■mn kTE UC-NRLF ^B Eb2 abs WITH mcHAwr: ^^^i^SK THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA GIFT OF Estate of Jean Howard McDuffie yr^<^^M^'/f^/. THE COMPLETE ANGLER. Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2007 with funding from IVIicrosoft Corporation http://www.archive.org/details/completeanglerOOwaltrich THE COMPLETE ANGLER; OR, THE CONTEMPLJTIFE MAN'S RECREATION. By ISA AKjW ALTON. JacBtmtfe (Re|)rinf of f^e ISitBi (gbtfion |>u6ft63eb in 1653. ^tf3 a ^preface 6^ RICHARD LE GALLIENNE, LONDON: ELLIOT STOCK. NEIV YORK: DODD, MEAD & COMPANY. 1897. Add iji ,b, SNV33 A PREFACE. ^T^HE ^"^ first edition'*^ has been a favourite theme J for the scorn of those who love it not. " The first edition — and the worst /" gibes a ?nodern poet, and many are the true lovers of literature entirely insensitive to the accessory, historical or sentimental, associations of boohs. The present writer possesses a copy of one of Walton^ s Lives, that of Bishop Sanderson, with the author'' s donatory in- scription 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 fro7n his hand ; yet, how often when, tremulously, he has unveiled this treasure to his visitors, how often has it been examined with un dilating eyes, ana cold, un envious 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 uriintelligent, 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 729 vi Preface. gentle poetry y it is to be feared^ has won but few listener Sf 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 fa?nous discourse ^ little dreaming that he had been chosen for the godfather of so distinguished an immor- tality. The lines form an epilogue to twelve beautiful sonnets a propos of the bi-centenary of Walton's death : '• Whaty not a word for thee^ O little tome, Brown-jerkinedy friendly faced — of all ?ny books The 07te that wears the quaintest^ kindliest looks — Seems most completely^ cosily at home A??iongst its fellows. Ah! if thou couldst tell Thy story — hmv^ ifi sixteen fifty-three. Good Master Marriott, sta7iding at its door. Saw Anglers hurryi^tg— fifty — nay, three score. To buy thee ere noon pedled front Dunstan^s bell : — And how he stared and . . . shook his sides with glee. One story, this, which fact or fiction iveaves. Meanwhile, adorn my shelf, beloved of all — Old book I 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 We St wood, in his " Chronicle of the Compleat Angler y^ speaks of " the almost immediate sale of the entire edition^ According to Sir Harris Nicolas, it was thus advertised in The Perfect Diurnal 1 : from Monday, May 9th, to Monday, May i6th, 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 Preface. vii known Play of the Spanish Gipsee, never till now published : Both printed for Richard Harriot, to he sold at his shop iu 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 ^ i8d. 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 Mar riot, to be sold at his shop in St. Dunstan's Churchyard, Fleet street J' 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 1 8 16, Mr. Mars ton calculates, the market value was about £\ ^s. In 1847 Dr, Bethune estimated it at £\z 12s, In 1883 Westwood reckoned it *'*'from fjjo to £So or even more," and since then copies have fetched ^^23 5 and ;^3 10, though in 1894 we have a sudden drop at Sotheby's to ^^150 — 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 viii Preface. 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 reflection of it, and it will undoubtedly give its possessor a suffi- ciently 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 : " // 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 Preface. ix 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 Dove dale as before an altar of friendship. Happy and pleasant in their lives, it is good to see thetn 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, II — " Study to be quiet, ^^ After the exquisite quietism of this farewell, it is distracting to come precipitately upon the fine gefitle- man 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 V enables, who, in the fifth edition, contributed still a third part, entitled " The Experienced Angler : or. Angling Improv'*d, Being a General Discourse of Angling, ^^ etc., to a book that was immortally complete in its first. X Preface. While " The Compleat Angler ** was regarded mainly as a text-hook for practical anglers^ one can understand its publisher wishing to make it as com- plete 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 fuliana 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 pas tor a l^ 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 for ever. RICHARD LE GJLLIENNE. BeingaDlfcourfeof FISH and FISHING, Not unw^orshy the pcmfal of moft Anglers » ISSd^ Prima by r» ikbxef (br KiCH. Marjeltqv^ ijfMnpio Cbmtfysai FleedKrec^ r6j|« To theRight Worflitpfiil JOHN OFFLEY Of Madely Manotiathe CooxOy dE Staford, Vfy M/maftlbcBuniredTtiend. Uirve nude fo iU life of jour former fcmors^ hy them to be encouraged to intreat that tbej may he enhrgedtothe patronage and protedaon of this "Boo^; and I hofoe Jjut on a mode fi confidence y J z thai TheEpiffile tbaP IJhatt not he denyei^ iecaufe *tis a difcourfe of Fi&iand Fiflaing, Tphich j^mboth^y^orpell, and hve andprmicejomucb. %u are ajjufd (though there he ignoram men ofan other belief ) that AngHng is an Art^andyou k^ow that Jn better then any that I l{now:andthat this is truth, is demojirated by the fruits ofthatpkafant labor tpbich youenjqy rmbenyou purpofe to give reft to your mind, and de'veJhyQurfelfof your more Dedicatory. more feriom bujineff and (yphich'is often) dedicate a d0 or two to this Recread^ on. Jtia^hicb time, if arm^ mon Anglers Jbould attend yoHydnd be eye^mtnejfes of thefuccefs^ not of jiowr for- tune yhuty our sl^ll, it 'would douhtlef beget in them an emulation to be liJ^you^and that emulation might beget mindujlrious diligence to be foibutlk^cFW it is not atain^ able by common caj^aci* ties* d^ Sir, TieEpiftle Sky this pleafans cmo-* fitie ofFifh and Fifhing(cf v>'^ you are fo great a Ma^ fler) has been thought jpot^ thjtheipQnsand pradtices of divers in otherj^tions, vphich have been reputed men ofgreatLtsrmng and Wifdome; and amongst thofeofthisU^(ation, Ire^ member 5/r Henry Wot- ton {a dear lover ofthts Ari^ has told me, that his intentions were to inprite ^ difcourfe of the Art, and in thepraife o/^ Angling, and doiibtlefi Dedicatory. douhtlefihe had donefo^ if death had not frevented hm^ the remembrance of Tphtchhath often made m&. jorry ;for^ifhe had Imdto do it J then the unlearned An^cvCof'ivhichlam one) bad feen fame Treatifeof thitArt vporthy hisferufah yphich (though jome ha'vs under ta^n it) 1 could ne^ *verjetfeein Engli[h* 'But mine may be thought: as\Ycakand^j unwordiy of common view: and I do here freely confef^ that I A 4. Jhould TheEpiRb, Sec* Jhould rather excufe Viiy j elf, then cenfure others mj (Wn Difcourfe being liable to fo many exceptions :^ a^ gainft which, jou (Sirj might make thisone^ That it can contribute nothing toyourinowledge; and lep a longer JEfiJlle may diminijhyour pleafare, I Jl^alnot adventure to make this Epijlle longer then to add this following truth. That I am really. Sir, Your moft affciflionatc Friend, andmoflhuiJible Servant, IZ. \^A. TO THE ^ader of this T^if^trfe ; Btt efpccially. To the honeft An gle a# •dr-^-^* Think fit to tell thee W^% thefe following truths; IS I 35 ^^^^ I did ^<^^ under- i^^iiiiiA*^ ^^ke to write,or to pub- ^.- 4- -^ 4- lifl, tfeis difccurfe of//. and//^/>2'^,topleafe mylelf, and that I wifh it may not difpleafe others ; for, I have confeft there are many defefts in it. And yet, I cannot doubt, but that by it, fome rea- ders may receive fo much profit or pleafure^ as if they be not very bu- fie men, may make it not unv^or- thy the time of their perufall ; and this is all the confidence that I can put '/(? the "Reader. put on concerning the merit of this Book. And I wiih the Reader alfo to rake notice, that in writing of it, I have made a recreation, of a re- creation ; and that it might prove fo to thee in the reading , and not to read dull^ and tedtoufly , I have \w feverall places mixt fome inno- cent Mirth ; of which, if thou be a fevere, fowr complexioned man , then I here difallow thee to be a competent Judg. For Divines fay, there are offences given ; and offen-^ ces takeny but not given. And I am the wilHnger to juftifie this in- 72ocent MirthyhtC2M(t the whole dif- courfe is a kind of pid:ure of my owne dilpofition, at leaft of my difpoiition in fuch dales and times as I allow mv felf, when honeft Nat. and R. R. and I go a fifhing together; and let me adde this, that he that likes not the difcourfe, (hould like thepidures of the Trout and To the Reader. and other fifh, which I may com- mend, becaufe they concern not my felf. And I am alfo to tel the Reader^ that in that which is the more ufe- full part of th is difcourfe ; that is to lay, the obfervations of the nature and breedings 2indifeafon.Sy and catch- ingofJiJJjy I am not fo fimple as not to think but that he may find ex- ceptions in fome of thefe; and therefore I muft intreat him to know, or rather note, that feverall Countreys , and feveral Rivers al- ter the time and manner of fifhes B reeding ; and therefore if he bring not candor to the reading of this Difcourfe, he fhall both injure me, and poflibly himfelf tooby too ma- ny Criticifms. Now for the Art of catching fiih; that is to fay, how to make a man that was none, an Angler by a book : he that undertakes it, fhall undertake a harder task then Hales ^ that "To the Reader. m Called '-^^^ ^^ ^'^ printed Book * under- the private took by it to teach the Art of School of Pencins: » and was laucrht at for defence. . ^ ^ . his labour. Notbutthatfomething ufefull might be obferved out of that Book ; but that Art was not to be taught by words ; nor is the Art of AngUng. And yet, I think, that mod that love that Game, may here learn fomething that may be worth their money, if they be not needy: andif they be, then my ad- vice is, that they forbear; for, I write not to get money , but for pleafure ; and this difcourfe boafts of no more : for I hate to promife much, and fail. But pleafure I have found both in tYitfearch and conference ^hout what is here offered to thy view and cenfure; I wilh thee as much in the perufal of it, and fo might here take my leave; but I will flay thee alittle longer by telling th ee, that whereas it is faid by many, that in Fly-Jljl^ing for ''To the Reader. for a Trd?2//, the Angler muftobferv^ his twelve Flyes for every Month; T fay, if he obferve that, he lliall De as certain to catch fifh, as they that make Hay by the fairdayes in Almanacks, and be no furer : for doubtlefs, three or four Flyes rightly n^ade, do ferve for a Trout all Sum- mer; ^nd for Winter-JIksy 2X1 Aug- fers know, they are as ufeful as an Almanack out of date. Of thefe (becaufe no man is born an Artifi nor an Angler^ I thought fit to give thee this notice. I might fay more, but it is not fit for this place ; but if this Difcourfe which follows fhall come to a fecond im- preffion,which is poflible, for flight books have been in this Age obfer- ved to have that fortune; Ilhallthen for thy fake be glad to correct what isfaulty,or by a conference with a- ny to explain or enlarge what is defe- dtiveibut for this time I have neither a wil- *To the Reader. awilllngnefsnorleafure tofay more, then wifh thee zrainy evening toread this book in, and that the eaji wind may never blow when thou goeji ajijh- ng. Farewel. Iz. Wa. B Ecaufein this Difcourfeof7^?y2> and Fijhing I have not obferved a me- thod, which (though the Difcourfe be notlong) may befome inconvenience to the Reader, I have therefore for his eafi- er finding out fome particular things which are fpoken of, made this follow- in or Table» t> ^, The firjl Chapter is fptni in a vindication or commendation of the Art ^Angling. /// thefecoiidarefomeobfervations of the nature of the Otter, and alfo fome obfervations of the Chub or Cheven, with directions how and with what baits to ^{hfor him. In chapt. 