,proofreaders ,,the ,,complete ,,angler2 ,,or1 ,,the ,,contemplative ,,man',s ,,recreation4 ,by ,,isaak ,,walton4 ,being a ,facsimile ,reprint of the ,first ,edition published in #afec4 ,with a ,preface by ,,richard ,,le ,,gallienne4 ,,preface4 ,the first edition has been a favourite theme for the scorn of those who love it not4 ,the first edition--and the worst6 gibes a modern poet1 and many are the true lovers of literature entirely insensitive to the accessory1 historical or sentimental1 associations of books4 ,the present writer possesses a copy of one of ,walton's ,lives1 that of ,bishop ,sanderson1 with the author's donatory inscription to a friend upon the title-page4 ,to keep this in his little library he has undergone willingly many privations1 cheerfully faced hunger and cold rather than let it pass from his hand2 yet1 how often when1 tremulously1 he has unveiled this treasure to his visitors1 how often has it been examined with undilating eyes1 and cold1 unenvious hearts6 ,yet so he must confess himself to have looked upon a friend's superb first edition of ,pickwick though surely not without that measure of interest which all1 save the quite unlettered or unintelligent1 must feel in seeing the first visible shape of a book of such resounding significance in ,english literature4 ,such interest may1 without fear of denial1 be claimed for a facsimile of the first edition of ,the ,compleat ,angler after ,robinson ,crusoe perhaps the most popular of ,english classics4 ,thomas ,westwood1 whose gentle poetry1 it is to be feared1 has won but few listeners1 has drawn this fancy picture of the commotion in ,st4 ,dunstan's ,churchyard on a ,may morning of the year #afec1 when ,richard ,marriott first published the famous discourse1 little dreaming that he had been chosen for the godfather of so distinguished an immortality4 ,the lines form an epilogue to twelve beautiful sonnets propos of the bi-centenary of ,walton's death3 ,what1 not a word for thee1 ,o little tome1 ,brown-jerkined1 friendly-faced--of all my books ,the one that wears the quaintest1 kindliest looks-- ,seems most completely1 cosily at home ,amongst its fellows4 ,ah6 if thou couldst tell ,thy story--how1 in sixteen fifty-three1 ,good ,master ,marriott1 standing at its door1 ,saw ,anglers hurrying--fifty--nay1 three score1 ,to buy thee ere noon pealed from ,dunstan's bell3-- ,and how he stared and 444 shook his sides with glee4 ,one story1 this1 which fact or fiction weaves4 ,meanwhile1 adorn my shelf1 beloved of all-- ,old book6 with lavender between thy leaves1 ,and twenty ballads round thee on the wall4 ,whether there was quite such a rush as this on its publishing day we have no certain knowledge1 though ,westwood1 in his ,chronicle of the ,compleat ,angler speaks of the almost immediate sale of the entire edition4 ,according to ,sir ,harris ,nicolas1 it was thus advertised in ,the ,perfect ,diurnall3 from ,monday1 ,may #ith1 to ,monday1 ,may #afth1 #afec3 ,the ,compleat ,angler1 or the ,contemplative ,man's ,recreation1 being a discourse of ,fish and ,fishing1 not unworthy the perusal of most ,anglers1 of #ah pence price4 ,written by ,iz4 ,wa4 ,also the ,gipsee1 never till now published3 ,both printed for ,richard ,marriot1 to be sold at his shop in ,saint ,dunstan's ,churchyard1 ,fleet street4 ,and it was thus calmly1 unexcitedly noticed in the ,mercurius ,politicus3 from ,thursday1 ,may #ab1 to ,thursday1 ,may #ai1 #afec3 ,there is newly extant1 a ,book of #ah;d4 price1 called the ,compleat ,angler1 or the ,contemplative ,man's ,recreation1 being a discourse of ,fish and ,fishing1 not unworthy the perusal of most ,anglers4 ,printed for ,richard ,marriot1 to be sold at his shop in ,st4 ,dunstan's ,churchyard1 ,fleet street4 ,thus for it1 as for most great births1 the bare announcement sufficed4 ,one of the most beautiful of the world's books had been born into the world1 and was still to be bought in its birthday form--for eighteen-pence4 ,in #ahaf1 ,mr4 ,marston calculates1 the market value was about #d #ds4 ,in #ahdg ,dr4 ,bethune estimated it at #ab #abs4 ,in #ahhc ,westwood reckoned it from #gj to #hj or even more and since then copies have fetched #bce and #caj1 though in #ahid we have a sudden drop at ,sotheby's to #aej--which1 however1 was more likely due to the state of the copy than to any diminution in the zeal of ,waltonian collectors1 a zeal1 indeed1 which burns more ardently from year to year4 ,sufficiently out of reach of the poor collector as it is at present1 it is probable that it will mount still higher1 and consent only to belong to richer and richer men4 ,and thus1 in course of time1 this facsimile will1 in clerical language1 find an increasing sphere of usefulness2 for it is to those who have more instant demands to satisfy with their hundred-pound notes that this facsimile is designed to bring consolation4 ,if it is not the rose itself1 it is a photographic refection of it1 and it will undoubtedly give its possessor a sufficiently faithful idea of its original4 ,but1 apart from the satisfaction of such curiosity1 the facsimile has a literary value1 in that it differs very materially from succeeding editions4 ,the text by which ,the ,compleat ,angler is generally known is that of the fifth edition1 published in #afgf1 the last which ,walton corrected and finally revised1 seven years before his death4 ,but in the second edition 7#afee7 the book was already very near to its final shape1 for ,walton had enlarged it by about a third1 and the dialogue was now sustained by three persons1 ,piscator1 ,venator and ,auceps1 instead of two--the original ,viator also having changed his name to ,venator4 ,those interested in tracing the changes will find them all laboriously noted in ,sir ,harris ,nicolas's great edition4 ,of the further additions made in the fifth edition1 ,sir ,harris ,nicolas makes this just criticism3 ,it is questionable1 he says1 whether the additions which he then made to it have increased its interest4 ,the garrulity and sentiments of an octogenarian are very apparent in some of the alterations2 and the subdued colouring of religious feeling which prevails throughout the former editions1 and forms one of the charms of the piece1 is1 in this impression1 so much heightened as to become almost obtrusive4 ,there is a third raison d'tre for this facsimile1 which to name with approbation will no doubt seem impiety to many1 but which1 as a personal predilection1 ,i venture to risk--there is no ,cotton6 ,the relation between ,walton and ,cotton is a charming incongruity to contemplate1 and one stands by their little fishing-house in ,dovedale as before an altar of friendship4 ,happy and pleasant in their lives1 it is good to see them still undivided in their deaths--but1 to my mind1 their association between the boards of the same book mars a charming classic4 ,no doubt ,cotton has admirably caught the spirit of his master1 but the very cleverness with which he has done it increases the sense of parody with which his portion of the book always offends me4 ,nor can ,i be the only reader of the book for whom it ends with that gentle benediction--,and upon all that are lovers of virtue1 and dare trust in his providence1 and be quiet1 and go a ,angling--and that sweet exhortation from ,i ,thess4 iv4 #aa--,study to be quiet4 ,after the exquisite quietism of this farewell1 it is distracting to come precipitately upon the fine gentleman with the great wig and the ,frenchified airs4 ,this is nothing against hearty1 cheerful ,mr4 ,cotton's strain of which1 in ,walton's own setting and in his own poetical issues1 ,i am a sufficient admirer4 ,cotton was a clever literary man1 and a fine engaging figure of a gentleman1 but1 save by the accident of friendship1 he has little more claim to be printed along with ,walton than the gallant ,col4 ,robert ,venables1 who1 in the fifth edition1 contributed still a third part1 entitled ,the ,experienc'd ,angler3 or1 ,angling ,improv'd4 ,being a ,general ,discourse of ,angling1 etc41 to a book that was immortally complete in its first4 ,while ,the ,compleat ,angler was regarded mainly as a text-book for practical anglers1 one can understand its publisher wishing to make it as complete as possible by the addition of such technical appendices2 but now1 when it has so long been elevated above such literary drudgery1 there is no further need for their perpetuation4 ,for ,i imagine that the men to-day who really catch fish1 as distinguished from the men who write sentimentally about angling1 would as soon think of consulting ,izaak ,walton as they would ,dame ,juliana ,berners4 ,but anyone can catch fish--can he1 do you say8--the thing is to have so written about catching them that your book is a pastoral1 the freshness of which a hundred editions have left unexhausted1--a book in which the grass is for ever green1 and the shining brooks do indeed go on forever4 ,,richard ,,le ,,gallienne4 ,frontispiece ,text3 ,the ,compleat ,angler or the ,contemplative ,man's ,recreation4 ,being a ,discourse of ,,fish and ,,fishing1 ,not unworthy the perusal of most ,anglers4 ,simon ,peter said1 ,i go a fishing2 and they said4 ,we also wil go with thee4 ,john #ba4c4 ,london1 ,printed by ,t4 ,maxes for ,,rich4 ,,marriot1 in ,s4 ,dunstans ,churchyard ,fleet ,street1 #afec4 ,to the ,right ,worshipful ,,john ,,offley ,of ,,madely ,manor in the ,county of ,stafford1 ,esq1 ,my most honoured ,friend4 ,,sir1 ,i have made so ill use of your former favors1 as by them to be encouraged to intreat that they may be enlarged to the patronage and protection of this ,book2 and ,i have put on a modest confidence1 that ,i shall not be denyed1 because 'tis a discourse of ,fish and ,fishing1 which you both know so well1 and love and practice so much4 ,you are assur'd 7though there be ignorant men of an other belief7 that ,angling is an ,art2 and you know that ,art better then any that ,i know3 and that this is truth1 is demostrated by the fruits of that pleasant labor which you enjoy when you purpose to give rest to your mind1 and devest your self of your more serious business1 and 7which is often7 dedicate a day or two to this ,recreation4 ,at which time1 if common ,anglers should attend you1 and be eye-witnesses 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 so3 but ,i know it is not atainable by common capacities4 ,sir1 this pleasant curiositie of ,fish and ,fishing 7of which you are so great a ,master7 has been thought worthy the pens and practices of divers in other ,nations1 which have been reputed men of great ,learning and ,wisdome2 and amongst those of this ,nation1 ,i remember ,sir ,henry ,wotton 7a dear lover of this ,art7 has told me1 that his intentions were to write a discourse of the ,art1 and in the praise of ,angling1 and doubtless he had done so1 if death had not prevented him2 the remembrance of which hath often made me sorry2 for1 if he had lived to do it1 then the unlearned ,angler 7of which ,i am one7 had seen some ,treatise of this ,art worthy his perusal1 which 7though some have undertaken it7 ,i could never yet see in ,english4 ,but mine may be thought3 as weak and as unworthy of common view3 and ,i do here freely confess that ,i should rather excuse myself1 then censure others my own ,discourse being liable to so many exceptions2 against which1 you 7,sir7 might make this one1 ,that it can contribute nothing to your knowledge2 and lest a longer ,epistle may diminish your pleasure1 ,i shall not adventure to make this ,epistle longer then to add this following truth1 ,that ,i am really1 ,sir1 ,your most affectionate ,friend1 and most humble ,servant1 ,iz4 ,wa4 ,to the ,reader of this ,discourse3 ,but especially1 ,to the honest ,,angler4 ,i think fit to tell thee these following truths2 that ,i did not undertake to write1 or to publish this discourse of fish and fishing1 to please my self1 and that ,i wish it may not displease others2 for1 ,i have confest there are many defects in it4 ,and yet1 ,i cannot doubt1 but that by it1 some readers may receive so much profit or pleasure1 as if they be not very busie men1 may make it not unworthy the time of their perusall2 and this is all the confidence that ,i can put on concerning the merit of this ,book4 ,and ,i wish the ,reader also to take notice1 that in writing of it1 ,i have made a recreation1 of a recreation2 and that it might prove so to thee in the reading1 and not to read dull1 and tediously1 ,i have in severall places mixt some innocent ,mirth2 of which1 if thou be a severe1 sowr complexioned man1 then ,i here disallow thee to be a competent ,judg4 ,for ,divines say1 there are offences given2 and offences taken1 but not given4 ,and ,i am the willinger to justifie this innocent ,mirth1 because the whole discourse is a kind of picture of my owne disposition1 at least of my disposition in such daies and times as ,i allow my self1 when honest ,nat4 and ,r4 ,r4 and ,i go a fishing together2 and let me adde this1 that he that likes not the discourse1 should like the pictures the ,trout and other fish1 which ,i may commend1 because they concern not my self4 ,and ,i am also to tel the ,reader1 that in that which is the more usefull part of this discourse2 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 think but that he may find exceptions in some of these2 and therefore ,i must intreat him to know1 or rather note1 that severall ,countreys1 and several ,rivers alter the time and manner of fishes ,breeding2 and therefore if he bring not candor to the reading of this ,discourse1 he shall both injure me1 and possibly himself too by too many ,criticisms4 ,now for the ,art of catching fish2 that is to say1 how to make a man that was none1 an ,angler by a book3 he that undertakes it1 shall undertake a harder task then ,hales offered to thy view and censure2 ,i with thee as much in the perusal of it1 and so might that in his printed ,book called the private ,school of defence undertook by it to teach the ,art of ,fencing1 and was laught at for his labour4 ,not but that something usefull might be observed out of that ,book2 but that ,art was not to be taught by words2 nor is the ,art of ,angling4 ,and yet1 ,i think1 that most that love that ,game1 may here learn something that may be worth their money1 if they be not needy3 and if they be1 then my advice is1 that they forbear2 for1 ,i write not to get money1 but for pleasure2 and this discourse boasts of no more3 for ,i hate to promise much1 and fail4 ,but pleasure ,i have found both in the search and conference about what is here offered to thy view and censure2 ,i wish thee as much in the perusal of it1 and so might here take my leave2 but ,i will stay thee a little longer by telling thee1 that whereas it is said by many1 that in ,fly-fishing for a ,trout1 the ,angler must observe his twelve ,flyes for every ,month2 ,i say1 if he observe that1 he shall be as certain to catch fish1 as they that make ,hay by the fair dayes in ,almanacks1 and be no surer3 for doubtless1 three or four ,flyes rightly made1 do serve for a ,trout all ,summer1 and for ,winter-flies1 all ,anglers know1 they are as useful as an ,almanack out of date4 ,of these 7because no man is born an ,artist nor an ,angler7 ,i thought fit to give thee this notice4 ,i might say more1 but it is not fit for this place2 but if this ,discourse which follows shall come to a second impression1 which is possible1 for slight books have been in this ,age observed to have that fortune2 ,i shall then for thy sake be glad to correct what is faulty1 or by a conference with any to explain or enlarge what is defective3 but for this time ,i have neither a willingness nor leasure to say more1 then wish thee a rainy evening to read this book in1 and that the east wind may never blow when thou goest a fishing4 ,farewel4 ,iz4 ,wa4 ,because in this ,discourse of ,fish and ,fishing ,i have not observed a method1 which 7though the ,discourse be not long7 may be some inconvenience to the ,reader1 ,i have therefore for his easier finding out some particular things which are spoken of1 made this following ,table4 ,the first ,chapter is spent in a vindication or commendation of the ,art of ,angling4 ,in the second are some observations of the nature of the ,otter1 and also some observations of the ,chub or ,cheven1 with directions how and with what baits to fish for him4 ,in chapt4 #c4 are some observations of ,trouts1 both of their nature1 their kinds1 and their breeding4 ,in chap4 #d4 are some direction concerning baits for the ,trout1 with advise how to make the ,fly1 and keep the live baits4 ,in chap4 #e4 are some direction how to fish for the ,trout by night2 and a question1 ,whether fish bear8 and lastly1 some direction how to fish for the ,umber or ,greyling4 ,in chap4 #f4 are some observations concerning the ,salmon1 with direction how to fish for him4 ,in chap4 #g are several observations concerning the ,luce or ,pike1 with some directions how and with what baits to fish for him4 ,in chap4 #h4 are several observations of the nature and breeding of ,carps1 with some observations how to angle for them4 ,in chap4 #i4 are some observations concerning the ,bream1 the ,tench1 and ,pearch1 with some directions with what baits to fish for them4 ,in chap4 #aj4 are several observations of the nature and breeding of ,eeles1 with advice how to fish for them4 ,in chap4 #aa are some observations of the nature and breeding of ,barbels1 with some advice how1 and with what baits to fish for them2 as also for the ,gudgion and ,bleak4 ,in chap4 #ab4 are general directions how and with what baits to fish for the ,russe or ,pope1 the ,roch1 the ,dace1 and other small fish1 with directions how to keep ,ant-flies and ,gentles in winter1 with some other observations not unfit to be known of ,anglers4 ,in chap4 #ac4 are observations for the colouring of your ,rod and ,hair4 ,these directions the ,reader may take as an ease in his search after some particular ,fish1 and the baits proper for them2 and he will shew himselfe courteous in mending or passing by some errors in the ,printer1 which are not so many but that they may be pardoned4 ,the ,complete ,,angler4 ,,or1 ,the contemplative ,mans ,,recreation4 ,,piscator ,,viator ,piscator4 ,you are wel overtaken ,sir2 a good morning to you2 ,i have stretch'd my legs up ,totnam ,hil to overtake you1 hoping your businesse may occasion you towards ,ware1 this fine pleasant fresh ,may day in the ,morning4 ,viator4 ,sir4 ,i shall almost answer your hopes3 for my purpose is to be at ,hodsden 7three miles short of that ,town7 ,i wil not say1 before ,i drink2 but before ,i break my fast3 for ,i have appointed a friend or two to meet me there at the thatcht house1 about nine of the clock this morning2 and that made me so early up1 and indeed1 to walk so fast4 ,pisc4 ,sir1 ,i know the thatcht house very well3 ,i often make it my resting place1 and taste a cup of ,ale there1 for which liquor that place is very remarkable2 and to that house ,i shall by your favour accompany you1 and either abate of my pace1 or mend it1 to enjoy such a companion as you seem to be1 knowing that 7as the ,italians say7 ,good company makes the way seem shorter4 ,viat4 ,it may do so ,sir1 with the help of good discourse1 which 7me thinks7 ,i may promise from you1 that both look and speak so cheerfully4 ,and to invite you to it1 ,i do here promise you1 that for my part1 ,i will be as free and open-hearted1 as discretion will warrant me to be with a stranger4 ,pisc4 ,sir1 ,i am right glad of your answer2 and in confidence that you speak the truth1 ,i shall 7,sir7 put on a boldness to ask1 whether pleasure or businesse has occasioned your ,journey4 ,viat4 ,indeed1 ,sir1 a little business1 and more pleasure3 for my purpose is to bestow a day or two in hunting the ,otter 7which my friend that ,i go to meet1 tells me is more pleasant then any hunting whatsoever37 and having dispatched a little businesse this day1 my purpose is tomorrow to follow a pack of dogs of honest ,mr4 ---- ----1 who hath appointed me and my friend to meet him upon ,amwel hill to morrow morning by day break4 ,pisc4 ,sir1 my fortune hath answered my desires2 and my purpose is to bestow a day or two in helping to destroy some of those villainous vermin3 for ,i hate them perfectly1 because they love fish so well1 or rather1 because they destroy so much3 indeed1 so much1 that in my judgment1 all men that keep ,otter dogs ought to have a ,pension from the ,commonwealth to incourage them to destroy the very breed of those base ,otters1 they do so much mischief4 ,viat4 ,but what say you to the ,foxes of this ,nation8 would not you as willingly have them destroyed8 for doubtlesse they do as much mischief as the ,otters4 ,pisc4 ,oh ,sir1 if they do1 it is not so much to me and my ,fraternitie1 as that base ,vermin the ,otters do4 ,viat4 ,why ,sir1 ,i pray1 of what ,fraternity are you1 that you are so angry with the poor ,otter8 ,pisc4 ,i am a ,brother of the ,angle1 and therefore an enemy to the ,otter1 he does me and my friends so much mischief2 for you are to know1 that we ,anglers all love one another3 and therefore do ,i hate the ,otter perfectly1 even for their sakes that are of my ,brotherhood4 ,viat4 ,sir1 to be plain with you1 ,i am sorry you are an ,angler3 for ,i have heard many grave1 serious men pitie1 and many pleasant men scoff at ,anglers4 ,pisc4 ,sir1 ,there are many men that are by others taken to be serious grave men1 which we contemn and pitie2 men of sowre complexions2 mony-getting-men1 that spend all their time first in getting1 and next in anxious care to keep it3 men that are condemn'd to be rich1 and alwayes discontented1 or busie4 ,for these poor-rich-men1 wee ,anglers pitie them2 and stand in no need to borrow their thoughts to think our selves happie3 ,for 7trust me1 ,sir7 we enjoy a contentednesse above the reach of such dispositions4 ,and as for any scoffer1 qui mockat mockabitur4 ,let mee tell you1 7that you may tell him7 what the wittie ,french-man the ,lord ,mountagne in his ,apol4 for ,ra-,se-bond4 sayes in such a ,case4 ,when my ,cat and ,i entertaine each other with mutuall apish tricks 7as playing with a garter17 who knows but that ,i make her more sport then she makes me8 ,shall ,i conclude her simple1 that has her time to begin or refuse sportivenesse as freely as ,i my self have8 ,nay1 who knows but that our agreeing no better1 is the defect of my not understanding her language8 7for doubtlesse ,cats talk and reason with one another7 and that shee laughs at1 and censures my folly1 for making her sport1 and pities mee for understanding her no better8 ,to this purpose speaks ,mountagne concerning ,cats3 ,and ,i hope ,i may take as great a libertie to blame any ,scoffer1 that has never heard what an ,angler can say in the justification of his ,art and ,pleasure4 ,but1 if this satisfie not1 ,i pray bid the ,scoffer put this ,epigram into his pocket1 and read it every morning for his breakfast 7for ,i wish him no better27 ,hee shall finde it fix'd before the ,dialogues of ,lucian 7who may be justly accounted the father of the ,family of all ,scoffers37 ,and though ,i owe none of that ,fraternitie so much as good will1 yet ,i have taken a little pleasant pains to make such a conversion of it as may make it the fitter for all of that ,fraternity4 ,lucian well skill'd in scoffing1 this has writ1 ,friend1 that's your folly which you think your wit2 ,this you vent oft1 void both of wit and fear1 ,meaning an other1 when your self you jeer4 ,but no more of the ,scoffer2 for since ,solomon sayes1 he is an abomination to men1 he shall be so to me2 and ,i think1 to all that love ,vertue and ,angling4 ,viat4 ,sir1 you have almost amazed me ,pro #bd4 #i3 for though ,i am no ,scoffer1 yet ,i have 7,i pray let me speak it without offence7 alwayes look'd upon ,anglers as more patient1 and more simple men1 then 7,i fear7 ,i shall finde you to be4 ,piscat4 ,sir1 ,i hope you will not judge my earnestnesse to be impatience3 and for my simplicitie1 if by that you mean a harmlessnesse1 or that simplicity that was usually found in the ,primitive ,christians1 who were 7as most ,anglers are7 quiet men1 and followed peace2 men that were too wise to sell their consciences to buy riches for vexation1 and a fear to die4 ,men that lived in those times when there were fewer ,lawyers2 for then a ,lordship might have been safely conveyed in a piece of ,parchment no bigger then your hand1 though several skins are not sufficient to do it in this wiser ,age4 ,i say1 ,sir1 if you take us ,anglers to be such simple men as ,i have spoken of1 then both my self1 and those of my profession will be glad to be so understood4 ,but if by simplicitie you meant to expresse any general defect in the understanding of those that professe and practice ,angling1 ,i hope to make it appear to you1 that there is so much contrary reason 7if you have but the patience to hear it7 as may remove all the anticipations that ,time or ,discourse may have possess'd you with1 against that ,ancient and laudable ,art4 ,viat4 ,why 7,sir7 is ,angling of ,antiquitie1 and an ,art1 and an art not easily learn'd8 ,pisc4 ,yes 7,sir37 and ,i doubt not but that if you and ,i were to converse together but til night1 ,i should leave you possess'd with the same happie thoughts that now possesse me2 not onely for the ,antiquitie of it1 but that it deserves commendations2 and that 'tis an ,art2 and worthy the knowledge and practice of a wise1 and a serious man4 ,viat4 ,sir1 ,i pray speak of them what you shall think fit2 for wee have yet five miles to walk before wee shall come to the ,thatcht house4 ,and1 ,sir1 though my infirmities are many1 yet ,i dare promise you1 that both my patience and attention will indure to hear what you will say till wee come thither3 and if you please to begin in order with the antiquity1 when that is done1 you shall not want my attention to the commendations and