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diff --git a/9198.txt b/9198.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5ae8985 --- /dev/null +++ b/9198.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4628 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Complete Angler, 1653, by Isaak Walton + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Complete Angler, 1653 + +Author: Isaak Walton + + +Release Date: October, 2005 [EBook #9198] +This file was first posted on September 15, 2003 +Last Updated: May 13, 2013 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE COMPLETE ANGLER, 1653 *** + + + + +Produced by J. Ingram, G. Smith, T. Riikonen and Distributed +Proofreaders + + + + + + + + + +THE COMPLETE ANGLER; + +OR, + +_THE CONTEMPLATIVE MAN'S RECREATION_. + +By + +ISAAK WALTON. + + +Being a _Facsimile_ Reprint of the First Edition published in 1653. +With a Preface by RICHARD LE GALLIENNE. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +The "first edition" has been a favourite theme for the scorn of those +who love it not. "The first edition--and the worst!" gibes a modern +poet, and many are the true lovers of literature entirely insensitive +to the accessory, historical or sentimental, associations of books. The +present writer possesses a copy of one of Walton's Lives, that of +Bishop Sanderson, with the author's donatory inscription to a friend +upon the title-page. To keep this in his little library he has +undergone willingly many privations, cheerfully faced hunger and cold +rather than let it pass from his hand; yet, how often when, +tremulously, he has unveiled this treasure to his visitors, how often +has it been examined with undilating eyes, and cold, unenvious hearts! +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 all, save the quite unlettered or unintelligent, must +feel in seeing the first visible shape of a book of such resounding +significance in English literature. + +Such interest may, without fear of denial, be claimed for a facsimile +of the first edition of "The Compleat Angler" after "Robinson Crusoe" +perhaps the most popular of English classics. Thomas Westwood, whose +gentle poetry, it is to be feared, has won but few listeners, has drawn +this fancy picture of the commotion in St. Dunstan's Churchyard on a +May morning of the year 1653, when Richard Marriott first published the +famous discourse, little dreaming that he had been chosen for the +godfather of so distinguished an immortality. The lines form an +epilogue to twelve beautiful sonnets_ a propos _of the bi-centenary of +Walton's death: + + "What, not a word for thee, O little tome, + Brown-jerkined, friendly-faced--of all my books + The one that wears the quaintest, kindliest looks-- + Seems most completely, cosily at home + Amongst its fellows. Ah! if thou couldst tell + Thy story--how, in sixteen fifty-three, + Good Master Marriott, standing at its door, + Saw Anglers hurrying--fifty--nay, three score, + To buy thee ere noon pealed from Dunstan's bell:-- + And how he stared and ... shook his sides with glee. + One story, this, which fact or fiction weaves. + Meanwhile, adorn my shelf, beloved of all-- + Old book! with lavender between thy leaves, + And twenty ballads round thee on the wall." + +Whether there was quite such a rush as this on its publishing day we +have no certain knowledge, though Westwood, in his "Chronicle of the +Compleat Angler" speaks of "the almost immediate sale of the entire +edition." According to Sir Harris Nicolas, it was thus advertised in_ +The Perfect Diurnall_: from Monday, May 9th, to Monday, May 16th, 1653: + +_"The Compleat Angler, or the Contemplative Man's Recreation_, being a +discourse of Fish and Fishing, not unworthy the perusal of most +Anglers, of 18 pence price. Written by Iz. Wa. Also the Gipsee, never +till now published: Both printed for Richard Marriot, to be sold at his +shop in Saint Dunstan's Churchyard, Fleet street." + +And it was thus calmly, unexcitedly noticed in the_ Mercurius +Politicus_: from Thursday, May 12, to Thursday, May 19, 1653: _"There is +newly extant, a Book of 18d. price, called the Compleat Angler, or the +Contemplative Man's Recreation, being a discourse of Fish and Fishing, +not unworthy the perusal of most Anglers. Printed for Richard Marriot, +to be sold at his shop in St. Dunstan's Churchyard, Fleet street_." + +Thus for it, as for most great births, the bare announcement sufficed. +One of the most beautiful of the world's books had been born into +the world, and was still to be bought in its birthday form--for +eighteen-pence. + +In 1816, Mr. Marston calculates, the market value was about L4 4s. In +1847 Dr. Bethune estimated it at L12 12s. In 1883 Westwood reckoned it +"from L70 to L80 or even more" and since then copies have fetched L235 +and L310, though in 1894 we have a sudden drop at Sotheby's to +L150--which, however, was more likely due to the state of the copy than +to any diminution in the zeal of Waltonian collectors, a zeal, indeed, +which burns more ardently from year to year. + +Sufficiently out of reach of the poor collector as it is at present, it +is probable that it will mount still higher, and consent only to belong +to richer and richer men. And thus, in course of time, this facsimile +will, in clerical language, find an increasing sphere of usefulness; +for it is to those who have more instant demands to satisfy with their +hundred-pound notes that this facsimile is designed to bring +consolation. If it is not the rose itself, it is a photographic +refection of it, and it will undoubtedly give its possessor a +sufficiently faithful idea of its original. + +But, apart from the satisfaction of such curiosity, the facsimile has a +literary value, in that it differs very materially from succeeding +editions. The text by which "The Compleat Angler" is generally known is +that of the fifth edition, published in 1676, the last which Walton +corrected and finally revised, seven years before his death. But in the +second edition (1655) the book was already very near to its final +shape, for Walton had enlarged it by about a third, and the dialogue +was now sustained by three persons, Piscator, Venator and Auceps, +instead of two--the original "Viator" also having changed his name to +"Venator." Those interested in tracing the changes will find them all +laboriously noted in Sir Harris Nicolas's great edition. Of the further +additions made in the fifth edition, Sir Harris Nicolas makes this just +criticism: "It is questionable," he says, "whether the additions which +he then made to it have increased its interest. The garrulity and +sentiments of an octogenarian are very apparent in some of the +alterations; and the subdued colouring of religious feeling which +prevails throughout the former editions, and forms one of the charms of +the piece, is, in this impression, so much heightened as to become +almost obtrusive." + +There is a third raison d'etre for this facsimile, which to name with +approbation will no doubt seem impiety to many, but which, as a +personal predilection, I venture to risk--there is no Cotton! The +relation between Walton and Cotton is a charming incongruity to +contemplate, and one stands by their little fishing-house in Dovedale +as before an altar of friendship. Happy and pleasant in their lives, it +is good to see them still undivided in their deaths--but, to my mind, +their association between the boards of the same book mars a charming +classic. No doubt Cotton has admirably caught the spirit of his master, +but the very cleverness with which he has done it increases the sense +of parody with which his portion of the book always offends me. 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 virtue, and dare trust in +his providence, and be quiet, and go a Angling"--and that sweet +exhortation from I Thess. iv. 11--"Study to be quiet." + +After the exquisite quietism of this farewell, it is distracting to +come precipitately upon the fine gentleman with the great wig and the +Frenchified airs. This is nothing against "hearty, cheerful Mr. +Cotton's strain" of which, in Walton's own setting and in his own +poetical issues, I am a sufficient admirer. Cotton was a clever +literary man, and a fine engaging figure of a gentleman, but, save by +the accident of friendship, he has little more claim to be printed +along with Walton than the gallant Col. Robert Venables, who, in the +fifth edition, contributed still a third part, entitled "The +Experienc'd Angler: or, Angling Improv'd. Being a General Discourse of +Angling," etc., to a book that was immortally complete in its first. + +While "The Compleat Angler" was regarded mainly as a text-book for +practical anglers, one can understand its publisher wishing to make it +as complete as possible by the addition of such technical appendices; +but now, when it has so long been elevated above such literary +drudgery, there is no further need for their perpetuation. For I +imagine that the men to-day who really catch fish, as distinguished +from the men who write sentimentally about angling, would as soon think +of consulting Izaak Walton as they would Dame Juliana Berners. But +anyone can catch fish--can he, do you say?--the thing is to have so +written about catching them that your book is a pastoral, the freshness +of which a hundred editions have left unexhausted,--a book in which the +grass is for ever green, and the shining brooks do indeed go on +forever. + +_RICHARD LE GALLIENNE_. + + + +[Frontispiece Text: + + + The + Compleat Angler + or the + Contemplative Man's + Recreation. + + Being a Discourse of + FISH and FISHING, + Not unworthy the perusal of most Anglers. + + + Simon Peter said, I go a fishing; and they said. We + also wil go with thee. John 21.3. + + London, Printed by T. Maxes for RICH. MARRIOT, in + S. Dunstans Churchyard Fleet Street, 1653.] + + + +To the Right Worshipful JOHN OFFLEY Of MADELY Manor in the County of +_Stafford_, Esq, My most honoured Friend. + + +SIR, + +I have made so ill use of your former favors, as by them to be +encouraged to intreat that they may be enlarged to the patronage and +protection of this Book; and I have put on a modest confidence, that I +shall not be denyed, because 'tis a discourse of Fish and Fishing, +which you both know so well, and love and practice so much. + +You are assur'd (though there be ignorant men of an other belief) that +Angling is an Art; and you know that Art better then any that I know: +and that this is truth, is demostrated by the fruits of that pleasant +labor which you enjoy when you purpose to give rest to your mind, and +devest your self of your more serious business, and (which is often) +dedicate a day or two to this Recreation. + +At which time, if common Anglers should attend you, and be eye-witnesses +of the success, not of your fortune, but your skill, it would doubtless +beget in them an emulation to be like you, and that emulation might +beget an industrious diligence to be so: but I know it is not atainable +by common capacities. + +Sir, this pleasant curiositie of Fish and Fishing (of which you are so +great a Master) has been thought worthy the_ pens _and_ practices _of +divers in other Nations, which have been reputed men of great_ Learning +_and_ Wisdome; _and amongst those of this Nation, I remember Sir_ Henry +Wotton _(a dear lover of this Art) has told me, that his intentions +were to write a discourse of the Art, and in the praise of Angling, and +doubtless he had done so, if death had not prevented him; the +remembrance of which hath often made me sorry; for, if he had lived to +do it, then the unlearned Angler (of which I am one) had seen some +Treatise of this Art worthy his perusal, which (though some have +undertaken it) I could never yet see in English. + +But mine may be thought: as weak and as unworthy of common view: and I +do here freely confess that I should rather excuse myself, then censure +others my own Discourse being liable to so many exceptions; against +which, you (Sir) might make this one, That it can contribute nothing to +your knowledge; and lest a longer Epistle may diminish your pleasure, I +shall not adventure to make this Epistle longer then to add this +following truth, That I am really, Sir, + +Your most affectionate Friend, and most humble Servant, + + Iz. Wa. + + + +To the _Reader of this Discourse_: But especially, To the honest +ANGLER. + + +I think fit to tell thee these following truths; that I did not +undertake to write, or to publish this discourse of _fish_ and +_fishing_, to please my self, and that I wish it may not displease +others; for, I have confest there are many defects in it. And yet, I +cannot doubt, but that by it, some readers may receive so much _profit_ +or _pleasure_, as if they be not very busie men, may make it not +unworthy the time of their perusall; and this is all the confidence +that I can put on concerning the merit of this Book. + +And I wish the Reader also to take notice, that in writing of it, I +have made a recreation, of a recreation; and that it might prove so to +thee in the reading, and not to read _dull_, and _tediously_, I have in +severall places mixt some innocent Mirth; of which, if thou be a +severe, sowr complexioned man, then I here disallow thee to be a +competent Judg. For Divines say, _there are offences given; and +offences taken, but not given_. And I am the willinger to justifie this +_innocent Mirth_, because the whole discourse is a kind of picture of +my owne disposition, at least of my disposition in such daies and times +as I allow my self, when honest _Nat_. and _R. R._ and I go a fishing +together; and let me adde this, that he that likes not the discourse, +should like the pictures the _Trout_ and other fish, which I may +commend, because they concern not my self. And I am also to tel the +Reader, that in that which is the more usefull part of this discourse; +that is to say, the observations of the _nature_ and _breeding_, and +_seasons_, and _catching of fish_, I am not so simple as not to think +but that he may find exceptions in some of these; and therefore I must +intreat him to know, or rather note, that severall Countreys, and +several Rivers alter the _time_ and _manner_ of fishes Breeding; and +therefore if he bring not candor to the reading of this Discourse, he +shall both injure me, and possibly himself too by too many Criticisms. + +Now for the Art of catching fish; that is to say, how to make a man +that was none, an Angler by a book: he that undertakes it, shall +undertake a harder task then _Hales_ offered to thy view and censure; I +with thee as much in the perusal of it, and so might that in his +printed Book [called the private School of defence] undertook by it to +teach the Art of Fencing, and was laught at for his labour. Not but +that something usefull might be observed out of that Book; but that Art +was not to be taught by words; nor is the Art of Angling. And yet, I +think, that most that love that Game, may here learn something that may +be worth their money, if they be not needy: and if they be, then my +advice is, that they forbear; for, I write not to get money, but for +pleasure; and this discourse boasts of no more: for I hate to promise +much, and fail. + +But pleasure I have found both in the _search_ and _conference_ about +what is here offered to thy view and censure; I wish thee as much in +the perusal of it, and so might here take my leave; but I will stay +thee a little longer by telling thee, that whereas it is said by many, +that in _Fly-fishing_ for a _Trout_, the Angler must observe his twelve +_Flyes_ for every Month; I say, if he observe that, he shall be as +certain to catch fish, as they that make Hay by the fair dayes in +Almanacks, and be no surer: for doubtless, three or four _Flyes_ rightly +made, do serve for a _Trout_ all _Summer_, and for _Winter-flies_, all +_Anglers_ know, they are as useful as an _Almanack_ out of date. + +Of these (because no man is born an _Artist_ nor an _Angler_) I thought +fit to give thee this notice. I might say more, but it is not fit for +this place; but if this Discourse which follows shall come to a second +impression, which is possible, for slight books have been in this Age +observed to have that fortune; I shall then for thy sake be glad to +correct what is faulty, or by a conference with any to explain or +enlarge what is defective: but for this time I have neither a +willingness nor leasure to say more, then wish thee a rainy evening to +read this book in, and that the east wind may never blow when thou +goest a fishing. Farewel. + + Iz. Wa. + + + +Because in this Discourse of _Fish_ and _Fishing_ I have not observed +a method, which (though the Discourse be not long) may be some +inconvenience to the Reader, I have therefore for his easier finding +out some particular things which are spoken of, made this following +Table. + + +_The first Chapter is spent in a_ vindication _or_ commendation _of the +Art of Angling_. + +_In the second are some observations of the nature of the_ Otter, _and +also some observations of the_ Chub _or_ Cheven, _with directions how +and with what baits to fish for him_. + +In chapt. 3. _are some observations of_ Trouts, _both of their nature, +their kinds, and their breeding_. + +In chap. 4. _are some direction concerning baits for the_ Trout, _with +advise how to make the_ Fly, _and keep the live baits_. + +In chap. 5. _are some direction how to fish for the_ Trout _by night; +and a question, Whether fish bear? and lastly, some direction how to +fish for the_ Umber _or_ Greyling. + +In chap. 6. _are some observations concerning the_ Salmon, _with +direction how to fish for him_. + +In chap. 7 _are several observations concerning the_ Luce _or_ Pike, +_with some directions how and with what baits to fish for him_. + +In chap. 8. _are several observations of the nature and breeding of_ +Carps, _with some observations how to angle for them_. + +In chap. 9. _are some observations concerning the_ Bream, _the_ Tench, +_and_ Pearch, _with some directions with what baits to fish for them_. + +In chap. 10. _are several observations of the nature and breeding of_ +Eeles, _with advice how to fish for them_. + +In chap. 11 _are some observations of the nature and breeding of_ +Barbels, _with some advice how, and with what baits to fish for them; +as also for the_ Gudgion _and_ Bleak. + +In chap. 12. _are general directions how and with what baits to fish +for the_ Russe _or_ Pope, _the_ Roch, _the_ Dace, _and other small +fish, with directions how to keep_ Ant-flies _and_ Gentles _in winter, +with some other observations not unfit to be known of Anglers_. + +In chap. 13. _are observations for the colouring of your_ Rod _and_ +Hair. + + +These directions the Reader may take as an ease in his search after +some particular Fish, and the baits proper for them; and he will shew +himselfe courteous in mending or passing by some errors in the Printer, +which are not so many but that they may be pardoned. + + + + +The Complete ANGLER. + +OR, The contemplative Mans RECREATION. + + + | PISCATOR | + | VIATOR | + +_Piscator_. You are wel overtaken Sir; a good morning to you; I have +stretch'd my legs up _Totnam Hil_ to overtake you, hoping your +businesse may occasion you towards _Ware_, this fine pleasant fresh +_May day_ in the Morning. + +_Viator_. Sir. I shall almost answer your hopes: for my purpose is to +be at _Hodsden_ (three miles short of that Town) I wil not say, before +I drink; but before I break my fast: for I have appointed a friend or +two to meet me there at the thatcht house, about nine of the clock this +morning; and that made me so early up, and indeed, to walk so fast. + +_Pisc_. Sir, I know the _thatcht house_ very well: I often make it my +resting place, and taste a cup of Ale there, for which liquor that +place is very remarkable; and to that house I shall by your favour +accompany you, and either abate of my pace, or mend it, to enjoy such a +companion as you seem to be, knowing that (as the Italians say) _Good +company makes the way seem shorter_. + +_Viat_. It may do so Sir, with the help of good discourse, which (me +thinks) I may promise from you, that both look and speak so cheerfully. +And to invite you to it, I do here promise you, that for my part, I +will be as free and open-hearted, as discretion will warrant me to be +with a stranger. + +_Pisc_. Sir, I am right glad of your answer; and in confidence that you +speak the truth, I shall (Sir) put on a boldness to ask, whether +pleasure or businesse has occasioned your Journey. + +_Viat_. Indeed, Sir, a little business, and more pleasure: for my +purpose is to bestow a day or two in hunting the _Otter_ (which my +friend that I go to meet, tells me is more pleasant then any hunting +whatsoever:) and having dispatched a little businesse this day, my +purpose is tomorrow to follow a pack of dogs of honest Mr. ---- ----, +who hath appointed me and my friend to meet him upon _Amwel hill_ to +morrow morning by day break. + +_Pisc_. Sir, my fortune hath answered my desires; and my purpose is to +bestow a day or two in helping to destroy some of those villainous +vermin: for I hate them perfectly, because they love fish so well, or +rather, because they destroy so much: indeed, so much, that in my +judgment, 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 +_Otters_, they do so much mischief. + +_Viat_. But what say you to the _Foxes_ of this Nation? would not you +as willingly have them destroyed? for doubtlesse they do as much +mischief as the _Otters_. + +_Pisc_. Oh Sir, if they do, it is not so much to me and my Fraternitie, +as that base Vermin the _Otters_ do. + +_Viat_. Why Sir, I pray, of what Fraternity are you, that you are so +angry with the poor _Otter_? + +_Pisc_. I am a Brother of the _Angle_, and therefore an enemy to the +_Otter_, he does me and my friends so much mischief; for you are to +know, that we _Anglers_ all love one another: and therefore do I hate +the _Otter_ perfectly, even for their sakes that are of my Brotherhood. + +_Viat_. Sir, to be plain with you, I am sorry you are an _Angler_: for +I have heard many grave, serious men pitie, and many pleasant men scoff +at _Anglers_. + +_Pisc_. Sir, There are many men that are by others taken to be serious +grave men, which we contemn and pitie; men of sowre complexions; +mony-getting-men, that spend all their time first in getting, and next +in anxious care to keep it: men that are condemn'd to be rich, and +alwayes discontented, or busie. For these poor-rich-men, wee Anglers +pitie them; and stand in no need to borrow their thoughts to think our +selves happie: For (trust me, Sir) we enjoy a contentednesse above the +reach of such dispositions. + +And as for any scoffer, _qui mockat mockabitur_. Let mee tell you, +(that you may tell him) what the wittie French-man [the Lord Mountagne +in his Apol. for Ra-Se-bond.] sayes in such a Case. _When my_ Cat _and +I entertaine each other with mutuall apish tricks (as playing with a +garter,) who knows but that I make her more sport then she makes me? +Shall I conclude her simple, that has her time to begin or refuse +sportivenesse as freely as I my self have? Nay, who knows but that our +agreeing no better, is the defect of my not understanding her language? +(for doubtlesse Cats talk and reason with one another) and that shee +laughs at, and censures my folly, for making her sport, and pities mee +for understanding her no better?_ To this purpose speaks _Mountagne_ +concerning _Cats_: And I hope I may take as great a libertie to blame +any Scoffer, that has never heard what an Angler can say in the +justification of his Art and Pleasure. + +But, if this satisfie not, I pray bid the Scoffer put this Epigram into +his pocket, and read it every morning for his breakfast (for I wish him +no better;) Hee shall finde it fix'd before the Dialogues of _Lucian_ +(who may be justly accounted the father of the Family of all +_Scoffers_:) And though I owe none of that Fraternitie so much as good +will, 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 Fraternity. + + Lucian _well skill'd in_ scoffing, _this has writ, + Friend, that's your folly which you think your wit; + This you vent oft, void both of wit and fear, + Meaning an other, when your self you jeer_. + +But no more of the _Scoffer_; for since _Solomon_ sayes, he is an +abomination to men, he shall be so to me; and I think, to all that love +_Vertue_ and _Angling_. + +_Viat_. Sir, you have almost amazed me [Pro 24. 