3. are fome obfervations ofTrouts,botb of their nature, their kinds, and their breeding. In chap. 4. are fome direction concerning baits for the Trout, with advife how to make the Fly, and keep the live baits. In chap. 5. are fome direction how to fijb for the Trout by night \ and a gueftion, Whether fijh hear? and taft/y, fome direction how to fiJb for the Umber or Greyhng. In chap. 6. are fome obfervations concerning the Salmon, with direction how to fiihfor him. In chdip.y .are feverat obfervations concerning the Luce or Pike, with fome directions how and with what baits to fijh for him. In chdi^.Z. are feveral obfervations of ths nature The Table. mnd breeding of Carps, with/ome ob/ervations oow to angle /2>r them. In chap. 9. are fame obfe7'vations concerning the Bream, the Tench, a7i,d l^itdLXch^with fome dire^ions with what baits to fifh for them. hi chap. 10. are fever at obfervations of the na- ture afid breeding of Eeles,wit/. advice how to ffh for them In chap. 1 1 arejo^ne obfervations of the nature and breeding ^Barbels, withfome advice how ^ar^ with what baits to fijb for them ; as alfo for the Gudgion a?id Bleak. In chap. 1 2. are gejteral diredions how and with what baits to fijh for the Ruffe or Pope, the Roch, the Ddice,artd other fmal fifh, with diredions tow to keep Ant-fiies and Gentles in wititer^with fame o* iker obfervations not unfit to be known //a>)/thatwasufuallyfound in the Primitive Chriftians, who were (as molt AngtWs are) quiet men, and followed peace; men that were too wife to fell their confci- ences to buy riches foi vexation,and a fear to die. Men that lived in thofe times when there were fewer Lawyers; for thenaLordfhip might have T^be Complete Angler. have been fafely conveyed in a piece of Parchment no bigger then, your hand, though fc^veral skins are not fufficient to do it in this wifer Age. I fay. Sir, if you take us An- glers tobe fuch fimple men as 1 have fpoken of, then both my felf, and thofe of my profeffion vsrill be glad to be fo underftood. But if by fim- plicitie you meant to expreffe any general defed: in the underftanding of thofe that profeiTe and praftife Anglings I hope to make it appear to you, that there is fo much contra- ry reafon (if you have but the pa- tience to hear it) as may remove all the anticipations that Time or Dif- courfe may have poffefT'd you v^ith, againft that Ancient and laudable Art. Viat. Why (Sir) is Angling of Antiquitie, and an Art, and an art noteaiilylearn'd? Fife. Yes(Sir:) and I doubt not but that if you and I were to con- verfe »o T*he Complete Angler. Vvtrfe together but ti; right, I fhould leave you poffeiTd with the fame happie thoughts that now pofleffe me ; not cnely for the Antiquitie of it, but that it deferves com- mendations; and that 'tis an Art ; and worthy the knowledge and praftice of a wife, and a ferious man. Viat. Sir, I pray fpeak of them what you Ihall think fit ; for wee have yet five miles to walk before wee (hall come to the T^hatchthoufe. And, Sir, though my infirmities are many, yet I dare promife you, that both my patience and atten- tion will indure to hear what you will fay till wee come thither: and if you pleafe to begin in order with the antiquity , when that is done , you lliall not want my attention to the commendations and accommodations of it ; and laftly,if youfhall convince me that 'tis an Art, and an Art worth learn- ing T'he Complete Angler. if ing, I fhall beg I may become your ocholer, both to wait upon you, and to be inftrudied in the A^'t it 4^^ Fife. Oh Sir, 'tis not to be que- ftioned, but that it is an art, and an art worth your Learning: theque- ftionwil rather be, whether you be capable of learning it ? For he that learns it, muft not onely bring an enquiring,fearching,anddifcerning wit; buthe muft bring alfothat^^- tience you talk of,and a love and pro- penfity to the artitfelf: but having once got and pradtifed it , then doubt not but the Art will (both for the pleafure and projfit of it) prove like to Vertue^ a reward to it felf. ^ Vtat. Sir, I am now become fo ful of expeftation, th a 1 1 long much to have you proceed in your dif- courfe : And jfirft,! pray Sir,let me hear concerning the antiquitv of it, Fife. 12 T'he Complete Angler. Pifc. Sir, I wil preface no lon- ger, but proceed in order as you de- fire me: And firft for the Antiquity of^;2^//>2g',Iihallnotfaymuch; buf onely this ; Some fay, it is as anci- J. Da. entasD^z/c^/Z^^/^j-Floud: and others T M (which I hke better) fay, that ^^'/z/j* (who was theinventerof godly and vertuous Recreations) was the In- venter of it: and fome others fay, (for former times have had their Difquiiitions about it) that ^S^f/y^, one of the fons of ^^^2:;;^, taught it to his fons, and that by them it was de- rived to Pofterity. Others fay, that he left it engraven on thofe Pillars which hee erected to preferve the knovAcdLgoith^MathematickSyMw Jicky and the reft of thofe precious Arts, which by Gods appointment or allowance, and his noble induftry were thereby preferved from peri- fhing in Noah's Floud. Thefe(my worthy Friend) have been the opinions of ibme men, that pof-* I'he Complete Angler. 1 3 poflibly may have endeavoured to make it more ancient then may w^ell be warranted. But for my part, I fhall content my felf in tellingyou. That ^;^^//;?^is much more ancient then the incarnation ofour Saviour: ^^ For both in the Prophet Amos^zndi before him in J^/^, (which laft Book ^^^P* 4^- is judged to be written by MofesJ mention is made of)f/Z^-/6i? The Complete Angler. 25 pray hearken to whatZ?^^^r/^i: lings ^^^^^^^ (for the hearing of fuch conjugal faithfulnefs, will be Muiick to all chailie ears) and therefore, I fay, hearken to what Diibartas ^mg^oi th^ Mullet: But for chafie love the Mullet /^^//5 no peer y For, if the Fijher hath fur prifed her pheer^ As mad with ivc, to fooare fhe followethy Preji to confer t him both in life and death. Onthecontran/j, what {hall I fay of the Houfe- Cocky which treads a- nyHen, and then (contrary to the Swan.iki^Partridg, d^ndPigeon) takes no care to hatch, to feed, or to che- rifli his own Brood, but is fenflefs though they perifh. And'tisconfiderable,thatthej&;2 (which becaufe fhe alfo takes any Cocky expecfls it not) who is fure the Chickens be her own, hath by amoral impreffionher care, andaf- fedtion to her own Broode, more then 26 T^he Complete Angler. diendoubled, eventofuchaheight^ Mat 23 n ^^^^^ ^^^ Saviour in expreffing his love to y^T^;//^/?;;;, quotes her foran example of tender affed:ion, as his Fatherhaddoaey^^for apatternot patience. And to parallel this C^?^/^, there be divers fifhes that caft their fpawne on flags or ftones, and then leave it uncovered and expofedtobecomea prey, andbe devoured by Vermine or other fifhes : but other fifhes (as namely the Barbel) take fuch care for the prefervation of their feed, that(unlike to the Cock ortheCuckoe] they mutually labour (both the Spaw^ner, and the Melter) to cover their fpawne with fand, or watch it, or hide it in fome fecret place unfre- quented by Vermine, orbyanyfifh but themfelves. Sir, thefe examples may, to you and others, feem flrange ; but they are teflified , fome by ^r^^/Zf, fome by Pliny, fome by Gejher, and by divers T'he Complete Angler. 27 divers others of credit, and are be- lieved and known by divers, both of wifdom and experience, to be a truth; and are (as I faid at the be- ginning) fit for the contemplation of a moil ferious, and a moft pious man. And that they be fit for the con- templation of the moft prudent and pious, and peaceable men, feems to be teftified by the pradlice of fo many devout and contemplative men ; as the Patriarks or Prophets of old, and of the Apoftles of our Saviour in thefe later times , of which twelve he chofe four that were Fifhermenxoncerning which choice fome have made thefe Ob- fervations. Firft, That he never reproved thefe for their Imploymentor Cal- ling, as he did the Scribes and the Mony- Changers. And fecondly. That he found the hearts of fuch men, men that by nature werefitted for 28 T^he Complete Angler. for contemplation and quietnefs; men of mild, and iweet,andpeacea- ble fpirits, (as indeed moil Anglers are) thefe men our bleffed Saviour (who is obferved to love to plant grace in good natures) though no- thing be too hard for him, yet thefe men he chofe to call from their irre- provable imployment, and gave them grace to be his Difciples and to follow him. And it is obfervable, that it was our Saviours will that his four Fi- fliermen Apoftles fhould have a prioritie of nomination irithe cata- logue of his twelve Apoftles , as namely firft,S./^^/^r,^ ndrew.J antes Mat.io. and yohii^ and then the reft in their order. And it is yet more obfervable, that when our bleffed Saviour went up into the Mount, at his Transfi- guration, when he left the reft of h is Difciples and chofe onely three to bear him company, that thefe three were ^he Complete Angler. 29 were all Fifher-men. Andiince I have your promife to hear me with patience, I will take a liberty to lookback upon an obfer- vation thathath been made by an in- genuous and learned man, whoob- ferves that God hath been pleafed to allow thofe whom he himfelfe hath appointed, to write his holy will in holy Writ, yet to exprefs his will in fuch Metaphors as their former afFe- (ftions or praitife had inclined them to ; and he brings Solomon for an ex- ample, who before his converiion was remarkably amorous, and after by Gods appointment, writ that T^« ^^^^ Love-Song betwixt God and his Church. And if this hold in reafon (as I fee none to the contrary) then it may be probably concluded, that Mofey ^whom I told you before, writ the book oi'Job) ai^d the Frophtt Amos werebothAngle.'S.foryou (hal in all the old Teflament, find fifh-hooks but ^^ The Cojnplete Angler. but twice mentioned; namely, by meek Mofesy the friend of God; and by the humble Prophe: ^- mos, I Concerning which laft, nabiely, the Prophet Amos, I fliall make but this Obfervation, That he thatfhall read the humble, lowly, plain ftile of that Prophet, and compare it with the high, glorious, ebquent ftile of the prophet Ifaiah (though they be both equally true) may ea- fily believe him to be a good natu- red,plaine Fifher-man. Which I do the rather believe,by comparing the affediionate, lowly, humble epiftles ofS. Peter y^. Ja?nes and S. Johriy whom we know were Fifhers, with the gloriouslanguage and high Metaphors of S. Paul^ who we know was not. Let me give you the example or two men more,that have lived near- er to our own times: firftofDodor iV^?^^/fome times Dean of S.Paui's^ ill T^he Complete Angler. 31 (in which Church his Monument {lands yet undefaced) a man that in the Reformation of Queen Eliza- beth (not that of Henry the VIIL) wasfo noted for his meek fpirit,deep Learning, Prudence and Piety, that the then Parhament and Convoca- tion,bothchofe,injoyned,andtruft- ed him to be the man to make a Ca- techifm for pubhck ufe, fuch a one as fhould ftand as a rule for faith and manners to their pofteritie : And the good man (though he was very learned,yetknowingthatGodleads us not to heaven by hard queftions) made that good, plain, unperplext Catechifm, that is printed with the old Service Book. I fay, this good man was as dear a lover, and con- ftant prafticer of Angling, as any Age can produce ; and his cuflome was to Ipend (beiides his fixt hours of prayer (thofe hours which by command of the Church were en- joined tlie old Clergy, and volunta- rily 3 2 T'he Complete Angler. rily dedicated to devotion by many Primitive Chriftians;) befidesthofe hours,this good man v^as cbferved to fpend, or if you will, to beftow a tenth part of his time in Angling; and alfo (for I have converfed with thofe which have converfed with him) to beftow a tenth part of his Revenue, and all his fifli, amongft the poor that inhabitednear to thofe Rivers in which it was caught, fay- ing often, T!hat Charity gave life to 'Rdigion : and at his return would praife God hehadipentthatday free from worldly trouble,bothharmlef- ly and in a Recreation that became a Church-man. My next and laft example fhall be that undervaluer of money, the late .Provoft of Eato72 Colledg^ Sir Henry Wott on ^ (amanwithwhomi have often fiih'd andcon\errd) a man v/hofe forraign imployments in the fervice of this Nation, and whofe experience, learning,witand cheer T'he Complete Angler. 33 cheerfulnefs, made his company to be efteemed one of the dehghts of mankind; this man, whofeveiy approbation of AngUng were fuffi- cient to convince any modeft Cenfu- rer of it, this man was alfo a moft dear lover , and a frequent pradii- cer of the Art of Angling, of which he would fay, ** ['Twas an imploy- ** ment for his idle time, which was " not idly ipent ;] for Angling was after tedious ftudy '' [A reft to his *'mind, acheerer of his ipirits, a di- "vertionoffadnefs, a calmer of un- ** quiet thoughts,aModerator of paf- " fions,a procurer of contentednefs, *' and that it begot habits of peace " and patience in thole that profeft " and pradtic'd it. Sir, This was the faying of that Learned man ; and I do eafily be- lieve that peace, and patience, and a calm content did cohabit in the cheerful heart of Sir iiZ(f;^ry Wotto?i, becaufe I know, that when he was D beyond 34 ^^^ Complete Angler. beyond feventy years of age he made this defcription of a part of the prefent pleafure that poffeft him, as he fate quietly in a Summers evening on a bank a fifhing;it is a de- fcription of the Spring, which be- caufe it gHdes as foft and fweetly from his pen,as that River does now by which it was then made, I fhall repeat unto you. 'This day dame Nature feem^ din love : The lujliefap began to move ; Frejh juice didjiir tB imbracing Vines, And birds had drawn their Valentines. The jealous Tvonty that low did lye y Rofe at awell dijfembled^i^ ; There Jiood my friend with patient skilly Attending of his trembling quil. Ah^eady were the eaves pojjejt With thefwift Pilgrims dawbedneji : The Groves already did rejoice y In Philomels triumphing voice : Thejljowrs were port y the weather mildy The morning frejhy the evening fmird. Jone ^The Complete Angler. 35 Jone takes her neat rubbed patU and now She trips to milk thefand-red Cow ; Where yforfomejitirdy foot-ball Swainy ]onQ^Jirokes a Sillibub or twaine. Tl he fields and gardens were befet With Tulips, Crocus, Violet, And now y though late^ the modefi Rofe Did more then half a blujh difclofe. Thus all looks gay andfullof chear To welcome the new liveried year. Thefewere the thoughts that then poffeil: the undifturbed mind of Sir Henry Wotton. Will you hear the wifh of another Angler, and the commendation of his happy life, J^- ^^ which he alfo fings in Verfe. Let me live harmlefiy^ and near the brink (y Trent or Avon have a dwelling place ^ Where I may fee my quil or cork down fink. With eager bit of Pearch, or Bleak, or Dace; And 071 the world and my Crc at or think, {brace ; Whilfifome menfinve, ill gotten goods f im- D 2 And 36 T'ke Complete Angler. And other s fpend their time in bafe excefs Of wine or worfejn war ^;z^ wantonnefs. Let them that liji thefe pajiimesjiill purftiey And onfuch pleajingfajicies feed their fill ^ So I the fields and mczdows green may vieWy And daily by frefh Rivers walk at willy Among the Daifies and the Violets bluey Red Hy^cinthyand yellow Daffadil, Purple Narciffus,//^^ the morning rayeSy Pale ganderglafs and azure Culverkayes, I count it higher pie afure to behold Thefiately compafs of the lofty Skie, And in the midji thereof (like burning Gold) 'The flaming Chariot of the worlds great eye, The watry clouds y that in the aire up roldy Withfundry kinds of painted colour s fly e ; And fair Aurora lifting up her heady Still blufhingyrife from oldl^\.\}i\omvi%bcd. The hils ^7?