he will bite also at a    

minnow1 or peek1 as a ,trout will3 of   
which ,i shall tell you more hereafter1 
and of divers other baits4 ,but take    
this for a rule1 that1 in hot weather1  
he is to be fished for towards the      
mid-water1 or near the top2 and in      
colder weather1 nearer the bottom2 and  
if you fish for him on the top1 with a  
beetle1 or any fly1 then be sure to let 
your line be very long1 and to keep out 
of sight4 ,and having told you1 that his
 spawn is excellent meat1 and that the  
head of a large ,cheven1 the throat     
being well washed1 is the best part of  
him1 ,i will say no more of this fish at
 the present1 but wish you may catch the
 next you fish for4  ,but1 lest you may 
judge me too nice in urging to have the 
,chub dressed so presently after he is  
taken1 ,i will commend to your          
consideration how curious former times  
have been in the like kind4  ,you shall 
read in ,seneca1 his ,natural           
,questions1 that the ancients were so   
curious in the newness of their fish1   

that that seemed not new enough that was
 not put alive into the guest's hand2   
and he says1 that to that end they did  
usually keep them living in glass       
bottles in their dining-rooms1 and they 
did glory much in their entertaining of 
friends1 to have that fish taken from   
under their table alive that was        
instantly to be fed upon2 and he says1  
they took great pleasure to see their   
,mullets change to several colours when 
they were dying4 ,but enough of this2   
for ,i doubt ,i have staid too long from
 giving you some ,observations of the   
,trout1 and how to fish for him1 which  
shall take up the next of my spare time4
    ,the third day-continued   ,on the  
,nature and ,breeding of the ,trout1 and
 how to fish for him      ,chapter ,,iv 
,piscator1 ,venator1 ,milk-woman1       
,maudlin1 ,hostess   ,piscator4 ,the    
,trout is a fish highly valued1 both in 
this and foreign nations4 ,he may be    
justly said1 as the old poet said of    
wine1 and we ,english say of venison1 to

 be a generous fish3 a fish that is so  
like the buck1 that he also has his     
seasons2 for it is observed1 that he    
comes in and goes out of season with the
 stag and buck4 ,gesner says1 his name  
is of a ,german offspring2 and says he  
is a fish that feeds clean and purely1  
in the swiftest streams1 and on the     
hardest gravel2 and that he may justly  
contend with all fresh water fish1 as   
the ,mullet may with all sea fish1 for  
precedency and daintiness of taste2 and 
that being in right season1 the most    
dainty palates have allowed precedency  
to him4  ,and before ,i go farther in my
 discourse1 let me tell you1 that you   
are to observe1 that as there be some   
barren does that are good in summer1 so 
there be some barren ,trouts that are   
good in winter2 but there are not many  
that are so2 for usually they be in     
their perfection in the month of ,may1  
and decline with the buck4 ,now you are 
to take notice1 that in several         
countries1 as in ,germany1 and in other 

parts1 compared to ours1 fish do differ 
much in their bigness1 and shape1 and   
other ways2 and so do ,trouts4 ,it is   
well known that in the ,lake ,leman1 the
 ,lake of ,geneva1 there are ,trouts    
taken of three cubits long2 as is       
affirmed by ,gesner1 a writer of good   
credit3 and ,mercator says1 the ,trouts 
that are taken in the ,lake of ,geneva  
are a great part of the merchandize of  
that famous city4 ,and you are further  
to know1 that there be certain waters   
that breed ,trouts remarkable1 both for 
their number and smallness4 ,i know a   
little brook in ,kent1 that breeds them 
to a number incredible1 and you may take
 them twenty or forty in an hour1 but   
none greater than about the size of a   
,gudgeon4 ,there are also1 in divers    
rivers1 especially that relate to1 or be
 near to the sea1 as ,winchester1 or the
 ,thames about ,windsor1 a little ,trout
 called a ,samlet1 or ,skegger ,trout1  
in both which places ,i have caught     
twenty or forty at a standing1 that will

 bite as fast and as freely as ,minnows3
 these be by some taken to be young     
,salmons2 but in those waters they never
 grow to be bigger than a ,herring4     
,there is also in ,kent1 near to        
,canterbury1 a ,trout called there a    
,fordidge ,trout1 a ,trout that bears   
the name of the town where it is usually
 caught1 that is accounted the rarest of
 fish2 many of them near the bigness of 
a ,salmon1 but known by their different 
colour2 and in their best season they   
cut very white3 and none of these have  
been known to be caught with an angle1  
unless it were one that was caught by   
,sir ,george ,hastings1 an excellent    
angler1 and now with ,god3 and he hath  
told me1 he thought that ,trout bit not 
for hunger but wantonness2 and it is the
 rather to be believed1 because both he1
 then1 and many others before him1 have 
been curious to search into their       
bellies1 what the food was by which they
 lived2 and have found out nothing by   
which they might satisfy their          

curiosity4  ,concerning which you are to
 take notice1 that it is reported by    
good authors1 that grasshoppers and some
 fish have no mouths1 but are nourished 
and take breath by the porousness of    
their gills1 man knows not how3 and this
 may be believed1 if we consider that   
when the raven hath hatched her eggs1   
she takes no further care1 but leaves   
her young ones to the care of the ,god  
of nature1 who is said1 in the ,psalms1 
to feed the young ravens that call upon 
him 4 ,and they be kept alive and fed by
 a dew2 or worms that breed in their    
nests2 or some other ways that we       
mortals know not4 ,and this may be      
believed of the ,fordidge ,trout1 which1
 as it is said of the stork1 that he    
knows his season1 so he knows his times1
 ,i think almost his day of coming into 
that river out of the sea2 where he     
lives1 and1 it is like1 feeds1 nine     
months of the year1 and fasts three in  
the river of ,fordidge4 ,and you are to 
note1 that those townsmen are very      

punctual in observing the time of       
beginning to fish for them2 and boast   
much1 that their river affords a ,trout 
that exceeds all others4 ,and just so   
does ,sussex boast of several fish2 as1 
namely1 a ,shelsey ,cockle1 a           
,chichester ,lobster1 an ,arundel       
,mullet1 and an ,amerly ,trout4  ,and1  
now1 for some confirmation of the       
,fordidge ,trout3 you are to know that  
this ,trout is thought to eat nothing in
 the fresh water2 and it may be the     
better believed1 because it is well     
known1 that swallows1 and bats1 and     
wagtails1 which are called half-year    
birds1 and not seen to fly in ,england  
for six months in the year1 but about   
,michaelmas leave us for a hotter       
climate1 yet some of them that have been
 left behind their fellows1 have been   
found1 many thousands at a time1 in     
hollow trees1 or clay caves1 where they 
have been observed to live1 and sleep   
out the whole winter1 without meat4 ,and
 so ,albertus observes1 that there is   

one kind of frog that hath her mouth    
naturally shut up about the end of      
,august1 and that she lives so all the  
winter3 and though it be strange to     
some1 yet it is known to too many among 
us to be doubted4  ,and so much for     
these ,fordidge ,trouts1 which never    
afford an angler sport1 but either live 
their time of being in the fresh water1 
by their meat formerly gotten in the    
sea1 not unlike the swallow or frog1 or1
 by the virtue of the fresh water only2 
or1 as the birds of ,paradise and the   
cameleon are said to live1 by the sun   
and the air4  ,there is also in         
,northumberland a ,trout called a       
,bull-trout1 of a much greater length   
and bigness than any in these southern  
parts2 and there are1 in many rivers    
that relate to the sea1 ,salmon-trouts1 
as much different from others1 both in  
shape and in their spots1 as we see     
sheep in some countries differ one from 
another in their shape and bigness1 and 
in the fineness of the wool3 and1       

certainly1 as some pastures breed larger
 sheep2 so do some rivers1 by reason of 
the ground over which they run1 breed   
larger ,trouts4  ,now the next thing    
that ,i will commend to your            
consideration is1 that the ,trout is of 
a more sudden growth than other fish4   
,concerning which1 you are also to take 
notice1 that he lives not so long as the
 ,pearch1 and divers other fishes do1 as
 ,sir ,francis ,bacon hath observed in  
his ,history of ,life and ,death4  ,and 
next you are to take notice1 that he is 
not like the ,crocodile1 which if he    
lives never so long1 yet always thrives 
till his death3 but 'tis not so with the
 ,trout2 for after he is come to his    
full growth1 he declines in his body1   
and keeps his bigness1 or thrives only  
in his head till his death4 ,and you are
 to know1 that he will1 about1          
especially before1 the time of his      
spawning1 get1 almost miraculously1     
through weirs and flood-gates1 against  
the stream2 even through such high and  

swift places as is almost incredible4   
,next1 that the ,trout usually spawns   
about ,october or ,november1 but in some
 rivers a little sooner or later2 which 
is the more observable1 because most    
other fish spawn in the spring or       
summer1 when the sun hath warmed both   
the earth and water1 and made it fit for
 generation4 ,and you are to note1 that 
he continues many months out of season2 
for it may be observed of the ,trout1   
that he is like the ,buck or the ,ox1   
that will not be fat in many months1    
though he go in the very same pastures  
that horses do1 which will be fat in one
 month3 and so you may observe1 ,that   
most other fishes recover strength1 and 
grow sooner fat and in season than the  
,trout doth4  ,and next you are to note1
 ,that till the sun gets to such a      
height as to warm the earth and the     
water1 the ,trout is sick1 and lean1 and
 lousy1 and unwholesome2 for you shall1 
in winter1 find him to have a big head1 
and1 then1 to be lank and thin and lean2

 at which time many of them have        
sticking on them ,sugs1 or ,trout-lice2 
which is a kind of a worm1 in shape like
 a clove1 or pin with a big head1 and   
sticks close to him1 and sucks his      
moisture1 those1 ,i think1 the ,trout   
breeds himself3 and never thrives till  
he free himself from them1 which is when
 warm weather comes2 and1 then1 as he   
grows stronger1 he gets from the dead   
still water into the sharp streams and  
the gravel1 and1 there1 rubs off these  
worms or lice2 and then1 as he grows    
stronger1 so he gets him into swifter   
and swifter streams1 and there lies at  
the watch for any fly or minnow that    
comes near to him2 and he especially    
loves the ,may-fly1 which is bred of the
 cod-worm1 or cadis2 and these make the 
,trout bold and lusty1 and he is usually
 fatter and better meat at the end of   
that month than at any time of the year4
  ,now you are to know that it is       
observed1 that usually the best ,trouts 
are either red or yellow2 though some1  

as the ,fordidge ,trout1 be white and   
yet good2 but that is not usual3 and it 
is a note observable1 that the female   
,trout hath usually a less head1 and a  
deeper body than the male ,trout1 and is
 usually the better meat4 ,and note1    
that a hog back and a little head1 to   
either ,trout1 ,salmon or any other     
fish1 is a sign that that fish is in    
season4  ,but yet you are to note1 that 
as you see some willows or palm-trees   
bud and blossom sooner than others do1  
so some ,trouts be1 in rivers1 sooner in
 season3 and as some hollies1 or oaks1  
are longer before they cast their       
leaves1 so are some ,trouts1 in rivers1 
longer before they go out of season4    
,and you are to note1 that there are    
several kinds of ,trouts3 but these     
several kinds are not considered but by 
very few men2 for they go under the     
general name of ,trouts2 just as pigeons
 do1 in most places2 though it is       
certain1 there are tame and wild        
pigeons2 and of the tame1 there be      

hermits and runts1 and carriers and     
cropers1 and indeed too many to name4   
,nay1 the ,royal ,society have found and
 published lately1 that there be thirty 
and three kinds of spiders2 and yet all1
 for aught ,i know1 go under that one   
general name of spider4 ,and it is so   
with many kinds of fish1 and of ,trouts 
especially2 which differ in their       
bigness1 and shape1 and spots1 and      
colour4 ,the great ,kentish hens may be 
an instance1 compared to other hens3    
and1 doubtless1 there is a kind of small
 ,trout1 which will never thrive to be  
big2 that breeds very many more than    
others do1 that be of a larger size3    
which you may rasher believe1 if you    
consider that the little wren and       
titmouse will have twenty young ones at 
a time1 when1 usually1 the noble hawk1  
or the musical thrassel or blackbird1   
exceed not four or five4  ,and now you  
shall see me try my skill to catch a    
,trout2 and at my next walking1 either  
this evening or to-morrow morning1 ,i   

will give you direction how you yourself
 shall fish for him4  ,venator4 ,trust  
me1 master1 ,i see now it is a harder   
matter to catch a ,trout than a ,chub2  
for ,i have put on patience1 and        
followed you these two hours1 and not   
seen a fish stir1 neither at your minnow
 nor your worm4  ,piscator4 ,well1      
scholar1 you must endure worse luck     
sometime1 or you will never make a good 
angler4 ,but what say you now8 there is 
a ,trout now1 and a good one too1 if ,i 
can but hold him2 and two or three turns
 more will tire him4 ,now you see he    
lies still1 and the sleight is to land  
him3 reach me that landing-net4 ,so1    
,sir1 now he is mine own3 what say you  
now1 is not this worth all my labour and
 your patience8  ,venator4 ,on my word1 
master1 this is a gallant ,trout2 what  
shall we do with him8  ,piscator4       
,marry1 e'en eat him to supper3 we'll go
 to my hostess from whence we came2 she 
told me1 as ,i was going out of door1   
that my brother ,peter1 a good angler   

and a cheerful companion1 had sent word 
he would lodge there to-night1 and bring
 a friend with him4 ,my hostess has two 
beds1 and ,i know you and ,i may have   
the best3 we'll rejoice with my brother 
,peter and his friend1 tell tales1 or   
sing ballads1 or make a catch1 or find  
some harmless sport to content us1 and  
pass away a little time without offence 
to ,god or man4  ,venator4 ,a match1    
good master1 let's go to that house1 for
 the linen looks white1 and smells of   
lavender1 and ,i long to lie in a pair  
of sheets that smell so4 ,let's be      
going1 good master1 for ,i am hungry    
again with fishing4  ,piscator4 ,nay1   
stay a little1 good scholar4 ,i caught  
my last ,trout with a worm2 now ,i will 
put on a minnow1 and try a quarter of an
 hour about yonder trees for another2   
and1 so1 walk towards our lodging4 ,look
 you1 scholar1 thereabout we shall have 
a bite presently1 or not at all4 ,have  
with you1 ,sir3 o' my word ,i have hold 
of him4 ,oh6 it is a great logger-headed

 ,chub2 come1 hang him upon that willow 
twig1 and let's be going4 ,but turn out 
of the way a little1 good scholar6      
toward yonder high honeysuckle hedge2   
there we'll sit and sing whilst this    
shower falls so gently upon the teeming 
earth1 and gives yet a sweeter smell to 
the lovely flowers that adorn these     
verdant meadows4  ,look6 under that     
broad beech-tree ,i sat down1 when ,i   
was last this way a-fishing2 and the    
birds in the adjoining grove seemed to  
have a friendly contention with an echo1
 whose dead voice seemed to live in a   
hollow tree near to the brow of that    
primrose-hill4 ,there ,i sat viewing the
 silver streams glide silently towards  
their centre1 the tempestuous sea2 yet  
sometimes opposed by rugged roots and   
pebble-stones1 which broke their waves1 
and turned them into foam2 and sometimes
 ,i beguiled time by viewing the        
harmless lambs2 some leaping securely in
 the cool shade1 whilst others sported  
themselves in the cheerful sun2 and saw 

others craving comfort from the swollen 
udders of their bleating dams4 ,as ,i   
thus sat1 these and other sights had so 
fully possess my soul with content1 that
 ,i thought1 as the poet has happily    
express it1      ,i was for that time   
lifted above earth1     ,and possest    
joys not promis'd in my birth4  ,as ,i  
left this place1 and entered into the   
next field1 a second pleasure           
entertained me2 'twas a handsome        
milk-maid1 that had not yet attained so 
much age and wisdom as to load her mind 
with any fears of many things that will 
never be1 as too many men too often do2 
but she cast away all care1 and sung    
like a nightingale4 ,her voice was good1
 and the ditty fitted for it2 it was    
that smooth song which was made by ,kit 
,marlow1 now at least fifty years ago2  
and the milk-maid's mother sung an      
answer to it1 which was made by ,sir    
,walter ,raleigh1 in his younger days4  
,they were old-fashioned poetry1 but    
choicely good2 ,i think much better than

 the strong lines that are now in       
fashion in this critical age4 ,look     
yonder6 on my word1 yonder1 they both be
 a-milking again4 ,i will give her the  
,chub1 and persuade them to sing those  
two songs to us4  ,god speed you1 good  
woman6 ,i have been a-fishing2 and am   
going to ,bleak ,hall to my bed2 and    
having caught more fish than will sup   
myself and my friend1 ,i will bestow    
this upon you and your daughter1 for ,i 
use to sell none4  ,milk-woman4 ,marry6 
,god requite you1 ,sir1 and we'll eat it
 cheerfully4 ,and if you come this way  
a-fishing two months hence1 a grace of  
,god6 ,i'll give you a syllabub of new  
verjuice1 in a new-made hay-cock1 for   
it4 ,and my ,maudlin shall sing you one 
of her best ballads2 for she and ,i both
 love all anglers1 they be such honest1 
civil1 quiet men4 ,in the meantime will 
you drink a draught of red cow's milk8  
you shall have it freely4  ,piscator4   
,no1 ,i thank you2 but1 ,i pray1 do us a
 courtesy that shall stand you and your 

daughter in nothing1 and yet we will    
think ourselves still something in your 
debt3 it is but to sing us a song that  
was sung by your daughter when ,i last  
passed over this meadow1 about eight or 
nine days since4  ,milk-woman4 ,what    
song was it1 ,i pray8 ,was it1 ,come1   
,shepherds1 deck your herds 8 or1 ,as at
 noon ,dulcina rested8 or1 ,phillida    
flouts me8 or1 ,chevy ,chace8 or1       
,johnny ,armstrong8 or1 ,troy ,town8    
,piscator4 ,no1 it is none of those2 it 
is a ,song that your daughter sung the  
first part1 and you sung the answer to  
it4  ,milk-woman4 ,o1 ,i know it now4 ,i
 learned the first part in my golden    
age1 when ,i was about the age of my    
poor daughter2 and the latter part1     
which indeed fits me best now1 but two  
or three years ago1 when the cares of   
the world began to take hold of me3 but 
you shall1 ,god willing1 hear them both2
 and sung as well as we can1 for we both
 love anglers4 ,come1 ,maudlin1 sing the
 first part to the gentlemen1 with a    

merry heart2 and ,i'll sing the second  
when you have done4          ,the       
,milk-maid's song4      ,come live with 
me1 and be my love1     ,and we will all
 the pleasures prove1     ,that valleys1
 groves1 or hills1 or fields1     ,or   
woods1 and steepy mountains yields2     
,where we will sit upon the rocks1      
,and see the shepherds feed our flocks1 
,by shallow rivers1 to whose falls      
,melodious birds sing madrigals4        
,and ,i will make thee beds of roses2   
,and1 then1 a thousand fragrant posies2 
,a cap of flowers1 and a kirtle1        
,embroidered all with leaves of myrtle2 
,a gown made of the finest wool         
,which from our pretty lambs we pull    
,slippers1 lin'd choicely for the cold1 
,with buckles of the purest gold2       
,a belt of straw and ivy-buds1     ,with
 coral clasps1 and amber studs4     ,and
 if these pleasures may thee move1      
,come1 live with me1 and be my love1    
,thy silver dishes1 for thy meat     ,as
 precious as the ,gods do eat           

,shall1 on an ivory table1 be           
,prepared each day for thee and me4     
,the shepherd swains shall dance and    
sing     ,for thy delight1 each ,may    
morning4     ,if these delights thy mind
 may move1     ,then live with me1 and  
be my love4  ,venator4 ,trust me1       
master1 it is a choice song1 and sweetly
 sung by honest ,maudlin4 ,i now see it 
was not without cause that our good     
queen ,elizabeth did so often wish      
herself a milk-maid all the month of    
,may1 because they are not troubled with
 fears and cares1 but sing sweetly all  
the day1 and sleep securely all the     
night3 and without doubt1 honest1       
innocent1 pretty ,maudlin does so4 ,i'll
 bestow ,sir ,thomas ,overbury's        
milk-maid's wish upon her1 that she may 
die in the ,spring2 and1 being dead1 may
 have good store of flowers stuck round 
about her winding-sheet4          ,the  
,milk-maid's mother's answer      ,if   
all the world and love were young       
,and truth in every shepherd's tongue1  

,these pretty pleasures might me move   
,to live with thee1 and be thy love4    
,but ,time drives flocks from field to  
fold4     ,when rivers rage1 and rocks  
grow cold     ,then ,philomel becometh  
dumb     ,and age complains of cares to 
come4      ,the flowers do fade1 and    
wanton fields     ,to wayward winter    
reckoning yields4     ,a honey tongue1 a
 heart of gall1     ,is fancy's spring  
but sorrow's fall4      ,thy gowns1 thy 
shoes1 thy beds of roses1     ,thy cap1 
thy kirtle1 and thy posies1     ,soon   
break1 soon wither1 soon forgotten2     
,in folly rise1 in reason rotten4       
,thy belt of straw1 and ivy buds1       
,thy coral clasps1 and amber studs1     
,all these in me no means can move      
,to come to thee1 and be thy love4      
,what should we talk of dainties1 then1 
,of better meat than's fit for men8     
,these are but vain3 that's only good   
,which ,god hath blessed and sent for   
food4      ,but could youth last1 and   
love still breed2     ,had joys no date1

 nor age no need2     ,then those       
delights my mind might move     ,to live
 with thee1 and be thy love4  ,mother4  
,well6 ,i have done my song4 ,but stay1 
honest anglers2 for ,i will make        
,maudlin sing you one short song more4  
,maudlin6 sing that song that you sung  
last night1 when young ,coridon the     
shepherd played so purely on his oaten  
pipe to you and your cousin ,betty4     
,maudlin4 ,i will1 mother4      ,i      
married a wife of late1     ,the more's 
my unhappy fate3       ,i married her   
for love1       ,as my fancy did me     
move1     ,and not for a worldly estate3
      ,but oh6 the green sickness       
,soon changed her likeness2       ,and  
all her beauty did fail4         ,but   
'tis not so         ,with those that go 
,thro'frost and snow         ,as all men
 know1     ,and carry the milking-pail4 
,piscator4 ,well sung1 good woman2 ,i   
thank you4 ,i'll give you another dish  
of fish one of these days2 and then beg 
another song of you4 ,come1 scholar6 let

 ,maudlin alone3 do not you offer to    
spoil her voice4 ,look6 yonder comes    
mine hostess1 to call us to supper4 ,how
 now6 is my brother ,peter come8        
,hostess4 ,yes1 and a friend with him4  
,they are both glad to hear that you are
 in these parts2 and long to see you2   
and long to be at supper1 for they be   
very hungry4      ,the third            
day-continued  ,on the ,trout  ,chapter 
,v  ,piscator1 ,peter1 ,venator1        
,coridon   ,piscator4 ,well met1 brother
 ,peter6 ,i heard you and a friend would
 lodge here to-night2 and that hath made
 me to bring my friend to lodge here    
too4 ,my friend is one that would fain  
be a brother of the angle3 he hath been 
an angler but this day2 and ,i have     
taught him how to catch a ,chub1 by     
dapping with a grasshopper2 and the     
,chub he caught was a lusty one of      
nineteen inches long4 ,but pray1 brother
 ,peter1 who is your companion8  ,peter4
 ,brother ,piscator1 my friend is an    
honest countryman1 and his name is      

,coridon2 and he is a downright witty   
companion1 that met me here purposely to
 be pleasant and eat a ,trout2 and ,i   
have not yet wetted my line since we met
 together3 but ,i hope to fit him with a
 ,trout for his breakfast2 for ,i'll be 
early up4  ,piscator4 ,nay1 brother1 you
 shall not stay so long2 for1 look you6 
here is a ,trout will fill six          
reasonable bellies4  ,come1 hostess1    
dress it presently2 and get us what     
other meat the house will afford2 and   
give us some of your best barley-wine1  
the good liquor that our honest         
forefathers did use to think of2 the    
drink which preserved their health1 and 
made them live so long1 and to do so    
many good deeds4  ,peter4 ,on my word1  
this ,trout is perfect in season4 ,come1
 ,i thank you1 and here is a hearty     
draught to you1 and to all the brothers 
of the angle wheresoever they be1 and to
 my young brother's good fortune        
to-morrow4 ,i will furnish him with a   
rod1 if you will furnish him with the   

rest of the tackling3 we will set him   
up1 and make him a fisher4 ,and ,i will 
tell him one thing for his              
encouragement1 that his fortune hath    
made him happy to be scholar to such a  
master2 a master that knows as much1    
both of the nature and breeding of fish1
 as any man2 and can also tell him as   
well how to catch and cook them1 from   
the ,minnow to the ,salmon1 as any that 
,i ever met withal4  ,piscator4 ,trust  
me1 brother ,peter1 ,i find my scholar  
to be so suitable to my own humour1     
which is to be free and pleasant and    
civilly merry1 that my resolution is to 
hide nothing that ,i know from him4     
,believe me1 scholar1 this is my        
resolution2 and so here's to you a      
hearty draught1 and to all that love us 
and the honest art of ,angling4         
,venator4 ,trust me1 good master1 you   
shall not sow your seed in barren       
ground2 for ,i hope to return you an    
increase answerable to your hopes3 but1 
however1 you shall find me obedient1 and

 thankful1 and serviceable to my best   
ability4  ,piscator4 ',tis enough1      
honest scholar6 come1 let's to supper4  
,come1 my friend ,coridon1 this ,trout  
looks lovely2 it was twenty-two inches  
when it was taken2 and the belly of it  
looked1 some part of it1 as yellow as a 
marigold1 and part of it as white as a  
lily2 and yet1 methinks1 it looks better
 in this good sauce4  ,coridon4 ,indeed1
 honest friend1 it looks well1 and      
tastes well3 ,i thank you for it1 and so
 doth my friend ,peter1 or else he is to
 blame4  ,peter4 ,yes1 and so ,i do2 we 
all thank you3 and1 when we have supped1
 ,i will get my friend ,coridon to sing 
you a song for requital4  ,coridon4 ,i  
will sing a song1 if anybody will sing  
another1 else1 to be plain with you1 ,i 
will sing none4 ,i am none of those that
 sing for meat1 but for company3 ,i say1
  ',tis merry in hall1 ,when men sing   
all4  ,piscator4 ,i'll promise you ,i'll
 sing a song that was lately made1 at my
 request1 by ,mr4 ,william ,basse2 one  

that hath made the choice songs of the  
,hunter in his ,career1 and of ,tom of  
,bedlam1 and many others of note2 and   
this1 that ,i will sing1 is in praise of
 ,angling4  ,coridon4 ,and then mine    
shall be the praise of a ,countryman's  
life4 ,what will the rest sing of8      
,peter4 ,i will promise you1 ,i will    
sing another song in praise of ,angling 
to-morrow night2 for we will not part   
till then2 but fish to-morrow1 and sup  
together3 and the next day every man    
leave fishing1 and fall to his business4
  ,venator4 ,tis a match2 and ,i will   
provide you a song or a catch against   
then1 too1 which shall give some        
addition of mirth to the company2 for we
 will be civil and as merry as beggars4 
,piscator4 ,tis a match1 my masters4    
,let's e'en say grace1 and turn to the  
fire1 drink the other cup to whet our   
whistles1 and so sing away all sad      
thoughts4 ,come on1 my masters1 who     
begins8 ,i think it is best to draw     
cuts1 and avoid contention4  ,peter4 ,it

 is a match4 ,look1 the shortest cut    
falls to ,coridon4  ,coridon4 ,well1    
then1 ,i will begin1 for ,i hate        
contention         ,coridon's song4     
,oh the sweet contentment     ,the      
countryman doth find6         ,heigh    
trolollie lollie foe1         ,heigh    
trolollie lee4     ,that quiet          
contemplation     ,possesseth all my    
mind3         ,then care away           
,and wend along with me4      ,for      
,courts are full of flattery1     ,as   
hath too oft been tried         ,heigh  
trolollie lollie foe1 etc41     ,the    
city full of wantonness1     ,and both  
are full of pride3         ,then care   
away1 etc4      ,but oh1 the honest     
countryman     ,speaks truly from his   
heart         ,heigh trolollie lollie   
foe1 etc4     ,his pride is in his      
tillage1     ,his horses1 and his cart3 
,then care away1 etc4      ,our         
cloathing is good sheep-skins     ,grey 
russet for our wives     ,heigh         
trolollie lollie loe1 etc4     ',tis    

warmth and not gay cloathing     ,that  
doth prolong our lives3     ,then care  
away1 etc4      ,the ploughman1 tho' he 
labour hard1     ,yet on the holy-day   
,heigh trolollie lollie foe1 etc4       
,no emperor so merrily     ,does pass   
his time away3         ,then care away1 
etc4      ,to recompense our tillage1   
,the heavens afford us showers          
,heigh trolollie lollie foe1 etc4       
,and for our sweet refreshment4     ,the
 earth affords us bowers3         ,then 
care away1 etc4      ,the cuckow and the
 nightingale     ,full merrily do sing1 
,heigh trolollie lollie foe1 etc4       
,and with their pleasant roundelays     
,bid welcome to the spring3             
,then care away1 etc4      ,this is not 
half the happiness     ,the countryman  
enjoys         ,heigh trolollie lollie  
foe1 etc41     ,though others think they
 have as much1     ,yet he that says so 
lies3         ,then come away1          
,turn countrymen with me4          ,jo4 
,chalkhill4  ,piscator4 ,well sung1     

,coridon1 this song was sung with       
mettle2 and it was choicely fitted to   
the occasion3 ,i shall love you for it  
as long as ,i know you4 ,i would you    
were a brother of the angle2 for a      
companion that is cheerful1 and free    
from swearing and scurrilous discourse1 
is worth gold4 ,i love such mirth as    
does not make friends ashamed to look   
upon one another next morning2 nor men1 
that cannot well bear it1 to repent the 
money they spend when they be warmed    
with drink4 ,and take this for a rule3  
you may pick out such times and such    
companies1 that you make yourselves     
merrier for a little than a great deal  
of money2 for ',tis the company and not 
the charge that makes the feast2 and    
such a companion you prove3 ,i thank you
 for it4  ,but ,i will not compliment   
you out of the debt that ,i owe you1 and
 therefore ,i will begin my song1 and   
wish it may be so well liked4           
,the ,angler's song4      ,as inward    
love breeds outward talk     ,the hound 

some praise1 and some the hawk          
,some1 better pleas'd with private sport
     ,use tennis1 some a mistress court3
       ,but these delights ,i neither   
wish       ,nor envy1 while ,i freely   
fish4      ,who hunts1 doth oft in      
danger ride2     ,who hawks1 lures oft  
both far and wide     ,who uses games   
shall often prove     ,a loser1 but who 
falls in love1       ,is fetter'd in    
fond ,cupid's snare3       ,my angle    
breeds me no such care4      ,of        
recreation there is none     ,so free as
 fishing is alone2     ,all other       
pastimes do no less     ,than mind and  
body both possess3       ,my hand alone 
my work can do1       ,so ,i can fish   
and study too4      ,i care not1 ,i1 to 
fish in seas1     ,fresh rivers best my 
mind do please1     ,whose sweet calm   
course ,i contemplate1     ,and seek in 
life to imitate3       ,in civil bounds 
,i fain would keep1       ,and for my   
past offences weep4      ,and when the  
timorous ,trout ,i wait     ,to take1   

and he devours my bait1     ,how poor a 
thing1 sometimes ,i find1     ,will     
captivate a greedy mind3       ,and when
 none bite1 ,i praise the wise          
,whom vain allurements ne'er surprise4  
,but yet1 though while ,i fish1 ,i fast1
     ,i make good fortune my repast2    
,and thereunto my friend invite1     ,in
 whom ,i more than that delight3        
,who is more welcome to my dish         
,than to my angle was my fish4      ,as 
well content no prize to take1     ,as  
use of taken prize to make3     ,for so 
our ,lord was pleased1 when     ,he     
fishers made fishers of men2            
,where1 which is in no other game1      
,a man may fish and praise his name4    
,the first men that our ,saviour dear   
,did choose to wait upon him here1      
,blest fishers were1 and fish the last  
,food was that he on earth did taste3   
,i therefore strive to follow those     
,whom he to follow him hath chose4      
,w4 ,b4  ,coridon4 ,well sung1 brother1 
you have paid your debt in good coin4   