9]: for though I am no +Scoffer, yet I have (I pray let me speak it without offence) alwayes +look'd upon _Anglers_ as more patient, and more simple men, then (I +fear) I shall finde you to be. + +_Piscat_. Sir, I hope you will not judge my earnestnesse to be +impatience: and for my _simplicitie_, if by that you mean a +_harmlessnesse_, or that _simplicity_ that was usually found in the +Primitive Christians, who were (as most _Anglers_ are) quiet men, and +followed peace; men that were too wise to sell their consciences to buy +riches for vexation, and a fear to die. Men that lived in those times +when there were fewer Lawyers; for then a Lordship might have been +safely conveyed in a piece of Parchment no bigger then your hand, +though several skins are not sufficient to do it in this wiser Age. I +say, Sir, if you take us Anglers to be such simple men as I have spoken +of, then both my self, and those of my profession will be glad to be so +understood. But if by simplicitie you meant to expresse any general +defect in the understanding of those that professe and practice +_Angling_, I hope to make it appear to you, that there is so much +contrary reason (if you have but the patience to hear it) as may remove +all the anticipations that Time or Discourse may have possess'd you +with, against that Ancient and laudable Art. + +_Viat_. Why (Sir) is Angling of Antiquitie, and an Art, and an art +not easily learn'd? + +_Pisc_. Yes (Sir:) and I doubt not but that if you and I were to +converse together but til night, I should leave you possess'd with the +same happie thoughts that now possesse me; not onely for the Antiquitie +of it, but that it deserves commendations; and that 'tis an Art; and +worthy the knowledge and practice of a wise, and a serious man. + +_Viat_. Sir, I pray speak of them what you shall think fit; for wee +have yet five miles to walk before wee shall come to the _Thatcht +house_. And, Sir, though my infirmities are many, yet I dare promise +you, that both my patience and attention will indure to hear what you +will say till wee come thither: and if you please to begin in order +with the antiquity, when that is done, you shall not want my attention +to the commendations and accommodations of it: and lastly, if you shall +convince me that 'tis an Art, and an Art worth learning, I shall beg I +may become your Scholer, both to wait upon you, and to be instructed in +the Art it self. + +_Pisc_. Oh Sir, 'tis not to be questioned, but that it is an art, and +an art worth your Learning: the question wil rather be, whether you be +capable of learning it? For he that learns it, must not onely bring an +enquiring, searching, and discerning wit; but he must bring also that +_patience_ you talk of, and a love and propensity to the art itself: +but having once got and practised it, then doubt not but the Art will +(both for the pleasure and profit of it) prove like to _Vertue, a +reward to it self_. + +_Viat_. Sir, I am now become so ful of expectation, that I long much to +have you proceed in your discourse: And first, I pray Sir, let me hear +concerning the antiquity of it. + +_Pisc_. Sir, I wil preface no longer, but proceed in order as you +desire me: And first for the Antiquity of _Angling_, I shall not say +much; but onely this; Some say, it is as ancient as _Deucalions_ Floud: +and others (which I like better) say, that _Belus_ (who was the +inventer of godly and vertuous Recreations) was the Inventer of it: and +some others say, (for former times have had their Disquisitions about +it) that _Seth_, one of the sons of _Adam_, taught it to his sons, and +that by them it was derived to Posterity. Others say, that he left it +engraven on those Pillars which hee erected to preserve the knowledg of +the _Mathematicks, Musick_, and the rest of those precious Arts, which +by Gods appointment or allowance, and his noble industry were thereby +preserved from perishing in _Noah's_ Floud. + +These (my worthy Friend) have been the opinions of some men, that +possibly may have endeavoured to make it more ancient then may well be +warranted. But for my part, I shall content my self in telling you, +That _Angling_ is much more ancient then the incarnation of our +Saviour: For both in the Prophet _Amos_ [Chap. 42], and before him in +_Job_ [Chap. 41], (which last Book is judged to be written by _Moses_) +mention is made _fish-hooks_, which must imply _Anglers_ in those +times. + +But (my worthy friend) as I would rather prove my self to be a +Gentleman, by being _learned_ and _humble, valiant_ and _inoffensive, +vertuous_ and _communicable_, then by a fond ostentation of _riches_; or +(wanting these Vertues my self) boast that these were in my Ancestors; +[And yet I confesse, that where a noble and ancient Descent and such +Merits meet in any man, it is a double dignification of that person:] +and so, if this Antiquitie of Angling (which, for my part, I have not +forc'd) shall like an ancient Familie, by either an honour, or an +ornament to this vertuous Art which I both love and practise, I shall +be the gladder that I made an accidental mention of it; and shall +proceed to the justification, or rather commendation of it. + +_Viat_. My worthy Friend, I am much pleased with your discourse, for +that you seem to be so ingenuous, and so modest, as not to stretch +arguments into Hyperbolicall expressions, but such as indeed they will +reasonably bear; and I pray, proceed to the justification, or +commendations of Angling, which I also long to hear from you. + +_Pisc_. Sir, I shall proceed; and my next discourse shall be rather a +Commendation, then a Justification of Angling: for, in my judgment, if +it deserves to be commended, it is more then justified; for some +practices what may be justified, deserve no commendation: yet there are +none that deserve commendation but may be justified. + +And now having said this much by way of preparation, I am next to tell +you, that in ancient times a debate hath risen, (and it is not yet +resolved) Whether _Contemplation_ or _Action_ be the chiefest thing +wherin the happiness of a man doth most consist in this world? + +Concerning which, some have maintained their opinion of the first, by +saying, "[That the nearer we Mortals come to God by way of imitation, +the more happy we are:]" And that God injoyes himself only by +_Contemplation_ of his own _Goodness, Eternity, Infiniteness_, and +_Power_, and the like; and upon this ground many of them prefer +_Contemplation_ before _Action_: and indeed, many of the Fathers seem +to approve this opinion, as may appear in their Comments upon the words +of our Saviour to _Martha_. [Luk. 10. 41, 42] + +And contrary to these, others of equal Authority and credit, have +preferred _Action_ to be chief; as experiments in _Physick_, and the +application of it, both for the ease and prolongation of mans life, by +which man is enabled to act, and to do good to others: And they say +also, That _Action_ is not only Doctrinal, but a maintainer of humane +Society; and for these, and other reasons, to be preferr'd before +_Contemplation_. + +Concerning which two opinions, I shall forbear to add a third, by +declaring my own, and rest my self contented in telling you (my worthy +friend) that both these meet together, and do most properly belong to +the most honest, ingenious, harmless Art of Angling. + +And first I shall tel you what some have observed, and I have found in +my self, That the very sitting by the Rivers side, is not only the +fittest place for, but will invite the Angler to Contemplation: That it +is the fittest place, seems to be witnessed by the children of +_Israel_, [Psal. 137.] who having banish'd all mirth and Musick from +their pensive hearts, and having hung up their then mute Instruments +upon the Willow trees, growing by the Rivers of _Babylon_, sate down +upon those banks bemoaning the _ruines of Sion_, and contemplating +their own sad condition. + +And an ingenuous _Spaniard_ sayes, "[That both Rivers, and the +inhabitants of the watery Element, were created for wise men to +contemplate, and fools to pass by without consideration.]" And though I +am too wise to rank myself in the first number, yet give me leave to +free my self from the last, by offering to thee a short contemplation, +first of Rivers, and then of Fish: concerning which, I doubt not but to +relate to you many things very considerable. Concerning Rivers, there +be divers wonders reported of them by Authors, of such credit, that we +need not deny them an Historical faith. + +As of a River in _Epirus_, that puts out any lighted Torch, and kindles +any Torch that was not lighted. Of the River _Selarus_, that in a few +hours turns a rod or a wand into stone (and our _Camden_ mentions the +like wonder in _England_:) that there is a River in _Arabia_, of which +all the Sheep that drink thereof have their Wool turned into a +Vermilion colour. And one of no less credit then _Aristotle_, [in his +Wonders of nature, this is confirmed by _Ennius_ and _Solon_ in his +holy History.] tels us of a merry River, the River _Elusina_, that +dances at the noise of Musick, that with Musick it bubbles, dances, and +growes sandy, but returns to a wonted calmness and clearness when the +Musick ceases. And lastly, (for I would not tire your patience) +_Josephus_, that learned _Jew_, tells us of a River in _Judea_, that +runs and moves swiftly all the six dayes of the week, and stands still +and rests upon their _Sabbath_ day. But Sir, lest this discourse may +seem tedious, I shall give it a sweet conclusion out of that holy Poet +Mr. _George Herbert_ his Divine Contemplation on Gods providence. + + Lord, who hath praise enough, nay, who hath any? + None can express thy works, but he that knows them: + And none can know thy works, they are so many, + And so complete, but only he that owes them. + + We all acknowledge both thy power and love + To be exact, transcendent, and divine; + Who does so strangely, and so sweetly move, + Whilst all things have their end, yet none but thine. + + Wherefore, most Sacred Spirit, I here present + For me, and all my fellows praise to thee: + And just it is that I should pay the rent, + Because the benefit accrues to me. + +And as concerning _Fish_, in that Psalm [Psal. 104], wherein, for +height of Poetry and Wonders, the Prophet _David_ seems even to exceed +himself; how doth he there express himselfe in choice Metaphors, even +to the amazement of a contemplative Reader, concerning the Sea, the +Rivers, and the Fish therein contained. And the great Naturallist +_Pliny_ sayes, "[That Natures great and wonderful power is more +demonstrated in the Sea, then on the Land.]" And this may appear by the +numerous and various Creatures, inhabiting both in and about that +Element: as to the Readers of _Gesner, Randelitius, Pliny, Aristotle_, +and others is demonstrated: But I will sweeten this discourse also out +of a contemplation in Divine _Dubartas_, who sayes [in the fifth day], + + _God quickened in the Sea and in the Rivers, + So many fishes of so many features, + That in the waters we may see all Creatures; + Even all that on the earth is to be found, + As if the world were in deep waters drownd. + For seas (as well as Skies) have Sun, Moon, Stars; + (As wel as air) Swallows, Rooks, and Stares; + (As wel as earth) Vines, Roses, Nettles, Melons, + Mushrooms, Pinks, Gilliflowers and many milions + Of other plants, more rare, more strange then these; + As very fishes living in the seas; + And also Rams, Calves, Horses, Hares and Hogs, + Wolves, Urchins, Lions, Elephants and Dogs; + Yea, Men and Maids, and which I most admire, + The Mitred Bishop, and the cowled Fryer. + Of which examples but a few years since, + Were shewn the_ Norway _and_ Polonian _Prince_. + +These seem to be wonders, but have had so many confirmations from men +of Learning and credit, that you need not doubt them; nor are the +number, nor the various shapes of fishes, more strange or more fit for +contemplation, then their different natures, inclinations and actions: +concerning which I shall beg your patient ear a little longer. + +The _Cuttle-fish_ wil cast a long gut out of her throat, which (like +as an Angler does his line) she sendeth, forth and pulleth in again at +her pleasure, according as she sees some little fish come neer to her +[Mount _Elsayes_: and others affirm this]; and the _Cuttle-fish_ (being +then hid in the gravel) lets the smaller fish nibble and bite the end +of it; at which time shee by little and little draws the smaller fish +so neer to her, that she may leap upon her, and then catches and +devours her: and for this reason some have called this fish the +_Sea-Angler_. + +There are also lustful and chaste fishes, of which I shall also give +you examples. + +And first, what _Dubartas_ sayes of a fish called the _Sargus_; which +(because none can express it better then he does) I shall give you in +his own words, supposing it shall not have the less credit for being +Verse, for he hath gathered this, and other observations out of Authors +that have been great and industrious searchers into the secrets of +nature. + + _The Adulterous_ Sargus _doth not only change, + Wives every day in the deep streams, but (strange) + As if the honey of Sea-love delight + Could not suffice his ranging appetite, + Goes courting_ She-Goats _on the grassie shore, + Horning their husbands that had horns before_. + +And the same Author writes concerning the _Cantharus_, that which you +shall also heare in his own words. + + _But contrary, the constant_ Cantharus, + _Is ever constant to his faithful Spouse, + In nuptial duties spending his chaste life, + Never loves any but his own dear wife_. + +Sir, but a little longer, and I have done. + +_Viat_. Sir, take what liberty you think fit, for your discourse seems +to be Musick, and charms me into an attention. + +_Pisc_. Why then Sir, I will take a little libertie to tell, or rather +to remember you what is said of _Turtle Doves_: First, that they +silently plight their troth and marry; and that then, the Survivor +scorns (as the _Thracian_ women are said to do) to out-live his or her +Mate; and this is taken for such a truth, that if the Survivor shall +ever couple with another, the he or she, not only the living, but the +dead, is denyed the name and honour of a true _Turtle Dove_. + +And to parallel this Land Variety & teach mankind moral faithfulness & +to condemn those that talk of Religion, and yet come short of the moral +faith of fish and fowl; Men that violate the Law, affirm'd by Saint +_Paul_ [Rom. 2.14.15] to be writ in their hearts, and which he sayes +shal at the last day condemn and leave them without excuse. I pray +hearken to what _Dubartas_ sings [5. day.] (for the hearing of such +conjugal faithfulness, will be Musick to all chaste ears) and +therefore, I say, hearken to what _Dubartas_ sings of the _Mullet_: + + _But for chaste love the_ Mullet _hath no peer, + For, if the Fisher hath surprised her pheer, + As mad with woe to shoare she followeth, + Prest to consort him both in life and death_. + +On the contrary, what shall I say of the _House-Cock_, which treads any +Hen, and then (contrary to the _Swan_, the _Partridg_, and _Pigeon_) +takes no care to hatch, to feed, or to cherish his own Brood, but is +sensless though they perish. + +And 'tis considerable, that the _Hen_ (which because she also takes any +_Cock_, expects it not) who is sure the Chickens be her own, hath by a +moral impression her care, and affection to her own Broode, more then +doubled, even to such a height, that our Saviour in expressing his love +to _Jerusalem_, [Mat. 23. 37] quotes her for an example of tender +affection, as his Father had done _Job_ for a pattern of patience. + +And to parallel this _Cock_, there be divers fishes that cast their +spawne on flags or stones, and then leave it uncovered and exposed to +become a prey, and be devoured by Vermine or other fishes: but other +fishes (as namely the _Barbel_) take such care for the preservation of +their seed, that (unlike to the _Cock_ or the _Cuckoe_) they mutually +labour (both the Spawner, and the Melter) to cover their spawne with +sand, or watch it, or hide it in some secret place unfrequented by +Vermine, or by any fish but themselves. + +Sir, these examples may, to you and others, seem strange; but they are +testified, some by _Aristotle_, some by _Pliny_, some by _Gesner_, and +by divers others of credit, and are believed and known by divers, both +of wisdom and experience, to be a truth; and are (as I said at the +beginning) fit for the contemplation of a most serious, and a most +pious man. + +And that they be fit for the contemplation of the most prudent and +pious, and peaceable men, seems to be testified by the practice of so +many devout and contemplative men; as the Patriarks or Prophets of old, +and of the Apostles of our Saviour in these later times, of which +twelve he chose four that were Fishermen: concerning which choice some +have made these Observations. + +First, That he never reproved these for their Imployment or Calling, as +he did the Scribes and the Mony-Changers. And secondly, That he found +the hearts of such men, men that by nature were fitted for +contemplation and quietness; men of mild, and sweet, and peaceable +spirits, (as indeed most Anglers are) these men our blessed Saviour +(who is observed to love to plant grace in good natures) though nothing +be too hard for him, yet these men he chose to call from their +irreprovable imployment, and gave them grace to be his Disciples and to +follow him. + +And it is observable, that it was our Saviours will that his four +Fishermen Apostles should have a prioritie of nomination in the +catalogue of his twelve Apostles, as namely first, S. _Peter, Andrew, +James_ [Mat. 10.] and _John_, and then the rest in their order. + +And it is yet more observable, that when our blessed Saviour went up +into the Mount, at his Transfiguration, when he left the rest of his +Disciples and chose onely three to bear him company, that these three +were all Fishermen. + +And since I have your promise to hear me with patience, I will take a +liberty to look back upon an observation that hath been made by an +ingenuous and learned man, who observes that God hath been pleased to +allow those whom he himselfe hath appointed, to write his holy will in +holy Writ, yet to express his will in such Metaphors as their former +affections or practise had inclined them to; and he brings _Solomon_ +for an example, who before his conversion was remarkably amorous, and +after by Gods appointment, writ that Love-Song [the Canticles] betwixt +God and his Church. + +And if this hold in reason (as I see none to the contrary) then it may +be probably concluded, that _Moses_ (whom I told you before, writ the +book of _Job_) and the Prophet _Amos_ were both Anglers, for you shal +in all the old Testaments find fish-hooks but twice mentioned; namely, +by meek _Moses_, the friend of God; and by the humble Prophet _Amos_. + +Concerning which last, namely, the Prophet _Amos_, I shall make but +this Observation, That he that shall read the humble, lowly, plain +stile of that Prophet, and compare it with the high, glorious, eloquent +stile of the prophet _Isaiah_ (though they be both equally true) may +easily believe him to be a good natured, plaine Fisher-man. + +Which I do the rather believe, by comparing the affectionate, lowly, +humble epistles of S. _Peter_, S. _James_ and S. _John_, whom we know +were Fishers, with the glorious language and high Metaphors of S. +_Paul_, who we know was not. + +Let me give you the example of two men more, that have lived nearer to +our own times: first of Doctor _Nowel_ sometimes Dean of S. _Paul's_, +(in which Church his Monument stands yet undefaced) a man that in the +Reformation of Queen _Elizabeth_ (not that of _Henry the VIII_.) was so +noted for his meek spirit, deep Learning, Prudence and Piety, that the +then Parliament and Convocation, both chose, injoyned, and trusted him +to be the man to make a Catechism for publick use, such a one as should +stand as a rule for faith and manners to their posteritie: And the good +man (though he was very learned, yet knowing that God leads us not to +heaven by hard questions) made that good, plain, unperplext Catechism, +that is printed with the old Service Book. I say, this good man was as +dear a lover, and constant practicer of Angling, as any Age can +produce; and his custome was to spend (besides his fixt hours of prayer, +those hours which by command of the Church were enjoined the old +Clergy, and voluntarily dedicated to devotion by many Primitive +Christians:) besides those hours, this good man was observed to spend, +or if you will, to bestow a tenth part of his time in Angling; and also +(for I have conversed with those which have conversed with him) to +bestow a tenth part of his Revenue, and all his fish, amongst the poor +that inhabited near to those Rivers in which it was caught, saying +often, _That Charity gave life to Religion_: and at his return would +praise God he had spent that day free from worldly trouble, both +harmlesly and in a Recreation that became a Church-man. + +My next and last example shall be that undervaluer of money, the late +Provost of _Eaton Colledg_, Sir _Henry Wotton_, (a man with whom I have +often fish'd and convers'd) a man whose forraign imployments in the +service of this Nation, and whose experience, learning, wit and +cheerfulness, made his company to be esteemed one of the delights of +mankind; this man, whose very approbation of Angling were sufficient to +convince any modest Censurer of it, this man was also a most dear +lover, and a frequent practicer of the Art of Angling, of which he +would say, "['Twas an imployment for his idle time, which was not idly +spent;]" for Angling was after tedious study "[A rest to his mind, a +cheerer of his spirits, a divertion of sadness, a calmer of unquiet +thoughts, a Moderator of passions, a procurer of contentedness, and +that it begot habits of peace and patience in those that profest and +practic'd it.]" + +Sir, This was the saying of that Learned man; and I do easily believe +that peace, and patience, and a calm content did cohabit in the +cheerful heart of Sir _Henry Wotton_, because I know, that when he was +beyond seventy years of age he made this description of a part of the +present pleasure that possest him, as he sate quietly in a Summers +evening on a bank a fishing; it is a description of the Spring, which +because it glides as soft and sweetly from his pen, as that River does +now by which it was then made, I shall repeat unto you. + + _This day dame Nature seem'd in love: + The lustie sap began to move; + Fresh juice did stir th'imbracing Vines, + And birds had drawn their_ Valentines. + _The jealous_ Trout, _that low did lye, + Rose at a well dissembled flie; + There stood my friend with patient skill, + Attending of his trembling quil. + Already were the eaves possest + With the swift Pilgrims dawbed nest: + The Groves already did rejoice, + In_ Philomels _triumphing voice: + The showrs were short, the weather mild, + The morning fresh, the evening smil'd_. + + Jone _takes her neat rubb'd pail, and now + She trips to milk the sand-red Cow; + Where for some sturdy foot-ball Swain_. + Jone _strokes a_ Sillibub _or twaine. + The fields and gardens were beset + With_ Tulips, Crocus, Violet, + _And now, though late, the modest_ Rose + _Did more then half a blush disclose. + Thus all looks gay and full of chear + To welcome the new liveried year_. + +These were the thoughts that then possest the undisturbed mind of Sir +_Henry Wotton_. Will you hear the wish of another Angler, and the +commendation of his happy life [Jo. Da.], which he also sings in Verse. + + _Let me live harmlesly, and near the brink + Of_ Trent _or_ Avon _have a dwelling place, + Where I may see my quil or cork down sink, + With eager bit of_ Pearch, _or_ Bleak, _or_ Dace; + And on the world and my Creator think, + Whilst some men strive, ill gotten goods t'imbrace; + And others spend their time in base excess + Of wine or worse, in war and wantonness. + + _Let them that list these pastimes still pursue, + And on such pleasing fancies feed their fill, + So I the fields and meadows green may view, + And daily by fresh Rivers walk at will, + Among the_ Daisies _and the_ Violets _blue, + Red_ Hyacinth, _and yellow_ Daffadil, + _Purple_ Narcissus, _like the morning rayes, + Pale_ ganderglass _and azure_ Culverkayes. + + _I count it higher pleasure to behold + The stately compass of the lofty_ Skie, + _And in the midst thereof (like burning Gold) + The flaming Chariot of the worlds great eye, + The watry clouds, that in the aire up rold, + With sundry kinds of painted colour flye; + And fair_ Aurora _lifting up her head, + Still blushing, rise from old_ Tithonius _bed. + + The_ hils _and_ mountains _raised from the_ plains, + _The_ plains _extended level with the_ ground, + _The_ grounds _divided into sundry_ vains, + _The_ vains _inclos'd with_ rivers _running round; + These_ rivers _making way through natures chains + With headlong course into the sea profound; + The raging sea, beneath the vallies low, + Where_ lakes, _and_ rils, _and_ rivulets _do flow. + + The loftie woods, the Forrests wide and long + Adorn'd with leaves & branches fresh & green, + In whose cool bowres the birds with many a song + Do welcom with their Quire the Sumers_ Queen: + _The Meadows fair, where_ Flora's _gifts among + Are intermixt, with verdant grass between. + The silver-scaled fish that softly swim, + Within the sweet brooks chrystal watry stream. + + All these, and many more of his Creation, + That made the Heavens, the Angler oft doth see, + Taking therein no little delectation, + To think how strange, how wonderful they be; + Framing thereof an inward contemplation, + To set his heart from other fancies free; + And whilst he looks on these with joyful eye, + His mind is rapt above the Starry Skie_. + +Sir, I am glad my memory did not lose these last Verses, because they +are somewhat more pleasant and more sutable to _May Day_, then my harsh +Discourse, and I am glad your patience hath held out so long, as to +hear them and me; for both together have brought us within the sight of +the _Thatcht House_; and I must be your Debtor (if you think it worth +your attention) for the rest of my promised discourse, till some other +opportunity and a like time of leisure. + +_Viat_. Sir, You have Angled me on with much pleasure to the _thatcht +House_, and I now find your words true, _That good company makes the +way seem short_; for, trust me, Sir, I thought we had wanted three +miles of the _thatcht House_, till you shewed it me: but now we are at +it, we'l turn into it, and refresh our selves with a cup of Ale and a +little rest. + +_Pisc_. Most gladly (Sir) and we'l drink a civil cup to all the _Otter +Hunters_ that are to meet you to morrow. + +_Viat_. That we wil, Sir, and to all the lovers of Angling too, of +which number, I am now one my self, for by the help of your good +discourse and company, I have put on new thoughts both of the Art of +Angling, and of all that profess it: and if you will but meet me too +morrow at the time and place appointed, and bestow one day with me and +my friends in hunting the _Otter_, I will the next two dayes wait upon +you, and we two will for that time do nothing but angle, and talk of +fish and fishing. + +_Pisc_. 'Tis a match, Sir, I'l not fail you, God willing, to be at +_Amwel Hil_ to morrow morning before Sunrising. + + + + +CHAP. II. + + +_Viat_. My friend _Piscator_, you have kept time with my thoughts, +for the Sun is just rising, and I my self just now come to this place, +and the dogs have just now put down an _Otter_, look down at the bottom +of the hil, there in that Meadow, chequered with water Lillies and +Lady-smocks, there you may see what work they make: look, you see all +busie, men and dogs, dogs and men, all busie. + +_Pisc_. Sir, I am right glad to meet you, and glad to have so fair an +entrance into this dayes sport, and glad to see so many dogs, and more +men all in pursuit of the _Otter_; lets complement no longer, but joine +unto them; come honest _Viator_, lets be gone, lets make haste, I long +to be doing; no reasonable hedge or ditch shall hold me. + +_Viat_. Gentleman Huntsman, where found you this _Otter_? + +_Hunt_. Marry (Sir) we found her a mile off this place a fishing; she +has this morning eaten the greatest part of this _Trout_, she has only +left thus much of it as you see, and was fishing for more; when we came +we found her just at it: but we were here very early, we were here an +hour before Sun-rise, and have given her no rest since we came: sure +she'l hardly escape all these dogs and men. I am to have the skin if we +kill him. + +_Viat_. Why, Sir, whats the skin worth? + +_Hunt_. 