^ mountains raifedfrom the plains. The ^l^ins extended level with /y6^ ground. The grounds divided intofundry vains, Thew2\nsinclofd with rivers running round ; Thefe TChe Complete Angler. 37 l^hefe rivers making way through natures chains With headlong courje into thefea profound \ The raging fea , beneath the vallies low^ Where lakes,^Wrils, andviw\x\tts>doJlow. The loftie woods ^ the Forrejis wide and long Adorn' d with leaves & branches fre/h &green, In whofe cool bowres the birds with many afong Do welcom with their S^ire the Siimers Queen: The Meadows fair ^ where Yloi'^'s gifts among Are intermixtywith verdant grafs between. Theflver-fcaledfiihthat foftly fwim^ Within the fweet brooks cbryftal watryftream. All thefe^ and many more of his Creation ^ That made the Heavens^tkehxi^tx oft doth fee , Taking therein no little deleBation, To think how f range yhow wonderful they be ; Framing thereof an inward contemplation, Tofet his heart from other fancies free ; And whilft he looks on thefe with joyful eye^ His mind is rapt above the Starry Skie. Sir, I am glad my memory did not lofe thefe laft Verfes, becaufe D 3 they 3 3 "The K^omplete Angler. they are fomewhat more pleafant and more fu table to May Day y then my harfh Difcourfe, and I am glad your patience hath held out fo long, as to hear them and me ; for both together have brought us within the fight of the Thatcht Houfe ; and I muft be your Debtor(if you think it worth your attention) for the reft of my promifed difcourfe. till fome o- ther opportunity and a like time of leifure. Viat. Sir, You have Angled me on with much pleafure to the thatcht Houfe y and I now find your words true. That good company makes the way feemjhort; for, truft me. Sir, I thought we had wanted three rmXtsoixh^ thatcht Houfe , till you fhewed it me; but now we are at it, we'l turn into it, and refreih our felves with a cup of Ale and a Httle reft. Pfc. Moft gladly (Sir) and we'l drink a civil cup to all the Otter Hun- ters The Complete Angler 3(| ters that are to meet you to morrcv.v. Viat. That we wil. Sir, and to all the lovers of Angling too, of which number, I am now one my felf, for by the help of your good dif- courfe and company, I have put on new thoughts both of the Art of An- gling, and of all that profefs it; and if you will but meet me too morrow at the time and place appointed, and beftow one day with me and my friends in hunting the Otte7\ I will the next two dayes wait upon you, and we two will for that time do no- thing but angle, and talk of fifh and fifhing. Pifc. 'Tis a match. Sir, Tl not fail you, God v/illing,tobe ^.tAmwelHil o morrow morning before Sun- riiing. D 4 CHAP. 40 Ti'he Complete Angler. Fiat. CHAP. IL 'Y friend Pi/cat or ^ M you have kept time with my thoughts, for the Sun is juft rifing, and I my felf juft now come to this place, and the dogs have juft now put down an Otter^ look down at the bottom of thehil, therein that Meadow, che- quered with water Lillies and Lady- fmocks, there you may fee what work they make : look,you fee all buiie,men and dogs,dogs and men, all bufie. Pifc. Sir, I am right glad to meet you, and glad to have fo fair an entrance into this dayes iport,and glad to fee fo many dogs, and more men all in purfuit of the Otter; lets complement no longer, but joine unto them; come honeft/^/^/^r, lets be T'he Complete Angler. ^% be gone, lets make hafte, I long to be doing; no reafonable hedge or ditch fhall hold me. Viat. Gentleman Huntfrnan ^ where found you this Otter ? Hunt. Marry (Sir) we found her* a mile off this place a fifhing; jGie has this morning eaten the greateft part of this Trout ^ Ihe has only left thus much of it as you fee, and was fifhing for more; when we came we foundherjuftatit: butwe were here very early, we were here an hour before Sun-rife, and have given herno reft fince we came: furefhel hardly efcape all thefe dogs and men.I am to have the skin if we kill him. Viat. Why, Sir, whats the skin ViTorth ? Hunt. 'Tis worth ten fhillings to make gloves ; the gloves of an Ot- ter are the beil fortification for your hands againft wet weather that can be thought of. Pifc.l ^2 I'he Complete Angler. Pifc. I pray,honeft Hun tfman, let me ask you a pleafant queftion. Do you hunt a Beaft or a fifh ? H. Sir,Itisnotin my power to re- folve you ; for the queft ion has been debated among many great Clerks, and they feem to differ about it; but moft agree, that his tail is fifh: and if his body be fifh too, then I may fay, that a fifh will walk upon land (for an Otter does fo) fometimes five or fix, or ten miles in a night. But (Sir) I can tell you certainly, that he devours much fifh, and kils and fpoils much more : And I can tell you, that he can fmel a fifh ii> the water one hundred yards from him (G^^rfayes,much farther) and that his ftones are good againfl the Falliag-ficknefs : and that there is znhtvh Benioney which being hung in a linen cloth near a Fifh Pond,or any haunt that he ufes, makes him to avoid the place, which proves he can fmell both by water and land. And T^he Complete Angler. a good be- ginning of your Art to offer your firfl fruits to the poor, who will both thank God and you for it. And The Complete Angler. CJ And now lets walk towards the water again, and as I go He tel you when you catch your WQX'-Chuby how to dreffe it as this was. viat. Come (good Mafter)! long to be going and learn your diredti- on. Pifc. You muft drefs it, or fee it dreft thus : When you have fca- led him, wafh him very cleane, cut off his tail and fins ; and waih him not after you gut him, but chine or cut him through the midc'le as a fait fifh is cut, then give him four or fivefcotches with your knife, broil him upon wood-cole or char-cole ; but as he is broiling ; bafte him of- ten with butter that fhal be choice- ly good; and put good ftore of fait into your butter, or fait him gently as you broil or bafte him ; and bruife or cut veryfmal into your butter, a little Time, or fome other Iweet herb that is in the Garden where you eat him: thus ufed, it takes a- way 58 T^he Complete Angle? . way the watrifhtafte which the Chub or Chevin has, and makes him a choice difh of meat, as you your felf know ; for thus was that drefs'd, which you did eat of to your din- ner. Or you may (for variety) drefs a Cy6z/^ another way, and you wil find him ver/ good, and his tongue and head almoft as good as a Carps; but then you muftbe fure that no graffe or weeds be left in his mouth or throat. Thus you muft drefs him ; SHt him through the middle, then cut him into four pieces. Chen put him into a pewter difh, and cover him with another, put into him as much White Wine as wil cover him, or Spring water and Vinegar,and ftore of Salt, with fome branches of Time, and other fweet herbs ; let nim then be boiled gently over a Chafing-difh with wood coles, and when he is almoft boiled enough,put half T^he Complete Angler. 59 half of the liquorfrom him, not the top of it ; put then into him a con- venient quantity of the beft butter you can get, with a little Nutmeg grated into it, and lippets of white bread : thus ordered, you wil find the Chevin and the fauce too, a choice difh of meat : And I have been the more careful to give you a perfeft direction how to drefs him, becaufe he is a fifh undervalued by many, and I would gladly reftore Him to fome of his credit which he has loft by ill Cookery. Viat. But Mafter, have you no other way to catch a CheveUy or Chub? Pifc. Yes that I have, but I muft take time to tel it you hereafter; or indeed,you muft learn it byobferva- tion and pradiice, though this way that I have taught you was the eafi- eft to catch a Chub, at this time, and at this place. And now weare come again to the River; I wil (as the 6o T'he Complete Angler. the Souldier fayes) prepare forskir- mifh ; that is, draw out my Tack- Hng, and try to catch a Trout for fupper. Viat. Truft me Mafter, I fee now it is a harder mattei to catch a Trout then a Chub; for 1 have put on pa- tience, and followed you this two hours, and not feen afifhftir, nei- ther at your Minnow nor your worm. Pifc. Wei Scholer, you muft indure worfe luck fometime,or you will never make a good Angler. But what fay 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 .ee he liesftill, and the fleight is to land him: Reach me that Landing net : So (Sir) now he is mine own, what fay you .^ is not this worth all my labour? Fiat. On my word Mafter , tliis is a gallant Trout ; what fhall we T'he Complete Ajigler. 6 1 we do with him ? Pifc. Marry ee n eat him to fup- per; We*l go to my Hoftis, from whence we came ; fhe told me, as I was going out of door, that my brothet Peter ^ a good Angler, and a cheerful companion,had fentword he would lodg there to night, and bring a friend with him. My Hoft- is has two beds, and I know you and I may have the beft : we'l re- joice with my brother Peter and his friend, tel tales , or iing Ballads,or make aCatch,or find fome harmleis iport to content us. Viat. A match, good Mafter, lets go to that houfe, for the linnen looks white, andfmels of Lavender, and I long to lye in a pair of fheets that fmels fb : lets be going, good Mafter, for I am hungry again with fijGhing. Pifc. Nay, ftay a little good Scholer, I caught my laft Tr^^if with a worm, now I wil put on a Minow and €2 T'he Complete Angler. and try a quarter of ^n hour about yonder trees for another , and fe walk towards our lodging. Loo k you Scholer, thereabout we fhall have a bit prefently, or not at all : Have with you ' ir'ir !) on my word I have him. Oh it is a great logger- headed C/^z/^ : Come,hang him up- on that Willow twig, and let's be going^ Bat turn out ofthewaya little, good Scholer, towards yon- der high hedg : We'l fit whilft this Ihowr falls fo gently upon the teem- ing earth, and gives a fweeter fmel to the lovely flowers that adorn the verdant Meadows. Look,underthat broad Beech tree I fate down when I was laft this way a fifhing,and the birds in the adjoin- ing Grove feemed to have a friend- ly contention with an Echo, whofe dead voice feemed to live in a hol- low cavf* near to the brow of that Primi Glehil;there I fate viewing the Silver itreams glide filently towards tlieir "The Complete Angler. 63 their center, the tempeftuous Sea, yet fometimes oppofed by rugged roots, and pibble ftones, which broke their waves, and turned them into fome : and fometimes viewing the harmlefs Lambs, fome leaping fecurelyin thecoolfhade, whilfto- ^hers {ported themfelvs in the cheer- ful Sun ; and others were craving comfort from the iwolne Udders of their bleating Dams. As I thus fate, thefe and other fighs had fo fully poiTeftmy foul,that I thought as the Poet has happily exprelt it; I was for that time lifted above earth; 4nd pojfeji joyes not promifd in my birth. As I left this place, and entered into the next field, afecondpleafure entertained me, 'twas a handfome Milk-maid, that had caft away all care, ana lung like a Nightingale ; her voice was gouJ, and i he Ditty fitted for it; *twas that fn? 00th Song which 64 The Complete Angler. whichwas vn^A^hy Kit Mar low ^wov^ at leaft fifty years ago; and the Milk maids 7>) other liing an aniwer to it, which was made by Sir Walter Ra- leigh in his younger dayes. They were old fafhioned Poetry, but choicely good, I think much better then that now in fafhion in this Critical age. Look yonder,on my word, yonder they be both a milking again : I wil give her the Chub^ and periwade them to fing thofe two fongs to us. Fife. God fpeed,good woman, I have been a fiihing, and am going to Bleak Hall to my bed, and having caught more fifh then wil fup my felf and friend, wil beftow this upon you and your daughter^ for I ufe to fel none. Milkw. Marry God requite you Sir, and we'l <^at it cheerfully : wil you drink a draught of red Cows milk? Pifc. No,I thank youibut I pray do T^he Complete Angler. 65 d o us acourtefie thatfhal ftand you an d your daughter in nothing, and we wil think ourfelvesftilfomething in your debt; it is but to fing us a Song, that that was lung by you and your daughter, when I laft pail over this Meadow, about eight or nine dayes fince. Milk, what Song was it, I pray? was it. Come Shepherds deckyour heads: or. As at noon D ulcina rejied: or Phi- Hdajiouts me ? Pifc.'Noy it is none of thole : it is a Song that your daughter fung the firft part, and you fung the anfwer to it. Milk. O I know it now, I learned the firft part in my golden age, when I was about the age of my daughter; and the later part, which indeed fits me beft, but two or three years ago; you (hai, God willing , hear them both. Come Maudlin y fing the firft part to the Gentlem en with a merrie heart, and He fing thefecond. F The b(i The Complete Angler. The Milk maids Song. Come live with me^ and be my Love^ And we wil all the pleafures prove That vallies , Groves ^ or hils , or fields^ Or woods andjleeple mountains yeelds. Where we will Jit upon the Rocks, And fee the Shepherds feed our flocks. By fhallow Rivers, to whofe falls Mellodious birds fng madrigals. And I wil make thee beds ^Rofes, And then a thouf and fragrant pofies^ A cap of flowers and a Kirtle^ Imbroidered all with leaves of Mirtle. A Gown inade ofthefineft wool Which from our pretty Lambs we pull^ Slippers lind choicely for the coldy With buckles of the pur efl gold. A belt of ft raw and ivie budsy With Coral clafps, and Amber ftuds : And The Complete Angler. 