accommodations of it3 and lastly1 if you shall convince me that 'tis an ,art1 and an ,art worth learning1 ,i shall beg ,i may become your ,scholer1 both to wait upon you1 and to be instructed in the ,art it self4 ,pisc4 ,oh ,sir1 'tis not to be questioned1 but that it is an art1 and an art worth your ,learning3 the question wil rather be1 whether you be capable of learning it8 ,for he that learns it1 must not onely bring an enquiring1 searching1 and discerning wit2 but he must bring also that patience you talk of1 and a love and propensity to the art itself3 but having once got and practised it1 then doubt not but the ,art will 7both for the pleasure and profit of it7 prove like to ,vertue1 a reward to it self4 ,viat4 ,sir1 ,i am now become so ful of expectation1 that ,i long much to have you proceed in your discourse3 ,and first1 ,i pray ,sir1 let me hear concerning the antiquity of it4 ,pisc4 ,sir1 ,i wil preface no longer1 but proceed in order as you desire me3 ,and first for the ,antiquity of ,angling1 ,i shall not say much2 but onely this2 ,some say1 it is as ancient as ,deucalions ,floud3 and others 7which ,i like better7 say1 that ,belus 7who was the inventer of godly and vertuous ,recreations7 was the ,inventer of it3 and some others say1 7for former times have had their ,disquisitions about it7 that ,seth1 one of the sons of ,adam1 taught it to his sons1 and that by them it was derived to ,posterity4 ,others say1 that he left it engraven on those ,pillars which hee erected to preserve the knowledg of the ,mathematicks1 ,musick1 and the rest of those precious ,arts1 which by ,gods appointment or allowance1 and his noble industry were thereby preserved from perishing in ,noah's ,floud4 ,these 7my worthy ,friend7 have been the opinions of some men1 that possibly may have endeavoured to make it more ancient then may well be warranted4 ,but for my part1 ,i shall content my self in telling you1 ,that ,angling is much more ancient then the incarnation of our ,saviour3 ,for both in the ,prophet ,amos ,chap4 #db1 and before him in ,job ,chap4 #da1 7which last ,book is judged to be written by ,moses7 mention is made fish-hooks1 which must imply ,anglers in those times4 ,but 7my worthy friend7 as ,i would rather prove my self to be a ,gentleman1 by being learned and humble1 valiant and inoffensive1 vertuous and communicable1 then by a fond ostentation of riches2 or 7wanting these ,vertues my self7 boast that these were in my ,ancestors2 ,and yet ,i confesse1 that where a noble and ancient ,descent and such ,merits meet in any man1 it is a double dignification of that person3 and so1 if this ,antiquitie of ,angling 7which1 for my part1 ,i have not forc'd7 shall like an ancient ,familie1 by either an honour1 or an ornament to this vertuous ,art which ,i both love and practise1 ,i shall be the gladder that ,i made an accidental mention of it2 and shall proceed to the justification1 or rather commendation of it4 ,viat4 ,my worthy ,friend1 ,i am much pleased with your discourse1 for that you seem to be so ingenuous1 and so modest1 as not to stretch arguments into ,hyperbolicall expressions1 but such as indeed they will reasonably bear2 and ,i pray1 proceed to the justification1 or commendations of ,angling1 which ,i also long to hear from you4 ,pisc4 ,sir1 ,i shall proceed2 and my next discourse shall be rather a ,commendation1 then a ,justification of ,angling3 for1 in my judgment1 if it deserves to be commended1 it is more then justified2 for some practices what may be justified1 deserve no commendation3 yet there are none that deserve commendation but may be justified4 ,and now having said this much by way of preparation1 ,i am next to tell you1 that in ancient times a debate hath risen1 7and it is not yet resolved7 ,whether ,contemplation or ,action be the chiefest thing wherin the happiness of a man doth most consist in this world8 ,concerning which1 some have maintained their opinion of the first1 by saying1 ,that the nearer we ,mortals come to ,god by way of imitation1 the more happy we are3 ,and that ,god injoyes himself only by ,contemplation of his own ,goodness1 ,eternity1 ,infiniteness1 and ,power1 and the like2 and upon this ground many of them prefer ,contemplation before ,action3 and indeed1 many of the ,fathers seem to approve this opinion1 as may appear in their ,comments upon the words of our ,saviour to ,martha4 ,luk4 #aj4 #da1 #db ,and contrary to these1 others of equal ,authority and credit1 have preferred ,action to be chief2 as experiments in ,physick1 and the application of it1 both for the ease and prolongation of mans life1 by which man is enabled to act1 and to do good to others3 ,and they say also1 ,that ,action is not only ,doctrinal1 but a maintainer of humane ,society2 and for these1 and other reasons1 to be preferr'd before ,contemplation4 ,concerning which two opinions1 ,i shall forbear to add a third1 by declaring my own1 and rest my self contented in telling you 7my worthy friend7 that both these meet together1 and do most properly belong to the most honest1 ingenious1 harmless ,art of ,angling4 ,and first ,i shall tel you what some have observed1 and ,i have found in my self1 ,that the very sitting by the ,rivers side1 is not only the fittest place for1 but will invite the ,angler to ,contemplation3 ,that it is the fittest place1 seems to be witnessed by the children of ,israel1 ,psal4 #acg4 who having banish'd all mirth and ,musick from their pensive hearts1 and having hung up their then mute ,instruments upon the ,willow trees1 growing by the ,rivers of ,babylon1 sate down upon those banks bemoaning the ruines of ,sion1 and contemplating their own sad condition4 ,and an ingenuous ,spaniard sayes1 ,that both ,rivers1 and the inhabitants of the watery ,element1 were created for wise men to contemplate1 and fools to pass by without consideration4 ,and though ,i am too wise to rank myself in the first number1 yet give me leave to free my self from the last1 by offering to thee a short contemplation1 first of ,rivers1 and then of ,fish3 concerning which1 ,i doubt not but to relate to you many things very considerable4 ,concerning ,rivers1 there be divers wonders reported of them by ,authors1 of such credit1 that we need not deny them an ,historical faith4 ,as of a ,river in ,epirus1 that puts out any lighted ,torch1 and kindles any ,torch that was not lighted4 ,of the ,river ,selarus1 that in a few hours turns a rod or a wand into stone 7and our ,camden mentions the like wonder in ,england37 that there is 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 then ,aristotle1 in his ,wonders of nature1 this is confirmed by ,ennius and ,solon in his holy ,history4 tels us of a merry ,river1 the ,river ,elusina1 that dances at the noise of ,musick1 that with ,musick it bubbles1 dances1 and growes sandy1 but returns to a wonted calmness and clearness when the ,musick ceases4 ,and lastly1 7for ,i would not tire your patience7 ,josephus1 that learned ,jew1 tells us of a ,river in ,judea1 that runs and moves swiftly all the six dayes of the week1 and stands still and rests upon their ,sabbath day4 ,but ,sir1 lest this discourse may seem tedious1 ,i shall give it a sweet conclusion out of that holy ,poet ,mr4 ,george ,herbert his ,divine ,contemplation on ,gods providence4 ,lord1 who hath praise enough1 nay1 who hath any8 ,none can express thy works1 but he that knows them3 ,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 transcendent1 and divine2 ,who does so strangely1 and so sweetly move1 ,whilst all things have their end1 yet none but thine4 ,wherefore1 most ,sacred ,spirit1 ,i here present ,for me1 and all my fellows praise to thee3 ,and just it is that ,i should pay the rent1 ,because the benefit accrues to me4 ,and as concerning ,fish1 in that ,psalm ,psal4 #ajd1 wherein1 for height of ,poetry and ,wonders1 the ,prophet ,david seems even to exceed himself2 how doth he there express himselfe in choice ,metaphors1 even to the amazement of a contemplative ,reader1 concerning the ,sea1 the ,rivers1 and the ,fish therein contained4 ,and the great ,naturallist ,pliny sayes1 ,that ,natures great and wonderful power is more demonstrated in the ,sea1 then on the ,land4 ,and this may appear by the numerous and various ,creatures1 inhabiting both in and about that ,element3 as to the ,readers of ,gesner1 ,randelitius1 ,pliny1 ,aristotle1 and others is demonstrated3 ,but ,i will sweeten this discourse also out of a contemplation in ,divine ,dubartas1 who sayes in the fifth day1 ,god quickened in the ,sea and in the ,rivers1 ,so many fishes of so many features1 ,that in the waters we may see all ,creatures2 ,even all that on the earth is to be found1 ,as if the world were in deep waters drownd4 ,for seas 7as well as ,skies7 have ,sun1 ,moon1 ,stars2 7,as wel as air7 ,swallows1 ,rooks1 and ,stares2 7,as wel as earth7 ,vines1 ,roses1 ,nettles1 ,melons1 ,mushrooms1 ,pinks1 ,gilliflowers and many milions ,of other plants1 more rare1 more strange then these2 ,as very fishes living in the seas2 ,and also ,rams1 ,calves1 ,horses1 ,hares and ,hogs1 ,wolves1 ,urchins1 ,lions1 ,elephants and ,dogs2 ,yea1 ,men and ,maids1 and which ,i most admire1 ,the ,mitred ,bishop1 and the cowled ,fryer4 ,of which examples but a few years since1 ,were shewn the ,norway and ,polonian ,prince4 ,these seem to be wonders1 but have had so many confirmations from men of ,learning and credit1 that you need not doubt them2 nor are the number1 nor the various shapes of fishes1 more strange or more fit for contemplation1 then their different natures1 inclinations and actions3 concerning which ,i shall beg your patient ear a little longer4 ,the ,cuttle-fish wil cast a long gut out of her throat1 which 7like as an ,angler does his line7 she sendeth1 forth and pulleth in again at her pleasure1 according as she sees some little fish come neer to her ,mount ,elsayes3 and others affirm this2 and the ,cuttle-fish 7being then hid in the gravel7 lets the smaller fish nibble and bite the end of it2 at which time shee by little and little draws the smaller fish so neer 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 ,there are also lustful and chaste fishes1 of which ,i shall also give you examples4 ,and first1 what ,dubartas sayes of a fish called the ,sargus2 which 7because none can express it better then he does7 ,i shall give you in his own words1 supposing it shall not have the less credit for being ,verse1 for he hath gathered this1 and other observations out of ,authors that have been great and industrious searchers into the secrets of nature4 ,the ,adulterous ,sargus doth not only change1 ,wives every day in the deep streams1 but 7strange7 ,as if the honey of ,sea-love delight ,could not suffice his ranging appetite1 ,goes courting ,she-,goats on the grassie shore1 ,horning their husbands that had horns before4 ,and the same ,author writes concerning the ,cantharus1 that which you shall also heare in his own words4 ,but contrary1 the constant ,cantharus1 ,is ever constant to his faithful ,spouse1 ,in nuptial duties spending his chaste life1 ,never loves any but his own dear wife4 ,sir1 but a little longer1 and ,i have done4 ,viat4 ,sir1 take what liberty you think fit1 for your discourse seems to be ,musick1 and charms me into an attention4 ,pisc4 ,why then ,sir1 ,i will take a little libertie to tell1 or rather to remember you what is said of ,turtle ,doves3 ,first1 that they silently plight their troth and marry2 and that then1 the ,survivor scorns 7as the ,thracian women are said to do7 to out-live his or her ,mate2 and this is taken for such a truth1 that if the ,survivor shall ever couple with another1 the he or she1 not only the living1 but the dead1 is denyed the name and honour of a true ,turtle ,dove4 ,and to parallel this ,land ,variety teach mankind moral faithfulness to condemn those that talk of ,religion1 and yet come short of the moral faith of fish and fowl2 ,men that violate the ,law1 affirm'd by ,saint ,paul ,rom4 #b4ad4ae to be writ in their hearts1 and which he sayes shal at the last day condemn and leave them without excuse4 ,i pray hearken to what ,dubartas sings #e4 day4 7for the hearing of such conjugal faithfulness1 will be ,musick to all chaste ears7 and therefore1 ,i say1 hearken to what ,dubartas sings of the ,mullet3 ,but for chaste love the ,mullet hath no peer1 ,for1 if the ,fisher hath surprised her pheer1 ,as mad with woe to shoare she followeth1 ,prest to consort him both in life and death4 ,on the contrary1 what shall ,i say of the ,house-,cock1 which treads any ,hen1 and then 7contrary to the ,swan1 the ,partridg1 and ,pigeon7 takes no care to hatch1 to feed1 or to cherish his own ,brood1 but is sensless though they perish4 ,and 'tis considerable1 that the ,hen 7which because she also takes any ,cock1 expects it not7 who is sure the ,chickens be her own1 hath by a moral impression her care1 and affection to her own ,broode1 more then doubled1 even to such a height1 that our ,saviour in expressing his love to ,jerusalem1 ,mat4 #bc4 #cg quotes her for an example of tender affection1 as his ,father had done ,job for a pattern of patience4 ,and to parallel this ,cock1 there be divers fishes that cast their spawne on flags or stones1 and then leave it uncovered and exposed to become a prey1 and be devoured by ,vermine or other fishes3 but other fishes 7as namely the ,barbel7 take such care for the preservation of their seed1 that 7unlike to the ,cock or the ,cuckoe7 they mutually labour 7both the ,spawner1 and the ,melter7 to cover their spawne with sand1 or watch it1 or hide it in some secret place unfrequented by ,vermine1 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 divers others of credit1 and are believed and known by divers1 both of wisdom and experience1 to be a truth2 and are 7as ,i said at the beginning7 fit for the contemplation of a most serious1 and a most pious man4 ,and that they be fit for the contemplation of the most prudent and pious1 and peaceable men1 seems to be testified by the practice of so many devout and contemplative men2 as the ,patriarks or ,prophets of old1 and of the ,apostles of our ,saviour in these later times1 of which twelve he chose four that were ,fishermen3 concerning which choice some have made these ,observations4 ,first1 ,that he never reproved these for their ,imployment or ,calling1 as he did the ,scribes and the ,mony-,changers4 ,and secondly1 ,that he found the hearts of such men1 men that by nature were fitted for contemplation and quietness2 men of mild1 and sweet1 and peaceable spirits1 7as indeed most ,anglers are7 these men our blessed ,saviour 7who is observed to love to plant grace in good natures7 though nothing be too hard for him1 yet these men he chose to call from their irreprovable imployment1 and gave them grace to be his ,disciples and to follow him4 ,and it is observable1 that it was our ,saviours will that his four ,fishermen ,apostles should have a prioritie of nomination in the catalogue of his twelve ,apostles1 as namely first1 ,s4 ,peter1 ,andrew1 ,james ,mat4 #aj4 and ,john1 and then the rest in their order4 ,and it is yet more observable1 that when our blessed ,saviour went up into the ,mount1 at his ,transfiguration1 when he left the rest of his ,disciples and chose onely three to bear him company1 that these three were all ,fishermen4 ,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 ingenuous and learned man1 who observes that ,god hath been pleased to allow those whom he himselfe hath appointed1 to write his holy will in holy ,writ1 yet to express his will in such ,metaphors as their former affections or practise had inclined them to2 and he brings ,solomon for an example1 who before his conversion was remarkably amorous1 and after by ,gods appointment1 writ that ,love-,song the ,canticles betwixt ,god and his ,church4 ,and if this hold in reason 7as ,i see none to the contrary7 then it may be probably concluded1 that ,moses 7whom ,i told you before1 writ the book of ,job7 and the ,prophet ,amos were both ,anglers1 for you shal in all the old ,testaments find fish-hooks but twice mentioned2 namely1 by meek ,moses1 the friend of ,god2 and by the humble ,prophet ,amos4 ,concerning which last1 namely1 the ,prophet ,amos1 ,i shall make but this ,observation1 ,that he that shall read the humble1 lowly1 plain stile of that ,prophet1 and compare it with the high1 glorious1 eloquent stile of the prophet ,isaiah 7though they be both equally true7 may easily believe him to be a good natured1 plaine ,fisher-man4 ,which ,i do the rather believe1 by comparing the affectionate1 lowly1 humble epistles of ,s4 ,peter1 ,s4 ,james and ,s4 ,john1 whom we know were ,fishers1 with the glorious language and high ,metaphors of ,s4 ,paul1 who we know was not4 ,let me give you the example of two men more1 that have lived nearer to our own times3 first of ,doctor ,nowel sometimes ,dean of ,s4 ,paul's1 7in which ,church his ,monument stands yet undefaced7 a man that in the ,reformation of ,queen ,elizabeth 7not that of ,henry the ,,viii47 was so noted for his meek spirit1 deep ,learning1 ,prudence and ,piety1 that the then ,parliament and ,convocation1 both chose1 injoyned1 and trusted him to be the man to make a ,catechism for publick use1 such a one as should stand as a rule for faith and manners to their posteritie3 ,and the good man 7though he was very learned1 yet knowing that ,god leads us not to heaven by hard questions7 made that good1 plain1 unperplext ,catechism1 that is printed with the old ,service ,book4 ,i say1 this good man was as dear a lover1 and constant practicer of ,angling1 as any ,age can produce2 and his custome was to spend 7besides his fixt hours of prayer1 those hours which by command of the ,church were enjoined the old ,clergy1 and voluntarily dedicated to devotion by many ,primitive ,christians37 besides those hours1 this good man was observed to spend1 or if you will1 to bestow a tenth part of his time in ,angling2 and also 7for ,i have conversed with those which have conversed with him7 to bestow a tenth part of his ,revenue1 and all his fish1 amongst the poor that inhabited near to those ,rivers in which it was caught1 saying often1 ,that ,charity gave life to ,religion3 and at his return would praise ,god he had spent that day free from worldly trouble1 both harmlesly and in a ,recreation that became a ,church-man4 ,my next and last example shall be that undervaluer of money1 the late ,provost of ,eaton ,colledg1 ,sir ,henry ,wotton1 7a man with whom ,i have often fish'd and convers'd7 a man whose forraign imployments in the service of this ,nation1 and whose experience1 learning1 wit and cheerfulness1 made his company to be esteemed one of the delights of mankind2 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 practicer of the ,art of ,angling1 of which he would say1 ',twas an imployment for his idle time1 which was not idly spent2 for ,angling was after tedious study ,a rest to his mind1 a cheerer of his spirits1 a divertion of sadness1 a calmer of unquiet thoughts1 a ,moderator of passions1 a procurer of contentedness1 and that it begot habits of peace and patience in those that profest and practic'd it4 ,sir1 ,this was the saying of that ,learned man2 and ,i do easily believe that peace1 and patience1 and a calm content did cohabit in the cheerful heart of ,sir ,henry ,wotton1 because ,i know1 that when he was beyond seventy years of age he made this description of a part of the present pleasure that possest him1 as he sate quietly in a ,summers evening on a bank a fishing2 it is a description of the ,spring1 which because it glides as soft and sweetly from his pen1 as that ,river does now by which it was then made1 ,i shall repeat unto you4 ,this day dame ,nature seem'd in love3 ,the lustie sap began to move2 ,fresh juice did stir th'imbracing ,vines1 ,and birds had drawn their ,valentines4 ,the jealous ,trout1 that low did lye1 ,rose at a well dissembled flie2 ,there stood my friend with patient skill1 ,attending of his trembling quil4 ,already were the eaves possest ,with the swift ,pilgrims dawbed nest3 ,the ,groves already did rejoice1 ,in ,philomels triumphing voice3 ,the showrs were short1 the weather mild1 ,the morning fresh1 the evening smil'd4 ,jone takes her neat rubb'd pail1 and now ,she trips to milk the sand-red ,cow2 ,where for some sturdy foot-ball ,swain4 ,jone strokes a ,sillibub or twaine4 ,the fields and gardens were beset ,with ,tulips1 ,crocus1 ,violet1 ,and now1 though late1 the modest ,rose ,did more then half a blush disclose4 ,thus all looks gay and full of chear ,to welcome the new liveried year4 ,these were the thoughts that then possest the undisturbed mind of ,sir ,henry ,wotton4 ,will you hear the wish of another ,angler1 and the commendation of his happy life ,jo4 ,da41 which he also sings in ,verse4 ,let me live harmlesly1 and near the brink ,of ,trent or ,avon have a dwelling place1 ,where ,i may see my quil or cork down sink1 ,with eager bit of ,pearch1 or ,bleak1 or ,dace2 ,and on the world and my ,creator think1 ,whilst some men strive1 ill gotten goods t'imbrace2 ,and others spend their time in base excess ,of wine or worse1 in war and wantonness4 ,let them that list these pastimes still pursue1 ,and on such pleasing fancies feed their fill1 ,so ,i the fields and meadows green may view1 ,and daily by fresh ,rivers walk at will1 ,among the ,daisies and the ,violets blue1 ,red ,hyacinth1 and yellow ,daffadil1 ,purple ,narcissus1 like the morning rayes1 ,pale ganderglass and azure ,culverkayes4 ,i count it higher pleasure to behold ,the stately compass of the lofty ,skie1 ,and in the midst thereof 7like burning ,gold7 ,the flaming ,chariot of the worlds great eye1 ,the watry clouds1 that in the aire up rold1 ,with sundry kinds of painted colour flye2 ,and fair ,aurora lifting up her head1 ,still blushing1 rise from old ,tithonius bed4 ,the hils and mountains raised from the plains1 ,the plains extended level with the ground1 ,the grounds divided into sundry vains1 ,the vains inclos'd with rivers running round2 ,these rivers making way through natures chains ,with headlong course into the sea profound2 ,the raging sea1 beneath the vallies low1 ,where lakes1 and rils1 and rivulets do flow4 ,the loftie woods1 the ,forrests wide and long ,adorn'd with leaves branches fresh green1 ,in whose cool bowres the birds with many a song ,do welcom with their ,quire the ,sumers ,queen3 ,the ,meadows fair1 where ,flora's gifts among ,are intermixt1 with verdant grass between4 ,the silver-scaled fish that softly swim1 ,within the sweet brooks chrystal watry stream4 ,all these1 and many more of his ,creation1 ,that made the ,heavens1 the ,angler oft doth see1 ,taking therein no little delectation1 ,to think how strange1 how wonderful they be2 ,framing thereof an inward contemplation1 ,to set his heart from other fancies free2 ,and whilst he looks on these with joyful eye1 ,his mind is rapt above the ,starry ,skie4 ,sir1 ,i am glad my memory did not lose these last ,verses1 because they are somewhat more pleasant and more sutable to ,may ,day1 then my harsh ,discourse1 and ,i am glad your patience hath held out so long1 as to hear them and me2 for both together have brought us within the sight of the ,thatcht ,house2 and ,i must be your ,debtor 7if you think it worth your attention7 for the rest of my promised discourse1 till some other opportunity and a like time of leisure4 ,viat4 ,sir1 ,you have ,angled me on with much pleasure to the thatcht ,house1 and ,i now find your words true1 ,that good company makes the way seem short2 for1 trust me1 ,sir1 ,i thought we had wanted three miles of the thatcht ,house1 till you shewed it me3 but now we are at it1 we'l turn into it1 and refresh our selves with a cup of ,ale and a little rest4 ,pisc4 ,most gladly 7,sir7 and we'l drink a civil cup to all the ,otter ,hunters that are to meet you to morrow4 ,viat4 ,that we wil1 ,sir1 and to all the lovers of ,angling too1 of which number1 ,i am now one my self1 for by the help of your good discourse and company1 ,i have put on new thoughts both of the ,art of ,angling1 and of all that profess it3 and if you will but meet me too morrow at the time and place appointed1 and bestow one day with me and my friends in hunting the ,otter1 ,i will the next two dayes wait upon you1 and we two will for that time do nothing but angle1 and talk of fish and fishing4 ,pisc4 ',tis a match1 ,sir1 ,i'l not fail you1 ,god willing1 to be at ,amwel ,hil to morrow morning before ,sunrising4 ,,chap4 ,,ii4 ,viat4 ,my friend ,piscator1 you have kept time with my thoughts1 for the ,sun is just rising1 and ,i my self just now come to this place1 and the dogs have just now put down an ,otter1 look down at the bottom of the hil1 there in that ,meadow1 chequered with water ,lillies and ,lady-smocks1 there you may see what work they make3 look1 you see all busie1 men and dogs1 dogs and men1 all busie4 ,pisc4 ,sir1 ,i am right glad to meet you1 and glad to have so fair an entrance into this dayes sport1 and glad to see so many dogs1 and more men all in pursuit of the ,otter2 lets complement no longer1 but joine unto them2 come honest ,viator1 lets be gone1 lets make haste1 ,i long to be doing2 no reasonable hedge or ditch shall hold me4 ,viat4 ,gentleman ,huntsman1 where found you this ,otter8 ,hunt4 ,marry 7,sir7 we found her a mile off this place a fishing2 she has this morning eaten the greatest part of this ,trout1 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 ,sun-rise1 and have given her no rest since we came3 sure she'l hardly escape all these dogs and men4 ,i am to have the skin if we kill him4 ,viat4 ,why1 ,sir1 whats the skin worth8 ,hunt4 ',tis worth ten shillings to make gloves2 the gloves of an ,otter are the best fortification for your hands against wet weather that can be thought of4 ,pisc4 ,i pray1 honest ,huntsman1 let me ask you