'Tis worth ten shillings to make gloves; the gloves of an +_Otter_ are the best fortification for your hands against wet weather +that can be thought of. + +_Pisc_. I pray, honest Huntsman, let me ask you a pleasant question, Do +you hunt a Beast or a fish? + +_H_. Sir, It is not in my power to resolve you; for the question has +been debated among many great Clerks, and they seem to differ about it; +but most agree, that his tail is fish: and if his body be fish too, +then I may say, that a fish will walk upon land (for an _Otter_ does +so) sometimes five or six, or ten miles in a night. But (Sir) I can +tell you certainly, that he devours much fish, and kils and spoils much +more: And I can tell you, that he can smel a fish in the water one +hundred yards from him (_Gesner_ sayes, much farther) and that his +stones are good against the Falling-sickness: and that there is an herb +_Benione_, which being hung in a linen cloth near a Fish Pond, or any +haunt that he uses, makes him to avoid the place, which proves he can +smell both by water and land. And thus much for my knowledg of the +_Otter_, which you may now see above water at vent, and the dogs close +with him; I now see he will not last long, follow therefore my Masters, +follow, for _Sweetlips_ was like to have him at this vent. + +_via_. Oh me, all the Horse are got over the river, what shall we do +now? + +_Hun_. Marry, stay a little & follow, both they and the dogs will be +suddenly on this side again, I warrant you, and the _Otter_ too it may +be: now have at him with _Kil buck_, for he vents again. + +_via_. Marry so he is, for look he vents in that corner. Now, now +_Ringwood_ has him. Come bring him to me. Look, 'tis a Bitch _Otter_ +upon my word, and she has lately whelped, lets go to the place where +she was put down, and not far from it, you will find all her young +ones, I dare warrant you: and kill them all too. + +_Hunt_. Come Gentlemen, come all, lets go to the place where we put +downe the _Otter_; look you, hereabout it was that shee kennell'd; look +you, here it was indeed, for here's her young ones, no less then five: +come lets kill them all. + +_Pisc_. No, I pray Sir; save me one, and I'll try if I can make her +tame, as I know an ingenuous Gentleman in _Leicester-shire_ has done; +who hath not only made her tame, but to catch fish, and doe many things +of much pleasure. + +_Hunt_. Take one with all my heart; but let us kill the rest. And now +lets go to an honest Alehouse and sing _Old Rose_, and rejoice all of +us together. + +_Viat_. Come my friend, let me invite you along with us; I'll bear your +charges this night, and you shall beare mine to morrow; for my +intention is to accompany you a day or two in fishing. + +_Pisc_. Sir, your request is granted, and I shall be right glad, both +to exchange such a courtesie, and also to enjoy your company. + + * * * * * + +_Viat_. Well, now lets go to your sport of Angling. + +_Pisc_. Lets be going with all my heart, God keep you all, Gentlemen, +and send you meet this day with another bitch _Otter_, and kill her +merrily, and all her young ones too. + +_Viat_. Now _Piscator_, where wil you begin to fish? + +_Pisc_. We are not yet come to a likely place, I must walk a mile +further yet before I begin. + +_Viat_. Well then, I pray, as we walk, tell me freely how you like my +Hoste, and the company? is not mine Hoste a witty man? + +_Pisc_. Sir, To speak truly, he is not to me; for most of his conceits +were either Scripture-jests, or lascivious jests; for which I count no +man witty: for the Divel will help a man that way inclin'd, to the +first, and his own corrupt nature (which he alwayes carries with him) +to the latter. But a companion that feasts the company with wit and +mirth, and leaves out the sin (which is usually mixt with them) he is +the man: and indeed, such a man should have his charges born: and to +such company I hope to bring you this night; for at _Trout-Hal_, not +far from this place, where I purpose to lodg to night, there is usually +an Angler that proves good company. + +But for such discourse as we heard last night, it infects others; the +very boyes will learn to talk and swear as they heard mine Host, and +another of the company that shall be nameless; well, you know what +example is able to do, and I know what the Poet sayes in the like case: + + ----_Many a one + Owes to his Country his Religion: + And in another would as strongly grow, + Had but his Nurse or Mother taught him so_. + +This is reason put into Verse, and worthy the consideration of a wise +man. But of this no more, for though I love civility, yet I hate severe +censures: I'll to my own Art, and I doubt not but at yonder tree I +shall catch a _Chub_, and then we'll turn to an honest cleanly Alehouse +that I know right well, rest our selves, and dress it for our dinner. + +_via_. Oh, Sir, a _Chub_ is the worst fish that swims, I hoped for a +_Trout_ for my dinner. + +_Pis_. Trust me, Sir, there is not a likely place for a _Trout_ +hereabout, and we staid so long to take our leave of your Huntsmen this +morning, that the Sun is got so high, and shines so clear, that I will +not undertake the catching of a _Trout_ till evening; and though a +_Chub_ be by you and many others reckoned the worst of all fish, yet +you shall see I'll make it good fish by dressing it. + +_Viat_. Why, how will you dress him? + +_Pisc_. I'll tell you when I have caught him: look you here, Sir, do +you see? (but you must stand very close) there lye upon the top of the +water twenty _Chubs_: I'll catch only one, and that shall be the +biggest of them all: and that I will do so, I'll hold you twenty to +one. + +_Viat_. I marry, Sir, now you talk like an Artist, and I'll say, you +are one, when I shall see you perform what you say you can do; but I +yet doubt it. + +_Pisc_. And that you shall see me do presently; look, the biggest of +these _Chubs_ has had some bruise upon his tail, and that looks like a +white spot; that very _Chub_ I mean to catch; sit you but down in the +shade, and stay but a little while, and I'll warrant you I'll bring him +to you. + +_viat_. I'll sit down and hope well, because you seem to be so +confident. + +_Pisc_. Look you Sir, there he is, that very _Chub_ that I shewed you, +with the white spot on his tail; and I'll be as certain to make him a +good dish of meat, as I was to catch him. I'll now lead you to an +honest Alehouse, where we shall find a cleanly room, Lavender in the +windowes, and twenty Ballads stuck about the wall; there my Hostis +(which I may tell you, is both cleanly and conveniently handsome) has +drest many a one for me, and shall now dress it after my fashion, and I +warrant it good meat. + +_viat_. Come Sir, with all my heart, for I begin to be hungry, and long +to be at it, and indeed to rest my self too; for though I have walked +but four miles this morning, yet I begin to be weary; yester dayes +hunting hangs stil upon me. + +_Pisc_. Wel Sir, and you shal quickly be at rest, for yonder is the +house I mean to bring you to. + +Come Hostis, how do you? wil you first give us a cup of your best Ale, +and then dress this _Chub_, as you drest my last, when I and my friend +were hereabout eight or ten daies ago? but you must do me one +courtesie, it must be done instantly. + +_Host_. I wil do it, Mr. _Piscator_, and with all the speed I can. + +_Pisc_. Now Sir, has not my Hostis made haste? And does not the fish +look lovely? + +_Viat_. Both, upon my word Sir, and therefore lets say Grace and fall +to eating of it. + +_Pisc_. Well Sir, how do you like it? + +_viat_. Trust me, 'tis as good meat as ever I tasted: now let me thank +you for it, drink to you, and beg a courtesie of you; but it must not +be deny'd me. + +_Pisc_. What is it, I pray Sir? You are so modest, that me thinks I may +promise to grant it before it is asked. + +_viat_. Why Sir, it is that from henceforth you wil allow me to call +you Master, and that really I may be your Scholer, for you are such a +companion, and have so quickly caught, and so excellently cook'd this +fish, as makes me ambitious to be your scholer. + +_Pisc_. Give me your hand: from this time forward I wil be your Master, +and teach you as much of this Art as I am able; and will, as you desire +me, tel you somewhat of the nature of some of the fish which we are to +Angle for; and I am sure I shal tel you more then every Angler yet +knows. + +And first I will tel you how you shall catch such a _Chub_ as this was; +& then how to cook him as this was: I could not have begun to teach you +to catch any fish more easily then this fish is caught; but then it +must be this particular way, and this you must do: + +Go to the same hole, where in most hot days you will finde floting neer +the top of the water, at least a dozen or twenty _Chubs_; get a +_Grashopper_ or two as you goe, and get secretly behinde the tree, put +it then upon your hook, and let your hook hang a quarter of a yard +short of the top of the water, and 'tis very likely that the shadow of +your rod, which you must rest on the tree, will cause the _Chubs_ to +sink down to the bottom with fear; for they be a very fearful fish, and +the shadow of a bird flying over them will make them do so; but they +will presently rise up to the top again, and there lie soaring till +some shadow affrights them again: when they lie upon the top of the +water, look out the best _Chub_, which you setting your self in a fit +place, may very easily do, and move your Rod as softly as a Snail +moves, to that _Chub_ you intend to catch; let your bait fall gently +upon the water three or four inches before him, and he will infallibly +take the bait, and you will be as sure to catch him; for he is one of +the leather-mouth'd fishes, of which a hook does scarce ever lose his +hold: and therefore give him play enough before you offer to take him +out of the water. Go your way presently, take my rod, and doe as I bid +you, and I will sit down and mend my tackling till you return back. + +_viat_. Truly, my loving Master, you have offered me as fair as I could +wish: Ile go, and observe your directions. + +Look you, Master, what I have done; that which joyes my heart; caught +just such another _Chub_ as yours was. + +_Pisc_. Marry, and I am glad of it: I am like to have a towardly +Scholar of you. I now see, that with advice and practice you will make +an Angler in a short time. + +_Viat_. But Master, What if I could not have found a _Grashopper_? + +_Pis_. Then I may tell you, that a black _Snail_, with his belly slit, +to shew his white; or a piece of soft cheese will usually do as well; +nay, sometimes a _worm_, or any kind of _fly_; as the _Ant-fly_, the +_Flesh-fly_, or _Wall-fly_, or the _Dor_ or _Beetle_, (which you may +find under a Cow-turd) or a _Bob_, which you will find in the same +place, and in time wil be a _Beetle_; it is a short white worm, like +to, and bigger then a Gentle, or a _Cod-worm_, or _Case-worm_: any of +these will do very wel to fish in such a manner. And after this manner +you may catch a _Trout_: in a hot evening, when as you walk by a Brook, +and shal see or hear him leap at Flies, then if you get a _Grashopper_, +put it on your hook, with your line about two yards long, standing +behind a bush or tree where his hole is, and make your bait stir up and +down on the top of the water; you may, if you stand close, be sure of a +bit, but not sure to catch him, for he is not a leather mouthed fish: +and after this manner you may fish for him with almost any kind of live +Flie, but especially with a _Grashopper_. + +_Viat_. But before you go further, I pray good Master, what mean you by +a leather mouthed fish. + +_Pisc_. By a leather mouthed fish, I mean such as have their teeth in +their throat, as the _Chub_ or _Cheven_, and so the _Barbel_, the +_Gudgion_ and _Carp_, and divers others have; and the hook being stuck +into the leather or skin of such fish, does very seldome or never lose +its hold: But on the contrary, a _Pike_, a _Pearch_, or _Trout_, and so +some other fish, which have not their teeth in their throats, but in +their mouthes, which you shal observe to be very full of bones, and the +skin very thin, and little of it: I say, of these fish the hook never +takes so sure hold, but you often lose the fish unless he have gorg'd +it. + +_Viat_. I thank you good Master for this observation; but now what shal +be done with my _Chub_ or _Cheven_ that I have caught. + +_Pisc_. Marry Sir, it shall be given away to some poor body, for Ile +warrant you Ile give you a _Trout_ for your supper; and it is a good +beginning of your Art to offer your first fruits to the poor, who will +both thank God and you for it. + +And now lets walk towards the water again, and as I go Ile tel you when +you catch your next _Chub_, how to dresse it as this was. + +_viat_. Come (good Master) I long to be going and learn your direction. + +_Pisc_. You must dress it, or see it drest thus: When you have scaled +him, wash him very cleane, cut off his tail and fins; and wash him not +after you gut him, but chine or cut him through the middle as a salt +fish is cut, then give him four or five scotches with your knife, broil +him upon wood-cole or char-cole; but as he is broiling; baste him often +with butter that shal be choicely good; and put good store of salt into +your butter, or salt him gently as you broil or baste him; and bruise +or cut very smal into your butter, a little Time, or some other sweet +herb that is in the Garden where you eat him: thus used, it takes away +the watrish taste which the _Chub_ or _Chevin_ has, and makes him a +choice dish of meat, as you your self know, for thus was that dressed, +which you did eat of to your dinner. + +Or you may (for variety) dress a _Chub_ another way, and you will find +him very good, and his tongue and head almost as good as a _Carps_; but +then you must be sure that no grass or weeds be left in his mouth or +throat. + +Thus you must dress him: Slit him through the middle, then cut him into +four pieces: then put him into a pewter dish, and cover him with +another, put into him as much White Wine as wil cover him, or Spring +water and Vinegar, and store of Salt, with some branches of Time, and +other sweet herbs; let him then be boiled gently over a Chafing-dish +with wood coles, and when he is almost boiled enough, put half of the +liquor from him, not the top of it; put then into him a convenient +quantity of the best butter you can get, with a little Nutmeg grated +into it, and sippets of white bread: thus ordered, you wil find the +_Chevin_ and the sauce too, a choice dish of meat: And I have been the +more careful to give you a perfect direction how to dress him, because +he is a fish undervalued by many, and I would gladly restore him to +some of his credit which he has lost by ill Cookery. + +_Viat_. But Master, have you no other way to catch a _Cheven_, or +_Chub_? + +_Pisc_. Yes that I have, but I must take time to tel it you hereafter; +or indeed, you must learn it by observation and practice, though this +way that I have taught you was the easiest to catch a _Chub_, at this +time, and at this place. And now we are come again to the River; I wil +(as the Souldier sayes) prepare for skirmish; that is, draw out my +Tackling, and try to catch a _Trout_ for supper. + +_Viat_. Trust me Master, I see now it is a harder matter to catch a +_Trout_ then a _Chub_; for I have put on patience, and followed you +this two hours, and not seen a fish stir, neither at your Minnow nor +your worm. + +_Pisc_. Wel Scholer, you must indure worse luck sometime, or you will +never make a good Angler. But what say you now? there is a _Trout_ now, +and a good one too, if I can but hold him; and two or three turns more +will tire him: Now you see he lies still, and the sleight is to land +him: Reach me that Landing net: So (Sir) now he is mine own, what say +you? is not this worth all my labour? + +_Viat_. On my word Master, this is a gallant _Trout_; what shall we do +with him? + +_Pisc_. Marry ee'n eat him to supper: We'l go to my Hostis, from whence +we came; she told me, as I was going out of door, that my brother +_Peter_, a good Angler, and a cheerful companion, had sent word he +would lodg there to night, and bring a friend with him. My Hostis has +two beds, and I know you and I may have the best: we'l rejoice with my +brother _Peter_ and his friend, tel tales, or sing Ballads, or make a +Catch, or find some harmless sport to content us. + +_Viat_. A match, good Master, lets go to that house, for the linen +looks white, and smels of Lavender, and I long to lye in a pair of +sheets that smels so: lets be going, good Master, for I am hungry again +with fishing. + +_Pisc_. Nay, stay a little good Scholer, I caught my last _Trout_ with +a worm, now I wil put on a Minow and try a quarter of an hour about +yonder trees for another, and so walk towards our lodging. Look you +Scholer, thereabout we shall have a bit presently, or not at all: Have +with you (Sir!) on my word I have him. Oh it is a great logger-headed +_Chub_: Come, hang him upon that Willow twig, and let's be going. But +turn out of the way a little, good Scholer, towards yonder high hedg: +We'l sit whilst this showr falls so gently upon the teeming earth, and +gives a sweeter smel to the lovely flowers that adorn the verdant +Meadows. + +Look, under that broad _Beech tree_ I sate down when I was last this +way a fishing, and the birds in the adjoining Grove seemed to have a +friendly contention with an Echo, whose dead voice seemed to live in a +hollow cave, near to the brow of that Primrose hil; there I sate +viewing the Silver streams glide silently towards their center, the +tempestuous Sea, yet sometimes opposed by rugged roots, and pibble +stones, which broke their waves, and turned them into some: and +sometimes viewing the harmless Lambs, some leaping securely in the cool +shade, whilst others sported themselvs in the cheerful Sun; and others +were craving comfort from the swolne Udders of their bleating Dams. As +I thus sate, these and other sighs had so fully possest my soul, that I +thought as the Poet has happily exprest it: + + _I was for that time lifted above earth; + And possest joyes not promis'd in my birth_. + +As I left this place, and entered into the next field, a second +pleasure entertained me, 'twas a handsome Milk-maid, that had cast away +all care, and sung like a _Nightingale_; her voice was good, and the +Ditty fitted for it; 'twas that smooth Song which was made by _Kit +Marlow_, now at least fifty years ago; and the Milk maid's mother sung +an answer to it, which was made by Sir _Walter Raleigh_ in his younger +days. + +They were old fashioned Poetry, but choicely good, I think much better +then that now in fashion in this Critical age. Look yonder, on my word, +yonder they be both a milking again: I will give her the _Chub_, and +persuade them to sing those two songs to us. + +_Pisc_. God speed, good woman, I have been a-fishing, and am going to +_Bleak Hall_ to my bed, and having caught more fish then will sup my +self and friend, will bestow this upon you and your daughter for I use +to sell none. + +_Milkw_. Marry, God requite you Sir, and we'l eat it cheerfully: will +you drink a draught of red Cow's milk? + +_Pisc_. No, I thank you: but I pray do us a courtesie that shal stand +you and your daughter in nothing, and we wil think our selves stil +something in your debt; it is but to sing us a Song, that that was sung +by you and your daughter, when I last past over this Meadow, about +eight or nine dayes since. + +_Milk_. what Song was it, I pray? was it, _Come Shepherds deck your +heads_: or, _As at noon_ Dulcina _rested_: or _Philida flouts me_? + +_Pisc_. No, it is none of those: it is a Song that your daughter sung +the first part, and you sung the answer to it. + +_Milk_. O I know it now, I learn'd the first part in my golden age, +when I was about the age of my daughter; and the later part, which +indeed fits me best, but two or three years ago; you shal, God willing, +hear them both. Come _Maudlin_, sing the first part to the Gentlemen +with a merrie heart, and Ile sing the second. + + The Milk maids Song. + + _Come live with me, and be my Love, + And we wil all the pleasures prove + That vallies, Groves, or hils, or fields, + Or woods and steepie mountains yeelds. + + Where we will sit upon the_ Rocks, + _And see the Shepherds feed our_ flocks, + _By shallow_ Rivers, _to whose falls + Mellodious birds sing_ madrigals. + + _And I wil make thee beds of_ Roses, + _And then a thousand fragrant posies, + A cap of flowers and a Kirtle, + Imbroidered all with leaves of Mirtle. + + A Gown made of the finest wool + Which from our pretty Lambs we pull, + Slippers lin'd choicely for the cold, + With buckles of the purest gold. + + A belt of straw and ivie buds, + With Coral clasps, and Amber studs + And if these pleasures may thee move, + Come live with me, and be my Love. + + The Shepherds Swains shal dance and sing + For thy delight each May morning: + If these delights thy mind may move, + Then live with me, and be my Love_. + +_Via_. Trust me Master, it is a choice Song, and sweetly sung by honest +_Maudlin_: Ile bestow Sir _Thomas Overbury's_ Milk maids wish upon her, +_That she may dye in the Spring, and have good store of flowers stuck +round about her winding sheet_. + + The Milk maids mothers answer. + + _If all the world and love were young, + And truth in every Shepherds tongue? + These pretty pleasures might me move, + To live with thee, and be thy love. + + But time drives flocks from field to fold: + When rivers rage and rocks grow cold, + And_ Philomel _becometh dumb, + The Rest complains of cares to come. + + The Flowers do fade, and wanton fields + To wayward Winter reckoning yeilds + A honey tongue, a heart of gall, + Is fancies spring, but sorrows fall. + + Thy gowns, thy shooes, thy beds of Roses, + Thy Cap, thy Kirtle, and thy Posies, + Soon break, soon wither, soon forgotten, + In folly ripe, in reason rotten. + + Thy belt of straw and Ivie buds, + Thy Coral clasps and Amber studs, + All these in me no means can move + To come to thee, and be thy Love. + + But could youth last, and love stil breed, + Had joys no date, nor age no need; + Then those delights my mind might move + To live with thee, and be thy love_. + +_Pisc_. Well sung, good woman, I thank you, I'l give you another dish +of fish one of these dayes, and then beg another Song of you. Come +Scholer, let Maudlin alone, do not you offer to spoil her voice. Look, +yonder comes my Hostis to cal us to supper. How now? is my brother +_Peter_ come? + +_Host_. Yes, and a friend with him, they are both glad to hear you are +in these parts, and long to see you, and are hungry, and long to be at +supper. + + + + +CHAP. III. + + +_Piscat_. Wel met brother _Peter_, I heard you & a friend would lodg +here to night, and that has made me and my friend cast to lodge here +too; my friend is one that would faine be a brother of the _Angle_: he +has been an _Angler_ but this day, and I have taught him how to catch a +_Chub_ with _daping_ a _Grashopper_, and he has caught a lusty one of +nineteen inches long. But I pray you brother, who is it that is your +companion? + +_Peter_. Brother _Piscator_, my friend is an honest Country man, and +his name is _Coridon_, a most downright witty merry companion that met +me here purposely to eat a _Trout_ and be pleasant, and I have not yet +wet my line since I came from home: But I wil fit him to morrow with a +_Trout_ for his breakfast, if the weather be any thing like. + +_Pisc_. Nay brother, you shall not delay him so long, for look you here +is a _Trout_ will fill six reasonable bellies. Come Hostis, dress it +presently, and get us what other meat the house wil afford, and give us +some good Ale, and lets be merrie. + +_The Description of a_ Trout. + +[Illustration] + +_Peter_. On my word, this _Trout_ is in perfect season. Come, I thank +you, and here's a hearty draught to you, and to all the brothers of the +Angle, wheresoever they be, and to my young brothers good fortune to +morrow; I wil furnish him with a rod, if you wil furnish him with the +rest of the tackling, we wil set him up and make him a fisher. + +And I wil tel him one thing for his encouragement, that his fortune +hath made him happy to be a Scholer to such a Master; a Master that +knowes as much both of the nature and breeding of fish, as any man; and +can also tell him as well how to catch and cook them, from the _Minnow_ +to the _Sammon_, as any that I ever met withall. + +_Pisc_. Trust me, brother _Peter_, I find my Scholer to be so sutable +to my own humour, which is to be free and pleasant, and civilly merry, +that my resolution is to hide nothing from him. Believe me, Scholer, +this is my resolution: and so here's to you a hearty draught, and to +all that love us, and the honest Art of Angling. + +_Viat_. Trust me, good Master, you shall not sow your seed in barren +ground, for I hope to return you an increase answerable to your hopes; +but however, you shal find me obedient, and thankful, and serviceable +to my best abilitie. + +_Pisc_. 'Tis enough, honest Scholer, come lets to supper. Come my +friend _Coridon_, this _Trout_ looks lovely, it was twenty two inches +when it was taken, and the belly of it look'd some part of it as yellow +as a Marygold, and part of it as white as a Lily, and yet me thinks it +looks better in this good fawce. + +_Coridon_. Indeed, honest friend, it looks well, and tastes well, I +thank you for it, and so does my friend _Peter_, or else he is to +blame. + +_Pet_. Yes, and so I do, we all thank you, and when we have supt, I wil +get my friend _Coridon_ to sing you a Song, for requital. + +_Cor_. I wil sing a Song if anyboby wil sing another; else, to be plain +with you, I wil sing none: I am none of those that sing for meat, but +for company; I say, 'Tis merry in Hall when men sing all. + +_Pisc_. I'l promise you I'l sing a Song that was lately made at my +request by Mr. _William Basse_, one that has made the choice Songs of +the _Hunter in his carrere_, and of _Tom of Bedlam_, and many others of +note; and this that I wil sing is in praise of Angling. + +_Cor_. And then mine shall be the praise of a Country mans life: What +will the rest sing of? + +_Pet_. I wil promise you I wil sing another Song in praise of Angling, +to-morrow night, for we wil not part till then, but fish to morrow, and +sup together, and the next day every man leave fishing, and fall to his +business. + +_Viat_. 'Tis a match, and I wil provide you a Song or a Ketch against +then too, that shal give some addition of mirth to the company; for we +wil be merrie. + +_Pisc_. 