,we anglers are all beholden to the good
 man that made this song3 come1 hostess1
 give us more ale1 and let's drink to   
him4 ,and now let's every one go to bed1
 that we may rise early3 but first let's
 pay our reckoning1 for ,i will have    
nothing to hinder me in the morning2 for
 my purpose is to prevent the           
sun-rising4  ,peter4 ,a match4 ,come1   
,coridon1 you are to be my bed-fellow4  
,i know1 brother1 you and your scholar  
will lie together4 ,but where shall we  
meet to-morrow night8 for my friend     
,coridon and ,i will go up the water    
towards ,ware4  ,piscator4 ,and my      
scholar and ,i will go down towards     
,waltham4  ,coridon4 ,then let's meet   
here1 for here are fresh sheets that    
smell of lavender2 and ,i am sure we    
cannot expect better meat1 or better    
usage in any place4  ,peter4 ',tis a    
match4 ,good-night to everybody4        
,piscator4 ,and so say ,i4  ,venator4   
,and so say ,i4     ,the fourth day     
,piscator4 ,good-morrow1 good hostess1  

,i see my brother ,peter is still in    
bed4 ,come1 give my scholar and me a    
morning drink1 and a bit of meat to     
breakfast3 and be sure to get a dish of 
meat or two against supper1 for we shall
 come home as hungry as hawks4 ,come1   
scholar1 let's be going4  ,venator4     
,well now1 good master1 as we walk      
towards the river1 give me direction1   
according to your promise1 how ,i shall 
fish for a ,trout4  ,piscator4 ,my      
honest scholar1 ,i will take this very  
convenient opportunity to do it4  ,the  
,trout is usually caught with a worm1 or
 a minnow1 which some call a peek1 or   
with a fly1 viz4 either a natural or an 
artificial fly3 concerning which three1 
,i will give you some observations and  
directions4  ,and1 first1 for worms4 ,of
 these there be very many sorts3 some   
breed only in the earth1 as the         
earth-worm2 others of1 or amongst       
plants1 as the dug-worm2 and others     
breed either out of excrements1 or in   
the bodies of living creatures1 as in   

the horns of sheep or deer2 or some of  
dead flesh1 as the maggot or gentle1 and
 others4  ,now these be most of them    
particularly good for particular fishes4
 ,but for the ,trout1 the dew-worm1     
which some also call the lob-worm1 and  
the brandling1 are the chief2 and       
especially the first for a great ,trout1
 and the latter for a less4 ,there be   
also of lob-worms1 some called          
squirrel-tails1 a worm that has a red   
head1 a streak down the back1 and a     
broad tail1 which are noted to be the   
best1 because they are the toughest and 
most lively1 and live longest in the    
water2 for you are to know that a dead  
worm is but a dead bait1 and like to    
catch nothing1 compared to a lively1    
quick1 stirring worm4 ,and for a        
brandling1 he is usually found in an old
 dunghill1 or some very rotten place    
near to it1 but most usually in         
cow-dung1 or hog's-dung1 rather than    
horse-dung1 which is somewhat too hot   
and dry for that worm4 ,but the best of 

them are to be found in the bark of the 
tanners1 which they cast up in heaps    
after they have used it about their     
leather4  ,there are also divers other  
kinds of worms1 which1 for colour and   
shape1 alter even as the ground out of  
which they are got2 as the marsh-worm1  
the tag-tail1 the flag-worm1 the        
dock-worm1 the oak-worm1 the gilt-tail1 
the twachel or lob-worm1 which of all   
others is the most excellent bait for a 
salmon1 and too many to name1 even as   
many sorts as some think there be of    
several herbs or shrubs1 or of several  
kinds of birds in the air3 of which ,i  
shall say no more1 but tell you1 that   
what worms soever you fish with1 are the
 better for being well scoured1 that is1
 long kept before they be used3 and in  
case you have not been so provident1    
then the way to cleanse and scour them  
quickly1 is1 to put them all night in   
water1 if they be lob-worms1 and then   
put them into your bag with fennel4 ,but
 you must not put your brandlings above 

an hour in water1 and then put them into
 fennel1 for sudden use3 but if you have
 time1 and purpose to keep them long1   
then they be best preserved in an       
earthen pot1 with good store of moss1   
which is to be fresh every three or four
 days in summer1 and every week or eight
 days in winter2 or1 at least1 the moss 
taken from them1 and clean washed1 and  
wrung betwixt your hands till it be dry1
 and then put it to them again4 ,and    
when your worms1 especially the         
brandling1 begins to be sick and lose of
 his bigness1 then you may recover him1 
by putting a little milk or cream1 about
 a spoonful in a day1 into them1 by     
drops on the moss2 and if there be added
 to the cream an egg beaten and boiled  
in it1 then it will both fatten and     
preserve them long4 ,and note1 that when
 the knot1 which is near to the middle  
of the brandling1 begins to swell1 then 
he is sick2 and1 if he be not well      
looked to1 is near dying4 ,and for moss1
 you are to note1 that there be divers  

kinds of it1 which ,i could name to you1
 but ,i will only tell you that that    
which is likest a buck's-horn is the    
best1 except it be soft white moss1     
which grows on some heaths1 and is hard 
to be found4 ,and note1 that in a very  
dry time1 when you are put to an        
extremity for worms1 walnut-tree leaves 
squeezed into water1 or salt in water1  
to make it bitter or salt1 and then that
 water poured on the ground where you   
shall see worms are used to rise in the 
night1 will make them to appear above   
ground presently4 ,and you may take     
notice1 some say that camphire put into 
your bag with your moss and worms gives 
them a strong and so tempting a smell1  
that the fish fare the worse and you the
 better for it4  ,and now1 ,i shall shew
 you how to bait your hook with a worm  
so as shall prevent you from much       
trouble1 and the loss of many a hook1   
too1 when you fish for a ,trout with a  
running line2 that is to say1 when you  
fish for him by hand at the ground4 ,i  

will direct you in this as plainly as ,i
 can1 that you may not mistake4         
,suppose it be a big lob-worm3 put your 
hook into him somewhat above the middle1
 and out again a little below the       
middle3 having so done1 draw your worm  
above the arming of your hook2 but note1
 that1 at the entering of your hook1 it 
must not be at the head-end of the worm1
 but at the tail-end of him1 that the   
point of your hook may come out toward  
the head-end2 and1 having drawn him     
above the arming of your hook1 then put 
the point of your hook again into the   
very head of the worm1 till it come near
 to the place where the point of the    
hook first came out1 and then draw back 
that part of the worm that was above the
 shank or arming of your hook1 and so   
fish with it4 ,and if you mean to fish  
with two worms1 then put the second on  
before you turn back the hook's-head of 
the first worm4 ,you cannot lose above  
two or three worms before you attain to 
what ,i direct you2 and having attained 

it1 you will find it very useful1 and   
thank me for it3 for you will run on the
 ground without tangling4  ,now for the 
,minnow or ,penk3 he is not easily found
 and caught till ,march1 or in ,april1  
for then he appears first in the river2 
nature having taught him to shelter and 
hide himself1 in the winter1 in ditches 
that be near to the river2 and there    
both to hide1 and keep himself warm1 in 
the mud1 or in the weeds1 which rot not 
so soon as in a running river1 in which 
place if he were in winter1 the         
distempered floods that are usually in  
that season would suffer him to take no 
rest1 but carry him headlong to mills   
and weirs1 to his confusion4 ,and of    
these ,minnows3 first1 you are to know1 
that the biggest size is not the best2  
and next1 that the middle size and the  
whitest are the best2 and then you are  
to know1 that your minnow must be so put
 on your hook1 that it must turn round  
when 'tis drawn against the stream2 and1
 that it may turn nimbly1 you must put  

it on a big-sized hook1 as ,i shall now 
direct you1 which is thus3 ,put your    
hook in at his mouth1 and out at his    
gill2 then1 having drawn your hook two  
or three inches beyond or through his   
gill1 put it again into his mouth1 and  
the point and beard out at his tail2 and
 then tie the hook and his tail about1  
very neatly1 with a white thread1 which 
will make it the apter to turn quick in 
the water2 that done1 pull back that    
part of your line which was slack when  
you did put your hook into the minnow   
the second time2 ,i say1 pull that part 
of your line back1 so that it shall     
fasten the head1 so that the body of the
 minnow shall be almost straight on your
 hook3 this done1 try how it will turn1 
by drawing it across the water or       
against a stream2 and if it do not turn 
nimbly1 then turn the tail a little to  
the right or left hand1 and try again1  
till it turn quick2 for if not1 you are 
in danger to catch nothing3 for know1   
that it is impossible that it should    

turn too quick4 ,and you are yet to     
know1 that in case you want a minnow1   
then a small loach1 or a stickle-bag1 or
 any other small fish that will turn    
quick1 will serve as well4 ,and you are 
yet to know that you may salt them1 and 
by that means keep them ready and fit   
for use three or four days1 or longer2  
and that1 of salt1 bay-salt is the best4
  ,and here let me tell you1 what many  
old anglers know right well1 that at    
some times1 and in some waters1 a minnow
 is not to be got2 and therefore1 let me
 tell you1 ,i have1 which ,i will shew  
to you1 an artificial minnow1 that will 
catch a ,trout as well as an artificial 
fly3 and it was made by a handsome woman
 that had a fine hand1 and a live minnow
 lying by her3 the mould or body of the 
minnow was cloth1 and wrought upon1 or  
over it1 thus1 with a needle2 the back  
of it with very sad ,french green silk1 
and paler green silk towards the belly1 
shadowed as perfectly as you can        
imagine1 just as you see a minnow3 the  

belly was wrought also with a needle1   
and it was1 a part of it1 white silk2   
and another part of it with silver      
thread3 the tail and fins were of a     
quill1 which was shaven thin3 the eyes  
were of two little black beads3 and the 
head was so shadowed1 and all of it so  
curiously wrought1 and so exactly       
dissembled1 that it would beguile any   
sharp-sighted ,trout in a swift stream4 
,and this minnow ,i will now shew you2  
look1 here it is1 and1 if you like it1  
lend it you1 to have two or three made  
by it2 for they be easily carried about 
an angler1 and be of excellent use3 for 
note1 that a large ,trout will come as  
fiercely at a minnow as the             
highest-mettled hawk doth seize on a    
partridge1 or a greyhound on a hare4 ,i 
have been told that one hundred and     
sixty minnows have been found in a      
,trout's belly3 either the ,trout had   
devoured so many1 or the miller that    
gave it a friend of mine had forced them
 down his throat after he had taken him4

  ,now for ,flies2 which is the third   
bait wherewith ,trouts are usually      
taken4 ,you are to know1 that there are 
so many sorts of flies as there be of   
fruits3 ,i will name you but some of    
them2 as the dun-fly1 the stone-fly1 the
 red-fly1 the moor-fly1 the tawny-fly1  
the shell-fly1 the cloudy or            
blackish-fly1 the flag-fly1 the         
vine-fly2 there be of flies1            
caterpillars1 and canker-flies1 and     
bear-flies2 and indeed too many either  
for me to name1 or for you to remember4 
,and their breeding is so various and   
wonderful1 that ,i might easily amaze   
myself1 and tire you in a relation of   
them4  ,and1 yet1 ,i will exercise your 
promised patience by saying a little of 
the caterpillar1 or the palmer-fly or   
worm2 that by them you may guess what a 
work it were1 in a discourse1 but to run
 over those very many flies1 worms1 and 
little living creatures1 with which the 
sun and summer adorn and beautify the   
river-banks and meadows1 both for the   

recreation and contemplation of us      
anglers2 pleasures which1 ,i think1     
myself enjoy more than any other man    
that is not of my profession4  ,pliny   
holds an opinion1 that many have their  
birth1 or being1 from a dew that in the 
spring falls upon the leaves of trees2  
and that some kinds of them are from a  
dew left upon herbs or flowers2 and     
others from a dew left upon coleworts or
 cabbages3 all which kinds of dews being
 thickened and condensed1 are by the    
sun's generative heat1 most of them1    
hatched1 and in three days made living  
creatures1 and these of several shapes  
and colours2 some being hard and tough1 
some smooth and soft2 some are horned in
 their head1 some in their tail1 some   
have none2 some have hair1 some none3   
some have sixteen feet1 some less1 and  
some have none3 but1 as our ,topsel hath
 with great diligence observed1 those   
which have none1 move upon the earth1 or
 upon broad leaves1 their motion being  
not unlike to the waves of the sea4     

,some of them he also observes to be    
bred of the eggs of other caterpillars1 
and that those in their time turn to be 
butterflies2 and again1 that their eggs 
turn the following year to be           
caterpillars4 ,and some affirm1 that    
every plant has its particular fly or   
caterpillar1 which it breeds and feeds4 
,i have seen1 and may therefore affirm  
it1 a green caterpillar1 or worm1 as big
 as a small peascod1 which had fourteen 
legs2 eight on the belly1 four under the
 neck1 and two near the tail4 ,it was   
found on a hedge of privet2 and was     
taken thence1 and put into a large box1 
and a little branch or two of privet put
 to it1 on which ,i saw it feed as      
sharply as a dog gnaws a bone3 it lived 
thus1 five or six days1 and thrived1 and
 changed the colour two or three times  
but by some neglect in the keeper of it1
 it then died and did not turn to a fly3
 but if it had lived1 it had doubtless  
turned to one of those flies that some  
call ,flies of prey1 which those that   

walk by the rivers may1 in summer1 see  
fasten on smaller flies1 and1 ,i think1 
make them their food4 ,and 'tis         
observable1 that as there be these flies
 of prey1 which be very large2 so there 
be others1 very little1 created1 ,i     
think1 only to feed them1 and breed out 
of ,i know not what2 whose life1 they   
say1 nature intended not to exceed an   
hour2 and yet that life is thus made    
shorter by other flies1 or accident4    
',tis endless to tell you what the      
curious searchers into nature's         
productions have observed of these worms
 and flies3 but yet ,i shall tell you   
what ,aldrovandus1 our ,topsel1 and     
others1 say of the ,palmer-worm1 or     
,caterpillar3 that whereas others       
content themselves to feed on particular
 herbs or leaves2 for most think1 those 
very leaves that gave them life and     
shape1 give them a particular feeding   
and nourishment1 and that upon them they
 usually abide2 yet he observes1 that   
this is called a pilgrim1 or            

palmer-worm1 for his very wandering     
life1 and various food2 not contenting  
himself1 as others do1 with any one     
certain place for his abode1 nor any    
certain kind of herb or flower for his  
feeding1 but will boldly and disorderly 
wander up and down1 and not endure to be
 kept to a diet1 or fixt to a particular
 place4  ,nay1 the very colours of      
caterpillars are1 as one has observed1  
very elegant and beautiful ,i shall1 for
 a taste of the rest1 describe one of   
them2 which ,i will1 some time the next 
month1 shew you feeding on a            
willow-tree2 and you shall find him     
punctually to answer this very          
description3 his lips and mouth somewhat
 yellow2 his eyes black as jet2 his     
forehead purple2 his feet and hinder    
parts green2 his tail two-forked and    
black2 the whole body stained with a    
kind of red spots1 which run along the  
neck and shoulder-blade1 not unlike the 
form of ,st4 ,andrew's cross1 or the    
letter ,x1 made thus crosswise1 and a   

white line drawn down his back to his   
tail2 all which add much beauty to his  
whole body4 ,and it is to me observable1
 that at a fixed age this caterpillar   
gives over to eat1 and towards winter   
comes to be covered over with a strange 
shell or crust1 called an aurelia2 and  
so lives a kind of dead life1 without   
eating all the winter4 ,and as others of
 several kinds turn to be several kinds 
of flies and vermin1 the ,spring        
following2 so this caterpillar then     
turns to be a painted butterfly4  ,come1
 come1 my scholar1 you see the river    
stops our morning walk3 and ,i will also
 here stop my discourse3 only as we sit 
down under this honeysuckle hedge1      
whilst ,i look a line to fit the rod    
that our brother ,peter hath lent you1  
,i shall1 for a little confirmation of  
what ,i have said1 repeat the           
observation of ,du ,bartas3      ,god1  
not contented to each kind to give      
,and to infuse the virtue generative1   
,made1 by his wisdom1 many creatures    

breed     ,of lifeless bodies1 without  
,venus' deed4      ,so1 the cold humour 
breeds the ,salamander1     ,who1 in    
effect1 like to her birth's commander1  
,with child with hundred winters1 with  
her touch     ,quencheth the fire1      
tho'glowing ne'er so much4      ,so of  
the fire1 in burning furnace1 springs   
,the fly ,pyrausta with the flaming     
wings3     ,without the fire1 it dies3  
within it joys1     ,living in that     
which each shine else destroys4         
,so1 slow ,botes underneath him sees    
,in th' icy isles those goslings hatch'd
 of trees2     ,whose fruitful leaves1  
falling into the water1     ,are turn'd1
 they say1 to living fowls soon after4  
,so1 rotten sides of broken ships do    
change     ,to barnacles4 ,o            
transformation strange6     ',twas first
 a green tree2 then1 a gallant hull2    
,lately a mushroom2 now1 a flying gull4 
,venator4 ,o my good master1 this       
morning-walk has been spent to my great 
pleasure and wonder3 but1 ,i pray1 when 

shall ,i have your direction how to make
 artificial flies1 like to those that   
the ,trout loves best2 and1 also1 how to
 use them8  ,piscator4 ,my honest       
scholar1 it is now past five of the     
clock3 we will fish till nine2 and then 
go to breakfast4 ,go you to yonder      
sycamore-tree1 and hide your bottle of  
drink under the hollow root of it2 for  
about that time1 and in that place1 we  
will make a brave breakfast with a piece
 of powdered beef1 and a radish or two1 
that ,i have in my fish bag3 we shall1  
,i warrant you1 make a good1 honest1    
wholesome hungry breakfast4 ,and ,i will
 then give you direction for the making 
and using of your flies3 and in the     
meantime1 there is your rod and line2   
and my advice is1 that you fish as you  
see me do1 and let's try which can catch
 the first fish4  ,venator4 ,i thank    
you1 master4 ,i will observe and        
practice your direction as far as ,i am 
able4  ,piscator4 ,look you1 scholar2   
you see ,i have hold of a good fish3 ,i 

now see it is a ,trout4 ,i pray1 put    
that net under him2 and touch not my    
line1 for if you do1 then we break all4 
,well done1 scholar3 ,i thank you4  ,now
 for another4 ,trust me1 ,i have another
 bite4 ,come1 scholar1 come lay down    
your rod1 and help me to land this as   
you did the other4 ,so now we shall be  
sure to have a good dish of fish for    
supper4  ,venator4 ,i am glad of that3  
but ,i have no fortune3 sure1 master1   
yours is a better rod and better        
tackling4  ,piscator4 ,nay1 then1 take  
mine2 and ,i will fish with yours4 ,look
 you1 scholar1 ,i have another4 ,come1  
do as you did before4 ,and now ,i have a
 bite at another4 ,oh me6 he has broke  
all3 there's half a line and a good hook
 lost4  ,venator4 ,ay1 and a good ,trout
 too4  ,piscator4 ,nay1 the ,trout is   
not lost2 for pray take notice1 no man  
can lose what he never had4  ,venator4  
,master1 ,i can neither catch with the  
first nor second angle3 ,i have no      
fortune4  ,piscator4 ,look you1 scholar1

 ,i have yet another4 ,and now1 having  
caught three brace of ,trouts1 ,i will  
tell you a short tale as we walk towards
 our breakfast4 ,a scholar1 a preacher  
,i should say1 that was to preach to    
procure the approbation of a parish that
 he might be their lecturer1 had got    
from his fellow-pupil the copy of a     
sermon that was first preached with     
great commendation by him that composed 
it3 and though the borrower of it       
preached it1 word for word1 as it was at
 first1 yet it was utterly disliked as  
it was preached by the second to his    
congregation1 which the sermon-borrower 
complained of to the lender of it3 and  
was thus answered3 ,i lent you1 indeed1 
my fiddle1 but not my fiddle-stick2 for 
you are to know1 that every one cannot  
make musick with my words1 which are    
fitted for my own mouth4 ,and so1 my    
scholar1 you are to know1 that as the   
ill pronunciation or ill accenting of   
words in a sermon spoils it1 so the ill 
carriage of your line1 or not fishing   

even to a foot in a right place1 makes  
you lose your labour3 and you are to    
know1 that though you have my fiddle1   
that is1 my very rod and tacklings with 
which you see ,i catch fish1 yet you    
have not my fiddle-stick1 that is1 you  
yet have not skill to know how to carry 
your hand and line1 nor how to guide it 
to a right place3 and this must be      
taught you2 for you are to remember1 ,i 
told you ,angling is an art1 either by  
practice or a long observation1 or both4
 ,but take this for a rule1 ,when you   
fish for a ,trout with a worm1 let your 
line have so much1 and not more lead    
than will fit the stream in which you   
fish2 that is to say1 more in a great   
troublesome stream than in a smaller    
that is quieter2 as near as may be1 so  
much as will sink the bait to the       
bottom1 and keep it still in motion1 and
 not more4  ,but now1 let's say grace1  
and fall to breakfast4 ,what say you1   
scholar1 to the providence of an old    
angler8 ,does not this meat taste well8 

and was not this place well chosen to   
eat it8 for this sycamore-tree will     
shade us from the sun's heat4  ,venator4
 ,all excellent good2 and my stomach    
excellent good1 too4 ,and now ,i        
remember1 and find that true which      
devout ,lessius says1 that poor men1 and
 those that fast often1 have much more  
pleasure in eating than rich men1 and   
gluttons1 that always feed before their 
stomachs are empty of their last meat   
and call for more2 for by that means    
they rob themselves of that pleasure    
that hunger brings to poor men4 ,and ,i 
do seriously approve of that saying of  
yours1 that you had rather be a civil1  
well-governed1 well-grounded1 temperate1
 poor angler1 than a drunken lord 3 but 
,i hope there is none such4 ,however1 ,i
 am certain of this1 that ,i have been  
at many very costly dinners that have   
not afforded me half the content that   
this has done2 for which ,i thank ,god  
and you4  ,and now1 good master1 proceed
 to your promised direction for making  

and ordering my artificial fly4         
,piscator4 ,my honest scholar1 ,i will  
do it2 for it is a debt due unto you by 
my promise4 ,and because you shall not  
think yourself more engaged to me than  
indeed you really are1 ,i will freely   
give you such directions as were lately 
given to me by an ingenious brother of  
the angle1 an honest man1 and a most    
excellent fly-fisher4  ,you are to note1
 that there are twelve kinds of         
artificial made ,flies1 to angle with   
upon the top of the water4 ,note1 by the
 way1 that the fittest season of using  
these is in a blustering windy day1 when
 the waters are so troubled that the    
natural fly cannot be seen1 or rest upon
 them4 ,the first is the dun-fly1 in    
,march3 the body is made of dun wool2   
the wings1 of the partridge's feathers4 
,the second is another dun-fly3 the     
body1 of black wool2 and the wings made 
of the black drake's feathers1 and of   
the feathers under his tail4 ,the third 
is the stone-fly1 in ,april3 the body is

 made of black wool2 made yellow under  
the wings and under the tail1 and so    
made with wings of the drake4 ,the      
fourth is the ruddy-fly1 in the         
beginning of ,may3 the body made of red 
wool1 wrapt about with black silk2 and  
the feathers are the wings of the drake2
 with the feathers of a red capon also1 
which hang dangling on his sides next to
 the tail4 ,the fifth is the yellow or  
greenish fly1 in ,may likewise3 the body
 made of yellow wool2 and the wings made
 of the red cock's hackle or tail4 ,the 
sixth is the black-fly1 in ,may also3   
the body made of black wool1 and lapt   
about with the herle of a peacock's     
tail3 the wings are made of the wings of
 a brown capon1 with his blue feathers  
in his head4 ,the seventh is the sad    
yellow-fly in ,june3 the body is made of
 black wool1 with a yellow list on      
either side2 and the wings taken off the
 wings of a buzzard1 bound with black   
braked hemp4 ,the eighth is the         
moorish-fly2 made1 with the body1 of    

duskish wool2 and the wings made of the 
blackish mail of the drake4 ,the ninth  
is the tawny-fly1 good until the middle 
of ,june3 the body made of tawny wool2  
the wings made contrary one against the 
other1 made of the whitish mail of the  
wild drake4 ,the tenth is the wasp-fly  
in ,july2 the body made of black wool1  
lapt about with yellow silk2 the wings  
made of the feathers of the drake1 or of
 the buzzard4 ,the eleventh is the      
shell-fly1 good in mid-,july3 the body  
made of greenish wool1 lapt about with  
the herle of a peacock's tail3 and the  
wings made of the wings of the buzzard4 
,the twelfth is the dark drake-fly1 good
 in ,august3 the body made with black   
wool1 lapt about with black silk2 his   
wings are made with the mail of the     
black drake1 with a black head4 ,thus   
have you a jury of flies1 likely to     
betray and condemn all the ,trouts in   
the river4  ,i shall next give you some 
other directions for fly-fishing1 such  
as are given by ,mr4 ,thomas ,barker1 a 

gentleman that hath spent much time in  
fishing3 but ,i shall do it with a      
little variation4  ,first1 let your rod 
be light1 and very gentle3 ,i take the  
best to be of two pieces4 ,and let not  
your line exceed1 especially for three  
or four links next to the hook1 ,i say1 
not exceed three or four hairs at the   
most2 though you may fish a little      
stronger above1 in the upper part of    
your line3 but if you can attain to     
angle with one hair1 you shall have more
 rises1 and catch more fish4 ,now you   
must be sure not to cumber yourself with
 too long a line1 as most do4 ,and      
before you begin to angle1 cast to have 
the wind on your back2 and the sun1 if  
it shines1 to be before you2 and to fish
 down the stream2 and carry the point or
 top of your rod downward1 by which     
means the shadow of yourself and rod    
too1 will be the least offensive to the 
fish1 for the sight of any shade amazes 
the fish1 and spoils your sport1 of     
which you must take great care4  ,in the

 middle of ,march1 till which time a man
 should not in honesty catch a ,trout2  
or in ,april1 it the weather be dark1 or
 a little windy or cloudy2 the best     
fishing is with the palmer-worm1 of     
which ,i last spoke to you2 but of these
 there be divers kinds1 or at least of  
divers colours3 these and the ,may-fly  
are the ground of all fly-angling3 which
 are to be thus made3  ,first1 you must 
arm your hook with the line1 in the     
inside of it3 then take your scissors1  
and cut so much of a brown mallard's    
feather as1 in your own reason1 will    
make the wings of it1 you having1       
withal1 regard to the bigness or        
littleness of your hook2 then lay the   
outmost part of your feather next to    
your hook2 then the point of your       
feather next the shank of your hook1    
and1 having so done1 whip it three or   
four times about the hook with the same 
silk with which your hook was armed2 and
 having made the silk fast1 take the    
hackle of a cock or capon's neck1 or a  

plover's top1 which is usually better3  
take off the one side of the feather1   
and then take the hackle1 silk or       
crewel1 gold or silver thread2 make     
these fast at the bent of the hook1 that
 is to say1 below your arming2 then you 
must take the hackle1 the silver or gold
 thread1 and work it up to the wings1   
shifting or still removing your finger  
as you turn the silk about the hook1 and
 still looking1 at every stop or turn1  
that your gold1 or what materials soever
 you make your fly of1 do lie right and 
neatly2 and if you find they do so1 then
 when you have made the head1 make all  
fast3 and then work your hackle up to   
the head1 and make that fast3 and then1 
with a needle1 or pin1 divide the wing  
into two2 and then1 with the arming     
silk1 whip it about cross-ways betwixt  
the wings3 and then with your thumb you 
must turn the point of the feather      
towards the bent of the hook2 and then  
work three or four times about the shank
 of the hook2 and then view the         

proportion2 and if all be neat1 and to  
your liking1 fasten4  ,i confess1 no    
direction can be given to make a man of 
a dull capacity able to make a fly well3
 and yet ,i know this1 with a little    
practice1 will help an ingenious angler 
in a good degree4 ,but to see a fly made
 by an artist in that kind1 is the best 
teaching to make it4 ,and1 then1 an     
ingenious angler may walk by the river1 
and mark what flies fall on the water   
that day2 and catch one of them1 if he  
sees the ,trouts leap at a fly of that  
kind3 and then having always hooks      
ready-hung with him1 and having a bag   
always with him1 with bear's hair1 or   
the hair of a brown or sad-coloured     
heifer1 hackles of a cock or capon1     
several coloured silk and crewel to make
 the body of the fly1 the feathers of a 
drake's head1 black or brown sheep's    
wool1 or hog's wool1 or hair1 thread of 
gold and of silver2 silk of several     
colours1 especially sad-coloured1 to    
make the fly's head3 and there be also  

other coloured feathers1 both of little 
birds and of speckled fowl3 ,i say1     
having those with him in a bag1 and     
trying to make a fly1 though he miss at 
first1 yet shall he at last hit it      
better1 even to such a perfection as    
none can well teach him4 ,and if he hit 
to make his fly right1 and have the luck
 to hit1 also1 where there is store of  
,trouts1 a dark day1 and a right wind1  
he will catch such store of them1 as    
will encourage him to grow more and more
 in love with the art of fly-making4    
,venator4 ,but1 my loving master1 if any
 wind will not serve1 then ,i wish ,i   
were in ,lapland1 to buy a good wind of 
one of the honest witches1 that sell so 
many winds there1 and so cheap4         
,piscator4 ,marry1 scholar1 but ,i would
 not be there1 nor indeed from under    
this tree2 for look how it begins to    
rain1 and by the clouds1 if ,i mistake  
not1 we shall presently have a smoking  
shower1 and therefore sit close2 this   
sycamore-tree will shelter us3 and ,i   

will tell you1 as they shall come into  
my mind1 more observations of           
fly-fishing for a ,trout4  ,but first   
for the wind3 you are to take notice    
that of the winds the south wind is said
 to be best4 ,one observes1 that        
444when the wind is south1     ,it blows
 your bait into a fish's mouth4  ,next  
to that1 the west wind is believed to be
 the best3 and having told you that the 
east wind is the worst1 ,i need not tell
 you which wind is the best in the third
 degree3 and yet1 as ,solomon observes1 
that he that considers the wind shall   
never sow2 so he that busies his head   
too much about them1 if the weather be  
not made extreme cold by an east wind1  
shall be a little superstitious3 for as 
it is observed by some1 that there is no
 good horse of a bad colour2 so ,i have 
observed1 that if it be a cloudy day1   
and not extreme cold1 let the wind sit  
in what corner it will and do its worst1
 ,i heed it not4 ,and yet take this for 
a rule1 that ,i would willingly fish1   

standing on the lee-shore3 and you are  
to take notice1 that the fish lies or   
swims nearer the bottom1 and in deeper  
water1 in winter than in summer2 and    
also nearer the bottom in any cold day1 
and then gets nearest the lee-side of   
the water4  ,but ,i promised to tell you
 more of the ,fly-fishing for a ,trout2 
which ,i may have time enough to do1 for
 you see it rains ,may-butter4 ,first   
for a ,mayfly3 you may make his body    
with greenish-coloured crewel1 or       
willowish colour2 darkening it in most  
places with waxed silk2 or ribbed with  
black hair2 or1 some of them1 ribbed    
with silver thread2 and such wings1 for 
the colour1 as you see the fly to have  
at that season1 nay1 at that very day on
 the water4 ,or you may make the        
,oak-fly3 with an orange1 tawny1 and    
black ground2 and the brown of a        
mallard's feather for the wings4 ,and   
you are to know1 that these two are most
 excellent flies1 that is1 the ,may-fly 
and the ,oak-fly4  ,and let me again    

tell you1 that you keep as far from the 
water as you can possibly1 whether you  
fish with a fly or worm2 and fish down  
the stream4 ,and when you fish with a   
fly1 if it be possible1 let no part of  
your line touch the water1 but your fly 
only2 and be still moving your fly upon 
the water1 or casting it into the water1
 you yourself being also always moving  
down the stream4  ,mr4 ,barker commends 
several sorts of the palmer-flies2 not  
only those ribbed with silver and gold1 
but others that have their bodies all   
made of black2 or some with red1 and a  
red hackle4 ,you may also make the      
,hawthorn-fly3 which is all black1 and  
not big1 but very small1 the smaller the
 better4 ,or the oak-fly1 the body of   
which is orange colour and black crewel1
 with a brown wing4 ,or a fly made with 
a peacock's feather is excellent in a   
bright day3 you must be sure you want   
not in your magazine-bag the peacock's  
feather2 and grounds of such wool and   
crewel as will make the grasshopper4    