a pleasant question1 ,do you hunt a ,beast or a fish8 ,h4 ,sir1 ,it is not in my power to resolve you2 for the question has been debated among many great ,clerks1 and they seem to differ about it2 but most agree1 that his tail is fish3 and if his body be fish too1 then ,i may say1 that a fish will walk upon land 7for an ,otter does so7 sometimes five or six1 or ten miles in a night4 ,but 7,sir7 ,i can tell you certainly1 that he devours much fish1 and kils and spoils much more3 ,and ,i can tell you1 that he can smel a fish in the water one hundred yards from him 7,gesner sayes1 much farther7 and that his stones are good against the ,falling-sickness3 and that there is an herb ,benione1 which being hung in a linen cloth near a ,fish ,pond1 or any haunt that he uses1 makes him to avoid the place1 which proves he can smell both by water and land4 ,and thus much for my knowledg of the ,otter1 which you may now see above water at vent1 and the dogs close with him2 ,i now see he will not last long1 follow therefore my ,masters1 follow1 for ,sweetlips was like to have him at this vent4 via4 ,oh me1 all the ,horse are got over the river1 what shall we do now8 ,hun4 ,marry1 stay a little follow1 both they and the dogs will be suddenly on this side again1 ,i warrant you1 and the ,otter too it may be3 now have at him with ,kil buck1 for he vents again4 via4 ,marry so he is1 for look he vents in that corner4 ,now1 now ,ringwood has him4 ,come bring him to me4 ,look1 'tis a ,bitch ,otter upon my word1 and she has lately whelped1 lets go to the place where she was put down1 and not far from it1 you will find all her young ones1 ,i dare warrant you3 and kill them all too4 ,hunt4 ,come ,gentlemen1 come all1 lets go to the place where we put downe the ,otter2 look you1 hereabout it was that shee kennell'd2 look you1 here it was indeed1 for here's her young ones1 no less then five3 come lets kill them all4 ,pisc4 ,no1 ,i pray ,sir2 save me one1 and ,i'll try if ,i can make her tame1 as ,i know an ingenuous ,gentleman in ,leicester-shire has done2 who hath not only made her tame1 but to catch fish1 and doe many things of much pleasure4 ,hunt4 ,take one with all my heart2 but let us kill the rest4 ,and now lets go to an honest ,alehouse and sing ,old ,rose1 and rejoice all of us together4 ,viat4 ,come my friend1 let me invite you along with us2 ,i'll bear your charges this night1 and you shall beare mine to morrow2 for my intention is to accompany you a day or two in fishing4 ,pisc4 ,sir1 your request is granted1 and ,i shall be right glad1 both to exchange such a courtesie1 and also to enjoy your company4 99 99 99 99 99 ,viat4 ,well1 now lets go to your sport of ,angling4 ,pisc4 ,lets be going with all my heart1 ,god keep you all1 ,gentlemen1 and send you meet this day with another bitch ,otter1 and kill her merrily1 and all her young ones too4 ,viat4 ,now ,piscator1 where wil you begin to fish8 ,pisc4 ,we are not yet come to a likely place1 ,i must walk a mile further yet before ,i begin4 ,viat4 ,well then1 ,i pray1 as we walk1 tell me freely how you like my ,hoste1 and the company8 is not mine ,hoste a witty man8 ,pisc4 ,sir1 ,to speak truly1 he is not to me2 for most of his conceits were either ,scripture-jests1 or lascivious jests2 for which ,i count no man witty3 for the ,divel will help a man that way inclin'd1 to the first1 and his own corrupt nature 7which he alwayes carries with him7 to the latter4 ,but a companion that feasts the company with wit and mirth1 and leaves out the sin 7which is usually mixt with them7 he is the man3 and indeed1 such a man should have his charges born3 and to such company ,i hope to bring you this night2 for at ,trout-,hal1 not far from this place1 where ,i purpose to lodg to night1 there is usually an ,angler that proves good company4 ,but for such discourse as we heard last night1 it infects others2 the very boyes will learn to talk and swear as they heard mine ,host1 and another of the company that shall be nameless2 well1 you know what example is able to do1 and ,i know what the ,poet sayes in the like case3 ----,many a one ,owes to his ,country his ,religion3 ,and in another 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 more1 for though ,i love civility1 yet ,i hate severe censures3 ,i'll to my own ,art1 and ,i doubt not but at yonder tree ,i shall catch a ,chub1 and then we'll turn to an honest cleanly ,alehouse that ,i know right well1 rest our selves1 and dress it for our dinner4 via4 ,oh1 ,sir1 a ,chub is the worst fish that swims1 ,i hoped for a ,trout for my dinner4 ,pis4 ,trust me1 ,sir1 there is not a likely place for a ,trout hereabout1 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 evening2 and though a ,chub be by you and many others reckoned the worst of all fish1 yet you shall see ,i'll make it good fish by dressing it4 ,viat4 ,why1 how will you dress him8 ,pisc4 ,i'll tell you when ,i have caught him3 look you here1 ,sir1 do you see8 7but you must stand very close7 there lye upon the top of the water twenty ,chubs3 ,i'll catch only one1 and that shall be the biggest of them all3 and that ,i will do so1 ,i'll hold you twenty to one4 ,viat4 ,i marry1 ,sir1 now you talk like an ,artist1 and ,i'll say1 you are one1 when ,i shall see you perform what you say you can do2 but ,i yet doubt it4 ,pisc4 ,and that you shall see me do presently2 look1 the biggest of these ,chubs has had some bruise upon his tail1 and that looks like a white spot2 that very ,chub ,i mean to catch2 sit you but down in the shade1 and stay but a little while1 and ,i'll warrant you ,i'll bring him to you4 viat4 ,i'll sit down and hope well1 because you seem to be so confident4 ,pisc4 ,look you ,sir1 there he is1 that very ,chub that ,i shewed you1 with the white spot on his tail2 and ,i'll be as certain to make him a good dish of meat1 as ,i was to catch him4 ,i'll now lead you to an honest ,alehouse1 where we shall find a cleanly room1 ,lavender in the windowes1 and twenty ,ballads stuck about the wall2 there my ,hostis 7which ,i may tell you1 is both cleanly and conveniently handsome7 has drest many a one for me1 and shall now dress it after my fashion1 and ,i warrant it good meat4 viat4 ,come ,sir1 with all my heart1 for ,i begin to be hungry1 and long to be at it1 and indeed to rest my self too2 for though ,i have walked but four miles this morning1 yet ,i begin to be weary2 yester dayes hunting hangs stil upon me4 ,pisc4 ,wel ,sir1 and you shal quickly be at rest1 for yonder is the house ,i mean to bring you to4 ,come ,hostis1 how do you8 wil you first give us a cup of your best ,ale1 and then dress this ,chub1 as you drest my last1 when ,i and my friend were hereabout eight or ten daies ago8 but you must do me one courtesie1 it must be done instantly4 ,host4 ,i wil do it1 ,mr4 ,piscator1 and with all the speed ,i can4 ,pisc4 ,now ,sir1 has not my ,hostis made haste8 ,and does not the fish look lovely8 ,viat4 ,both1 upon my word ,sir1 and therefore lets say ,grace and fall to eating of it4 ,pisc4 ,well ,sir1 how do you like it8 viat4 ,trust me1 'tis as good meat as ever ,i tasted3 now let me thank you for it1 drink to you1 and beg a courtesie of you2 but it must not be deny'd me4 ,pisc4 ,what is it1 ,i pray ,sir8 ,you are so modest1 that me thinks ,i may promise to grant it before it is asked4 viat4 ,why ,sir1 it is that from henceforth you wil allow me to call you ,master1 and that really ,i may be your ,scholer1 for you are such a companion1 and have so quickly caught1 and so excellently cook'd this fish1 as makes me ambitious to be your scholer4 ,pisc4 ,give me your hand3 from this time forward ,i wil be your ,master1 and teach you as much of this ,art as ,i am able2 and will1 as you desire me1 tel you somewhat of the nature of some of the fish which we are to ,angle for2 and ,i am sure ,i shal tel you more then every ,angler yet knows4 ,and first ,i will tel you how you shall catch such a ,chub as this was2 then how to cook him as this was3 ,i could not have begun to teach you to catch any fish more easily then this fish is caught2 but then it must be this particular way1 and this you must do3 ,go to the same hole1 where in most hot days you will finde floting neer the top of the water1 at least a dozen or twenty ,chubs2 get a ,grashopper or two as you goe1 and get secretly behinde the tree1 put it then upon your hook1 and let your hook hang a quarter of a yard short of the top of the water1 and 'tis very likely that the shadow of your rod1 which you must rest on the tree1 will cause the ,chubs to sink down to the bottom with fear2 for they be a very fearful fish1 and the shadow of a bird flying over them will make them do so2 but they will presently rise up to the top again1 and there lie soaring till some shadow affrights them again3 when they lie upon the top of the water1 look out the best ,chub1 which you setting your self in a fit place1 may very easily do1 and move your ,rod 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 bait1 and you will be as sure to catch him2 for he is one of the leather-mouth'd fishes1 of which a hook does scarce ever lose his hold3 and therefore give him play enough before you offer to take him out of the water4 ,go your way presently1 take my rod1 and doe as ,i bid you1 and ,i will sit down and mend my tackling till you return back4 viat4 ,truly1 my loving ,master1 you have offered me as fair as ,i could wish3 ,ile go1 and observe your directions4 ,look you1 ,master1 what ,i have done2 that which joyes my heart2 caught just such another ,chub as yours was4 ,pisc4 ,marry1 and ,i am glad of it3 ,i am like to have a towardly ,scholar of you4 ,i now see1 that with advice and practice you will make an ,angler in a short time4 ,viat4 ,but ,master1 ,what if ,i could not have found a ,grashopper8 ,pis4 ,then ,i may tell you1 that a black ,snail1 with his belly slit1 to shew his white2 or a piece of soft cheese will usually do as well2 nay1 sometimes a worm1 or any kind of fly2 as the ,ant-fly1 the ,flesh-fly1 or ,wall-fly1 or the ,dor or ,beetle1 7which you may find under a ,cow-turd7 or a ,bob1 which you will find in the same place1 and in time wil be a ,beetle2 it is a short white worm1 like to1 and bigger then a ,gentle1 or a ,cod-worm1 or ,case-worm3 any of these will do very wel to fish in such a manner4 ,and after this manner you may catch a ,trout3 in a hot evening1 when as you walk by a ,brook1 and shal see or hear him leap at ,flies1 then if you get a ,grashopper1 put it on your hook1 with your line about two yards long1 standing behind a bush or tree where his hole is1 and make your bait stir up and down on the top of the water2 you may1 if you stand close1 be sure of a bit1 but not sure to catch him1 for he is not a leather mouthed fish3 and after this manner you may fish for him with almost any kind of live ,flie1 but especially with a ,grashopper4 ,viat4 ,but before you go further1 ,i pray good ,master1 what mean you by a leather mouthed fish4 ,pisc4 ,by a leather mouthed fish1 ,i mean such as have their teeth in their throat1 as the ,chub or ,cheven1 and so the ,barbel1 the ,gudgion and ,carp1 and divers others have2 and the hook being stuck into the leather or skin of such fish1 does very seldome or never lose its hold3 ,but on the contrary1 a ,pike1 a ,pearch1 or ,trout1 and so some other fish1 which have not their teeth in their throats1 but in their mouthes1 which you shal observe to be very full of bones1 and the skin very thin1 and little of it3 ,i say1 of these fish the hook never takes so sure hold1 but you often lose the fish unless he have gorg'd it4 ,viat4 ,i thank you good ,master for this observation2 but now what shal be done with my ,chub or ,cheven that ,i have caught4 ,pisc4 ,marry ,sir1 it shall be given away to some poor body1 for ,ile warrant you ,ile give you a ,trout for your supper2 and it is a good beginning of your ,art to offer your first fruits to the poor1 who will both thank ,god and you for it4 ,and now lets walk towards the water again1 and as ,i go ,ile tel you when you catch your next ,chub1 how to dresse it as this was4 viat4 ,come 7good ,master7 ,i long to be going and learn your direction4 ,pisc4 ,you must dress it1 or see it drest thus3 ,when you have scaled him1 wash him very cleane1 cut off his tail and fins2 and wash him not after you gut him1 but chine or cut him through the middle as a salt fish is cut1 then give him four or five scotches with your knife1 broil him upon wood-cole or char-cole2 but as he is broiling2 baste him often with butter that shal be choicely good2 and put good store of salt into your butter1 or salt him gently as you broil or baste him2 and bruise or cut very smal into your butter1 a little ,time1 or some other sweet herb that is in the ,garden where you eat him3 thus used1 it takes away the watrish taste which the ,chub or ,chevin has1 and makes him a choice dish of meat1 as you your self know1 for thus was that dressed1 which you did eat of to your dinner4 ,or you may 7for variety7 dress a ,chub another way1 and you will find him very good1 and his tongue and head almost as good as a ,carps2 but then you must be sure that no grass or weeds be left in his mouth or throat4 ,thus you must dress him3 ,slit him through the middle1 then cut him into four pieces3 then put him into a pewter dish1 and cover him with another1 put into him as much ,white ,wine as wil cover him1 or ,spring water and ,vinegar1 and store of ,salt1 with some branches of ,time1 and other sweet herbs2 let him then be boiled gently over a ,chafing-dish with wood coles1 and when he is almost boiled enough1 put half of the liquor from him1 not the top of it2 put then into him a convenient quantity of the best butter you can get1 with a little ,nutmeg grated into it1 and sippets of white bread3 thus ordered1 you wil find the ,chevin and the sauce too1 a choice dish of meat3 ,and ,i have been the more careful to give you a perfect direction how to dress him1 because he is a fish undervalued by many1 and ,i would gladly restore him to some of his credit which he has lost by ill ,cookery4 ,viat4 ,but ,master1 have you no other way to catch a ,cheven1 or ,chub8 ,pisc4 ,yes that ,i have1 but ,i must take time to tel it you hereafter2 or indeed1 you must learn it by observation and practice1 though this way that ,i have taught you was the easiest to catch a ,chub1 at this time1 and at this place4 ,and now we are come again to the ,river2 ,i wil 7as the ,souldier sayes7 prepare for skirmish2 that is1 draw out my ,tackling1 and try to catch a ,trout for supper4 ,viat4 ,trust me ,master1 ,i see now it is a harder matter to catch a ,trout then a ,chub2 for ,i have put on patience1 and followed you this two hours1 and not seen a fish stir1 neither at your ,minnow nor your worm4 ,pisc4 ,wel ,scholer1 you must indure 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 him3 ,now you see he lies still1 and the sleight is to land him3 ,reach me that ,landing net3 ,so 7,sir7 now he is mine own1 what say you8 is not this worth all my labour8 ,viat4 ,on my word ,master1 this is a gallant ,trout2 what shall we do with him8 ,pisc4 ,marry ee'n eat him to supper3 ,we'l go to my ,hostis1 from whence we came2 she told me1 as ,i was going out of door1 that my brother ,peter1 a good ,angler1 and a cheerful companion1 had sent word he would lodg there to night1 and bring a friend with him4 ,my ,hostis has two beds1 and ,i know you and ,i may have the best3 we'l rejoice with my brother ,peter and his friend1 tel tales1 or sing ,ballads1 or make a ,catch1 or find some harmless sport to content us4 ,viat4 ,a match1 good ,master1 lets go to that house1 for the linen looks white1 and smels of ,lavender1 and ,i long to lye in a pair of sheets that smels so3 lets be going1 good ,master1 for ,i am hungry again with fishing4 ,pisc4 ,nay1 stay a little good ,scholer1 ,i caught my last ,trout with a worm1 now ,i wil put on a ,minow and try a quarter of an hour about yonder trees for another1 and so walk towards our lodging4 ,look you ,scholer1 thereabout we shall have a bit presently1 or not at all3 ,have with you 7,sir67 on my word ,i have him4 ,oh it is a great logger-headed ,chub3 ,come1 hang him upon that ,willow twig1 and let's be going4 ,but turn out of the way a little1 good ,scholer1 towards yonder high hedg3 ,we'l sit whilst this showr falls so gently upon the teeming earth1 and gives a sweeter smel to the lovely flowers that adorn the verdant ,meadows4 ,look1 under that broad ,beech tree ,i sate down when ,i was last this way a fishing1 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 cave1 near to the brow of that ,primrose hil2 there ,i sate viewing the ,silver streams glide silently towards their center1 the tempestuous ,sea1 yet sometimes opposed by rugged roots1 and pibble stones1 which broke their waves1 and turned them into some3 and sometimes viewing the harmless ,lambs1 some leaping securely in the cool shade1 whilst others sported themselvs in the cheerful ,sun2 and others were craving comfort from the swolne ,udders of their bleating ,dams4 ,as ,i thus sate1 these and other sighs had so fully possest my soul1 that ,i thought as the ,poet has happily exprest it3 ,i was for that time lifted above earth2 ,and possest joyes not promis'd in my birth4 ,as ,i left this place1 and entered into the next field1 a second pleasure entertained me1 'twas a handsome ,milk-maid1 that had cast away all care1 and sung like a ,nightingale2 her voice was good1 and the ,ditty fitted for it2 'twas 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 ,raleigh in his younger days4 ,they were old fashioned ,poetry1 but choicely good1 ,i think much better then that now in fashion in this ,critical age4 ,look yonder1 on my word1 yonder they be both a milking again3 ,i will give her the ,chub1 and persuade them to sing those two songs to us4 ,pisc4 ,god speed1 good woman1 ,i have been a-fishing1 and am going to ,bleak ,hall to my bed1 and having caught more fish then will sup my self and friend1 will bestow this upon you and your daughter for ,i use to sell none4 ,milkw4 ,marry1 ,god requite you ,sir1 and we'l eat it cheerfully3 will you drink a draught of red ,cow's milk8 ,pisc4 ,no1 ,i thank you3 but ,i pray do us a courtesie that shal stand you and your daughter in nothing1 and we wil think our selves stil something in your debt2 it is but to sing us a ,song1 that that was sung by you and your daughter1 when ,i last past over this ,meadow1 about eight or nine dayes since4 ,milk4 what ,song was it1 ,i pray8 was it1 ,come ,shepherds deck your heads3 or1 ,as at noon ,dulcina rested3 or ,philida flouts me8 ,pisc4 ,no1 it is none of those3 it is a ,song that your daughter sung the first part1 and you sung the answer to it4 ,milk4 ,o ,i know it now1 ,i learn'd the first part in my golden age1 when ,i was about the age of my daughter2 and the later part1 which indeed fits me best1 but two or three years ago2 you shal1 ,god willing1 hear them both4 ,come ,maudlin1 sing the first part to the ,gentlemen with a merrie heart1 and ,ile sing the second4 ,the ,milk maids ,song4 ,come live with me1 and be my ,love1 ,and we wil all the pleasures prove ,that vallies1 ,groves1 or hils1 or fields1 ,or woods and steepie mountains yeelds4 ,where we will sit upon the ,rocks1 ,and see the ,shepherds feed our flocks1 ,by shallow ,rivers1 to whose falls ,mellodious birds sing madrigals4 ,and ,i wil make thee beds of ,roses1 ,and then a thousand fragrant posies1 ,a cap of flowers and a ,kirtle1 ,imbroidered all with leaves of ,mirtle4 ,a ,gown made of the finest wool ,which from our pretty ,lambs we pull1 ,slippers lin'd choicely for the cold1 ,with buckles of the purest gold4 ,a belt of straw and ivie buds1 ,with ,coral clasps1 and ,amber studs ,and if these pleasures may thee move1 ,come live with me1 and be my ,love4 ,the ,shepherds ,swains shal dance and sing ,for thy delight each ,may morning3 ,if these delights thy mind may move1 ,then live with me1 and be my ,love4 ,via4 ,trust me ,master1 it is a choice ,song1 and sweetly sung by honest ,maudlin3 ,ile bestow ,sir ,thomas ,overbury's ,milk maids wish upon her1 ,that she may dye in the ,spring1 and have good store of flowers stuck round about her winding sheet4 ,the ,milk maids mothers answer4 ,if all the world and love were young1 ,and truth in every ,shepherds tongue8 ,these pretty pleasures might me move1 ,to live with thee1 and be thy love4 ,but time drives flocks from field to fold3 ,when rivers rage and rocks grow cold1 ,and ,philomel becometh dumb1 ,the ,rest complains of cares to come4 ,the ,flowers do fade1 and wanton fields ,to wayward ,winter reckoning yeilds ,a honey tongue1 a heart of gall1 ,is fancies spring1 but sorrows fall4 ,thy gowns1 thy shooes1 thy beds of ,roses1 ,thy ,cap1 thy ,kirtle1 and thy ,posies1 ,soon break1 soon wither1 soon forgotten1 ,in folly ripe1 in reason rotten4 ,thy belt of straw and ,ivie buds1 ,thy ,coral clasps and ,amber studs1 ,all these in me no means can move ,to come to thee1 and be thy ,love4 ,but could youth last1 and love stil breed1 ,had joys no date1 nor age no need2 ,then those delights my mind might move ,to live with thee1 and be thy love4 ,pisc4 ,well sung1 good woman1 ,i thank you1 ,i'l give you another dish of fish one of these dayes1 and then beg another ,song of you4 ,come ,scholer1 let ,maudlin alone1 do not you offer to spoil her voice4 ,look1 yonder comes my ,hostis to cal us to supper4 ,how now8 is my brother ,peter come8 ,host4 ,yes1 and a friend with him1 they are both glad to hear you are in these parts1 and long to see you1 and are hungry1 and long to be at supper4 ,,chap4 ,,iii4 ,piscat4 ,wel met brother ,peter1 ,i heard you a friend would lodg here to night1 and that has made me and my friend cast to lodge here too2 my friend is one that would faine be a brother of the ,angle3 he has been an ,angler but this day1 and ,i have taught him how to catch a ,chub with daping a ,grashopper1 and he has caught a lusty one of nineteen inches long4 ,but ,i pray you brother1 who is it that is your companion8 ,peter4 ,brother ,piscator1 my friend is an honest ,country man1 and his name is ,coridon1 a most downright witty merry companion that met me here purposely to eat a ,trout and be pleasant1 and ,i have not yet wet my line since ,i came from home3 ,but ,i wil fit him to morrow with a ,trout for his breakfast1 if the weather be any thing like4 ,pisc4 ,nay brother1 you shall not delay him so long1 for look you here is a ,trout will fill six reasonable bellies4 ,come ,hostis1 dress it presently1 and get us what other meat the house wil afford1 and give us some good ,ale1 and lets be merrie4 ,the ,description of a ,trout4 ,illustration ,peter4 ,on my word1 this ,trout is in perfect season4 ,come1 ,i thank you1 and here's a hearty draught to you1 and to all the brothers of the ,angle1 wheresoever they be1 and to my young brothers good fortune to morrow2 ,i wil furnish him with a rod1 if you wil furnish him with the rest of the tackling1 we wil set him up and make him a fisher4 ,and ,i wil tel him one thing for his encouragement1 that his fortune hath made him happy to be a ,scholer to such a ,master2 a ,master that knowes as much 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 ,sammon1 as any that ,i ever met withall4 ,pisc4 ,trust me1 brother ,peter1 ,i find my ,scholer to be so sutable to my own humour1 which is to be free and pleasant1 and civilly merry1 that my resolution is to hide nothing from him4 ,believe me1 ,scholer1 this is my resolution3 and so here's to you a hearty draught1 and to all that love us1 and the honest ,art of ,angling4 ,viat4 ,trust me1 good ,master1 you shall not sow your seed in barren ground1 for ,i hope to return you an increase answerable to your hopes2 but however1 you shal find me obedient1 and thankful1 and serviceable to my best abilitie4 ,pisc4 ',tis enough1 honest ,scholer1 come lets to supper4 ,come my friend ,coridon1 this ,trout looks lovely1 it was twenty two inches when it was taken1 and the belly of it look'd some part of it as yellow as a ,marygold1 and part of it as white as a ,lily1 and yet me thinks it looks better in this good fawce4 ,coridon4 ,indeed1 honest friend1 it looks well1 and tastes well1 ,i thank you for it1 and so does my friend ,peter1 or else he is to blame4 ,pet4 ,yes1 and so ,i do1 we all thank you1 and when we have supt1 ,i wil get my friend ,coridon to sing you a ,song1 for requital4 ,cor4 ,i wil sing a ,song if anyboby wil sing another2 else1 to be plain with you1 ,i wil sing none3 ,i am none of those that sing for meat1 but for company2 ,i say1 ',tis merry in ,hall when men sing all4 ,pisc4 ,i'l promise you ,i'l sing a ,song that was lately made at my request by ,mr4 ,william ,basse1 one that has made the choice ,songs of the ,hunter in his carrere1 and of ,tom of ,bedlam1 and many others of note2 and this that ,i wil sing is in praise of ,angling4 ,cor4 ,and then mine shall be the praise of a ,country mans life3 ,what will the rest sing of8 ,pet4 ,i wil promise you ,i wil sing another ,song in praise of ,angling1 to-morrow night1 for we wil not part till then1 but fish to morrow1 and sup together1 and the next day every man leave fishing1 and fall to his business4 ,viat4 ',tis a match1 and ,i wil provide you a ,song or a ,ketch against then too1 that shal give some addition of mirth to the company2 for we wil be merrie4 ,pisc4 ',tis a match my masters2 lets ev'n say ,grace1 and turn to the fire1 drink the other cup to wet our whistles1 and so sing away all sad thoughts4 ,come on my masters1 who begins8 ,i think it is best to draw cuts and avoid contention4 ,pet4 ,it is a match4 ,look1 the shortest ,cut fals to ,coridon4 ,cor4 ,well then1 ,i wil begin2 for ,i hate contention4 ,,coridons ,song4 ,oh the sweet contentment ,the country man doth find6 high trolollie laliloe high trolollie lee1 ,that quiet contemplation ,possesseth