'Tis a match my masters; lets ev'n say Grace, and turn to the +fire, drink the other cup to wet our whistles, and so sing away all sad +thoughts. + +Come on my masters, who begins? I think it is best to draw cuts and +avoid contention. + +_Pet_. It is a match. Look, the shortest Cut fals to _Coridon_. + +_Cor_. Well then, I wil begin; for I hate contention. + + CORIDONS Song. + + _Oh the sweet contentment + The country man doth find! + high trolollie laliloe + high trolollie lee, + That quiet contemplation + Possesseth all my mind_: + Then care away, + and wend along with me. + + _For Courts are full of flattery, + As hath too oft been tri'd; + high trolollie lollie loe + high trolollie lee, + The City full of wantonness, + and both are full of pride_: + Then care away, + and wend along with me. + + _But oh the honest countryman + Speaks truly from his heart, + high trolollie lollie loe + high trolollie lee, + His pride is in his Tillage, + his Horses and his Cart_: + Then care away, + and wend along with me. + + _Our clothing is good sheep skins + Gray russet for our wives, + high trolollie lollie loe + high trolollie lee. + 'Tis warmth and not gay clothing + that doth prolong our lives_: + Then care away, + and wend along with me, + + _The ploughman, though he labor hard, + Yet on the_ Holy-day, + _high trolollie lollie loe + high trolollie lee, + No Emperor so merrily + does pass his time away_: + Then care away, + and wend along with me. + + _To recompence our Tillage, + The Heavens afford us showrs; + high trolollie lollie loe + high trolollie lee, + And for our sweet refreshments + the earth affords us bowers_: + Then care away, &c. + + _The_ Cuckoe _and the_ Nightingale + _full merrily do sing, + high trolollie lollie loe + high trolollie lee, + And with their pleasant roundelayes + bid welcome to the_ Spring: + Then care away, + and wend along with me. + + _This is not half the happiness + the Country man injoyes; + high trolollie lollie loe + high trolollie lee, + Though others think they have as much + yet he that says so lies_: + Then come away, turn + County man with me_. + +_Pisc_. Well sung _Coridon_, this Song was sung with mettle, and it was +choicely fitted to the occasion; I shall love you for it as long as I +know you: I would you were a brother of the Angle, for a companion that +is cheerful and free from swearing and scurrilous discourse, is worth +gold. I love such mirth as does not make friends ashamed to look upon +one another next morning; nor men (that cannot wel bear it) to repent +the money they spend when they be warmed with drink: and take this for +a rule, you may pick out such times and such companies, that you may +make your selves merrier for a little then a great deal of money; for +_'Tis the company and not the charge that makes the feast_: and such a +companion you prove, I thank you for it. + +But I will not complement you out of the debt that I owe you, and +therefore I will begin my Song, and wish it may be as well liked. + + The ANGLERS Song. + + _As inward love breeds outward talk, + The_ Hound _some praise, and some the_ Hawk, + _Some better pleas'd with private sport, + Use_ Tenis, _some a_ Mistris _court: + But these delights I neither wish, + Nor envy, while I freely fish. + + Who_ hunts, _doth oft in danger ride + Who_ hauks, _lures oft both far & wide; + Who uses games, may often prove + A loser; but who fals in love, + Is fettered in fond_ Cupids _snare: + My Angle breeds me no such care. + + Of Recreation there is none + So free as fishing is alone; + All other pastimes do no less + Then mind and body both possess; + My hand alone my work can do, + So I can fish and study too. + + I care not, I, to fish in seas, + Fresh rivers best my mind do please, + Whose sweet calm course I contemplate; + And seek in life to imitate; + In civil bounds I fain would keep, + And for my past offences weep. + + And when the timerous_ Trout _I wait + To take, and he devours my bait, + How poor a thing sometimes I find + Will captivate a greedy mind: + And when none bite, I praise the wise, + Whom vain alurements ne're surprise. + + But yet though while I fish, I fast, + I make good fortune my repast, + And there unto my friend invite, + In whom I more then that delight: + Who is more welcome to my dish, + Then to my Angle was my fish. + + As well content no prize to take + As use of taken prize to make; + For so our Lord was pleased when + He Fishers made Fishers of men; + Where (which is in no other game) + A man may fish and praise his name. + + The first men that our Saviour dear + Did chuse to wait upon him here, + Blest Fishers were; and fish the last + Food was, that he on earth did taste. + I therefore strive to follow those, + Whom he to follow him hath chose. + W.B. + +_Cor_. Well sung brother, you have paid your debt in good coyn, we +Anglers are all beholding to the good man that made this Song. Come +Hostis, give us more Ale and lets drink to him. + +And now lets everie one go to bed that we may rise early; but first +lets pay our Reckoning, for I wil have nothing to hinder me in the +morning for I will prevent the Sun rising. + +_Pet_. A match: Come _Coridon_, you are to be my Bed-fellow: I know +brother you and your Scholer wil lie together; but where shal we meet +to morrow night? for my friend _Coridon_ and I will go up the water +towards _Ware_. + +_Pisc_. And my Scholer and I will go down towards _Waltam_. + +_Cor_. Then lets meet here, for here are fresh sheets that smel of +Lavender, and, I am sure, we cannot expect better meat and better +usage. + +_Pet_. 'Tis a match. Good night to every body. + +_Pisc_. And so say I. + +_Viat_. And so say I. + + * * * * * + +_Pisc_. Good morrow good Hostis, I see my brother _Peter_ is in bed +still; Come, give my Scholer and me a cup of Ale, and be sure you get +us a good dish of meat against supper, for we shall come hither as +hungry as _Hawks_. Come Scholer, lets be going. + +_Viat_. Good Master, as we walk towards the water, wil you be pleased +to make the way seeme shorter by telling me first the nature of the +_Trout_, and then how to catch him. + +_Pisc_. My honest Scholer, I wil do it freely: The _Trout_ (for which I +love to angle above any fish) may be justly said (as the ancient Poets +say of Wine, and we English say of Venson) to be a generous fish, +because he has his seasons, a fish that comes in, and goes out with the +_Stag_ or _Buck_: and you are to observe, that as there be some _barren +Does_, that are good in Summer; so there be some barren _Trouts_, that +are good in Winter; but there are not many that are so, for usually +they be in their perfection in the month of _May_, and decline with the +_Buck_: Now you are to take notice, that in several Countries, as in +_Germany_ and in other parts compar'd to ours, they differ much in +their bigness, shape, and other wayes, and so do _Trouts_; 'tis wel +known that in the Lake _Lemon_, the Lake of _Geneva_, there are +_Trouts_ taken, of three Cubits long, as is affirmed by _Gesner_, a +Writer of good credit: and _Mercator_ sayes, the _Trouts_ that are +taken in the Lake of _Geneva_, are a great part of the Merchandize of +that famous City. And you are further to know, that there be certaine +waters that breed _Trouts_ remarkable, both for their number and +smalness--I know a little Brook in _Kent_ that breeds them to a number +incredible, and you may take them twentie or fortie in an hour, but +none greater then about the size of a _Gudgion_. There are also in +divers Rivers, especially that relate to, or be near to the Sea, (as +_Winchester_, or the Thames about _Windsor_) a little _Trout_ called a +_Samlet_ or _Skegger Trout_ (in both which places I have caught twentie +or fortie at a standing) that will bite as fast and as freely as +_Minnows_; these be by some taken to be young _Salmons_, but in those +waters they never grow to bee bigger then a _Herring_. + +There is also in _Kent_, neer to _Canterbury_, a _Trout_ (called there +a _Fordig Trout_) a _Trout_ (that bears the name of the Town where 'tis +usually caught) that is accounted rare meat, many of them near the +bigness of a _Salmon_, but knowne by their different colour, and in +their best season cut very white; and none have been known to be caught +with an Angle, unless it were one that was caught by honest Sir _George +Hastings_, an excellent Angler (and now with God) and he has told me, +he thought that _Trout_ bit not for hunger, but wantonness; and 'tis +the rather to be believed, because both he then, and many others before +him have been curious to search into their bellies what the food was by +which they lived; and have found out nothing by which they might +satisfie their curiositie. + +Concerning which you are to take notice, that it is reported, there is +a fish that hath not any mouth, but lives by taking breath by the +porinss of her gils, and feeds and is nourish'd by no man knows what; +and this may be believed of the _Fordig Trout_, which (as it is said of +the _Stork_, that he knowes his season, so he) knows his times (I think +almost his day) of coming into that River out of the Sea, where he +lives (and it is like feeds) nine months of the year, and about three +in the River of _Fordig_. + +And now for some confirmation of this; you are to know, that this +_Trout_ is thought to eat nothing in the fresh water; and it may be the +better believed, because it is well known, that _Swallowes_, which are +not seen to flye in _England_ for six months in the year, but about +_Michaelmas_ leave us for a hotter climate; yet some of them, that have +been left behind their fellows, [view Sir Fra. Bacon exper. 899.], have +been found (many thousand at a time) in hollow trees, where they have +been observed to live and sleep [see Topsel of Frogs] out the whole +winter without meat; and so _Albertus_ observes that there is one kind +of _Frog_ that hath her mouth naturally shut up about the end of +_August_, and that she lives so all the Winter, and though it be +strange to some, yet it is known to too many amongst us to bee doubted. + +And so much for these _Fordig Trouts_, which never afford an Angler +sport, but either live their time of being in the fresh water by their +meat formerly gotten in the Sea, (not unlike the _Swallow_ or _Frog_) +or by the vertue of the fresh water only, as the _Camelion_ is said to +live by the air. + +There is also in _Northumberland_, a _Trout_, called a _Bull Trout_, of +a much greater length and bignesse then any in these Southern parts; +and there is in many Rivers that relate to the Sea, _Salmon Trouts_ as +much different one from another, both in shape and in their spots, as +we see Sheep differ one from another in their shape and bigness, and in +the finess of their wool: and certainly as some Pastures do breed +larger Sheep, so do some Rivers, by reason of the ground over which +they run, breed larger _Trouts_. + +Now the next thing that I will commend to your consideration is, That +the _Trout_ is of a more sudden growth then other fish: concerning +which you are also to take notice, that he lives not so long as the +_Pearch_ and divers other fishes do, as Sir _Francis Bacon_ hath +observed in his History of life and death. + +And next, you are to take notice, that after hee is come to his full +growth, he declines in his bodie, but keeps his bigness or thrives in +his head till his death. And you are to know that he wil about +(especially before) the time of his Spawning, get almost miraculously +through _Weires_ and _Floud-Gates_ against the stream, even through +such high and swift places as is almost incredible. Next, that the +_Trout_ usually Spawns about _October_ or _November_, but in some +Rivers a little sooner or later; which is the more observable, because +most other fish Spawne in the Spring or Summer, when the Sun hath +warmed both the earth and water, and made it fit for generation. + +And next, you are to note, that till the Sun gets to such a height as +to warm the earth and the water, the _Trout_ is sick, and lean, and +lowsie, and unwholsome: for you shall in winter find him to have a big +head, and then to be lank, and thin, & lean; at which time many of them +have sticking on them Sugs, or _Trout_ lice, which is a kind of a worm, +in shape like a Clove or a Pin, with a big head, and sticks close to +him and sucks his moisture; those I think the _Trout_ breeds himselfe, +and never thrives til he free himself from them, which is till warm +weather comes, and then as he growes stronger, he gets from the dead, +still water, into the sharp streames and the gravel, and there rubs off +these worms or lice: and then as he grows stronger, so he gets him into +swifter and swifter streams, and there lies at the watch for any flie +or Minow that comes neer to him; and he especially loves the _May_ +flie, which is bred of the _Cod-worm_ or _Caddis_; and these make the +_Trout_ bold and lustie, and he is usually fatter, and better meat at +the end of that month, then at any time of the year. + +Now you are to know, that it is observed that usually the best _Trouts_ +are either red or yellow, though some be white and yet good; but that +is not usual; and it is a note observable that the female _Trout_ hath +usually a less head and a deeper body then the male _Trout_; and a +little head to any fish, either _Trout, Salmon_, or other fish, is a +sign that that fish is in season. + +But yet you are to note, that as you see some Willows or Palm trees bud +and blossome sooner then others do, so some _Trouts_ be in some Rivers +sooner in season; and as the Holly or Oak are longer before they cast +their Leaves, so are some _Trouts_ in some Rivers longer before they go +out of season. + + + + +CHAP. IV. + + +And having told you these Observations concerning _Trouts_, I shall +next tell you how to catch them: which is usually with a _Worm_, or a +_Minnow_ (which some call a _Penke_;) or with a _Flie_, either a +_natural_ or an _artificial_ Flie: Concerning which three I wil give +you some Observations and Directions. + +For Worms, there be very many sorts; some bred onely in the earth, as +the _earth worm_; others amongst or of plants, as the _dug-worm_; and +others in the bodies of living creatures; or some of dead flesh, as the +_Magot_ or _Gentle_, and others. + +Now these be most of them particularly good for particular fishes: but +for the _Trout_ the _dew-worm_, (which some also cal the _Lob-worm_) +and the _Brandling_ are the chief; and especially the first for a great +_Trout_, and the later for a lesse. There be also of _lob-worms_, some +called _squirel-tails_ (a worm which has a red head, a streak down the +back, and a broad tail) which are noted to be the best, because they +are the toughest, and most lively, and live longest in the water: for +you are to know, that a dead worm is but a dead bait, and like to catch +nothing, compared to a lively, quick, stirring worm: And for a +_Brandling_, hee is usually found in an old dunghil, or some very +rotten place neer to it; but most usually in cow dung, or hogs dung, +rather then horse dung, which is somewhat too hot and dry for that +worm. + +There are also divers other kindes of worms, which for colour and +shape alter even as the ground out of which they are got: as the +_marsh-worm_, the _tag-tail_, the _flag-worm_, the _dock-worm_, the +_oake-worm_, the _gilt-tail_, and too many to name, even as many sorts, +as some think there be of severall kinds of birds in the air: of which +I shall say no more, but tell you, that what worms soever you fish +with, are the better for being long kept before they be used; and in +case you have not been so provident, then the way to cleanse and +scoure them quickly, is to put them all night in water, if they be +_Lob-worms_, and then put them into your bag with fennel: but you must +not put your _Brandling_ above an hour in water, and then put them into +fennel for sudden use: but if you have time, and purpose to keep them +long, then they be best preserved in an earthen pot with good store of +_mosse_, which is to be fresh every week or eight dayes; or at least +taken from them, and clean wash'd, and wrung betwixt your hands till it +be dry, and then put it to them again: And for Moss you are to note, +that there be divers kindes of it which I could name to you, but wil +onely tel you, that that which is likest a _Bucks horn_ is the best; +except it be _white_ Moss, which grows on some heaths, and is hard to +be found. + +For the _Minnow_ or _Penke_, he is easily found and caught in April, +for then hee appears in the Rivers: but Nature hath taught him to +shelter and hide himself in the Winter in ditches that be neer to the +River, and there both to hide and keep himself warm in the weeds, which +rot not so soon as in a running River in which place if hee were in +Winter, the distempered Floods that are usually in that season, would +suffer him to have no rest, but carry him headlong to Mils and Weires +to his confusion. And of these _Minnows_, first you are to know, that +the biggest size is not the best; and next, that the middle size and +the whitest are the best: and then you are to know, that I cannot well +teach in words, but must shew you how to put it on your hook, that it +may turn the better: And you are also to know, that it is impossible it +should turn too quick: And you are yet to know, that in case you want a +_Minnow_, then a small _Loch_, or a _Sticklebag_, or any other small +Fish will serve as wel: And you are yet to know, that you may salt, and +by that means keep them fit for use three or four dayes or longer; and +that of salt, bay salt is the best. + +Now for _Flies_, which is the third bait wherewith _Trouts_ are usually +taken. You are to know, that there are as many sorts of Flies as there +be of Fruits: I will name you but some of them: as the _dun flie_, the +_stone flie_, the _red flie_, the _moor flie_, the _tawny flie_, the +_shel flie_, the _cloudy_ or blackish _flie_: there be of Flies, +_Caterpillars_, and _Canker flies_, and _Bear flies_; and indeed, too +many either for mee to name, or for you to remember: and their breeding +is so various and wonderful, that I might easily amaze my self, and +tire you in a relation of them. + +And yet I wil exercise your promised patience by saying a little of the +_Caterpillar_, or the _Palmer flie_ or _worm_; that by them you may +guess what a work it were in a Discourse but to run over those very +many _flies, worms_, and little living creatures with which the Sun and +Summer adorn and beautifie the river banks and meadows; both for the +recreation and contemplation of the Angler: and which (I think) I +myself enjoy more then any other man that is not of my profession. + +_Pliny_ holds an opinion, that many have their birth or being from a +dew that in the Spring falls upon the leaves of trees; and that some +kinds of them are from a dew left upon herbs or flowers: and others +from a dew left upon Colworts or Cabbages: All which kindes of dews +being thickened and condensed, are by the Suns generative heat most of +them hatch'd, and in three dayes made living creatures, and of several +shapes and colours; some being hard and tough, some smooth and soft; +some are horned in their head, some in their tail, some have none; some +have hair, some none; some have sixteen feet, some less, and some have +none: but (as our _Topsel_ hath with great diligence observed) [in his +_History_ of Serpents.] those which have none, move upon the earth, or +upon broad leaves, their motion being not unlike to the waves of the +sea. Some of them hee also observes to be bred of the eggs of other +Caterpillers: and that those in their time turn to be _Butter-flies_; +and again, that their eggs turn the following yeer to be +_Caterpillars_. + +'Tis endlesse to tell you what the curious Searchers into Natures +productions, have observed of these Worms and Flies: But yet I shall +tell you what our _Topsel_ sayes of the _Canker_, or _Palmer-worm_, or +_Caterpiller_; That wheras others content themselves to feed on +particular herbs or leaves (for most think, those very leaves that gave +them life and shape, give them a particular feeding and nourishment, +and that upon them they usually abide;) yet he observes, that this is +called a _Pilgrim_ or _Palmer-worm_, for his very wandering life and +various food; not contenting himself (as others do) with any certain +place for his abode, nor any certain kinde of herb or flower for his +feeding; but will boldly and disorderly wander up and down, and not +endure to be kept to a diet, or fixt to a particular place. + +Nay, the very colours of _Caterpillers_ are, as one has observed, very +elegant and beautiful: I shal (for a taste of the rest) describe one of +them, which I will sometime the next month, shew you feeding on a +Willow tree, and you shal find him punctually to answer this very +description: "His lips and mouth somewhat yellow, his eyes black as +Jet, his ore-head purple, his feet and hinder parts green, his tail two +forked and black, the whole body stain'd with a kind of red spots which +run along the neck and shoulder-blades, not unlike the form of a Cross, +or the letter X, made thus cross-wise, and a white line drawn down his +back to his tail; all which add much beauty to his whole body." And it +is to me observable, that at a fix'd age this _Caterpiller_ gives over +to eat, and towards winter comes to be coverd over with a strange shell +or crust, and so lives a kind of dead life, without eating all the +winter, and (as others of several kinds turn to be several kinds of +flies and vermin, the Spring following) [view Sir _Fra. Bacon_ exper. +728 & 90 in his Natural History] so this _Caterpiller_ then turns to be +a painted Butterflye. + +Come, come my Scholer, you see the River stops our morning walk, and +I wil also here stop my discourse, only as we sit down under this +Honey-Suckle hedge, whilst I look a Line to fit the Rod that our +brother _Peter_ has lent you, I shall for a little confirmation of what +I have said, repeat the observation of the Lord _Bartas_. + + _God not contented to each kind to give, + And to infuse the vertue generative, + By his wise power made many creatures breed + Of liveless bodies, without_ Venus _deed. + + So the cold humour breeds the_ Salamander, + _Who (in effect) like to her births commander + With child with hundred winters, with her touch + Quencheth the fire, though glowing ne'r so much. + + So in the fire in burning furnace springs + The fly_ Perausta _with the flaming wings; + Without the fire it dies, in it, it joyes, + Living in that which all things else destroyes_. + +[Sidenote: Gerb. Herbal. Cabdem] + + _So slow_ Booetes _underneath him sees + In th'icie Islands_ Goslings _hatcht of trees, + Whose fruitful leaves falling into the water, + Are turn'd ('tis known) to living fowls soon after. + + So rotten planks of broken ships, do change + To_ Barnacles. _Oh transformation strange! + 'Twas first a green tree, then a broken hull, + Lately a Mushroom, now a flying Gull_. + +_Vi_. Oh my good Master, this morning walk has been spent to my great +pleasure and wonder: but I pray, when shall I have your direction how +to make Artificial flyes, like to those that the _Trout_ loves best? +and also how to use them? + +_Pisc_. My honest Scholer, it is now past five of the Clock, we will +fish til nine, and then go to Breakfast: Go you to yonder _Sycamore +tree_, and hide your bottle of drink under the hollow root of it; for +about that time, and in that place, we wil make a brave Breakfast +with a piece of powdered Bief, and a Radish or two that I have in my +Fish-bag; we shall, I warrant you, make a good, honest, wholsome, +hungry Breakfast, and I will give you direction for the making and +using of your fly: and in the mean time, there is your Rod and line; +and my advice is, that you fish as you see mee do, and lets try which +can catch the first fish. + +_Viat_. I thank you, Master, I will observe and practice your direction +as far as I am able. + +_Pisc_. Look you Scholer, you see I have hold of a good fish: I now see +it is a _Trout_; I pray put that net under him, and touch not my line, +for if you do, then wee break all. Well done, Scholer, I thank you. Now +for an other. Trust me, I have another bite: Come Scholer, come lay +down your Rod, and help me to land this as you did the other. So, now +we shall be sure to have a good dish of fish for supper. + +_Viat_. I am glad of that, but I have no fortune; sure Master yours is +a better Rod, and better Tackling. + +_Pisc_. Nay then, take mine and I will fish with yours. Look you, +Scholer, I have another: come, do as you did before. And now I have a +bite at another. Oh me he has broke all, there's half a line and a good +hook lost. + +_Viat_. Master, I can neither catch with the first nor second Angle; I +have no fortune. + +_Pisc_. Look you, Scholer, I have yet another: and now having caught +three brace of _Trouts_, I will tel you a short Tale as we walk towards +our Breakfast. A Scholer (a Preacher I should say) that was to preach +to procure the approbation of a Parish, that he might be their +Lecturer, 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 it; and though the borrower of it preach't it word for word, as +it was at first, yet it was utterly dislik'd as it was preach'd by the +second; which the Sermon Borrower complained of to the Lender of it, +and was thus answered; I lent you indeed my _Fiddle_, but not my +_Fiddlestick_; and you are to know, that every one cannot make musick +with my words which are fitted for my own mouth. And so my Scholer, you +are to know, that as the ill pronunciation or ill accenting of a word +in a Sermon spoiles it, so the ill carriage of your Line, or not +fishing even to a foot in a right place, makes you lose your labour: +and you are to know, that though you have my Fiddle, that is, my very +Rod and Tacklings with which you see I catch fish, yet you have not my +Fiddle stick, that is, skill to know how to carry your hand and line; +and this must be taught you (for you are to remember I told you Angling +is an Art) either by practice, or a long observation, or both. + +But now lets say Grace, and fall to Breakfast; what say you Scholer, to +the providence of an old Angler? Does not this meat taste well? And was +not this place well chosen to eat it? for this _Sycamore_ tree will +shade us from the Suns heat. + +_Viat_. All excellent good, Master, and my stomack excellent too; I +have been at many costly Dinners that have not afforded me half this +content: and now good Master, to your promised direction for making and +ordering my Artificiall flye. + +_Pisc_. My honest Scholer, I will do it, for it is a debt due unto you, +by my promise: and because you shall not think your self more engaged +to me then indeed you really are, therefore I will tell you freely, I +find Mr. _Thomas Barker_ (a Gentleman that has spent much time and +money in Angling) deal so judicially and freely in a little book of his +of Angling, and especially of making and Angling with a _flye_ for a +_Trout_, that I will give you his very directions without much +variation, which shal follow. + +Let your rod be light, and very gentle, I think the best are of two +pieces; the line should not exceed, (especially for three or four links +towards the hook) I say, not exceed three or four haires; but if you +can attain to Angle with one haire; you will have more rises, and catch +more fish. Now you must bee sure not to cumber yourselfe with too long +a Line, as most do: and before you begin to angle, cast to have the +wind on your back, and the Sun (if it shines) to be before you, and to +fish down the streame, and carry the point or tip of the Rod downeward; +by which meanes the shadow of yourselfe, and Rod too will be the least +offensive to the Fish, for the sight of any shadow amazes the fish, and +spoiles your sport, of which you must take a great care. + +In the middle of _March_ ('till which time a man should not in honestie +catch a _Trout_) or in April, if the weather be dark, or a little +windy, or cloudie, the best fishing is with the _Palmer-worm_, of which +I last spoke to you; but of these there be divers kinds, or at least +of divers colours, these and the _May-fly_ are the ground of all +_fly_-Angling, which are to be thus made: + +First you must arm your hook, with the line in the inside of it; then +take your Scissers and cut so much of a browne _Malards_ feather as in +your own reason wil make the wings of it, you having with all regard to +the bigness or littleness of your hook, then lay the outmost part of +your feather next to your hook, then the point of your feather next the +shank of your hook; and having so done, whip it three or four times +about the hook with the same Silk, with which your hook was armed, and +having made the Silk fast, take the hackel of a _Cock_ or _Capons_ +neck, or a _Plovers_ top, which is usually better; take off the one +side of the feather, and then take the hackel, Silk or Crewel, Gold or +Silver thred, make these fast at