,and note1 that usually the smallest    
flies are the best2 and note also1 that 
the light fly does usually make most    
sport in a dark day1 and the darkest and
 least fly in a bright or clear day3 and
 lastly note1 that you are to repair    
upon any occasion to your magazine-bag3 
and upon any occasion1 vary and make    
them lighter or sadder1 according to    
your fancy1 or the day4  ,and now ,i    
shall tell you1 that the fishing with a 
natural-fly is excellent1 and affords   
much pleasure4 ,they may be found thus3 
the ,may-fly1 usually in and about that 
month1 near to the river-side1          
especially against rain3 the ,oak-fly1  
on the butt or body of an oak or ash1   
from the beginning of ,may to the end of
 ,august2 it is a brownish fly and easy 
to be so found1 and stands usually with 
his head downward1 that is to say1      
towards the root of the tree3 the small 
black-fly1 or ,hawthorn-fly1 is to be   
had on any hawthorn bush after the      
leaves be come forth4 ,with these and a 

short line1 as ,i shewed to angle for a 
,chub1 you may cape or cop1 and also    
with a grasshopper1 behind a tree1 or in
 any deep hole2 still making it to move 
on the top of the water as if it were   
alive1 and still keeping yourself out of
 sight1 you shall certainly have sport  
if there be ,trouts2 yea1 in a hot day1 
but especially in the evening of a hot  
day1 you will have sport4  ,and now1    
scholar1 my direction for fly-fishing is
 ended with this shower1 for it has done
 raining4 ,and now look about you1 and  
see how pleasantly that meadow looks2   
nay1 and the earth smells so sweetly    
too4 ,come let me tell you what holy    
,mr4 ,herbert says of such days and     
flowers as these1 and then we will thank
 ,god that we enjoy them1 and walk to   
the river and sit down quietly1 and try 
to catch the other place of ,trouts4    
,sweet day1 so cool1 so calm1 so bright1
     ,the bridal of the earth and sky1  
,sweet dews shall weep thy fall         
to-night1           ,for thou must die4 

,sweet rose1 whose hue1 angry and brave1
     ,bids the rash gazer wipe his eye1 
,thy root is ever in its grave1         
,and thou must die4      ,sweet spring1 
full of sweet days and roses1     ,a box
 where sweets compacted lie2     ,my    
music shews you have your closes1       
,and all must die4      ,only a sweet   
and virtuous soul1     ,like season'd   
timber1 never gives1     ,but when the  
whole world turns to coal1              
,then chiefly lives4  ,venator4 ,i thank
 you1 good master1 for your good        
direction for fly-fishing1 and for the  
sweet enjoyment of the pleasant day1    
which is so far spent without offence to
 ,god or man3 and ,i thank you for the  
sweet close of your discourse with ,mr4 
,herbert's verses2 who1 ,i have heard1  
loved angling2 and ,i do the rather     
believe it1 because he had a spirit     
suitable to anglers1 and to those       
primitive ,christians that you love1 and
 have so much commended4  ,piscator4    
,well1 my loving scholar1 and ,i am     

pleased to know that you are so well    
pleased with my direction and discourse4
  ,and since you like these verses of   
,mr4 ,herbert's so well1 let me tell you
 what a reverend and learned divine that
 professes to imitate him1 and has      
indeed done so most excellently1 hath   
writ of our book of ,common ,prayer2    
which ,i know you will like the better1 
because he is a friend of mine1 and ,i  
am sure no enemy to angling4  ,what6    
,pray'r by th' book8 and ,common8 ,yes2 
,why not8            ,the spirit of     
grace     ,and supplication     ,is not 
left free alone           ,for time and 
place1     ,but manner too3 to read1 or 
speak1 by rote1       ,is all alike to  
him that prays1       ,in's heart1 what 
with his mouth he says4      ,they that 
in private1 by themselves alone1        
,do pray1 may take       ,what liberty  
they please1       ,in chusing of the   
ways         ,wherein to make     ,their
 soul's most intimate affections known  
,to him that sees in secret1 when       

,th' are most conceal'd from other men4 
,but he1 that unto others leads the way 
,in public prayer1       ,should do it  
so1       ,as all1 that hear1 may know  
,they need not fear     ,to tune their  
hearts unto his tongue1 and say         
,amen2 not doubt they were betray'd     
,to blaspheme1 when they meant to have  
pray'd4      ,devotion will add life    
unto the letter3         ,and why should
 not       ,that1 which authority       
,prescribes1 esteemed be                
,advantage got8     ,if th' prayer be   
good1 the commoner the better1          
,prayer in the ,church's words1 as well 
,as sense1 of all prayers bears the     
bell4  ,and now1 scholar1 ,i think it   
will be time to repair to our           
angle-rods1 which we left in the water  
to fish for themselves2 and you shall   
choose which shall be yours2 and it is  
an even lay1 one of them catches4  ,and1
 let me tell you1 this kind of fishing  
with a dead rod1 and laying night-hooks1
 are like putting money to use2 for they

 both work for the owners when they do  
nothing but sleep1 or eat1 or rejoice1  
as you know we have done this last hour1
 and sat as quietly and as free from    
cares under this sycamore1 as ,virgil's 
,tityrus and his ,meliboeus did under   
their broad beech-tree4 ,no life1 my    
honest scholar1 no life so happy and so 
pleasant as the life of a well-governed 
angler2 for when the lawyer is swallowed
 up with business1 and the statesman is 
preventing or contriving plots1 then we 
sit on cowslip-banks1 hear the birds    
sing1 and possess ourselves in as much  
quietness as these silent silver        
streams1 which we now see glide so      
quietly by us4 ,indeed1 my good scholar1
 we may say of angling1 as ,dr4 ,boteler
 said of strawberries1 ,doubtless ,god  
could have made a better berry1 but     
doubtless ,god never did2 and so1 if ,i 
might be judge1 ,god never did make a   
more calm1 quiet1 innocent recreation   
than angling4  ,i'll tell you1 scholar2 
when ,i sat last on this primrose-bank1 

and looked down these meadows1 ,i       
thought of them as ,charles the emperor 
did of the city of ,florence3 ,that they
 were too pleasant to be looked on1 but 
only on holy-days4 ,as ,i then sat on   
this very grass1 ,i turned my present   
thoughts into verse3 'twas a ,wish1     
which ,i'll repeat to you3--            
,the ,angler's wish4      ,i in these   
flowery meads would be3     ,these      
crystal streams should solace me2       
,to whose harmonious bubbling noise     
,i with my ,angle would rejoice3        
,sit here1 and see the turtle-dove      
,court his chaste mate to acts of love3 
,or1 on that bank1 feel the west wind   
,breathe health and plenty3 please my   
mind1     ,to see sweet dew-drops kiss  
these flowers1     ,and then washed off 
by ,april showers3       ,here1 hear my 
,kenna sing a song2       ,there1 see a 
blackbird feed her young4      ,or a    
leverock build her nest3     ,here1 give
 my weary spirits rest1     ,and raise  
my low-pitch'd thoughts above           

,earth1 or what poor mortals love3      
,thus1 free from law-suits and the noise
       ,of princes' courts1 ,i would    
rejoice3      ,or1 with my ,bryan1 and a
 book1     ,loiter long days near       
,shawford-brook2     ,there sit by him1 
and eat my meat1     ,there see the sun 
both rise and set3     ,there bid good  
morning to next day2       ,there       
meditate my time away1       ,and ,angle
 on2 and beg to have       ,a quiet     
passage to a welcome grave4  ,when ,i   
had ended this composure1 ,i left this  
place1 and saw a brother of the angle   
sit under that honeysuckle hedge1 one   
that will prove worth your acquaintance4
 ,i sat down by him1 and presently we   
met with an accidental piece of         
merriment1 which ,i will relate to you1 
for it rains still4  ,on the other side 
of this very hedge sat a gang of        
gypsies2 and near to them sat a gang of 
beggars4 ,the gypsies were then to      
divide all the money that had been got  
that week1 either by stealing linen or  

poultry1 or by fortune-telling or       
legerdemain1 or1 indeed1 by any other   
sleights and secrets belonging to their 
mysterious government4 ,and the sum that
 was got that week proved to be but     
twenty and some odd shillings4 ,the odd 
money was agreed to be distributed      
amongst the poor of their own           
corporation3 and for the remaining      
twenty shillings1 that was to be divided
 unto four gentlemen gypsies1 according 
to their several degrees in their       
commonwealth4 ,and the first or chiefest
 gypsy was1 by consent1 to have a third 
part of the twenty shillings1 which all 
men know is #fs4 #h;d4 ,the second was  
to have a fourth part of the #bjs41     
which all men know to be #es4 ,the third
 was to have a fifth part of the #bjs41 
which all men know to be #ds4 ,the      
fourth and last gypsy was to have a     
sixth part of the #bjs41 which all men  
know to be #cs4 #d;d4      ,as for      
example1               #c times #fs4    
#h;d4 are #bjs4     ,and so is #d times 

#es4     are #bjs4     ,and so is #e    
times #ds4     are #bjs4     ,and so is 
#f times #cs4 #d;d4 are #bjs4  ,and yet 
he that divided the money was so very a 
gypsy1 that though he gave to every one 
these said sums1 yet he kept one        
shilling of it for himself         ,as1 
for example1    s4  d4                  
#f   #h                            #e   
#j                            #d   #j   
#c   #d                           ------
     make but 4 4 4 4 4 4  #ai   #j     
,but now you shall know1 that when the  
four gypsies saw that he had got one    
shilling by dividing the money1 though  
not one of them knew any reason to      
demand more1 yet1 like lords and        
courtiers1 every gypsy envied him that  
was the gainer2 and wrangled with him2  
and every one said the remaining        
shilling belonged to him2 and so they   
fell to so high a contest about it1 as  
none that knows the faithfulness of one 
gypsy to another will easily believe2   
only we that have lived these last      

twenty years are certain that money has 
been able to do much mischief4 ,however1
 the gypsies were too wise to go to law1
 and did therefore choose their choice  
friends ,rook and ,shark1 and our late  
,english ,gusman1 to be their           
arbitrators and umpires4 ,and so they   
left this honeysuckle hedge2 and went to
 tell fortunes and cheat1 and get more  
money and lodging in the next village4  
,when these were gone1 we heard as high 
a contention amongst the beggars1       
whether it was easiest to rip a cloak1  
or to unrip a cloak8 ,one beggar        
affirmed it was all one3 but that was   
denied1 by asking her1 ,if doing and    
undoing were all one8 ,then another     
said1 'twas easiest to unrip a cloak2   
for that was to let it alone3 but she   
was answered1 by asking her1 how she    
unript it if she let it alone8 and she  
confess herself mistaken4 ,these and    
twenty such like questions were proposed
 and answered1 with as much beggarly    
logick and earnestness as was ever heard

 to proceed from the mouth of the       
pertinacious schismatick2 and sometimes 
all the beggars1 whose number was       
neither more nor less than the poets'   
nine muses1 talked all together about   
this ripping and unripping2 and so loud1
 that not one heard what the other said3
 but1 at last1 one beggar craved        
audience2 and told them that old father 
,clause1 whom ,ben ,jonson1 in his      
,beggar's ,bush1 created ,king of their 
corporation1 was to lodge at an         
ale-house1 called ,catch-her-by-the-way1
 not far from ,waltham ,cross1 and in   
the high road towards ,london2 and he   
therefore desired them to spend no more 
time about that and such like questions1
 but refer all to father ,clause at     
night1 for he was an upright judge1 and 
in the meantime draw cuts1 what song    
should be next sung1 and who should sing
 it4 ,they all agreed to the motion2 and
 the lot fell to her that was the       
youngest1 and veriest virgin of the     
company4 ,and she sung ,frank ,davison's

 song1 which he made forty years ago2   
and all the others of the company joined
 to sing the burthen with her4 ,the     
ditty was this2 but first the burthen3  
,bright shines the sun2 play1 ,beggars1 
play2       ,here's scraps enough to    
serve to-day4      ,what noise of viols 
is so sweet1       ,as when our merry   
clappers ring8     ,what mirth doth want
 where ,beggars meet8       ,a ,beggar's
 life is for a ,king4     ,eat1 drink1  
and play1 sleep when we list     ,go    
where we will1 so stocks be mist4       
,bright shines the sun2 play1 ,beggars1 
play1       ,here's scraps enough to    
serve to-day4      ,the world is ours1  
and ours alone2       ,for we alone have
 world at will     ,we purchase not1 all
 is our own2       ,both fields and     
streets we ,beggars fill4       ,nor    
care to get1 nor fear to keep1          
,did ever break a ,beggar's sleep1      
,play1 ,beggars1 play2 play1 ,beggars1  
play2       ,here's scraps enough to    
serve to-day4      ,a hundred head of   

black and white       ,upon our gowns   
securely feed ,if any dare his master   
bite       ,he dies therefore1 as sure  
as creed4     ,thus ,beggars lord it as 
they please2     ,and only ,beggars live
 at ease4       ,bright shines the sun2 
play1 ,beggars1 play2       ,here's     
scraps enough to serve to-day4          
,venator4 ,i thank you1 good master1 for
 this piece of merriment1 and this song1
 which was well humoured by the maker1  
and well remembered by you4  ,piscator4 
,but1 ,i pray1 forget not the catch     
which you promised to make against      
night2 for our countryman1 honest       
,coridon1 will expect your catch1 and my
 song1 which ,i must be forced to patch 
up1 for it is so long since ,i learnt   
it1 that ,i have forgot a part of it4   
,but1 come1 now it hath done raining1   
let's stretch our legs a little in a    
gentle walk to the river1 and try what  
interest our angles will pay us for     
lending them so long to be used by the  
,trouts2 lent them indeed1 like usurers1

 for our profit and their destruction4  
,venator4 ,oh me6 look you1 master1 a   
fish6 a fish6 ,oh1 alas1 master1 ,i have
 lost her4  ,piscator4 ,ay marry1 ,sir1 
that was a good fish indeed3 if ,i had  
had the luck to have taken up that rod1 
then 'tis twenty to one he should not   
have broken my line by running to the   
rod's end1 as you suffered him4 ,i would
 have held him within the bent of my    
rod1 unless he had been fellow to the   
great ,trout that is near an ell long1  
which was of such a length and depth1   
that he had his picture drawn1 and now  
is to be seen at mine host ,rickabie's1 
at the ,george in ,ware1 and it may be1 
by giving that very great ,trout the    
rod1 that is1 by casting it to him into 
the water1 ,i might have caught him at  
the long run1 for so ,i use always to do
 when ,i meet with an over-grown fish2  
and you will learn to do so too1        
hereafter1 for ,i tell you1 scholar1    
fishing is an art1 or1 at least1 it is  
an art to catch fish4  ,venator4 ,but1  

master1 ,i have heard that the great    
,trout you speak of is a ,salmon4       
,piscator4 ,trust me1 scholar1 ,i know  
not what to say to it4 ,there are many  
country people that believe hares change
 sexes every year3 and there be very    
many learned men think so too1 for in   
their dissecting them they find many    
reasons to incline them to that belief4 
,and to make the wonder seem yet less1  
that hares change sexes1 note that ,dr4 
,mer4 ,casaubon affirms1 in his book ,of
 credible and incredible things1 that   
,gasper ,peucerus1 a learned physician1 
tells us of a people that once a year   
turn wolves1 partly in shape1 and partly
 in conditions4 ,and so1 whether this   
were a ,salmon when he came into fresh  
water1 and his not returning into the   
sea hath altered him to another colour  
or kind1 ,i am not able to say2 but ,i  
am certain he hath all the signs of     
being a ,trout1 both for his shape1     
colour1 and spots2 and yet many think he
 is not4  ,venator4 ,but1 master1 will  

this ,trout which ,i had hold of die8   
for it is like he hath the hook in his  
belly4  ,piscator4 ,i will tell you1    
scholar1 that unless the hook be fast in
 his very gorge1 'tis more than probable
 he will live1 and a little time1 with  
the help of the water1 will rust the    
hook1 and it will in time wear away1 as 
the gravel doth in the horse-hoof1 which
 only leaves a false quarter4  ,and now1
 scholar1 let's go to my rod4 ,look you1
 scholar1 ,i have a fish too1 but it    
proves a logger-headed ,chub3 and this  
is not much amiss1 for this will        
pleasure some poor body1 as we go to our
 lodging to meet our brother ,peter and 
honest ,coridon4 ,come1 now bait your   
hook again1 and lay it into the water1  
for it rains again2 and we will even    
retire to the ,sycamore-tree1 and there 
,i will give you more directions        
concerning fishing1 for ,i would fain   
make you an artist4  ,venator4 ,yes1    
good master1 ,i pray let it be so4      
,piscator4 ,well1 scholar1 now that we  

are sate down and are at ease1 ,i shall 
tell you a little more of               
,trout-fishing1 before ,i speak of the  
,salmon1 which ,i purpose shall be next1
 and then of the ,pike or ,luce4  ,you  
are to know1 there is night as well as  
day fishing for a ,trout2 and that1 in  
the night1 the best ,trouts come out of 
their holes4 ,and the manner of taking  
them is on the top of the water with a  
great lob or garden-worm1 or rather two1
 which you are to fish with in a stream 
where the waters run somewhat quietly1  
for in a stream the bait will not be so 
well discerned4 ,i say1 in a quiet or   
dead place1 near to some swift1 there   
draw your bait over the top of the      
water1 to and fro1 and if there be a    
good ,trout in the hole1 he will take   
it1 especially if the night be dark1 for
 then he is bold1 and lies near the top 
of the water1 watching the motion of any
 frog or water-rat1 or mouse1 that swims
 betwixt him and the sky2 these he hunts
 after1 if he sees the water but wrinkle

 or move in one of these dead holes1    
where these great old ,trouts usually   
lie1 near to their holds2 for you are to
 note1 that the great old ,trout is both
 subtle and fearful1 and lies close all 
day1 and does not usually stir out of   
his hold1 but lies in it as close in the
 day as the timorous hare does in her   
form2 for the chief feeding of either is
 seldom in the day1 but usually in the  
night1 and then the great ,trout feeds  
very boldly4  ,and you must fish for him
 with a strong line1 and not a little   
hook2 and let him have time to gorge    
your hook1 for he does not usually      
forsake it1 as he oft will in the       
day-fishing4 ,and if the night be not   
dark1 then fish so with an artificial   
fly of a light colour1 and at the snap3 
nay1 he will sometimes rise at a dead   
mouse1 or a piece of cloth1 or anything 
that seems to swim across the water1 or 
to be in motion4 ,this is a choice way1 
but ,i have not oft used it1 because it 
is void of the pleasures that such days 

as these1 that we two now enjoy1 afford 
an angler4  ,and you are to know1 that  
in ,hampshire1 which ,i think exceeds   
all ,england for swift1 shallow1 clear1 
pleasant brooks1 and store of ,trouts1  
they used to catch ,trouts in the night1
 by the light of a torch or straw1      
which1 when they have discovered1 they  
strike with a ,trout-spear1 or other    
ways4 ,this kind of way they catch very 
many3 but ,i would not believe it till  
,i was an eye-witness of it1 nor do ,i  
like it now ,i have seen it4  ,venator4 
,but1 master1 do not ,trouts see us in  
the night8  ,piscator ,yes1 and hear1   
and smell too1 both then and in the     
day-time3 for ,gesner observes1 the     
,otter smells a fish forty furlongs off 
him in the water3 and that it may be    
true1 seems to be affirmed by ,sir      
,francis ,bacon1 in the eighth century  
of his ,natural ,history1 who there     
proves that waters may be the medium of 
sounds1 by demonstrating it thus3 ,that 
if you knock two stones together very   

deep under the water1 those that stand  
on a bank near to that place may hear   
the noise without any diminution of it  
by the water 4 ,he also offers the like 
experiment concerning the letting an    
anchor fall1 by a very long cable or    
rope1 on a rock1 or the sand1 within the
 sea4 ,and this being so well observed  
and demonstrated as it is by that       
learned man1 has made me to believe that
 ,eels unbed themselves and stir at the 
noise of thunder1 and not only1 as some 
think1 by the motion or stirring of the 
earth which is occasioned by that       
thunder4  ,and this reason of ,sir      
,francis ,bacon has made me crave pardon
 of one that ,i laughed at for affirming
 that he knew ,carps come to a certain  
place1 in a pond1 to be fed at the      
ringing of a bell or the beating of a   
drum4 ,and1 however1 it shall be a rule 
for me to make as little noise as ,i can
 when ,i am fishing1 until ,sir ,francis
 ,bacon be confuted1 which ,i shall give
 any man leave to do4  ,and lest you may

 think him singular in this opinion1 ,i 
will tell you1 this seems to be believed
 by our learned ,doctor ,hakewill1 who  
in his ,apology of ,god's power and     
providence1 quotes ,pliny to report that
 one of the emperors had particular     
fish-ponds1 and1 in them1 several fish  
that appeared and came when they were   
called by their particular names4 ,and  
,st4 ,james tells us1 that all things in
 the sea have been tamed by mankind4    
,and ,pliny tells us1 that ,antonia1 the
 wife of ,drusus1 had a ,lamprey at     
whose gills she hung jewels or          
ear-rings2 and that others have been so 
tender-hearted as to shed tears at the  
death of fishes which they have kept and
 loved4 ,and these observations1 which  
will to most hearers seem wonderful1    
seem to have a further confirmation from
 ,martial1 who writes thus3--           
,piscator1 fuge2 ne nocens1 etc4        
,angler6 would'st thou be guiltless 8   
then forbear2     ,for these are sacred 
fishes that swim here1     ,who know    

their sovereign1 and will lick his hand1
     ,than which none's greater in the  
world's command2     ,nay more they've  
names1 and1 when they called are1       
,do to their several owner's call       
repair4  ,all the further use that ,i   
shall make of this shall be1 to advise  
anglers to be patient1 and forbear      
swearing1 lest they be heard1 and catch 
no fish4  ,and so ,i shall proceed next 
to tell you1 it is certain that certain 
fields near ,leominster1 a town in      
,herefordshire1 are observed to make the
 sheep that graze upon them more fat    
than the next1 and also to bear finer   
wool2 that is to say1 that that year in 
which they feed in such a particular    
pasture1 they shall yield finer wool    
than they did that year before they came
 to feed in it2 and coarser1 again1 if  
they shall return to their former       
pasture2 and1 again1 return to a finer  
wool1 being fed in the fine wool ground3
 which ,i tell you1 that you may the    
better believe that ,i am certain1 if ,i

 catch a ,trout in one meadow1 he shall 
be white and faint1 and very like to be 
lousy2 and1 as certainly1 it ,i catch a 
,trout in the next meadow1 he shall be  
strong1 and red1 and lusty1 and much    
better meat4 ,trust me1 scholar1 ,i have
 caught many a ,trout in a particular   
meadow1 that the very shape and the     
enamelled colour of him hath been such  
as hath joyed me to look on him3 and ,i 
have then1 with much pleasure1 concluded
 with ,solomon1 ,everything is beautiful
 in his season4  ,i should1 by promise1 
speak next of the ,salmon2 but ,i will1 
by your favour1 say a little of the     
,umber or ,grayling2 which is so like a 
,trout for his shape and feeding1 that  
,i desire ,i may exercise your patience 
with a short discourse of him2 and then1
 the next shall be of the ,salmon4      
,the fourth day-continued  ,the ,umber  
or ,grayling  ,chapter ,,vi  ,piscator  
,the ,umber and ,grayling are thought by
 some to differ as the ,herring and     
,pilchard do4 ,but though they may do so

 in other nations1 ,i think those in    
,england differ nothing but in their    
names4 ,aldrovandus says1 they be of a  
,trout kind2 and ,gesner says1 that in  
his country1 which is ,switzerland1 he  
is accounted the choicest of all fish4  
,and in ,italy1 he is1 in the month of  
,may1 so highly valued1 that he is sold 
there at a much higher rate than any    
other fish4 ,the ,french1 which call the
 ,chub ,un ,villain1 call the ,umber of 
the lake ,leman ,un ,umble ,chevalier2  
and they value the ,umber or ,grayling  
so highly1 that they say he feeds on    
gold2 and say1 that many have been      
caught out of their famous river of     
,loire1 out of whose bellies grains of  
gold have been often taken4 ,and some   
think that he feeds on water thyme1 and 
smells of it at his first taking out of 
the water2 and they may think so with as
 good reason as we do that our ,smelts  
smell like violets at their being first 
caught1 which ,i think is a truth4      
,aldrovandus says1 the ,salmon1 the     

,grayling1 and ,trout1 and all fish that
 live in clear and sharp streams1 are   
made by their mother ,nature of such    
exact shape and pleasant colours        
purposely to invite us to a joy and     
contentedness in feasting with her4     
,whether this is a truth or not1 is not 
my purpose to dispute3 but 'tis certain1
 all that write of the ,umber declare   
him to be very medicinable4 ,and ,gesner
 says1 that the fat of an ,umber or     
,grayling1 being set1 with a little     
honey1 a day or two in the sun1 in a    
little glass1 is very excellent against 
redness or swarthiness1 or anything that
 breeds in the eyes4 ,salvian takes him 
to be called ,umber from his swift      
swimming1 or gliding out of sight more  
like a shadow or a ghost than a fish4   
,much more might be said both of his    
smell and taste3 but ,i shall only tell 
you that ,st4 ,ambrose1 the glorious    
bishop of ,milan1 who lived when the    
church kept fasting-days1 calls him the 
flower-fish1 or flower of fishes2 and   

that he was so far in love with him1    
that he would not let him pass without  
the honour of a long discourse2 but ,i  
must2 and pass on to tell you how to    
take this dainty fish4  ,first note1    
that he grows not to the bigness of a   
,trout2 for the biggest of them do not  
usually exceed eighteen inches4 ,he     
lives in such rivers as the ,trout does2
 and is usually taken with the same     
baits as the ,trout is1 and after the   
same manner2 for he will bite both at   
the minnow1 or worm1 or fly1 though he  
bites not often at the minnow1 and is   
very gamesome at the fly2 and much      
simpler1 and therefore bolder than a    
,trout2 for he will rise twenty times at
 a fly1 if you miss him1 and yet rise   
again4 ,he has been taken with a fly    
made of the red feathers of a paroquet1 
a strange outlandish bird2 and he will  
rise at a fly not unlike a gnat1 or a   
small moth1 or1 indeed1 at most flies   
that are not too big4 ,he is a fish that
 lurks close all ,winter1 but is very   

pleasant and jolly after mid-,april1 and
 in ,may1 and in the hot months4 ,he is 
of a very fine shape1 his flesh is      
white1 his teeth1 those little ones that
 he has1 are in his throat1 yet he has  
so tender a mouth1 that he is oftener   
lost after an angler has hooked him than
 any other fish4 ,though there be many  
of these fishes in the delicate river   
,dove1 and in ,trent1 and some other    
smaller rivers1 as that which runs by   
,salisbury1 yet he is not so general a  
fish as the ,trout1 nor to me so good to
 eat or to angle for4 ,and so ,i shall  
take my leave of him3 and now come to   
some observations of the ,salmon1 and   
how to catch him4     ,the fourth       
day-continued  ,the ,salmon  ,chapter   
,,vii  ,piscator  ,the ,salmon is       
accounted the ,king of freshwater fish2 
and is ever bred in rivers relating to  
the sea1 yet so high1 or far from it1 as
 admits of no tincture of salt1 or      
brackishness4 ,he is said to breed or   
cast his spawn1 in most rivers1 in the  

month of ,august3 some say1 that then   
they dig a hole or grave in a safe place
 in the gravel1 and there place their   
eggs or spawn1 after the melter has done
 his natural office1 and then hide it   
most cunningly1 and cover it over with  
gravel and stones2 and then leave it to 
their ,creator's protection1 who1 by a  
gentle heat which he infuses into that  
cold element1 makes it brood1 and beget 
life in the spawn1 and to become        
,samlets early in the spring next       
following4  ,the ,salmons having spent  
their appointed time1 and done this     
natural duty in the fresh waters1 they  
then haste to the sea before winter1    
both the melter and spawner2 but if they
 be stopped by flood-gates or weirs1 or 
lost in the fresh waters1 then those so 
left behind by degrees grow sick and    
lean1 and unseasonable1 and kipper1 that
 is to say1 have bony gristles grow out 
of their lower chaps1 not unlike a      
hawk's beak1 which hinders their        
feeding2 and1 in time1 such fish so left

 behind pine away and die4 ',tis        
observed1 that he may live thus one year
 from the sea2 but he then grows insipid
 and tasteless1 and loses both his blood
 and strength1 and pines and dies the   
second year4 ,and 'tis noted1 that those
 little ,salmons called ,skeggers1 which
 abound in many rivers relating to the  
sea1 are bred by such sick ,salmons that
 might not go to the sea1 and that      
though they abound1 yet they never      
thrive to any considerable bigness4     
,but if the old ,salmon gets to the sea1
 then that gristle which shews him to be
 kipper1 wears away1 or is cast off1 as 
the eagle is said to cast his bill1 and 
he recovers his strength1 and comes next
 summer to the same river1 if it be     
possible1 to enjoy the former pleasures 
that there possess him2 for1 as one has 
wittily observed1 he has1 like some     
persons of honour and riches which have 
both their winter and summer houses1 the
 fresh rivers for summer1 and the salt  
water for winter1 to spend his life in2 

which is not1 as ,sir ,francis ,bacon   
hath observed in his ,history of ,life  
and ,death1 above ten years4 ,and it is 
to be observed1 that though the ,salmon 
does grow big in the sea1 yet he grows  
not fat but in fresh rivers2 and it is  
observed1 that the farther they get from
 the sea1 they be both the fatter and   
better4  ,next1 ,i shall tell you1 that 
though they make very hard shift to get 
out of the fresh rivers into the sea yet
 they will make harder shift to get out 
of the salt into the fresh rivers1 to   
spawn1 or possess the pleasures that    
they have formerly found in them3 to    
which end1 they will force themselves   
through floodgates1 or over weirs1 or   
hedges1 or stops in the water1 even to a
 height beyond common belief4 ,gesner   
speaks of such places as are known to be
 above eight feet high above water4 ,and
 our ,camden mentions1 in his           
,britannia1 the like wonder to be in    
,pembrokeshire1 where the river ,tivy   
falls into the sea2 and that the fall is

 so downright1 and so high1 that the    
people stand and wonder at the strength 
and sleight by which they see the       
,salmon use to get out of the sea into  
the said river2 and the manner and      
height of the place is so notable1 that 
it is known1 far1 by the name of the    
,salmon-leap4 ,concerning which1 take   
this also out of ,michael ,drayton1 my  
honest old friend2 as he tells it you1  
in his ,polyolbion3      ,and when the  
,salmon seeks a fresher stream to find2 
7,which hither from the sea comes1      
yearly1 by his kind17     ,as he towards
 season grows2 and stems the watry tract
     ,where ,tivy1 falling down1 makes  
an high cataract1     ,forc'd by the    
rising rocks that there her course      
oppose1     ,as tho' within her bounds  
they meant her to inclose2     ,here    
when the labouring fish does at the foot
 arrive1     ,and finds that by his     
strength he does but vainly strive2     
,his tail takes in his mouth1 and1      
bending like a bow     ,that's to full  

compass drawn1 aloft himself doth throw1
     ,then springing at his height1 as  
doth a little wand     ,that bended end 
to end1 and started from man's hand1    
,far off itself doth cast1 so does that 
,salmon vault2     ,and if1 at first1 he
 fail1 his second summersault     ,he   
instantly essays1 and1 from his nimble  
ring     ,still yerking1 never leaves   
until himself he fling     ,above the   
opposing stream----4  ,this ,michael    
,drayton tells you1 of this leap or     
summersault of the ,salmon4  ,and1 next1
 ,i shall tell you1 that it is observed 
by ,gesner and others1 that there is no 
better ,salmon than in ,england2 and    
that though some of our northern        
counties have as fat1 and as large1 as  
the river ,thames1 yet none are of so   
excellent a taste4  ,and as ,i have told
 you that ,sir ,francis ,bacon observes1
 the age of a ,salmon exceeds not ten   
years2 so let me next tell you1 that his
 growth is very sudden3 it is said that 
after he is got into the sea1 he        