all my mind3 ,then care away1 and wend along with me4 ,for ,courts are full of flattery1 ,as hath too oft been tri'd2 high trolollie lollie loe high trolollie lee1 ,the ,city full of wantonness1 and both are full of pride3 ,then care away1 and wend along with me4 ,but oh the honest countryman ,speaks truly from his heart1 high trolollie lollie loe high trolollie lee1 ,his pride is in his ,tillage1 his ,horses and his ,cart3 ,then care away1 and wend along with me4 ,our clothing is good sheep skins ,gray russet for our wives1 high trolollie lollie loe high trolollie lee4 ',tis warmth and not gay clothing that doth prolong our lives3 ,then care away1 and wend along with me1 ,the ploughman1 though he labor hard1 ,yet on the ,holy-day1 high trolollie lollie loe high trolollie lee1 ,no ,emperor so merrily does pass his time away3 ,then care away1 and wend along with me4 ,to recompence our ,tillage1 ,the ,heavens afford us showrs2 high trolollie lollie loe high trolollie lee1 ,and for our sweet refreshments the earth affords us bowers3 ,then care away1 c4 ,the ,cuckoe and the ,nightingale full merrily do sing1 high trolollie lollie loe high trolollie lee1 ,and with their pleasant roundelayes bid welcome to the ,spring3 ,then care away1 and wend along with me4 ,this is not half the happiness the ,country man injoyes2 high trolollie lollie loe high trolollie lee1 ,though others think they have as much yet he that says so lies3 ,then come away1 turn ,county man with me4 ,pisc4 ,well sung ,coridon1 this ,song was sung with mettle1 and it was choicely fitted to the occasion2 ,i shall love you for it as long as ,i know you3 ,i would you were a brother of the ,angle1 for a companion that is cheerful 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 men 7that cannot wel bear it7 to repent the money they spend when they be warmed with drink3 and take this for a rule1 you may pick out such times and such companies1 that you may make your selves merrier for a little then a great deal of money2 for ',tis the company and not the charge that makes the feast3 and such a companion you prove1 ,i thank you for it4 ,but ,i will not complement you out of the debt that ,i owe you1 and therefore ,i will begin my ,song1 and wish it may be as well liked4 ,the ,,anglers ,song4 ,as inward love breeds outward talk1 ,the ,hound some praise1 and some the ,hawk1 ,some better pleas'd with private sport1 ,use ,tenis1 some a ,mistris court3 ,but these delights ,i neither wish1 ,nor envy1 while ,i freely fish4 ,who hunts1 doth oft in danger ride ,who hauks1 lures oft both far wide2 ,who uses games1 may often prove ,a loser2 but who fals in love1 ,is fettered in fond ,cupids 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 ,then mind and body both possess2 ,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 contemplate2 ,and seek in life to imitate2 ,in civil bounds ,i fain would keep1 ,and for my past offences weep4 ,and when the timerous ,trout ,i wait ,to take1 and he devours my bait1 ,how poor a thing sometimes ,i find ,will captivate a greedy mind3 ,and when none bite1 ,i praise the wise1 ,whom vain alurements ne're surprise4 ,but yet though while ,i fish1 ,i fast1 ,i make good fortune my repast1 ,and there unto my friend invite1 ,in whom ,i more then that delight3 ,who is more welcome to my dish1 ,then to my ,angle was my fish4 ,as well content no prize to take ,as use of taken prize to make2 ,for so our ,lord was pleased when ,he ,fishers made ,fishers of men2 ,where 7which is in no other game7 ,a man may fish and praise his name4 ,the first men that our ,saviour dear ,did chuse to wait upon him here1 ,blest ,fishers were2 and fish the last ,food was1 that he on earth did taste4 ,i therefore strive to follow those1 ,whom he to follow him hath chose4 ,w4,b4 ,cor4 ,well sung brother1 you have paid your debt in good coyn1 we ,anglers are all beholding to the good man that made this ,song4 ,come ,hostis1 give us more ,ale and lets drink to him4 ,and now lets everie one go to bed that we may rise early2 but first lets pay our ,reckoning1 for ,i wil have nothing to hinder me in the morning for ,i will prevent the ,sun rising4 ,pet4 ,a match3 ,come ,coridon1 you are to be my ,bed-fellow3 ,i know brother you and your ,scholer wil lie together2 but where shal we meet to morrow night8 for my friend ,coridon and ,i will go up the water towards ,ware4 ,pisc4 ,and my ,scholer and ,i will go down towards ,waltam4 ,cor4 ,then lets meet here1 for here are fresh sheets that smel of ,lavender1 and1 ,i am sure1 we cannot expect better meat and better usage4 ,pet4 ',tis a match4 ,good night to every body4 ,pisc4 ,and so say ,i4 ,viat4 ,and so say ,i4 99 99 99 99 99 ,pisc4 ,good morrow good ,hostis1 ,i see my brother ,peter is in bed still2 ,come1 give my ,scholer and me a cup of ,ale1 and be sure you get us a good dish of meat against supper1 for we shall come hither as hungry as ,hawks4 ,come ,scholer1 lets be going4 ,viat4 ,good ,master1 as we walk towards the water1 wil you be pleased to make the way seeme shorter by telling me first the nature of the ,trout1 and then how to catch him4 ,pisc4 ,my honest ,scholer1 ,i wil do it freely3 ,the ,trout 7for which ,i love to angle above any fish7 may be justly said 7as the ancient ,poets say of ,wine1 and we ,english say of ,venson7 to be a generous fish1 because he has his seasons1 a fish that comes in1 and goes out with the ,stag or ,buck3 and you are to observe1 that as there be some barren ,does1 that are good in ,summer2 so there be some barren ,trouts1 that are good in ,winter2 but there are not many that are so1 for usually they be in their perfection in the month of ,may1 and decline with the ,buck3 ,now you are to take notice1 that in several ,countries1 as in ,germany and in other parts compar'd to ours1 they differ much in their bigness1 shape1 and other wayes1 and so do ,trouts2 'tis wel known that in the ,lake ,lemon1 the ,lake of ,geneva1 there are ,trouts taken1 of three ,cubits long1 as is affirmed by ,gesner1 a ,writer of good credit3 and ,mercator sayes1 the ,trouts that are taken in the ,lake of ,geneva1 are a great part of the ,merchandize of that famous ,city4 ,and you are further to know1 that there be certaine waters that breed ,trouts remarkable1 both for their number and smalness--,i know a little ,brook in ,kent that breeds them to a number incredible1 and you may take them twentie or fortie in an hour1 but none greater then about the size of a ,gudgion4 ,there are also in divers ,rivers1 especially that relate to1 or be near to the ,sea1 7as ,winchester1 or the ,thames about ,windsor7 a little ,trout called a ,samlet or ,skegger ,trout 7in both which places ,i have caught twentie or fortie at a standing7 that will bite as fast and as freely as ,minnows2 these be by some taken to be young ,salmons1 but in those waters they never grow to bee bigger then a ,herring4 ,there is also in ,kent1 neer to ,canterbury1 a ,trout 7called there a ,fordig ,trout7 a ,trout 7that bears the name of the ,town where 'tis usually caught7 that is accounted rare meat1 many of them near the bigness of a ,salmon1 but knowne by their different colour1 and in their best season cut very white2 and none have been known to be caught with an ,angle1 unless it were one that was caught by honest ,sir ,george ,hastings1 an excellent ,angler 7and now with ,god7 and he has told me1 he thought that ,trout bit not for hunger1 but wantonness2 and 'tis the rather to be believed1 because both he then1 and many others before him have been curious to search into their bellies what the food was by which they lived2 and have found out nothing by which they might satisfie their curiositie4 ,concerning which you are to take notice1 that it is reported1 there is a fish that hath not any mouth1 but lives by taking breath by the porinss of her gils1 and feeds and is nourish'd by no man knows what2 and this may be believed of the ,fordig ,trout1 which 7as it is said of the ,stork1 that he knowes his season1 so he7 knows his times 7,i think almost his day7 of coming into that ,river out of the ,sea1 where he lives 7and it is like feeds7 nine months of the year1 and about three in the ,river of ,fordig4 ,and now for some confirmation of this2 you are to know1 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 ,swallowes1 which are not seen to flye in ,england for six months in the year1 but about ,michaelmas leave us for a hotter climate2 yet some of them1 that have been left behind their fellows1 view ,sir ,fra4 ,bacon exper4 #hii41 have been found 7many thousand at a time7 in hollow trees1 where they have been observed to live and sleep see ,topsel of ,frogs out the whole winter without meat2 and so ,albertus observes 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 ,winter1 and though it be strange to some1 yet it is known to too many amongst us to bee doubted4 ,and so much for these ,fordig ,trouts1 which never afford an ,angler sport1 but either live their time of being in the fresh water by their meat formerly gotten in the ,sea1 7not unlike the ,swallow or ,frog7 or by the vertue of the fresh water only1 as the ,camelion is said to live by the air4 ,there is also in ,northumberland1 a ,trout1 called a ,bull ,trout1 of a much greater length and bignesse then any in these ,southern parts2 and there is in many ,rivers that relate to the ,sea1 ,salmon ,trouts as much different one from another1 both in shape and in their spots1 as we see ,sheep differ one from another in their shape and bigness1 and in the finess of their wool3 and certainly as some ,pastures do breed larger ,sheep1 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 then other fish3 concerning which you are also to take notice1 that he lives not so long as the ,pearch and divers other fishes do1 as ,sir ,francis ,bacon hath observed in his ,history of life and death4 ,and next1 you are to take notice1 that after hee is come to his full growth1 he declines in his bodie1 but keeps his bigness or thrives in his head till his death4 ,and you are to know that he wil about 7especially before7 the time of his ,spawning1 get almost miraculously through ,weires and ,floud-,gates against the stream1 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 ,spawne in the ,spring or ,summer1 when the ,sun hath warmed both the earth and water1 and made it fit for generation4 ,and next1 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 lowsie1 and unwholsome3 for you shall in winter find him to have a big head1 and then to be lank1 and thin1 lean2 at which time many of them have sticking on them ,sugs1 or ,trout lice1 which is a kind of a worm1 in shape like a ,clove or a ,pin1 with a big head1 and sticks close to him and sucks his moisture2 those ,i think the ,trout breeds himselfe1 and never thrives til he free himself from them1 which is till warm weather comes1 and then as he growes stronger1 he gets from the dead1 still water1 into the sharp streames and the gravel1 and there rubs off these worms or lice3 and then as he grows stronger1 so he gets him into swifter and swifter streams1 and there lies at the watch for any flie or ,minow that comes neer to him2 and he especially loves the ,may flie1 which is bred of the ,cod-worm or ,caddis2 and these make the ,trout bold and lustie1 and he is usually fatter1 and better meat at the end of that month1 then at any time of the year4 ,now you are to know1 that it is observed that usually the best ,trouts are either red or yellow1 though some be white and yet good2 but that is not usual2 and it is a note observable that the female ,trout hath usually a less head and a deeper body then the male ,trout2 and a little head to any fish1 either ,trout1 ,salmon1 or 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 blossome sooner then others do1 so some ,trouts be in some ,rivers sooner in season2 and as the ,holly or ,oak are longer before they cast their ,leaves1 so are some ,trouts in some ,rivers longer before they go out of season4 ,,chap4 ,,iv4 ,and having told you these ,observations concerning ,trouts1 ,i shall next tell you how to catch them3 which is usually with a ,worm1 or a ,minnow 7which some call a ,penke27 or with a ,flie1 either a natural or an artificial ,flie3 ,concerning which three ,i wil give you some ,observations and ,directions4 ,for ,worms1 there be very many sorts2 some bred onely in the earth1 as the earth worm2 others amongst or of plants1 as the dug-worm2 and others in the bodies of living creatures2 or some of dead flesh1 as the ,magot or ,gentle1 and others4 ,now these be most of them particularly good for particular fishes3 but for the ,trout the dew-worm1 7which some also cal the ,lob-worm7 and the ,brandling are the chief2 and especially the first for a great ,trout1 and the later for a lesse4 ,there be also of lob-worms1 some called squirel-tails 7a worm which has a red head1 a streak down the back1 and a broad tail7 which are noted to be the best1 because they are the toughest1 and most lively1 and live longest in the water3 for you are to know1 that a dead worm is but a dead bait1 and like to catch nothing1 compared to a lively1 quick1 stirring worm3 ,and for a ,brandling1 hee is usually found in an old dunghil1 or some very rotten place neer to it2 but most usually in cow dung1 or hogs dung1 rather then horse dung1 which is somewhat too hot and dry for that worm4 ,there are also divers other kindes of worms1 which for colour and shape alter even as the ground out of which they are got3 as the marsh-worm1 the tag-tail1 the flag-worm1 the dock-worm1 the oake-worm1 the gilt-tail1 and too many to name1 even as many sorts1 as some think there be of severall 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 long kept before they be used2 and in case you have not been so provident1 then the way to cleanse and scoure them quickly1 is to put them all night in water1 if they be ,lob-worms1 and then put them into your bag with fennel3 but you must not put your ,brandling above an hour in water1 and then put them into fennel for sudden use3 but if you have time1 and purpose to keep them long1 then they be best preserved in an earthen pot with good store of mosse1 which is to be fresh every week or eight dayes2 or at least taken from them1 and clean wash'd1 and wrung betwixt your hands till it be dry1 and then put it to them again3 ,and for ,moss you are to note1 that there be divers kindes of it which ,i could name to you1 but wil onely tel you1 that that which is likest a ,bucks horn is the best2 except it be white ,moss1 which grows on some heaths1 and is hard to be found4 ,for the ,minnow or ,penke1 he is easily found and caught in ,april1 for then hee appears in the ,rivers3 but ,nature hath taught him to shelter and hide himself in the ,winter in ditches that be neer to the ,river1 and there both to hide and keep himself warm in the weeds1 which rot not so soon as in a running ,river in which place if hee were in ,winter1 the distempered ,floods that are usually in that season1 would suffer him to have no rest1 but carry him headlong to ,mils and ,weires to his confusion4 ,and of these ,minnows1 first you are to know1 that the biggest size is not the best2 and next1 that the middle size and the whitest are the best3 and then you are to know1 that ,i cannot well teach in words1 but must shew you how to put it on your hook1 that it may turn the better3 ,and you are also to know1 that it is impossible it should turn too quick3 ,and you are yet to know1 that in case you want a ,minnow1 then a small ,loch1 or a ,sticklebag1 or any other small ,fish will serve as wel3 ,and you are yet to know1 that you may salt1 and by that means keep them fit for use three or four dayes or longer2 and that of salt1 bay salt is the best4 ,now for ,flies1 which is the third bait wherewith ,trouts are usually taken4 ,you are to know1 that there are as many sorts of ,flies as there be of ,fruits3 ,i will name you but some of them3 as the dun flie1 the stone flie1 the red flie1 the moor flie1 the tawny flie1 the shel flie1 the cloudy or blackish flie3 there be of ,flies1 ,caterpillars1 and ,canker flies1 and ,bear flies2 and indeed1 too many either for mee to name1 or for you to remember3 and their breeding is so various and wonderful1 that ,i might easily amaze my self1 and tire you in a relation of them4 ,and yet ,i wil exercise your promised patience by saying a little of the ,caterpillar1 or the ,palmer flie or worm2 that by them you may guess what a work it were in a ,discourse but to run over those very many flies1 worms1 and little living creatures with which the ,sun and ,summer adorn and beautifie the river banks and meadows2 both for the recreation and contemplation of the ,angler3 and which 7,i think7 ,i myself enjoy more then any other man that is not of my profession4 ,pliny holds an opinion1 that many have their birth or being 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 flowers3 and others from a dew left upon ,colworts or ,cabbages3 ,all which kindes of dews being thickened and condensed1 are by the ,suns generative heat most of them hatch'd1 and in three dayes made living creatures1 and 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 none2 some have sixteen feet1 some less1 and some have none3 but 7as our ,topsel hath with great diligence observed7 in his ,history of ,serpents4 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 hee also observes to be bred of the eggs of other ,caterpillers3 and that those in their time turn to be ,butter-flies2 and again1 that their eggs turn the following yeer to be ,caterpillars4 ',tis endlesse to tell you what the curious ,searchers into ,natures productions1 have observed of these ,worms and ,flies3 ,but yet ,i shall tell you what our ,topsel sayes of the ,canker1 or ,palmer-worm1 or ,caterpiller2 ,that wheras others content themselves to feed on particular herbs or leaves 7for most think1 those very leaves that gave them life and shape1 give them a particular feeding and nourishment1 and that upon them they usually abide27 yet he observes1 that this is called a ,pilgrim or ,palmer-worm1 for his very wandering life and various food2 not contenting himself 7as others do7 with any certain place for his abode1 nor any certain kinde of herb or flower for his feeding2 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 ,caterpillers are1 as one has observed1 very elegant and beautiful3 ,i shal 7for a taste of the rest7 describe one of them1 which ,i will sometime the next month1 shew you feeding on a ,willow tree1 and you shal find him punctually to answer this very description3 ,his lips and mouth somewhat yellow1 his eyes black as ,jet1 his ore-head purple1 his feet and hinder parts green1 his tail two forked and black1 the whole body stain'd with a kind of red spots which run along the neck and shoulder-blades1 not unlike the form of a ,cross1 or the letter ,x1 made thus cross-wise1 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 fix'd age this ,caterpiller gives over to eat1 and towards winter comes to be coverd over with a strange shell or crust1 and so lives a kind of dead life1 without eating all the winter1 and 7as others of several kinds turn to be several kinds of flies and vermin1 the ,spring following7 view ,sir ,fra4 ,bacon exper4 #gbh #ij in his ,natural ,history so this ,caterpiller then turns to be a painted ,butterflye4 ,come1 come my ,scholer1 you see the ,river stops our morning walk1 and ,i wil also here stop my discourse1 only as we sit down under this ,honey-,suckle hedge1 whilst ,i look a ,line to fit the ,rod that our brother ,peter has lent you1 ,i shall for a little confirmation of what ,i have said1 repeat the observation of the ,lord ,bartas4 ,god not contented to each kind to give1 ,and to infuse the vertue generative1 ,by his wise power made many creatures breed ,of liveless bodies1 without ,venus deed4 ,so the cold humour breeds the ,salamander1 ,who 7in effect7 like to her births commander ,with child with hundred winters1 with her touch ,quencheth the fire1 though glowing ne'r so much4 ,so in the fire in burning furnace springs ,the fly ,perausta with the flaming wings2 ,without the fire it dies1 in it1 it joyes1 ,living in that which all things else destroyes4 ,sidenote3 ,gerb4 ,herbal4 ,cabdem ,so slow ,botes underneath him sees ,in th'icie ,islands ,goslings hatcht of trees1 ,whose fruitful leaves falling into the water1 ,are turn'd 7'tis known7 to living fowls soon after4 ,so rotten planks of broken ships1 do change ,to ,barnacles4 ,oh transformation strange6 ',twas first a green tree1 then a broken hull1 ,lately a ,mushroom1 now a flying ,gull4 ,vi4 ,oh my good ,master1 this morning walk has been spent to my great pleasure and wonder3 but ,i pray1 when shall ,i have your direction how to make ,artificial flyes1 like to those that the ,trout loves best8 and also how to use them8 ,pisc4 ,my honest ,scholer1 it is now past five of the ,clock1 we will fish til nine1 and then go to ,breakfast3 ,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 wil make a brave ,breakfast with a piece of powdered ,bief1 and a ,radish or two that ,i have in my ,fish-bag2 we shall1 ,i warrant you1 make a good1 honest1 wholsome1 hungry ,breakfast1 and ,i will give you direction for the making and using of your fly3 and in the mean time1 there is your ,rod and line2 and my advice is1 that you fish as you see mee do1 and lets try which can catch the first fish4 ,viat4 ,i thank you1 ,master1 ,i will observe and practice your direction as far as ,i am able4 ,pisc4 ,look you ,scholer1 you see ,i have hold of a good fish3 ,i now see it is a ,trout2 ,i pray put that net under him1 and touch not my line1 for if you do1 then wee break all4 ,well done1 ,scholer1 ,i thank you4 ,now for an other4 ,trust me1 ,i have another bite3 ,come ,scholer1 come lay down your ,rod1 and help me to land this as you did the other4 ,so1 now we shall be sure to have a good dish of fish for supper4 ,viat4 ,i am glad of that1 but ,i have no fortune2 sure ,master yours is a better ,rod1 and better ,tackling4 ,pisc4 ,nay then1 take mine and ,i will fish with yours4 ,look you1 ,scholer1 ,i have another3 come1 do as you did before4 ,and now ,i have a bite at another4 ,oh me he has broke all1 there's half a line and a good hook lost4 ,viat4 ,master1 ,i can neither catch with the first nor second ,angle2 ,i have no fortune4 ,pisc4 ,look you1 ,scholer1 ,i have yet another3 and now having caught three brace of ,trouts1 ,i will tel you a short ,tale as we walk towards our ,breakfast4 ,a ,scholer 7a ,preacher ,i should say7 that was to preach to procure the approbation of a ,parish1 that he might be their ,lecturer1 had got from a fellow ,pupil of his the ,copy of a ,sermon that was first preached with a great commendation by him that composed and precht it2 and though the borrower of it preach't it word for word1 as it was at first1 yet it was utterly dislik'd as it was preach'd by the second2 which the ,sermon ,borrower complained of to the ,lender of it1 and was thus answered2 ,i lent you indeed my ,fiddle1 but not my ,fiddlestick2 and you are to know1 that every one cannot make musick with my words which are fitted for my own mouth4 ,and so my ,scholer1 you are to know1 that as the ill pronunciation or ill accenting of a word in a ,sermon spoiles 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 skill to know how to carry your hand and line2 and this must be taught you 7for you are to remember ,i told you ,angling is an ,art7 either by practice1 or a long observation1 or both4 ,but now lets say ,grace1 and fall to ,breakfast2 what say you ,scholer1 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 ,suns heat4 ,viat4 ,all excellent good1 ,master1 and my stomack excellent too2 ,i have been at many costly ,dinners that have not afforded me half this content3 and now good ,master1 to your promised direction for making and ordering my ,artificiall flye4 ,pisc4 ,my honest ,scholer1 ,i will do it1 for it is a debt due unto you1 by my promise3 and because you shall not think your self more engaged to me then indeed you really are1 therefore ,i will tell you freely1 ,i find ,mr4 ,thomas ,barker 7a ,gentleman that has spent much time and money in ,angling7 deal so judicially and freely in a little book of his of ,angling1 and especially of making and ,angling with a flye for a ,trout1 that ,i will give you his very directions without much variation1 which shal follow4 ,let your rod be light1 and very gentle1 ,i think the best are of two pieces2 the line should not exceed1 7especially for three or four links towards the hook7 ,i say1 not exceed three or four haires2 but if you can attain to ,angle with one haire2 you will have more rises1 and catch more fish4 ,now you must bee sure not to cumber yourselfe with too long a ,line1 as most do3 and before you begin to angle1 cast to have the wind on your back1 and the ,sun 7if it shines7 to be before you1 and to fish down the streame1 and carry the point or tip of the ,rod downeward2 by which meanes the shadow of yourselfe1 and ,rod too will be the least offensive to the ,fish1 for the sight of any shadow amazes the fish1 and spoiles your sport1 of which you must take a great care4 ,in the middle of ,march 7'till which time a man should not in honestie catch a ,trout7 or in ,april1 if the weather be dark1 or a little windy1 or cloudie1 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 colours1 these and the ,may-fly are the ground of all fly-,angling1 which are to be thus made3 ,first you must arm your hook1 with the line in the inside of it2 then take your ,scissers and cut so much of a browne ,malards feather as in your own reason wil make the wings of it1 you having with all regard to the bigness or littleness of your hook1 then lay the outmost part of your feather next to your hook1 then the point of your feather next the shank of