the bent of the hook (that is to say, +below your arming), then you must take the hackel, the silver or gold +thred, and work it up to the wings, shifting or stil removing your +fingers as you turn the Silk about the hook: and still looking at every +stop or turne that your gold, or what materials soever you make your +Fly of, do lye right and neatly; and if you find they do so, then when +you have made the head, make all fast, and then work your hackel up to +the head, and make that fast; and then with a needle or pin divide the +wing into two, and then with the arming Silk whip it about crosswayes +betwixt the wings, and then with your thumb you must turn the point of +the feather towards the bent of the hook, and then work three or four +times about the shank of the hook and then view the proportion, and if +all be neat, and to your liking, fasten. + +I confess, no direction can be given to make a man of a dull capacity +able to make a flye well; and yet I know, this, with a little practice, +wil help an ingenuous Angler in a good degree; but to see a fly made by +another, is the best teaching to make it, and then an ingenuous Angler +may walk by the River and mark what fly falls on the water that day, +and catch one of them, if he see the _Trouts_ leap at a fly of that +kind, and having alwaies hooks ready hung with him, and having a bag +also, alwaies with him with Bears hair, or the hair of a brown or sad +coloured Heifer, hackels of a Cock or Capon, several coloured Silk and +Crewel to make the body of the fly, the feathers of a Drakes head, +black or brown sheeps wool, or Hogs wool, or hair, thred of Gold, and +of silver; silk of several colours (especially sad coloured to make the +head:) and there be also other colour'd feathers both of birds and of +peckled fowl. I say, having those with him in a bag, and trying to make +a flie, though he miss at first, yet shal he at last hit it better, +even to a perfection which none can well teach him; and if he hit to +make his flie right, and have the luck to hit also where there is store +of _trouts_, and a right wind, he shall catch such store of them, as +will encourage him to grow more and more in love with the Art of +_flie-making_. + +_Viat_. But my loving Master, if any wind will not serve, then I wish I +were in _Lapland_, to buy a good wind of one of the honest witches, +that sell so many winds, and so cheap. + +_Pisc_. Marry Scholer, but I would not be there, nor indeed from under +this tree; for look how it begins to rain, and by the clouds (if I +mistake not) we shall presently have a smoaking showre; and therefore +fit close, this _Sycamore tree_ will shelter us; and I will tell you, +as they shall come into my mind, more observations of flie-fishing for +a _Trout_. + +But first, for the Winde; you are to take notice that of the windes the +South winde is said to be best. One observes, That + + _When the winde is south, + It blows your bait into a fishes mouth_. + +Next to that, the _west_ winde is believed to be the best: and having +told you that the _East_ winde is the worst, I need not tell you which +winde is best in the third degree: And yet (as _Solomon_ observes, that +_Hee that considers the winde shall never sow_:) so hee that busies his +head too much about them, (if the weather be not made extreme cold by +an East winde) shall be a little superstitious: for as it is observed +by some, That there is no good horse of a bad colour; so I have +observed, that if it be a clowdy day, and not extreme cold, let the +winde sit in what corner it will, and do its worst. And yet take this +for a Rule, that I would willingly fish on the Lee-shore: and you are +to take notice, that the Fish lies, or swimms neerer the bottom in +Winter then in Summer, and also neerer the bottom in any cold day. + +But I promised to tell you more of the Flie-fishing for a _Trout_, +(which I may have time enough to do, for you see it rains _May-utter_). +First for a _May-flie_, you may make his body with greenish coloured +crewel, or willow colour; darkning it in most places, with waxed silk, +or rib'd with a black hare, or some of them rib'd with silver thred; +and such wings for the colour as you see the flie to have at that +season; nay at that very day on the water. Or you may make the +_Oak-flie_ with an Orange-tawny and black ground, and the brown of a +Mallards feather for the wings; and you are to know, that these two are +most excellent _flies_, that is, the _May-flie_ and the _Oak-flie_: And +let me again tell you, that you keep as far from the water as you can +possibly, whether you fish with a flie or worm, and fish down the +stream; and when you fish with a flie, if it be possible, let no part +of your line touch the water, but your flie only; and be stil moving +your fly upon the water, or casting it into the water; you your self, +being also alwaies moving down the stream. Mr. _Barker_ commends +severall sorts of the palmer flies, not only those rib'd with silver +and gold, but others that have their bodies all made of black, or some +with red, and a red hackel; you may also make the _hawthorn-flie_ which +is all black and not big, but very smal, the smaller the better; or the +_oak-fly_, the body of which is Orange colour and black crewel, with a +brown wing, or a _fly_ made with a peacocks feather, is excellent in a +bright day: you must be sure you want not in your _Magazin_ bag, the +Peacocks feather, and grounds of such wool, and crewel as will make the +Grasshopper: and note, that usually, the smallest flies are best; and +note also, that, the light flie does usually make most sport in a dark +day: and the darkest and least flie in a bright or cleare day; and +lastly note, that you are to repaire upon any occasion to your +_Magazin_ bag, and upon any occasion vary and make them according to +your fancy. + +And now I shall tell you, that the fishing with a naturall flie is +excellent, and affords much pleasure; they may be found thus, the +_May-fly_ usually in and about that month neer to the River side, +especially against rain; the _Oak-fly_ on the Butt or body of an _Oak_ +or _Ash_, from the beginning of _May_ to the end of _August_ it is a +brownish fly, and easie to be so found, and stands usually with his +head downward, that is to say, towards the root of the tree, the small +black fly, or _hawthorn_ fly is to be had on any Hawthorn bush, after +the leaves be come forth; with these and a short Line (as I shewed to +Angle for a _Chub_) you may dap or dop, and also with a _Grashopper_, +behind a tree, or in any deep hole, still making it to move on the top +of the water, as if it were alive, and still keeping your self out of +sight, you shall certainly have sport if there be _Trouts_; yea in a +hot day, but especially in the evening of a hot day. + +And now, Scholer, my direction for _fly-fishing_ is ended with this +showre, for it has done raining, and now look about you, and see how +pleasantly that Meadow looks, nay and the earth smels as sweetly too. +Come let me tell you what holy Mr. _Herbert_ saies of such dayes and +Flowers as these, and then we will thank God that we enjoy them, and +walk to the River and sit down quietly and try to catch the other brace +of _Trouts_. + + Sweet day, so cool, so calm, so bright, + The bridal of the earth and skie, + Sweet dews shal weep thy fall to night, + for thou must die. + + Sweet Rose, whose hew angry and brave + Bids the rash gazer wipe his eye, + Thy root is ever in its grave, + and thou must die. + + Sweet Spring, ful of sweet days & roses, + A box where sweets compacted lie; + My Musick shewes you have your closes, + and all must die. + + Only a sweet and vertuous soul, + Like seasoned timber never gives, + But when the whole world turns to cole, + then chiefly lives. + +_Viat_. I thank you, good Master, for your good direction for +fly-fishing, and for the sweet enjoyment of the pleasant day, which +is so far spent without offence to God or man. And I thank you for the +sweet close of your discourse with Mr. _Herberts_ Verses, which I have +heard, loved Angling; and I do the rather believe it, because he had a +spirit sutable to Anglers, and to those Primitive Christians that you +love, and have so much commended. + +_Pisc_. Well, my loving Scholer, and I am pleased to know that you are +so well pleased with my direction and discourse; and I hope you will be +pleased too, if you find a _Trout_ at one of our Angles, which we left +in the water to fish for it self; you shall chuse which shall be yours, +and it is an even lay, one catches; And let me tell you, this kind of +fishing, and laying Night-hooks, are like putting money to use, for +they both work for the Owners, when they do nothing but sleep, or eat, +or rejoice, as you know we have done this last hour, and fate as +quietly and as free from cares under this _Sycamore_, as _Virgils +Tityrus_ and his _Melibaeus_ did under their broad _Beech_ tree: No +life, my honest Scholer, no life so happy and so pleasant as the +Anglers, unless it be the Beggers life in Summer; for then only they +take no care, but are as happy as we Anglers. + +_Viat_. Indeed Master, and so they be, as is witnessed by the beggers +Song, made long since by _Frank Davison_, a good Poet, who was not a +Begger, though he were a good Poet. + +_Pisc_. Can you sing it, Scholer? + +_Viat_. Sit down a little, good Master, and I wil try. + + _Bright shines the Sun, play beggers, play, + here's scraps enough to serve to day: + What noise of viols is so sweet + As when our merry clappers ring? + What mirth doth want when beggers meet? + A beggers life is for a King: + Eat, drink and play, sleep when we list, + Go where we will so stocks be mist. + Bright shines the Sun, play beggers, &c. + + The world is ours and ours alone, + For we alone have world at will; + We purchase not, all is our own, + Both fields and streets we beggers fill: + Play beggers play, play beggers play, + here's scraps enough to serve to day. + + A hundred herds of black and white + Upon our Gowns securely feed, + And yet if any dare us bite, + He dies therefore as sure as Creed: + Thus beggers Lord it as they please, + And only beggers live at ease: + Bright shines the Sun, play beggers play, + here's scraps enough to serve to day_. + +_Pisc_. I thank you good Scholer, this Song was well humor'd by the +maker, and well remembred and sung by you; and I pray forget not the +Ketch which you promised to make against night, for our Country man +honest _Coridon_ will expect your Ketch and my Song, which I must be +forc'd to patch up, for it is so long since I learnt it, that I have +forgot a part of it. But come, lets stretch our legs a little in a +gentle walk to the River, and try what interest our Angles wil pay us +for lending them so long to be used by the _Trouts_. + +_Viat_. Oh me, look you Master, a fish, a fish. + +_Pisc_. I marry Sir. that was a good fish indeed; if I had had the luck +to have taken up that Rod, 'tis twenty to one he should not have broke +my line by running to the Rods end, as you suffered him; I would have +held him, unless he had been fellow to the great _Trout_ that is neer +an ell long, which had his picture drawne, and now to be seen at mine +Hoste _Rickabies_ at the _George_ in _Ware_; and it may be, by giving +that _Trout_ the Rod, that is, by casting it to him into the water, I +might have caught him at the long run, for so I use alwaies to do when +I meet with an over-grown fish, and you will learn to do so hereafter; +for I tell you, Scholer, fishing is an Art, or at least, it is an Art +to catch fish. + +_Viat_. But, Master, will this _Trout_ die, for it is like he has the +hook in his belly? + +_Pisc_. I wil tel you, Scholer, that unless the hook be fast in his +very Gorge, he wil live, and a little time with the help of the water, +wil rust the hook, & it wil in time wear away as the gravel does in the +horse hoof, which only leaves a false quarter. + +And now Scholer, lets go to my Rod. Look you Scholer, I have a fish +too, but it proves a logger-headed _Chub_; and this is not much a miss, +for this wil pleasure some poor body, as we go to our lodging to meet +our brother _Peter_ and honest _Coridon_--Come, now bait your hook +again, and lay it into the water, for it rains again, and we wil ev'n +retire to the _Sycamore_ tree, and there I wil give you more directions +concerning fishing; for I would fain make you an Artist. + +_Viat_. Yes, good Master, I pray let it be so. + + + + +CHAP. V. + + +_Pisc_. Wel, Scholer, now we are sate downe and are at ease, I shall +tel you a little more of _Trout_ fishing before I speak of the _Salmon_ +(which I purpose shall be next) and then of the _Pike_ or _Luce_. You +are to know, there is night as well as day-fishing for a _Trout_, and +that then the best are out of their holds; and the manner of taking +them is on the top of the water with a great _Lob_ or _Garden worm_, or +rather two; which you are to fish for in a place where the water runs +somewhat quietly (for in a stream it wil not be so well discerned.) I +say, in a quiet or dead place neer to some swift, there draw your bait +over the top of the water to and fro, and if there be a good _Trout_ in +the hole, he wil take it, especially if the night be dark; for then he +lies boldly neer the top of the water, watching the motion of any +_Frog_ or _Water-mouse_, or _Rat_ betwixt him and the skie, which he +hunts for if he sees the water but wrinkle or move in one of these dead +holes, where the great _Trouts_ usually lye neer to their hold. + +And you must fish for him with a strong line, and not a little hook, +and let him have time to gorge your hook, for he does not usually +forsake it, as he oft will in the day-fishing: and if the night be not +dark, then fish so with an _Artificial fly_ of a light colour; nay he +will sometimes rise at a dead Mouse or a piece of cloth, or any thing +that seemes to swim cross the water, or to be in motion: this is a +choice way, but I have not oft used it because it is void of the +pleasures that such dayes as these that we now injoy, afford an +_Angler_. + +And you are to know, that in _Hamp-shire_, (which I think exceeds all +_England_ for pleasant Brooks, and store of _Trouts_) they use to catch +_Trouts_ in the night by the light of a Torch or straw, which when they +have discovered, they strike with a _Trout_ spear; this kind of way +they catch many, but I would not believe it till I was an eye-witness +of it, nor like it now I have seen it. + +_Viat_. But Master, do not _Trouts_ see us in the night? + +_Pisc_. Yes, and hear, and smel too, both then and in the day time, for +_Gesner_ observes, the _Otter_ smels a fish forty furlong off him in +the water; and that it may be true, is affirmed by Sir _Francis Bacon_ +(in the eighth Century of his Natural History) who there proves, that +waters may be the _Medium_ of sounds, by demonstrating it thus, _That +if you knock two stones together very deep under the water, those that +stand on a bank neer to that place may hear the noise without any +diminution of it by the water_. He also offers the like experiment +concerning the letting an _Anchor_ fall by a very long Cable or rope on +a Rock, or the sand within the Sea: and this being so wel observed and +demonstrated, as it is by that learned man, has made me to believe that +_Eeles_ unbed themselves, and stir at the noise of the Thunder, and not +only as some think, by the motion or the stirring of the earth, which +is occasioned by that Thunder. + +And this reason of Sir _Francis Bacons_ [Exper. 792] has made me crave +pardon of one that I laught at, for affirming that he knew _Carps_ come +to a certain place in a Pond to be fed at the ringing of a Bel; and it +shall be a rule for me to make as little noise as I can when I am a +fishing, until Sir _Francis Bacon_ be confuted, which I shal give any +man leave to do, and so leave off this Philosophical discourse for a +discourse of fishing. + +Of which my next shall be to tell you, it is certain, that certain +fields neer _Lemster_, a Town in _Herefordshire_, are observed, that +they make the Sheep that graze upon them more fat then the next, and +also to bear finer Wool; that is to say, that that year in which they +feed in such a particular pasture, they shall yeeld finer wool then the +yeer before they came to feed in it, and courser again if they shall +return to their former pasture, and again return to a finer wool being +fed in the fine wool ground. Which I tell you, that you may the better +believe that I am certain, If I catch a _Trout_ in one Meadow, he shall +be white and _faint_ and very like to be _lowsie_; and as certainly if +I catch a _Trout_ in the next Meadow, he shal be strong, and _red_, and +_lusty_, and much better meat: Trust me (Scholer) I have caught many a +_Trout_ in a particular Meadow, that the very shape and inamelled +colour of him, has joyed me to look upon him, and I have with _Solomon_ +concluded, _Every thing is beautifull in his season_. + +It is now time to tell you next, (according to promise) some +observations of the _Salmon_; But first, I wil tel you there is a fish, +called by some an _Umber_, and by some a _Greyling_, a choice fish, +esteemed by many to be equally good with the _Trout_: it is a fish that +is usually about eighteen inches long, he lives in such streams as the +_Trout_ does; and is indeed taken with the same bait as a _Trout_ is, +for he will bite both at the _Minnow_, the _Worm_, and the _Fly_, both +_Natural_ and _Artificial_: of this fish there be many in _Trent_, and +in the River that runs by _Salisbury_, and in some other lesser Brooks; +but he is not so general a fish as the _Trout_, nor to me either so +good to eat, or so pleasant to fish for as the _Trout_ is; of which two +fishes I will now take my leave, and come to my promised Observations +of the _Salmon_, and a little advice for the catching him. + + + + +CHAP. VI. + + +The _Salmon_ is ever bred in the fresh Rivers (and in most Rivers about +the month of _August_) and never grows big but in the Sea; and there to +an incredible bigness in a very short time; to which place they covet +to swim, by the instinct of nature, about a set time: but if they be +stopp'd by _Mills, Floud-gates_ or _Weirs_, or be by accident lost in +the fresh water, when the others go (which is usually by flocks or +sholes) then they thrive not. + +And the old _Salmon_, both the _Melter_ and _Spawner_, strive also to +get into the _Sea_ before Winter; but being stopt that course, or lost; +grow sick in fresh waters, and by degrees unseasonable, and kipper, +that is, to have a bony gristle, to grow (not unlike a _Hauks_ beak) on +one of his chaps, which hinders him from feeding, and then he pines and +dies. + +But if he gets to _Sea_, then that gristle wears away, or is cast off +(as the _Eagle_ is said to cast his bill) and he recovers his strength, +and comes next Summer to the same River, (if it be possible) to enjoy +the former pleasures that there possest him; for (as one has wittily +observed) he has (like some persons of Honour and Riches, which have +both their winter and Summer houses) the fresh Rivers for Summer, and +the salt water for winter to spend his life in; which is not (as Sir +_Francis Bacon_ hath observed) [in his History of Life and Death] above +ten years: And it is to be observed, that though they grow big in the +_Sea_, yet they grow not fat but in fresh Rivers; and it is observed, +that the farther they get from the _Sea_, the better they be. + +And it is observed, that, to the end they may get far from the _Sea_, +either to Spawne or to possess the pleasure that they then and there +find, they will force themselves over the tops of _Weirs_, or _Hedges_, +or _stops_ in the water, by taking their tails into their mouthes, and +leaping over those places, even to a height beyond common belief: and +sometimes by forcing themselves against the streame through Sluces and +Floud-gates, beyond common credit. And 'tis observed by _Gesner_, that +there is none bigger then in _England_, nor none better then in Thames. + +And for the _Salmons_ sudden growth, it has been observed by tying a +Ribon in the tail of some number of the young _Salmons_, which have +been taken in _Weires_, as they swimm'd towards the salt water, and +then by taking a part of them again with the same mark, at the same +place, at their returne from the Sea, which is usually about six months +after; and the like experiment hath been tried upon young _Swallows_, +who have after six months absence, been observed to return to the same +chimney, there to make their nests, and their habitations for the +Summer following; which hath inclined many to think, that every +_Salmon_ usually returns to the same River in which it was bred, as +young _Pigeons_ taken out of the same Dove-cote, have also been +observed to do. + +And you are yet to observe further, that the He _Salmon_ is usually +bigger then the Spawner, and that he is more kipper, & less able to +endure a winter in the fresh water, then the She is; yet she is at that +time of looking less kipper and better, as watry and as bad meat. + +And yet you are to observe, that as there is no general rule without an +exception, so there is some few Rivers in this Nation that have +_Trouts_ and _Salmon_ in season in winter. But for the observations of +that and many other things, I must in manners omit, because they wil +prove too large for our narrow compass of time, and therefore I shall +next fall upon my direction how to fish for the _Salmon_. + +And for that, first, you shall observe, that usually he staies not long +in a place (as _Trouts_ wil) but (as I said) covets still to go neerer +the Spring head; and that he does not (as the _Trout_ and many other +fish) lie neer the water side or bank, or roots of trees, but swims +usually in the middle, and neer the ground; and that there you are to +fish for him; and that he is to be caught as the _Trout_ is, with a +_Worm_, a _Minnow_, (which some call a _Penke_) or with a _Fly_. + +And you are to observe, that he is very, very seldom observed to bite +at a _Minnow_ (yet sometime he will) and not oft at a _fly_, but more +usually at a _Worm_, and then most usually at a _Lob_ or _Garden worm_, +which should be wel scowred, that is to say, seven or eight dayes in +Moss before you fish with them; and if you double your time of eight +into sixteen, or more, into twenty or more days, it is still the +better, for the worms will stil be clearer, tougher, and more lively, +and continue so longer upon your hook. + +And now I shall tell you, that which may be called a secret: I have +been a fishing with old _Oliver Henly_ (now with God) a noted Fisher, +both for _Trout_ and _Salmon_, 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 pocket, where he would usually let them continue half an hour or +more, before he would bait his hook with them; I have ask'd him his +reason, and he has replied, _He did but pick the best out to be in a +readiness against he baited his hook the next time_: But he has been +observed both by others, and my self, to catch more fish then I or any +other body, that has ever gone a fishing with him, could do, especially +_Salmons_; and I have been told lately by one of his most intimate and +secret friends, that the box in which he put those worms was anointed +with a drop, or two, or three of the Oil of _Ivy-berries_, made by +expression or infusion, and that by the wormes remaining in that box an +hour, or a like time, they had incorporated a kind of smel that was +irresistibly attractive, enough to force any fish, within the smel of +them, to bite. This I heard not long since from a friend, but have not +tryed it; yet I grant it probable, and refer my Reader to Sir _Francis +Bacons_ Natural History, where he proves fishes may hear; and I am +certain _Gesner_ sayes, the _Otter_ can smell in the water, and know +not that but fish may do so too: 'tis left for a lover of Angling, or +any that desires to improve that Art, to try this conclusion. + +I shall also impart another experiment (but not tryed by my selfe) +which I wil deliver in the same words as it was by a friend, given me +in writing. + +_Take the stinking oil drawn out of_ Poly pody _of the_ Oak, _by a +retort mixt with_ Turpentine, _and Hive-honey, and annoint your bait +therewith, and it will doubtlesse draw the fish to it_. + +But in these things I have no great faith, yet grant it probable, and +have had from some chemical men (namely, from Sir _George Hastings_ and +others) an affirmation of them to be very advantageous: but no more of +these, especially not in this place. + +I might here, before I take my leave of the _Salmon_, tell you, that +there is more then one sort of them, as namely, a _Tecon_, and another +called in some places a _Samlet_, or by some, a _Skegger_: but these +(and others which I forbear to name) may be fish of another kind, and +differ, as we know a _Herring_ and a _Pilcher_ do; but must by me be +left to the disquisitions of men of more leisure and of greater +abilities, then I profess myself to have. + +And lastly, I am to borrow so much of your promised patience, as to +tell you, that the _Trout_ or _Salmon_, being in season, have at their +first taking out of the water (which continues during life) their +bodies adorned, the one with such red spots, and the other with black +or blackish spots, which gives them such an addition of natural +beautie, as I (that yet am no enemy to it) think was never given to any +woman by the Artificial Paint or Patches in which they so much pride +themselves in this age. And so I shall leave them and proceed to some +Observations of the _Pike_. + + + + +CHAP. VII. + + +_Pisc_. It is not to be doubted but that the _Luce_, or _Pikrell_, or +_Pike_ breeds by Spawning; and yet _Gesner_ sayes, that some of them +breed, where none ever was, out of a weed called _Pikrell-weed_, and +other glutinous matter, which with the help of the Suns heat proves in +some particular ponds (apted by nature for it) to become _Pikes_. + +Sir _Francis Bacon_ [in his History of Life and Death] observes the +_Pike_ to be the longest lived of any fresh water fish, and yet that +his life is not usually above fortie years; and yet _Gesner_ mentions a +_Pike_ taken in _Swedeland_ in the year 1449, with a Ring about his +neck, declaring he was put into the Pond by _Frederick_ the second, +more then two hundred years before he was last taken, as the +Inscription of that Ring, being Greek, was interpreted by the then +Bishop of _Worms_. But of this no more, but that it is observed that +the old or very great _Pikes_ have in them more of state then goodness; +the smaller or middle siz'd _Pikes_ being by the most and choicest +palates observed to be the best meat; but contrary, the _Eele_ is +observed to be the better for age and bigness. + +All _Pikes_ that live long prove chargeable to their keepers, because +their life is maintained by the death of so many other fish, even those +of his owne kind, which has made him by some Writers to bee called the +Tyrant of the Rivers, or the Fresh water-wolf, by reason of his bold, +greedy, devouring disposition; which is so keen, as _Gesner_ relates, a +man going to a Pond (where it seems a _Pike_ had devoured all the fish) +to water his