becomes1 from a ,samlet not so big as a 
,gudgeon1 to be a ,salmon1 in as short a
 time as a gosling becomes to be a      
goose4 ,much of this has been observed1 
by tying a riband1 or some known tape or
 thread1 in the tail of some young      
,salmons which have been taken in weirs 
as they have swimmed towards the salt   
water2 and then by taking a part of them
 again1 with the known mark1 at the same
 place1 at their return from the sea1   
which is usually about six months after2
 and the like experiment hath been tried
 upon young swallows1 who have1 after   
six months' absence1 been observed to   
return to the same chimney1 there to    
make their nests and habitations for the
 summer following2 which has inclined   
many to think1 that every ,salmon       
usually returns to the same river in    
which it was bred1 as young pigeons     
taken out of the same dovecote have also
 been observed to do4  ,and you are yet 
to observe further1 that the ,he-salmon 
is usually bigger than the ,spawner2 and

 that he is more kipper1 and less able  
to endure a winter in the fresh water   
than the ,she is3 yet she is1 at that   
time of looking less kipper and better1 
as watry1 and as bad meat4  ,and yet you
 are to observe1 that as there is no    
general rule without an exception1 so   
there are some few rivers in this nation
 that have ,trouts and ,salmon in season
 in winter1 as 'tis certain there be in 
the river ,wye in ,monmouthshire1 where 
they be in season1 as ,camden observes1 
from ,september till ,april4 ,but1 my   
scholar1 the observation of this and    
many other things ,i must in manners    
omit1 because they will prove too large 
for our narrow compass of time1 and1    
therefore1 ,i shall next fall upon my   
directions how to fish for this ,salmon4
  ,and1 for that3 ,first you shall      
observe1 that usually he stays not long 
in a place1 as ,trouts will1 but1 as ,i 
said1 covets still to go nearer the     
spring-head3 and that he does not1 as   
the ,trout and many other fish1 lie near

 the water-side or bank1 or roots of    
trees1 but swims in the deep and broad  
parts of the water1 and usually in the  
middle1 and near the ground1 and that   
there you are to fish for him1 and that 
he is to be caught1 as the ,trout is1   
with a worm1 a minnow which some call a 
peek1 or with a fly4  ,and you are to   
observe1 that he is very seldom observed
 to bite at a minnow1 yet sometimes he  
will1 and not usually at a fly1 but more
 usually at a worm1 and then most       
usually at a lob or garden-worm1 which  
should be well scoured1 that is to say1 
kept seven or eight days in moss before 
you fish with them3 and if you double   
your time of eight into sixteen1 twenty1
 or more days1 it is still the better2  
for the worms will still be clearer1    
tougher1 and more lively1 and continue  
so longer upon your hook4 ,and they may 
be kept longer by keeping them cool1 and
 in fresh moss2 and some advise to put  
camphire into it4  ,note also1 that many
 used to fish for a ,salmon with a ring 

of wire on the top of their rod1 through
 which the line may run to as great a   
length as is needful1 when he is hooked4
 ,and to that end1 some use a wheel     
about the middle of their rod1 or near  
their hand1 which is to be observed     
better by seeing one of them than by a  
large demonstration of words4  ,and now 
,i shall tell you that which may be     
called a secret4 ,i have been a-fishing 
with old ,oliver ,henly1 now with ,god1 
a noted fisher both for ,trout and      
,salmon2 and have observed1 that he     
would usually take three or four worms  
out of his bag1 and put them into a     
little box in his pocket1 where he would
 usually let them continue half an hour 
or more1 before he would bait his hook  
with them4 ,i have asked him his reason1
 and he has replied1 ,he did but pick   
the best out to be in readiness against 
he baited his hook the next time3 but he
 has been observed1 both by others and  
myself1 to catch more fish than ,i1 or  
any other body that has ever gone       

a-fishing with him1 could do1 and       
especially ,salmons4 ,and ,i have been  
told lately1 by one of his most intimate
 and secret friends1 that the box in    
which he put those worms was anointed   
with a drop1 or two or three1 of the oil
 of ivy-berries1 made by expression or  
infusion2 and told1 that by the worms   
remaining in that box an hour1 or a like
 time1 they had incorporated a kind of  
smell that was irresistibly attractive1 
enough to force any fish within the     
smell of them to bite4 ,this ,i heard   
not long since from a friend1 but have  
not tried it2 yet ,i grant it probable1 
and refer my reader to ,sir ,francis    
,bacon's ,natural history1 where he     
proves fishes may hear1 and1 doubtless1 
can more probably smell3 and ,i am      
certain ,gesner says1 the ,otter can    
smell in the water2 and ,i know not but 
that fish may do so too4 ',tis left for 
a lover of angling1 or any that desires 
to improve that art1 to try this        
conclusion4  ,i shall also impart two   

other experiments1 but not tried by     
myself1 which ,i will deliver in the    
same words that they were given me by an
 excellent angler and a very friend1 in 
writing3 he told me the latter was too  
good to be told1 but in a learned       
language1 lest it should be made common4
  ,take the stinking oil drawn out of   
polypody of the oak by a retort1 mixed  
with turpentine and hive-honey1 and     
anoint your bait therewith1 and it will 
doubtless draw the fish to it4  ,the    
other is this3 ,vulnera hederae         
grandissimae inflicta sudant balsamum   
oleo gelato1 albicantique persimile1    
odoris vero longe suavissimi4  ',tis    
supremely sweet to any fish1 and yet    
assa foetida may do the like4  ,but in  
these ,i have no great faith2 yet grant 
it probable2 and have had from some     
chymical men1 namely1 from ,sir ,george 
,hastings and others1 an affirmation of 
them to be very advantageous4 ,but no   
more of these2 especially not in this   
place4  ,i might here1 before ,i take my

 leave of the ,salmon1 tell you1 that   
there is more than one sort of them1 as 
namely1 a ,tecon1 and another called in 
some places a ,samlet1 or by some a     
,skegger2 but these1 and others which ,i
 forbear to name1 may be fish of another
 kind1 and differ as we know a ,herring 
and a ,pilchard do1 which1 ,i think1 are
 as different as the rivers in which    
they breed1 and must1 by me1 be left to 
the disquisitions of men of more        
leisure1 and of greater abilities than  
,i profess myself to have4  ,and lastly1
 ,i am to borrow so much of your        
promised patience1 as to tell you1 that 
the trout1 or ,salmon1 being in season1 
have1 at their first taking out of the  
water1 which continues during life1     
their bodies adorned1 the one with such 
red spots1 and the other with such black
 or blackish spots1 as give them such an
 addition of natural beauty as1 ,i      
think1 was never given to any woman by  
the artificial paint or patches in which
 they so much pride themselves in this  

age4 ,and so ,i shall leave them both2  
and proceed to some observations of the 
,pike4      ,the fourth day-continued   
,on the ,luce or ,pike  ,chapter ,,viii 
,piscator and ,venator  ,piscator4 ,the 
mighty ,luce or ,pike is taken to be the
 tyrant1 as the ,salmon is the king1 of 
the fresh water4 ',tis not to be        
doubted1 but that they are bred1 some by
 generation1 and some not2 as namely1 of
 a weed called pickerel-weed1 unless    
learned ,gesner be much mistaken1 for he
 says1 this weed and other glutinous    
matter1 with the help of the sun's heat1
 in some particular months1 and some    
ponds1 apted for it by nature1 do become
 ,pikes4 ,but1 doubtless1 divers ,pikes 
are bred after this manner1 or are      
brought into some ponds some such other 
ways as is past man's finding out1 of   
which we have daily testimonies4  ,sir  
,francis ,bacon1 in his ,history of     
,life and ,death1 observes the ,pike to 
be the longest lived of any fresh-water 
fish2 and yet he computes it to be not  

usually above forty years2 and others   
think it to be not above ten years3 and 
yet ,gesner mentions a ,pike taken in   
,swedeland1 in the year #addi1 with a   
ring about his neck1 declaring he was   
put into that pond by ,frederick the    
,second1 more than two hundred years    
before he was last taken1 as by the     
inscription in that ring1 being ,greek1 
was interpreted by the then ,bishop of  
,worms4 ,but of this no more2 but that  
it is observed1 that the old or very    
great ,pikes have in them more of state 
than goodness2 the smaller or           
middle-sized ,pikes being1 by the most  
and choicest palates1 observed to be the
 best meat3 and1 contrary1 the ,eel is  
observed to be the better for age and   
bigness4  ,all ,pikes that live long    
prove chargeable to their keepers1      
because their life is maintained by the 
death of so many other fish1 even those 
of their own kind1 which has made him by
 some writers to be called the tyrant of
 the rivers1 or the fresh-water wolf1 by

 reason of his bold1 greedy1 devouring1 
disposition2 which is so keen1 as       
,gesner relates1 ,a man going to a pond1
 where it seems a ,pike had devoured all
 the fish1 to water his mule1 had a     
,pike bit his mule by the lips2 to which
 the ,pike hung so fast1 that the mule  
drew him out of the water2 and by that  
accident1 the owner of the mule angled  
out the ,pike4 ,and the same ,gesner    
observes1 that a maid in ,poland had a  
,pike bit her by the foot1 as she was   
washing clothes in a pond4 ,and ,i have 
heard the like of a woman in            
,killingworth pond1 not far from        
,coventry4 ,but ,i have been assured by 
my friend ,mr4 ,segrave1 of whom ,i     
spake to you formerly1 that keeps tame  
,otters1 that he hath known a ,pike1 in 
extreme hunger1 fight with one of his   
,otters for a ,carp that the ,otter had 
caught1 and was then bringing out of the
 water4 ,i have told you who relate     
these things2 and tell you they are     
persons of credit2 and shall conclude   

this observation1 by telling you1 what a
 wise man has observed1 ,it is a hard   
thing to persuade the belly1 because it 
has no ears4  ,but if these relations be
 disbelieved1 it is too evident to be   
doubted1 that a ,pike will devour a fish
 of his own kind that shall be bigger   
than his belly or throat will receive1  
and swallow a part of him1 and let the  
other part remain in his mouth till the 
swallowed part be digested1 and then    
swallow that other part that was in his 
mouth1 and so put it over by degrees2   
which is not unlike the ,ox1 and some   
other beasts taking their meat1 not out 
of their mouth immediately into their   
belly1 but first into some place        
betwixt1 and then chew it1 or digest it 
by degrees after1 which is called       
chewing the cud4 ,and1 doubtless1 ,pikes
 will bite when they are not hungry2    
but1 as some think1 even for very anger1
 when a tempting bait comes near to     
them4  ,and it is observed1 that the    
,pike will eat venomous things1 as some 

kind of frogs are1 and yet live without 
being harmed by them2 for1 as some say1 
he has in him a natural balsam1 or      
antidote against all poison4 ,and he has
 a strange heat1 that though it appear  
to us to be cold1 can yet digest or put 
over any fish-flesh1 by degrees1 without
 being sick4 ,and others observe1 that  
he never eats the venomous frog till he 
have first killed her1 and then as ducks
 are observed to do to frogs in         
spawning-time1 at which time some frogs 
are observed to be venomous1 so         
thoroughly washed her1 by tumbling her  
up and down in the water1 that he may   
devour her without danger4 ,and ,gesner 
affirms1 that a ,polonian gentleman did 
faithfully assure him1 he had seen two  
young geese at one time in the belly of 
a ,pike4 ,and doubtless a ,pike in his  
height of hunger will bite at and devour
 a dog that swims in a pond2 and there  
have been examples of it1 or the like2  
for as ,i told you1 ,the belly has no   
ears when hunger comes upon it4  ,the   

,pike is also observed to be a solitary1
 melancholy1 and a bold fish2           
melancholy1 because he always swims or  
rests himself alone1 and never swims in 
shoals or with company1 as ,roach and   
,dace1 and most other fish do3 and bold1
 because he fears not a shadow1 or to   
see or be seen of anybody1 as the ,trout
 and ,chub1 and all other fish do4  ,and
 it is observed by ,gesner1 that the    
jaw-bones1 and hearts1 and galls of     
,pikes1 are very medicinable for several
 diseases1 or to stop blood1 to abate   
fevers1 to cure agues1 to oppose or     
expel the infection of the plague1 and  
to be many ways medicinable and useful  
for the good of mankind3 but he         
observes1 that the biting of a ,pike is 
venomous1 and hard to be cured4  ,and it
 is observed1 that the ,pike is a fish  
that breeds but once a year2 and that   
other fish1 as namely ,loaches1 do breed
 oftener3 as we are certain tame        
,pigeons do almost every month2 and yet 
the ,hawk1 a bird of prey1 as the ,pike 

is a fish1 breeds but once in twelve    
months4 ,and you are to note1 that his  
time of breeding1 or spawning1 is       
usually about the end of ,february1 or1 
somewhat later1 in ,march1 as the       
weather proves colder or warmer3 and to 
note1 that his manner of breeding is    
thus3 a he and a she ,pike will usually 
go together out of a river into some    
ditch or creek2 and that there the      
spawner casts her eggs1 and the melter  
hovers over her all that time that she  
is casting her spawn1 but touches her   
not4  ,i might say more of this1 but it 
might be thought curiosity or worse1 and
 shall therefore forbear it2 and take up
 so much of your attention as to tell   
you that the best of ,pikes are noted to
 be in rivers2 next1 those in great     
ponds or meres2 and the worst1 in small 
ponds4  ,but before ,i proceed further1 
,i am to tell you1 that there is a great
 antipathy betwixt the ,pike and some   
frogs3 and this may appear to the reader
 of ,dubravius1 a bishop in ,bohemia1   

who1 in his book ,of ,fish and          
,fish-ponds1 relates what he says he saw
 with his own eyes1 and could not       
forbear to tell the reader4 ,which was3 
,as he and the bishop ,thurzo were      
walking by a large pond in ,bohemia1    
they saw a frog1 when the ,pike lay very
 sleepily and quiet by the shore side1  
leap upon his head2 and the frog having 
expressed malice or anger by his sworn  
cheeks and staring eyes1 did stretch out
 his legs and embrace the ,pike's head1 
and presently reached them to his eyes1 
tearing with them1 and his teeth1 those 
tender parts3 the ,pike1 moved with     
anguish1 moves up and down the water1   
and rubs himself against weeds1 and     
whatever he thought might quit him of   
his enemy2 but all in vain1 for the frog
 did continue to ride triumphantly1 and 
to bite and torment the ,pike till his  
strength failed2 and then the frog sunk 
with the ,pike to the bottom of the     
water3 then presently the frog appeared 
again at the top1 and croaked1 and      

seemed to rejoice like a conqueror1     
after which he presently retired to his 
secret hole4 ,the bishop1 that had      
beheld the battle1 called his fisherman 
to fetch his nets1 and by all means to  
get the ,pike that they might declare   
what had happened3 and the ,pike was    
drawn forth1 and both his eyes eaten    
out2 at which when they began to wonder1
 the fisherman wished them to forbear1  
and assured them he was certain that    
,pikes were often so served4  ,i told   
this1 which is to be read in the sixth  
chapter of the book of ,dubravius1 unto 
a friend1 who replied1 ,it was as       
improbable as to have the mouse scratch 
out the cat's eyes4 ,but he did not     
consider1 that there be ,fishing frogs1 
which the ,dalmatians call the          
,water-devil1 of which ,i might tell you
 as wonderful a story3 but ,i shall tell
 you that 'tis not to be doubted but    
that there be some frogs so fearful of  
the water-snake1 that when they swim in 
a place in which they fear to meet with 

him they then get a reed across into    
their mouths2 which if they two meet by 
accident1 secures the frog from the     
strength and malice of the snake2 and   
note1 that the frog usually swims the   
fastest of the two4  ,and let me tell   
you1 that as there be water and land    
frogs1 so there be land and water       
snakes4 ,concerning which take this     
observation1 that the land-snake breeds 
and hatches her eggs1 which become young
 snakes1 in some old dunghill1 or a like
 hot place3 but the water-snake1 which  
is not venomous1 and as ,i have been    
assured by a great observer of such     
secrets1 does not hatch1 but breed her  
young alive1 which she does not then    
forsake1 but bides with them1 and in    
case of danger will take them all into  
her mouth and swim away from any        
apprehended danger1 and then let them   
out again when she thinks all danger to 
be past3 these be accidents that we     
,anglers sometimes see1 and often talk  
of4  ,but whither am ,i going8 ,i had   

almost lost myself1 by remembering the  
discourse of ,dubravius4 ,i will        
therefore stop here2 and tell you1      
according to my promise1 how to catch   
this ,pike4  ,his feeding is usually of 
fish or frogs2 and sometimes a weed of  
his own1 called pickerel-weed1 of which 
,i told you some think ,pikes are bred2 
for they have observed1 that where none 
have been put into ponds1 yet they have 
there found many2 and that there has    
been plenty of that weed in those ponds1
 and that that weed both breeds and     
feeds them3 but whether those ,pikes1 so
 bred1 will ever breed by generation as 
the others do1 ,i shall leave to the    
disquisitions of men of more curiosity  
and leisure than ,i profess myself to   
have3 and shall proceed to tell you1    
that you may fish for a ,pike1 either   
with a ledger or a walking-bait2 and you
 are to note1 that ,i call that a       
,ledger-bait1 which is fixed or made to 
rest in one certain place when you shall
 be absent from it2 and ,i call that a  

,walking-bait1 which you take with you1 
and have ever in motion4 ,concerning    
which two1 ,i shall give you this       
direction2 that your ledger-bait is best
 to be a living bait 7though a dead one 
may catch71 whether it be a fish or a   
frog3 and that you may make them live   
the longer1 you may1 or indeed you must1
 take this course3  ,first1 for your    
,,live-,,bait4 ,of fish1 a roach or dace
 is1 ,i think1 best and most tempting2  
and a perch is the longest lived on a   
hook1 and having cut off his fin on his 
back1 which may be done without hurting 
him1 you must take your knife1 which    
cannot be too sharp1 and betwixt the    
head and the fin on the back1 cut or    
make an incision1 or such a scar1 as you
 may put the arming-wire of your hook   
into it1 with as little bruising or     
hurting the fish as art and diligence   
will enable you to do2 and so carrying  
your arming-wire along his back1 unto or
 near the tail of your fish1 betwixt the
 skin and the body of it1 draw out that 

wire or arming of your hook at another  
scar near to his tail then tie him about
 it with thread1 but no harder than of  
necessity1 to prevent hurting the fish2 
and the better to avoid hurting the     
fish1 some have a kind of probe to open 
the way for the more easy entrance and  
passage of your wire or arming3 but as  
for these1 time and a little experience 
will teach you better than ,i can by    
words4 ,therefore ,i will for the       
present say no more of this2 but come   
next to give you some directions how to 
bait your hook with a frog4  ,venator4  
,but1 good master1 did you not say even 
now1 that some frogs were venomous2 and 
is it not dangerous to touch them8      
,piscator4 ,yes1 but ,i will give you   
some rules or cautions concerning them4 
,and first you are to note1 that there  
are two kinds of frogs1 that is to say1 
if ,i may so express myself1 a flesh and
 fish frog4 ,by flesh-frogs1 ,i mean    
frogs that breed and live on the land2  
and of these there be several sorts     

also1 and of several colours1 some being
 speckled1 some greenish1 some blackish1
 or brown3 the green frog1 which is a   
small one1 is1 by ,topsel1 taken to be  
venomous2 and so is the paddock1 or     
frog-paddock1 which usually keeps or    
breeds on the land1 and is very large   
and bony1 and big1 especially the       
she-frog of that kind3 yet these will   
sometimes come into the water1 but it is
 not often3 and the land-frogs are some 
of them observed by him1 to breed by    
laying eggs2 and others to breed of the 
slime and dust of the earth1 and that in
 winter they turn to slime again1 and   
that the next summer that very slime    
returns to be a living creature1 this is
 the opinion of ,pliny4 ,and ,cardanus  
undertakes to give a reason for the     
raining of frogs3 but if it were in my  
power1 it should rain none but          
water-frogs2 for those ,i think are not 
venomous1 especially the right          
water-frog1 which1 about ,february or   
,march1 breeds in ditches1 by slime1 and

 blackish eggs in that slime3 about     
which time of breeding1 the he and she  
frogs are observed to use divers        
summersaults1 and to croak and make a   
noise1 which the land-frog1 or          
paddock-frog1 never does4  ,now of these
 water-frogs1 if you intend to fish with
 a frog for a ,pike1 you are to choose  
the yellowest that you can get1 for that
 the ,pike ever likes best4 ,and thus   
use your frog1 that he may continue long
 alive3  ,put your hook into his mouth1 
which you may easily do from the middle 
of ,april till ,august2 and then the    
frog's mouth grows up1 and he continues 
so for at least six months without      
eating1 but is sustained1 none but ,he  
whose name is ,wonderful knows how3 ,i  
say1 put your hook1 ,i mean the         
arming-wire1 through his mouth1 and out 
at his gills2 and then with a fine      
needle and silk sew the upper part of   
his leg1 with only one stitch1 to the   
arming-wire of your hook2 or tie the    
frog's leg1 above the upper joint1 to   

the armed-wire2 and1 in so doing1 use   
him as though you loved him1 that is1   
harm him as little as you may possibly1 
that he may live the longer4  ,and now1 
having given you this direction for the 
baiting your ledger-hook with a live    
fish or frog1 my next must be to tell   
you1 how your hook thus baited must or  
may be used2 and it is thus3 having     
fastened your hook to a line1 which if  
it be not fourteen yards long should not
 be less than twelve1 you are to fasten 
that line to any bough near to a hole   
where a ,pike is1 or is likely to lie1  
or to have a haunt2 and then wind your  
line on any forked stick1 all your line1
 except half a yard of it or rather     
more2 and split that forked stick1 with 
such a nick or notch at one end of it as
 may keep the line from any more of it  
ravelling from about the stick than so  
much of it as you intend4 ,and choose   
your forked stick to be of that bigness 
as may keep the fish or frog from       
pulling the forked stick under the water

 till the ,pike bites2 and then the     
,pike having pulled the line forth of   
the cleft or nick of that stick in which
 it was gently fastened1 he will have   
line enough to go to his hold and pouch 
the bait4 ,and if you would have this   
ledger-bait to keep at a fixt place     
undisturbed by wind or other accidents  
which may drive it to the shore-side1   
for you are to note1 that it is         
likeliest to catch a ,pike in the midst 
of the water1 then hang a small plummet 
of lead1 a stone1 or piece of tile1 or a
 turf1 in a string1 and cast it into the
 water with the forked stick to hang    
upon the ground1 to be a kind of anchor 
to keep the forked stick from moving out
 of your intended place till the ,pike  
come3 this ,i take to be a very good way
 to use so many ledger-baits as you     
intend to make trial of4  ,or if you    
bait your hooks thus with live fish or  
frogs1 and in a windy day1 fasten them  
thus to a bough or bundle of straw1 and 
by the help of that wind can get them to

 move across a pond or mere1 you are    
like to stand still on the shore and see
 sport presently1 if there be any store 
of ,pikes4 ,or these live baits may make
 sport1 being tied about the body or    
wings of a goose or duck1 and she chased
 over a pond4 ,and the like may be done 
with turning three or four live baits1  
thus fastened to bladders1 or boughs1 or
 bottles of hay or flags1 to swim down a
 river1 whilst you walk quietly alone on
 the shore1 and are still in expectaion 
of sport4 ,the rest must be taught you  
by practice2 for time will not allow me 
to say more of this kind of fishing with
 live baits4  ,and for your             
,,dead-,,bait for a ,pike3 for that you 
may be taught by one day's going        
a-fishing with me1 or any other body    
that fishes for him2 for the baiting    
your hook with a dead gudgeon or a      
roach1 and moving it up and down the    
water1 is too easy a thing to take up   
any time to direct you to do it4 ,and   
yet1 because ,i cut you short in that1  

,i will commute for it by telling you   
that that was told me for a secret3 it  
is this3 ,dissolve gum of ivy in oil of 
spike1 and therewith anoint your dead   
bait for a ,pike2 and then cast it into 
a likely place2 and when it has lain a  
short time at the bottom1 draw it       
towards the top of the water1 and so up 
the stream2 and it is more than likely  
that you have a ,pike follow with more  
than common eagerness4 ,and some affirm1
 that any bait anointed with the marrow 
of the thigh-bone of a heron is a great 
temptation to any fish4  ,these have not
 been tried by me1 but told me by a     
friend of note1 that pretended to do me 
a courtesy4 ,but if this direction to   
catch a ,pike thus do you no good1 yet  
,i am certain this direction how to     
roast him when he is caught is choicely 
good2 for ,i have tried it1 and it is   
somewhat the better for not being       
common4 ,but with my direction you must 
take this caution1 that your ,pike must 
not be a small one1 that is1 it must be 

more than half a yard1 and should be    
bigger4  ,first1 open your ,pike at the 
gills1 and if need be1 cut also a little
 slit towards the belly4 ,out of these1 
take his guts2 and keep his liver1 which
 you are to shred very small1 with      
thyme1 sweet marjoram1 and a little     
winter-savoury2 to these put some       
pickled oysters1 and some anchovies1 two
 or three2 both these last whole1 for   
the anchovies will melt1 and the oysters
 should not2 to these1 you must add also
 a pound of sweet butter1 which you are 
to mix with the herbs that are shred1   
and let them all be well salted4 ,if the
 ,pike be more than a yard long1 then   
you may put into these herbs more than a
 pound1 or if he be less1 then less     
butter will suffice3 ,these1 being thus 
mixt1 with a blade or two of mace1 must 
be put into the ,pike's belly2 and then 
his belly so sewed up as to keep all the
 butter in his belly if it be possible2 
if not1 then as much of it as you       
possibly can4 ,but take not off the     

scales4 ,then you are to thrust the spit
 through his mouth1 out at his tail4    
,and then take four or five or six split
 sticks1 or very thin laths1 and a      
convenient quantity of tape or          
filleting2 these laths are to be tied   
round about the ,pike's body1 from his  
head to his tail1 and the tape tied     
somewhat thick1 to prevent his breaking 
or falling off from the spit4 ,let him  
be roasted very leisurely2 and often    
basted with claret wine1 and anchovies1 
and butter1 mixt together2 and also with
 what moisture falls from him into the  
pan4 ,when you have roasted him         
sufficiently1 you are to hold under him1
 when you unwind or cut the tape that   
ties him1 such a dish as you purpose to 
eat him out of2 and let him fall into it
 with the sauce that is roasted in his  
belly2 and by this means the ,pike will 
be kept unbroken and complete4 ,then1 to
 the sauce which was within1 and also   
that sauce in the pan1 you are to add a 
fit quantity of the best butter1 and to 

squeeze the juice of three or four      
oranges4 ,lastly1 you may either put it 
into the ,pike1 with the oysters1 two   
cloves of garlick1 and take it whole    
out1 when the ,pike is cut off the spit2
 or1 to give the sauce a haut got1 let  
the dish into which you let the ,pike   
fall be rubbed with it3 ,the using or   
not using of this garlick is left to    
your discretion4 ,m4 ,b4  ,this dish of 
meat is too good for any but anglers1 or
 very honest men2 and ,i trust you will 
prove both1 and therefore ,i have       
trusted you with this secret4  ,let me  
next tell you1 that ,gesner tells us1   
there are no ,pikes in ,spain1 and that 
the largest are in the lake ,thrasymene 
in ,italy2 and the next1 if not equal to
 them1 are the ,pikes of ,england2 and  
that in ,england1 ,lincolnshire boasteth
 to have the biggest4 ,just so doth     
,sussex boast of four sorts of fish1    
namely1 an ,arundel ,mullet1 a          
,chichester ,lobster1 a ,shelsey        
,cockle1 and an ,amerly ,trout4  ,but ,i

 will take up no more of your time with 
this relation1 but proceed to give you  
some ,observations of the ,carp1 and how
 to angle for him2 and to dress him but 
not till he is caught4     ,the fourth  
day-continued  ,on the ,carp  ,chapter  
,,ix  ,piscator  ,the ,carp is the queen
 of rivers2 a stately1 a good1 and a    
very subtil fish2 that was not at first 
bred1 nor hath been long in ,england1   
but is now naturalised4 ,it is said1    
they were brought hither by one ,mr4    
,mascal1 a gentleman that then lived at 
,plumsted in ,sussex1 a county that     
abounds more with this fish than any in 
this nation4  ,you may remember that ,i 
told you ,gesner says there are no      
,pikes in ,spain2 and doubtless there   
was a time1 about a hundred or a few    
more years ago1 when there were no      
,carps in ,england1 as may seem to be   
affirmed by ,sir ,richard ,baker1 in    
whose ,chronicle you may find these     
verses3      ,hops and turkies1 carps   
and beer1     ,came into ,england all in

 a year4  ,and doubtless1 as of sea-fish
 the ,herring dies soonest out of the   
water1 and of fresh-water fish the      
,trout1 so1 except the ,eel1 the ,carp  
endures most hardness1 and lives longest
 out of its own proper element2 and1    
therefore1 the report of the ,carp's    
being brought out of a foreign country  
into this nation is the more probable4  
,carps and ,loaches are observed to     
breed several months in one year1 which 
,pikes and most other fish do not2 and  
this is partly proved by tame and wild  
rabbits2 as also by some ducks1 which   
will lay eggs nine of the twelve months2
 and yet there be other ducks that lay  
not longer than about one month4 ,and it
 is the rather to be believed1 because  
you shall scarce or never take a male   
,carp without a melt1 or a female       
without a roe or spawn1 and for the most
 part very much1 and especially all the 
summer season2 and it is observed1 that 
they breed more naturally in ponds than 
in running waters1 if they breed there  

at all2 and that those that live in     
rivers are taken by men of the best     
palates to be much the better meat4     
,and it is observed that in some ponds  
,carps will not breed1 especially in    
cold ponds2 but where they will breed1  
they breed innumerably3 ,aristotle and  
,pliny say six times in a year1 if there
 be no ,pikes nor ,perch to devour their
 spawn1 when it is cast upon grass or   
flags1 or weeds1 where it lies ten or   
twelve days before it be enlivened4     
,the ,carp1 if he have water-room and   
good feed1 will grow to a very great    
bigness and length2 ,i have heard1 to be
 much above a yard long4 ,it is said by 
,jovius1 who hath writ of fishes1 that  
in the lake ,lurian in ,italy1 ,carps   
have thriven to be more than fifty      
pounds weight3 which is the more        
probable1 for as the bear is conceived  
and born suddenly1 and being born is but
 short lived2 so1 on the contrary1 the  
elephant is said to be two years in his 
dam's belly1 some think he is ten years 

in it1 and being born1 grows in bigness 
twenty years2 and it is observed too1   
that he lives to the age of a hundred   
years4 ,and 'tis also observed1 that the
 crocodile is very long-lived2 and more 
than that1 that all that long life he   
thrives in bigness2 and so ,i think some
 ,carps do1 especially in some places1  
though ,i never saw one above           
twenty-three inches1 which was a great  
and goodly fish2 but have been assured  
there are of a far greater size1 and in 
,england too4  ,now1 as the increase of 
,carps is wonderful for their number1 so
 there is not a reason found out1 ,i    
think1 by any1 why they should breed in 
some ponds1 and not in others1 of the   
same nature for soil and all other      
circumstances4 ,and as their breeding1  
so are their decays also very           
mysterious3 ,i have both read it1 and   
been told by a gentleman of tried       
honesty1 that he has known sixty or more
 large ,carps put into several ponds    
near to a house1 where by reason of the 

stakes in the ponds1 and the owner's    
constant being near to them1 it was     
impossible they should be stole away    
from him2 and that when he has1 after   
three or four years1 emptied the pond1  
and expected an increase from them by   
breeding young ones1 for that they might
 do so he had1 as the rule is1 put in   
three melters for one spawner1 he has1  
,i say1 after three or four years1 found
 neither a young nor old ,carp          
remaining4 ,and the like ,i have known  
of one that had almost watched the pond1
 and1 at a like distance of time1 at the
 fishing of a pond1 found1 of seventy or
 eighty large ,carps1 not above five or 
six3 and that he had forborne longer to 
fish the said pond1 but that he saw1 in 
a hot day in summer1 a large ,carp swim 
near the top of the water with a frog   
upon his head2 and that he1 upon that   
occasion1 caused his pond to be let dry3
 and ,i say1 of seventy or eighty       
,carps1 only found five or six in the   
said pond1 and those very sick and lean1