your hook2 and having so done1 whip it three or four times about the hook with the same ,silk1 with which your hook was armed1 and having made the ,silk fast1 take the hackel of a ,cock or ,capons neck1 or a ,plovers top1 which is usually better2 take off the one side of the feather1 and then take the hackel1 ,silk or ,crewel1 ,gold or ,silver thred1 make these fast at the bent of the hook 7that is to say1 below your arming71 then you must take the hackel1 the silver or gold thred1 and work it up to the wings1 shifting or stil removing your fingers as you turn the ,silk about the hook3 and still looking at every stop or turne that your gold1 or what materials soever you make your ,fly of1 do lye right and neatly2 and if you find they do so1 then when you have made the head1 make all fast1 and then work your hackel up to the head1 and make that fast2 and then with a needle or pin divide the wing into two1 and then with the arming ,silk whip it about crosswayes betwixt the wings1 and then with your thumb you must turn the point of the feather towards the bent of the hook1 and then work three or four times about the shank of the hook and then view the proportion1 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 flye well2 and yet ,i know1 this1 with a little practice1 wil help an ingenuous ,angler in a good degree2 but to see a fly made by another1 is the best teaching to make it1 and then an ingenuous ,angler may walk by the ,river and mark what fly falls on the water that day1 and catch one of them1 if he see the ,trouts leap at a fly of that kind1 and having alwaies hooks ready hung with him1 and having a bag also1 alwaies with him with ,bears hair1 or the hair of a brown or sad coloured ,heifer1 hackels of a ,cock or ,capon1 several coloured ,silk and ,crewel to make the body of the fly1 the feathers of a ,drakes head1 black or brown sheeps wool1 or ,hogs wool1 or hair1 thred of ,gold1 and of silver2 silk of several colours 7especially sad coloured to make the head37 and there be also other colour'd feathers both of birds and of peckled fowl4 ,i say1 having those with him in a bag1 and trying to make a flie1 though he miss at first1 yet shal he at last hit it better1 even to a perfection which none can well teach him2 and if he hit to make his flie right1 and have the luck to hit also where there is store of trouts1 and a right wind1 he shall catch such store of them1 as will encourage him to grow more and more in love with the ,art of flie-making4 ,viat4 ,but 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 winds1 and so cheap4 ,pisc4 ,marry ,scholer1 but ,i would not be there1 nor indeed from under this tree2 for look how it begins to rain1 and by the clouds 7if ,i mistake not7 we shall presently have a smoaking showre2 and therefore fit close1 this ,sycamore tree will shelter us2 and ,i will tell you1 as they shall come into my mind1 more observations of flie-fishing for a ,trout4 ,but first1 for the ,winde2 you are to take notice that of the windes the ,south winde is said to be best4 ,one observes1 ,that ,when the winde is south1 ,it blows your bait into a fishes mouth4 ,next to that1 the west winde is believed to be the best3 and having told you that the ,east winde is the worst1 ,i need not tell you which winde is best in the third degree3 ,and yet 7as ,solomon observes1 that ,hee that considers the winde shall never sow37 so hee that busies his head too much about them1 7if the weather be not made extreme cold by an ,east winde7 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 clowdy day1 and not extreme cold1 let the winde sit in what corner it will1 and do its worst4 ,and yet take this for a ,rule1 that ,i would willingly fish on the ,lee-shore3 and you are to take notice1 that the ,fish lies1 or swimms neerer the bottom in ,winter then in ,summer1 and also neerer the bottom in any cold day4 ,but ,i promised to tell you more of the ,flie-fishing for a ,trout1 7which ,i may have time enough to do1 for you see it rains ,may-utter74 ,first for a ,may-flie1 you may make his body with greenish coloured crewel1 or willow colour2 darkning it in most places1 with waxed silk1 or rib'd with a black hare1 or some of them rib'd with silver thred2 and such wings for the colour as you see the flie to have at that season2 nay at that very day on the water4 ,or you may make the ,oak-flie with an ,orange-tawny and black ground1 and the brown of a ,mallards feather for the wings2 and you are to know1 that these two are most excellent flies1 that is1 the ,may-flie and the ,oak-flie3 ,and let me again tell you1 that you keep as far from the water as you can possibly1 whether you fish with a flie or worm1 and fish down the stream2 and when you fish with a flie1 if it be possible1 let no part of your line touch the water1 but your flie only2 and be stil moving your fly upon the water1 or casting it into the water2 you your self1 being also alwaies moving down the stream4 ,mr4 ,barker commends severall sorts of the palmer flies1 not only those rib'd with silver and gold1 but others that have their bodies all made of black1 or some with red1 and a red hackel2 you may also make the hawthorn-flie which is all black and not big1 but very smal1 the smaller the better2 or the oak-fly1 the body of which is ,orange colour and black crewel1 with a brown wing1 or a fly made with a peacocks feather1 is excellent in a bright day3 you must be sure you want not in your ,magazin bag1 the ,peacocks feather1 and grounds of such wool1 and crewel as will make the ,grasshopper3 and note1 that usually1 the smallest flies are best2 and note also1 that1 the light flie does usually make most sport in a dark day3 and the darkest and least flie in a bright or cleare day2 and lastly note1 that you are to repaire upon any occasion to your ,magazin bag1 and upon any occasion vary and make them according to your fancy4 ,and now ,i shall tell you1 that the fishing with a naturall flie is excellent1 and affords much pleasure2 they may be found thus1 the ,may-fly usually in and about that month neer to the ,river side1 especially against rain2 the ,oak-fly on the ,butt or body of an ,oak or ,ash1 from the beginning of ,may to the end of ,august it is a brownish fly1 and easie to be so found1 and stands usually with his head downward1 that is to say1 towards the root of the tree1 the small black fly1 or hawthorn fly is to be had on any ,hawthorn bush1 after the leaves be come forth2 with these and a short ,line 7as ,i shewed to ,angle for a ,chub7 you may dap or dop1 and also with a ,grashopper1 behind a tree1 or in any deep hole1 still making it to move on the top of the water1 as if it were alive1 and still keeping your self out of sight1 you shall certainly have sport if there be ,trouts2 yea in a hot day1 but especially in the evening of a hot day4 ,and now1 ,scholer1 my direction for fly-fishing is ended with this showre1 for it has done raining1 and now look about you1 and see how pleasantly that ,meadow looks1 nay and the earth smels as sweetly too4 ,come let me tell you what holy ,mr4 ,herbert saies of such dayes and ,flowers as these1 and then we will thank ,god that we enjoy them1 and walk to the ,river and sit down quietly and try to catch the other brace of ,trouts4 ,sweet day1 so cool1 so calm1 so bright1 ,the bridal of the earth and skie1 ,sweet dews shal weep thy fall to night1 for thou must die4 ,sweet ,rose1 whose hew angry and brave ,bids the rash gazer wipe his eye1 ,thy root is ever in its grave1 and thou must die4 ,sweet ,spring1 ful of sweet days roses1 ,a box where sweets compacted lie2 ,my ,musick shewes you have your closes1 and all must die4 ,only a sweet and vertuous soul1 ,like seasoned timber never gives1 ,but when the whole world turns to cole1 then chiefly lives4 ,viat4 ,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 man4 ,and ,i thank you for the sweet close of your discourse with ,mr4 ,herberts ,verses1 which ,i have heard1 loved ,angling2 and ,i do the rather believe it1 because he had a spirit sutable to ,anglers1 and to those ,primitive ,christians that you love1 and have so much commended4 ,pisc4 ,well1 my loving ,scholer1 and ,i am pleased to know that you are so well pleased with my direction and discourse2 and ,i hope you will be pleased too1 if you find a ,trout at one of our ,angles1 which we left in the water to fish for it self2 you shall chuse which shall be yours1 and it is an even lay1 one catches2 ,and let me tell you1 this kind of fishing1 and laying ,night-hooks1 are like putting money to use1 for they both work for the ,owners1 when they do nothing but sleep1 or eat1 or rejoice1 as you know we have done this last hour1 and fate as quietly and as free from cares under this ,sycamore1 as ,virgils ,tityrus and his ,melibaeus did under their broad ,beech tree3 ,no life1 my honest ,scholer1 no life so happy and so pleasant as the ,anglers1 unless it be the ,beggers life in ,summer2 for then only they take no care1 but are as happy as we ,anglers4 ,viat4 ,indeed ,master1 and so they be1 as is witnessed by the beggers ,song1 made long since by ,frank ,davison1 a good ,poet1 who was not a ,begger1 though he were a good ,poet4 ,pisc4 ,can you sing it1 ,scholer8 ,viat4 ,sit down a little1 good ,master1 and ,i wil try4 ,bright shines the ,sun1 play beggers1 play1 here's scraps enough to serve to day3 ,what noise of viols is so sweet ,as when our merry clappers ring8 ,what mirth doth want when beggers meet8 ,a beggers life is for a ,king3 ,eat1 drink and play1 sleep when we list1 ,go where we will so stocks be mist4 ,bright shines the ,sun1 play beggers1 c4 ,the world is ours and ours alone1 ,for we alone have world at will2 ,we purchase not1 all is our own1 ,both fields and streets we beggers fill3 ,play beggers play1 play beggers play1 here's scraps enough to serve to day4 ,a hundred herds of black and white ,upon our ,gowns securely feed1 ,and yet if any dare us bite1 ,he dies therefore as sure as ,creed3 ,thus beggers ,lord it as they please1 ,and only beggers live at ease3 ,bright shines the ,sun1 play beggers play1 here's scraps enough to serve to day4 ,pisc4 ,i thank you good ,scholer1 this ,song was well humor'd by the maker1 and well remembred and sung by you2 and ,i pray forget not the ,ketch which you promised to make against night1 for our ,country man honest ,coridon will expect your ,ketch and my ,song1 which ,i must be forc'd to patch up1 for it is so long since ,i learnt it1 that ,i have forgot a part of it4 ,but come1 lets stretch our legs a little in a gentle walk to the ,river1 and try what interest our ,angles wil pay us for lending them so long to be used by the ,trouts4 ,viat4 ,oh me1 look you ,master1 a fish1 a fish4 ,pisc4 ,i marry ,sir4 that was a good fish indeed2 if ,i had had the luck to have taken up that ,rod1 'tis twenty to one he should not have broke my line by running to the ,rods end1 as you suffered him2 ,i would have held him1 unless he had been fellow to the great ,trout that is neer an ell long1 which had his picture drawne1 and now to be seen at mine ,hoste ,rickabies at the ,george in ,ware2 and it may be1 by giving that ,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 alwaies to do when ,i meet with an over-grown fish1 and you will learn to do so hereafter2 for ,i tell you1 ,scholer1 fishing is an ,art1 or at least1 it is an ,art to catch fish4 ,viat4 ,but1 ,master1 will this ,trout die1 for it is like he has the hook in his belly8 ,pisc4 ,i wil tel you1 ,scholer1 that unless the hook be fast in his very ,gorge1 he wil live1 and a little time with the help of the water1 wil rust the hook1 it wil in time wear away as the gravel does in the horse hoof1 which only leaves a false quarter4 ,and now ,scholer1 lets go to my ,rod4 ,look you ,scholer1 ,i have a fish too1 but it proves a logger-headed ,chub2 and this is not much a miss1 for this wil pleasure some poor body1 as we go to our lodging to meet our brother ,peter and honest ,coridon--,come1 now bait your hook again1 and lay it into the water1 for it rains again1 and we wil ev'n retire to the ,sycamore tree1 and there ,i wil give you more directions concerning fishing2 for ,i would fain make you an ,artist4 ,viat4 ,yes1 good ,master1 ,i pray let it be so4 ,,chap4 ,v4 ,pisc4 ,wel1 ,scholer1 now we are sate downe and are at ease1 ,i shall tel you a little more of ,trout fishing before ,i speak of the ,salmon 7which ,i purpose shall be next7 and then of the ,pike or ,luce4 ,you are to know1 there is night as well as day-fishing for a ,trout1 and that then the best are out of their holds2 and the manner of taking them is on the top of the water with a great ,lob or ,garden worm1 or rather two2 which you are to fish for in a place where the water runs somewhat quietly 7for in a stream it wil not be so well discerned47 ,i say1 in a quiet or dead place neer to some swift1 there draw your bait over the top of the water to and fro1 and if there be a good ,trout in the hole1 he wil take it1 especially if the night be dark2 for then he lies boldly neer the top of the water1 watching the motion of any ,frog or ,water-mouse1 or ,rat betwixt him and the skie1 which he hunts for if he sees the water but wrinkle or move in one of these dead holes1 where the great ,trouts usually lye neer to their hold4 ,and you must fish for him with a strong line1 and not a little hook1 and let him have time to gorge your hook1 for he does not usually forsake it1 as he oft will in the day-fishing3 and if the night be not dark1 then fish so with an ,artificial fly of a light colour2 nay he will sometimes rise at a dead ,mouse or a piece of cloth1 or any thing that seemes to swim cross the water1 or to be in motion3 this is a choice way1 but ,i have not oft used it because it is void of the pleasures that such dayes as these that we now injoy1 afford an ,angler4 ,and you are to know1 that in ,hamp-shire1 7which ,i think exceeds all ,england for pleasant ,brooks1 and store of ,trouts7 they use to catch ,trouts in the night by the light of a ,torch or straw1 which when they have discovered1 they strike with a ,trout spear2 this kind of way they catch many1 but ,i would not believe it till ,i was an eye-witness of it1 nor like it now ,i have seen it4 ,viat4 ,but ,master1 do not ,trouts see us in the night8 ,pisc4 ,yes1 and hear1 and smel too1 both then and in the day time1 for ,gesner observes1 the ,otter smels a fish forty furlong off him in the water2 and that it may be true1 is affirmed by ,sir ,francis ,bacon 7in the eighth ,century of his ,natural ,history7 who there proves1 that waters may be the ,medium of sounds1 by demonstrating it thus1 ,that if you knock two stones together very deep under the water1 those that stand on a bank neer to that place may hear the noise without any diminution of it by the water4 ,he also offers the like experiment concerning the letting an ,anchor fall by a very long ,cable or rope on a ,rock1 or the sand within the ,sea3 and this being so wel observed and demonstrated1 as it is by that learned man1 has made me to believe that ,eeles unbed themselves1 and stir at the noise of the ,thunder1 and not only as some think1 by the motion or the stirring of the earth1 which is occasioned by that ,thunder4 ,and this reason of ,sir ,francis ,bacons ,exper4 #gib has made me crave pardon of one that ,i laught at1 for affirming that he knew ,carps come to a certain place in a ,pond to be fed at the ringing of a ,bel2 and it shall be a rule for me to make as little noise as ,i can when ,i am a fishing1 until ,sir ,francis ,bacon be confuted1 which ,i shal give any man leave to do1 and so leave off this ,philosophical discourse for a discourse of fishing4 ,of which my next shall be to tell you1 it is certain1 that certain fields neer ,lemster1 a ,town in ,herefordshire1 are observed1 that they make the ,sheep that graze upon them more fat then 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 yeeld finer wool then the yeer before they came to feed in it1 and courser again if they shall return to their former pasture1 and again return to a finer wool being fed in the fine wool ground4 ,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 faint and very like to be lowsie2 and as certainly if ,i catch a ,trout in the next ,meadow1 he shal be strong1 and red1 and lusty1 and much better meat3 ,trust me 7,scholer7 ,i have caught many a ,trout in a particular ,meadow1 that the very shape and inamelled colour of him1 has joyed me to look upon him1 and ,i have with ,solomon concluded1 ,every thing is beautifull in his season4 ,it is now time to tell you next1 7according to promise7 some observations of the ,salmon2 ,but first1 ,i wil tel you there is a fish1 called by some an ,umber1 and by some a ,greyling1 a choice fish1 esteemed by many to be equally good with the ,trout3 it is a fish that is usually about eighteen inches long1 he lives in such streams as the ,trout does2 and is indeed taken with the same bait as a ,trout is1 for he will bite both at the ,minnow1 the ,worm1 and the ,fly1 both ,natural and ,artificial3 of this fish there be many in ,trent1 and in the ,river that runs by ,salisbury1 and in some other lesser ,brooks2 but he is not so general a fish as the ,trout1 nor to me either so good to eat1 or so pleasant to fish for as the ,trout is2 of which two fishes ,i will now take my leave1 and come to my promised ,observations of the ,salmon1 and a little advice for the catching him4 ,,chap4 ,,vi4 ,the ,salmon is ever bred in the fresh ,rivers 7and in most ,rivers about the month of ,august7 and never grows big but in the ,sea2 and there to an incredible bigness in a very short time2 to which place they covet to swim1 by the instinct of nature1 about a set time3 but if they be stopp'd by ,mills1 ,floud-gates or ,weirs1 or be by accident lost in the fresh water1 when the others go 7which is usually by flocks or sholes7 then they thrive not4 ,and the old ,salmon1 both the ,melter and ,spawner1 strive also to get into the ,sea before ,winter2 but being stopt that course1 or lost2 grow sick in fresh waters1 and by degrees unseasonable1 and kipper1 that is1 to have a bony gristle1 to grow 7not unlike a ,hauks beak7 on one of his chaps1 which hinders him from feeding1 and then he pines and dies4 ,but if he gets to ,sea1 then that gristle wears away1 or is cast off 7as the ,eagle is said to cast his bill7 and he recovers his strength1 and comes next ,summer to the same ,river1 7if it be possible7 to enjoy the former pleasures that there possest him2 for 7as one has wittily observed7 he has 7like some persons of ,honour and ,riches1 which have both their winter and ,summer houses7 the fresh ,rivers for ,summer1 and the salt water for winter to spend his life in2 which is not 7as ,sir ,francis ,bacon hath observed7 in his ,history of ,life and ,death above ten years3 ,and it is to be observed1 that though they grow big in the ,sea1 yet they grow not fat but in fresh ,rivers2 and it is observed1 that the farther they get from the ,sea1 the better they be4 ,and it is observed1 that1 to the end they may get far from the ,sea1 either to ,spawne or to possess the pleasure that they then and there find1 they will force themselves over the tops of ,weirs1 or ,hedges1 or stops in the water1 by taking their tails into their mouthes1 and leaping over those places1 even to a height beyond common belief3 and sometimes by forcing themselves against the streame through ,sluces and ,floud-gates1 beyond common credit4 ,and 'tis observed by ,gesner1 that there is none bigger then in ,england1 nor none better then in ,thames4 ,and for the ,salmons sudden growth1 it has been observed by tying a ,ribon in the tail of some number of the young ,salmons1 which have been taken in ,weires1 as they swimm'd towards the salt water1 and then by taking a part of them again with the same mark1 at the same place1 at their returne from the ,sea1 which is usually about six months after2 and the like experiment hath been tried upon young ,swallows1 who have after six months absence1 been observed to return to the same chimney1 there to make their nests1 and their habitations for the ,summer following2 which hath 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 ,dove-cote1 have also been observed to do4 ,and you are yet to observe further1 that the ,he ,salmon is usually bigger then the ,spawner1 and that he is more kipper1 less able to endure a winter in the fresh water1 then the ,she is2 yet she is at that time of looking less kipper and better1 as watry and as bad meat4 ,and yet you are to observe1 that as there is no general rule without an exception1 so there is some few ,rivers in this ,nation that have ,trouts and ,salmon in season in winter4 ,but for the observations of that and many other things1 ,i must in manners omit1 because they wil prove too large for our narrow compass of time1 and therefore ,i shall next fall upon my direction how to fish for the ,salmon4 ,and for that1 first1 you shall observe1 that usually he staies not long in a place 7as ,trouts wil7 but 7as ,i said7 covets still to go neerer the ,spring head2 and that he does not 7as the ,trout and many other fish7 lie neer the water side or bank1 or roots of trees1 but swims usually in the middle1 and neer the ground2 and that there you are to fish for him2 and that he is to be caught as the ,trout is1 with a ,worm1 a ,minnow1 7which some call a ,penke7 or with a ,fly4 ,and you are to observe1 that he is very1 very seldom observed to bite at a ,minnow 7yet sometime he will7 and not oft at a fly1 but more usually at a ,worm1 and then most usually at a ,lob or ,garden worm1 which should be wel scowred1 that is to say1 seven or eight dayes in ,moss before you fish with them2 and if you double your time of eight into sixteen1 or more1 into twenty or more days1 it is still the better1 for the worms will stil be clearer1 tougher1 and more lively1 and continue so longer upon your hook4 ,and now ,i shall tell you1 that which may be called a secret3 ,i have been a fishing with old ,oliver ,henly 7now with ,god7 a noted ,fisher1 both for ,trout and ,salmon1 and have observed that he would usually take three or four worms out of his bag 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 them2 ,i have ask'd him his reason1 and he has replied1 ,he did but pick the best out to be in a readiness against he baited his hook the next time3 ,but he has been observed both by others1 and my self1 to catch more fish then ,i or any other body1 that has ever gone a fishing with him1 could do1 especially ,salmons2 and ,i have been told lately by one of his most intimate and secret friends1 that the box in which he put those worms was anointed with a drop1 or two1 or three of the ,oil of ,ivy-berries1 made by expression or infusion1 and that by the wormes remaining in that box an hour1 or a like time1 they had incorporated a kind of smel that was irresistibly attractive1 enough to force any fish1 within the smel of them1 to bite4 ,this ,i heard not long since from a friend1 but have not tryed it2 yet ,i grant it probable1 and refer my ,reader to ,sir ,francis ,bacons ,natural ,history1 where he proves fishes may hear2 and ,i am certain ,gesner sayes1 the ,otter can smell in the water1 and know not that but fish may do so too3 'tis left for a lover of ,angling1 or any that desires to improve that ,art1 to try this conclusion4 ,i shall also impart another experiment 7but not tryed by my selfe7 which ,i wil deliver in the same words as it was by a friend1 given me in writing4 ,take the stinking oil drawn out of ,poly pody of the ,oak1 by a retort mixt with ,turpentine1 and ,hive-honey1 and annoint your bait therewith1 and it will doubtlesse draw the fish to it4 ,but in these things ,i have no great faith1 yet grant it probable1 and have had from some chemical men 7namely1 from ,sir ,george ,hastings and others7 an affirmation of them to be very advantageous3 but no more of these1 especially not in this place4 ,i might here1 before ,i take my leave of the ,salmon1 tell you1 that there is more then one sort of them1 as namely1 a ,tecon1 and another called in some places a ,samlet1 or by some1 a ,skegger3 but these 7and others which ,i forbear to name7 may be fish of another kind1 and differ1 as we know a ,herring and a ,pilcher do2 but must by me be left to the disquisitions of men of more leisure and of greater abilities1 then ,i profess myself to have4 ,and lastly1 ,i am to borrow so much of your promised patience1 as to tell you1 that the ,trout or ,salmon1 being in season1 have at their first taking out of the water 7which continues during life7 their bodies adorned1 the one with such red spots1 and the other with black or blackish spots1 which gives them such an addition of natural beautie1 as ,i 7that yet am no enemy to it7 think 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 and proceed to some ,observations of the ,pike4 ,,chap4 ,,vii4 ,pisc4 ,it is not to be doubted but that the ,luce1 or ,pikrell1 or ,pike breeds by ,spawning2 and yet ,gesner sayes1 that some of them breed1 where none ever was1 out of a weed called ,pikrell-weed1 and other glutinous matter1 which with the help of the ,suns heat proves in some particular ponds 7apted by nature for it7 to become ,pikes4 ,sir ,francis ,bacon in his ,history of ,life and ,death observes the ,pike to be the longest lived of any fresh water fish1 and yet that his life is not usually above fortie years2 and yet ,gesner mentions a ,pike taken in ,swedeland in the year #addi1 with a ,ring about his neck1 declaring he was put into the ,pond by ,frederick the second1 more then two hundred years before he was last taken1 as the ,inscription of that ,ring1 being ,greek1 was interpreted by the then ,bishop of ,worms4 ,but of this no more1 but that it is observed that the old or very great ,pikes have in them more of state then goodness2 the smaller or middle siz'd ,pikes being