Mule, had a _Pike_ bit his Mule by the lips, to which the +_Pike_ hung so fast, that the Mule drew him out of the water, and by +that accident the owner of the Mule got the _Pike_; I tell you who +relates it, and shall with it tel you what a wise man has observed, _it +is a hard thing to perswade the belly, because it hath no ears_. + +But if this relation of _Gesners_ bee dis-believed, it is too evident +to bee doubted that a _Pike_ will devoure a fish of his own kind, that +shall be bigger then this belly or throat will receive; and swallow a +part of him, and let the other part remaine in his mouth till the +swallowed part be digested, and then swallow that other part that was +in his mouth, and so put it over by degrees. And it is observed, that +the _Pike_ will eat venemous things (as some kind of _Frogs_ are) and +yet live without being harmed by them: for, as some say, he has in him +a natural Balsome or Antidote against all Poison: and others, that he +never eats a venemous _Frog_ till he hath first killed her, and then +(as _Ducks_ are observed to do to _Frogs_ in Spawning time, at which +time some _Frogs_ are observed to be venemous) so throughly washt her, +by tumbling her up and down in the water, that he may devour her +without danger. And _Gesner_ affirms, that a _Polonian_ Gentleman did +faithfully assure him, he had seen two young Geese at one time in the +belly of a _Pike_: and hee observes, that in _Spain_ there is no +_Pikes_, and that the biggest are in the _Lake Thracimane_ in _Italy_, +and the next, if not equal to them, are the _Pikes_ of _England_. + +The _Pike_ is also observed to be a melancholly, and a bold fish: +Melancholly, because he alwaies swims or rests himselfe alone, and +never swims in sholes, or with company, as _Roach_, and _Dace_, and +most other fish do: And bold, because he fears not a shadow, or to see +or be seen of any body, as the _Trout_ and _Chub_, and all other fish +do. + +And it is observed by _Gesner_, that the bones, and hearts, & gals of +_Pikes_ are very medicinable for several Diseases, as to stop bloud, to +abate Fevers, to cure Agues, to oppose or expel the infection of the +Plague, and to be many wayes medicinable and useful for the good of +mankind; but that the biting of a _Pike_ is venemous and hard to be +cured. + +And it is observed, that the _Pike_ is a fish that breeds but once a +year, and that other fish (as namely _Loaches_) do breed oftner; as we +are certaine Pigeons do almost every month, and yet the Hawk, a bird of +prey (as the _Pike_ is of fish) breeds but once in twelve months: and +you are to note, that his time of breeding or Spawning is usually about +the end of _February_; or somewhat later, in _March_, as the weather +proves colder or warmer: and to note, that his manner of breeding is +thus, a He and a She _Pike_ will usually go together out of a River +into some ditch or creek, and that there the Spawner casts her eggs, +and the Melter hovers over her all that time that she is casting her +Spawn, but touches her not. I might say more of this, but it might be +thought curiosity or worse, and shall therefore forbear it, and take up +so much of your attention as to tell you that the best of _Pikes_ are +noted to be in Rivers, then those in great Ponds or Meres, and the +worst in smal Ponds. + +And now I shall proceed to give you some directions how to catch this +_Pike_, which you have with so much patience heard me talk of. + +[Illustration of a Pike] + +His feeding is usually _fish_ or _frogs_, and sometime a weed of his +owne, called _Pikrel-weed_, of which I told you some think some _Pikes_ +are bred; for they have observed, that where no _Pikes_ have been put +into a Pond, yet that there they have been found, and that there has +been plenty of that weed in that Pond, and that that weed both breeds +and feeds them; but whether those _Pikes_ so bred will ever breed by +generation as the others do, I shall leave to the disquisitions of men +of more curiosity and leisure then I profess my self to have; and shall +proceed to tell you, that you may fish for a _Pike_, either with a +ledger, or a walking-bait; and you are to note, that I call that a +ledger which is fix'd, or made to rest in one certaine place when you +shall be absent; and that I call that a walking bait, which you take +with you, and have ever in motion. Concerning which two, I shall give +you this direction, That your ledger bait is best to be a living bait, +whether it be a fish or a Frog; and that you may make them live the +longer, you may, or indeed you must take this course: + +First, for your live bait of fish, a _Roch_ or _Dace_ is (I think) best +and most tempting, and a _Pearch_ the longest liv'd on a hook; you must +take your knife, (which cannot be too sharp) and betwixt the head and +the fin on his back, cut or make an insition, or such a scar as you may +put the arming wyer of your hook into it, with as little bruising or +hurting the fish as Art and diligence will enable you to do, and so +carrying your arming wyer along his back, unto, or neer the tail of +your fish, betwixt the skin and the body of it, draw out that wyer or +arming of your hook at another scar neer to his tail; then tye him +about it with thred, but no harder then of necessitie you must to +prevent hurting the fish; and the better to avoid hurting the fish, +some have a kind of probe to open the way, for the more easie entrance +and passage of your wyer or arming: but as for these, time and a little +experience will teach you better then I can by words; for of this I +will for the present say no more, but come next to give you some +directions how to bait your hook with a Frog. + +_Viat_. But, good Master, did not you say even now, that some _Frogs_ +were venemous, and is it not dangerous to touch them? + +_Pisc_. Yes, but I wil give you some Rules or Cautions concerning them: +And first, you are to note, there is two kinds of _Frogs_; that is to +say, (if I may so express my self) a _flesh_ and _a fish-frog_: by +flesh _frogs_, I mean, _frogs_ that breed and live on the land; and of +these there be several sorts and colours, some being peckled, some +greenish, some blackish, or brown: the green _Frog_, which is a smal +one, is by _Topsell_ taken to be venemous; and so is the _Padock_, or +_Frog-Padock_, which usually keeps or breeds on the land, and is very +large and bony, and big, especially the She _frog_ of that kind; yet +these wil sometime come into the water, but it is not often; and the +land _frogs_ are some of them observed by him, to breed by laying eggs, +and others to breed of the slime and dust of the earth, and that in +winter they turn to slime again, and that the next Summer that very +slime returns to be a living creature; this is the opinion of _Pliny_: +and [in his 16th Book De subtil. ex.] _Cardanus_ undertakes to give +reason for the raining of _Frogs_; but if it were in my power, it +should rain none but water _Frogs_, for those I think are not venemous, +especially the right water _Frog_, which about _February_ or _March_ +breeds in ditches by slime and blackish eggs in that slime, about which +time of breeding the He and She _frog_ are observed to use divers +simber salts, and to croke and make a noise, which the land _frog_, or +_Padock frog_ never does. Now of these water _Frogs_, you are to chuse +the yellowest that you can get, for that the _Pike_ ever likes best. +And thus use your _Frog_, that he may continue long alive: + +Put your hook into his mouth, which you may easily do from about the +middle of _April_ till _August_, and then the _Frogs_ mouth grows up +and he continues so for at least six months without eating, but is +sustained, none, but he whose name is Wonderful, knows how. I say, put +your hook, I mean the arming wire, through his mouth and out at his +gills, 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 hook, or tie the +_frogs_ leg above the upper joint to the armed wire, and in so doing +use him as though you loved him, that is, harme him as little as you +may possibly, that he may live the longer. + +And now, having given you this direction for the baiting your ledger +hook with a live _fish_ or _frog_, my next must be to tell you, how +your hook thus baited must or may be used; and it is thus: Having +fastned your hook to a line, which if it be not fourteen yards long, +should not be less then twelve; you are to fasten that line to any bow +neer to a hole where a _Pike_ is, or is likely to lye, or to have a +haunt, and then wind your line on any forked stick, all your line, +except a half yard of it, or rather more, and split that forked stick +with such a nick or notch at one end of it, as may keep the line from +any more of it ravelling from about the stick, then so much of it as +you intended; 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_ bites, and then the _Pike_ having pulled the line forth +of the clift or nick in which it was gently fastened, will have line +enough to go to his hold and powch the bait: and if you would have this +ledger bait to keep at a fixt place, undisturbed by wind or other +accidents which may drive it to the shoare side (for you are to note +that it is likeliest to catch a _Pike_ in the midst of the water) then +hang a small Plummet of lead, a stone, or piece of tyle, or a turfe in +a string, and cast it into the water, with the forked stick to hang +upon the ground, to be as an Anchor to keep the forked stick from +moving out of your intended place till the _Pike_ come. This I take to +be a very good way, to use so many ledger baits as you intend to make +tryal of. + +Or if you bait your hooks thus, with live fish or Frogs, and in a windy +day fasten them thus to a bow or bundle of straw, and by the help of +that wind can get them to move cross a _Pond_ or _Mere_, you are like +to stand still on the shoar and see sport, if there be any store of +_Pikes_; or these live baits may make sport, being tied about the body +or wings of a _Goose_ or _Duck_, and she chased over a Pond: and the +like may be done with turning three or four live baits thus fastened to +bladders, or boughs, or bottles of hay, or flags, to swim down a River, +whilst you walk quietly on the shore along with them, and are still in +expectation of sport. The rest must be taught you by practice, for time +will not alow me to say more of this kind of fishing with live baits. + +And for your dead bait for a _Pike_, for that you may be taught by one +dayes going a fishing with me or any other body that fishes for him, +for the baiting your hook with a dead _Gudgion_ or a _Roch_, and moving +it up and down the water, is too easie a thing to take up any time to +direct you to do it; and yet, because I cut you short in that, I will +commute for it, by telling you that that was told me for a secret: it +is this: + +_Dissolve_ Gum of Ivie _in Oyle of_ Spike, _and therewith annoint your +dead bait for a_ Pike, _and then cast it into a likely place, and when +it has layen a short time at the bottom, draw it towards the top of the +water, and so up the stream, and it is more then likely that you have +a_ Pike _follow you with more then common eagerness_. + +This has not been tryed by me, but told me by a friend of note, that +pretended to do me a courtesie: but if this direction to catch a _Pike_ +thus do you no good, I am certaine this direction how to roste him when +he is caught, is choicely good, for I have tryed it, and it is somewhat +the better for not being common; but with my direction you must take +this Caution, that your Pike must not be a smal one. + +_First open your_ Pike _at the gills, and if need be, cut also a little +slit towards his belly; out of these, take his guts, and keep his +liver, which you are to shred very small with_ Time, Sweet Margerom, +_and a little_ Winter-Savoury; _to these put some pickled_ Oysters, +_and some_ Anchovis, _both these last whole (for the_ Anchovis _will +melt, and the_ Oysters _should not) to these you must add also a pound +of sweet_ Butter, _which you are to mix with the herbs that are shred, +and let them all be well salted (if the_ Pike _be more then a yard +long, then you may put into these herbs more then a pound, or if he be +less, then less_ Butter _will suffice:) these being thus mixt, with a +blade or two of Mace, must be put into the_ Pikes _belly, and then his +belly sowed up; then you are to thrust the spit through his mouth out +at his tail; and then with four, or five, or six split sticks or very +thin laths, and a convenient quantitie of tape or filiting, these laths +are to be tyed roundabout the_ Pikes _body, from his head to his tail, +and the tape tied somewhat thick to prevent his breaking or falling off +from the spit; let him be rosted very leisurely, and often basted with +Claret wine, and Anchovis, and butter mixt together, and also with what +moisture falls from him into the pan: when you have rosted him +sufficiently, you are to hold under him (when you unwind or cut the +tape that ties him) such a dish as you purpose to eat him out of, and +let him fall into it with the sawce that is rosted in his belly; and by +this means the_ Pike _will be kept unbroken and complete; then to the +sawce, which was within him, and also in the pan, you are to add a fit +quantity of the best butter, and to squeeze the juice of three or four +Oranges: lastly, you may either put into the_ Pike _with the_ Oysters, +_two cloves of Garlick, and take it whole out when the_ Pike _is cut +off the spit, or to give the sawce a hogoe, let the dish (into which +you let the_ Pike _fall) be rubed with it; the using or not using of +this Garlick is left to your discretion. This dish of meat is too good +for any but Anglers or honest men; and, I trust, you wil prove both, +and therefore I have trusted you with this Secret. And now I shall +proceed to give you some Observations concerning the _Carp_. + + + + +CHAP. VIII. + + +_Pisc_. The _Carp_ is a stately, a good, and a subtle fish, a fish that +hath not (as it is said) been long in _England_, but said to be by one +Mr. _Mascall_ (a Gentleman then living at _Plumsted_ in _Sussex_) +brought into this Nation: and for the better confirmation of this, you +are to remember I told you that _Gesner_ sayes, there is not a _Pike_ +in _Spain_, and that except the _Eele_, which lives longest out of the +water, there is none that will endure more hardness, or live longer +then a _Carp_ will out of it, and so the report of his being brought +out of a forrain Nation into this, is the more probable. + +_Carps_ and _Loches_ are observed to breed several months in one year, +which most other fish do not, and it is the rather believed, because +you shall scarce or never take a Male _Carp_ without a _Melt_, or a +_Female_ without a _Roe_ or _Spawn_; and for the most part very much, +and especially all the Summer season; and it is observed, that they +breed more naturally in Ponds then in running waters, and that those +that live in Rivers are taken by men of the best palates to be much the +better meat. + +And it is observed, that in some Ponds _Carps_ will not breed, +especially in cold Ponds; but where they will breed, they breed +innumerably, if there be no _Pikes_ nor _Pearch_ to devour their Spawn, +when it is cast upon grass, or flags, or weeds, where it lies ten or +twelve dayes before it be enlivened. + +The _Carp_, if he have water room and good feed, will grow to a very +great bigness and length: I have heard, to above a yard long; though I +never saw one above thirty three inches, which was a very great and +goodly fish. + +Now as the increase of _Carps_ is wonderful for their number; so there +is not a reason found out, I think, by any, why the should breed in +some Ponds, and not in others of the same nature, for soil and all +other circumstances; and as their breeding, so are their decayes also +very mysterious; I have both read it, and been told by a Gentleman of +tryed honestie, that he has knowne sixtie or more large _Carps_ put +into several Ponds neer to a house, where by reason of the stakes in +the Ponds, and the Owners constant being neer to them, it was +impossible they should be stole away from him, and that when he has +after three or four years emptied the Pond, and expected an increase +from them by breeding young ones (for that they might do so, he had, as +the rule is, put in three Melters for one Spawner) he has, I say, after +three or four years found neither a young nor old _Carp_ remaining: And +the like I have known of one that has almost watched his Pond, and at a +like distance of time at the fishing of a Pond, found of seventy or +eighty large _Carps_, not above five or six: and that he had forborn +longer to fish the said Pond, but that he saw in a hot day in Summer, a +large _Carp_ swim neer to the top of the water with a _Frog_ upon his +head, and that he upon that occasion caused his Pond to be let dry: and +I say, of seventie or eighty _Carps_, only found five or six in the +said Pond, and those very sick and lean, and with every one a Frog +sticking so fast on the head of the said _Carps_, that the Frog would +not bee got off without extreme force or killing, and the Gentleman +that did affirm this to me he saw it, and did declare his belief to be +(and I also believe the same) that he thought the other _Carps_ that +were so strangely lost, were so killed by _Frogs_, and then devoured. + +But I am faln into this discourse by accident, of which I might say +more, but it has proved longer then I intended, and possibly may not to +you be considerable; I shall therefore give you three or four more +short observations of the _Carp_, and then fall upon some directions +how you shall fish for him. + +The age of _Carps_ is by S. _Francis Bacon_ (in his History of Life and +Death) observed to be but ten years; yet others think they live longer: +but most conclude, that (contrary to the _Pike_ or _Luce_) all _Carps_ +are the better for age and bigness; the tongues of _Carps_ are noted to +be choice and costly meat, especially to them that buy them; but +_Gesner_ sayes, _Carps_ have no tongues like other fish, but a piece of +flesh-like-fish in their mouth like to a tongue, and may be so called, +but it is certain it is choicely good, and that the _Carp_ is to be +reckoned amongst those leather mouthed fish, which I told you have +their teeth in their throat, and for that reason he is very seldome +lost by breaking his hold, if your hook bee once stuck into his chaps. + +I told you, that Sir _Francis Bacon_ thinks that the _Carp_ lives but +ten years; but _Janus Dubravius_ (a _Germane_ as I think) has writ a +book in Latine of Fish and Fish Ponds, in which he sayes, that _Carps_ +begin to Spawn at the age of three yeers, and continue to do so till +thirty; he sayes also, that in the time of their breeding, which is in +Summer when the Sun hath warmed both the earth and water, and so apted +them also for generation, that then three or four Male _Carps_ will +follow a Female, and that then she putting on a seeming coyness, they +force her through weeds and flags, where she lets fall her eggs or +Spawn, which sticks fast to the weeds, and then they let fall their +Melt upon it, and so it becomes in a short time to be a living fish; +and, as I told you, it is thought the _Carp_ does this several months +in the yeer, and most believe that most fish breed after this manner, +except the _Eele_: and it is thought that all _Carps_ are not bred by +generation, but that some breed otherwayes, as some _Pikes_ do. + + * * * * * + +Much more might be said out of him, and out of _Aristotle_, which +Dubravius often quotes in his Discourse, but it might rather perplex +then satisfie you, and therefore I shall rather chuse to direct you how +to catch, then spend more time discoursing either of the nature or the +breeding of this _Carp_, or of any more circumstances concerning him, +but yet I shall remember you of what I told you before, that he is a +very subtle fish and hard to be caught. + +[Illustration of a Carp] + +And my first directon is, that if you will fish for a _Carp_, you must +put on a very large measure of patience, especially to fish for a River +_Carp_: I have knowne a very good Fisher angle diligently four or six +hours in a day, for three or four dayes together for a River _Carp_, +and not have a bite: and you are to note, that in some Ponds it is as +hard to catch a _Carp_ as in a River; that is to say, where they have +store of feed, & the water is of a clayish colour; but you are to +remember, that I have told you there is no rule without an exception, +and therefore being possest with that hope and patience which I wish to +all Fishers, especially to the _Carp-Angler_, I shall tell you with +what bait to fish for him; but that must be either early or late, and +let me tell you, that in hot weather (for he will seldome bite in cold) +you cannot bee too early or too late at it. + +The _Carp_ bites either at wormes or at Paste; and of worms I think the +blewish Marsh or Meadow worm is best; but possibly another worm not too +big may do as well, and so may a Gentle: and as for Pastes, there are +almost as many sorts as there are Medicines for the Toothach, but +doubtless sweet Pastes are best; I mean, Pastes mixt with honey, or +with Sugar; which, that you may the better beguile this crafty fish, +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-Rod: and +doubtless, if it be thrown into the water a day or two before, at +several times, and in smal pellets, you are the likelier when you fish +for the _Carp_, to obtain your desired sport: or in a large Pond, to +draw them to any certain place, that they may the better and with more +hope be fished for: you are to throw into it, in some certaine place, +either grains, or bloud mixt with Cow-dung, or with bran; or any +Garbage, as Chickens guts or the like, and then some of your smal sweet +pellets, with which you purpose to angle; these smal pellets, being few +of them thrown in as you are Angling. + +And your Paste must bee thus made: Take the flesh of a Rabet or Cat cut +smal, and Bean-flower, or (if not easily got then) other flowre, and +then mix these together, and put to them either Sugar, or Honey, which +I think better, and then beat these together in a Mortar; or sometimes +work them in your hands, (your hands being very clean) and then make it +into a ball, or two, or three, as you like best for your use: but you +must work or pound it so long in the Mortar, as to make it so tough as +to hang upon your hook without washing from it, yet not too hard; or +that you may the better keep it on your hook, you may kneade with your +Paste a little (and not much) white or yellowish wool. + +And if you would have this Paste keep all the year for any other fish, +then mix with it _Virgins-wax_ and _clarified honey_, and work them +together with your hands before the fire; then make these into balls, +and it will keep all the yeer. + +And if you fish for a _Carp_ with Gentles, then put upon your hook a +small piece of Scarlet about this bigness {breadth of two letters}, it +being soked in, or anointed with _Oyl of Peter_, called by some, _Oyl +of the Rock_; and if your Gentles be put two or three dayes before into +a box or horn anointed with Honey, and so put upon your hook, as to +preserve them to be living, you are as like to kill this craftie fish +this way as any other; but still as you are fishing, chaw a little +white or brown bread in your mouth, and cast it into the Pond about the +place where your flote swims. Other baits there be, but these with +diligence, and patient watchfulness, will do it as well as any as I +have ever practised, or heard of: and yet I shall tell you, that the +crumbs of white bread and honey made into a Paste, is a good bait for a +_Carp_, and you know it is more easily made. And having said thus much +of the _Carp_, my next discourse shal be of the _Bream_, which shall +not prove so tedious, and therefore I desire the continuance of your +attention. + + + + +CHAP. IX. + + +_Pisc_. The _Bream_ being at a full growth, is a large and stately +fish, he will breed both in Rivers and Ponds, but loves best to live in +Ponds, where, if he likes the aire, he will grow not only to be very +large, but as fat as a Hog: he is by _Gesner_ taken to be more pleasant +or sweet then wholesome; this fish is long in growing, but breeds +exceedingly in a water that pleases him, yea, in many Ponds so fast, as +to over store them, and starve the other fish. + +The Baits good for to catch the _Bream_ are many; as namely, young +Wasps, and a Paste made of brown bread and honey, or Gentels, or +especially a worm, a worm that is not much unlike a Magot, which you +will find at the roots of _Docks_, or of _Flags_, or of _Rushes_ that +grow in the water, or watry places, and a _Grashopper_ having his legs +nip'd off, or a flye that is in _June_ and _July_ to be found amongst +the green Reed, growing by the water side, those are said to bee +excellent baits. I doubt not but there be many others that both the +_Bream_ and the _Carp_ also would bite at; but these time and +experience will teach you how to find out: And so having according to +my promise given you these short Observations concerning the _Bream_, I +shall also give you some Observations concerning the _Tench_, and those +also very briefly. + +The _Tench_ is observed to love to live in Ponds; but if he be in a +River, then in the still places of the River, he is observed to be a +Physician to other fishes, and is so called by many that have been +searchers into the nature of fish; and it is said, that a _Pike_ will +neither devour nor hurt him, because the _Pike_ being sick or hurt by +any accident, is cured by touching the _Tench_, and the _Tench_ does +the like to other fishes, either by touching them, or by being in their +company. + +_Randelitius_ sayes in his discourse of fishes (quoted by _Gesner_) +that at his being at _Rome_, he saw certaine Jewes apply _Tenches_ to +the feet of a sick man for a cure; and it is observed, that many of +those people have many Secrets unknown to Christians, secrets which +have never been written, but have been successsively since the dayes of +Solomon (who knew the nature of all things from the Shrub to the Cedar) +delivered by tradition from the father to the son, and so from +generation to generation without writing, or (unless it were casually) +without the least communicating them to any other Nation or Tribe (for +to do so, they account a profanation): yet this fish, that does by a +natural inbred Balsome, not only cure himselfe if he be wounded, but +others also, loves not to live in clear streams paved with gravel, but +in standing waters, where mud and the worst of weeds abound, and +therefore it is, I think, that this _Tench_ is by so many accounted +better for Medicines then for meat: but for the first, I am able to say +little; and for the later, can say positively, that he eats pleasantly; +and will therefore give you a few, and but a few directions how to +catch him. + +[Illustration of a Tench] + +He will bite at a Paste made of brown bread and honey, or at a +Marsh-worm, or a Lob-worm; he will bite also at a smaller worm, with +his head nip'd off, and a Cod-worm put on the hook before the worm; and +I doubt not but