67 Andifthefe pleafures may thee move^ Come live with me^ and be my Love. The Shepherds Swains Jhal dance andfmg For thy delight each May morning : If thefe delights thy mind may move, 7 hen live with me^andbe my Love. Via. TruftmeMafter,itisachoice Song , and fweetly fung by honell Maudlin : He beftow Sir Thomas O- verburys Milk maids wifh upon her. That fhe may dye in the Springs and have goodjlore of jlowersjluck round about her winding fhe et^ The Milk maids mothers anfwer. If all the world and love were youngs And truth in every Shepherds tongue'? Thefe pretty pleafures might me move. To live with thee^andbe thy love. But time drives flocks from field to fold : When rivers rage and rocks grow cold^ F 2 And 68 ^he Complete Angler. And Philomel becometh dumby The Reji complains of cares to come. The Flowers do fade yand wanton fields TowaywardWintcr reckoning yeilds A honey tongue ^a l^art of gaily Is fancies fpringy but forrows fall. Thy gowns y thyfloooeSythy beds ofRofeSy Thy Cap^thyKirtky and thy Fojies , Soon break foon wither yfoon f or gotteny In folly ripe, in reafon rotten. Thy belt offtraw and Ivie budsy Thy Coral clafps and Amber finds y Allthefe in me no means can move To come to theCyand be thy Love. But could youth lafii^and love fiilbreea. Had joy es no datey nor age no need ; Tien thofe delights my mind might To live with thee y^ be thy love, {move Pifc. V/el Tung, good woman, I thankyou, I'l give vou another difli of The Compute Angter. 69 of fifli one of thrfe d^yes, aud then beg another Song of you. Come Scholer,let Maudlin alone, do not you offer to ipoil her voice. Look, yonder comes my Hoftis to cal us to fupper. How now? is my brother Feter come f Hofi. Yes, and a friend with him, they are both glad to hear you are in thefe parts, and long to fee you, and are hungry,and long to be at fupper. CHAP^ Ho T'he Complete Angler. CHAP. III. Fife at. -w- ^^ -y-EL met bro- \ / \ / ther Feter.l \l V heard you & a friend would lodg here to night, and that has made me and my friend caft to lodge here too ; my friend is one that would faine be a brother oi\^t Angle: he has been an ^;^^/(er but this day,and T have l:aught him how to catch 2 Chub w'th daping a Grajhopper^ ana he has caught a lufly one of nineteen incheslong. ButI pray you brother, who is it that is your companion ? Peter. Brother P^^/^r,myfriend is an honeft Country man, and his name is Coridon^ a moft downright witty merry companion that met me here purpofely to eat a 'Trout and be pleafant, a/^d I have not yet wet my line T'he Complete Angler. line fincelcame from home: But I wil fit him to morrow witl) a ^Trout for his breakfafl, if the weather be a - ny thing like. Fife. Nay Li other, joii ihall not delay h.^m fo long, for look you here is a Trout W\)\ fih fix reafonable bellies. Come Hoftis, drefsitpre- fently, and get us whal other meat the houfe wil afford, and give us fome good Ale, and lets be mer- rie. 8i Tike Defcription of a Trout. F4. Peter 72 T^he Complete Anglfr, Peter. On my word, this Tr^^/ is in perfedl feafon. Come, I thank you, and here's a hearty draught to you, and to all the brothers of the Angle, wherefoever they be, and to my young brothers good fortune to morrow ; I wil furnifh him with a ■:od, if you wil furnifh him with the reft of the tackling, we wil fet him up and make him a fiiher. And I wil tel him one thing for his encouragement, that his fortune hath made him happy to be a Scho-, ler to fuch a Mafter; a Mafter that knowes as much both of the nature and breeding of iifh, as any man ; and can alfo tell him as well how to catch and cook them, from the Mi- now to the Sammoriy as any that I ever met withall. Pifc. Truft me, brother Peter ^ I find my Scholer to be fo futable to my own humcur,which is to be free andpleafant, and civilly merry, that my refolution is to hide nothing - ' - -.- from The Complete Angler. from him. Believe me,Scholer, this is my refolution ; and fo here's to you a hearty draught, and to all that love us,and the honeil: Art of Ang- ling. Viat. Truft me, good Mafter^ you fhall not fow your feed in bar- ren ground, for I hope to return you an increafe anfv^erable to your hopes ; but how^ever, you fhal find me obedient, and thankful , and ferviceable to my beft abilitie. Pifc. 'Tis enough, honeft Scho- ler, come lets to fupper. Come my friend C^r/V^/2, this Trout looks love- ly, it wastw^enty two inches v^hen it was taken, and the belly of it look'd fome part of it as yellow as a Mary- gold , and part of it as white as a Li- ly, and yet me thinks it looks bet- ter in this good fawce. Coridon. Indeed, honeft friend, it looks well, and taftes well, I thank you for it, and fo does my friend Peter ^ or elfe he is to blame. Pet. Ye^ T^he Complete Angler. Pet. Yes, and fo I do, we all thank you, and when we have fupt, I wil get my friend Ccridon to fing you a Song, for requital. Cor. I wil ling a Song if anybo- dy wil fing another; elfe, to be plain with you, I wil fing none : I am none of thofe that fing for meat, but for company ; I fay, 'Tis merry in Hall when men fing all. Pifc. ri promife you I'l fing a Song that was lately made at my re- quefi:by Mr. IVilliam Bajfe^ one that has made the choice Songs of the Hunter in his carrere^ and of 'Tom oj Bedlam^ and many others of note; and this that I wil fing is in praife of Angling. Cor. And then mine fhall be the praife of a Country mans life .• What will the refi; fing of? Pet. I wil promife you I wil fing another Song in praife of Angling, to-morrow n ight, for we wil notpart till then, but fifh to morrow, and fup "The Co??2plefe Angler. 8,^ fup together,and the next day every man leave fifhing,and fall to his bu- finefs. Vtat. 'Tisamatcb, and I w^il pro- vide you a Song or a Ketch againft then too, that fhal give fome additi« on of mirth to the company; for we wil be merrie. Pifc. 'Tisamatchmymafters:; lets ev'n fay Grace,and turn to the fire, drink the other cup to v^et our whiffles, and fo fing away all fad thoughts. Come on my mafters, who be- gins ? I think it is beft to draw cuts and avoid contention. Pet.It is a match. Look, the fhort* eft Cut fals to Coridon. Cor. Well then, I wil begin; for I hate contention. CoRiLGNs Song. Oh thefweet contentment The country man doth find! High ;6 T'he Complete Angler. high trolollie Idiloe ' high trolollie lee^ ^hat quiet contemplation Pojfejeth all ?ny mind : Then care away, and wend along with me. "t) For Courts arefulloffiatt^y^ As hath too oft been trtd ; high trolollie lollie he high trolollie lee^ The City full of wantormefsy and both are full of pride : Then care away, and wend along with me. But oh the honejl country man Speaks truly from his hearty high trolollie lollie he high trolollie lee^ His pride is in his 'Tillage^ btsHorfes and his Cart : Then care away, and wend along with me. Our "The Complete Angler. JJ Our clothing is good fheep skins G'^ay rujfetfor our wives ^ high trolollie lollie he high trolollie lee. ^Tis warmth and not gay clothing that doth prolong our lives \ Then care away, and wend along with me. The ploughman y though he labor hard^ Tet on the Holy-day, high trolollie lollie loe high trolollie lee, 2^0 Emperor /3 merrily doespafs his time away : Then care away, and wend along with me. To recompence our Tillage y T'/6fc'Heavens afford us Jhowrr^ high trolollie lollie loe high trolollie lee. And for ourfweet refrefhmenti the earth affords us bowers : Then care away,&c. T&t £S ^he Co?nplete Angler. The Cuckoe and the Nightingale full merrily dofingy high trolollie lollte he high trolollie lee^ And with their plea fantro\xndiQ\2iytSf bid welcome to the Spring : Then care away, and wend along: with me. "t? This is 72ot half the happinefs the Country man injoyes ; high trolollie lollie loe high trolollie lee^ Though others think they have as much yet he that fays fo lies: Then come away,turn County man with me. Pifc. Well fung Coridon^ this Song was fung with mettle, and it was choicely fitted to the occafion ; I fhixll love you for it as long as I know you : I would you were a bro- ther of the Angle, for a companion that is cheerful and free fromfwear- ing T!he Complete Angler. 89 ing andlcurrilous difcourfe, is worth gold. I love fuch mirth as does not make friends afhamed to look upon one another next morning; nor men (that cannot wel bear it) to repent the money they fpend when they be warmed with drink ; and take this for a rule, you may pick out fuch times and fuch companies, that you may make your felves merrier for a little then a great deal of money; for ^T is the company and not the charge that makes t he f eaji : and fuch a com- panion 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 wiih it may be as well liked. The Anglers Song. As inward lovt breeds outward talk. The YLoxindfome praife, andfome the Hawk^ Some So T'he Complete Angler. Some better pleaf'd with private fporty life litmSyfome a Miftris court: But thefe delights I neither wijhy Nor envy/while I freely fi^o. JVho \iMnX.^4oth oft in danger ride Who hauks/^^r^j- oft both jar &wide ; Who ufes g2imes,may often prove Alofer\ but who f ah in love ^ Is fettered in fond Cupids fnare : My Angle breeds me nofuch care. Of Recreation there is none So free as fijhing is alone ; All other paftimes do no lefs Then mind and body bothpoffefs ; My hand alone my work can do. So I can fijlo andjiudy too. I care not^Iy tofifh infeas^ Frejh rivers bef my mind do pleafcy Whofe fiveet calm courfe I contemplate ; And fee k in life to imitate ; In civil bounds I fain would keep ^ And for my paft offences weep. And T^he Complete Angler. 8i And when the t inter ous Trout I wait To take J and he devours my baity How poor a thing fometimes I find Will captivate a greedy mind: And when none bite^ I praife the wife , IVhomvain alurements ne'refiirprife. But yet though while Ififhy ifafi^ I make good fortune my repafiy And thereunto my friend invite^ In whom I more then that delight : Who is more welcome to my diflo^ Then to my Angle was myfijh. As well content no prize to take As ufe of taken prize to make ; Forfo our Lord was pleafed when He FiJIoers made Fijhers of men; Where{which is in no other game) A man may fijh and praife his name. Thefirft men that our Saviour dear Didchufe to wait upon him here^ Blefi Fijhers were; and fijh the lafi Food wasy that he on earth didtafle • G I there-' 82 T'he Complete Angler. I therefore jlrive tojollow thofe^ Whom hetjfollow him hath chofe. W.B. Cor. Well fung brother, you have paid your debt in good coyn, we Anglers are all beholding to the good man that made this Song. Come Hofl:is,give us more Ale and lets drink to him. And now lets everie one go to bed that we may rife early; but firft lets pay our Reckoning, for I wil have nothing to hinder me in the morn- ing, for I will prevent the Sun- rifing. Pet. A match : Come Coridon^ you are to be my Bed-fellow; I know brother you andyour Scholer wil lie together; but where fhal we meet to morrow night ? for my friend Coridon and I will go up the water towiirds Ware. Pifc. And my Scholer and I will go dowi> towards Waltam. Cor. T'he Complete Angler. 83 Cor^ Then lets meet here,for here are frefh Qieets that fmel of Laven- der, and, I am fure, we cannot ex- pedl better meat and better u- fage. Pet. 'Tis a match. Good night to every body. Fife. And fo fay I. Viat. And fo fay I. Fife. Good morrow good Hoftis, I fee my brother Peter h in bed ftill; Come,give my Scholer and me a cup of Ale, and be fure you get us a good difh of meat againft fupper, for we fhall come hither as hungry 2isHawks. Come Scholer,letsbe go- ing. ^ Fiat. Good Mcifter, as we walk towards the water, wil you be plea- fed to make the way feeme fhorter by telling me firft the nature of the Trouty and then how to catch him. Pi/c. My honeft Scholer, I wil do G 2 it 84 The Complete Angler. It freely : The Trout (for which I love to angle above any fiifh) may be juftly faid (as the ancient Poets fay of Wine, and wc Engliih fay of Venfon) to be a generous fi£h, be- caule he has his feafons, a fifh that comes in, and goes out with the Stag or Buck: and you are to ob- ferve, that as there be fome barren Doesy that are good in Summer; fo there be fome barren TroutSyth^it are good in Winter ; but there are not many that are fo, for ufually they be in their perfe6tionin the month of May, and decline with the Buck: Now you are to take notice, that in feveral Countries, as in Germany and in other parts compared to ours, they differ much in their bignefs, fhape, and other wayes, andfo do Trouts; 'tiswel known that in the Lake Le- mony the Lake of Geneva, there are Trouts taken, of three Cubits long, as is affirmed by Gefner, a Writer of good credit : and Mercator fayes, the The Complete Angler. S5 the Trout s that are taken in the Lake ofG^;2^T'^, are a great part of the Mer- chandize of thatfamous City.And you are further to know, that there be certaine waters that breed Trout s re- markable,both for their number and fmalnefs- 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 lize of a Gudgion. There are alfo in divers Ri- vers, eipecially that relate to, or be neartotheSea,(as Winchejierfiv th.^ Thames about VVindfor ) a little *Jr^2//called a Samlet ox SkeggerT rout (in both which places I have caught twentie or fortie at a ftanding) that will bite as faft and as freely z^ Min- nows; thefe be by fome taken to be young SalmonSy but in thofe wa- ters they never grow to bee bigger then a Herring. There is alfo in Kenty neer to Canterbury y a Trout (called there a G 3 For^ 86 T'he Complete Angler. For dig Trout) a Trout fihzt bears the name of the Town where 'tis u- fually caught) that is Recounted rare meat, many of them nesr the big- nefs of a Salmon y bui: knowne by their different colour, and in their beft feafon cut very white;and none have been known to be caught with an Angle, unlefs it were one that was caught by honeft Sir George Ha- JlingSy an excellent Angler ( and now withGod)and hehas toldme,he thought that Trout bit not for hun- ger, but wantonnefs ; and 'tis the rather to be believed, becaufe both he then, and many olliers before hiru have been curious to fearch into their bellies what the food was by which they lived; and have found ou t nothing by which they might U • tisfie their curiofitie. Concerning which you are to take notice, that it is reported, there is a fifh that hath not any mouth, but lives bv taking breath by the porinfs of The Complete Angler. %^ of her gils,and feeds and isnourifh'd V)y iio man knows what; and this may be believed of the For dig Trout^ which (as it is faid of the Stork,th2:t he knowes his feafon, fo he) know^ his times (I think almoft his day) of coming into that River out of the Sea., where he Hves (and it is Hke feedsy nine months of the year, and about three in the River of Fordig. And now for fome confirmation of th.Js; you are to know, that this 'Trout is thought to eat nothing in the frefli water ; and it may be the better beheved, becaufe it is well known, that Swallowes^ which are not feen to flye in England for fix months in the year, but about Michaelmas leave us for a hotter cli- mate ; yet fome of them, that have been left behind their fellows, have v^iew Sir- been found (many thoufand at a ^''''- ^'"'"^ time) m hollow trees, where they have been obferved to live and fleep F 4 out 88 T^he Complete Angler. SccTi?