by the most and choicest palates observed to be the best meat2 but contrary1 the ,eele 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 his owne kind1 which has made him by some ,writers to bee called the ,tyrant of the ,rivers1 or the ,fresh water-wolf1 by reason of his bold1 greedy1 devouring disposition2 which is so keen1 as ,gesner relates1 a man going to a ,pond 7where it seems a ,pike had devoured all the fish7 to water his ,mule1 had a ,pike bit his ,mule by the lips1 to which the ,pike hung so fast1 that the ,mule drew him out of the water1 and by that accident the owner of the ,mule got the ,pike2 ,i tell you who relates it1 and shall with it tel you what a wise man has observed1 it is a hard thing to perswade the belly1 because it hath no ears4 ,but if this relation of ,gesners bee dis-believed1 it is too evident to bee doubted that a ,pike will devoure a fish of his own kind1 that shall be bigger then this belly or throat will receive2 and swallow a part of him1 and let the other part remaine 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 degrees4 ,and it is observed1 that the ,pike will eat venemous things 7as some kind of ,frogs are7 and yet live without being harmed by them3 for1 as some say1 he has in him a natural ,balsome or ,antidote against all ,poison3 and others1 that he never eats a venemous ,frog till he hath first killed her1 and then 7as ,ducks are observed to do to ,frogs in ,spawning time1 at which time some ,frogs are observed to be venemous7 so throughly washt 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 ,pike3 and hee observes1 that in ,spain there is no ,pikes1 and that the biggest are in the ,lake ,thracimane in ,italy1 and the next1 if not equal to them1 are the ,pikes of ,england4 ,the ,pike is also observed to be a melancholly1 and a bold fish3 ,melancholly1 because he alwaies swims or rests himselfe alone1 and never swims in sholes1 or with company1 as ,roach1 and ,dace1 and most other fish do3 ,and bold1 because he fears not a shadow1 or to see or be seen of any body1 as the ,trout and ,chub1 and all other fish do4 ,and it is observed by ,gesner1 that the bones1 and hearts1 gals of ,pikes are very medicinable for several ,diseases1 as to stop bloud1 to abate ,fevers1 to cure ,agues1 to oppose or expel the infection of the ,plague1 and to be many wayes medicinable and useful for the good of mankind2 but that the biting of a ,pike is venemous and hard to be cured4 ,and it is observed1 that the ,pike is a fish that breeds but once a year1 and that other fish 7as namely ,loaches7 do breed oftner2 as we are certaine ,pigeons do almost every month1 and yet the ,hawk1 a bird of prey 7as the ,pike is of fish7 breeds but once in twelve months3 and you are to note1 that his time of breeding or ,spawning is usually about the end of ,february2 or somewhat later1 in ,march1 as the weather proves colder or warmer3 and to note1 that his manner of breeding is thus1 a ,he and a ,she ,pike will usually go together out of a ,river into some ditch or creek1 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 it1 and take up so much of your attention as to tell you that the best of ,pikes are noted to be in ,rivers1 then those in great ,ponds or ,meres1 and the worst in smal ,ponds4 ,and now ,i shall proceed to give you some directions how to catch this ,pike1 which you have with so much patience heard me talk of4 ,illustration of a ,pike ,his feeding is usually fish or frogs1 and sometime a weed of his owne1 called ,pikrel-weed1 of which ,i told you some think some ,pikes are bred2 for they have observed1 that where no ,pikes have been put into a ,pond1 yet that there they have been found1 and that there has been plenty of that weed in that ,pond1 and that that weed both breeds and feeds them2 but whether those ,pikes so bred will ever breed by generation as the others do1 ,i shall leave to the disquisitions of men of more curiosity and leisure then ,i profess my self to have2 and shall proceed to tell you1 that you may fish for a ,pike1 either with a ledger1 or a walking-bait2 and you are to note1 that ,i call that a ledger which is fix'd1 or made to rest in one certaine place when you shall be absent2 and that ,i call that a walking bait1 which you take with you1 and have ever in motion4 ,concerning which two1 ,i shall give you this direction1 ,that your ledger bait is best to be a living bait1 whether it be a fish or a ,frog2 and that you may make them live the longer1 you may1 or indeed you must take this course3 ,first1 for your live bait of fish1 a ,roch or ,dace is 7,i think7 best and most tempting1 and a ,pearch the longest liv'd on a hook2 you must take your knife1 7which cannot be too sharp7 and betwixt the head and the fin on his back1 cut or make an insition1 or such a scar as you may put the arming wyer of your hook into it1 with as little bruising or hurting the fish as ,art and diligence will enable you to do1 and so carrying your arming wyer along his back1 unto1 or neer the tail of your fish1 betwixt the skin and the body of it1 draw out that wyer or arming of your hook at another scar neer to his tail2 then tye him about it with thred1 but no harder then of necessitie you must to prevent hurting the fish2 and the better to avoid hurting the fish1 some have a kind of probe to open the way1 for the more easie entrance and passage of your wyer or arming3 but as for these1 time and a little experience will teach you better then ,i can by words2 for of this ,i will for the present say no more1 but come next to give you some directions how to bait your hook with a ,frog4 ,viat4 ,but1 good ,master1 did not you say even now1 that some ,frogs were venemous1 and is it not dangerous to touch them8 ,pisc4 ,yes1 but ,i wil give you some ,rules or ,cautions concerning them3 ,and first1 you are to note1 there is two kinds of ,frogs2 that is to say1 7if ,i may so express my self7 a flesh and a fish-frog3 by flesh frogs1 ,i mean1 frogs that breed and live on the land2 and of these there be several sorts and colours1 some being peckled1 some greenish1 some blackish1 or brown3 the green ,frog1 which is a smal one1 is by ,topsell taken to be venemous2 and so is the ,padock1 or ,frog-,padock1 which usually keeps or breeds on the land1 and is very large and bony1 and big1 especially the ,she frog of that kind2 yet these wil sometime come into the water1 but it is not often2 and the land frogs are some of them observed by him1 to breed by laying eggs1 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 creature2 this is the opinion of ,pliny3 and in his #afth ,book ,de subtil4 ex4 ,cardanus undertakes to give reason for the raining of ,frogs2 but if it were in my power1 it should rain none but water ,frogs1 for those ,i think are not venemous1 especially the right water ,frog1 which about ,february or ,march breeds in ditches by slime and blackish eggs in that slime1 about which time of breeding the ,he and ,she frog are observed to use divers simber salts1 and to croke and make a noise1 which the land frog1 or ,padock frog never does4 ,now of these water ,frogs1 you are to chuse 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 about the middle of ,april till ,august1 and then the ,frogs mouth grows up and he continues so for at least six months without eating1 but is sustained1 none1 but he whose name is ,wonderful1 knows how4 ,i say1 put your hook1 ,i mean the arming wire1 through his mouth and out at his gills1 and then with a fine needle and ,silk sow the upper part of his leg with only one stitch to the armed wire of your hook1 or tie the frogs leg above the upper joint to the armed wire1 and in so doing use him as though you loved him1 that is1 harme 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 fastned your hook to a line1 which if it be not fourteen yards long1 should not be less then twelve2 you are to fasten that line to any bow neer to a hole where a ,pike is1 or is likely to lye1 or to have a haunt1 and then wind your line on any forked stick1 all your line1 except a half yard of it1 or rather more1 and split that forked stick with such a nick or notch at one end of it1 as may keep the line from any more of it ravelling from about the stick1 then so much of it as you intended2 and chuse 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 bites1 and then the ,pike having pulled the line forth of the clift or nick in which it was gently fastened1 will have line enough to go to his hold and powch the bait3 and if you would have this ledger bait to keep at a fixt place1 undisturbed by wind or other accidents which may drive it to the shoare side 7for you are to note that it is likeliest to catch a ,pike in the midst of the water7 then hang a small ,plummet of lead1 a stone1 or piece of tyle1 or a turfe in a string1 and cast it into the water1 with the forked stick to hang upon the ground1 to be as an ,anchor to keep the forked stick from moving out of your intended place till the ,pike come4 ,this ,i take to be a very good way1 to use so many ledger baits as you intend to make tryal of4 ,or if you bait your hooks thus1 with live fish or ,frogs1 and in a windy day fasten them thus to a bow or bundle of straw1 and by the help of that wind can get them to move cross a ,pond or ,mere1 you are like to stand still on the shoar and see sport1 if there be any store of ,pikes2 or these live baits may make sport1 being tied about the body or wings of a ,goose or ,duck1 and she chased over a ,pond3 and the like may be done with turning three or four live baits thus fastened to bladders1 or boughs1 or bottles of hay1 or flags1 to swim down a ,river1 whilst you walk quietly on the shore along with them1 and are still in expectation of sport4 ,the rest must be taught you by practice1 for time will not alow me to say more of this kind of fishing with live baits4 ,and for your dead bait for a ,pike1 for that you may be taught by one dayes going a fishing with me or any other body that fishes for him1 for the baiting your hook with a dead ,gudgion or a ,roch1 and moving it up and down the water1 is too easie a thing to take up any time to direct you to do it2 and yet1 because ,i cut you short in that1 ,i will commute for it1 by telling you that that was told me for a secret3 it is this3 ,dissolve ,gum of ,ivie in ,oyle of ,spike1 and therewith annoint your dead bait for a ,pike1 and then cast it into a likely place1 and when it has layen a short time at the bottom1 draw it towards the top of the water1 and so up the stream1 and it is more then likely that you have a ,pike follow you with more then common eagerness4 ,this has not been tryed by me1 but told me by a friend of note1 that pretended to do me a courtesie3 but if this direction to catch a ,pike thus do you no good1 ,i am certaine this direction how to roste him when he is caught1 is choicely good1 for ,i have tryed it1 and it is somewhat the better for not being common2 but with my direction you must take this ,caution1 that your ,pike must not be a smal one4 ,first open your ,pike at the gills1 and if need be1 cut also a little slit towards his belly2 out of these1 take his guts1 and keep his liver1 which you are to shred very small with ,time1 ,sweet ,margerom1 and a little ,winter-,savoury2 to these put some pickled ,oysters1 and some ,anchovis1 both these last whole 7for the ,anchovis will melt1 and the ,oysters should not7 to these 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 salted 7if the ,pike be more then a yard long1 then you may put into these herbs more then a pound1 or if he be less1 then less ,butter will suffice37 these being thus mixt1 with a blade or two of ,mace1 must be put into the ,pikes belly1 and then his belly sowed up2 then you are to thrust the spit through his mouth out at his tail2 and then with four1 or five1 or six split sticks or very thin laths1 and a convenient quantitie of tape or filiting1 these laths are to be tyed roundabout the ,pikes body1 from his head to his tail1 and the tape tied somewhat thick to prevent his breaking or falling off from the spit2 let him be rosted very leisurely1 and often basted with ,claret wine1 and ,anchovis1 and butter mixt together1 and also with what moisture falls from him into the pan3 when you have rosted him sufficiently1 you are to hold under him 7when you unwind or cut the tape that ties him7 such a dish as you purpose to eat him out of1 and let him fall into it with the sawce that is rosted in his belly2 and by this means the ,pike will be kept unbroken and complete2 then to the sawce1 which was within him1 and also in the pan1 you are to add a fit quantity of the best butter1 and to squeeze the juice of three or four ,oranges3 lastly1 you may either put into the ,pike with the ,oysters1 two cloves of ,garlick1 and take it whole out when the ,pike is cut off the spit1 or to give the sawce a hogoe1 let the dish 7into which you let the ,pike fall7 be rubed with it2 the using or not using of this ,garlick is left to your discretion4 ,this dish of meat is too good for any but ,anglers or honest men2 and1 ,i trust1 you wil prove both1 and therefore ,i have trusted you with this ,secret4 ,and now ,i shall proceed to give you some ,observations concerning the ,carp4 ,,chap4 ,,viii4 ,pisc4 ,the ,carp is a stately1 a good1 and a subtle fish1 a fish that hath not 7as it is said7 been long in ,england1 but said to be by one ,mr4 ,mascall 7a ,gentleman then living at ,plumsted in ,sussex7 brought into this ,nation3 and for the better confirmation of this1 you are to remember ,i told you that ,gesner sayes1 there is not a ,pike in ,spain1 and that except the ,eele1 which lives longest out of the water1 there is none that will endure more hardness1 or live longer then a ,carp will out of it1 and so the report of his being brought out of a forrain ,nation into this1 is the more probable4 ,carps and ,loches are observed to breed several months in one year1 which most other fish do not1 and it is the rather believed1 because you shall scarce or never take a ,male ,carp without a ,melt1 or a ,female without a ,roe or ,spawn2 and for the most part very much1 and especially all the ,summer season2 and it is observed1 that they breed more naturally in ,ponds then in running waters1 and that those that live in ,rivers are taken by men of the best palates to be much the better meat4 ,and it is observed1 that in some ,ponds ,carps will not breed1 especially in cold ,ponds2 but where they will breed1 they breed innumerably1 if there be no ,pikes nor ,pearch to devour their ,spawn1 when it is cast upon grass1 or flags1 or weeds1 where it lies ten or twelve dayes before it be enlivened4 ,the ,carp1 if he have water room and good feed1 will grow to a very great bigness and length3 ,i have heard1 to above a yard long2 though ,i never saw one above thirty three inches1 which was a very great and goodly fish4 ,now as the increase of ,carps is wonderful for their number2 so there is not a reason found out1 ,i think1 by any1 why the should breed in some ,ponds1 and not in others of the same nature1 for soil and all other circumstances2 and as their breeding1 so are their decayes also very mysterious2 ,i have both read it1 and been told by a ,gentleman of tryed honestie1 that he has knowne sixtie or more large ,carps put into several ,ponds neer to a house1 where by reason of the stakes in the ,ponds1 and the ,owners constant being neer to them1 it was impossible they should be stole away from him1 and that when he has after three or four years emptied the ,pond1 and expected an increase from them by breeding young ones 7for that they might do so1 he had1 as the rule is1 put in three ,melters for one ,spawner7 he has1 ,i say1 after three or four years found neither a young nor old ,carp remaining3 ,and the like ,i have known of one that has almost watched his ,pond1 and at a like distance of time at the fishing of a ,pond1 found of seventy or eighty large ,carps1 not above five or six3 and that he had forborn longer to fish the said ,pond1 but that he saw in a hot day in ,summer1 a large ,carp swim neer to the top of the water with a ,frog upon his head1 and that he upon that occasion caused his ,pond to be let dry3 and ,i say1 of seventie 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 bee got off without extreme force or killing1 and the ,gentleman that did affirm this to me he saw it1 and did declare his belief to be 7and ,i also believe the same7 that he thought the other ,carps that were so strangely lost1 were so killed by ,frogs1 and then devoured4 ,but ,i am faln into this discourse by accident1 of which ,i might say more1 but it has proved longer then ,i intended1 and possibly may not to you be considerable2 ,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 ,s4 ,francis ,bacon 7in his ,history of ,life and ,death7 observed to be but ten years2 yet others think they live longer3 but most conclude1 that 7contrary to the ,pike or ,luce7 all ,carps are the better for age and bigness2 the tongues of ,carps are noted to be choice and costly meat1 especially to them that buy them2 but ,gesner sayes1 ,carps have no tongues like other fish1 but a piece of flesh-like-fish in their mouth like to a tongue1 and may be so called1 but it is certain it is choicely good1 and that the ,carp is to be reckoned amongst those leather mouthed fish1 which ,i told you have their teeth in their throat1 and for that reason he is very seldome lost by breaking his hold1 if your hook bee once stuck into his chaps4 ,i told you1 that ,sir ,francis ,bacon thinks that the ,carp lives but ten years2 but ,janus ,dubravius 7a ,germane as ,i think7 has writ a book in ,latine of ,fish and ,fish ,ponds1 in which he sayes1 that ,carps begin to ,spawn at the age of three yeers1 and continue to do so till thirty2 he sayes also1 that in the time of their breeding1 which is in ,summer 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 ,female1 and that then 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 weeds1 and then they let fall their ,melt upon it1 and so it becomes in a short time to be a living fish2 and1 as ,i told you1 it is thought the ,carp does this several months in the yeer1 and most believe that most fish breed after this manner1 except the ,eele3 and it is thought that all ,carps are not bred by generation1 but that some breed otherwayes1 as some ,pikes do4 99 99 99 99 99 ,much more might be said out of him1 and out of ,aristotle1 which ,dubravius often quotes in his ,discourse1 but it might rather perplex then satisfie you1 and therefore ,i shall rather chuse to direct you how to catch1 then spend more time discoursing either of the nature or the breeding of this ,carp1 or of any more circumstances concerning him1 but yet ,i shall remember you of what ,i told you before1 that he is a very subtle fish and hard to be caught4 ,illustration of a ,carp ,and my first directon 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 knowne a very good ,fisher angle diligently four or six hours in a day1 for three or four dayes together for a ,river ,carp1 and not have a bite3 and you are to note1 that in some ,ponds it is as hard to catch a ,carp as in a ,river2 that is to say1 where they have store of feed1 the water is of a clayish colour2 but you are to remember1 that ,i have told you there is no rule without an exception1 and therefore being possest 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 him2 but that must be either early or late1 and let me tell you1 that in hot weather 7for he will seldome bite in cold7 you cannot bee too early or too late at it4 ,the ,carp bites either at wormes or at ,paste2 and of worms ,i think the blewish ,marsh or ,meadow worm is best2 but possibly another worm not too big may do as well1 and so may a ,gentle3 and as for ,pastes1 there are almost as many sorts as there are ,medicines for the ,toothach1 but doubtless sweet ,pastes are best2 ,i mean1 ,pastes mixt with honey1 or with ,sugar2 which1 that you may the better beguile this crafty fish1 should be thrown into the ,pond or place in which you fish for him some hours before you undertake your tryal of skil by the ,angle-,rod3 and doubtless1 if it be thrown into the water a day or two before1 at several times1 and in smal pellets1 you are the likelier when you fish for the ,carp1 to obtain your desired sport3 or in a large ,pond1 to draw them to any certain place1 that they may the better and with more hope be fished for3 you are to throw into it1 in some certaine place1 either grains1 or bloud mixt with ,cow-dung1 or with bran2 or any ,garbage1 as ,chickens guts or the like1 and then some of your smal sweet pellets1 with which you purpose to angle2 these smal pellets1 being few of them thrown in as you are ,angling4 ,and your ,paste must bee thus made3 ,take the flesh of a ,rabet or ,cat cut smal1 and ,bean-flower1 or 7if not easily got then7 other flowre1 and then mix these together1 and put to them either ,sugar1 or ,honey1 which ,i think better1 and then beat these together in a ,mortar2 or sometimes work them in your hands1 7your hands being very clean7 and then make it into a ball1 or two1 or three1 as you like best 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 hard2 or that you may the better keep it on your hook1 you may kneade with your ,paste a little 7and not much7 white or yellowish wool4 ,and if you would have this ,paste keep all the year for any other fish1 then mix with it ,virgins-wax and clarified honey1 and work them together with your hands before the fire2 then make these into balls1 and it will keep all the yeer4 ,and if you fish for a ,carp with ,gentles1 then put upon your hook a small piece of ,scarlet about this bigness breadth of two letters1 it being soked in1 or anointed with ,oyl of ,peter1 called by some1 ,oyl of the ,rock2 and if your ,gentles be put two or three dayes before into a box or horn anointed with ,honey1 and so put upon your hook1 as to preserve them to be living1 you are as like to kill this craftie fish this way as any other2 but still as you are fishing1 chaw a little white or brown bread in your mouth1 and cast it into the ,pond about the place where your flote swims4 ,other baits there be1 but these with diligence1 and patient watchfulness1 will do it as well as any as ,i have ever practised1 or heard of3 and yet ,i shall tell you1 that the crumbs of white bread and honey made into a ,paste1 is a good bait for a ,carp1 and you know it is more easily made4 ,and having said thus much of the ,carp1 my next discourse shal be of the ,bream1 which shall not prove so tedious1 and therefore ,i desire the continuance of your attention4 ,,chap4 ,,ix4 ,pisc4 ,the ,bream being at a full growth1 is a large and stately fish1 he will breed both in ,rivers and ,ponds1 but loves best to live in ,ponds1 where1 if he likes the aire1 he will grow not only to be very large1 but as fat as a ,hog3 he is by ,gesner taken to be more pleasant or sweet then wholesome2 this fish is long in growing1 but breeds exceedingly in a water that pleases him1 yea1 in many ,ponds so fast1 as to over store them1 and starve the other fish4 ,the ,baits good for to catch the ,bream are many2 as namely1 young ,wasps1 and a ,paste made of brown bread and honey1 or ,gentels1 or especially a worm1 a worm that is not much unlike a ,magot1 which you will find at the roots of ,docks1 or of ,flags1 or of ,rushes that grow in the water1 or watry places1 and a ,grashopper having his legs nip'd off1 or a flye that is in ,june and ,july to be found amongst the green ,reed1 growing by the water side1 those are said to bee excellent baits4 ,i doubt not but there be many others that both the ,bream and the ,carp also would bite at2 but these time and experience will teach you how to find out3 ,and so having according to my promise given you these short ,observations concerning the ,bream1 ,i shall also give you some ,observations concerning the ,tench1 and those also very briefly4 ,the ,tench is observed to love to live in ,ponds2 but if he be in a ,river1 then in the still places of the ,river1 he is observed to be a ,physician to other fishes1 and is so called by many that have been searchers into the nature of fish2 and it is said1 that a ,pike will neither devour nor hurt him1 because the ,pike being sick or hurt by any accident1 is cured by touching the ,tench1 and the ,tench does the like to other fishes1 either by touching them1 or by being in their company4 ,randelitius sayes in his discourse of fishes 7quoted by ,gesner7 that at his being at ,rome1 he saw certaine ,jewes apply ,tenches to the feet of a sick man for a cure2 and it is observed1 that many of those people have many ,secrets unknown to ,christians1 secrets which have never been written1 but have been successsively since the dayes of ,solomon 7who knew the nature of all things from the ,shrub to the ,cedar7 delivered by tradition from the father to the son1 and so from generation to generation without writing1 or 7unless it were casually7 without the least communicating them to any other ,nation or ,tribe 7for to do so1 they account a profanation73 yet this fish1 that does by a natural inbred ,balsome1 not only cure himselfe if he be wounded1 but others also1 loves not to live in clear streams paved with gravel1 but in standing waters1 where mud and the worst of weeds abound1 and therefore it is1 ,i think1 that this ,tench is by so many accounted better for ,medicines then for meat3 but for the first1 ,i am able to say little2 and for the later1 can say positively1 that he eats pleasantly2 and will therefore give you a few1 and but a few directions how to catch him4 ,illustration of a ,tench ,he will bite at a ,paste made of brown bread and honey1 or at a ,marsh-worm1 or a ,lob-worm2 he will bite also at a smaller worm1 with his head nip'd off1 and a ,cod-worm put on the hook before the worm2 and ,i doubt not but that he will also