 and with every one a frog sticking so  
fast on the head of the said ,carps1    
that the frog would not be got off      
without extreme force or killing4 ,and  
the gentleman that did affirm this to   
me1 told me he saw it2 and did declare  
his belief to be1 and ,i also believe   
the same1 that he thought the other     
,carps1 that were so strangely lost1    
were so killed by the frogs1 and then   
devoured4  ,and a person of honour1 now 
living in ,worcestershire1 assured me he
 had seen a necklace1 or collar of      
tadpoles1 hang like a chain or necklace 
of beads about a ,pike's neck1 and to   
kill him3 ,whether it were for meat or  
malice1 must be1 to me1 a question4     
,but ,i am fallen into this discourse by
 accident2 of which ,i might say more1  
but it has proved longer than ,i        
intended1 and possibly may not to you be
 considerable3 ,i shall therefore give  
you three or four more short            
observations of the ,carp1 and then fall
 upon some directions how you shall fish

 for him4  ,the age of ,carps is by ,sir
 ,francis ,bacon1 in his ,history of    
,life and ,death1 observed to be but ten
 years2 yet others think they live      
longer4 ,gesner says1 a ,carp has been  
known to live in the ,palatine above a  
hundred years4 ,but most conclude1 that1
 contrary to the ,pike or ,luce1 all    
,carps are the better for age and       
bigness4 ,the tongues of ,carps are     
noted to be choice and costly meat1     
especially to them that buy them3 but   
,gesner says1 ,carps have no tongue like
 other fish1 but a piece of fleshlike   
fish in their mouth like to a tongue1   
and should be called a palate3 but it is
 certain it is choicely good1 and that  
the ,carp is to be reckoned amongst     
those leather-mouthed fish which1 ,i    
told you1 have their teeth in their     
throat2 and for that reason he is very  
seldom lost by breaking his hold1 if    
your hook be once stuck into his chaps4 
,i told you that ,sir ,francis ,bacon   
thinks that the ,carp lives but ten     

years3 but ,janus ,dubravius has written
 a book ,of fish and fish-ponds in which
 he says1 that ,carps begin to spawn at 
the age of three years1 and continue to 
do so till thirty3 he says also1 that in
 the time of their breeding1 which is in
 summer1 when the sun hath warmed both  
the earth and water1 and so apted them  
also for generation1 that then three or 
four male ,carps will follow a female2  
and that then1 she putting on a seeming 
coyness1 they force her through weeds   
and flags1 where she lets fall her eggs 
or spawn1 which sticks fast to the      
weeds2 and then they let fall their melt
 upon it1 and so it becomes in a short  
time to be a living fish3 and1 as ,i    
told you1 it is thought that the ,carp  
does this several months in the year2   
and most believe1 that most fish breed  
after this manner1 except the ,eel4 ,and
 it has been observed1 that when the    
spawner has weakened herself by doing   
that natural office1 that two or three  
melters have helped her from off the    

weeds1 by bearing her up on both sides1 
and guarding her into the deep4 ,and you
 may note1 that though this may seem a  
curiosity not worth observing1 yet      
others have judged it worth their time  
and costs to make glass hives1 and order
 them in such a manner as to see how    
bees have bred and made their           
honeycombs1 and how they have obeyed    
their king1 and governed their          
commonwealth4 ,but it is thought that   
all ,carps are not bred by generation2  
but that some breed other ways1 as some 
,pikes do4  ,the physicians make the    
galls and stones in the heads of ,carps 
to be very medicinable4 ,but it is not  
to be doubted but that in ,italy they   
make great profit of the spawn of       
,carps1 by selling it to the ,jews1 who 
make it into red caviare2 the ,jews not 
being by their law admitted to eat of   
caviare made of the ,sturgeon1 that     
being a fish that wants scales1 and1 as 
may appear in ,leviticus xi41 by them   
reputed to be unclean4  ,much more might

 be said out of him1 and out of         
,aristotle1 which ,dubravius often      
quotes in his ,discourse of ,fishes3 but
 it might rather perplex than satisfy   
you2 and therefore ,i shall rather      
choose to direct you how to catch1 than 
spend more time in discoursing either of
 the nature or the breeding of this     
,carp1 or of any more circumstances     
concerning him4 ,but yet ,i shall       
remember you of what ,i told you before1
 that he is a very subtil fish1 and hard
 to be caught4  ,and my first direction 
is1 that if you will fish for a ,carp1  
you must put on a very large measure of 
patience1 especially to fish for a river
 ,carp3 ,i have known a very good fisher
 angle diligently four or six hours in a
 day1 for three or four days together1  
for a river ,carp1 and not have a bite4 
,and you are to note1 that1 in some     
ponds1 it is as hard to catch a ,carp as
 in a river2 that is to say1 where they 
have store of feed1 and the water is of 
a clayish colour4 ,but you are to       

remember that ,i have told you there is 
no rule without an exception2 and       
therefore being possess with that hope  
and patience which ,i wish to all       
fishers1 especially to the ,carp-angler1
 ,i shall tell you with what bait to    
fish for him4 ,but first you are to     
know1 that it must be either early1 or  
late2 and let me tell you1 that in hot  
weather1 for he will seldom bite in     
cold1 you cannot be too early1 or too   
late at it4 ,and some have been so      
curious as to say1 the tenth of ,april  
is a fatal day for ,carps4  ,the ,carp  
bites either at worms1 or at paste3 and 
of worms ,i think the bluish marsh or   
meadow worm is best2 but possibly       
another worm1 not too big1 may do as    
well1 and so may a green gentle3 and as 
for pastes1 there are almost as many    
sorts as there are medicines for the    
toothache2 but doubtless sweet pastes   
are best2 ,i mean1 pastes made with     
honey or with sugar3 which1 that you may
 the better beguile this crafty fish1   

should be thrown into the pond or place 
in which you fish for him1 some hours1  
or longer1 before you undertake your    
trial of skill with the angle-rod2 and  
doubtless1 if it be thrown into the     
water a day or two before1 at several   
times1 and in small pellets1 you are the
 likelier1 when you fish for the ,carp1 
to obtain your desired sport4 ,or1 in a 
large pond1 to draw them to any certain 
place1 that they may the better and with
 more hope be fished for1 you are to    
throw into it1 in some certain place1   
either grains1 or blood mixt with       
cow-dung or with bran2 or any garbage1  
as chicken's guts or the like2 and then1
 some of your small sweet pellets with  
which you propose to angle3 and these   
small pellets being a few of them also  
thrown in as you are angling1 will be   
the better4  ,and your paste must be    
thus made3 take the flesh of a rabbit1  
or cat1 cut small2 and bean-flour2 and  
if that may not be easily got1 get other
 flour2 and then1 mix these together1   

and put to them either sugar1 or honey1 
which ,i think better3 and then beat    
these together in a mortar1 or sometimes
 work them in your hands1 your hands    
being very clean2 and then make it into 
a ball1 or two1 or three1 as you like   
best1 for your use3 but you must work or
 pound it so long in the mortar1 as to  
make it so tough as to hang upon your   
hook without washing from it1 yet not   
too hard3 or1 that you may the better   
keep it on your hook1 you may knead with
 your paste a little1 and not too much1 
white or yellowish wool4  ,and if you   
would have this paste keep all the year1
 for any other fish1 then mix with it   
virgin-wax and clarified honey1 and work
 them together with your hands1 before  
the fire2 then make these into balls1   
and they will keep all the year4  ,and  
if you fish for a ,carp with gentles1   
then put upon your hook a small piece of
 scarlet about this bigness1 it being   
soaked in or anointed with oil of petre1
 called by some1 oil of the rock3 and if

 your gentles be put1 two or three days 
before1 into a box or horn anointed with
 honey1 and so put upon your hook as to 
preserve them to be living1 you are as  
like to kill this crafty fish this way  
as any other3 but still1 as you are     
fishing1 chew a little white or brown   
bread in your mouth1 and cast it into   
the pond about the place where your     
float swims4 ,other baits there be2 but 
these1 with diligence and patient       
watchfulness1 will do better than any   
that ,i have ever practiced or heard of4
 ,and yet ,i shall tell you1 that the   
crumbs of white bread and honey made    
into a paste is a good bait for a ,carp2
 and you know1 it is more easily made4  
,and having said thus much of the ,carp1
 my next discourse shall be of the      
,bream1 which shall not prove so        
tedious2 and therefore ,i desire the    
continuance of your attention4  ,but1   
first1 ,i will tell you how to make this
 ,carp1 that is so curious to be caught1
 so curious a dish of meat as shall make

 him worth all your labour and patience4
 ,and though it is not without some     
trouble and charges1 yet it will        
recompense both4  ,take a ,carp1 alive  
if possible2 scour him1 and rub him     
clean with water and salt1 but scale him
 not3 then open him2 and put him1 with  
his blood and his liver1 which you must 
save when you open him1 into a small pot
 or kettle3 then take sweet marjoram1   
thyme1 and parsley1 of each half a      
handful2 a sprig of rosemary1 and       
another of savoury2 bind them into two  
or three small bundles1 and put them in 
your ,carp1 with four or five whole     
onions1 twenty pickled oysters1 and     
three anchovies4 ,then pour upon your   
,carp as much claret wine as will only  
cover him2 and season your claret well  
with salt1 cloves1 and mace1 and the    
rinds of oranges and lemons4 ,that done1
 cover your pot and set it on a quick   
fire till it be sufficiently boiled4    
,then take out the ,carp2 and lay it1   
with the broth1 into the dish2 and pour 

upon it a quarter of a pound of the best
 fresh butter1 melted1 and beaten with  
half a dozen spoonfuls of the broth1 the
 yolks of two or three eggs1 and some of
 the herbs shred3 garnish your dish with
 lemons1 and so serve it up4 ,and much  
good do you6 ,dr4 ,t4      ,the fourth  
day-continued  ,on the ,bream  ,chapter 
,x  ,piscator  ,the ,bream1 being at a  
full growth1 is a large and stately     
fish4 ,he will breed both in rivers and 
ponds3 but loves best to live in ponds1 
and where1 if he likes the water and    
air1 he will grow not only to be very   
large1 but as fat as a hog4 ,he is by   
,gesner taken to be more pleasant1 or   
sweet1 than wholesome4 ,this fish is    
long in growing2 but breeds exceedingly 
in a water that pleases him2 yea1 in    
many ponds so fast1 as to overstore     
them1 and starve the other fish4  ,he is
 very broad1 with a forked tail1 and his
 scales set in excellent order2 he hath 
large eyes1 and a narrow sucking mouth2 
he hath two sets of teeth1 and a        

lozenge-like bone1 a bone to help his   
grinding4 ,the melter is observed to    
have two large melts2 and the female1   
two large bags of eggs or spawn4        
,gesner reports1 that in ,poland a      
certain and a great number of large     
breams were put into a pond1 which in   
the next following winter were frozen up
 into one entire ice1 and not one drop  
of water remaining1 nor one of these    
fish to be found1 though they were      
diligently searched for2 and yet the    
next spring1 when the ice was thawed1   
and the weather warm1 and fresh water   
got into the pond1 he affirms they all  
appeared again4 ,this ,gesner affirms2  
and ,i quote my author1 because it seems
 almost as incredible as the            
resurrection to an atheist3 but it may  
win something1 in point of believing it1
 to him that considers the breeding or  
renovation of the silk-worm1 and of many
 insects4 ,and that is considerable1    
which ,sir ,francis ,bacon observes in  
his ,history of ,life and ,death1 fol4  

#bj1 that there be some herbs that die  
and spring every year1 and some endure  
longer4  ,but though some do not1 yet   
the ,french esteem this fish highly2 and
 to that end have this proverb ,he that 
hath ,breams in his pond1 is able to bid
 his friend welcome2 and it is noted1   
that the best part of a ,bream is his   
belly and head4  ,some say1 that ,breams
 and ,roaches will mix their eggs and   
melt together2 and so there is in many  
places a bastard breed of ,breams1 that 
never come to be either large or good1  
but very numerous4  ,the baits good to  
catch this ,bream are many4 ,first1     
paste made of brown bread and honey2    
gentles2 or the brood of wasps that be  
young1 and then not unlike gentles1 and 
should be hardened in an oven1 or dried 
on a tile before the fire to make them  
tough4 ,or1 there is1 at the root of    
docks or flags or rushes1 in watery     
places1 a worm not unlike a maggot1 at  
which ,tench will bite freely4 ,or he   
will bite at a grasshopper with his legs

 nipt off1 in ,june and ,july2 or at    
several flies1 under water1 which may be
 found on flags that grow near to the   
water-side4 ,i doubt not but that there 
be many other baits that are good2 but  
,i will turn them all into this most    
excellent one1 either for a ,carp or    
,bream1 in any river or mere3 it was    
given to me by a most honest and        
excellent angler2 and hoping you will   
prove both1 ,i will impart it to you4   
#a4 ,let your bait be as big a red worm 
as you can find1 without a knot3 get a  
pint or quart of them in an evening1 in 
garden-walks1 or chalky commons1 after a
 shower of rain2 and put them with clean
 moss well washed and picked1 and the   
water squeezed out of the moss as dry as
 you can1 into an earthen pot or pipkin 
set dry2 and change the moss fresh every
 three or four days1 for three weeks or 
a month together2 then your bait will be
 at the best1 for it will be clear and  
lively4  #b4 ,having thus prepared your 
baits1 get your tackling ready and      

fitted for this sport4 ,take three long 
angling-rods2 and as many and more silk1
 or silk and hair1 lines2 and as many   
large swan or goose-quill floats4 ,then 
take a piece of lead1 and fasten them to
 the low ends of your lines3 then fasten
 your link-hook also to the lead2 and   
let there be about a foot or ten inches 
between the lead and the hook3 but be   
sure the lead be heavy enough to sink   
the float or quill1 a little under the  
water2 and not the quill to bear up the 
lead1 for the lead must lie on the      
ground4 ,note1 that your link next the  
hook may be smaller than the rest of    
your line1 if you dare adventure1 for   
fear of taking the ,pike or ,perch1 who 
will assuredly visit your hooks1 till   
they be taken out1 as ,i will show you  
afterwards1 before either ,carp or      
,bream will come near to bite4 ,note    
also1 that when the worm is well baited1
 it will crawl up and down as far as the
 lead will give leave1 which much       
enticeth the fish to bite without       

suspicion4  #c4 ,having thus prepared   
your baits1 and fitted your tackling1   
repair to the river1 where you have seen
 them swim in skulls or shoals1 in the  
summer-time1 in a hot afternoon1 about  
three or four of the clock2 and watch   
their going forth of their deep holes1  
and returning1 which you may well       
discern1 for they return about four of  
the clock1 most of them seeking food at 
the bottom1 yet one or two will lie on  
the top of the water1 rolling and       
tumbling themselves1 whilst the rest are
 under him at the bottom2 and so you    
shall perceive him to keep sentinel3    
then mark where he plays most and stays 
longest1 which commonly is in the       
broadest and deepest place of the river2
 and there1 or near thereabouts1 at a   
clear bottom and a convenient           
landing-place1 take one of your angles  
ready fitted as aforesaid1 and sound the
 bottom1 which should be about eight or 
ten feet deep2 two yards from the bank  
is best4 ,then consider with yourself1  

whether that water will rise or fall by 
the next morning1 by reason of any      
water-mills near2 and1 according to your
 discretion1 take the depth of the      
place1 where you mean after to cast your
 ground-bait1 and to fish1 to half an   
inch2 that the lead lying on or near the
 ground-bait1 the top of the float may  
only appear upright half an inch above  
the water4  ,thus you having found and  
fitted for the place and depth thereof1 
then go home and prepare your           
ground-bait1 which is1 next to the fruit
 of your labours1 to be regarded4   ,the
 ,,ground-,,bait4  ,you shall take a    
peck1 or a peck and a half1 according to
 the greatness of the stream and        
deepness of the water1 where you mean to
 angle1 of sweet gross-ground           
barley-malt2 and boil it in a kettle1   
one or two warms is enough3 then strain 
it through a bag into a tub1 the liquor 
whereof hath often done my horse much   
good2 and when the bag and malt is near 
cold1 take it down to the water-side1   

about eight or nine of the clock in the 
evening1 and not before3 cast in two    
parts of your ground-bait1 squeezed hard
 between both your hands2 it will sink  
presently to the bottom2 and be sure it 
may rest in the very place where you    
mean to angle3 if the stream run hard1  
or move a little1 cast your malt in     
handfuls a little the higher1 upwards   
the stream4 ,you may1 between your      
hands1 close the malt so fast in        
handfuls1 that the water will hardly    
part it with the fall4  ,your ground    
thus baited1 and tackling fitted1 leave 
your bag1 with the rest of your tackling
 and ground-bait1 near the              
sporting-place all night2 and in the    
morning1 about three or four of the     
clock1 visit the water-side1 but not too
 near1 for they have a cunning watchman1
 and are watchful themselves too4       
,then1 gently take one of your three    
rods1 and bait your hook2 casting it    
over your ground-bait1 and gently and   
secretly draw it to you till the lead   

rests about the middle of the           
ground-bait4  ,then take a second rod1  
and cast in about a yard above1 and your
 third a yard below the first rod2 and  
stay the rods in the ground3 but go     
yourself so far from the water-side1    
that you perceive nothing but the top of
 the floats1 which you must watch most  
diligently4 ,then when you have a bite1 
you shall perceive the top of your float
 to sink suddenly into the water3 yet1  
nevertheless1 be not too hasty to run to
 your rods1 until you see that the line 
goes clear away2 then creep to the      
water-side1 and give as much line as    
possibly you can3 if it be a good ,carp 
or ,bream1 they will go to the farther  
side of the river3 then strike gently1  
and hold your rod at a bent1 a little   
while2 but if you both pull together1   
you are sure to lose your game1 for     
either your line1 or hook1 or hold1 will
 break3 and after you have overcome     
them1 they will make noble sport1 and   
are very shy to be landed4 ,the ,carp is

 far stronger and more mettlesome than  
the ,bream4  ,much more is to be        
observed in this kind of fish and       
fishing1 but it is far fitter for       
experience and discourse than paper4    
,only1 thus much is necessary for you to
 know1 and to be mindful and careful of1
 that if the ,pike or ,perch do breed in
 that river1 they will be sure to bite  
first1 and must first be taken4 ,and for
 the most part they are very large2 and 
will repair to your ground-bait1 not    
that they will eat of it1 but will feed 
and sport themselves among the young fry
 that gather about and hover over the   
bait4  ,the way to discern the ,pike and
 to take him1 it you mistrust your      
,bream hook1 for ,i have taken a ,pike a
 yard long several times at my ,bream   
hooks1 and sometimes he hath had the    
luck to share my line1 may be thus3     
,take a small ,bleak1 or ,roach1 or     
,gudgeon1 and bait it2 and set it1      
alive1 among your rods1 two feet deep   
from the cork1 with a little red worm on

 the point of the hook3 then take a few 
crumbs of white bread1 or some of the   
ground-bait1 and sprinkle it gently     
amongst your rods4 ,if ,mr4 ,pike be    
there1 then the little fish will skip   
out of the water at his appearance1 but 
the live-set bait is sure to be taken4  
,thus continue your sport from four in  
the morning till eight1 and if it be a  
gloomy windy day1 they will bite all day
 long3 but this is too long to stand to 
your rods1 at one place2 and it will    
spoil your evening sport that day1 which
 is this4  ,about four of the clock in  
the afternoon repair to your baited     
place2 and as soon as you come to the   
water-side1 cast in one-half of the rest
 of your ground-bait1 and stand off2    
then whilst the fish are gathering      
together1 for there they will most      
certainly come for their supper1 you may
 take a pipe of tobacco3 and then1 in   
with your three rods1 as in the morning4
 ,you will find excellent sport that    
evening1 till eight of the clock3 then  

cast in the residue of your ground-bait1
 and next morning1 by four of the clock1
 visit them again for four hours1 which 
is the best sport of all2 and after     
that1 let them rest till you and your   
friends have a mind to more sport4      
,from ,st4 ,james's-tide until          
,bartholomew-tide is the best2 when they
 have had all the summer's food1 they   
are the fattest4  ,observe1 lastly1 that
 after three or four days' fishing      
together1 your game will be very shy and
 wary1 and you shall hardly get above a 
bite or two at a baiting3 then your only
 way is to desist from your sport1 about
 two or three days3 and in the meantime1
 on the place you late baited1 and again
 intend to bait1 you shall take a turf  
of green but short grass1 as big or     
bigger than a round trencher2 to the top
 of this turf1 on the green side1 you   
shall1 with a needle and green thread1  
fasten one by one1 as many little red   
worms as will near cover all the turf3  
then take a round board or trencher1    

make a hole in the middle thereof1 and  
through the turf placed on the board or 
trencher1 with a string or cord as long 
as is fitting1 tied to a pole1 let it   
down to the bottom of the water1 for the
 fish to feed upon without disturbance  
about two or three days2 and after that 
you have drawn it away1 you may fall to1
 and enjoy your former recreation4  ,b4 
,a4      ,the fourth day-continued  ,on 
the ,tench  ,chapter ,,xi  ,piscator    
,the ,tench1 the physician of fishes1 is
 observed to love ponds better than     
rivers1 and to love pits better than    
either3 yet ,camden observes1 there is a
 river in ,dorsetshire that abounds with
 ,tenches1 but doubtless they retire to 
the most deep and quiet places in it4   
,this fish hath very large fins1 very   
small and smooth scales1 a red circle   
about his eyes1 which are big and of a  
gold colour1 and from either angle of   
his mouth there hangs down a little     
barb4 ,in every ,tench's head there are 
two little stones which foreign         

physicians make great use of1 but he is 
not commended for wholesome meat1 though
 there be very much use made of them for
 outward applications4 ,rondeletius     
says1 that at his being at ,rome1 he saw
 a great cure done by applying a ,tench 
to the feet of a very sick man4 ,this1  
he says1 was done after an unusual      
manner1 by certain ,jews4 ,and it is    
observed that many of those people have 
many secrets yet unknown to ,christians2
 secrets that have never yet been       
written1 but have been since the days of
 their ,solomon1 who knew the nature of 
all things1 even from the cedar to the  
shrub1 delivered by tradition1 from the 
father to the son1 and so from          
generation to generation1 without       
writing2 or1 unless it were casually1   
without the least communicating them to 
any other nation or tribe2 for to do    
that they account a profanation4 ,and1  
yet1 it is thought that they1 or some   
spirit worse than they1 first told us1  
that lice1 swallowed alive1 were a      

certain cure for the yellow-jaundice4   
,this1 and many other medicines1 were   
discovered by them1 or by revelation2   
for1 doubtless1 we attained them not by 
study4  ,well1 this fish1 besides his   
eating1 is very useful1 both dead and   
alive1 for the good of mankind4 ,but ,i 
will meddle no more with that1 my       
honest1 humble art teaches no such      
boldness3 there are too many foolish    
meddlers in physick and divinity that   
think themselves fit to meddle with     
hidden secrets1 and so bring destruction
 to their followers4 ,but ,i'll not     
meddle with them1 any farther than to   
wish them wiser2 and shall tell you     
next1 for ,i hope ,i may be so bold1    
that the ,tench is the physician of     
fishes1 for the ,pike especially1 and   
that the ,pike1 being either sick or    
hurt1 is cured by the touch of the      
,tench4 ,and it is observed that the    
tyrant ,pike will not be a wolf to his  
physician1 but forbears to devour him   
though he be never so hungry4  ,this    

fish1 that carries a natural balsam in  
him to cure both himself and others1    
loves yet to feed in very foul water1   
and amongst weeds4 ,and yet1 ,i am sure1
 he eats pleasantly1 and1 doubtless1 you
 will think so too1 if you taste him4   
,and ,i shall therefore proceed to give 
you some few1 and but a few1 directions 
how to catch this ,tench1 of which ,i   
have given you these observations4  ,he 
will bite at a paste made of brown bread
 and honey1 or at a marsh-worm1 or a    
lob-worm2 he inclines very much to any  
paste with which tar is mixt1 and he    
will bite also at a smaller worm with   
his head nipped off1 and a cod-worm put 
on the hook before that worm4 ,and ,i   
doubt not but that he will also1 in the 
three hot months1 for in the nine colder
 he stirs not much1 bite at a flag-worm 
or at a green gentle2 but can positively
 say no more of the ,tench1 he being a  
fish ,i have not often angled for2 but  
,i wish my honest scholar may1 and be   
ever fortunate when he fishes4      ,the

 fourth day-continued  ,on the ,perch   
,chapter ,,xii  ,piscator and ,venator  
,piscator4 ,the ,perch is a very good   
and very bold biting fish4 ,he is one of
 the fishes of prey that1 like the ,pike
 and ,trout1 carries his teeth in his   
mouth1 which is very large3 and he dare 
venture to kill and devour several other
 kinds of fish4 ,he has a hooked or hog 
back1 which is armed with sharp and     
stiff bristles1 and all his skin armed1 
or covered over with thick dry hard     
scales1 and hath1 which few other fish  
have1 two fins on his back4 ,he is so   
bold that he will invade one of his own 
kind1 which the ,pike will not do so    
willingly2 and you may1 therefore1      
easily believe him to be a bold biter4  
,the ,perch is of great esteem in       
,italy1 saith ,aldrovandus3 and         
especially the least are there esteemed 
a dainty dish4 ,and ,gesner prefers the 
,perch and ,pike above the ,trout1 or   
any fresh-water fish3 he says the       
,germans have this proverb1 ,more       

wholesome than a ,perch of ,rhine3 and  
he says the ,river-,perch is so         
wholesome1 that physicians allow him to 
be eaten by wounded men1 or by men in   
fevers1 or by women in child-bed4  ,he  
spawns but once a year2 and is1 by      
physicians1 held very nutritive2 yet1 by
 many1 to be hard of digestion4 ,they   
abound more in the river ,po1 and in    
,england1 says ,rondeletius1 than other 
parts3 and have in their brain a stone1 
which is1 in foreign parts1 sold by     
apothecaries1 being there noted to be   
very medicinable against the stone in   
the reins4 ,these be a part of the      
commendations which some philosophical  
brains have bestowed upon the freshwater
 ,perch3 yet they commend the           
,sea-,perch which is known by having but
 one fin on his back1 of which they say 
we ,english see but a few1 to be a much 
better fish4  ,the ,perch grows slowly1 
yet will grow1 as ,i have been credibly 
informed1 to be almost two feet long2   
for an honest informer told me1 such a  

one was not long since taken by ,sir    
,abraham ,williams1 a gentleman of      
worth1 and a brother of the angle1 that 
yet lives1 and ,i wish he may3 this was 
a deep-bodied fish1 and doubtless durst 
have devoured a ,pike of half his own   
length4 ,for ,i have told you1 he is a  
bold fish2 such a one as but for extreme
 hunger the ,pike will not devour4 ,for 
to affright the ,pike1 and save himself1
 the ,perch will set up his fins1 much  
like as a turkey-cock will sometimes set
 up his tail4  ,but1 my scholar1 the    
,perch is not only valiant to defend    
himself1 but he is1 as ,i said1 a       
bold-biting fish3 yet he will not bite  
at all seasons of the year2 he is very  
abstemious in winter1 yet will bite then
 in the midst of the day1 if it be warm3
 and note1 that all fish bite best about
 the midst of warm day in winter4 ,and  
he hath been observed1 by some1 not     
usually to bite till the mulberry-tree  
buds2 that is to say1 till extreme      
frosts be past the spring2 for1 when the

 mulberry-tree blossoms1 many gardeners 
observe their forward fruit to be past  
the danger of frosts2 and some have made
 the like observation of the ,perch's   
biting4  ,but bite the ,perch will1 and 
that very boldly4 ,and1 as one has      
wittily observed1 if there be twenty or 
forty in a hole1 they may be1 at one    
standing1 all catched one after another2
 they being1 as he says1 like the wicked
 of the world1 not afraid1 though their 
fellows and companions perish in their  
sight4 ,and you may observe1 that they  
are not like the solitary ,pike1 but    
love to accompany one another1 and march
 together in troops4  ,and the baits for
 this bold fish are not many3 ,i mean1  
he will bite as well at some1 or at any 
of these three1 as at any or all others 
whatsoever3 a worm1 a minnow1 or a      
little frog1 of which you may find many 
in hay-time4 ,and of worms2 the dunghill
 worm called a brandling ,i take to be  
best1 being well scoured in moss or     
fennel2 or he will bite at a worm that  

lies under cow-dung1 with a bluish head4
 ,and if you rove for a ,perch with a   
minnow1 then it is best to be alive2 you
 sticking your hook through his back    
fin2 or a minnow with the hook in his   
upper lip1 and letting him swim up and  
down1 about mid-water1 or a little      
lower1 and you still keeping him to     
about that depth by a cork1 which ought 
not to be a very little one3 and the    
like way you are to fish for the ,perch 
with a small frog1 your hook being      
fastened through the skin of his leg1   
towards the upper part of it3 and1      
lastly1 ,i will give you but this       
advice1 that you give the ,perch time   
enough when he bites2 for there was     
scarce ever any angler that has given   
him too much4 ,and now ,i think best to 
rest myself2 for ,i have almost spent my
 spirits with talking so long4          
,venator4 ,nay1 good master1 one fish   
more1 for you see it rains still3 and   
you know our angles are like money put  
to usury2 they may thrive1 though we sit

 still1 and do nothing but talk and     
enjoy one another4 ,come1 come1 the     
other fish1 good master4  ,piscator4    
,but1 scholar1 have you nothing to mix  
with this discourse1 which now grows    
both tedious and tiresome8 ,shall ,i    
have nothing from you1 that seem to have
 both a good memory and a cheerful      
spirit8  ,venator4 ,yes1 master1 ,i will
 speak you a copy of verses that were   
made by ,doctor ,donne1 and made to shew
 the world that he could make soft and  
smooth verses1 when he thought          
smoothness worth his labour3 and ,i love
 them the better1 because they allude to
 ,rivers1 and ,fish and ,fishing4 ,they 
be these3      ,come1 live with me1 and 
be my love1     ,and we will some new   
pleasures prove1     ,of golden sands1  
and crystal brooks1     ,with silken    
lines1 and silver hooks4      ,there    
will the river whisp'ring run1          
,warm'd by thy eyes more than the sun   
,and there the enamel'd fish will stay  
,begging themselves they may betray4    