that he will also in the three hot months (for in the +nine colder he stirs not much) bite at a Flag-worm, or at a green +Gentle, but can positively say no more of the _Tench_, he being a fish +that I have not often Angled for; but I wish my honest Scholer may, and +be ever fortunate when hee fishes. + +_Viat_. I thank you good Master: but I pray Sir, since you see it still +rains _May_ butter, give me some observations and directions concerning +the _Pearch_, for they say he is both a very good and a bold biting +fish, and I would faine learne to fish for him. + +_Pisc_. You say true, Scholer, the _Pearch_ is a very good, and a very +bold biting fish, he is one of the fishes of prey, that, like the +_Pike_ and _Trout_, carries his teeth in his mouth, not in his throat, +and dare venture to kill and devour another fish; this fish, and the +_Pike_ are (sayes _Gesner_) the best of fresh water fish; he Spawns but +once a year, and is by Physicians held very nutritive; yet by many to +be hard of digestion: They abound more in the River _Poe_, and in +_England_, (sayes _Randelitius_) then other parts, and have in their +brain a stone, which is in forrain parts sold by Apothecaries, being +there noted to be very medicinable against the stone in the reins: +These be a part of the commendations which some Philosophycal brain +have bestowed upon the fresh-water _Pearch_, yet they commend the _Sea +Pearch_, which is known by having but one fin on his back, (of which +they say, we _English_ see but a few) to be a much better fish. + +The _Pearch_ grows slowly, yet will grow, as I have been credibly +informed, to be almost two foot long; for my Informer told me, such a +one was not long since taken by Sir _Abraham Williams_, a Gentleman of +worth, and a lover of Angling, that yet lives, and I wish he may: this +was a deep bodied fish; and doubtless durst have devoured a _Pike_ of +half his own length; for I have told you, he is a bold fish, such a +one, as but for extreme hunger, the _Pike_ will not devour; for to +affright the _Pike_, the _Pearch_ will set up his fins, much like as a +_Turkie-Cock_ wil sometimes set up his tail. + +But, my Scholer, the _Pearch_ is not only valiant to defend himself, +but he is (as you said) a bold biting fish, yet he will not bite at +all seasons of the yeer; he is very abstemious in Winter; and hath been +observed by some, not usually to bite till the _Mulberry tree_ buds, +that is to say, till extreme Frosts be past for that Spring; for when +the _Mulberry tree_ blossomes, many Gardners observe their forward +fruit to be past the danger of Frosts, and some have made the like +observation of the _Pearches_ biting. + +[Illustration of a Pearch] + +But bite the _Pearch_ will, and that very boldly, and as one has +wittily observed, if there be twentie or fortie in a hole, they may be +at one standing all catch'd one after another; they being, as he saies, +like the wicked of the world, not afraid, though their fellowes and +companions perish in their sight. And the baits for this bold fish are +not many; I mean, he will bite as well at some, or at any of these +three, as at any or all others whatsoever; a _Worm_, a _Minnow_, or a +little _Frog_ (of which you may find many in hay time) and of _worms_, +the Dunghill worm, called a _brandling_, I take to be best, being well +scowred in Moss or Fennel; and if you fish for a _Pearch_ with a +_Minnow_, then it is best to be alive, you sticking your hook through +his back fin, and letting him swim up and down about mid-water, or a +little lower, and you still keeping him to about that depth, by a Cork, +which ought not to be a very light one: and the like way you are to +fish for the _Pearch_ with a small _Frog_, your hook being fastened +through the skin of his leg, towards the upper part of it: And lastly, +I will give you but this advise, that you give the _Pearch_ time enough +when he bites, for there was scarse ever any _Angler_ that has given +him too much. And now I think best to rest my selfe, for I have almost +spent my spirits with talking so long. + +_Viat_. Nay, good Master, one fish more, for you see it rains still, +and you know our Angles are like money put to usury; they may thrive +though we sit still and do nothing, but talk & enjoy one another. Come, +come the other fish, good Master. + +_Pisc_. But Scholer, have you nothing to mix with this Discourse, which +now grows both tedious and tiresome? Shall I have nothing from you that +seems to have both a good memorie, and a cheerful Spirit? + +_Viat_. Yes, Master, I will speak you a Coppie of Verses that were made +by Doctor _Donne_, and made to shew the world that hee could make soft +and smooth Verses, when he thought them fit and worth his labour; and I +love them the better, because they allude to Rivers, and fish, and +fishing. They bee these: + + _Come live with me, and be my love, + And we will some new pleasures prove, + Of golden sands, and Christal brooks, + With silken lines and silver hooks. + + There will the River wispering run, + Warm'd by thy eyes more then the Sun; + And there th'inamel'd fish wil stay, + Begging themselves they may betray. + + When thou wilt swim in that live bath, + Each fish, which every channel hath + Most amorously to thee will swim, + Gladder to catch thee, then thou him. + + If thou, to be so seen, beest loath + By Sun or Moon, thou darknest both; + And, if mine eyes have leave to see, + I need not their light, having thee. + + Let others freeze with Angling Reeds, + And cut their legs with shels & weeds, + Or treacherously poor fish beset, + With strangling snares, or windowy net. + + Let coarse bold hands, from slimy nest, + The bedded fish in banks outwrest, + Let curious Traitors sleave silk flies, + To 'witch poor wandring fishes eyes. + + For thee, thou needst no such deceit, + For thou thy self art thine own bait; + Tha fish that is not catch'd thereby, + Is wiser far, alas, then I_. + +_Pisc_. Well remembred, honest Scholer, I thank you for these choice +Verses, which I have heard formerly, but had quite forgot, till they +were recovered by your happie memorie. Well, being I have now rested my +self a little, I will make you some requital, by telling you some +observations of the _Eele_, for it rains still, and (as you say) our +Angles are as money put to use, that thrive when we play. + + + + +CHAP. X. + + +It is agreed by most men, that the _Eele_ is both a good and a most +daintie fish; but most men differ about his breeding; some say, they +breed by generation as other fish do; and others, that they breed (as +some worms do) out of the putrifaction of the earth, and divers other +waies; those that denie them to breed by generation, as other fish do, +ask, if any man ever saw an _Eel_ to have Spawn or Melt? And they are +answered, That they may be as certain of their breeding, as if they had +seen Spawn; for they say, that they are certain that _Eeles_ have all +parts fit for generation, like other fish, but so smal as not to be +easily discerned, by reason of their fatness; but that discerned they +may be; and that the Hee and the She _Eele_ may be distinguished by +their fins. + +And others say, that _Eeles_ growing old, breed other _Eeles_ out of +the corruption of their own age, which Sir _Francis Bacon_ sayes, +exceeds not ten years. And others say, 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 (apted by nature for that end) which in +a few dayes is by the Suns heat turned into _Eeles_. I have seen in the +beginning of _July_, in a River not far from _Canterbury_, some parts +of it covered over with young _Eeles_ about the thickness of a straw; +and these _Eeles_ did lye on the top of that water, as thick as motes +are said to be in the Sun; and I have heard the like of other Rivers, +as namely, in _Severn_, and in a _pond_ or _Mere_ in _Stafford-shire_, +where about a set time in Summer, such small _Eeles_ abound so much, +that many of the poorer sort of people, that inhabit near to it, take +such _Eeles_ out of this Mere, with sieves or sheets, and make a kind +of _Eele-cake_ of them, and eat it like as bread. And _Gesner_ quotes +venerable _Bede_ to say, that in _England_ there is an Iland called +_Ely_, by reason of the innumerable number of _Eeles_ that breed in it. +But that _Eeles_ may be bred as some worms and some kind of _Bees_ and +_Wasps_ are, either of dew, or out of the corruption of the earth, +seems to be made probable by the _Barnacles_ and young _Goslings_ bred +by the Suns heat and the rotten planks of an old Ship, and hatched of +trees, both which are related for truths by _Dubartas_, and our learned +_Cambden_, and laborious _Gerrard_ in his _Herball_. + +It is said by _Randelitius_, that those _Eeles_ that are bred in +Rivers, that relate to, or be neer to the Sea, never return to the +fresh waters (as the _Salmon_ does alwaies desire to do) when they have +once tasted the salt water; and I do the more easily believe this, +because I am certain that powdered Bief is a most excellent bait to +catch an _Eele_: and S'r. _Francis Bacon_ will allow the _Eeles_ life +to be but ten years; yet he in his History of Life and Death, mentions +a _Lamprey_, belonging to the _Roman_ Emperor, to be made tame, and so +kept for almost three score yeers; and that such useful and pleasant +observations were made of this _Lamprey_, that _Crassus_ the Oratour +(who kept her) lamented her death. + +It is granted by all, or most men, that _Eeles_, for about six months +(that is to say, the six cold months of the yeer) stir not up and down, +neither in the Rivers nor the Pools in which they are, but get into the +soft earth or mud, and there many of them together bed themselves, and +live without feeding upon any thing (as I have told you some _Swallows_ +have been observed to do in hollow trees for those six cold months); +and this the _Eele_ and _Swallow_ do, as not being able to endure +winter weather; for _Gesner_ quotes _Albertus_ to say, that in the yeer +1125 (that years winter being more cold then usual) _Eeles_ did by +natures instinct get out of the water into a stack of hay in a Meadow +upon dry ground, and there bedded themselves, but yet at last died +there. I shall say no more of the _Eele_, but that, as it is observed, +he is impatient of cold, so it has been observed, that in warm weather +an _Eele_ has been known to live five days out of the water. And +lastly, let me tell you, that some curious searchers into the natures +of fish, observe that there be several sorts or kinds of _Eeles_, as +the _Silver-Eele_, and green or greenish _Eel_ (with which the River of +Thames abounds, and are called _Gregs_); and a blackish _Eele_, whose +head is more flat and bigger then ordinary _Eeles_; and also an _Eele_ +whose fins are redish, and but seldome taken in this Nation (and yet +taken sometimes): These several kinds of _Eeles_, are (say some) +diversly bred; as namely, out of the corruption of the earth, and by +dew, and other wayes (as I have said to you:) and yet it is affirmed by +some, that for a certain, the _Silver-Eele_ breeds by generation, but +not by Spawning as other fish do, but that her Brood come alive from +her no bigger nor longer then a pin, and I have had too many +testimonies of this to doubt the truth of it. + +And this _Eele_ of which I have said so much to you, may be caught with +divers kinds of baits; as namely, with powdered Bief, with a _Lob_ or +_Garden-worm_, with a _Minnow_, or gut of a _Hen, Chicken_, or with +almost any thing, for he is a greedy fish: but the _Eele_ seldome stirs +in the day, but then hides himselfe, and therefore he is usually caught +by night, with one of these baits of which I have spoken, and then +caught by laying hooks, which you are to fasten to the bank, or twigs +of a tree; or by throwing a string cross the stream, with many hooks at +it, and baited with the foresaid baits, and a clod or plummet, or +stone, thrown into the River with this line, that so you may in the +morning find it neer to some fixt place, and then take it up with a +drag-hook or otherwise: but these things are indeed too common to be +spoken of; and an hours fishing with any _Angler_ will teach you +better, both for these, and many other common things in the practical +part of _Angling_, then a weeks discourse. I shall therefore conclude +this direction for taking the _Eele_, by telling you, that in a warm +day in Summer, I have taken many a good _Eele_ by _snigling_, and have +been much pleased with that sport. + +And because you that are but a young Angler, know not what _snigling_ +is, I wil now teach it to you: you remember I told you that _Eeles_ do +not usually stir in the day time, for then they hide themselvs under +some covert, or under boards, or planks about Floud-gates, or Weirs, or +Mils, or in holes in the River banks; and you observing your time in a +warm day, when the water is lowest, may take a hook tied to a strong +line, or to a string about a yard long, and then into one of these +holes, or between any boards about a Mill, or under any great stone or +plank, or any place where you think an _Eele_ may hide or shelter her +selfe, there with the help of a short stick put in your bait, but +leisurely, and as far as you may conveniently; and it is scarce to be +doubted, but that if there be an Eel within the sight of it, the _Eele_ +will bite instantly, and as certainly gorge it; and you need not doubt +to have him, if you pull him not out of the hole too quickly, but pull +him out by degrees, for he lying folded double in his hole, will, with +the help of his taile, break all, unless you give him time to be +wearied with pulling, and so get him out by degrees; not pulling too +hard. And thus much for this present time concerning the _Eele_: I wil +next tel you a little of the _Barbell_, and hope with a little +discourse of him, to have an end of this showr, and fal to fishing, for +the weather clears up a little. + + + + +CHAP. XI. + + +_Pisc_. The _Barbell_, is so called (sayes _Gesner_) from or by reason +of his beard, or wattles at his mouth, his mouth being under his nose +or chaps, and he is one of the leather mouthed fish that has his teeth +in his throat, he loves to live in very swift streams, and where it is +gravelly, and in the gravel will root or dig with his nose like a Hog, +and there nest himself, taking so fast hold of any weeds or moss that +grows on stones, or on piles about _Weirs_, or _Floud-gates_, or +_Bridges_, that the water is not able, be it never so swift, to force +him from the place which he seems to contend for: this is his constant +custome in Summer, when both he, and most living creatures joy and +sport themselves in the Sun; but at the approach of Winter, then he +forsakes the swift streams and shallow waters, and by degrees retires +to those parts of the River that are quiet and deeper; in which places, +(and I think about that time) he Spawns; and as I have formerly told +you, with the help of the Melter, hides his Spawn or eggs in holes, +which they both dig in the gravel, and then they mutually labour to +cover it with the same sand to prevent it from being devoured by other +fish. + +There be such store of this fish in the River _Danubie_, that +_Randelitius_ sayes, they may in some places of it, and in some months +of the yeer, be taken by those that dwel neer to the River, with their +hands, eight or ten load at a time; he sayes, they begin to be good in +_May_, and that they cease to be so in _August_; but it is found to be +otherwise in this Nation: but thus far we agree with him, that the +Spawne of a _Barbell_ is, if be not poison, as he sayes, yet that it is +dangerous meat, and especially in the month of _May_; and _Gesner_ +declares, it had an ill effect upon him, to the indangering of his +life. + +[Illustration of a Barbell] + +This fish is of a fine cast and handsome shape, and may be rather said +not to be ill, then to bee good meat; the _Chub_ and he have (I think) +both lost a part of their credit by ill Cookery, they being reputed the +worst or coarsest of fresh water fish: but the _Barbell_ affords an +_Angler_ choice sport, being a lustie and a cunning fish; so lustie and +cunning as to endanger the breaking of the Anglers line, by running his +head forcibly towards any covert or hole, or bank, and then striking at +the line, to break it off with his tail (as is observed by _Plutark_, +in his book _De industria animalium_) and also so cunning to nibble and +suck off your worme close to the hook, and yet avoid the letting the +hook come into his mouth. + +The _Barbell_ is also curious for his baits, that is to say, that they +be clean and sweet; that is to say, to have your worms well scowred, +and not kept in sowre or mustie moss; for at a well scowred Lob-worm, +he will bite as boldly as at any bait, especially, if the night or two +before you fish for him, you shall bait the places where you intend to +fish for him with big worms cut into pieces; and Gentles (not being too +much scowred, but green) are a choice bait for him, and so is cheese, +which is not to be too hard, but kept a day or two in a wet linnen +cloth to make it tough; with this you may also bait the water a day or +two before you fish for the _Barbel_, and be much the likelier to catch +store; and if the cheese were laid in clarified honey a short time +before (as namely, an hour or two) you were still the likelier to catch +fish; some have directed to cut the cheese into thin pieces, and toste +it, and then tye it on the hook with fine Silk: and some advise to fish +for the _Barbell_ with Sheeps tallow and soft cheese beaten or work'd +into a Paste, and that it is choicely good in _August_; and I believe +it: but doubtless the Lob-worm well scoured, and the Gentle not too +much scowred, and cheese ordered as I have directed, are baits enough, +and I think will serve in any Month; though I shall commend any Angler +that tryes conclusions, and is industrious to improve the Art. And now, +my honest Scholer, the long showre, and my tedious discourse are both +ended together; and I shall give you but this Observation, That when +you fish for a _Barbell_, your Rod and Line be both long, and of good +strength, for you will find him a heavy and a doged fish to be dealt +withal, yet he seldom or never breaks his hold if he be once strucken. + +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 water. Come, +Scholer; which will you take up? + +_Viat_. Which you think fit, Master. + +_Pisc_. Why, you shall take up that; for I am certain by viewing the +Line, it has a fish at it. Look you, Scholer, well done. Come now, take +up the other too; well, now you may tell my brother _Peter_ at night, +that you have caught a lease of _Trouts_ this day. And now lets move +toward our lodging, and drink a draught of Red-Cows milk, as we go, and +give pretty _Maudlin_ and her mother a brace of _Trouts_ for their +supper. + +_Viat_. Master, I like your motion very well, and I think it is now +about milking time, and yonder they be at it. + +_Pisc_. God speed you good woman, I thank you both for our Songs last +night; I and my companion had such fortune a fishing this day, that we +resolve to give you and _Maudlin_ a brace of _Trouts_ for supper, and +we will now taste a draught of your Red Cows milk. + +_Milkw_. Marry, and that you shal with all my heart, and I will be +still your debtor: when you come next this way, if you will but speak +the word, I will make you a good _Sillabub_ and then you may sit down +in a _Hay-cock_ and eat it, and _Maudlin_ shal sit by and sing you the +good old Song of the _Hunting in Chevy Chase_, or some other good +Ballad, for she hath good store of them: _Maudlin_ hath a notable +memory. + +_Viat_. We thank you, and intend once in a Month to call upon you +again, and give you a little warning, and so good night; good night +_Maudlin_. And now, good Master, lets lose no time, but tell me +somewhat more of fishing; and if you please, first something of fishing +for a _Gudgion_. + +_Pisc_. I will, honest Scholer. The _Gudgion_ is an excellent fish to +eat, and good also to enter a young _Angler_; 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 strucken: they be usually scattered up and down +every River in the shallows, in the heat of Summer; but in _Autome_, +when the weeds begin to grow sowre or rot, and the weather colder, then +they gather together, and get into the deeper parts of the water, and +are to be fish'd for there, with your hook alwaies touching the ground, +if you fish for him with a flote or with a cork; but many will fish for +the _Gudgion_ by hand, with a running line upon the ground without a +cork as a _Trout_ is fished for, and it is an excellent way. + +There is also another fish called a _Pope_, and by some a _Russe_, a +fish that is not known to be in some Rivers; it is much like the +_Pearch_ for his shape, but will not grow to be bigger then a +_Gudgion_; he is an excellent fish, no fish that swims is of a +pleasanter taste; and he is also excellent to enter a young _Angler_, +for he is a greedy biter, and they will usually lye abundance of them, +together in one reserved place where the water is deep, and runs +quietly, and an easie Angler, if he has found where they lye, may catch +fortie or fiftie, or sometimes twice so many at a standing. + +There is also a _Bleak_, a fish that is ever in motion, and therefore +called by some the River Swallow; for just as you shall observe the +_Swallow_ to be most evenings in Summer ever in motion, making short +and quick turns when he flies to catch flies in the aire, by which he +lives, so does the _Bleak_ at the top of the water; and this fish is +best caught with a fine smal Artificial Fly, which is to be of a brown +colour, and very smal, and the hook answerable: There is no better +sport then whipping for _Bleaks_ in a boat in a Summers evening, with a +hazle top about five or six foot long, and a line twice the length of +the Rod. I have heard Sir _Henry Wotton_ say, that there be many that +in _Italy_ will catch _Swallows_ so, or especially _Martins_ (the +Bird-Angler standing on the top of a Steeple to do it, and with a line +twice so long, as I have spoke of) and let me tell you, Scholer, that +both _Martins_ and _Blekes_ be most excellent meat. + +I might now tell you how to catch _Roch_ and _Dace_, and some other +fish of little note, that I have not yet spoke of; but you see we are +almost at our lodging, and indeed if we were not, I would omit to give +you any directions concerning them, or how to fish for them, not but +that they be both good fish (being in season) and especially to some +palates, and they also make the Angler good sport (and you know the +Hunter sayes, there is more sport in hunting the Hare, then in eating +of her) but I will forbear to give you any direction concerning them, +because you may go a few dayes and take the pleasure of the fresh aire, +and bear any common Angler company that fishes for them, and by that +means learn more then any direction I can give you in words, can make +you capable of; and I will therefore end my discourse, for yonder comes +our brother _Peter_ and honest _Coridon_, but I will promise you that +as you and I fish, and walk to morrow towards _London_, if I have now +forgotten any thing that I can then remember, I will not keep it from +you. + +Well met, Gentlemen, this is luckie that we meet so just together at +this very door. Come Hostis, where are you? is Supper ready? come, +first give us drink, and be as quick as you can, for I believe wee are +all very hungry. Wel, brother _Peter_ and _Coridon_ to you both; come +drink, and tell me what luck of fish: we two have caught but ten +_Trouts_, of which my Scholer caught three; look here's eight, and a +brace we gave away: we have had a most pleasant day for fishing, and +talking, and now returned home both weary and hungry, and now meat and +rest will be pleasant. + +_Pet_. And _Coridon_ and I have not had an unpleasant day, and yet I +have caught but five _Trouts_; for indeed we went to a good honest +Alehouse, and there we plaid at shovel-board half the day; all the time +that it rained we were there, and as merry as they that fish'd, and I +am glad we are now with a dry house over our heads, for heark how it +rains and blows. Come Hostis, give us more Ale, and our Supper with +what haste you may, and when we have sup'd, lets have your Song, +_Piscator_, and the Ketch that your Scholer promised us, or else +_Coridon_ wil be doged. + +_Pisc_. Nay, I will not be worse then my word, you shall not want my +Song, and I hope I shall be perfect in it. + +_Viat_. And I hope the like for my Ketch, which I have ready too, and +therefore lets go merrily to Supper, and then have a gentle touch at +singing and drinking; but the last with moderation. + +_Cor_. Come, now for your Song, for we have fed heartily. Come Hostis, +give us a little more drink, and lay a few more sticks on the fire, and +now sing when you will. + +_Pisc_. Well then, here's to you _Coridon_; and now for my Song. + + _Oh the brave Fisher's life, + It is the best of any, + 'Tis full of pleasure, void of strife, + And 'tis belov'd of many: + Other joyes + are but toyes, + only this + lawful is, + for our skil + breeds no ill, + but content and pleasure. + + In a morning up we rise + Ere_ Aurora's _peeping, + Drink a cup to wash our eyes, + Leave the sluggard sleeping; + Then we go + too and fro, + with our knacks + at our backs, + to such streams + as the_ Thames + _if we have the leisure. + + When we please to walk abroad + For our recreation, + In the fields is our abode, + Full of delectation: + Where in a Brook + with a hook, + or a Lake + fish we take, + there we sit + for a bit, + till we fish intangle. + + We have Gentles in a horn, + We have Paste and worms too, + We can watch both night and morn. + Suffer rain and storms too: + None do here + use to swear, + oathes do fray + fish away. + we sit still, + watch our quill, + Fishers must not rangle. + + If the Suns excessive heat + Makes our bodies swelter + To an_ Osier _hedge we get + For a friendly shelter, + where in a dike_ + Pearch _or_ Pike, + Roch _or_ Dace + _we do chase_ + Bleak _or_ Gudgion + _without grudging, + we are still contented. + + Or we sometimes pass an hour, + Under a green willow, + That defends us from a showr, + Making earth our pillow, + There we may + think and pray + before death + stops our breath; + other joyes + are but toyes + and to be lamented_. + +_Viat_. Well sung, Master; this dayes fortune and pleasure, and this +nights company and Song, do all make me more and more in love with +_Angling_. Gentlemen, my Master left me alone for an hour this day, and +I verily believe he retir'd himself from talking with me, that he might +be so perfect in this Song; was it not Master? + +_Pisc_. Yes indeed, for it is many yeers since I learn'd it, and having +forgotten a part of it, I was forced to patch it up by the help of my +own invention, who am not excellent at Poetry, as my part of the Song +may testifie: But of that I will say no more, least you should think I +mean by discommending it, to beg your commendations of it. And +therefore without replications, lets hear your Ketch, Scholer, which I +hope will be a good one, for you are both Musical, and have a good +fancie