^^/ out the whole winter without meat; ^^^^' and fo Albertus obferves that there is one kind of Frog that hath her mouth naturally fhut up about the end oi Auguji, and that fhe lives fo all the Winter, and though it be ftrange to fome, yet it is known to too many amongft us to bee doub- ted. And fo much for thefe Fordidg TroutSy which never afford an An- gler iport, but either live their time of being in the frefh water by their meat formerly gotten in the Sea,(not unlike the Swallow or Frog) or by the vertue of the frefh water onlv, as the Camelion is faid to live by the air. There is alfo in Northumberlandy a Trout, called a Bull Trout, of a much greater length and bigneffe then any in thefe Southernparts; and there is in many Rivers that relate to the Sea. Sahnon Tr^/z/j* as much dif- ferent Oi.e from another, both in ^hape "The Complete Angler. 89 fliape and in their ipots, as we fee Sheep differ one from another in their fhape and bignefs, and in the finefs of their wool : and certainly as fome Paftures do breed larger Sheep, fo do fome Rivers, by rea- fon of the ground over which they run, breed larger Trouts . Now the next thing that I will commend to your confideration is. That the Tr^z// is of amore fudden growth then other fi{h: concerning which you are alfo to take notice, that he lives not fo long as the Pearch and divers other fifhes do, as Sir Francis Bacon hath obferved in his Hiftory 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 bignefs or thrives in his head till his death. And you are to know that he wil about (eipecially before)the time of his Spawning, get almoll miraculoully through Weires anr^ 90 T'he Complete Angler. and Floud-Gates againft the ilream, even through fuch high and fwift places as is almoft incredible. Next, that the Trout ufually Spawns about OSlober or November^ but in fome Rivers a little fooncr or later; w^hich is the moreobfervable,becaufe moil other fiih Spawne in the Spring or Summer , w^hen the Sun hath warmed both the earth and water, and made it fit for generation. And next,you are to note, that till the Snn gets to fuch a height as to warm the earth and the water, the 7r(5z// is fick, and lean, andlowfie, and unwholfome : for you fhall in winter find him to have a big head, and then to belank,andthin,&lean; at which time many of them have flicking on them Sugs, ovTrout lice, which is a kind of a worm, in fhape like a Clove or a Pin, . with a big head , and flicks clofe to him and fucks his moiflure ; thofe I think the Trout breeds himfelfe, and never thrives The Complete Angler. 9 1 thrives til he free himfelf from them, which is till warm weather comes, and then as he growes Itronger, he gets from the dead, ftill water, in- to the fharp ftreames and the gravel, and there rubs off thefe worms or lice : and then as he grows fi:ronger,fo he gets him into fwifter and fwifter ftreams, and there lies atthe watch for anv flie or Minow that comes neer to him ; and he cipecially loves the May flie,which is bred of \}^^Cod-wormor Caddis\2SiA. thefe make the Trout bold and luftie, and he is ufually 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 obierved,that ufually thebeft Trout s are either red or yellow, though fome be white and yet good; but that is not uiual ; and it is a note ob- fervable that the female Trout hath ufually a lefs head and a deeper bo- dv then the male Trout : and a little head 92 T'he Complete Angler. head to any fifh, cither Trout, SaU monfiv other iifh, is a lign that that iifli is in feafon. But yet you are to note, that as you fee fome Willows or Palm trees budandbloflbmefooner then others do, fo fome Trout sho, in fome Rivers fooner in feafon ; and as the Holly or Oak are longer before they caft their Leaves, fc are fome Trouts in fome Rivers longer before they go out of feafon. CHAP, ^he Complete Angler. CHAP. IV. N D having told you thefe Obfervations concerning TroutSy I fhall next tell you how to catch them : which is ufual- ly vv^ith a Worm^oi a Minnow (which fome call a Penke;J or with a Fliey either a natural or an artificial Flie : Concerning which three I wilgive you fome Obfervations and Diredli- ons. For Worms, there be very ma- ny forts ; fome bred onely in the earth, as \}i\^ earth "worm ; others a- mongft or of plants,as th^ dug worm; and others in the bodies of living creatures ; or fome of dead flefh, as the Magot or Gentle, and others. Now thefe be moft of them par- ticularly good for particular fifhes: but for the Trout the dew - worm^ which T'he Complete Angler. (which fome alfo cal X^a^Loh-wortn) and the jBr^W//;?^ are the chief; and eipecially the firft for a great Trout, and the later for a lefle. There be alfo of iob~wormsSomt cAXcdifquir el- tails (a worm which has a red head, a ftreakdown the back, and a broad taily/ which are noted to be the beft, becaufe they are the tougheft, and and moft lively, and live longeft in the water: for vou are to know, that a dead worm is but a dead bait, and like to catch nothing, compared to a lively, quick, ftirring worm : And for a Brandlings hee is ufually found in an old dunghil, or fome very rotten place neer to it ; but moft ufually in cow dung, or hogs dung,rather then horfe dung, which isfomewhattoo hot and dry for that worm. Tliere are alfo divers other kindes of worms , which foi colour and ihape alter even as the ground out ©fwhich they are got: ii^tht mar Jlo" T.'he Complete Angler. worm^ the tag-tail^ t]ic Jlag-wornty the dock-worm, the oake-worm , the gilt-tail y and too many to name, even as many forts, as fome think there be of feverall kinds of birds in the air : of which I fhall fay no more, but tell you, that what worms foever you fifh with, are the better for being long kept before they be ufed ; and in cafe you have not been ib provident, then the way tocleanfe and fcoure them quickly, is to put them all night in water, if they be Lob-worms, and then put them in- to your bag with fennel: but you muft not put your Brandling above an hour in water, and then put them into fennel for fudden ufe : but if you have time, and purpofe to keep them long, then they be beft pre- ferved in an earthen pot with good ilore of moffe, which is to be frefli every week or eight dayes ; or at kaft taken from them, and clean ivafh'd, and wrung betwixt your hands 72v Complete Angler. hands till it be dry, and then put it to them again : And for Mofs 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 likeft a Bucks horn is the befl; exceptitbe*z£;>6//^ Mofs, which grows on fome heaths, and is hard to be found. For the Minnow or Penke^ he is eafily found and caught in April , for then hee appears in the Rivers : but Nature hath taught him to fhel- ter and hide himfelf in the Winter in ditches that be neer to the River, and there both to hide and keep himfelf warm in the weeds, which rot not fo foon as in a running Ri- ver ; in which place if hee Vv^ere in Winter,the diftempered Floods that are ufually in that feafon, would fuifer him to havenoiejft, but carry him headlong to Mils and Weires to his confulion. Ana of thefe MinnowSy firll you are to know,that the The Complete Angler. 97 the biggeft fize is not the befl ; and next, that the middle iize and the whiteft are the beft : and then you are to know , that I cannot well teach in words, but muffc fhew you how to put it on your hook, that it may turn the better : And you are alfo to know, that it is impolsible it fhould turn too quick ; And you are yet to know, that in cafe you want a Minnow, then a fmall Lochj or a Sticklebagy or any other fmall Fifli will ferve as wel : And you are yet to know, that you may ialt, and by that means keep them fit for ufe three or four dayes or longer ; and that of fait, bay fait is the beft. Now for jF//^ J-, which is the third bait wherewith Trozits are ufually taken. You are to know, that there are as many forts of Flies as there be of Fruits : I will name youbutfome of them : as the duiz fae, xhtjlone jiie^ the red jiie^ the moor fiie^ the tawny fue, th^JIjelfJe, the cloudy or H black- 9^ The Complete Angler. bIackI{h;?/>; there be of Flies, Ca^ tcrpillars^^ind Canker jlieSy and Bear jlles ; and indeed, too many either formee to name, or for you to re- member : and their breeding is fo various and wonderful, that I might eaiily amaze my felf, and tire you in a relation of them. And yet I wil exercife your pro- mifed patience by laying a little of the Caterpillar^ or the Palmer jiie or nvorm ; that by them you may guefs what a work it were in a Difcourfe but to run over thofe very many iiieSy wormsy and little Hying crea- tures with which the Sun and Sum- mer adorn and beautifie the river banks and meadows ; both for the recreation and contemplation of the Angler; and which (I think) I my- felf enjoy more then any other man that is not of my profefsion, Pliny holds an opinion, that ma- ny have their birth or being from a Jiie right, and have the luck to hit alfo where there is ftore of trouts^ and a right wind, he fhall catch fuch ftore of them, as will encourage him to grow more and more in love with the Art oijlie-making. Viat. But my loving Mafter, if any wind will notferve, then I wifh I were in Lapland^ to buy a good wind of one of the honeft witches, that fell fo many winds, and fo cheap. Pifc. 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 miftake noty/we fhall prefentJy have a fmoa- I king 114 T^^i^ Complete Angle? . kingfhowre ; and therefore fit clofe, this Sycamore tree will flielter us ; and I will tellyou,as they fliall come into my mind, more obfervations of flie- fifhing for a Trout. But firft,for the Winde ; you are to take notice that of the windes the South winde is faid to be beft. One obferves , That When the winde isfouth^ It blows your bait into afifloes mouth. Next to that,theT£J(?/? winde is be- lieved to be the beft: and havinii; told you that the Fjajl winde is the worft, I need not tell you which winde is beft in the third degree : And yet (as Solomon obferves, that Ilee that conjiders the winde JJoall ne- ver fow: fo hee that bufies his head too much about them, (if the wea- ther be not made extreme cold by an Eaft winde) fhall be a little fu- perftitious : for as it is obferved by iome. That there is no good horfe of ''I' he Complete Angler. 115 of a bad colour ; fo I have obfer- ved, that if it be a clow dy day, and not extreme cold, let the winde fit in what corner it will , and do its worft. And yet take this for a Rule , that I would willingly iifh on the Lee-fhore : and you are to take notice , that the Fifh lies, or fwimms neerer the bottom in Win- ter then in Summer, and alfo neerer the bottom in any cold day. But I promifed to tell you more of the Flie-fijfhing for a "Trout J^\\\q\i I may have time enough to do, for yo\x{^^\.\.r'^m^May -butter.) Firftfor a May-Jliey you may make his body with greenifh coloured crewel, or willow colour; darkning it in moft places, with waxed filk, or ribd with a black hare, or fome of them lib'd with lilver thred ; and fuch wings for the colour as you fee the flie to have at that feafon;nay at that very day on the water. Or you may make the Oak-jiie with an Orange- I 2 tawny 1 1 6 ^Tbe Complete Angler. tawny and black ground, and the brown of a Mallards feather for the wings ; and you are to know, that thefe two are moil excellent^/>j-,that is, the May-flie and the Oak-Jlie: And let me again tell you, that you keep as far from the water as you can pofsibly, whether you fifh with aflie or worm, and fi(h down the ftream; and when youfiih with a flie, if it be pofsible, let no part of your line touch the water, but your flie only; and be flil moving your fly upon the water, or cafl:ing it into the water; you your felf,being alfo alwaies mo- ving down the ftream. M^ Barker commends feverall forts of the pal- mer flies, not only thofe rib'd with lilver and gold,but others that have their bodies all made of black, or lome with red,and a red hackel;you may alfo make the hawthern-fltey whichis all black and not big,but ve- ry fmal,the fmaller the better ; or the c?^/^-;?^', the body of which is Orange colour T^he Complete Angler. 