,when thou wilt swim in that live bath1 
,each fish1 which every channel hash1   
,most amorously to thee will swim1      
,gladder to catch thee1 than thou him4  
,if thou1 to be so seen1 beest loath    
,by sun or moon1 thou dark'nest both2   
,and if mine eyes have leave to see1    
,i need not their light1 having thee1   
,let others freeze with angling reeds1  
,and cut their legs with shells and     
weeds1     ,or treacherously poor fish  
beset     ,with strangling snares or    
windowy net2      ,let coarse bold      
hands1 from slimy nest1     ,the bedded 
fish in banks outwrest2     ,let curious
 traitors sleeve silk flies1     ,to    
'witch poor wand'ring fishes' eyes4     
,for thee1 thou need'st no such deceit1 
,for thou thyself art shine own bait2   
,that fish that is not catcht thereby1  
,is wiser afar1 alas1 than ,i4          
,piscator4 ,well remembered1 honest     
scholar4 ,i thank you for these choice  
verses2 which ,i have heard formerly1   
but had quite forgot1 till they were    

recovered by your happy memory4 ,well1  
being ,i have now rested myself a       
little1 ,i will make you some requital1 
by telling you some observations of the 
,eel2 for it rains still3 and because1  
as you say1 our angles are as money put 
to use1 that thrives when we play1      
therefore we'll sit still1 and enjoy    
ourselves a little longer under this    
honeysuckle hedge4      ,the fourth     
day-continued  ,of the ,eel1 and other  
,fish that want ,scales  ,chapter ,,xiii
  ,piscator  ,it is agreed by most men1 
that the ,eel is a most dainty fish3 the
 ,romans have esteemed her the ,helena  
of their feasts2 and some the queen of  
palate-pleasure4 ,but most men differ   
about their breeding3 some say they     
breed by generation1 as other fish do2  
and others1 that they breed1 as some    
worms do1 of mud2 as rats and mice1 and 
many other living creatures1 are bred in
 ,egypt1 by the sun's heat when it      
shines upon the overflowing of the river
 ,nilus2 or out of the putrefaction of  

the earth1 and divers other ways4 ,those
 that deny them to breed by generation1 
as other fish do1 ask1 ,if any man ever 
saw an ,eel to have a spawn or melt8    
,and they are answered1 ,that they may  
be as certain of their breeding as if   
they had seen spawn2 for they say1 that 
they are certain that ,eels have all    
parts fit for generation1 like other    
fish1 but so small as not to be easily  
discerned1 by reason of their fatness2  
but that discerned they may be2 and that
 the ,he and the ,she ,eel may be       
distinguished by their fins4 ,and       
,rondeletius says1 he has seen ,eels    
cling together like dew-worms4  ,and    
others say1 that ,eels1 growing old1    
breed other ,eels out of the corruption 
of their own age2 which1 ,sir ,francis  
,bacon says1 exceeds not ten years4 ,and
 others say1 that as pearls are made of 
glutinous dewdrops1 which are condensed 
by the sun's heat in those countries1 so
 ,eels are bred of a particular dew1    
falling in the months of ,may or ,june  

on the banks of some particular ponds or
 rivers1 apted by nature for that end2  
which in a few days are1 by the sun's   
heat1 turned into ,eels3 and some of the
 ,ancients have called the ,eels that   
are thus bred1 the offspring of ,jove4  
,i have seen1 in the beginning of ,july1
 in a river not far from ,canterbury1   
some parts of it covered over with young
 ,eels1 about the thickness of a straw2 
and these ,eels did lie on the top of   
that water1 as thick as motes are said  
to be in the sun3 and ,i have heard the 
like of other rivers1 as namely1 in     
,severn1 where they are called ,yelvers2
 and in a pond1 or mere near unto       
,staffordshire1 where1 about a set time 
in summer1 such small ,eels abound so   
much1 that many of the poorer sort of   
people that inhabit near to it1 take    
such ,eels out of this mere with sieves 
or sheets2 and make a kind of ,eel-cake 
of them1 and eat it like as bread4 ,and 
,gesner quotes ,venerable ,bede1 to say1
 that in ,england there is an island    

called ,ely1 by reason of the           
innumerable number of ,eels that breed  
in it4 ,but that ,eels may be bred as   
some worms1 and some kind of bees and   
wasps are1 either of dew1 or out of the 
corruption of the earth1 seems to be    
made probable by the barnacles and young
 goslings bred by the sun's heat and the
 rotten planks of an old ship1 and      
hatched of trees2 both which are related
 for truths by ,du ,bartas and ,lobel1  
and also by our learned ,camden1 and    
laborious ,gerhard in his ,herbal4  ,it 
is said by ,rondeletius1 that those     
,eels that are bred in rivers that      
relate to or be nearer to the sea1 never
 return to the fresh waters1 as the     
,salmon does always desire to do1 when  
they have once tasted the salt water2   
and ,i do the more easily believe this1 
because ,i am certain that powdered beef
 is a most excellent bait to catch an   
,eel4 ,and though ,sir ,francis ,bacon  
will allow the ,eel's life to be but ten
 years1 yet he1 in his ,history of ,life

 and ,death1 mentions a ,lamprey1       
belonging to the ,roman emperor1 to be  
made tame1 and so kept for almost       
threescore years2 and that such useful  
and pleasant observations were made of  
this ,lamprey1 that ,crassus the orator1
 who kept her1 lamented her death2 and  
we read in ,doctor ,hakewill1 that      
,hortensius was seen to weep at the     
death of a ,lamprey that he had kept    
long1 and loved exceedingly4  ,it is    
granted by all1 or most men1 that ,eels1
 for about six months1 that is to say1  
the six cold months of the year1 stir   
not up or down1 neither in the rivers1  
nor in the pools in which they usually  
are1 but get into the soft earth or mud2
 and there many of them together bed    
themselves1 and live without feeding    
upon anything1 as ,i have told you some 
swallows have been observed to do in    
hollow trees1 for those six cold months4
 ,and this the ,eel and ,swallow do1 as 
not being able to endure winter weather3
 for ,gesner quotes ,albertus to say1   

that in the year #aabe1 that year's     
winter being more cold than usually1    
,eels did1 by nature's instinct1 get out
 of the water into a stack of hay in a  
meadow upon dry ground2 and there bedded
 themselves3 but yet1 at last1 a frost  
killed them4 ,and our ,camden relates1  
that1 in ,lancashire1 fishes were digged
 out of the earth with spades1 where no 
water was near to the place4 ,i shall   
say little more of the ,eel1 but that1  
as it is observed he is impatient of    
cold1 so it hath been observed1 that1 in
 warm weather1 an ,eel has been known to
 live five days out of the water4  ,and 
lastly1 let me tell you1 that some      
curious searchers into the natures of   
fish observe1 that there be several     
sorts or kinds of ,eels2 as the silver  
,eel1 the green or greenish ,eel1 with  
which the river of ,thames abounds1 and 
those are called ,grigs2 and a blackish 
,eel1 whose head is more flat and bigger
 than ordinary ,eels2 and also an ,eel  
whose fins are reddish1 and but seldom  

taken in this nation1 and yet taken     
sometimes4 ,these several kind of ,eels 
are1 say some1 diversely bred2 as1      
namely1 out of the corruption of the    
earth2 and some by dew1 and other ways1 
as ,i have said to you3 and yet it is   
affirmed by some for a certain1 that the
 silver ,eel is bred by generation1 but 
not by spawning as other fish do2 but   
that her brood come alive from her1     
being then little live ,eels no bigger  
nor longer than a pin2 and ,i have had  
too many testimonies of this1 to doubt  
the truth of it myself2 and if ,i       
thought it needful ,i might prove it1   
but ,i think it is needless4  ,and this 
,eel1 of which ,i have said so much to  
you1 may be caught with divers kinds of 
baits3 as namely1 with powdered beef2   
with a lob or garden worm2 with a       
minnow2 or gut of a hen1 chicken1 or the
 guts of any fish1 or with almost       
anything1 for he is a greedy fish4 ,but 
the ,eel may be caught1 especially1 with
 a little1 a very little ,lamprey1 which

 some call a ,pride1 and may1 in the hot
 months1 be found many of them in the   
river ,thames1 and in many mud-heaps in 
other rivers2 yea1 almost as usually as 
one finds worms in a dunghill4  ,next   
note1 that the ,eel seldom stirs in the 
day1 but then hides himself2 and        
therefore he is usually caught by night1
 with one of these baits of which ,i    
have spoken2 and may be then caught by  
laying hooks1 which you are to fasten to
 the bank1 or twigs of a tree2 or by    
throwing a string across the stream1    
with many hooks at it1 and those baited 
with the aforesaid baits2 and a clod1 or
 plummet1 or stone1 thrown into the     
river with this line1 that so you may in
 the morning find it near to some fixed 
place2 and then take it up with a       
drag-hook1 or otherwise4 ,but these     
things are1 indeed1 too common to be    
spoken of2 and an hour's fishing with   
any angler will teach you better1 both  
for these and many other common things  
in the practical part of angling1 than a

 week's discourse4 ,i shall therefore   
conclude this direction for taking the  
,eel1 by telling you1 that in a warm day
 in summer1 ,i have taken many a good   
,eel by ,snigling1 and have been much   
pleased with that sport4  ,and because  
you1 that are but a young angler1 know  
not what ,snigling is ,i will now teach 
it to you4 ,you remember ,i told you    
that ,eels do not usually stir in the   
daytime2 for then they hide themselves  
under some covert2 or under boards or   
planks about flood-gates1 or weirs1 or  
mills2 or in holes on the river banks3  
so that you1 observing your time in a   
warm day1 when the water is lowest1 may 
take a strong small hook1 tied to a     
strong line1 or to a string about a yard
 long2 and then into one of these holes1
 or between any boards about a mill1 or 
under any great stone or plank1 or any  
place where you think an ,eel may hide  
or shelter herself1 you may1 with the   
help of a short stick1 put in your bait1
 but leisurely1 and as far as you may   

conveniently2 and it is scarce to be    
doubted1 but if there be an ,eel within 
the sight of it1 the ,eel will bite     
instantly1 and as certainly gorge it2   
and you need not doubt to have him if   
you pull him not out of the hole too    
quickly1 but pull him out by degrees2   
for he1 lying folded double in his hole1
 will1 with the help of his tail1 break 
all1 unless you give him time to be     
wearied with pulling1 and so get him out
 by degrees1 not pulling too hard4  ,and
 to commute for your patient hearing    
this long direction1 ,i shall next tell 
you1 how to make this ,eel a most       
excellent dish of meat4  ,first1 wash   
him in water and salt2 then pull off his
 skin below his vent or navel1 and not  
much further3 having done that1 take out
 his guts as clean as you can1 but wash 
him not3 then give him three or four    
scotches with a knife2 and then put into
 his belly and those scotches1 sweet    
herbs1 an anchovy1 and a little nutmeg  
grated or cut very small1 and your herbs

 and anchovies must also be cut very    
small2 and mixt with good butter and    
salt3 having done this1 then pull his   
skin over him1 all but his head1 which  
you are to cut off1 to the end you may  
tie his skin about that part where his  
head grew1 and it must be so tied as to 
keep all his moisture within his skin3  
and having done this1 tie him with tape 
or packthread to a spit1 and roast him  
leisurely2 and baste him with water and 
salt till his skin breaks1 and then with
 butter2 and having roasted him enough1 
let what was put into his belly1 and    
what he drips1 be his sauce4 ,s4 ,f4    
,when ,i go to dress an ,eel thus1 ,i   
wish he were as long and as big as that 
which was caught in ,peterborough river1
 in the year #affg2 which was a yard and
 three quarters long4 ,if you will not  
believe me1 then go and see at one of   
the coffee-houses in ,king ,street in   
,westminster4  ,but now let me tell you1
 that though the ,eel1 thus drest1 be   
not only excellent good1 but more       

harmless than any other way1 yet it is  
certain that physicians account the ,eel
 dangerous meat2 ,i will advise you     
therefore1 as ,solomon says of honey1   
,hast thou found it1 eat no more than is
 sufficient1 lest thou surfeit1 for it  
is not good to eat much honey4 ,and let 
me add this1 that the uncharitable      
,italian bids us give ,eels and no wine 
to our enemies4  ,and ,i will beg a     
little more of your attention1 to tell  
you1 that ,aldrovandus1 and divers      
physicians1 commend the ,eel very much  
for medicine1 though not for meat4 ,but 
let me tell you one observation1 that   
the ,eel is never out of season2 as     
,trouts1 and most other fish1 are at set
 times2 at least1 most ,eels are not4   
,i might here speak of many other fish1 
whose shape and nature are much like the
 ,eel1 and frequent both the sea and    
fresh rivers2 as1 namely1 the ,lamprel1 
the ,lamprey1 and the ,lamperne3 as also
 of the mighty ,conger1 taken often in  
,severn1 about ,gloucester3 and might   

also tell in what high esteem many of   
them are for the curiosity of their     
taste4 ,but these are not so proper to  
be talked of by me1 because they make us
 anglers no sport2 therefore ,i will let
 them alone1 as the ,jews do1 to whom   
they are forbidden by their law4  ,and1 
scholar1 there is also a ,,flounder1 a  
sea-fish which will wander very far into
 fresh rivers1 and there lose himself   
and dwell3 and thrive to a hand's       
breadth1 and almost twice so long3 a    
fish without scales1 and most excellent 
meat3 and a fish that affords much sport
 to the angler1 with any small worm1 but
 especially a little bluish worm1 gotten
 out of marsh-ground1 or meadows1 which 
should be well scoured4 ,but this1      
though it be most excellent meat1 yet it
 wants scales1 and is1 as ,i told you1  
therefore an abomination to the ,jews4  
,but1 scholar1 there is a fish that they
 in ,lancashire boast very much of1     
called a ,,char2 taken there1 and ,i    
think there only1 in a mere called      

,winander ,mere2 a mere1 says ,camden1  
that is the largest in this nation1     
being ten miles in length1 and some say 
as smooth in the bottom as if it were   
paved with polished marble4 ,this fish  
never exceeds fifteen or sixteen inches 
in length2 and is spotted like a ,trout3
 and has scarce a bone1 but on the back4
 ,but this1 though ,i do not know       
whether it make the angler sport1 yet ,i
 would have you take notice of it1      
because it is a rarity1 and of so high  
esteem with persons of great note4  ,nor
 would ,i have you ignorant of a rare   
fish called a ,,guiniad2 of which ,i    
shall tell you what ,camden and others  
speak4 ,the river ,dee1 which runs by   
,chester1 springs in ,merionethshire2   
and1 as it runs toward ,chester1 it runs
 through ,pemble ,mere1 which is a large
 water3 and it is observed1 that though 
the river ,dee abounds with ,salmon1 and
 ,pemble mere with the ,guiniad1 yet    
there is never any ,salmon caught in the
 mere1 nor a ,guiniad in the river4 ,and

 now my next observation shall be of the
 ,barbel4      ,the fourth day-continued
  ,of the ,barbel  ,chapter ,,xiv       
,piscator1 ,venator1 ,milk-woman        
,piscator4 ,the ,barbel is so called1   
says ,gesner1 by reason of his barb or  
wattles at his mouth1 which are under   
his nose or chaps4 ,he is one of those  
leather-mouthed fishes that ,i told you 
of1 that does very seldom break his hold
 if he be once hooked3 but he is so     
strong1 that he will often break both   
rod and line1 if he proves to be a big  
one4  ,but the ,barbel1 though he be of 
a fine shape1 and looks big1 yet he is  
not accounted the best fish to eat1     
neither for his wholesomeness nor his   
taste2 but the male is reputed much     
better than the female1 whose spawn is  
very hurtful1 as ,i will presently      
declare to you4  ,they flock together   
like sheep1 and are at the worst in     
,april1 about which time they spawn2 but
 quickly grow to be in season4 ,he is   
able to live in the strongest swifts of 

the water3 and1 in summer1 they love the
 shallowest and sharpest streams3 and   
love to lurk under weeds1 and to feed on
 gravel1 against a rising ground2 and   
will root and dig in the sands with his 
nose like a hog1 and there nests        
himself3 yet sometimes he retires to    
deep and swift bridges1 or flood-gates1 
or weir2 where he will nest himself     
amongst piles1 or in hollow places2 and 
take such hold of moss or weeds1 that be
 the water never so swift1 it is not    
able to force him from the place that he
 contends for4 ,this is his constant    
custom in summer1 when he and most      
living creatures sport themselves in the
 sun3 but at the approach of winter1    
then he forsakes the swift streams and  
shallow waters1 and1 by degrees1 retires
 to those parts of the river that are   
quiet and deeper2 in which places1 and  
,i think about that time he spawns2 and1
 as ,i have formerly told you1 with the 
help of the melter1 hides his spawn or  
eggs in holes1 which they both dig in   

the gravel2 and then they mutually      
labour to cover it with the same sand1  
to prevent it from being devoured by    
other fish4  ,there be such store of    
this fish in the river ,danube1 that    
,rondeletius says they may1 in some     
places of it1 and in some months of the 
year1 be taken1 by those who dwell near 
to the river1 with their hands1 eight or
 ten load at a time4 ,he says1 they     
begin to be good in ,may1 and that they 
cease to be so in ,august3 but it is    
found to be otherwise in this nation4   
,but thus far we agree with him1 that   
the spawn of a ,barbel1 if it be not    
poison1 as he says1 yet that it is      
dangerous meat1 and especially in the   
month of ,may1 which is so certain1 that
 ,gesner and ,gasius declare it had an  
ill effect upon them1 even to the       
endangering of their lives4  ,the fish  
is of a fine cast and handsome shape1   
with small scales1 which are placed     
after a most exact and curious manner1  
and1 as ,i told you1 may be rather said 

not to be ill1 than to be good meat1    
,the ,chub and he have1 ,i think1 both  
lost part of their credit by ill        
cookery2 they being reputed the worst1  
or coarsest1 of fresh-water fish4 ,but  
the ,barbel affords an angler choice    
sport1 being a lusty and a cunning fish2
 so lusty and cunning as to endanger the
 breaking of the angler's line1 by      
running his head forcibly towards any   
covert1 or hole1 or bank1 and then      
striking at the line1 to break it off1  
with his tail2 as is observed by        
,plutarch1 in his book ,de ,industria   
,animalium3 and also so cunning1 to     
nibble and suck off your worm close to  
the hook1 and yet avoid the letting the 
hook come into his mouth4  ,the ,barbel 
is also curious for his baits2 that is  
to say1 that they be clean and sweet2   
that is to say1 to have your worms well 
scoured1 and not kept in sour and musty 
moss1 for he is a curious feeder3 but at
 a well-scoured lob-worm he will bite as
 boldly as at any bait1 and specially   

if1 the night or two before you fish for
 him1 you shall bait the places where   
you intend to fish for him1 with big    
worms cut into pieces4 ,and note1 that  
none did ever over-bait the place1 nor  
fish too early or too late for a        
,barbel4 ,and the ,barbel will bite also
 at generals1 which1 not being too much 
scoured1 but green1 are a choice bait   
for him3 and so is cheese1 which is not 
to be too hard1 but kept a day or two in
 a wet linen cloth1 to make it tough2   
with this you may also bait the water a 
day or two before you fish for the      
,barbel1 and be much the likelier to    
catch store2 and if the cheese were laid
 in clarified honey a short time before1
 as namely1 an hour or two1 you were    
still the likelier to catch fish4 ,some 
have directed to cut the cheese into    
thin pieces1 and toast it2 and then tie 
it on the hook with fine silk4 ,and some
 advise to fish for the ,barbel with    
sheep's tallow and soft cheese1 beaten  
or worked into a paste2 and that it is  

choicely good in ,august3 and ,i believe
 it4 ,rut1 doubtless1 the lob-worm well 
scoured1 and the gentle not too much    
scoured1 and cheese ordered as ,i have  
directed1 are baits enough1 and ,i think
 will serve in any month3 though ,i     
shall commend any angler that tries     
conclusions1 and is industrious to      
improve the art4 ,and now my honest     
scholar1 the long shower and my tedious 
discourse are both ended together3 and  
,i shall give you but this observation1 
that when you fish for a ,barbel1 your  
rod and line be both long and of good   
strength2 for1 as ,i told you1 you will 
find him a heavy and a dogged fish to be
 dealt withal2 yet he seldom or never   
breaks his hold1 if he be once strucken4
 ,and if you would know more of fishing 
for the ,umber or ,barbel1 get into     
favour with ,dr4 ,sheldon1 whose skill  
is above others2 and of that1 the poor  
that dwell about him have a comfortable 
experience4  ,and now let's go and see  
what interest the ,trouts will pay us1  

for letting our angle-rods lie so long  
and so quietly in the water for their   
use4 ,come1 scholar1 which will you take
 up8  ,venator4 ,which you think fit1   
master4  ,piscator4 ,why1 you shall take
 up that2 for ,i am certain1 by viewing 
the line1 it has a fish at it4 ,look    
you1 scholar6 well done6 ,come1 now take
 up the other too3 well6 now you may    
tell my brother ,peter1 at night1 that  
you have caught a leash of ,trouts this 
day4 ,and now let's move towards our    
lodging1 and drink a draught of         
red-cow's milk as we go2 and give pretty
 ,maudlin and her honest mother a brace 
of ,trouts for their supper4  ,venator4 
,master1 ,i like your motion very well3 
and ,i think it is now about            
milking-time2 and yonder they be at it4 
,piscator4 ,god speed you1 good woman6  
,i thank you both for our songs last    
night3 ,i and my companion have had such
 fortune a-fishing this day1 that we    
resolve to give you and ,maudlin a brace
 of ,trouts for supper2 and we will now 

taste a draught of your red-cow's milk4 
,milk-woman4 ,marry1 and that you shall 
with all my heart2 and ,i will be still 
your debtor when you come this way4 ,if 
you will but speak the word1 ,i will    
make you a good syllabub of new         
verjuice2 and then you may sit down in a
 haycock1 and eat it2 and ,maudlin shall
 sit by and sing you the good old song  
of the ,hunting in ,chevy ,chace1 or    
some other good ballad1 for she hath    
store of them3 ,maudlin1 my honest      
,maudlin1 hath a notable memory1 and she
 thinks nothing too good for you1       
because you be such honest men4         
,venator4 ,we thank you2 and intend1    
once in a month to call upon you again1 
and give you a little warning2 and so1  
good-night ,good-night1 ,maudlin4 ,and  
now1 good master1 let's lose no time3   
but tell me somewhat more of fishing2   
and if you please1 first1 something of  
fishing for a ,gudgeon4  ,piscator4 ,i  
will1 honest scholar4      ,the fourth  
day-continued  ,of the ,gudgeon1 the    

,ruffe1 and the ,bleak  ,chapter ,,xv   
,piscator  ,the ,,gudgeon is reputed a  
fish of excellent taste1 and to be very 
wholesome4 ,he is of a fine shape1 of a 
silver colour1 and beautified with black
 spots both on his body and tail4 ,he   
breeds two or three times in the year2  
and always in summer4 ,he is commended  
for a fish of excellent nourishment4    
,the ,germans call him ,groundling1 by  
reason of his feeding on the ground2 and
 he there feasts himself1 in sharp      
streams and on the gravel4 ,he and the  
,barbel both feed so3 and do not hunt   
for flies at any time1 as most other    
fishes do4 ,he is an excellent fish to  
enter a young angler1 being easy to be  
taken with a small red worm1 on or very 
near to the ground4 ,he is one of those 
leather-mouthed fish that has his teeth 
in his throat1 and will hardly be lost  
off from the hook if he be once         
strucken4  ,they be usually scattered up
 and down every river in the shallows1  
in the heat of summer3 but in autumn1   

when the weeds begin to grow sour and   
rot1 and the weather colder1 then they  
gather together1 and get into the deeper
 parts of the water2 and are to be      
fished for there1 with your hook always 
touching the ground1 if you fish for him
 with a float or with a cork4 ,but many 
will fish for the ,gudgeon by hand1 with
 a running line upon the ground1 without
 a cork1 as a ,trout is fished for3 and 
it is an excellent way1 if you have a   
gentle rod1 and as gentle a hand4       
,there is also another fish called a    
,,pope1 and by some a ,,ruffe2 a fish   
that is not known to be in some rivers3 
he is much like the ,perch for his      
shape1 and taken to be better than the  
,perch1 but will not grow to be bigger  
than a ,gudgeon4 ,he is an excellent    
fish2 no fish that swims is of a        
pleasanter taste4 ,and he is also       
excellent to enter a young angler1 for  
he is a greedy biter3 and they will     
usually lie1 abundance of them together1
 in one reserved place1 where the water 

is deep and runs quietly2 and an easy   
angler1 if he has found where they lie1 
may catch forty or fifty1 or sometimes  
twice so many1 at a standing4  ,you must
 fish for him with a small red worm2 and
 if you bait the ground with earth1 it  
is excellent4  ,there is also a ,,bleak 
or fresh-water ,sprat2 a fish that is   
ever in motion1 and therefore called by 
some the river-swallow2 for just as you 
shall observe the swallow to be1 most   
evenings in summer1 ever in motion1     
making short and quick turns when he    
flies to catch flies1 in the air1 by    
which he lives2 so does the ,bleak at   
the top of the water4 ,ausonius would   
have called him ,bleak from his whitish 
colour3 his back is of a pleasant sad or
 sea-water-green2 his belly1 white and  
shining as the mountain snow4 ,and      
doubtless1 though we have the fortune1  
which virtue has in poor people1 to be  
neglected1 yet the ,bleak ought to be   
much valued1 though we want ,allamot    
salt1 and the skill that the ,italians  

have1 to turn them into anchovies4 ,this
 fish may be caught with a ,pater-noster
 line2 that is1 six or eight very small 
hooks tied along the line1 one half a   
foot above the other3 ,i have seen five 
caught thus at one time2 and the bait   
has been gentles1 than which none is    
better4  ,or this fish may be caught    
with a fine small artificial fly1 which 
is to be of a very sad brown colour1 and
 very small1 and the hook answerable4   
,there is no better sport than whipping 
for ,bleaks in a boat1 or on a bank1 in 
the swift water1 in a summer's evening1 
with a hazel top about five or six foot 
long1 and a line twice the length of the
 rod4 ,i have heard ,sir ,henry ,wotton 
say1 that there be many that in ,italy  
will catch swallows so1 or especially   
martins2 this bird-angler standing on   
the top of a steeple to do it1 and with 
the line twice so long as ,i have spoken
 of4 ,and let me tell you1 scholar1 that
 both ,martins and ,bleaks be most      
excellent meat4  ,and let me tell you1  

that ,i have known a ,heron1 that did   
constantly frequent one place1 caught   
with a hook baited with a big minnow or 
a small gudgeon4 ,the line and hook must
 be strong3 and tied to some loose      
staff1 so big as she cannot fly away    
with it3 a line not exceeding two yards4
      ,the fourth day-continued  ,is of 
nothing1 or of nothing worth  ,chapter  
,,xvi  ,piscator1 ,venator1 ,peter1     
,coridon  ,piscator4 ,my purpose was to 
give you some directions concerning     
,,roach and ,,dace1 and some other      
inferior fish which make the angler     
excellent sport2 for you know there is  
more pleasure in hunting the hare than  
in eating her3 but ,i will forbear1 at  
this time1 to say any more1 because you 
see yonder come our brother ,peter and  
honest ,coridon4 ,but ,i will promise   
you1 that as you and ,i fish and walk   
to-morrow towards ,london1 if ,i have   
now forgotten anything that ,i can then 
remember1 ,i will not keep it from you4 
,well met1 gentlemen2 this is lucky that

 we meet so just together at this very  
door1 ,come1 hostess1 where are you8 is 
supper ready8 ,come1 first give us a    
drink2 and be as quick as you can1 for  
,i believe we are all very hungry4      
,well1 brother ,peter and ,coridon1 to  
you both6 ,come1 drink3 and then tell me
 what luck of fish3 we two have caught  
but ten bouts1 of which my scholar      
caught three4 ,look6 here's eight2 and a
 brace we gave away4 ,we have had a most
 pleasant day for fishing and talking1  
and are returned home both weary and    
hungry2 and now meat and rest will be   
pleasant4  ,peter4 ,and ,coridon and ,i 
have not had an unpleasant day3 and yet 
,i have caught but five bouts2 for1     
indeed1 we went to a good honest        
ale-house1 and there we played at       
shovel-board half the day2 all the time 
that it rained we were there1 and as    
merry as they that fished4 ,and ,i am   
glad we are now with a dry house over   
our heads2 for1 hark6 how it rains and  
blows4 ,come1 hostess1 give us more ale1

 and our supper with what haste you may3
 and when we have supped1 let us have   
your song1 ,piscator2 and the catch that
 your scholar promised us2 or else1     
,coridon will be dogged4  ,piscator4    
,nay1 ,i will not be worse than my word2
 you shall not want my song1 and ,i hope
 ,i shall be perfect in it4  ,venator4  
,and ,i hope the like for my catch1     
which ,i have ready too3 and therefore  
let's go merrily to supper1 and then    
have a gentle touch at singing and      
drinking2 but the last with moderation4 
,coridon4 ,come1 now for your song2 for 
we have fed heartily4 ,come1 hostess1   
lay a few more sticks on the fire4 ,and 
now1 sing when you will4  ,piscator4    
,well then1 here s to you1 ,coridon2 and
 now for my song4      ,o the gallant   
,fisher's life1       ,it is the best of
 any2     ',tis full of pleasure1 void  
of strife1       ,and 'tis beloved of   
many3         ,other joys         ,are  
but toys2         ,only this            
,lawful is2         ,for our skill      

,breeds no ill1       ,but content and  
pleasure4      ,in a morning up we rise 
,ere ,aurora's peeping1     ,drink a cup
 to wash our eyes4       ,leave the     
sluggard sleeping2         ,then we go  
,to and fro1         ,with our knacks   
,at our backs         ,to such streams  
,as the ,thames       ,if we have the   
leisure4      ,when we please to walk   
abroad       ,for our recreation1       
,in the fields is our abode1       ,full
 of delectation3         ,where in a    
brook         ,with a hook         ,or a
 lake         ,fish we take3            
,there we sit         ,for a bit1       
,till we fish entangle4      ,we have   
gentles in a horn1       ,we have paste 
and worms too     ,we can watch both    
night and morn1       ,suffer rain and  
storms too2         ,none do here       
,use to swear2         ,oaths do fray   
,fish away2         ,we sit still1      
,and watch our quill       ,fishers must
 not wrangle4      ,if the sun's        
excessive heat       ,make our bodies   

swelter1     ,to an osier hedge we get  
,for a friendly shelter         ,where1 
in a dike1         ,perch or ,pike      
,roach or ,dace         ,we do chase    
,bleak or ,gudgeon1         ,without    
grudging       ,we are still contented4 
,or we sometimes pass an hour           
,under a green willow1     ,that defends
 us from a shower1       ,making earth  
our pillow2         ,where we may       
,think and pray         ,before death   
,stops our breath4         ,other joys  
,are but toys1       ,and to be         
lamented4      ,jo4 ,chalkhill4         
,venator4 ,well sung1 master2 this day's
 fortune and pleasure1 and the night's  
company and song1 do all make me more   
and more in love with angling4          
,gentlemen1 my master left me alone for 
an hour this day2 and ,i verily believe 
he retired himself from talking with me 
that he might be so perfect in this     
song2 was it not1 master8  ,piscator4   
,yes indeed1 for it is many years since 
,i learned it2 and having forgotten a   

part of it1 ,i was forced to patch it up
 with the help of mine own invention1   
who am not excellent at poetry1 as my   
part of the song may testify2 but of    
that ,i will say no more1 lest you      
should think ,i mean1 by discommending  
it1 to beg your commendations of it4    
,and therefore1 without replications1   
let's hear your catch1 scholar2 which ,i
 hope will be a good one1 for you are   
both musical and have a good fancy to   
boot4  ,venator4 ,marry1 and that you   
shall2 and as freely as ,i would have my
 honest master tell me some more secrets
 of fish and fishing1 as we walk and    
fish towards ,london to-morrow4 ,but1   
master1 first let me tell you1 that very
 hour which you were absent from me1 ,i 
sat down under a willow-tree by the     
water-side1 and considered what you had 
told me of the owner of that pleasant   
meadow in which you then left me2 that  
he had a plentiful estate1 and not a    
heart to think so2 that he had at this  
time many law-suits depending2 and that 

they both damped his mirth1 and took up 
so much of his time and thoughts1 that  
he himself had not leisure to take the  
sweet content that ,i1 who pretended no 
title to them1 took in his fields3 for  
,i could there sit quietly2 and looking 
on the water1 see some fishes sport     
themselves in the silver streams1 others
 leaping at flies of several shapes and 
colours2 looking on the hills1 ,i could 
behold them spotted with woods and      
groves2 looking down the meadows1 could 
see1 here a boy gathering lilies and    
lady-smocks1 and there a girl cropping  
culverkeys and cowslips1 all to make    
garlands suitable to this present month 
of ,may3 these1 and many other field    
flowers1 so perfumed the air1 that ,i   
thought that very meadow like that field
 in ,sicily of which ,diodorus speaks1  
where the perfumes arising from the     
place make all dogs that hunt in it to  
fall off1 and to lose their hottest     
scent ,i say1 as ,i thus sat1 joying in 
my own happy condition1 and pitying this

 poor rich man that owned this and many 
other pleasant groves and meadows about 
me1 ,i did thankfully remember what my  
,saviour said1 that the meek possess the
 earth2 or rather1 they enjoy what the  
others possess1 and enjoy not2 for      
anglers and meek quiet-spirited men are 
free from those high1 those restless    
thoughts1 which corrode the sweets of   
life2 and they1 and they only1 can say1 
as the poet has happily express it1     
,hail6 blest estate of lowliness2       
,happy enjoyments of such minds     ,as1
 rich in self-contentedness1       ,can1
 like the reeds1 in roughest winds1     
,by yielding make that blow but small   
,at which proud oaks and cedars fall4   
,there came also into my mind at that   
time certain verses in praise of a mean 
estate and humble mind3 they were       
written by ,phineas ,fletcher1 an       
excellent divine1 and an excellent      
angler2 and the author of excellent     
,piscatory ,eclogues1 in which you shall
 see the picture of this good man's     