to boot. + +_Viat_. Marry, and that you shall, 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 morrow. But Master, first let me tell you, +that that very hour which you were absent from me, I sate down under a +Willow tree by the water side, and considered what you had told me of +the owner of that pleasant Meadow in which you then left me, that he +had a plentiful estate, and not a heart to think so; that he had at +this time many Law Suites depending, and that they both damp'd his +mirth and took up so much of his time and thoughts, that he himselfe +had not leisure to take the sweet content that I, who pretended no +title, took in his fields; for I could there sit quietly, and looking +on the water, see fishes leaping at Flies of several shapes and +colours; looking on the Hils, could behold them spotted with Woods and +Groves; looking down the Meadows, could see here a Boy gathering +_Lillies_ and _Lady-smocks_, and there a Girle cropping _Culverkeys_ +and _Cowslips_, all to make Garlands sutable to this pleasant Month of +_May_; these and many other Field-flowers so perfum'd the air, that I +thought this Meadow like the field in _Sicily_ (of which _Diodorus_ +speaks) where the perfumes arising from the place, makes all dogs that +hunt in it, to fall off, and to lose their hottest sent. I say, as I +thus sate joying in mine own happy condition, and pittying that rich +mans that ought this, and many other pleasant Groves and Meadows about +me, I did thankfully remember what my Saviour said, that _the meek +possess the earth_; for indeed they are free from those high, those +restless thoughts and contentions which corrode the sweets of life. For +they, and they only, can say as the Poet has happily exprest it. + + _Hail blest estate of poverty! + Happy enjoyment of such minds, + As rich in low contentedness. + Can, like the reeds in roughest winds, + By yeelding make that blow but smal + At which proud Oaks and Cedars fal_. + +Gentlemen, these were a part of the thoughts that then possest me, and +I there made a conversion of a piece of an old Ketch, and added more to +it, fitting them to be sung by us Anglers: Come, Master, you can sing +well, you must sing a part of it as it is in this paper. + + +[Illustration: Song with notes] + +The ANGLERS Song. + +_For two Voyces, Treble and Basso. CANTUS. Mr. Henry Lawes_. + + An's life is but vain; for 'tis subject to pain, and sorrow, + and short as a buble; 'tis a hodge podge of business, and mony, and + care; and care, and mony, and trouble. But we'l take no care when the + weather proves fair, nor will we vex now though it rain; we'l banish + all sorrow, and sing till tomorrow, and Angle, and Angle again. + + +The ANGLERS song. + +_BASSUS. For two Voyces. By Mr. Henry Lawes_. + + An's life is but vain; for 'tis subiect to pain and sorrow, and + short as a buble, 'tis a hodge podge of business, and mony, and care; + and care, and mony, and trouble. But we'l take no care when the + weather proves fair, nor will we vex now though it rain; we'l banish + all sorrow, and sing till to morrow, and Angle, and Angle again. + +_Pet_. I marry Sir, this is Musick indeed, this has cheered my heart, +and made me to remember six Verses in praise of Musick, which I will +speak to you instantly. + + _Musick, miraculous Rhetorick, that speak'st sense + Without a tongue, excelling eloquence; + With what ease might thy errors be excus'd + Wert thou as truly lov'd as th'art abus'd. + But though dull souls neglect, and some reprove thee, + I cannot hate thee, 'cause the Angels love thee_. + +_Piscat_. Well remembred, brother _Peter_, these Verses came +seasonably. Come, we will all joine together, mine Hoste and all, and +sing my Scholers Ketch over again, and then each man drink the tother +cup and to bed, and thank God we have a dry house over our heads. + +_Pisc_. Well now, good night to every body. + +_Pet_. And so say I. + +_Viat_. And so say I. + +_Cor_. Good night to you all, and I thank you. + +_Pisc_. Good morrow brother _Peter_, and the like to you, honest +_Coridon_; come, my Hostis sayes there's seven shillings to pay, lets +each man drink a pot for his mornings draught, and lay downe his two +shillings, that so my Hostis may not have occasion to repent her self +of being so diligent, and using us so kindly. + +_Pet_. The motion is liked by every body; And so Hostis, here's your +mony, we Anglers are all beholding to you, it wil not be long ere Ile +see you again. And now brother _Piscator_, I wish you and my brother +your Scholer a fair day, and good fortune. Come _Coridon_, this is our +way. + + + + +CHAP. XII. + + +_Viat_. Good Master, as we go now towards _London_, be still so +courteous as to give me more instructions, for I have several boxes in +my memory in which I will keep them all very safe, there shall not one +of them be lost. + +_Pisc_. Well Scholer, that I will, and I will hide nothing from you +that I can remember, and may help you forward towards a perfection in +this Art; and because we have so much time, and I have said so little +of _Roch_ and _Dace_, I will give you some directions concerning some +several kinds of baits with which they be usually taken; they will bite +almost at any flies, but especially at Ant-flies; concerning which, +take this direction, for it is very good. + +Take the blackish _Ant-fly_ out of the Mole-hill, or Ant-hil, in which +place you shall find them in the Months of _June_; or if that be too +early in the yeer, then doubtless you may find them in _July, August_ +and most of _September_; gather them alive with both their wings, and +then put them into a glass, that will hold a quart or a pottle; but +first, put into the glass, a handful or more of the moist earth out of +which you gather them, and as much of the roots of the grass of the +said Hillock; and then put in the flies gently, that they lose their +wings, and as many as are put into the glass without bruising, will +live there a month or more, and be alwaies in a readiness for you to +fish with; but if you would have them keep longer, then get any great +earthen pot or barrel of three or four gallons (which is better) then +wash your barrel with water and honey; and having put into it a +quantitie of earth and grass roots, then put in your flies and cover +it, and they will live a quarter of a year; these in any stream and +clear water are a deadly bait for _Roch_ or _Dace_, or for a _Chub_, +and your rule is to fish not less then a handful from the bottom. + +I shall next tell you a winter bait for a _Roch_, a _Dace_, or _Chub_, +and it is choicely good. About _All-hollantide_ (and so till Frost +comes) when you see men ploughing up heath-ground, or sandy ground, or +greenswards, then follow the plough, and you shall find a white worm, +as big as two Magots, and it hath a red head, (you may observe in what +ground most are, for there the Crows will be very watchful, and follow +the Plough very close) it is all soft, and full of whitish guts; a worm +that is in Norfolk, and some other Countries called a _Grub_, and is +bred of the spawn or eggs of a Beetle, which she leaves in holes that +she digs in the ground under Cow or Horse-dung, and there rests all +Winter, and in _March_ or _April_ comes to be first a red, and then a +black Beetle: gather a thousand or two of these, and put them with a +peck or two of their own earth into some tub or firkin, and cover and +keep them so warm, that the frost or cold air, or winds kill them not, +and you may keep them all winter and kill fish with them at any time, +and if you put some of them into a little earth and honey a day before +you use them, you will find them an excellent baite for _Breame_ or +_Carp_. + +And after this manner you may also keep _Gentles_ all winter, which is +a good bait then, and much the better for being lively and tuffe, or +you may breed and keep Gentle thus: Take a piece of beasts liver and +with a cross stick, hang it in some corner over a pot or barrel half +full of dry clay, and as the Gentles grow big, they wil fall into the +barrel and scowre themselves, and be alwayes ready for use whensoever +you incline to fish; and these Gentles may be thus made til after +_Michaelmas_: But if you desire to keep Gentles to fish with all the +yeer, then get a dead _Cat_ or a _Kite_, and let it be fly-blowne, and +when the Gentles begin to be alive and to stir, then bury it and them +in moist earth, but as free from frost as you can, and these you may +dig up at any time when you intend to use them; these wil last till +_March_, and about that time turn to be flies. + +But if you be nice to fowl your fingers (which good Anglers seldome +are) then take this bait: Get a handful of well made Mault, and put it +into a dish of water, and then wash and rub it betwixt your hands til +you make it cleane, and as free from husks as you can; then put that +water from it, and put a small quantitie of fresh water to it, and set +it in something that is fit for that purpose, over the fire, where it +is not to boil apace, but leisurely, and very softly, until it become +somewhat soft, which you may try by feeling it betwixt your finger and +thumb; and when it is soft, then put your water from it, and then take +a sharp knife, and turning the sprout end of the corn upward, with the +point of your knife take the back part of the husk off from it, and yet +leaving a kind of husk on the corn, or else it is marr'd; and then cut +off that sprouted end (I mean a little of it) that the white may +appear, and so pull off the husk on the cloven side (as I directed you) +and then cutting off a very little of the other end, that so your hook +may enter, and if your hook be small and good, you will find this to be +a very choice bait either for Winter or Summer, you sometimes casting a +little of it into the place where your flote swims. + +And to take the _Roch_ and _Dace_, a good bait is the young brood of +Wasps or Bees, baked or hardened in their husks in an Oven, after the +bread is taken out of it, or on a fire-shovel; and so also is the thick +blood of _Sheep_, being half dryed on a trencher that you may cut it +into such pieces as may best fit the size of your hook, and a little +salt keeps it from growing black, and makes it not the worse but +better; this is taken to be a choice bait, if rightly ordered. + +There be several Oiles of a strong smel that I have been told of, and +to be excellent to tempt fish to bite, of which I could say much, but I +remember I once carried a small bottle from Sir _George Hastings_ to +Sir _Henry Wotton_ (they were both chimical men) as a great present; +but upon enquiry, I found it did not answer the expectation of Sir +_Henry_, which with the help of other circumstances, makes me have +little belief in such things as many men talk of; not but that I think +fishes both smell and hear (as I have exprest in my former discourse) +but there is a mysterious knack, which (though it be much easier then +the Philosophers-Stone, yet) is not atainable by common capacities, or +else lies locked up in the braine or brest of some chimical men, that, +like the _Rosi-crutions_, yet will not reveal it. But I stepped by +chance into this discourse of Oiles, and fishes smelling; and though +there might be more said, both of it, and of baits for _Roch_ and +_Dace_, and other flote fish, yet I will forbear it at this time, and +tell you in the next place how you are to prepare your tackling: +concerning which I will for sport sake give you an old Rhime out of an +old Fish-book, which will be a part of what you are to provide. + + _My rod, and my line, my flote and my lead, + My hook, & my plummet, my whetstone & knife, + My Basket, my baits, both living and dead, + My net, and my meat for that is the chief; + Then I must have thred & hairs great & smal, + With mine Angling purse, and so you have all_. + +But you must have all these tackling, and twice so many more, with +which, if you mean to be a fisher, you must store your selfe: and to +that purpose I will go with you either to _Charles Brandons_ (neer to +the _Swan_ in _Golding-lane_); or to Mr. _Fletchers_ in the Court which +did once belong to Dr. _Nowel_ the Dean of _Pauls_, that I told you was +a good man, and a good Fisher; it is hard by the west end of Saint +_Pauls_ Church; they be both honest men, and will fit an Angler with +what tackling hee wants. + +_Viat_. Then, good Master, let it be at _Charles Brandons_, for he is +neerest to my dwelling, and I pray lets meet there the ninth of _May_ +next about two of the Clock, and I'l want nothing that a Fisher should +be furnished with. + +_Pisc_. Well, and Ile not fail you, God willing, at the time and place +appointed. + +_Viat_. I thank you, good Master, and I will not fail you: and good +Master, tell me what baits more you remember, for it wil not now be +long ere we shal be at _Totenham High-Cross_, and when we come thither, +I wil make you some requital of your pains, by repeating as choice a +copy of Verses, as any we have heard since we met together; and that is +a proud word; for wee have heard very good ones. + +_Pisc_. Wel, Scholer, and I shal be right glad to hear them; and I wil +tel you whatsoever comes in my mind, that I think may be worth your +hearing: you may make another choice bait thus, Take a handful or two +of the best and biggest _Wheat_ you can get, boil it in a little milk +like as Frumitie is boiled, boil it so till it be soft, and then fry it +very leisurely with honey, and a little beaten _Saffron_ dissolved in +milk, and you wil find this a choice bait, and good I think for any +fish, especially for _Roch, Dace, Chub_ or _Greyling_; I know not but +that it may be as good for a River _Carp_, and especially if the ground +be a little baited with it. + +You are also to know, that there be divers kinds of _Cadis_, or +_Case-worms_ that are to bee found in this Nation in several distinct +Counties, & in several little Brooks that relate to bigger Rivers, as +namely one _Cadis_ called a _Piper_, whose husk or case is a piece of +reed about an inch long or longer, and as big about as the compass of a +two pence; these worms being kept three or four days in a woollen bag +with sand at the bottom of it, and the bag wet once a day will in three +or four dayes turne to be yellow; and these be a choice bait for the +_Chub_ or _Chavender_, or indeed for any great fish, for it is a large +bait. + +There is also a lesser _Cadis-worm_, called a _Cock-spur_, being in +fashion like the spur of a _Cock_, sharp at one end, and the case or +house in which this dwels is made of smal _husks_ and _gravel_, and +_slime_, most curiously made of these, even so as to be wondred at, but +not made by man (no more then the nest of a bird is): this is a choice +bait for any flote fish, it is much less then the _Piper Cadis_, and to +be so ordered; and these may be so preserved ten, fifteen, or twentie +dayes. + +There is also another _Cadis_ called by some a _Straw-worm_, and by +some a _Russe-coate_, whose house or case is made of little pieces of +bents and Rushes, and straws, and water weeds, and I know not what +which are so knit together with condens'd slime, that they stick up +about her husk or case, not unlike the _bristles_ of a _Hedg-hog_; +these three _Cadis_ are commonly taken in the beginning of Summer, and +are good indeed to take any kind of fish with flote or otherwise, I +might tell you of many more, which, as these doe early, so those have +their time of turning to be flies later in Summer; but I might lose my +selfe, and tire you by such a discourse, I shall therefore but remember +you, that to know these, and their several kinds, and to what flies +every particular _Cadis_ turns, and then how to use them, first as they +bee _Cadis_, and then as they be flies, is an Art, and an Art that +every one that professes Angling is not capable of. + +But let mee tell you, I have been much pleased to walk quietly by a +Brook with a little stick in my hand, with which I might easily take +these, and consider the curiosity of their composure; and if you shall +ever like to do so, then note, that your stick must be cleft, or have a +nick at one end of it, by which meanes you may with ease take many of +them out of the water, before you have any occasion to use them. These, +my honest Scholer, are some observations told to you as they now come +suddenly into my memory, of which you may make some use: but for the +practical part, it is that that makes an Angler; it is diligence, and +observation, and practice that must do it. + + + + +CHAP. XIII. + + +_Pisc_. Well, Scholar, I have held you too long about these _Cadis_, +and my spirits are almost spent, and so I doubt is your patience; but +being we are now within sight of _Totenham_, where I first met you, and +where wee are to part, I will give you a little direction how to colour +the hair of which you make your lines, for that is very needful to be +known of an _Angler_; and also how to paint your rod, especially your +top, for a right grown top is a choice Commoditie, and should be +preserved from the water soking into it, which makes it in wet weather +to be heavy, and fish ill favouredly, and also to rot quickly. + +Take a pint of strong Ale, half a pound of soot, and a like quantity of +the juice of Walnut-tree leaves, and an equal quantitie of Allome, put +these together into a pot, or pan, or pipkin, and boil them half an +hour, and having so done, let it cool, and being cold, put your hair +into it, and there let it lye; it wil turn your hair to be a kind of +water, or glass colour, or greenish, and the longer you let it lye, the +deeper coloured it will bee; you might be taught to make many other +colours, but it is to little purpose; for doubtlesse the water or glass +coloured haire is the most choice and most useful for an _Angler_. + +But if you desire to colour haire green, then doe it thus: Take a quart +of smal Ale, halfe a pound of Allome, then put these into a pan or +pipkin, and your haire into it with them, then put it upon a fire and +let it boile softly for half an hour, and then take out your hair, and +let it dry, and having so done, then take a pottle of water, and put +into it two handful of Mary-golds, and cover it with a tile or what you +think fit, and set it again on the fire, where it is to boil softly for +half an hour, about which time the scum will turn yellow, then put into +it half a pound of Copporis beaten smal, and with it the hair that you +intend to colour, then let the hair be boiled softly till half the +liquor be wasted, & then let it cool three or four hours with your hair +in it; and you are to observe, that the more Copporis you put into it, +the greener it will be, but doubtless the pale green is best; but if +you desire yellow hair (which is only good when the weeds rot) then put +in the more _Mary-golds_, and abate most of the Copporis, or leave it +out, and take a little Verdigreece in stead of it. + +This for colouring your hair. And as for painting your rod, which must +be in Oyl, you must first make a size with glue and water, boiled +together until the glue be dissolved, and the size of a lie colour; +then strike your size upon the wood with a bristle brush or pensil, +whilst it is hot: that being quite dry, take white lead, and a little +red lead, and a little cole black, so much as all together will make an +ash colour, grind these all together with Linseed oyle, let it be +thick, and lay it thin upon the wood with a brush or pensil, this do +for the ground of any colour to lie upon wood. + +_For a Green_. + +Take Pink and Verdigreece, and grind them together in Linseed oyl, as +thick as you can well grind it, then lay it smoothly on with your +brush, and drive it thin, once doing for the most part will serve, if +you lay it wel, and be sure your first colour be thoroughly dry, before +you lay on a second. + +Well, Scholer, you now see _Totenham_, and I am weary, and therefore +glad that we are so near it; but if I were to walk many more days with +you, I could stil be telling you more and more of the mysterious Art of +Angling; but I wil hope for another opportunitie, and then I wil +acquaint you with many more, both necessary and true observations +concerning fish and fishing: but now no more, lets turn into yonder +Arbour, for it is a cleane and cool place. + +_Viat_. 'Tis a faire motion, and I will requite a part of your +courtesies with a bottle of _Sack_, and _Milk_, and _Oranges_ and +_Sugar_, which all put together, make a drink too good for anybody, but +us Anglers: and so Master, here is a full glass to you of that liquor, +and when you have pledged me, I wil repeat the Verses which I promised +you, it is a Copy printed amongst Sir _Henry Wottons_ Verses, and +doubtless made either by him, or by a lover of Angling: Come Master, +now drink a glass to me, and then I will pledge you, and fall to my +repetition; it is a discription of such Country recreations as I have +enjoyed since I had the happiness to fall into your company. + + _Quivering fears, heart tearing cares, + Anxious sighes, untimely tears, + Fly, fly to Courts, + Fly to fond wordlings sports, + Where strain'd Sardonick smiles are glosing stil + And grief is forc'd to laugh against her will. + Where mirths but Mummery, + And sorrows only real be. + + Fly from our Country pastimes, fly, + Sad troops of humane misery, + Come serene looks, + Clear as the Christal Brooks, + Or the pure azur'd heaven that smiles to see + The rich attendance on our poverty; + Peace and a secure mind + Which all men seek, we only find. + + Abused Mortals did you know + Where joy, hearts ease, and comforts grow, + You'd scorn proud Towers, + And seek them in these Bowers, + Where winds sometimes our woods perhaps may shake, + But blustering care could never tempest make, + No murmurs ere come nigh us, + Saving of Fountains that glide by us. + + Here's no fantastick Mask nor Dance, + But of our kids that frisk, and prance; + Nor wars are seen + Unless upon the green + Two harmless Lambs are butting one the other, + Which done, both bleating, run each to his mother: + And wounds are never found, + Save what the Plough-share gives the ground. + + Here are no false entrapping baits + To hasten too too hasty fates + Unles it be + The fond credulitie + Of silly fish, which, worldling like, still look + Upon the bait, but never on the hook; + Nor envy, 'nless among + The birds, for price of their sweet Song. + + Go, let the diving_ Negro _seek + For gems hid in some forlorn creek, + We all Pearls scorn, + Save what the dewy morne + Congeals upon each little spire of grasse, + Which careless Shepherds beat down as they passe, + And Gold ne're here appears + Save what the yellow_ Ceres _bears. + + Blest silent Groves, oh may you be + For ever mirths blest nursery, + May pure contents + For ever pitch their tents + Upon these downs, these Meads, these rocks, these mountains, + And peace stil slumber by these purling fountains + Which we may every year + find when we come a fishing here_. + +_Pisc_. Trust me, Scholer, I thank you heartily for these Verses, they +be choicely good, and doubtless made by a lover of Angling: Come, now +drink a glass to me, and I wil requite you with a very good Copy of +Verses; it is a farewel to the vanities of the world, and some say +written by D'r. D, but let them bee writ by whom they will, he that +writ them had a brave soul, and must needs be possest with happy +thoughts at the time of their composure. + + _Farwel ye guilded follies, pleasing troubles, + Farwel ye honour'd rags, ye glorious bubbles; + Fame's but a hollow eccho, gold pure clay, + Honour the darling but of one short day. + Beauty (th'eyes idol) but a damask'd skin, + State but a golden prison, to live in + And torture free-born minds; imbroider'd trains + Meerly but Pageants, for proud swelling vains, + And blood ally'd to greatness is alone + Inherited, not purchas'd, nor our own. + Fame, honor, beauty, state, train, blood & birth, + Are but the fading blossomes of the earth. + + I would be great, but that the Sun doth still, + Level his rayes against the rising hill: + I would be high, but see the proudest Oak + Most subject to the rending Thunder-Stroke; + I would be rich, but see men too unkind + Dig in the bowels of the richest mind; + I would be wise, but that I often see + The Fox suspected whilst the Ass goes free; + I would be fair, but see the fair and proud + Like the bright Sun, oft setting in a cloud; + I would be poor, but know the humble grass + Still trampled on by each unworthy Asse: + Rich, hated; wise, suspected; scorn'd, if poor; + Great, fear'd; fair, tempted; high, stil envi'd more + I have wish'd all, but now I wish for neither, + Great, high, rich, wise, nor fair, poor I'l be rather. + + Would the world now adopt me for her heir, + Would beauties Queen entitle me the Fair, + Fame speak me fortunes Minion, could I vie + Angels w'th India, w'th a speaking eye + Command bare heads, bow'd knees, strike Justice dumb + As wel as blind and lame, or give a tongue + To stones, by Epitaphs, be call'd great Master, + In the loose Rhimes of every Poetaster + Could I be more then any man that lives, + Great, fair, rich, wise in all Superlatives; + Yet I more freely would these gifts resign, + Then ever fortune would have made them mine + And hold one minute of this holy leasure, + Beyond the riches of this empty pleasure. + + Welcom pure thoughts, welcome ye silent groves, + These guests, these Courts, my soul most dearly loves, + Now the wing'd people of the Skie shall sing + My chereful Anthems to the gladsome Spring; + A Pray'r book now shall be my looking glasse, + In which I will adore sweet vertues face. + Here dwell no hateful locks, no Pallace cares, + No broken vows dwell here, nor pale fac'd fears, + Then here I'l sit and sigh my hot loves folly, + And learn t'affect an holy melancholy. + And if contentment be a stranger, then + I'l nere look for it, but in heaven again_. + +_Viat_. Wel Master, these be Verses that be worthy to keep a room in +every mans memory. I thank you for them, and I thank you for your many +instructions, which I will not forget; your company and discourse have +been so pleasant, that I may truly say, I have only lived, since I +enjoyed you and them, and turned Angler. I am sorry to part with you +here, here in this place where I first met you, but it must be so: I +shall long for the ninth of _May_, for then we are to meet at _Charls +Brandons_. This intermitted time wil seem to me (as it does to men in +sorrow,) to pass slowly, but I wil hasten it as fast as I can by my +wishes, and in the mean time _the blessing of Saint_ Peters _Master be +with mine_. + +_Pisc_. And the like be upon my honest Scholer. And upon all that hate +contentions, and love _quietnesse_, and _vertue_, and _Angling_. + + +FINIS. + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Complete Angler, 1653, by Isaak Walton + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE COMPLETE ANGLER, 1653 *** + +***** This file should be named 9198.txt or 9198.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/9/1/9/9198/ + +Produced by J. Ingram, G. Smith, T. Riikonen and Distributed +Proofreaders + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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