1 1 7 colour and black crewel, with a brown wing,or a^ made with a pea- cocks feather,is excellent in a bright day : you muft be fure you want not in your Magazin bag, the Peacocks feather, and grounds of fuel: wool, and crewel as will make the Grafs- hopper: and note, that ufually, the fmalleft flies are beft; and note alfo, that, the light flie does ufually make moil Iport in a dark day : and the darkeft and leaft flie in a bright or I cleare day ; and lafl:ly note, that you I are to repaire upon any occafion to your Magazin bag^ and upon any occafion vary and make them ac- cording to your fancy. And now I ihall tell you, that the filliing with a naturall flie is excel- lent,and affords much pleafure; they may be found thus, the May-jly u- fually in and about that month neer to the River fide, elpecially againft rain ; the Oak-fly oxi the Butt or bo- dy of an Oak or Aflj^ from the be- I 3 ginning I I'rf T^he Coffiplete Ajtgler. ginning oiMayX.o the end o{ Augufl it is a brownilli jfly , and eaiie to be fo found, and ftandsufually with his head downward, that is to fay, to- wards the root of the tree; the fmal black fly,or hawthorn fly is to be had on any Hawthorn bufh, after the leaves be come forth; with thefe and a fliort Line (as I fhewed to An- gle for a Chub) you may dap or dop, and alfo with a GraJJjoppery behind a tree, or in any deep hole, ftill ma- king it to move on the top of the water, as if it were alive, and ftiil keeping your felf out of fight, you fliall certainly have Iport if there be Trouts ; yea in a hot day, but e- Ipecially in the evening of a hot day. And now, Scholer, my direfti- on for fly-filhing is ended with this fhowre, for it has done raining, and now look about you, and fee how pleafantly that Meadow looks, nay and the earth fmels as fweetly too. Comei The Complete Angler. i i^ Come let me tell you what holy M r. Herbert faies of fuch day es and Flowers as thele, and then we will thank God that we enjoy them, and walk to the River and fi i down quiet- ly and try to catch the other brace of T^roiits. Sweet day^fo coolyfo calm^fo bright y T'he bridal of the earth and skie^ Sweet dews jhal weep thy fall to. nighty for thou muft die Sweet Rofe^whofe hew angry andh ave Bids the rajh gazer wipe his eye, T^hy root is ever in its grave ^ and thou muf die. Sweet Spring ful of fweet days & rofeSy A box where fweet 'j compadled lie ; My Mufrkfjewesyou have your clofes^ and all muf die. Only a fweet and vertuous foul y hike feaf one d timber never gives y I 4 But I20 l^he Corny iete Angler. But when the whole world turns to cole^ then chiefly lives. Viat. I thank you, good Mafter, for your good dired:'*on for fly-fiih- ing, and for the tweet enjoyment of the pleafant day,which is fo far fpent without offence to God or man. and I thank you for the fweet clofe of your difcourfe with Mr. Herbertr Verfes, which 1 have heard, loved j Angling;and I do the rather beheve' it, becaufe he had a fpirit futable to Anglers , and to thofe Primitive Chrijftians that you love, and have fo much commended. Pifc. Well, my loving Scholer, and I am pleafed to know that you are fo well pleafed with my direction and difcourfe ; and I hope you will be pleafed too, if you find a Trout at one of our Angles., which we left in the water tofiih for it felf; youfhall chufe which Ihiall be yours, and it is an even lay, one catches; And T^he Complete Angler. 12\ And let me tell you, this kind of fi{hing,and laying Night-hooks, are like putting money to ufe , for they both work for die Owners, when they do nothing but fleep, or eat,or rejoice, as you know we have done this laft hour, and fate as qui- etly and as free from cares under this Sycamore J zs Firg^'/s Tifyrusznd his MelibceusdJiA under their broadS^^T/^ tree : No life, my honeft Scholer, no life fo happy and fo pleafant as the Anglers, unlefs it be the Beggers life in Summer ; for then only they take no care, but are as happy as we Anglers. Viat. Indeed Mafter, and fo they be, as is witneffed by the beggers Song, made long fince by Frank Davifon, a good Poet, who was not aBegger,thoughhe were a good Poet. Fife. Can you ling it,Scholer? Viat. Sit down a little, good Ma- fter,and I wii try. Bright 122 "The Compktt Angler. Bright fiines the Suriyplay beggers^ play^ here'sfcraps enough toferve to day : What noife of viols isfofweet As when our merry clappers ring ? What mirth doth want when beggers meet ? A beggers life is for a King : Eat^drink and play ^fe^p when we liji^ Go where we uillfojiocks be mif. Bright Jhines the Sun ^ play beggers , &c The world is ours and ours alone ^ F(9r we alone have world at will\ We pur chafe not, allisourown. Both fields andfreets we beggers fill : Play beggers play^ play beggers play^ here's for aps enough toferve to day. A hundred herds of black and white Upon our Gowns fecurely fe'^d^ And yet if any dare us bite. He dies therefore as fure as Creed \ Thus beggers I/jrd it as they pleafe^ And only beggers live at eafe : B?^ight Jhines the Sun y play beggers play, here' sfcrap^ enough toferve to day. Fife The Complete Angler. 123 Pifc. I thank you good Scholer, this Song was well humor'd by the maker, and well remembred and lung by yuo; and I pray forget not the Ketch which you promifed to make againft night, for our Coun- try man honelt Coridon will expecft vour Ketch and my Song, which I muft be forc'd to patch up, for it is fo long fince I learnt it, tliat I have forgot a part of it. But come, lets ftretch our legs a little in a gentle walk to the River,andtry what in te- reft our Angles wil pay us for lend- ing them fo long to be jfed by the Trouts. Viat. Oh me, lookyou Mafter, afifh, afifh. Pifc. I marry Sir, that was a good fifli indeed ; if I had had the luck to have taken up that Rod, 'tis twenty to one he ihould not have broke my line by running to the Rods end, as you fuffered him ; I would have held him, unlefs he had been fellow to 124 T^^ Complete Angle f. to the great Trout that is neer an ell long, which had hispid:uredrawne, and now to be feen at mine Hofte Rickabies at the George in Ware ; and it may be, by giving that Trout the Rod, that is, by caftin git to him in- to the water, I might have caught him at the long run, for fo I ufe al - waiesto do when I meet with an o- ver-grown fifh, and you will learn to do fo hereafter ; for I tell you, Scholer, fifhing is an Art, or at leaft, it is an Art to catch fifh. Fiat. But, Mafter, will this Tr^^/ die, for it is like he has the hook in his belly? Pifc. I wil tel you, Scholer, that un- lefs the hook be fait, in his vtvy Gorge, he wil live, and a little time with the help of the water, wil ruil; the hook,& it wil in time wear away as the gravel does in the horfe hoof, which only leaves a falfe quarter. And now Scholer, lets go to my Rod. Look you Scholer, I have afifh T'he Complete Angler. 125 a filh too, but it proves a logger- headed Chub\ and this is not much a mifs , for this wil pleafure fome poor body, as we go to our lodg- ing to meet our brother Peter and honefl 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 Syca??iore tree, and there I wil give you more directions concerning fifhing ; for I would fain make yon an Artift. Viat. Yes, good Mafter, I pray let it be fo. CHAP. 126 T^he Complete Angler. CHAP. V^. Fife. ^ y^ yEL, Scholer, \ / \ / now we are ▼ ▼ fate downe and are at eale, I fhall tel you a lit- tle more of Trout fifhing before I ipeak of the Salmcn (which I pur- pofe fhall be next) and then of the Pike or Luce. You are to know, there is night as well as day-fifhing for a Trout , and that then thebeft are out of their holds; and the man- ner of taking them is on the top of the water with a great Z/?^ or Garden worm^ or rather two ; which you are to fifh for in a place where the water runs fomewh at quietly (for in a ftream it wil not befo well difcer- ned.) I fdy,in a quiet or dead place neer to feme fwift, there draw your bait over the top of tne water to and The Complete Angler. 127 aiid fro, and if there be a good Trout in the hole, hewiltakeit, efpecia)- ly if the night be dark; for then he lies boldly necr the top of the water, watching the motion of any Frog or JVater-moufey or Rat betwixt him and the skie, which he hunts for if hefees thewater butwrinkle or move in one of thefe dead holes, where the great Trouts ufually lye neer to their hold. And you muft fiih for him with a llrong line, and not a little hook, and let him have time to gorge your hook, for he does not ufually for- fake it, as he oft will in the day- fifhing: and if the night be not dark, then fifh fo with an Artificialfiyoi^i light colour; nay he will fometimes rife at a dead Moufe cr a piece of cloth, or any thing thr.t feemes to fwim crofs the water,ortobe in mo- tion : this is a choice way, but I have not oft ufed it becaufe it i^ void of the pleafj:es that fuch di-yes as ' thele 128 The Complete Angler. thefe that we new injoy, afford an Angler. And you are to know, that in Hamp-Jhire, (which I think exceeds all England iov pleafant Brooks, and ftore of Trouts) they ufe to catch Trouts in the night by the light of a Torch or jftraw, which when they have difcovered, they ftrike with a Trout fpear ; this kind of way they catch many,but I would not believe it till I was an eye-witnefs of it, nor like it now I have (ttn it. Fiat. But Mafter, do not Trouts fee us in the night .^ Pifc. Yes,and hear,and fmel too, both then and in the day time, for Gefner obferves,the Otter fmels a fifh forty furlong oif him in the water; and that it may be true, is affirmed by Sir Francis Bacon (in the eighth Century of his I-iiatural Hiftory) who there proves, that waters may be the Medium of founds, by de- monftrating it thus,T'y6^/ ifyouknock two The Complete Angler. 129 twojlones together very deep under the water ythofe thatjiandon abankneerto that place may hear the noife without a- ny diminution of it by the water, H e al- fo offers the like experiment concer- ning the letting an Anchor fall by a very long Cable or rope on a Rock, orthefand within the Sea: and this being fo wel obferved and demon- ftrated, as it is by that learned man, has made me to believe that Eeles unbed themfelves, and ftir at the noife of the Thunder, and not only as fome think, by the motion or the ftirring of theearth, v^hichis occafi- oned by that Thunder. And this reafon o£ Sir Frarjcis Ba- cons has made me crave pardon of one that I laughtat, for affirming that he knew C^r/^j" come to a cer- tain place in a Pond to be fed at the ringing of a Bel; and itfhallbea rule for me to make as little noife as I can wheni am a iifhing, until Sir Francis Baconhc confuted, v/hich I K fliall 130 T'be Complete Angler. dial give any man leave to do,and fo leave off this Philofophical difcourfe for a difcourfe of fifhing. Of which my next fhall be to tell you, it is certain, that certain fields neer Lemjier^ a Town in Hereford- yi6/W,are obferved, that they make the Sheep that graze upon them more fat then the next, and alfo to bear finer Wool ; that is to fay, that that year in which they feed in fuch a particular pafture, they {hall yeeldfiner wool then theyeer before they came to feed in it, and courfer again if they fhall return to their for- mer pafture, 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 cer- tain. If I catch z!Trout in one Mea- dow, he fhall be white zndjamt,^nd very like to be lo'i^fe ; and as cer- tainly if I catch a Trout in the next Meadow, hefhalbeftrong,and red, and lujiy^ and much better meat : Truft The Complete Angler. iji Truft me (Scholer) I have caught many a Trout in a particular Mea- doWjthat the very ill ape andinamel- led colour of him, has joyed me to look upon him, and I have with So- lomon concluded , "Every thing is beautifullin hisfeafon. It is now time to tell you next, (according to promife) fome obfer- vations of the Salmon \ But firft, I wil telyou there is a fifh, called by fome an Umber ^ and by fome a Greylingy a choice fifh,efteemed by many to be equally good with the Trout : it is a ififh that is ufually a- bout eighteen inchf*£ long, he lives in fuch ftreams ac the Trout does ; and is indeed taken w'th the fame bait as a Tror^t is, for he will bite both at the Minnow, the Worm^ and the Fly^ hothNatural and Artifici- al: of this fifh there be many in Trent^ and in the River that runs by Salisbury y and in fome other lel^ K 2 kr 132 T'he Complete Angler. fer Brooks; but he is not fo general a fiih as the Trout ^ nor to me either fo good to eat, or fo pleafant to fifh for as the Trout is ; of which two fifhes I will now take my leave, and come to my promifed Obferva- tions of the Salmon^ and a little ad- vice for the catching him. CHAP. I' he Comt>kte Angler. 1 33 CHAP. VI. ^— CT-^HE Salmo?2 Is ever bred in I the frefh Rivers ( and in JL moft Rivers about the month oiAuguJi) and never grows big but in the Sea\ and there to an incredible bignefs in a very /hort time ; to which place they covet to fwim,by the inftind: of nature,about a fet time: but if they be ftopp'd by Mills ^ Floud-gafes or Weirs, or be by accident loft in the frefh water, when the others go (which isufual- ly by flocks or fholes) then they thrive not. And the old Salmon, hoth the Mel- ter and Spaivfier, ftrive alfo to get into the Sea before Winter; but be- ing ftopt that courfe, or loft ; gro v lick in frefti waters, and by degrees unleaionable, and kipper, that is, K 3 to 134 ^^^ Complete Angler. to have a bony griftle, to grew (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 gri- ftle wears away, or is caft off (as the £/^^/(?isfaid tocafthis bill) and he recovers his ftrength, and comes next Summer to the fame River, (if it be poffible) to enjoy the former pleafures that there pofleft him ; for (as one has wittily obferved) he has (like fome perfons of Honour and Riches, which have both their win- ter and Summer houfes) the frefh Rivers for Summer, and the fait water for winter to Ipend his life in; In his Hi- which is nct (as Sir Francis Bacon ftoiry of hathobferv'^d)above ten years: And Death, it is to be obferved,that though they grow big in the Sea^ yet they grow not fat but in frefti Rivers ; and it is obferved, that the farther they gee from the Sea^ the better they be. And T'he Complete Angler. 135 And it is obferved, that, to the end they may get far from the Sea^ either to Spawne or to pofTefs the pleafure that they then and there find, they will force themfelves o- ver the tops oi Weirs ^ or Hedges^ or Jiops in the water, by taking their tails into their mouthes, and leaping over thofe places, even to a height beyond common belief: and fome- times by forcing themfelves againil: the ftreame through Sluces and Floud-gates, beyond common cre- dit. And 'tis obferved by Gefnerj that there is none bigger then in Eng- land , nor none better then in Thames. And for the Salmons fudden growth, it has been obferved by ty- ing a Ribon in the tail of fome num- ber of the young Salmoits, which have been taken in IVelres, as they fwimm'd towards the fait water,and then by taking apartof them again with the fame mark, at the fame K 4 place 1 36 T^he Complete Angler. place,at their returne from the Sea, which is ufually about fix months after; and the Hke experiment hath been tried upon young Swallows, who have after fix months abfence, been oferved to return to the fame chimney, there to make their nefts, and their habitations for the Sum- mer following; which hath inclined many to think, that every Salmon ufually returns to the fame River in which it was bred, as young Pigeons taken out of the fame Dove-cote ^I'SiVt alfo been obferved to do. And you are yet to obferve fur- ther, that the He Salmon s ufually bigger then the Spawner,and that he is more kipper, & lefs able to endure a winter in the freih water, then the She is; yet fhe is at that time of look- ing lefs kipper and better, as watry and as bad meat. And yet you are to obferve, that as there is no general rule without an exception, fo there is fome few Rivers The Complete Angler. 