mind3 and ,i wish mine to be like it4   
,no empty hopes1 no courtly fears him   
fright2       ,no begging wants his     
middle fortune bite3     ,but sweet     
content exiles both misery and spite4   
,his certain life1 that never can       
deceive him1         ,is full of        
thousand sweets and rich content        
,the smooth-leav'd beeches in the field 
receive him1         ,with coolest      
shade1 till noon-tide's heat be spent4  
,his life is neither tost in boisterous1
 seas1       ,or the vexatious world1 or
 lost in slothful ease2     ,please and 
full blest he lives when he his ,god can
 please4        ,his bed1 more safe than
 soft1 yields quiet sleeps1             
,while by his side his faithful spouse  
teas place       ,his little son into   
his bosom creeps1         ,the lively   
picture of his father's face4       ,his
 humble house or poor state ne'er       
torment him       ,less he could like1  
if less his ,god had lent him2     ,and 
when he dies1 green turfs do for a tomb 

content him1  ,gentlemen1 these were a  
part of the thoughts that then possessed
 me4 ,and ,i there made a conversion of 
a piece of an old catch1 and added more 
to it1 fitting them to be sung by us    
anglers4 ,come1 ,master1 you can sing   
well3 you must sing a part of it1 as it 
is in this paper4      ,man's life is   
but vain1 for 'tis subject to pain1     
,and sorrow1 and short as a bubble2     
',tis a hodge-podge of business1 and    
money1 and care1       ,and care1 and   
money1 and trouble4      ,but we'll take
 no care when the weather proves fair2  
,nor will we vex now though it rain2    
,we'll banish all sorrow1 and sing till 
to-morrow1       ,and angle1 and angle  
again4  ,peter4 ,i marry1 ,sir1 this is 
musick indeed2 this has cheer'd my      
heart1 and made me remember six verses  
in praise of musick1 which ,i will speak
 to you instantly4      ,musick6        
miraculous rhetorick1 thou speak'st     
sense     ,without a tongue1 excelling  
eloquence2     ,with what ease might thy

 errors be excus'd1     ,wert thou as   
truly lov'd as th' art abus'd6     ,but 
though dull souls neglect1 and some     
reprove thee1     ,i cannot hate thee1  
'cause the ,angels love thee4  ,venator4
 ,and the repetition of these last      
verses of musick has called to my memory
 what ,mr4 ,edmund ,waller1 a lover of  
the angle1 says of love and musick4     
,whilst ,i listen to thy voice1         
,chloris6 ,i feel my heart decay        
,that powerful voice       ,calls my    
fleeting soul away3     ,oh6 suppress   
that magic sound1     ,which destroys   
without a wound4      ,peace1 ,chloris6 
peace1 or singing die1       ,that      
together you and ,i         ,to heaven  
may go2         ,for all we know     ,of
 what the blessed do above     ,is1 that
 they sing1 and that they love4         
,piscator4 ,well remembered1 brother    
,peter2 these verses came seasonably1   
and we thank you heartily4 ,come1 we    
will all join together1 my host and all1
 and sing my scholar's catch over again2

 and then each man drink the tother cup1
 and to bed2 and thank ,god we have a   
dry house over our heads4  ,piscator4   
,well1 now1 good-night to everybody4    
,peter4 ,and so say ,i4  ,venator4 ,and 
so say ,i4  ,coridon4 ,good-night to you
 all2 and ,i thank you4      ,the       
,,fifth day4  ,piscator4 ,good-morrow1  
brother ,peter1 and the like to you1    
honest ,coridon4  ,come1 my hostess says
 there is seven shillings to pay3 let's 
each man drink a pot for his morning's  
draught1 and lay down his two shillings1
 so that my hostess may not have        
occasion to repent herself of being so  
diligent1 and using us so kindly4       
,peter4 ,the motion is liked by         
everybody1 and so1 hostess1 here's your 
money3 we anglers are all beholden to   
you2 it will not be long ere ,i'll see  
you again2 and now1 brother ,piscator1  
,i wish you1 and my brother your        
scholar1 a fair day and good fortune4   
,come1 ,coridon1 this is our way4       
,the ,,fifth day-continued  ,of ,roack  

and ,dace  ,chapter ,,xvii  ,venator and
 ,piscator  ,venator4 ,good master1 as  
we go now towards ,london1 be still so  
courteous as to give me more            
instructions2 for ,i have several boxes 
in my memory1 in which ,i will keep them
 all very safe1 there shall not one of  
them be lost4  ,piscator4 ,well1        
scholar1 that ,i will3 and ,i will hide 
nothing from you that ,i can remember1  
and can think may help you forward      
towards a perfection in this art4 ,and  
because we have so much time1 and ,i    
have said so little of ,roach and ,dace1
 ,i will give you some directions       
concerning them4  ,some say the ,roach  
is so called from rutilus1 which they   
say signifies red fins4 ,he is a fish of
 no great reputation for his dainty     
taste2 and his spawn is accounted much  
better than any other part of him4 ,and 
you may take notice1 that as the ,carp  
is accounted the water-fox1 for his     
cunning2 so the ,roach is accounted the 
water-sheep1 for his simplicity or      

foolishness4 ,it is noted1 that the     
,roach and ,dace recover strength1 and  
grow in season in a fortnight after     
spawning2 the ,barbel and ,chub in a    
month2 the ,trout in four months2 and   
the ,salmon in the like time1 if he gets
 into the sea1 and after into fresh     
water4  ,roaches be accounted much      
better in the river than in a pond1     
though ponds usually breed the biggest4 
,but there is a kind of bastard small   
,roach1 that breeds in ponds1 with a    
very forked tail1 and of a very small   
size2 which some say is bred by the     
,bream and right ,roach2 and some ponds 
are stored with these beyond belief2 and
 knowing-men1 that know their           
difference1 call them ,ruds3 they differ
 from the true ,roach1 as much as a     
,herring from a ,pilchard4 ,and these   
bastard breed of ,roach are now         
scattered in many rivers3 but ,i think  
not in the ,thames1 which ,i believe    
affords the largest and fattest in this 
nation1 especially below ,london        

,bridge4 ,the ,roach is a               
leather-mouthed fish1 and has a kind of 
saw-like teeth in his throat4 ,and      
lastly1 let me tell you1 the ,roach     
makes an angler excellent sport1        
especially the great ,roaches about     
,london1 where ,i think there be the    
best ,roach-anglers4 ,and ,i think the  
best ,trout-anglers be in ,derbyshire2  
for the waters there are clear to an    
extremity4  ,next1 let me tell you1 you 
shall fish for this ,roach in ,winter1  
with paste or gentles2 in ,april1 with  
worms or cadis2 in the very hot months1 
with little white snails2 or with flies 
under water1 for he seldom takes them at
 the top1 though the ,dace will4 ,in    
many of the hot months1 ,roaches may    
also be caught thus3 take a ,may-fly1 or
 ant-fly1 sink him with a little lead to
 the bottom1 near to the piles or posts 
of a bridge1 or near to any posts of a  
weir1 ,i mean any deep place where      
,roaches lie quietly1 and then pull your
 fly up very leisurely1 and usually a   

,roach will follow your bait up to the  
very top of the water1 and gaze on it   
there1 and run at it1 and take it1 lest 
the fly should fly away from him4  ,i   
have seen this done at ,windsor and     
,henley ,bridge1 and great store of     
,roach taken2 and sometimes1 a ,dace or 
,chub4 ,and in ,august you may fish for 
them with a paste made only of the      
crumbs of bread1 which should be of pure
 fine manchet2 and that paste must be so
 tempered betwixt your hands till it be 
both soft and tough too3 a very little  
water1 and time1 and labour1 and clean  
hands1 will make it a most excellent    
paste4 ,but when you fish with it1 you  
must have a small hook1 a quick eye1 and
 a nimble hand1 or the bait is lost1 and
 the fish too2 if one may lose that     
which he never had4 ,with this paste you
 may1 as ,i said1 take both the ,roach  
and the ,dace or ,dare2 for they be much
 of a kind1 in manner of feeding1       
cunning1 goodness1 and usually in size4 
,and therefore take this general        

direction1 for some other baits which   
may concern you to take notice of3 they 
will bite almost at any fly1 but        
especially at ant-flies2 concerning     
which take this direction1 for it is    
very good4  ,take the blackish ant-fly  
out of the mole-hill or ant-hill1 in    
which place you shall find them in the  
month of ,june2 or if that be too early 
in the year1 then1 doubtless1 you may   
find them in ,july1 ,august1 and most of
 ,september4 ,gather them alive1 with   
both their wings3 and then put them into
 a glass that will hold a quart or a    
pottle2 but first put into the glass a  
handful1 or more1 of the moist earth out
 of which you gather them1 and as much  
of the roots of the grass of the said   
hillock2 and then put in the flies      
gently1 that they lose not their wings3 
lay a clod of earth over it2 and then so
 many as are put into the glass1 without
 bruising1 will live there a month or   
more1 and be always in readiness for you
 to fish with3 but if you would have    

them keep longer1 then get any great    
earthen pot1 or barrel of three or four 
gallons1 which is better1 then wash your
 barrel with water and honey2 and having
 put into it a quantity of earth and    
grass roots1 then put in your flies1 and
 cover it1 and they will live a quarter 
of a year4 ,these1 in any stream and    
clear water1 are a deadly bait for      
,roach or ,dace1 or for a ,chub3 and    
your rule is to fish not less than a    
handful from the bottom4  ,i shall next 
tell you a winter-bait for a ,roach1 a  
,dace1 or ,chub2 and it is choicely     
good4 ,about ,all-hallantide1 and so    
till frost comes1 when you see men      
ploughing up heath ground1 or sandy     
ground1 or greenswards1 then follow the 
plough1 and you shall find a white worm1
 as big as two maggots1 and it hath a   
red head3 you may observe in what ground
 most are1 for there the crows will be  
very watchful and follow the plough very
 close3 it is all soft1 and full of     
whitish guts2 a worm that is1 in        

,norfolk and some other counties1 called
 a grub2 and is bred of the spawn or    
eggs of a beetle1 which she leaves in   
holes that she digs in the ground under 
cow or horse dung1 and there rests all  
winter1 and in ,march or ,april comes to
 be first a red and then a black beetle4
 ,gather a thousand or two of these1 and
 put them1 with a peck or two of their  
own earth1 into some tub or firkin1 and 
cover and keep them so warm that the    
frost or cold air1 or winds1 kill them  
not3 these you may keep all winter1 and 
kill fish with them at any time2 and if 
you put some of them into a little earth
 and honey1 a day before you use them1  
you will find them an excellent bait for
 ,bream1 ,carp1 or indeed for almost any
 fish4  ,and after this manner you may  
also keep gentles all winter2 which are 
a good bait then1 and much the better   
for being lively and tough4 ,or you may 
breed and keep gentles thus3 take a     
piece of beast's liver1 and1 with a     
cross stick1 hang it in some corner1    

over a pot or barrel half full of dry   
clay2 and as the gentles grow big1 they 
will fall into the barrel and scour     
themselves1 and be always ready for use 
whensoever you incline to fish2 and     
these gentles may be thus created till  
after ,michaelmas4 ,but if you desire to
 keep gentles to fish with all the year1
 then get a dead cat1 or a kite1 and let
 it be flyblown2 and when the gentles   
begin to be alive and to stir1 then bury
 it and them in soft moist earth1 but as
 free from frost as you can2 and these  
you may dig up at any time when you     
intend to use them3 these will last till
 ,march1 and about that time turn to be 
flies4  ,but if you be nice to foul your
 fingers1 which good anglers seldom are1
 then take this bait3 get a handful of  
well-made malt1 and put it into a dish  
of water2 and then wash and rub it      
betwixt your hands till you make it     
clean1 and as free from husks as you    
can2 then put that water from it1 and   
put a small quantity of fresh water to  

it1 and set it in something that is fit 
for that purpose1 over the fire1 where  
it is not to boil apace1 but leisurely  
and very softly1 until it become        
somewhat soft1 which you may try by     
feeling it betwixt your finger and      
thumb2 and when it is soft1 then put    
your water from it3 and then take a     
sharp knife1 and turning the sprout end 
of the corn upward with the point of    
your knife1 take the back part of the   
husk off from it1 and yet leaving a kind
 of inward husk on the corn1 or else it 
is marr'd and then cut off that sprouted
 end1 ,i mean a little of it1 that the  
white may appear2 and so pull off the   
husk on the cloven side1 as ,i directed 
you2 and then cutting off a very little 
of the other end1 that so your hook may 
enter2 and if your hook be small and    
good1 you will find this to be a very   
choice bait1 either for winter or       
summer1 you sometimes casting a little  
of it into the place where your float   
swims4  ,and to take the ,roach and     

,dace1 a good bait is the young brood of
 wasps or bees1 if you dip their heads  
in blood2 especially good for ,bream1 if
 they be baked1 or hardened in their    
husks in an oven1 after the bread is    
taken out of it2 or hardened on a       
fire-shovel3 and so also is the thick   
blood of sheep1 being half dried on a   
trencher1 that so you may cut into such 
pieces as may best fit the size of your 
hook2 and a little salt keeps it from   
growing black1 and makes it not the     
worse1 but better3 this is taken to be a
 choice bait1 if rightly ordered4       
,there be several oils of a strong smell
 that ,i have been told of1 and to be   
excellent to tempt fish to bite1 of     
which ,i could say much4 ,but ,i        
remember ,i once carried a small bottle 
from ,sir ,george ,hastings to ,sir     
,henry ,wotton1 they were both chemical 
men1 as a great present3 it was sent1   
and receiv'd1 and us'd1 with great      
confidence2 and yet1 upon inquiry1 ,i   
found it did not answer the expectation 

of ,sir ,henry2 which1 with the help of 
this and other circumstances1 makes me  
have little belief in such things as    
many men talk of4 ,not but that ,i think
 that fishes both smell and hear1 as ,i 
have express in my former discourse3 but
 there is a mysterious knack1 which     
though it be much easier than the       
philosopher's stone1 yet is not         
attainable by common capacities1 or else
 lies locked up in the brain or breast  
of some chemical man1 that1 like the    
,rosicrucians1 will not yet reveal it4  
,but let me nevertheless tell you1 that 
camphire1 put with moss into your       
worm-bag with your worms1 makes them1 if
 many anglers be not very much mistaken1
 a tempting bait1 and the angler more   
fortunate4 ,but ,i stepped by chance    
into this discourse of oils1 and fishes 
smelling2 and though there might be more
 said1 both of it and of baits for      
,roach and ,dace and other float-fish1  
yet ,i will forbear it at this time1 and
 tell you1 in the next place1 how you   

are to prepare your tackling3 concerning
 which1 ,i will1 for sport sake1 give   
you an old rhyme out of an old fish     
book2 which will prove a part1 and but a
 part1 of what you are to provide4      
,my rod and my line1 my float and my    
lead1       ,my hook and my plummet1 my 
whetstone and knife1     ,my basket1 my 
baits1 both living and dead1       ,my  
net1 and my meat1 for that is the chief3
     ,then ,i must have thread1 and     
hairs green and small1     ,with mine   
angling purse3 and so you have all4     
,but you must have all these tackling1  
and twice so many more1 with which1 if  
you mean to be a fisher1 you must store 
yourself2 and to that purpose ,i will go
 with you1 either to ,mr4 ,margrave1 who
 dwells amongst the book-sellers in ,st4
 ,paul's ,church-yard1 or to ,mr4 ,john 
,stubs1 near to the ,swan in            
,goldinglane3 they be both honest men1  
and will fit an angler with what        
tackling he lacks4  ,venator4 ,then1    
good master1 let it be at--for he is    

nearest to my dwelling4 ,and ,i pray    
let's meet there the ninth of ,may next1
 about two of the clock2 and ,i'll want 
nothing that a fisher should be         
furnished with4  ,piscator4 ,well1 and  
,i'll not fail you1 ,god willing1 at the
 time and place appointed4  ,venator4 ,i
 thank you1 good master1 and ,i will not
 fail you4 ,and1 good master1 tell me   
what ,,baits more you remember2 for it  
will not now be long ere we shall be at 
,tottenham-,high-,cross2 and when we    
come thither ,i will make you some      
requital of your pains1 by repeating as 
choice a copy of ,verses as any we have 
heard since we met together2 and that is
 a proud word1 for we have heard very   
good ones4  ,piscator ,well1 scholar1   
and ,i shall be then right glad to hear 
them4 ,and ,i will1 as we walk1 tell you
 whatsoever comes in my mind1 that ,i   
think may be worth your hearing4 ,you   
may make another choice bait thus3 take 
a handful or two of the best and biggest
 wheat you can get2 boil it in a little 

milk1 like as frumity is boiled2 boil it
 so till it be soft2 and then fry it1   
very leisurely1 with honey1 and a little
 beaten saffron dissolved in milk2 and  
you will find this a choice bait1 and   
good1 ,i think1 for any fish1 especially
 for ,roach1 ,dace1 ,chub1 or ,grayling3
 ,i know not but that it may be as good 
for a river ,carp1 and especially if the
 ground be a little baited with it4     
,and you may also note1 that the ,,spawn
 of most fish is a very tempting bait1  
being a little hardened on a warm tile  
and cut into fit pieces4 ,nay1          
mulberries1 and those black-berries     
which grow upon briars1 be good baits   
for ,chubs or ,carps3 with these many   
have been taken in ponds1 and in some   
rivers where such trees have grown near 
the water1 and the fruit customarily    
drops into it4 ,and there be a hundred  
other baits1 more than can be well      
named1 which1 by constant baiting the   
water1 will become a tempting bait for  
any fish in it4  ,you are also to know1 

that there be divers kinds of ,,cadis1  
or ,case-worms1 that are to be found in 
this nation1 in several distinct        
counties1 in several little brooks that 
relate to bigger rivers2 as namely1 one 
cadis called a piper1 whose husk1 or    
case1 is a piece of reed about an inch  
long1 or longer1 and as big about as the
 compass of a two-pence4 ,these worms   
being kept three or four days in a      
woollen bag1 with sand at the bottom of 
it1 and the bag wet once a day1 will in 
three or four days turn to be yellow2   
and these be a choice bait for the ,chub
 or ,chavender1 or indeed for any great 
fish1 for it is a large bait4  ,there is
 also a lesser cadis-worm1 called a     
,cockspur1 being in fashion like the    
spur of a cock1 sharp at one end3 and   
the case1 or house1 in which this       
dwells1 is made of small husks1 and     
gravel1 and slime1 most curiously made  
of these1 even so as to be wondered at1 
but not to be made by man1 no more than 
a king-fisher's nest can1 which is made 

of little fishes' bones1 and have such a
 geometrical interweaving and connection
 as the like is not to be done by the   
art of man4 ,this kind of cadis is a    
choice bait for any float-fish2 it is   
much less than the piper-cadis1 and to  
be so ordered3 and these may be so      
preserved1 ten1 fifteen1 or twenty days1
 or it may be longer4  ,there is also   
another cadis1 called by some a         
,straw-worm1 and by some a ,ruff-coat1  
whose house1 or case1 is made of little 
pieces of bents1 and rushes1 and straws1
 and water-weeds1 and ,i know not what2 
which are so knit together with         
condensed slime1 that they stick about  
her husk or case1 not unlike the        
bristles of a hedge-hog4 ,these three   
cadises are commonly taken in the       
beginning of summer2 and are good1      
indeed1 to take any kind of fish1 with  
float or otherwise4 ,i might tell you of
 many more1 which as they do early1 so  
those have their time also of turning to
 be flies in later summer2 but ,i might 

lose myself1 and tire you1 by such a    
discourse3 ,i shall therefore but       
remember you1 that to know these1 and   
their several kinds1 and to what flies  
every particular cadis turns1 and then  
how to use them1 first as they be cadis1
 and after as they be flies1 is an art1 
and an art that every one that professes
 to be an angler has not leisure to     
search after1 and1 if he had1 is not    
capable of learning4  ,i'll tell you1   
scholar2 several countries have several 
kinds of cadises1 that indeed differ as 
much as dogs do2 that is to say1 as much
 as a very cur and a greyhound do4      
,these be usually bred in the very      
little rills1 or ditches1 that run into 
bigger rivers2 and ,i think a more      
proper bait for those very rivers than  
any other4 ,i know not how1 or of what1 
this cadis receives life1 or what       
coloured fly it turns to2 but doubtless 
they are the death of many ,trouts3 and 
this is one killing way3  ,take one1 or 
more if need be1 of these large yellow  

cadis3 pull off his head1 and with it   
pull out his black gut2 put the body1 as
 little bruised as is possible1 on a    
very little hook1 armed on with a red   
hair1 which will shew like the          
cadis-head2 and a very little thin lead1
 so put upon the shank of the hook that 
it may sink presently4 ,throw this bait1
 thus ordered1 which will look very     
yellow1 into any great still hole where 
a ,trout is1 and he will presently      
venture his life for it1 it is not to be
 doubted1 if you be not espied2 and that
 the bait first touch the water before  
the line4 ,and this will do best in the 
deepest stillest water4  ,next1 let me  
tell you1 ,i have been much pleased to  
walk quietly by a brook1 with a little  
stick in my hand1 with which ,i might   
easily take these1 and consider the     
curiosity of their composure3 and if you
 should ever like to do so1 then note1  
that your stick must be a little hazel1 
or willow1 cleft1 or have a nick at one 
end of it1 by which means you may1 with 

ease1 take many of them in that nick out
 of the water1 before you have any      
occasion to use them4 ,these1 my honest 
scholar1 are some observations1 told to 
you as they now come suddenly into my   
memory1 of which you may make some use3 
but for the practical part1 it is that  
that makes an angler3 it is diligence1  
and observation1 and practice1 and an   
ambition to be the best in the art1 that
 must do it4 ,i will tell you1 scholar1 
,i once heard one say1 ,i envy not him  
that eats better meat than ,i do2 nor   
him that is richer1 or that wears better
 clothes than ,i do3 ,i envy nobody but 
him1 and him only1 that catches more    
fish than ,i do4 ,and such a man is like
 to prove an angler2 and this noble     
emulation ,i wish to you1 and all young 
anglers4     ,the ,,fifth day-continued 
,of the ,minnow1 or ,penk2 ,loach1      
,bull-,head1 or ,miller's-,thumb3 and   
the ,stickle-bag  ,chapter ,,xviii      
,piscator and ,venator  ,piscator4      
,there be also three or four other      

little fish that ,i had almost forgot2  
that are all without scales2 and may for
 excellency of meat1 be compared to any 
fish of greatest value and largest size4
 ,they be usually full of eggs or spawn1
 all the months of summer2 for they     
breed often1 as 'tis observed mice and  
many of the smaller four-footed         
creatures of the earth do and as those1 
so these come quickly to their full     
growth and perfection4 ,and it is       
needful that they breed both often and  
numerously2 for they be1 besides other  
accidents of ruin1 both a prey and baits
 for other fish4 ,and first ,i shall    
tell you of the ,minnow or ,penk4  ,the 
,,minnow hath1 when he is in perfect    
season1 and not sick1 which is only     
presently after spawning1 a kind of     
dappled or waved colour1 like to a      
panther1 on its sides1 inclining to a   
greenish or sky-colour2 his belly being 
milk white2 and his back almost black or
 blackish4 ,he is a sharp biter at a    
small worm1 and in hot weather makes    

excellent sport for young anglers1 or   
boys1 or women that love that           
recreation4 ,and in the spring they make
 of them excellent ,minnow-tansies2 for 
being washed well in salt1 and their    
heads and tails cut off1 and their guts 
taken out1 and not washed after1 they   
prove excellent for that use2 that is1  
being fried with yolk of eggs1 the      
flowers of cowslips and of primroses1   
and a little tansy2 thus used they make 
a dainty dish of meat4  ,the ,,loach is1
 as ,i told you1 a most dainty fish3 he 
breeds and feeds in little and clear    
swift brooks or rills1 and lives there  
upon the gravel1 and in the sharpest    
streams3 he grows not to be above a     
finger long1 and no thicker than is     
suitable to that length4 ,the ,loach is 
not unlike the shape of the ,eel3 he has
 a beard or wattles like a barbel4 ,he  
has two fins at his sides1 four at his  
belly1 and one at his tail2 he is       
dappled with many black or brown spots2 
his mouth is barbel-like under his nose4

 ,this fish is usually full of eggs or  
spawn2 and is by ,gesner1 and other     
learned physicians1 commended for great 
nourishment1 and to be very grateful    
both to the palate and stomach of sick  
persons4 ,he is to be fished for with a 
very small worm1 at the bottom2 for he  
very seldom1 or never1 rises above the  
gravel1 on which ,i told you he usually 
gets his living4  ,the                  
,,miller',s-,,thumb1 or ,,bull-,,head1  
is a fish of no pleasing shape4 ,he is  
by ,gesner compared to the              
,sea-toad-fish1 for his similitude and  
shape4 ,it has a head big and flat1 much
 greater than suitable to his body2 a   
mouth very wide1 and usually gaping2 he 
is without teeth1 but his lips are very 
rough1 much like to a file4 ,he hath two
 fins near to his gills1 which be       
roundish or crested2 two fins also under
 the belly2 two on the back2 one below  
the vent2 and the fin of his tail is    
round4 ,nature hath painted the body of 
this fish with whitish1 blackish1       

brownish spots4 ,they be usually full of
 eggs or spawn all the summer1 ,i mean  
the females2 and those eggs swell their 
vents almost into the form of a dug4    
,they begin to spawn about ,april1 and1 
as ,i told you1 spawn several months in 
the summer4 ,and in the winter1 the     
,minnow1 and ,loach1 and ,bull-head     
dwell in the mud1 as the ,eel doth2 or  
we know not where1 no more than we know 
where the cuckoo and swallow1 and other 
half-year birds1 which first appear to  
us in ,april1 spend their six cold1     
winter1 melancholy months4 ,this        
,,bull-,,head does usually dwell1 and   
hide himself1 in holes1 or amongst      
stones in clear water2 and in very hot  
days will lie a long time very still1   
and sun himself1 and will be easy to be 
seen upon any flat stone1 or any gravel2
 at which time he will suffer an angler 
to put a hook1 baited with a small worm1
 very near unto his very mouth3 and he  
never refuses to bite1 nor indeed to be 
caught with the worst of anglers4       

,matthiolus commends him much more for  
his taste and nourishment1 than for his 
shape or beauty4  ,there is also a      
little fish called a ,,sticklebag1 a    
fish without scales1 but hath his body  
fenced with several prickles4 ,i know   
not where he dwells in winter2 nor what 
he is good for in summer1 but only to   
make sport for boys and women-anglers1  
and to feed other fish that be fish of  
prey1 as ,trouts in particular1 who will
 bite at him as at a ,penk2 and better1 
if your hook be rightly baited with him1
 for he may be so baited as1 his tail   
turning like the sail of a wind-mill1   
will make him turn more quick than any  
,penk or ,minnow can4 ,for note1 that   
the nimble turning of that1 or the      
,minnow is the perfection of            
,minnow-fishing4 ,to which end1 if you  
put your hook into his mouth1 and out at
 his tail2 and then1 having first tied  
him with white thread a little above his
 tail1 and placed him after such a      
manner on your hook as he is like to    

turn then sew up his mouth to your line1
 and he is like to turn quick1 and tempt
 any ,trout3 but if he does not turn    
quick1 then turn his tail1 a little more
 or less1 towards the inner part1 or    
towards the side of the hook2 or put the
 ,minnow or ,sticklebag a little more   
crooked or more straight on your hook1  
until it will turn both true and fast2  
and then doubt not but to tempt any     
great ,trout that lies in a swift       
stream4 ,and the ,loach that ,i told you
 of will do the like3 no bait is more   
tempting1 provided the ,loach be not too
 big4  ,and now1 scholar1 with the help 
of this fine morning1 and your patient  
attention1 ,i have said all that my     
present memory will afford me1          
concerning most of the several fish that
 are usually fished for in fresh waters4
  ,venator4 ,but1 master1 you have by   
your former civility made me hope that  
you will make good your promise1 and say
 something of the several rivers that be
 of most note in this nation2 and also  

of fish-ponds1 and the ordering of them3
 and do it ,i pray1 good master2 for ,i 
love any discourse of rivers1 and fish  
and fishing2 the time spent in such     
discourse passes away very pleasantly4  
,the ,,fifth day-continued  ,of ,rivers1
 and some ,observations of ,fish        
,chapter ,,xix  ,piscator  ,,well1      
scholar1 since the ways and weather do  
both favour us1 and that we yet see not 
,tottenham-,cross1 you shall see my     
willingness to satisfy your desire4     
,and1 first1 for the rivers of this     
nation3 there be1 as you may note out of
 ,dr4 ,heylin's ,geography and others1  
in number three hundred and twenty-five2
 but those of chiefest note he reckons  
and describes as followeth4  ,the chief 
is ,,thamisis1 compounded of two rivers1
 ,thame and ,isis2 whereof the former1  
rising somewhat beyond ,thame in        
,buckinghamshire1 and the latter near   
,cirencester in ,gloucestershire1 meet  
together about ,dorchester in           
,oxfordshire2 the issue of which happy  

conjunction is ,thamisis1 or ,thames2   
hence it flieth betwixt ,berks1         
,buckinghamshire1 ,middlesex1 ,surrey1  
,kent and ,essex3 and so weddeth itself 
to the ,kentish ,medway1 in the very    
jaws of the ocean4 ,this glorious river 
feeleth the violence and benefit of the 
sea more than any river in ,europe2     
ebbing and flowing1 twice a day1 more   
than sixty miles2 about whose banks are 
so many fair towns and princely palaces1
 that a ,german poet thus truly spake3  
,tot campos1 c4      ,we saw so many    
woods and princely bowers1     ,sweet   
fields1 brave palaces1 and stately      
towers2     ,so many gardens drest with 
curious care1     ,that ,thames with    
royal ,tiber may compare4  #b4 ,the     
second river of note is ,,sabrina or    
,,severn3 it hath its beginning in      
,plinilimmon-hill1 in ,montgomeryshire2 
and his end seven miles from ,bristol2  
washing1 in the mean space1 the walls of
 ,shrewsbury1 ,worcester1 and           
,gloucester1 and divers other places and

 palaces of note4  #c4 ,,trent1 so      
called from thirty kind of fishes that  
are found in it1 or for that it         
receiveth thirty lesser rivers2 who     
having his fountain in ,staffordshire1  
and gliding through the counties of     
,nottingham1 ,lincoln1 ,leicester1 and  
,york1 augmenteth the turbulent current 
of ,humber1 the most violent stream of  
all the isle4 ,this ,humber is not1 to  
say truth1 a distinct river having a    
spring-head of his own1 but it is rather
 the mouth or aestuarium of divers      
rivers here confluent and meeting       
together1 namely1 your ,derwent1 and    
especially of ,ouse and ,trent2 and1 as 
the ,danow1 having received into its    
channel the river ,dravus1 ,savus1      
,tibiscus1 and divers others1 changeth  
his name into this of ,humberabus1 as   
the old geographers call it4  #d4       
,,medway1 a ,kentish river1 famous for  
harbouring the royal navy4  #e4 ,,tweed1
 the north-east bound of ,england2 on   
whose northern banks is seated the      

strong and impregnable town of ,berwick4
  #f4 ,,tyne1 famous for ,newcastle1 and
 her inexhaustible coal-pits4 ,these1   
and the rest of principal note1 are thus
 comprehended in one of ,mr4 ,drayton's 
,sonnets3      ,our floods' queen1      
,thames1 for ships and swans is crown'd 
,and stately ,severn for her shore is   
prais'd2     ,the crystal ,trent1 for   
fords and fish renown'd2       ,and     
,avon's fame to ,albion's cliffs is     
rais'd4      ,carlegion ,chester vaunts 
her holy ,dee2       ,york many wonders 
of her ,ouse can tell2     ,the ,peak1  
her ,dove1 whose banks so fertile be1   
,and ,kent will say her ,medway doth    
excel3      ,cotswold commends her ,isis
 to the ,tame3       ,our northern      
borders boast of ,tweed's fair flood2   
,our ,western parts extol their ,willy's
 fame1       ,and the old ,lea brags of 
the ,danish blood4  ,these observations 
are out of learned ,dr4 ,heylin1 and my 
old deceased friend1 ,michael ,drayton2 
and because you say you love such       