in the three hot months 7for in the nine colder he stirs not much7 bite at a ,flag-worm1 or at a green ,gentle1 but can positively say no more of the ,tench1 he being a fish that ,i have not often ,angled for2 but ,i wish my honest ,scholer may1 and be ever fortunate when hee fishes4 ,viat4 ,i thank you good ,master3 but ,i pray ,sir1 since you see it still rains ,may butter1 give me some observations and directions concerning the ,pearch1 for they say he is both a very good and a bold biting fish1 and ,i would faine learne to fish for him4 ,pisc4 ,you say true1 ,scholer1 the ,pearch is a very good1 and a very bold biting fish1 he is one of the fishes of prey1 that1 like the ,pike and ,trout1 carries his teeth in his mouth1 not in his throat1 and dare venture to kill and devour another fish2 this fish1 and the ,pike are 7sayes ,gesner7 the best of fresh water fish2 he ,spawns but once a year1 and is by ,physicians held very nutritive2 yet by many to be hard of digestion3 ,they abound more in the ,river ,poe1 and in ,england1 7sayes ,randelitius7 then other parts1 and have in their brain a stone1 which is in forrain parts sold by ,apothecaries1 being there noted to be very medicinable against the stone in the reins3 ,these be a part of the commendations which some ,philosophycal brain have bestowed upon the fresh-water ,pearch1 yet they commend the ,sea ,pearch1 which is known by having but one fin on his back1 7of which they say1 we ,english see but a few7 to be a much better fish4 ,the ,pearch grows slowly1 yet will grow1 as ,i have been credibly informed1 to be almost two foot long2 for my ,informer told me1 such a one was not long since taken by ,sir ,abraham ,williams1 a ,gentleman of worth1 and a lover of ,angling1 that yet lives1 and ,i wish he may3 this was a deep bodied fish2 and doubtless durst have devoured a ,pike of half his own length2 for ,i have told you1 he is a bold fish1 such a one1 as but for extreme hunger1 the ,pike will not devour2 for to affright the ,pike1 the ,pearch will set up his fins1 much like as a ,turkie-,cock wil sometimes set up his tail4 ,but1 my ,scholer1 the ,pearch is not only valiant to defend himself1 but he is 7as you said7 a bold biting fish1 yet he will not bite at all seasons of the yeer2 he is very abstemious in ,winter2 and hath been observed by some1 not usually to bite till the ,mulberry tree buds1 that is to say1 till extreme ,frosts be past for that ,spring2 for when the ,mulberry tree blossomes1 many ,gardners observe their forward fruit to be past the danger of ,frosts1 and some have made the like observation of the ,pearches biting4 ,illustration of a ,pearch ,but bite the ,pearch will1 and that very boldly1 and as one has wittily observed1 if there be twentie or fortie in a hole1 they may be at one standing all catch'd one after another2 they being1 as he saies1 like the wicked of the world1 not afraid1 though their fellowes and companions perish in their sight4 ,and the baits for this bold fish are not many2 ,i mean1 he will bite as well at some1 or at any of these three1 as at any or all others whatsoever2 a ,worm1 a ,minnow1 or a little ,frog 7of which you may find many in hay time7 and of worms1 the ,dunghill worm1 called a brandling1 ,i take to be best1 being well scowred in ,moss or ,fennel2 and if you fish for a ,pearch with a ,minnow1 then it is best to be alive1 you sticking your hook through his back fin1 and letting him swim up and down about mid-water1 or a little lower1 and you still keeping him to about that depth1 by a ,cork1 which ought not to be a very light one3 and the like way you are to fish for the ,pearch with a small ,frog1 your hook being fastened through the skin of his leg1 towards the upper part of it3 ,and lastly1 ,i will give you but this advise1 that you give the ,pearch time enough when he bites1 for there was scarse ever any ,angler that has given him too much4 ,and now ,i think best to rest my selfe1 for ,i have almost spent my spirits with talking so long4 ,viat4 ,nay1 good ,master1 one fish more1 for you see it rains still1 and you know our ,angles are like money put to usury2 they may thrive though we sit still and do nothing1 but talk enjoy one another4 ,come1 come the other fish1 good ,master4 ,pisc4 ,but ,scholer1 have you nothing to mix with this ,discourse1 which now grows both tedious and tiresome8 ,shall ,i have nothing from you that seems to have both a good memorie1 and a cheerful ,spirit8 ,viat4 ,yes1 ,master1 ,i will speak you a ,coppie of ,verses that were made by ,doctor ,donne1 and made to shew the world that hee could make soft and smooth ,verses1 when he thought them fit and worth his labour2 and ,i love them the better1 because they allude to ,rivers1 and fish1 and fishing4 ,they bee these3 ,come live with me1 and be my love1 ,and we will some new pleasures prove1 ,of golden sands1 and ,christal brooks1 ,with silken lines and silver hooks4 ,there will the ,river wispering run1 ,warm'd by thy eyes more then the ,sun2 ,and there th'inamel'd fish wil stay1 ,begging themselves they may betray4 ,when thou wilt swim in that live bath1 ,each fish1 which every channel hath ,most amorously to thee will swim1 ,gladder to catch thee1 then thou him4 ,if thou1 to be so seen1 beest loath ,by ,sun or ,moon1 thou darknest both2 ,and1 if mine eyes have leave to see1 ,i need not their light1 having thee4 ,let others freeze with ,angling ,reeds1 ,and cut their legs with shels weeds1 ,or treacherously poor fish beset1 ,with strangling snares1 or windowy net4 ,let coarse bold hands1 from slimy nest1 ,the bedded fish in banks outwrest1 ,let curious ,traitors sleave silk flies1 ,to 'witch poor wandring fishes eyes4 ,for thee1 thou needst no such deceit1 ,for thou thy self art thine own bait2 ,tha fish that is not catch'd thereby1 ,is wiser far1 alas1 then ,i4 ,pisc4 ,well remembred1 honest ,scholer1 ,i thank you for these choice ,verses1 which ,i have heard formerly1 but had quite forgot1 till they were recovered by your happie memorie4 ,well1 being ,i have now rested my self a little1 ,i will make you some requital1 by telling you some observations of the ,eele1 for it rains still1 and 7as you say7 our ,angles are as money put to use1 that thrive when we play4 ,,chap4 ,x4 ,it is agreed by most men1 that the ,eele is both a good and a most daintie fish2 but most men differ about his breeding2 some say1 they breed by generation as other fish do2 and others1 that they breed 7as some worms do7 out of the putrifaction of the earth1 and divers other waies2 those that denie them to breed by generation1 as other fish do1 ask1 if any man ever saw an ,eel to have ,spawn or ,melt8 ,and they are answered1 ,that they may be as certain of their breeding1 as if they had seen ,spawn2 for they say1 that they are certain that ,eeles have all parts fit for generation1 like other fish1 but so smal as not to be easily discerned1 by reason of their fatness2 but that discerned they may be2 and that the ,hee and the ,she ,eele may be distinguished by their fins4 ,and others say1 that ,eeles growing old1 breed other ,eeles out of the corruption of their own age1 which ,sir ,francis ,bacon sayes1 exceeds not ten years4 ,and others say1 that ,eeles are bred of a particular dew falling in the ,months of ,may or ,june on the banks of some particular ,ponds or ,rivers 7apted by nature for that end7 which in a few dayes is by the ,suns heat turned into ,eeles4 ,i have seen in the beginning of ,july1 in a ,river not far from ,canterbury1 some parts of it covered over with young ,eeles about the thickness of a straw2 and these ,eeles did lye on the top of that water1 as thick as motes are said to be in the ,sun2 and ,i have heard the like of other ,rivers1 as namely1 in ,severn1 and in a pond or ,mere in ,stafford-shire1 where about a set time in ,summer1 such small ,eeles abound so much1 that many of the poorer sort of people1 that inhabit near to it1 take such ,eeles out of this ,mere1 with sieves or sheets1 and make a kind of ,eele-cake of them1 and eat it like as bread4 ,and ,gesner quotes venerable ,bede to say1 that in ,england there is an ,iland called ,ely1 by reason of the innumerable number of ,eeles that breed in it4 ,but that ,eeles may be bred as some worms 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 ,suns heat and the rotten planks of an old ,ship1 and hatched of trees1 both which are related for truths by ,dubartas1 and our learned ,cambden1 and laborious ,gerrard in his ,herball4 ,it is said by ,randelitius1 that those ,eeles that are bred in ,rivers1 that relate to1 or be neer to the ,sea1 never return to the fresh waters 7as the ,salmon does alwaies desire to do7 when they have once tasted the salt water2 and ,i do the more easily believe this1 because ,i am certain that powdered ,bief is a most excellent bait to catch an ,eele3 and ,s'r4 ,francis ,bacon will allow the ,eeles life to be but ten years2 yet he in his ,history of ,life and ,death1 mentions a ,lamprey1 belonging to the ,roman ,emperor1 to be made tame1 and so kept for almost three score yeers2 and that such useful and pleasant observations were made of this ,lamprey1 that ,crassus the ,oratour 7who kept her7 lamented her death4 ,it is granted by all1 or most men1 that ,eeles1 for about six months 7that is to say1 the six cold months of the yeer7 stir not up and down1 neither in the ,rivers nor the ,pools in which they are1 but get into the soft earth or mud1 and there many of them together bed themselves1 and live without feeding upon any thing 7as ,i have told you some ,swallows have been observed to do in hollow trees for those six cold months72 and this the ,eele and ,swallow do1 as not being able to endure winter weather2 for ,gesner quotes ,albertus to say1 that in the yeer #aabe 7that years winter being more cold then usual7 ,eeles did by natures instinct get out of the water into a stack of hay in a ,meadow upon dry ground1 and there bedded themselves1 but yet at last died there4 ,i shall say no more of the ,eele1 but that1 as it is observed1 he is impatient of cold1 so it has been observed1 that in warm weather an ,eele 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 fish1 observe that there be several sorts or kinds of ,eeles1 as the ,silver-,eele1 and green or greenish ,eel 7with which the ,river of ,thames abounds1 and are called ,gregs72 and a blackish ,eele1 whose head is more flat and bigger then ordinary ,eeles2 and also an ,eele whose fins are redish1 and but seldome taken in this ,nation 7and yet taken sometimes73 ,these several kinds of ,eeles1 are 7say some7 diversly bred2 as namely1 out of the corruption of the earth1 and by dew1 and other wayes 7as ,i have said to you37 and yet it is affirmed by some1 that for a certain1 the ,silver-,eele breeds by generation1 but not by ,spawning as other fish do1 but that her ,brood come alive from her no bigger nor longer then a pin1 and ,i have had too many testimonies of this to doubt the truth of it4 ,and this ,eele of which ,i have said so much to you1 may be caught with divers kinds of baits2 as namely1 with powdered ,bief1 with a ,lob or ,garden-worm1 with a ,minnow1 or gut of a ,hen1 ,chicken1 or with almost any thing1 for he is a greedy fish3 but the ,eele seldome stirs in the day1 but then hides himselfe1 and therefore he is usually caught by night1 with one of these baits of which ,i have spoken1 and then caught by laying hooks1 which you are to fasten to the bank1 or twigs of a tree2 or by throwing a string cross the stream1 with many hooks at it1 and baited with the foresaid baits1 and a clod or plummet1 or stone1 thrown into the ,river with this line1 that so you may in the morning find it neer to some fixt place1 and then take it up with a drag-hook or otherwise3 but these things are indeed too common to be spoken of2 and an hours fishing with any ,angler will teach you better1 both for these1 and many other common things in the practical part of ,angling1 then a weeks discourse4 ,i shall therefore conclude this direction for taking the ,eele1 by telling you1 that in a warm day in ,summer1 ,i have taken many a good ,eele by snigling1 and have been much pleased with that sport4 ,and because you that are but a young ,angler1 know not what snigling is1 ,i wil now teach it to you3 you remember ,i told you that ,eeles do not usually stir in the day time1 for then they hide themselvs under some covert1 or under boards1 or planks about ,floud-gates1 or ,weirs1 or ,mils1 or in holes in the ,river banks2 and you observing your time in a warm day1 when the water is lowest1 may take a hook tied to a strong line1 or to a string about a yard long1 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 ,eele may hide or shelter her selfe1 there with the help of a short stick put in your bait1 but leisurely1 and as far as you may conveniently2 and it is scarce to be doubted1 but that if there be an ,eel within the sight of it1 the ,eele will bite instantly1 and as certainly gorge it2 and you need not doubt to have him1 if you pull him not out of the hole too quickly1 but pull him out by degrees1 for he lying folded double in his hole1 will1 with the help of his taile1 break all1 unless you give him time to be wearied with pulling1 and so get him out by degrees2 not pulling too hard4 ,and thus much for this present time concerning the ,eele3 ,i wil next tel you a little of the ,barbell1 and hope with a little discourse of him1 to have an end of this showr1 and fal to fishing1 for the weather clears up a little4 ,,chap4 ,,xi4 ,pisc4 ,the ,barbell1 is so called 7sayes ,gesner7 from or by reason of his beard1 or wattles at his mouth1 his mouth being under his nose or chaps1 and he is one of the leather mouthed fish that has his teeth in his throat1 he loves to live in very swift streams1 and where it is gravelly1 and in the gravel will root or dig with his nose like a ,hog1 and there nest himself1 taking so fast hold of any weeds or moss that grows on stones1 or on piles about ,weirs1 or ,floud-gates1 or ,bridges1 that the water is not able1 be it never so swift1 to force him from the place which he seems to contend for3 this is his constant custome in ,summer1 when both he1 and most living creatures joy and sport themselves in the ,sun2 but at the approach of ,winter1 then he forsakes the swift streams and shallow waters1 and by degrees retires to those parts of the ,river that are quiet and deeper2 in which places1 7and ,i think about that time7 he ,spawns2 and 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 gravel1 and then they mutually labour to cover it with the same sand to prevent it from being devoured by other fish4 ,there be such store of this fish in the ,river ,danubie1 that ,randelitius sayes1 they may in some places of it1 and in some months of the yeer1 be taken by those that dwel neer to the ,river1 with their hands1 eight or ten load at a time2 he sayes1 they begin to be good in ,may1 and that they cease to be so in ,august2 but it is found to be otherwise in this ,nation3 but thus far we agree with him1 that the ,spawne of a ,barbell is1 if be not poison1 as he sayes1 yet that it is dangerous meat1 and especially in the month of ,may2 and ,gesner declares1 it had an ill effect upon him1 to the indangering of his life4 ,illustration of a ,barbell ,this fish is of a fine cast and handsome shape1 and may be rather said not to be ill1 then to bee good meat2 the ,chub and he have 7,i think7 both lost a part of their credit by ill ,cookery1 they being reputed the worst or coarsest of fresh water fish3 but the ,barbell affords an ,angler choice sport1 being a lustie and a cunning fish2 so lustie and cunning as to endanger the breaking of the ,anglers line1 by running his head forcibly towards any covert or hole1 or bank1 and then striking at the line1 to break it off with his tail 7as is observed by ,plutark1 in his book ,de industria animalium7 and also so cunning to nibble and suck off your worme close to the hook1 and yet avoid the letting the hook come into his mouth4 ,the ,barbell is also curious for his baits1 that is to say1 that they be clean and sweet2 that is to say1 to have your worms well scowred1 and not kept in sowre or mustie moss2 for at a well scowred ,lob-worm1 he will bite as boldly as at any bait1 especially1 if the night or two before you fish for him1 you shall bait the places where you intend to fish for him with big worms cut into pieces2 and ,gentles 7not being too much scowred1 but green7 are a choice bait for him1 and so is cheese1 which is not to be too hard1 but kept a day or two in a wet linnen cloth 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 before 7as namely1 an hour or two7 you were still the likelier to catch fish2 some have directed to cut the cheese into thin pieces1 and toste it1 and then tye it on the hook with fine ,silk3 and some advise to fish for the ,barbell with ,sheeps tallow and soft cheese beaten or work'd into a ,paste1 and that it is choicely good in ,august2 and ,i believe it3 but doubtless the ,lob-worm well scoured1 and the ,gentle not too much scowred1 and cheese ordered as ,i have directed1 are baits enough1 and ,i think will serve in any ,month2 though ,i shall commend any ,angler that tryes conclusions1 and is industrious to improve the ,art4 ,and now1 my honest ,scholer1 the long showre1 and my tedious discourse are both ended together2 and ,i shall give you but this ,observation1 ,that when you fish for a ,barbell1 your ,rod and ,line be both long1 and of good strength1 for you will find him a heavy and a doged fish to be dealt withal1 yet he seldom or never breaks his hold if he be once strucken4 ,and now lets go and see what interest the ,trouts will pay us for letting our ,angle-rods lye so long and so quietly in the water4 ,come1 ,scholer2 which will you take up8 ,viat4 ,which you think fit1 ,master4 ,pisc4 ,why1 you shall take up that2 for ,i am certain by viewing the ,line1 it has a fish at it4 ,look you1 ,scholer1 well done4 ,come now1 take up the other too2 well1 now you may tell my brother ,peter at night1 that you have caught a lease of ,trouts this day4 ,and now lets move toward our lodging1 and drink a draught of ,red-,cows milk1 as we go1 and give pretty ,maudlin and her mother a brace of ,trouts for their supper4 ,viat4 ,master1 ,i like your motion very well1 and ,i think it is now about milking time1 and yonder they be at it4 ,pisc4 ,god speed you good woman1 ,i thank you both for our ,songs last night2 ,i and my companion had such fortune a fishing this day1 that we resolve to give you and ,maudlin a brace of ,trouts for supper1 and we will now taste a draught of your ,red ,cows milk4 ,milkw4 ,marry1 and that you shal with all my heart1 and ,i will be still your debtor3 when you come next this way1 if you will but speak the word1 ,i will make you a good ,sillabub and then you may sit down in a ,hay-cock and eat it1 and ,maudlin shal sit by and sing you the good old ,song of the ,hunting in ,chevy ,chase1 or some other good ,ballad1 for she hath good store of them3 ,maudlin hath a notable memory4 ,viat4 ,we thank you1 and intend once in a ,month to call upon you again1 and give you a little warning1 and so good night2 good night ,maudlin4 ,and now1 good ,master1 lets lose no time1 but tell me somewhat more of fishing2 and if you please1 first something of fishing for a ,gudgion4 ,pisc4 ,i will1 honest ,scholer4 ,the ,gudgion is an excellent fish to eat1 and good also to enter a young ,angler2 he is easie to bee taken with a smal red worm at the ground and is one of those leather mouthed fish that has his teeth in his throat and will hardly be lost off from the hook if he be once strucken3 they be usually scattered up and down every ,river in the shallows1 in the heat of ,summer2 but in ,autome1 when the weeds begin to grow sowre or rot1 and the weather colder1 then they gather together1 and get into the deeper parts of the water1 and are to be fish'd for there1 with your hook alwaies touching the ground1 if you fish for him with a flote or with a cork2 but many will fish for the ,gudgion by hand1 with a running line upon the ground without a cork as a ,trout is fished for1 and it is an excellent way4 ,there is also another fish called a ,pope1 and by some a ,russe1 a fish that is not known to be in some ,rivers2 it is much like the ,pearch for his shape1 but will not grow to be bigger then a ,gudgion2 he is an excellent fish1 no fish that swims is of a pleasanter taste2 and he is also excellent to enter a young ,angler1 for he is a greedy biter1 and they will usually lye abundance of them1 together in one reserved place where the water is deep1 and runs quietly1 and an easie ,angler1 if he has found where they lye1 may catch fortie or fiftie1 or sometimes twice so many at a standing4 ,there is also a ,bleak1 a fish that is ever in motion1 and therefore called by some the ,river ,swallow2 for just as you shall observe the ,swallow to be most evenings in ,summer ever in motion1 making short and quick turns when he flies to catch flies in the aire1 by which he lives1 so does the ,bleak at the top of the water2 and this fish is best caught with a fine smal ,artificial ,fly1 which is to be of a brown colour1 and very smal1 and the hook answerable3 ,there is no better sport then whipping for ,bleaks in a boat in a ,summers evening1 with a hazle 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 ,martins 7the ,bird-,angler standing on the top of a ,steeple to do it1 and with a line twice so long1 as ,i have spoke of7 and let me tell you1 ,scholer1 that both ,martins and ,blekes be most excellent meat4 ,i might now tell you how to catch ,roch and ,dace1 and some other fish of little note1 that ,i have not yet spoke of2 but you see we are almost at our lodging1 and indeed if we were not1 ,i would omit to give you any directions concerning them1 or how to fish for them1 not but that they be both good fish 7being in season7 and especially to some palates1 and they also make the ,angler good sport 7and you know the ,hunter sayes1 there is more sport in hunting the ,hare1 then in eating of her7 but ,i will forbear to give you any direction concerning them1 because you may go a few dayes and take the pleasure of the fresh aire1 and bear any common ,angler company that fishes for them1 and by that means learn more then any direction ,i can give you in words1 can make you capable of2 and ,i will therefore end my discourse1 for yonder comes our brother ,peter and honest ,coridon1 but ,i will promise you that as you and ,i fish1 and walk to morrow towards ,london1 if ,i have now forgotten any thing that ,i can then remember1 ,i will not keep it from you4 ,well met1 ,gentlemen1 this is luckie that we meet so just together at this very door4 ,come ,hostis1 where are you8 is ,supper ready8 come1 first give us drink1 and be as quick as you can1 for ,i believe wee are all very hungry4 ,wel1 brother ,peter and ,coridon to you both2 come drink1 and tell me what luck of fish3 we two have caught but ten ,trouts1 of which my ,scholer caught three2 look here's eight1 and a brace we gave away3 we have had a most pleasant day for fishing1 and talking1 and now returned home both weary and hungry1 and now meat and rest will be pleasant4 ,pet4 ,and ,coridon and ,i have not had an unpleasant day1 and yet ,i have caught but five ,trouts2 for indeed we went to a good honest ,alehouse1 and there we plaid at shovel-board half the day2 all the time that it rained we were there1 and as merry as they that fish'd1 and ,i am glad we are now with a dry house over our heads1 for heark how it rains and blows4 ,come ,hostis1 give us more ,ale1 and our ,supper with what haste you may1 and when we have sup'd1 lets have your ,song1 ,piscator1 and the ,ketch that your ,scholer promised us1 or else ,coridon wil be doged4 ,pisc4 ,nay1 ,i will not be worse then my word1 you shall not want my ,song1 and ,i hope ,i shall be perfect in it4 ,viat4 ,and ,i hope the like for my ,ketch1 which ,i have ready too1 and therefore lets go merrily to ,supper1 and then have a gentle touch at singing and drinking2 but the last with moderation4 ,cor4 ,come1 now for your ,song1 for we have fed heartily4 ,come ,hostis1 give us a little more drink1 and lay a few more sticks on the fire1 and now sing when you will4 ,pisc4 ,well then1 here's to you ,coridon2 and now for my ,song4 ,oh the brave ,fisher's life1 ,it is the best of any1 ',tis full of pleasure1 void of strife1 ,and 'tis belov'd of many3 ,other joyes are but toyes1 only this lawful is1 for our skil breeds no ill1 but content and pleasure4 ,in a morning up we rise ,ere ,aurora's peeping1 ,drink a cup to wash our eyes1 ,leave the sluggard sleeping2 ,then we go too and fro1 with our knacks at our backs1 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 hook1 or a ,lake fish we take1 there we sit for a bit1 till we fish intangle4 ,we have ,gentles in a horn1 ,we have ,paste and worms too1 ,we can watch both night and morn4 ,suffer rain and storms too3 ,none do here use to swear1 oathes do fray fish away4 we sit still1 watch our quill1 ,fishers must not rangle4 ,if the ,suns excessive heat ,makes our bodies swelter ,to an ,osier hedge we get ,for a friendly shelter1 where in a dike ,pearch or ,pike1 ,roch or ,dace we do chase ,bleak or ,gudgion without grudging1 we are still contented4 ,or we sometimes pass an hour1 ,under a green willow1 ,that defends us from a showr1 ,making earth our pillow1 ,there we may think and pray before death stops our breath2 other joyes are but toyes and to be lamented4 ,viat4 ,well sung1 ,master2 this dayes fortune and pleasure1 and this nights company and ,song1 do all make me more and more in love with ,angling4 ,gentlemen1 my ,master left me alone for an hour this day1 and ,i verily believe he retir'd himself from talking with me1 that he might be so perfect in this ,song2 was it not ,master8 ,pisc4 ,yes indeed1 for it is