1 37 Rivers in this Nation that have 7r^^//j-and Salmon in feafon in win- ter. B ut for the obfervations of that and many other things, I mull in mannersomit/becaufetheywilprove too large for our narrow compafs of time, and therefore I fhall next fall upon my direction how to fifh for the Salmon. And for that, firft, you fhall ob- ferve, that ufually he ftaies not long in a place (as Troufs wil) but (as I faid) covets ftill to go neerer the Spring head; and that he does not (as the Trout and many other fifh) lie neer the water fide or bank, or roots of trees, but fwims ufually in the middle, and neer the ground; and that there you are to fifh for him ; and that he is to be caught as the Trout is, with a Worniy a Minnow^ (which fome call a Penke) or with a Fly. And you are to obferve, that he is very, very feldom obferved to bite at J38 The Complete Angler. at a Minnow (yet fometime he will) and not oft at a^,but more ufually at a Worm^ and then moft ufually at a Lob or Garden worm^vAvioSi fhould be wel fcowred, that is to fay, feven or eight dayes in Mofs before you fidi with them ; and if you double your time of eight into iixteen, or more,into twenty or more days, it is fl: ill the better,for the worms will flil be clearer, tougher, and more lively, and continue fo longer upon your hook. And now I fhall tell you, that which maybe called a fecret: I have been a fifhing with old Oliver Henly (now with God) a noted Fifher, both for Trout and Salmon^ and have obferved that he would ufually take three or four worms out of his bag and put them into a little box in his pocket, where he would ufually let them continue half an hour or more, before he would bait his hook with them; I have ask'd him his reafon, and The Complete Angler. i 39 and he h^L^vt'pWtA.He did but pick the beji out to be in a readinefs againjl he baited his hook the next time : But he has been obferved both by others, and my felf,to catch more iifh then I or any other body, that has ever gone afifhingwith him,could do,e- I'pecially Salmons; and I have been told lately by one of his moft inti^ mate and fecret friends, that the box in which he put thofe worms was a- noin ted with a drop, or two, or three of the Oil of A;j)/-/^6'rr/Vj',madeby ex- preffion or infufion, and that by the wormes remaining in that box an hour, or a like time, they had incor-- porated a kindof fmelthat was irre- fiftibly attrad:ive,enough to force a- ny fifh, within the fmel of them, to bite. This I heard not long fince from a friend, but have not tryed it; yet I grant it probable, and refer my Reader to Sir Francis Bacons Natu- ral Hiftory, where he proves fifhes may hear ; and I am certain Ge/her faye8 I \.o T'he Complete Angler. fayes, the Otter can fmell in the wa- ter, and know not that but fifh may do fo too : 'tis left for a lover of An- gling, or any that delires to improve that Art,to try this conclufion. I ihall alfo impart another expe- riment (but not tryed by my felfe) which I wil deliver in the fame words as it was by a friend, given me in writing. Take the Jiinking oil drawn out of Polypody of the Oak, by a retort mixt with Turpentine, and Hive- honey ^and annointyour bait therewith^ and it will doubtleffe draw the fijh to it. But in thefe things I have no great faith, yet grant it probable, and have had from fome chimical men (namely, from Sir George Ha- flings and others) an affirmation of them to be very advantageous : but no more of thefe, eipecially not in this place. I might here, before I take my leave Ihe Complete Angler. 141 leave of the Salmon^ tell you, that there is more then one fort of them, as namely, a Tecon, and another called in fome places a Samlet^ or by fome,a Skegger : but thefe (and o- thers which I forbear to name) may be fifh of another kind, and differ, as we know a Herring and a Pilcher do ; but muft by me be left to the difquifitions of men of more leifure and of greater abilities, then I pro- fefs my felf to have. And laftly, I am to borrow fo much of your promifed patience, as to tell you, that the T'rout or Sal- mon^ being in feafon, have at their iirft taking out of the water (which continues during life) their bodies adorned, the one with fuch red fpots, and the other with black or blackiih fpots , which gives them fuch an addition of natural beau- tie, as I (that yet am no enemy to it) think was never given to any woman by the Artificial Paint or Patch- 142 The Complete Angler. Patches in which they fo much pride themfelves in this age. And fo I fhall leave them and proceed to fome Obfervations of the Pike. CHAP. VII. Fife. "W T is not to be doubted but I that the Lz^rd', ovPikrelly JL or P/i^ breeds by Spaw- ning; and yet Gefncr fayes, that fome of them breed, where none e- verwas, out of a weed called P//'- r ell-weedy and other glutinous mat- ter, which with the help of the Suns heat proves in fome particular ponds (apted by nature for it) to become Pikes. In his Hi- Sir FrancisBacon cbferves th^Pike ftory of to be the long-eft lived of any frelh Li!e and ^ . ^ . . Peaui. water fiih, and yet that his life is not T'he Complete Angler. i ^ 3 not ulually above fortie years ; and yet Gefner mentions a Pike taken in Swedelandm the year 1449, with a Ring about his neck, declaring he was put into the Pond by Frederick the fecond, more then two hundred years before he was laft taken, as the Infcription of that Ring , being Greek, was interpreted by the then Bifhop of Worms. But of this no more, but that it is obferved that the old or very grt?it Pikes have in them more of jftate then goodnefs ; the fmaller or middle liz'd Pikes being by the moft and choiceft palates ob- ferved to be the beft meat; but con- trary, the Eeleis obferved to be the better for age and bignefs. All Pikes that live long prove chargeable to their keepers, becaufe their life is maintained by the death of fo many other fifh, even thofe of his owne kind, which has made him by fome Writers to bee called the Tyrant of the Rivers, or the Frefly 'Water 144- "^^^ Complete Angler. water-wolf^ by reafon of his bold, greedy,devouring diipoiition; which is fo keen, as Gefner relates, a man going to a Pond (where it feems a Pike had devoured all the fifh) to water his Mule, had a Pike bit his Mule by the lips, to which the Pike hung fo faft, that the Mule drew him out of the water, and by that acci- dent the owner of the Mule got the Pike ; I tell you who relates it,and (hall with it tel you what a wife man has obferved. It is a hard thing to perfwade the belly y becaiife it hath no ears. But if this relation of Gefner s bee dif-believed, it is too evident to bee doubted that a Pike will devoure a fifh of his own kind, that fhall be bigger then this belly or throat will receive; and fwallow a part of him, and let the other part remaine in his mouth till the fwallowed part be di- gefted, and then fwallow that other part that was in his mouth, and fo put T'he Complete Angler. 145 put it over by degrees. And it is ob- ferved, that the P/i^d' will eat vene- mous things (as fome kind of Frogs are) and yet live witnout being harmed by them: for, as fome fay^, he has in him a natural Balfome or Antidote againft all Poifon : and others ^ that he never eats a vene- mous Frog till he hath firft killed her, and then (as Trucks are obfer- ved to do to Frogs in Spaw^ning time, at w^hich time fome Frogs are ob- ferved to be venemous) fo through- ly wafh t her,by tumbling her up and dow^n in the water, that he may de- vour her without danger. And Gefner affirms, that a Polonian Gen- tleman did faithfully aflure him, he had feen two young Geefe at one time in the belly of a P//^^: andhee obferves, that in Spain there is no PikeSy and that the biggeft are in the \j2kc'Thraci?nane in //^/)/,and the next, if not equal to them, are the Pikes of E?2gland. L The 146 T'he Complete Angler. The Pike is alfo oblerved to be a nielancholly, and a bold nfh: Me- lancholly, becaufehealwaiesfwims or refts himlelfe alone, and never fwims in fholes, or with company, as Roach ;3Lr\^ Dace^ and moft other fifli do : And bold, becaufe he fears not a fliadov/, or to fee or be feen of any body, as the Trout and Chiib^ and all other fiih do. And it is obferved by Gefner^^Sx^X the bones,and hearts,& galsof P/y^f^j* are very medicinable for feveral Dileafes, as to ftop bloud, to abate Fevers, to cure Agues, to oppole or expel the infedlion of the Plague, and to be many wayes medicinable and ufeful for the good of mankind; but that the biting of a Pike is vene- mous and hard to be cured. And it is obferved, that the Pike\% a fifli that breeds but once ayear,and that other fifh (as namely Loaches) do breed oftner ; as we are certaine Pigeons ^q almofl every month, and yet T'he Complete Angler. \ 47 yet the Hawk, a bird of prey (as the Fike is of fifh) breeds but once in twelvemonths: andyouareto note, that his time of breeding or Spawn- ing is ufually about the end of iv- bruary\ orfomewhatlater,inM7;r/7, as theweather proves colder or war- mer: and to note, that his manner of breeding is thus, a He and a She P//^^ will ulually go together out of a River into fome ditch or creek , and that theretheSpawner cafts her eggs, and the Melter hovers over her all that time that fhe is cafting her Spawn, but touches her not. I m ight fay more of this, but it might be thought curiolity or worfe, and fhall therefore forbear it , and take up fo much of your attention as to tell you that the beft of Pikes are noted to be in Rivers, then thofe in great Ponds or Meres, and the worft in fmal Ponds. And now I Ihall proceed to L 2 give 148 ^he Complete Angler. give you fome directions how to catch this Pike. ^^U^^V^>vv^^-'v'' which you have with fo much pati- ence heard me talk of. His feeding is ufuallyyf/Z^ oryr<:?g*j-, andfometime a weed of his owne, called Pikrel-weedy of which I told you fome think fome Pikes are bred; for they have obferved, 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 T^he Complete Angler. 149 that weed in that Pond, and that that weed both breeds and feeds them ; but whether thofe Pikes io bred will ever breed by generation as the others do, I Qiall leave to the difquilitionsof men ofmorecurio- fity and leifure then I profefs my felf to have; and fhall proceed to tell you, that you may fifh for a Pike^ti- ther with aledger,or a walking-bait; and you are to note, that I call that a ledger which is fix'd, or made to reft in one certaine place when you fhall be abfent; and that I call that a walking bait, which you take with you,and have ever in motion. Con- cerning which two, I fhall give you this diredlion. That your ledger bait is beft to be a living bait, whe- ther it be a fifh or a Frog; and that you may make them live the longer, you may, or indeed you muft take this courfe : Firft, for your live bait of fi h, a FochorDace is (I think) beft andmoft L 3 tempting, i^o The Complete Angler. tempting, and a Pearch the longeft liv'd on a hook; you muft take your knife, (which cannot be too iharp) and betwixt the head and the fin on his back, cut or make an iniition,or fuch a fear as you may put the arm- ing wyer of your hook into it, with as little bruifing or hurting the fifh as Art and diligence will enable you to do, and fo carrying your arming wyer along his back, unto, or neer the tail of your fiih, betwixt the skin and the body of it, draw out that wyer or arming of your hook at an- other fear neer to his tail ; then tye him about it with thred,butnohard- er then of neceflitieyou mufl: to pre- vent hurting the fifh; and the better toavoidhurting thefifh, fomehave a kind of probe to open the way, for the more eafie entrance and pafTage ofyourwyeror arming: but as for thefe, time and a little experience will teach you better then I can by words ; for of this I will for the pre- fent The Cojnplete Angler. fent fay no more, but come next tr> give you fome direftions how t^ bait your hook with a Frog. Viat. But, good Mafter^ did not you fay even now, that fome Frogs were venemous, and is it not dange- rous to touch them? Fife. Yes,but I wil give you fome Rules or Cautionsconcerningthem: And firfl, you are to note, there is two kinds of Frogs ; that is to fay, (if I may fo exprcfs my felf ) a^(?/6 and 2ifiPj'frog: byflefli/r^^j-,Imean, frogs that breed and Uve on the land; and of thefe there be feveral forts and colours, fome being peckled, fome greenifh, fome blackifh, or brown : the green Frog, which is a fmal one, is by Topfell taken to be venemous ; and fo is the Pcdock^ or Frog-Padock, which ufually keeps or breeds on the land, and is very large and bony, and big, efpecial- ly the She /r(;^ of that kind; yet thefe wil fometime come into the water, L 4 but U'«» 152 T^he Complete Angler. but it is not often ; and the \2siA frogs are fome of them obferved by him, to breed by laying eggs, and others to breed of the flime and duft of the earth, and that in winter they turn to flime again, and that the next Summer that very flime returns to be aHving creature ; this is the o- /«his i6th pinion oi Pliny, and* Cardanus un- Book, De dertakes to give reafon for the rain- ing of Frogs ; but if it were in my power,it fliould rain none but water FrogSy for thofe I think are not ve* nemous, efpecially the right water Frog , which about February or ilf^r^/6 breeds in ditches by flime and blackifh eggs in that flime, about which time of breeding the He and She frog are obferved to ufe divers limber falts, and to croke and make a noife,which xho^X'SLnAfrog^ovPadock yr^^ never does. Now of thefe water Frogs, you are to chufe the yellowefl: that you can get,^ for that the Pike ever Hkes beft. And thus ufe your Frog, T^he Complete Angler. 