discourses as these1 of rivers1 and     
fish1 and fishing1 ,i love you the      
better1 and love the more to impart them
 to you4 ,nevertheless1 scholar1 if ,i  
should begin but to name the several    
sorts of strange fish that are usually  
taken in many of those rivers that run  
into the sea1 ,i might beget wonder in  
you1 or unbelief1 or both3 and yet ,i   
will venture to tell you a real truth   
concerning one lately dissected by ,dr4 
,wharton1 a man of great learning and   
experience1 and of equal freedom to     
communicate it2 one that loves me and my
 art2 one to whom ,i have been beholden 
for many of the choicest observations   
that ,i have imparted to you4 ,this good
 man1 that dares do anything rather than
 tell an untruth1 did1 ,i say1 tell me  
he had lately dissected one strange     
fish1 and he thus described it to me3   
,this fish was almost a yard broad1 and 
twice that length2 his mouth wide enough
 to receive1 or take into it1 the head  
of a man2 his stomach1 seven or eight   

inches broad4 ,he is of a slow motion2  
and usually lies or lurks close in the  
mud2 and has a moveable string on his   
head1 about a span or near unto a       
quarter of a yard long2 by the moving of
 which1 which is his natural bait1 when 
he lies close and unseen in the mud1 he 
draws other smaller fish so close to    
him1 that he can suck them into his     
mouth1 and so devours and digests them4 
,and1 scholar1 do not wonder at this2   
for besides the credit of the relator1  
you are to note1 many of these1 and     
fishes which are of the like and more   
unusual shapes1 are very often taken on 
the mouths of our sea rivers1 and on the
 sea shore4 ,and this will be no wonder 
to any that have travelled ,egypt2      
where1 'tis known1 the famous river     
,nilus does not only breed fishes that  
yet want names1 but1 by the overflowing 
of that river1 and the help of the sun's
 heat on the fat slime which the river  
leaves on the banks when it falls back  
into its natural channel1 such strange  

fish and beasts are also bred1 that no  
man can give a name to2 as ,grotius in  
his ,sopham1 and others1 have observed4 
,but whither am ,i strayed in this      
discourse4 ,i will end it by telling    
you1 that at the mouth of some of these 
rivers of ours1 ,herrings are so        
plentiful1 as namely1 near to ,yarmouth 
in ,norfolk1 and in the west country    
,pilchers so very plentiful1 as you will
 wonder to read what our learned ,camden
 relates of them in his ,britannia4     
,well1 scholar1 ,i will stop here1 and  
tell you what by reading and conference 
,i have observed concerning fish-ponds4 
,the ,,fifth day-continued  ,of         
,fish-,ponds  ,chapter ,,xx  ,piscator  
,,doctor ,,lebault1 the learned         
,frenchman1 in his large discourse of   
,maison ,rustique1 gives this direction 
for making of fish-ponds4 ,i shall refer
 you to him1 to read it at large3 but ,i
 think ,i shall contract it1 and yet    
make it as useful4  ,he adviseth1 that  
when you have drained the ground1 and   

made the earth firm where the head of   
the pond must be1 that you must then1 in
 that place1 drive in two or three rows 
of oak or elm piles1 which should be    
scorched in the fire1 or half-burnt1    
before they be driven into the earth2   
for being thus used1 it preserves them  
much longer from rotting4 ,and having   
done so1 lay faggots or bavins of       
smaller wood betwixt them3 and then1    
earth betwixt and above them3 and then1 
having first very well rammed them and  
the earth1 use another pile in like     
manner as the first were3 and note1 that
 the second pile is to be of or about   
the height that you intend to make your 
sluice or floodgate1 or the vent that   
you intend shall convey the overflowings
 of your pond in any flood that shall   
endanger the breaking of your pond-dam4 
,then he advises1 that you plant willows
 or owlers1 about it1 or both3 and then 
cast in bavins1 in some places not far  
from the side1 and in the most sandy    
places1 for fish both to spawn upon1 and

 to defend them and the young fry from  
the many fish1 and also from vermin1    
that lie at watch to destroy them1      
especially the spawn of the ,carp and   
,tench1 when 'tis left to the mercy of  
ducks or vermin4  ,he1 and ,dubravius1  
and all others advise1 that you make    
choice of such a place for your pond1   
that it may be refreshed with a little  
rill1 or with rain water1 running or    
falling into it2 by which fish are more 
inclined both to breed1 and are also    
refreshed and fed the better1 and do    
prove to be of a much sweeter and more  
pleasant taste4  ,to which end it is    
observed1 that such pools as be large   
and have most gravel1 and shallows where
 fish may sport themselves1 do afford   
fish of the purest taste4 ,and note1    
that in all pools it is best for fish to
 have some retiring place2 as namely1   
hollow banks1 or shelves1 or roots of   
trees1 to keep them from danger1 and1   
when they think fit1 from the extreme   
heat of summer2 as also from the        

extremity of cold in winter4 ,and note1 
that if many trees be growing about your
 pond1 the leaves thereof falling into  
the water1 make it nauseous to the fish1
 and the fish to be so to the eater of  
it4  ',tis noted1 that the ,tench and   
,eel love mud2 and the ,carp loves      
gravelly ground1 and in the hot months  
to feed on grass4 ,you are to cleanse   
your pond1 if you intend either profit  
or pleasure1 once every three or four   
years1 especially some ponds1 and then  
let it dry six or twelve months1 both to
 kill the water-weeds1 as water-lilies1 
candocks1 reate1 and bulrushes1 that    
breed there2 and also that as these die 
for want of water1 so grass may grow in 
the pond's bottom1 which ,carps will eat
 greedily in all the hot months1 if the 
pond be clean4 ,the letting your pond   
dry and sowing oats in the bottom is    
also good1 for the fish feed the faster2
 and being sometimes let dry1 you may   
observe what kind of fish either        
increases or thrives best in that water2

 for they differ much1 both in their    
breeding and feeding4  ,lebault also    
advises1 that if your ponds be not very 
large and roomy1 that you often feed    
your fish1 by throwing into them        
chippings of bread1 curds1 grains1 or   
the entrails of chickens or of any fowl 
or beast that you kill to feed          
yourselves2 for these afford fish a     
great relief4 ,he says1 that frogs and  
ducks do much harm1 and devour both the 
spawn and the young fry of all fish1    
especially of the ,carp2 and ,i have1   
besides experience1 many testimonies of 
it4 ,but ,lebault allows water-frogs to 
be good meat1 especially in some months1
 if they be fat3 but you are to note1   
that he is a ,frenchman2 and we ,english
 will hardly believe him1 though we know
 frogs are usually eaten in his country3
 however he advises to destroy them and 
king-fishers out of your ponds4 ,and he 
advises not to suffer much shooting at  
wild fowl2 for that1 he says1           
affrightens1 and harms1 and destroys the

 fish4  ,note1 that ,carps and ,tench   
thrive and breed best when no other fish
 is put with them into the same pond2   
for all other fish devour their spawn1  
or at least the greatest part of it4    
,and note1 that clods of grass thrown   
into any pond feed any ,carps in summer2
 and that garden-earth and parsley      
thrown into a pond recovers and         
refreshes the sick fish4 ,and note1 that
 when you store your pond1 you are to   
put into it two or three melters for one
 spawner1 if you put them into a        
breeding-pond2 but if into a nurse-pond1
 or feeding-pond1 in which they will not
 breed1 then no care is to be taken     
whether there be most male or female    
,carps4  ,it is observed that the best  
ponds to breed ,carps are those that be 
stony or sandy1 and are warm1 and free  
from wind2 and that are not deep1 but   
have willow-trees and grass on their    
sides1 over which the water does        
sometimes flow3 and note1 that ,carps do
 more usually breed in marle-pits1 or   

pits that have clean clay bottoms2 or in
 new ponds1 or ponds that lie dry a     
winter season1 than in old ponds that be
 full of mud and weeds4  ,well1         
,scholar1 ,i have told you the substance
 of all that either observation or      
discourse1 or a diligent survey of      
,dubravius and ,lebault hath told me3   
not that they1 in their long discourses1
 have not said more2 but the most of the
 rest are so common observations1 as if 
a man should tell a good arithmetician  
that twice two is four4 ,i will         
therefore put an end to this discourse2 
and we will here sit down and rest us4  
,the ,,fifth day-continued  ,chapter    
,,xxi  ,piscator and ,venator           
,piscator4 ,well1 ,scholar1 ,i have held
 you too long about these cadis1 and    
smaller fish1 and rivers1 and           
fish-ponds2 and my spirits are almost   
spent1 and so ,i doubt is your patience2
 but being we are now almost at         
,tottenham where ,i first met you1 and  
where we are to part1 ,i will lose no   

time1 but give you a little direction   
how to make and order your lines1 and to
 colour the hair of which you make your 
lines1 for that is very needful to be   
known of an angler2 and also how to     
paint your rod1 especially your top2 for
 a right-grown top is a choice          
commodity1 and should be preserved from 
the water soaking into it1 which makes  
it in wet weather to be heavy and fish  
ill-favouredly1 and not true2 and also  
it rots quickly for want of painting3   
and ,i think a good top is worth        
preserving1 or ,i had not taken care to 
keep a top above twenty years4  ,but    
first for your ,line4 ,first note1 that 
you are to take care that your hair be  
round and clear1 and free from galls1 or
 scabs1 or frets3 for a well-chosen1    
even1 clear1 round hair1 of a kind of   
glass-colour1 will prove as strong as   
three uneven scabby hairs that are      
ill-chosen1 and full of galls or        
unevenness4 ,you shall seldom find a    
black hair but it is round1 but many    

white are flat and uneven2 therefore1 if
 you get a lock of right1 round1 clear1 
glass-colour hair1 make much of it4     
,and for making your line1 observe this 
rule3 first1 let your hair be clean     
washed ere you go about to twist it2 and
 then choose not only the clearest hair 
for it1 but hairs that be of an equal   
bigness1 for such do usually stretch all
 together1 and break all together1 which
 hairs of an unequal bigness never do1  
but break singly1 and so deceive the    
angler that trusts to them4  ,when you  
have twisted your links1 lay them in    
water for a quarter of an hour at least1
 and then twist them over again before  
you tie them into a line3 for those that
 do not so shall usually find their line
 to have a hair or two shrink1 and be   
shorter than the rest1 at the first     
fishing with it1 which is so much of the
 strength of the line lost for want of  
first watering it1 and then re-twisting 
it2 and this is most visible in a       
seven-hair line1 one of those which hath

 always a black hair in the middle4     
,and for dyeing of your hairs1 do it    
thus3 take a pint of strong ale1 half a 
pound of soot1 and a little quantity of 
the juice of walnut-tree leaves1 and an 
equal quantity of alum3 put these       
together into a pot1 pan1 or pipkin1 and
 boil them half an hour2 and having so  
done1 let it cool2 and being cold1 put  
your hair into it1 and there let it lie2
 it will turn your hair to be a kind of 
water or glass colour1 or greenish2 and 
the longer you let it lie1 the deeper   
coloured it will be4 ,you might be      
taught to make many other colours1 but  
it is to little purpose2 for doubtless  
the water-colour or glass-coloured hair 
is the most choice and most useful for  
an angler1 but let it not be too green4 
,but if you desire to colour hair       
greener1 then do it thus3 take a quart  
of small ale1 half a pound of alum2 then
 put these into a pan or pipkin1 and    
your hair into it with them2 then put it
 upon a fire1 and let it boil softly for

 half an hour2 and then take out your   
hair1 and let it dry2 and having so     
done1 then take a pottle of water1 and  
put into it two handfuls of marigolds1  
and cover it with a tile or what you    
think fit1 and set it again on the fire1
 where it is to boil again softly for   
half an hour1 about which time the scum 
will turn yellow2 then put into it half 
a pound of copperas1 beaten small1 and  
with it the hair that you intend to     
colour2 then let the hair be boiled     
softly till half the liquor be wasted1  
and then let it cool three or four      
hours1 with your hair in it2 and you are
 to observe that the more copperas you  
put into it1 the greener it will be2 but
 doubtless the pale green is best4 ,but 
if you desire yellow hair1 which is only
 good when the weeds rot1 then put in   
more marigolds2 and abate most of the   
copperas1 or leave it quite out1 and    
take a little verdigris instead of it4  
,this for colouring your hair4  ,and as 
for painting your ,rod1 which must be in

 oil1 you must first make a size with   
glue and water1 boiled together until   
the glue be dissolved1 and the size of a
 lye-colour3 then strike your size upon 
the wood with a bristle1 or a brush or  
pencil1 whilst it is hot3 that being    
quite dry1 take white-lead1 and a little
 red-lead1 and a little coal-black1 so  
much as altogether will make an         
ash-colour3 grind these altogether with 
linseed-oil2 let it be thick1 and lay it
 thin upon the wood with a brush or     
pencil3 this do for the ground of any   
colour to lie upon wood4  ,for a green1 
take pink and verdigris1 and grind them 
together in linseed oil1 as thin as you 
can well grind it3 then lay it smoothly 
on with your brush1 and drive it thin2  
once doing1 for the most part1 will     
serve1 if you lay it well2 and if twice1
 be sure your first colour be thoroughly
 dry before you lay on a second4  ,well1
 ,scholar1 having now taught you to     
paint your rod1 and we having still a   
mile to ,tottenham ,high-,cross1 ,i     

will1 as we walk towards it in the cool 
shade of this sweet honeysuckle hedge1  
mention to you some of the thoughts and 
joys that have possessed my soul since  
we two met together4 ,and these thoughts
 shall be told you1 that you also may   
join with me in thankfulness to the     
,giver of every good and perfect gift1  
for our happiness4 ,and that our present
 happiness may appear to be the greater1
 and we the more thankful for it1 ,i    
will beg you to consider with me how    
many do1 even at this very time1 lie    
under the torment of the stone1 the     
gout1 and tooth-ache2 and this we are   
free from4 ,and every misery that ,i    
miss is a new mercy2 and therefore let  
us be thankful4 ,there have been1 since 
we met1 others that have met disasters  
or broken limbs2 some have been blasted1
 others thunder-strucken3 and we have   
been freed from these1 and all those    
many other miseries that threaten human 
nature2 let us therefore rejoice and be 
thankful4 ,nay1 which is a far greater  

mercy1 we are free from the             
insupportable burthen of an accusing    
tormenting conscience2 a misery that    
none can bear3 and therefore let us     
praise ,him for ,his preventing grace1  
and say1 ,every misery that ,i miss is a
 new mercy4 ,nay1 let me tell you1 there
 be many that have forty times our      
estates1 that would give the greatest   
part of it to be healthful and cheerful 
like us1 who1 with the expense of a     
little money1 have eat and drunk1 and   
laughed1 and angled1 and sung1 and slept
 securely2 and rose next day and cast   
away care1 and sung1 and laughed1 and   
angled again2 which are blessings rich  
men cannot purchase with all their      
money4 ,let me tell you1 ,scholar1 ,i   
have a rich neighbour that is always so 
busy that he has no leisure to laugh2   
the whole business of his life is to get
 money1 and more money1 that he may     
still get more and more money2 he is    
still drudging on1 and says1 that       
,solomon says ,the diligent hand maketh 

rich2 and it is true indeed3 but he     
considers not that it is not in the     
power of riches to make a man happy2 for
 it was wisely said1 by a man of great  
observation1 that there be as many      
miseries beyond riches as on this side  
of them 4 ,and yet ,god deliver us from 
pinching poverty2 and grant1 that having
 a competency1 we may be content and    
thankful4 ,let not us repine1 or so much
 as think the gifts of ,god unequally   
dealt1 if we see another abound with    
riches2 when1 as ,god knows1 the cares  
that are the keys that keep those riches
 hang often so heavily at the rich man's
 girdle1 that they clog him with weary  
days and restless nights1 even when     
others sleep quietly4 ,we see but the   
outside of the rich man's happiness3 few
 consider him to be like the silk-worm1 
that1 when she seems to play1 is1 at the
 very same time1 spinning her own       
bowels1 and consuming herself2 and this 
many rich men do1 loading themselves    
with corroding cares1 to keep what they 

have1 probably1 unconscionably got4 ,let
 us1 therefore1 be thankful for health  
and a competence2 and above all1 for a  
quiet conscience4  ,let me tell you1    
,scholar1 that ,diogenes walked on a    
day1 with his friend1 to see a country  
fair2 where he saw ribbons1 and         
looking-glasses1 and nutcrackers1 and   
fiddles1 and hobby-horses1 and many     
other gimcracks2 and1 having observed   
them1 and all the other finnimbruns that
 make a complete country-fair1 he said  
to his friend1 ,lord1 how many things   
are there in this world of which        
,diogenes hath no need6 ,and truly it is
 so1 or might be so1 with very many who 
vex and toil themselves to get what they
 have no need of4 ,can any man charge   
,god1 that ,he hath not given him enough
 to make his life happy8 ,no1 doubtless2
 for nature is content with a little4   
,and yet you shall hardly meet with a   
man that complains not of some want2    
though he1 indeed1 wants nothing but his
 will2 it may be1 nothing but his will  

of his poor neighbour1 for not          
worshipping1 or not flattering him3 and 
thus1 when we might be happy and quiet1 
we create trouble to ourselves4 ,i have 
heard of a man that was angry with      
himself because he was no taller2 and of
 a woman that broke her looking-glass   
because it would not shew her face to be
 as young and handsome as her next      
neighbour's was4 ,and ,i knew another to
 whom ,god had given health and plenty2 
but a wife that nature had made peevish1
 and her husband's riches had made      
purse-proud2 and must1 because she was  
rich1 and for no other virtue1 sit in   
the highest pew in the church2 which    
being denied her1 she engaged her       
husband into a contention for it1 and at
 last into a law-suit with a dogged     
neighbour who was as rich as he1 and had
 a wife as peevish and purse-proud as   
the other3 and this law-suit begot      
higher oppositions1 and actionable      
words1 and more vexations and lawsuits2 
for you must remember that both were    

rich1 and must therefore have their     
wills4 ,well6 this wilful1 purse-proud  
law-suit lasted during the life of the  
first husband2 after which his wife vext
 and chid1 and chid and vext1 till she  
also chid and vext herself into her     
grave3 and so the wealth of these poor  
rich people was curst into a punishment1
 because they wanted meek and thankful  
hearts2 for those only can make us      
happy4 ,i knew a man that had health and
 riches2 and several houses1 all        
beautiful1 and ready furnished2 and     
would often trouble himself and family  
to be removing from one house to        
another3 and being asked by a friend why
 he removed so often from one house to  
another1 replied1 ,it was to find       
content in some one of them4 ,but his   
friend1 knowing his temper1 told him1   
,if he would find content in any of his 
houses1 he must leave himself behind    
him2 for content will never dwell but in
 a meek and quiet soul4 ,and this may   
appear1 if we read and consider what our

 ,saviour says in ,st4 ,matthew's       
,gospel2 for ,he there says,blessed be  
the merciful1 for they shall obtain     
mercy4 ,blessed be the pure in heart1   
for they shall see ,god4 ,blessed be the
 poor in spirit1 for theirs is the      
kingdom of heaven4 ,and1 ,blessed be the
 meek1 for they shall possess the earth4
 ,not that the meek shall not also      
obtain mercy1 and see ,god1 and be      
comforted1 and at last come to the      
kingdom of heaven3 but in the meantime1 
he1 and he only1 possesses the earth1 as
 he goes towards that kingdom of heaven1
 by being humble and cheerful1 and      
content with what his good ,god had     
allotted him4 ,he has no turbulent1     
repining1 vexatious thoughts that he    
deserves better2 nor is vext when he see
 others possess of more honour or more  
riches than his wise ,god has allotted  
for his share3 but he possesses what he 
has with a meek and contented quietness1
 such a quietness as makes his very     
dreams pleasing1 both to ,god and       

himself4  ,my honest ,scholar1 all this 
is told to incline you to thankfulness2 
and to incline you the more1 let me tell
 you1 and though the prophet ,david was 
guilty of murder and adultery1 and many 
other of the most deadly sins1 yet he   
was said to be a man after ,god's own   
heart1 because he abounded more with    
thankfulness that any other that is     
mentioned in holy scripture1 as may     
appear in his book of ,psalms2 where    
there is such a commixture1 of his      
confessing of his sins and unworthiness1
 and such thankfulness for ,god's pardon
 and mercies1 as did make him to be     
accounted1 even by ,god himself1 to be a
 man after his own heart3 and let us1 in
 that1 labour to be as like him as we   
can2 let not the blessings we receive   
daily from ,god make us not to value1 or
 not praise ,him1 because they be       
common2 let us not forget to praise ,him
 for the innocent mirth and pleasure we 
have met with since we met together4    
,what would a blind man give to see the 

pleasant rivers1 and meadows1 and       
flowers1 and fountains1 that we have met
 with since we met together8 ,i have    
been told1 that if a man that was born  
blind could obtain to have his sight for
 but only one hour during his whole     
life1 and should1 at the first opening  
of his eyes1 fix his sight upon the sun 
when it was in its full glory1 either at
 the rising or setting of it1 he would  
be so transported and amazed1 and so    
admire the glory of it1 that he would   
not willingly turn his eyes from that   
first ravishing object1 to behold all   
the other various beauties this world   
could present to him4 ,and this1 and    
many other like blessings1 we enjoy     
daily4 ,and for the most of them1       
because they be so common1 most men     
forget to pay their praises3 but let not
 us2 because it is a sacrifice so       
pleasing to ,him that made that sun and 
us1 and still protects us1 and gives us 
flowers1 and showers1 and stomachs1 and 
meat1 and content1 and leisure to go    

a-fishing4  ,well1 ,scholar1 ,i have    
almost tired myself1 and1 ,i fear1 more 
than almost tired you4 ,but ,i now see  
,tottenham ,high-,cross2 and our short  
walk thither shall put a period to my   
too long discourse2 in which my meaning 
was1 and is1 to plant that in your mind 
with which ,i labour to possess my own  
soul2 that is1 a meek and thankful      
heart4 ,and to that end ,i have shewed  
you1 that riches without them1 do not   
make any man happy4 ,but let me tell    
you1 that riches with them remove many  
fears and cares4 ,and therefore my      
advice is1 that you endeavour to be     
honestly rich1 or contentedly poor3 but 
be sure that your riches be justly got1 
or you spoil all4 ,for it is well said  
by ,caussin1 ,he that loses his         
conscience has nothing left that is     
worth keeping4 ,therefore be sure you   
look to that4 ,and1 in the next place1  
look to your health3 and if you have it1
 praise ,god1 and value it next to a    
good conscience2 for health is the      

second blessing that we mortals are     
capable of2 a blessing that money cannot
 buy2 and therefore value it1 and be    
thankful for it4 ,as for money1 which   
may be said to be the third blessing1   
neglect it not3 but note1 that there is 
no necessity of being rich2 for ,i told 
you1 there be as many miseries beyond   
riches as on this side them3 and if you 
have a competence1 enjoy it with a meek1
 cheerful1 thankful heart4 ,i will tell 
you1 ,scholar1 ,i have heard a grave    
,divine say1 that ,god has two          
dwellings2 one in heaven1 and the other 
in a meek and thankful heart2 which     
,almighty ,god grant to me1 and to my   
honest ,scholar4 ,and so you are welcome
 to ,tottenham ,high-,cross4  ,venator4 
,well1 ,master1 ,i thank you for all    
your good directions2 but for none more 
than this last1 of thankfulness1 which  
,i hope ,i shall never forget4 ,and pray
 let's now rest ourselves in this sweet 
shady arbour1 which nature herself has  
woven with her own fine fingers2 'tis   

such a contexture of woodbines1         
sweetbriar1 jasmine1 and myrtle2 and so 
interwoven1 as will secure us both from 
the sun's violent heat1 and from the    
approaching shower4 ,and being set down1
 ,i will requite a part of your         
courtesies with a bottle of sack1 milk1 
oranges1 and sugar1 which1 all put      
together1 make a drink like nectar2     
indeed1 too good for any but us         
,anglers1 ,and so1 ,master1 here is a   
full glass to you of that liquor3 and   
when you have pledged me1 ,i will repeat
 the ,verses which ,i promised you3 it  
is a ,copy printed among some of ,sir   
,henry ,wotton's1 and doubtless made    
either by him1 or by a lover of angling4
 ,come1 ,master1 now drink a glass to   
me1 and then ,i will pledge you1 and    
fall to my repetition2 it is a          
description of such country recreations 
as ,i have enjoyed since ,i had the     
happiness to fall into your company4    
,quivering fears1 heart-tearing cares1  
,anxious sighs1 untimely tears1         

,fly1 fly to courts1         ,fly to    
fond worldlings' sports1     ,where     
strain'd sardonic smiles are glosing    
still1     ,and ,grief is forc'd to     
laugh against her will3         ,where  
mirth's but mummery1         ,and       
sorrows only real be4      ,fly from our
 country pastimes1 fly1     ,sad troops 
of human misery4         ,come1 serene  
looks1         ,clear as the crystal    
brooks1     ,or the pure azur'd heaven  
that smiles to see     ,the rich        
attendance of our poverty3              
,peace and a secure mind1         ,which
 all men seek1 we only find4            
,abused mortals ,i did you know         
,where joy1 heart's-ease1 and comforts  
grow1         ,you'd scorn proud towers1
         ,and seek them in these bowers2
     ,where winds1 sometimes1 our woods 
perhaps may shake1     ,but blust'ring  
care could never tempest make1          
,nor murmurs e'er come nigh us1         
,saving of fountains that glide by us4  
,here's no fantastick mask1 nor dance1  

,but of our kids that frisk and prance2 
,nor wars are seen         ,unless upon 
the green     ,two harmless lambs are   
butting one the other1     ,which done1 
both bleating run1 each to his mother   
,and wounds are never found1            
,save what the plough-share gives the   
ground4      ,here are no false         
entrapping baits1     ,to hasten too1   
too hasty ,fates1         ,unless it be 
,the fond credulity     ,of silly fish1 
which worldling like1 still look        
,upon the bait1 but never on the hook2  
,nor envy1 unless among         ,the    
birds1 for prize of their sweet song4   
,go1 let the diving negro seek     ,for 
gems1 hid in some forlorn creek3        
,we all pearls scorn1         ,save what
 the dewy morn     ,congeals upon each  
little spire of grass1     ,which       
careless shepherds beat down as they    
pass3         ,and gold ne'er here      
appears1         ,save what the yellow  
,ceres bears1      ,blest silent groves1
 oh may ye be1     ,for ever1 mirth's   

best nursery6         ,may pure contents
         ,for ever pitch their tents    
,upon these downs1 these meads1 these   
rocks1 these mountains4     ,and peace  
still slumber by these purling          
fountains3         ,which we may1 every 
year1         ,meet when we come        
a-fishing here4  ,piscator4 ,trust me1  
,scholar1 ,i thank you heartily for     
these ,verses3 they be choicely good1   
and doubtless made by a lover of        
angling4 ,come1 now1 drink a glass to   
me1 and ,i will requite you with another
 very good copy3 it is a farewell to the
 vanities of the world1 and some say    
written by ,sir ,harry ,wotton1 who ,i  
told you was an excellent angler4 ,but  
let them be writ by whom they will1 he  
that writ them had a brave soul1 and    
must needs be possess with happy        
thoughts at the time of their composure4
      ,farewell1 ye gilded follies1     
pleasing troubles2     ,farewell1 ye    
honour'd rags1 ye glorious bubbles2     
,fame's but a hollow echo1 ,gold1 pure  

clay2     ,honour the darling but of one
 short day2     ,beauty1 th' eye's idol1
 but a damask'd skin2     ,state1 but a 
golden prison1 to live in     ,and      
torture free-born minds2 embroider'd    
,trains1     ,merely but pageants for   
proud swelling veins2     ,and ,blood   
allied to greatness is alone            
,inherited1 not purchas'd1 nor our own4 
,fame1 ,honour1 ,beauty1 ,state1 ,train1
 ,blood and ,birth1       ,are but the  
fading blossoms of the earth4      ,i   
would be great1 but that the sun doth   
still     ,level his rays against the   
rising hill3     ,i would be high1 but  
see the proudest oak     ,most subject  
to the rending thunder-stroke3     ,i   
would be rich1 but see men1 too unkind  
,dig in the bowels of the richest mind3 
,i would be wise1 but that ,i often see 
,the fox suspected1 whilst the ass goes 
free3     ,i would be fair1 but see the 
fair and proud1     ,like the bright    
sun1 oft setting in a cloud3     ,i     
would be poor1 but know the humble grass

     ,still trampled on by each unworthy
 ass3     ,rich1 hated wise1 suspected1 
scorn'd if poor2     ,great1 fear'd1    
fair1 tempted1 high1 still envy'd more4 
,i have wish'd all1 but now ,i wish for 
neither4       ,great1 high1 rich1 wise1
 nor fair3 poor ,i'll be rather4        
,would the ,world now adopt me for her  
heir2     ,would beauty's ,queen entitle
 me the fair2     ,fame speak me        
fortune's minion1 could ,i vie          
,angels with ,india with a speaking eye 
,command bare heads1 bow'd knees1 strike
 justice dumb1     ,as well as blind and
 lame1 or give a tongue     ,to stones  
by epitaphs1 be call'd great master     
,in the loose rhymes of every poetaster8
     ,could ,i be more than any man that
 lives1     ,great1 fair1 rich wise1 all
 in superlatives2     ,yet ,i more      
freely would these gifts resign         
,than ever fortune would have made them 
mine4       ,and hold one minute of this
 holy leisure       ,beyond the riches  
of this empty pleasure4      ,welcome1  

pure thoughts2 welcome1 ye silent       
groves2     ,these guests1 these courts1
 my soul most dearly loves4     ,now the
 wing'd people of the sky shall sing    
,my cheerful anthems to the gladsome    
spring3     ,a pray'r-book1 now1 shall  
be my looking-glass1     ,in which ,i   
will adore sweet virtue's face4         
,here dwell no hateful looks1 no palace 
cares1     ,no broken vows dwell here1  
nor pale-fac'd fears2     ,then here    
,i'll sit1 and sigh my hot love's folly1
     ,and learn t' affect an holy       
melancholy3       ,and if contentment be
 a stranger then1       ,i'll ne'er look
 for it1 but in heaven1 again4          
,venator4 ,well1 ,master1 these verses  
be worthy to keep a room in every man's 
memory4 ,i thank you for them2 and ,i   
thank you for your many instructions1   
which1 ,god willing1 ,i will not forget4
 ,and as ,st4 ,austin1 in his           
,confessions1 commemorates the kindness 
of his friend ,verecundus1 for lending  
him and his companion a country house1  

because there they rested and enjoyed   
themselves1 free from the troubles of   
the world1 so1 having had the like      
advantage1 both by your conversation and
 the art you have taught me1 ,i ought   
ever to do the like2 for1 indeed1 your  
company and discourse have been so      
useful and pleasant1 that1 ,i may truly 
say1 ,i have only lived since ,i enjoyed
 them and turned angler1 and not before4
 ,nevertheless1 here ,i must part with  
you2 here in this now sad place1 where  
,i was so happy as first to meet you3   
but ,i shall long for the ninth of ,may2
 for then ,i hope again to enjoy your   
beloved company1 at the appointed time  
and place4 ,and now ,i wish for some    
somniferous potion1 that might force me 
to sleep away the intermitted time1     
which will pass away with me as         
tediously as it does with men in sorrow2
 nevertheless ,i will make it as short  
as ,i can1 by my hopes and wishes3 and1 
my good ,master1 ,i will not forget the 
doctrine which you told me ,socrates    

taught his scholars1 that they should   
not think to be honoured so much for    
being philosophers1 as to honour        
philosophy by their virtuous lives4 ,you
 advised me to the like concerning      
,angling1 and ,i will endeavour to do   
so2 and to live like those many worthy  
men1 of which you made mention in the   
former part of your discourse4 ,this is 
my firm resolution4 ,and as a pious man 
advised his friend1 that1 to beget      
mortification1 he should frequent       
churches1 and view monuments1 and       
charnel-houses1 and then and there      
consider how many dead bodies time had  
piled up at the gates of death1 so when 
,i would beget content1 and increase    
confidence in the power1 and wisdom1 and
 providence of ,almighty ,god1 ,i will  
walk the meadows1 by some gliding       
stream1 and there contemplate the lilies
 that take no care1 and those very many 
other various little living creatures   
that are not only created1 but fed1 man 
knows not how1 by the goodness of the   

,god of ,nature1 and therefore trust in 
him4 ,this is my purpose2 and so1 let   
everything that hath breath praise the  
,lord3 and let the blessing of ,st4     
,peter's ,master be with mine4          
,piscator4 ,and upon all that are lovers
 of virtue2 and dare trust in his       
providence2 and be quiet2 and go        
a-,angling4  ,study to be quiet4