many yeers since ,i learn'd it1 and having forgotten a part of it1 ,i was forced to patch it up by the help of my own invention1 who am not excellent at ,poetry1 as my part of the ,song may testifie3 ,but of that ,i will say no more1 least you should think ,i mean by discommending it1 to beg your commendations of it4 ,and therefore without replications1 lets hear your ,ketch1 ,scholer1 which ,i hope will be a good one1 for you are both ,musical1 and have a good fancie to boot4 ,viat4 ,marry1 and that you shall1 and as freely as ,i would have my honest ,master tel me some more secrets of fish and fishing as we walk and fish towards ,london to morrow4 ,but ,master1 first let me tell you1 that that very hour which you were absent from me1 ,i sate 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 me1 that he had a plentiful estate1 and not a heart to think so2 that he had at this time many ,law ,suites depending1 and that they both damp'd his mirth and took up so much of his time and thoughts1 that he himselfe had not leisure to take the sweet content that ,i1 who pretended no title1 took in his fields2 for ,i could there sit quietly1 and looking on the water1 see fishes leaping at ,flies of several shapes and colours2 looking on the ,hils1 could behold them spotted with ,woods and ,groves2 looking down the ,meadows1 could see here a ,boy gathering ,lillies and ,lady-smocks1 and there a ,girle cropping ,culverkeys and ,cowslips1 all to make ,garlands sutable to this pleasant ,month of ,may2 these and many other ,field-flowers so perfum'd the air1 that ,i thought this ,meadow like the field in ,sicily 7of which ,diodorus speaks7 where the perfumes arising from the place1 makes all dogs that hunt in it1 to fall off1 and to lose their hottest sent4 ,i say1 as ,i thus sate joying in mine own happy condition1 and pittying that rich mans that ought this1 and many other pleasant ,groves and ,meadows about me1 ,i did thankfully remember what my ,saviour said1 that the meek possess the earth2 for indeed they are free from those high1 those restless thoughts and contentions which corrode the sweets of life4 ,for they1 and they only1 can say as the ,poet has happily exprest it4 ,hail blest estate of poverty6 ,happy enjoyment of such minds1 ,as rich in low contentedness4 ,can1 like the reeds in roughest winds1 ,by yeelding make that blow but smal ,at which proud ,oaks and ,cedars fal4 ,gentlemen1 these were a part of the thoughts that then possest me1 and ,i there made a conversion of a piece of an old ,ketch1 and added more to it1 fitting them to be sung by us ,anglers3 ,come1 ,master1 you can sing well1 you must sing a part of it as it is in this paper4 ,illustration3 ,song with notes ,the ,,anglers ,song4 ,for two ,voyces1 ,treble and ,basso4 ,,cantus4 ,mr4 ,henry ,lawes4 ,an's life is but vain2 for 'tis subject to pain1 and sorrow1 and short as a buble2 'tis a hodge podge of business1 and mony1 and care2 and care1 and mony1 and trouble4 ,but we'l take no care when the weather proves fair1 nor will we vex now though it rain2 we'l banish all sorrow1 and sing till tomorrow1 and ,angle1 and ,angle again4 ,the ,,anglers song4 ,,bassus4 ,for two ,voyces4 ,by ,mr4 ,henry ,lawes4 ,an's life is but vain2 for 'tis subiect to pain and sorrow1 and short as a buble1 'tis a hodge podge of business1 and mony1 and care2 and care1 and mony1 and trouble4 ,but we'l take no care when the weather proves fair1 nor will we vex now though it rain2 we'l banish all sorrow1 and sing till to morrow1 and ,angle1 and ,angle again4 ,pet4 ,i marry ,sir1 this is ,musick indeed1 this has cheered my heart1 and made me to remember six ,verses in praise of ,musick1 which ,i will speak to you instantly4 ,musick1 miraculous ,rhetorick1 that speak'st sense ,without a tongue1 excelling eloquence2 ,with what ease might thy errors be excus'd ,wert thou as truly lov'd as th'art abus'd4 ,but though dull souls neglect1 and some reprove thee1 ,i cannot hate thee1 'cause the ,angels love thee4 ,piscat4 ,well remembred1 brother ,peter1 these ,verses came seasonably4 ,come1 we will all joine together1 mine ,hoste and all1 and sing my ,scholers ,ketch over again1 and then each man drink the tother cup and to bed1 and thank ,god we have a dry house over our heads4 ,pisc4 ,well now1 good night to every body4 ,pet4 ,and so say ,i4 ,viat4 ,and so say ,i4 ,cor4 ,good night to you all1 and ,i thank you4 ,pisc4 ,good morrow brother ,peter1 and the like to you1 honest ,coridon2 come1 my ,hostis sayes there's seven shillings to pay1 lets each man drink a pot for his mornings draught1 and lay downe his two shillings1 that so my ,hostis may not have occasion to repent her self of being so diligent1 and using us so kindly4 ,pet4 ,the motion is liked by every body2 ,and so ,hostis1 here's your mony1 we ,anglers are all beholding to you1 it wil not be long ere ,ile see you again4 ,and now brother ,piscator1 ,i wish you and my brother your ,scholer a fair day1 and good fortune4 ,come ,coridon1 this is our way4 ,,chap4 ,,xii4 ,viat4 ,good ,master1 as we go now towards ,london1 be still so courteous as to give me more instructions1 for ,i have several boxes in my memory in which ,i will keep them all very safe1 there shall not one of them be lost4 ,pisc4 ,well ,scholer1 that ,i will1 and ,i will hide nothing from you that ,i can remember1 and may help you forward towards a perfection in this ,art2 and because we have so much time1 and ,i have said so little of ,roch and ,dace1 ,i will give you some directions concerning some several kinds of baits with which they be usually taken2 they will bite almost at any flies1 but especially at ,ant-flies2 concerning which1 take this direction1 for it is very good4 ,take the blackish ,ant-fly out of the ,mole-hill1 or ,ant-hil1 in which place you shall find them in the ,months of ,june2 or if that be too early in the yeer1 then doubtless you may find them in ,july1 ,august and most of ,september2 gather them alive with both their wings1 and then put them into a glass1 that will hold a quart or a pottle2 but first1 put into the glass1 a handful or more 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 their wings1 and as many as are put into the glass without bruising1 will live there a month or more1 and be alwaies in a readiness for you to fish with2 but if you would have them keep longer1 then get any great earthen pot or barrel of three or four gallons 7which is better7 then wash your barrel with water and honey2 and having put into it a quantitie of earth and grass roots1 then put in your flies and cover it1 and they will live a quarter of a year2 these in any stream and clear water are a deadly bait for ,roch or ,dace1 or for a ,chub1 and your rule is to fish not less then a handful from the bottom4 ,i shall next tell you a winter bait for a ,roch1 a ,dace1 or ,chub1 and it is choicely good4 ,about ,all-hollantide 7and so till ,frost comes7 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 ,magots1 and it hath a red head1 7you may observe in what ground most are1 for there the ,crows will be very watchful1 and follow the ,plough very close7 it is all soft1 and full of whitish guts2 a worm that is in ,norfolk1 and some other ,countries called a ,grub1 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 red1 and then a black ,beetle3 gather a thousand or two of these1 and put them with a peck or two of their own earth into some tub or firkin1 and cover and keep them so warm1 that the frost or cold air1 or winds kill them not1 and you may keep them all winter and kill fish with them at any time1 and if you put some of them into a little earth and honey a day before you use them1 you will find them an excellent baite for ,breame or ,carp4 ,and after this manner you may also keep ,gentles all winter1 which is a good bait then1 and much the better for being lively and tuffe1 or you may breed and keep ,gentle thus3 ,take a piece of beasts liver and with a cross stick1 hang it in some corner over a pot or barrel half full of dry clay1 and as the ,gentles grow big1 they wil fall into the barrel and scowre themselves1 and be alwayes ready for use whensoever you incline to fish2 and these ,gentles may be thus made til after ,michaelmas3 ,but if you desire to keep ,gentles to fish with all the yeer1 then get a dead ,cat or a ,kite1 and let it be fly-blowne1 and when the ,gentles begin to be alive and to stir1 then bury it and them in moist earth1 but as free from frost as you can1 and these you may dig up at any time when you intend to use them2 these wil last till ,march1 and about that time turn to be flies4 ,but if you be nice to fowl your fingers 7which good ,anglers seldome are7 then take this bait3 ,get a handful of well made ,mault1 and put it into a dish of water1 and then wash and rub it betwixt your hands til you make it cleane1 and as free from husks as you can2 then put that water from it1 and put a small quantitie 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 leisurely1 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 it1 and then take a sharp knife1 and turning the sprout end of the corn upward1 with the point of your knife take the back part of the husk off from it1 and yet leaving a kind of husk on the corn1 or else it is marr'd2 and then cut off that sprouted end 7,i mean a little of it7 that the white may appear1 and so pull off the husk on the cloven side 7as ,i directed you7 and then cutting off a very little of the other end1 that so your hook may enter1 and if your hook be small and good1 you will find this to be a very choice bait either for ,winter or ,summer1 you sometimes casting a little of it into the place where your flote swims4 ,and to take the ,roch and ,dace1 a good bait is the young brood of ,wasps or ,bees1 baked or hardened in their husks in an ,oven1 after the bread is taken out of it1 or on a fire-shovel2 and so also is the thick blood of ,sheep1 being half dryed on a trencher that you may cut it into such pieces as may best fit the size of your hook1 and a little salt keeps it from growing black1 and makes it not the worse but better2 this is taken to be a choice bait1 if rightly ordered4 ,there be several ,oiles of a strong smel that ,i have been told of1 and to be excellent to tempt fish to bite1 of which ,i could say much1 but ,i remember ,i once carried a small bottle from ,sir ,george ,hastings to ,sir ,henry ,wotton 7they were both chimical men7 as a great present2 but upon enquiry1 ,i found it did not answer the expectation of ,sir ,henry1 which with the help of other circumstances1 makes me have little belief in such things as many men talk of2 not but that ,i think fishes both smell and hear 7as ,i have exprest in my former discourse7 but there is a mysterious knack1 which 7though it be much easier then the ,philosophers-,stone1 yet7 is not atainable by common capacities1 or else lies locked up in the braine or brest of some chimical men1 that1 like the ,rosi-crutions1 yet will not reveal it4 ,but ,i stepped by chance into this discourse of ,oiles1 and fishes smelling2 and though there might be more said1 both of it1 and of baits for ,roch and ,dace1 and other flote fish1 yet ,i will forbear it at this time1 and tell you in the next place how you are to prepare your tackling3 concerning which ,i will for sport sake give you an old ,rhime out of an old ,fish-book1 which will be a part of what you are to provide4 ,my rod1 and my line1 my flote and my lead1 ,my hook1 my plummet1 my whetstone knife1 ,my ,basket1 my baits1 both living and dead1 ,my net1 and my meat for that is the chief2 ,then ,i must have thred hairs great smal1 ,with mine ,angling purse1 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 your selfe3 and to that purpose ,i will go with you either to ,charles ,brandons 7neer to the ,swan in ,golding-lane72 or to ,mr4 ,fletchers in the ,court which did once belong to ,dr4 ,nowel the ,dean of ,pauls1 that ,i told you was a good man1 and a good ,fisher2 it is hard by the west end of ,saint ,pauls ,church2 they be both honest men1 and will fit an ,angler with what tackling hee wants4 ,viat4 ,then1 good ,master1 let it be at ,charles ,brandons1 for he is neerest to my dwelling1 and ,i pray lets meet there the ninth of ,may next about two of the ,clock1 and ,i'l want nothing that a ,fisher should be furnished with4 ,pisc4 ,well1 and ,ile not fail you1 ,god willing1 at the time and place appointed4 ,viat4 ,i thank you1 good ,master1 and ,i will not fail you3 and good ,master1 tell me what baits more you remember1 for it wil not now be long ere we shal be at ,totenham ,high-,cross1 and when we come thither1 ,i wil make you some requital of your pains1 by repeating as choice a copy of ,verses1 as any we have heard since we met together2 and that is a proud word2 for wee have heard very good ones4 ,pisc4 ,wel1 ,scholer1 and ,i shal be right glad to hear them2 and ,i wil tel you whatsoever comes in my mind1 that ,i think may be worth your hearing3 you may make another choice bait thus1 ,take a handful or two of the best and biggest ,wheat you can get1 boil it in a little milk like as ,frumitie is boiled1 boil it so till it be soft1 and then fry it very leisurely with honey1 and a little beaten ,saffron dissolved in milk1 and you wil find this a choice bait1 and good ,i think for any fish1 especially for ,roch1 ,dace1 ,chub or ,greyling2 ,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 ,you are also to know1 that there be divers kinds of ,cadis1 or ,case-worms that are to bee found in this ,nation in several distinct ,counties1 in several little ,brooks that relate to bigger ,rivers1 as namely one ,cadis called a ,piper1 whose husk or case is a piece of reed about an inch long or longer1 and as big about as the compass of a two pence2 these worms being kept three or four days in a woollen bag with sand at the bottom of it1 and the bag wet once a day will in three or four dayes turne 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 ,cock-spur1 being in fashion like the spur of a ,cock1 sharp at one end1 and the case or house in which this dwels is made of smal husks and gravel1 and slime1 most curiously made of these1 even so as to be wondred at1 but not made by man 7no more then the nest of a bird is73 this is a choice bait for any flote fish1 it is much less then the ,piper ,cadis1 and to be so ordered2 and these may be so preserved ten1 fifteen1 or twentie dayes4 ,there is also another ,cadis called by some a ,straw-worm1 and by some a ,russe-coate1 whose house or case is made of little pieces of bents and ,rushes1 and straws1 and water weeds1 and ,i know not what which are so knit together with condens'd slime1 that they stick up about her husk or case1 not unlike the bristles of a ,hedg-hog2 these three ,cadis are commonly taken in the beginning of ,summer1 and are good indeed to take any kind of fish with flote or otherwise1 ,i might tell you of many more1 which1 as these doe early1 so those have their time of turning to be flies later in ,summer2 but ,i might lose my selfe1 and tire you by such a discourse1 ,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 bee ,cadis1 and then as they be flies1 is an ,art1 and an ,art that every one that professes ,angling is not capable of4 ,but let mee tell you1 ,i have been much pleased to walk quietly by a ,brook with a little stick in my hand1 with which ,i might easily take these1 and consider the curiosity of their composure2 and if you shall ever like to do so1 then note1 that your stick must be cleft1 or have a nick at one end of it1 by which meanes you may with ease take many of them out of the water1 before you have any occasion to use them4 ,these1 my honest ,scholer1 are some observations 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 ,angler2 it is diligence1 and observation1 and practice that must do it4 ,,chap4 ,,xiii4 ,pisc4 ,well1 ,scholar1 ,i have held you too long about these ,cadis1 and my spirits are almost spent1 and so ,i doubt is your patience2 but being we are now within sight of ,totenham1 where ,i first met you1 and where wee are to part1 ,i will give you a little direction how 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 top1 for a right grown top is a choice ,commoditie1 and should be preserved from the water soking into it1 which makes it in wet weather to be heavy1 and fish ill favouredly1 and also to rot quickly4 ,take a pint of strong ,ale1 half a pound of soot1 and a like quantity of the juice of ,walnut-tree leaves1 and an equal quantitie of ,allome1 put these together into a pot1 or pan1 or pipkin1 and boil them half an hour1 and having so done1 let it cool1 and being cold1 put your hair into it1 and there let it lye2 it wil turn your hair to be a kind of water1 or glass colour1 or greenish1 and the longer you let it lye1 the deeper coloured it will bee2 you might be taught to make many other colours1 but it is to little purpose2 for doubtlesse the water or glass coloured haire is the most choice and most useful for an ,angler4 ,but if you desire to colour haire green1 then doe it thus3 ,take a quart of smal ,ale1 halfe a pound of ,allome1 then put these into a pan or pipkin1 and your haire into it with them1 then put it upon a fire and let it boile softly for half an hour1 and then take out your hair1 and let it dry1 and having so done1 then take a pottle of water1 and put into it two handful of ,mary-golds1 and cover it with a tile or what you think fit1 and set it again on the fire1 where it is to boil softly for half an hour1 about which time the scum will turn yellow1 then put into it half a pound of ,copporis beaten smal1 and with it the hair that you intend to colour1 then let the hair be boiled softly till half the liquor be wasted1 then let it cool three or four hours with your hair in it2 and you are to observe1 that the more ,copporis you put into it1 the greener it will be1 but doubtless the pale green is best2 but if you desire yellow hair 7which is only good when the weeds rot7 then put in the more ,mary-golds1 and abate most of the ,copporis1 or leave it out1 and take a little ,verdigreece in stead of it4 ,this for colouring your hair4 ,and as for painting your rod1 which must be in ,oyl1 you must first make a size with glue and water1 boiled together until the glue be dissolved1 and the size of a lie colour2 then strike your size upon the wood with a bristle brush or pensil1 whilst it is hot3 that being quite dry1 take white lead1 and a little red lead1 and a little cole black1 so much as all together will make an ash colour1 grind these all together with ,linseed oyle1 let it be thick1 and lay it thin upon the wood with a brush or pensil1 this do for the ground of any colour to lie upon wood4 ,for a ,green4 ,take ,pink and ,verdigreece1 and grind them together in ,linseed oyl1 as thick as you can well grind it1 then lay it smoothly on with your brush1 and drive it thin1 once doing for the most part will serve1 if you lay it wel1 and be sure your first colour be thoroughly dry1 before you lay on a second4 ,well1 ,scholer1 you now see ,totenham1 and ,i am weary1 and therefore glad that we are so near it2 but if ,i were to walk many more days with you1 ,i could stil be telling you more and more of the mysterious ,art of ,angling2 but ,i wil hope for another opportunitie1 and then ,i wil acquaint you with many more1 both necessary and true observations concerning fish and fishing3 but now no more1 lets turn into yonder ,arbour1 for it is a cleane and cool place4 ,viat4 ',tis a faire motion1 and ,i will requite a part of your courtesies with a bottle of ,sack1 and ,milk1 and ,oranges and ,sugar1 which all put together1 make a drink too good for anybody1 but us ,anglers3 and so ,master1 here is a full glass to you of that liquor1 and when you have pledged me1 ,i wil repeat the ,verses which ,i promised you1 it is a ,copy printed amongst ,sir ,henry ,wottons ,verses1 and doubtless made either by him1 or by a lover of ,angling3 ,come ,master1 now drink a glass to me1 and then ,i will pledge you1 and fall to my repetition2 it is a discription of such ,country recreations as ,i have enjoyed since ,i had the happiness to fall into your company4 ,quivering fears1 heart tearing cares1 ,anxious sighes1 untimely tears1 ,fly1 fly to ,courts1 ,fly to fond wordlings sports1 ,where strain'd ,sardonick smiles are glosing stil ,and grief is forc'd to laugh against her will4 ,where mirths but ,mummery1 ,and sorrows only real be4 ,fly from our ,country pastimes1 fly1 ,sad troops of humane misery1 ,come serene looks1 ,clear as the ,christal ,brooks1 ,or the pure azur'd heaven that smiles to see ,the rich attendance on our poverty2 ,peace and a secure mind ,which all men seek1 we only find4 ,abused ,mortals did you know ,where joy1 hearts ease1 and comforts grow1 ,you'd scorn proud ,towers1 ,and seek them in these ,bowers1 ,where winds sometimes our woods perhaps may shake1 ,but blustering care could never tempest make1 ,no murmurs ere come nigh us1 ,saving of ,fountains that glide by us4 ,here's no fantastick ,mask nor ,dance1 ,but of our kids that frisk1 and prance2 ,nor wars are seen ,unless upon the green ,two harmless ,lambs are butting one the other1 ,which done1 both bleating1 run each to his mother3 ,and wounds are never found1 ,save what the ,plough-share gives the ground4 ,here are no false entrapping baits ,to hasten too too hasty fates ,unles it be ,the fond credulitie ,of silly fish1 which1 worldling like1 still look ,upon the bait1 but never on the hook2 ,nor envy1 'nless among ,the birds1 for price of their sweet ,song4 ,go1 let the diving ,negro seek ,for gems hid in some forlorn creek1 ,we all ,pearls scorn1 ,save what the dewy morne ,congeals upon each little spire of grasse1 ,which careless ,shepherds beat down as they passe1 ,and ,gold ne're here appears ,save what the yellow ,ceres bears4 ,blest silent ,groves1 oh may you be ,for ever mirths blest nursery1 ,may pure contents ,for ever pitch their tents ,upon these downs1 these ,meads1 these rocks1 these mountains1 ,and peace stil slumber by these purling fountains ,which we may every year find when we come a fishing here4 ,pisc4 ,trust me1 ,scholer1 ,i thank you heartily for these ,verses1 they be choicely good1 and doubtless made by a lover of ,angling3 ,come1 now drink a glass to me1 and ,i wil requite you with a very good ,copy of ,verses2 it is a farewel to the vanities of the world1 and some say written by ,d'r4 ,d1 but let them bee writ by whom they will1 he that writ them had a brave soul1 and must needs be possest with happy thoughts at the time of their composure4 ,farwel ye guilded follies1 pleasing troubles1 ,farwel ye honour'd rags1 ye glorious bubbles2 ,fame's but a hollow eccho1 gold pure clay1 ,honour the darling but of one short day4 ,beauty 7th'eyes idol7 but a damask'd skin1 ,state but a golden prison1 to live in ,and torture free-born minds2 imbroider'd trains ,meerly but ,pageants1 for proud swelling vains1 ,and blood ally'd to greatness is alone ,inherited1 not purchas'd1 nor our own4 ,fame1 honor1 beauty1 state1 train1 blood birth1 ,are but the fading blossomes of the earth4 ,i would be great1 but that the ,sun doth still1 ,level his rayes against the rising hill3 ,i would be high1 but see the proudest ,oak ,most subject to the rending ,thunder-,stroke2 ,i would be rich1 but see men too unkind ,dig in the bowels of the richest mind2 ,i would be wise1 but that ,i often see ,the ,fox suspected whilst the ,ass goes free2 ,i would be fair1 but see the fair and proud ,like the bright ,sun1 oft setting in a cloud2 ,i would be poor1 but know the humble grass ,still trampled on by each unworthy ,asse3 ,rich1 hated2 wise1 suspected2 scorn'd1 if poor2 ,great1 fear'd2 fair1 tempted2 high1 stil envi'd more ,i have wish'd all1 but now ,i wish for neither1 ,great1 high1 rich1 wise1 nor fair1 poor ,i'l be rather4 ,would the world now adopt me for her heir1 ,would beauties ,queen entitle me the ,fair1 ,fame speak me fortunes ,minion1 could ,i vie ,angels w'th ,india1 w'th a speaking eye ,command bare heads1 bow'd knees1 strike ,justice dumb ,as wel as blind and lame1 or give a tongue ,to stones1 by ,epitaphs1 be call'd great ,master1 ,in the loose ,rhimes of every ,poetaster ,could ,i be more then any man that lives1 ,great1 fair1 rich1 wise in all ,superlatives2 ,yet ,i more freely would these gifts resign1 ,then ever fortune would have made them mine ,and hold one minute of this holy leasure1 ,beyond the riches of this empty pleasure4 ,welcom pure thoughts1 welcome ye silent groves1 ,these guests1 these ,courts1 my soul most dearly loves1 ,now the wing'd people of the ,skie shall sing ,my chereful ,anthems to the gladsome ,spring2 ,a ,pray'r book now shall be my looking glasse1 ,in which ,i will adore sweet vertues face4 ,here dwell no hateful locks1 no ,pallace cares1 ,no broken vows dwell here1 nor pale fac'd fears1 ,then here ,i'l sit and sigh my hot loves folly1 ,and learn t'affect an holy melancholy4 ,and if contentment be a stranger1 then ,i'l nere look for it1 but in heaven again4 ,viat4 ,wel ,master1 these be ,verses that be worthy to keep a room in every mans memory4 ,i thank you for them1 and ,i thank you for your many instructions1 which ,i will not forget2 your company and discourse have been so pleasant1 that ,i may truly say1 ,i have only lived1 since ,i enjoyed you and them1 and turned ,angler4 ,i am sorry to part with you here1 here in this place where ,i first met you1 but it must be so3 ,i shall long for the ninth of ,may1 for then we are to meet at ,charls ,brandons4 ,this intermitted time wil seem to me 7as it does to men in sorrow17 to pass slowly1 but ,i wil hasten it as fast as ,i can by my wishes1 and in the mean time the blessing of ,saint ,peters ,master be with mine4 ,pisc4 ,and the like be upon my honest ,scholer4 ,and upon all that hate contentions1 and love quietnesse1 and vertue1 and ,angling4 ,,finis4