153 Frog^ that he may continue long a- live : Put your hook Into his mouth, which you may ealily do from a- bout the middle oi April till Auguft, and then th.^ Frogs mouth grows up and he continues fo for at leaft fix months without eating, but is fu- flained, none,but hewhofe nameis Wonderful, knows how. I fay, put y ourhook, I mean the arming wire, through his mouth and out at his gills, and then with a fine needle and Silk fow the upper part of his leg with only one flitch to the arm- ed wire of your hook, or tie the yr^^j- leg above the upperjoint to the armed wire, and in fo doing ufe him as though you loved him, that is, harme him as little as you maypof- fibly, that he may live the longer. And now, having given you this diredlion for the baiting your ledger hook with a live fifh or frog, my next muft be to tell you, how your hook 154 ^^^ Complete Angler. hook thus baited muft or may be u- fed ; and it is thus : Having faftned your hook to aline,which if it be not fourteen yards long, ihould not be lefs then twelve ; you are to fafhen that line to any bow neer to a hole where aPZ/J^ is,oris likely to lye,or to have ahaunt,and thenwindyourline on any forked fl:ick,all yonr line, ex- cept a half yard of it, or rather more, andiplit thatforkedftick with fuch a nick or notch at one end of it, as may keep the line from any more of it ra- velling from about the ftick, then fo much of it as you intended ; and chufe your forked ftick to be of that bignefs as may keep the fijl^ ovfrog from pulling the forked ftick 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 faftened, will have line e- nough to go to his hold and powch the bait: and if you would have this ledger bait to keep at a fixt place,un- diftur- The Complete Angler. 155 difturbed by wind or other acci- dents, which may drive it to the fhoare fide(foryou are to note that it is Hkelieft to catch a Pike in the midft of the water) then hang a fmall Plummet of lead, a ftone, or piece of tyle, or a turfe in a firing, and caft it into the water, with the forked ftick to hang upon the ground, to be as an Anchor to keep the forked ftick from moving out of your intended place till the Pike come. This I take to be a very good way, to ufe fo many ledger baits as you intend to make tryal of. Or if you bait your hooks thus, with Hve fifh or Frogs , and in a windy day fallen them thus to a bow or bundle of flraw, and by the help of that wind can get them to move crofs a Pond or Mere^ you are Hke to fland ftill on the fhoar and fee iport,if there be any ftore of Pikes ; or thefe live baits may make fportjbeing tied about the body or wings 156 The Complete Angler. wings of a Goofe or Duck^ and jfhe chafed over a Pond; and the like may be done with turning three or four live baits thus faftened to blad- ders, or boughs, or bottles of hay, or flags, to fwim down a River, whilft you walk quietly on the ihore along with them, andareftill in expecta- tion of iport. The reft muft be taughtyou by pradlice, for time will not alow me to fay more of this kind of fifhing with live baits. And for your dead bait for a Pike, for that you may be taught by one dayes going a iifhing with me or a- ny other body that fifhes for him , for the baiting your hook with a dead Gudgion or a Roch, and moving it up and down the water, is too ea- fie a thing to take up any time to di- rect: you to do it; and yet, becaufe I cut you fhort in that, I will com- mute for it, by telling you that that was told me for a fecret; it is this : Dijfolve The Complete Angler. i ^'J DtJJohe Gum of Ivie 'n Oyle of Spike, and therewith annoint your dead bait for a Pike, and then cafl it into a likely place ^andwhen it has lay en a fhort time at the bottom^ draw it to- wards the top of the water y andfoup ^ he fir earn ^ and it is more then likely that you have a Y\kt follow you with more then common eagernefs. This has not been tryed by me, ')ut told me by a friend of note, that pretended to do me a courtefie : but if this direction to catch a Pike thus do you no good, I am certaine this diredtion how to rofte him when he is caught, is choicely good, for I have tryed it,and it is fomewhat the better for not b?nng common ; but with my diredlion you muft take this Caution, thatyour Pikemuftnot be a fmal one. I'lrfi open your Pike at the gills y and if need be^ cu^ alfo a little fiit to- wards his belly \ out ofthef?^ take his ^uts, and keep his livery which you artf %i^S T'he Complete Angler. are tofhred very Jmall with Time, Sweet Margerom, and a little y^m* ter-Savoury; to the fe put fome pick- led Oy{icv^^and fame Anchovis, both thefe lajl whole ( for the Anc\iOYi^ will melty and the Oyfters JJjould not) to thefe you mujl add alfo a pound of fweet Butter ^which you are to mix with the herbs that are pored^ and let them all be wellfalted \ifthe Pike be more then a yard long ^ then you may put in- to thefe herbs more then a pounds or if be be lefSy then lefs Butter willfuf- fee :) thefe being thus mixt^ with a blade or two of Mace y muf be put in- to the Pikes belly ^ and then his belly fowed up ; then you are to thruft the fpit through his mouth out at his tail; and then with four^ or five , orfx fplit ficks or very thin laths ^ and a convenient quant it ie of tape orfliting, thefe laths are to be tyed roundabout theVi^tsbodyfromhishead to his tail^ and the tape tiedfomewhat thick to pre- vent his breaking or failing off from the The Complete Angler. 159 thefpit ; let him be rojled very leifure-' ly, and often bajiedwith Claret wine^ and Anchovis^ and butter mixt toge- ther ^and alfo with what moijlure falls from him into the pan : when you have rofled him fufficientfyy you are to hold under him {when you unwind or cut the tape that ties him)fuch a dijh as youpurpofe to eat him out of and let him fall into it with the f awe e that is rojled in his belly ; and by this means the Pike will be kept unbroken and complete \ then to the fawce^ which was within him ^ andalfo in the pan ^ you are to add a fit quantity of the bejl butter^ and tofqueeze the juice of three or four Oranges: lafly^you may ei- ther put into the Pike with the Oy- fters, two cloves of Garlicky and take it whole out when the Pike is cut off the fpity or to give the fawce a hogoe^ let the diJh [into which you let the Pike fall) be rubed with it ; the uftng or not ujing of this Gar lick is left to your difcretion. This i6o T^he Complete Angler. This difh of meat is too good for any but Anglers or honeft men; and, I truft, you wil prove both, and therefore I have truft- ed you w^ith this Secret. And now I fhall proceed to give you fome Obfervations concerning the Carp. CHAP. The Complete Angler. it>y CPIAP. VIII. Pifi^ ^ H - ^ H E Carp is a ftately, I a good, and a fubtle JL fifh, afifhthathath not (as it is faid) been long in Eng- landy but faid to be by one yiv.Maf- call (a G ntleman then living at Plumfled in Sujfex) brought into this Nation ; and for the better confir- mation of this, you are to remem- ber I toldyou that G^^rfayes,there is not a Pike in Spain^ and that ex- cept the Eele, which lives longeft out of the water, there is none that will endure more hardnefs, or live longer then a CarpW\l\ out of it, and io the report of his being brought out of 'a forrain Nation into this, is the more probable. Carps and Loches are obferved to breed feveral months in one year, M which 1 62 l.be Complete Angler. vv^hich moft other fi{h do not, and it is the rather believe:?, becaufe you fhall fcarce or never take a Male Carp without a Melty or a Female without a Roe or Spawn ; and for the moft part very much, and espe- cially all the Summer feafon ; and itis obferved, that they breed more naturally in Ponds then in running waters, and that thofe that live in Rivers are taken by men of the beft palates to be much the better meat. And it is obferved, that in fome Ponds Carps will not breed, eipe- cially in cold Ponds ; but where they will breed, they breed innume- rably,if there be no Pikes nov Pearch to devour their Spawn, when it is caft upon grafs, or flags, or weeds, where it lies ten or twelve dayes be- fore it be enlivened. The Carpy if he have water room and good feed, will grow to a very great bignefs and length : I have heard The Complete Angler. 1 63 heard,to above a yard long; though I never faw one above thirty three inches, v^hich was a very great and goodly fifh. Now as the increafe of Carps is wonderful for their number; fo there is not a r-^afon found out, I think, by any, why the fhould breed in fome Ponds, and not in others of the fame nature,for foil and all other circumftances; and as their breed- ing, fo are their decayes alfo very myfterious ; I have both read it, and been told by a Gentleman of tryedhoneftie, that he has knowne rlxtie or more large Carps put into feveral Ponds neerto a hou{e,where by reafon of the ftakes in the Ponds, and the Owners conftant being neer to them,it was impoffible they fhould be ftole away from him, and that when he has after three or four years emptied the Pond, and expected an increafe from them by breeding young ones (for that they might da M 2 fo 164 T^he Complete Angler. fo, he had, as the rule is, put in three Mel ters for one Spawner) he has, I fay, after three or four years found neither a young nor old Carp remaining: And the like I have known ofone that has almoft watch- ed his Pond, and at a like diftance of time at the fifliing of a Pond, found of feventy or eighty large C^r/^j-jUot above five or fix: and that he had forborn longer to fifh the faid Pond, but that he faw in a hot day in Summer, a large Carp fwim neer to the top of the water with a Frog upon his head, and that he up- on that occafion caufed his Pond to be let dry: and I fay, of feventie or eighty Carps ^ only found five or fix in the faid Pond, and thofe very fick and lean, and with every one a Frog fliicking fo fafi: on the head of thefaidC^r^j-, that the Frog would not bee got off without extreme force or killing, and the Gentle- man that did affirm this to me, told me T^he Complete Angler, \ 65 me he faw it, and did declare his be- lief to be ^and I alfo believe the fame ) that he thought the other Carps that were fo firangely loft, were fo killed by Frogs , and then devoured. But I am fain into this difcourfe by accident, of which I might fay more, but it has proved longer then I intended, and poffibly may not to you beconiiderable; I ihall there- fore give you three or four more fliort obfervations of the Carp^ and then fall upon fome directions how you hall fifh for him. 1 he age of Carps is by S. Fran CIS Bacon (in his Hiftory of Life aii** Death)obferved to be but ten years; yet others think they live longenbut moft conclude, that(contrary to the Pike or Luce^ all Carps are the bet- ter for age and bignefs; the tongues of C^r^ J- are noted to be choice and coft]y meat, efpecially to them that buy^hem; but G^^/zi^er fayes. Carps M 3 have 1 66 T'he Complete Angler. have no tongues like other filh, but a piece of flefh-like-fifh in their mouth hke to a tongue, and may be fo called, but it is certain it is choicely good, and that the C^r/> is to be reckoned amongft thofe lea- ther mouthed fifh, which I told you have their teeth in their throat, and for that reafon he is very feldome loft by breaking his hold, if your hook bee once ftuck into his chaps. I told you, that Sir Francis Bacon thinks that the Carp lives but ten years ; h\JityanusDuhravius{z Ger- 7nane as I think) has writ a bookin Latine of Fifh and Fifh Ponds, in which he fayes, that Carps begin to Spawn at the age of three yeers, and continue to dofo till thirty; he fayes alfo, that in the time of their breeding, which is in Summer when the Sun hath warmed both the earth and water, and fo apted them alfo for generation, that then three or four The Complete Angler. 167 four Male (T^r^jvvillfollowaFemale, and that thenfhe p^uttingonafeem- ingcoynefs, theyforceher dirough weeds and flags, where fhe lets fall her eggs or Spawn, which fticksfaft to the weeds, and then they let fall their Melt upon it, and fo it be- comes in a fliort time to be a living fifh ; and , as I told you, it is thought the Carp does this feveral months in the yeer, and moft be- lieve that moft fifh breed after this manner, except the Eele : and it is thought that all Carps are not bred by generation , but that fome breed otherwayes, as fome Pikes do. Much more might be faid out of him, and out of Arijlotle^ which jD//<^rj^/W often quotes in his Dif- courfe, but it might rather perplex then fatisfie you, and therefore I fliall rather chufe to direftyou hov/ to catch , then fpend more time in M 4 dif. i68 The Complete Angler. difcourling either of the nature or the breeding of this Carp^ or of any more circumftances con- cerning him, but yet I fhall remem- ber you of what I told you before, that he is a very fubtle fifh and hard to be caught. And my fir ft diredlion is, that if you will filh for a C^r/^joumuft put on a very large meafure oi patience^ efpecially to fifh for a River Carp : I have knowne a very good Fifher angle "The Complete Angler. 1 69 angle diligently four or fix hours in a day, for three or four dayes toge- ther for a River Carp,^nd not have a bite : and you are to note, that in fome Ponds it is as hard to catch a Carp as in a River ; that is to fay^^ w^here they have ftore of feed, & the water is of a clayifh colour; butyoii are to remember, that I have told you there is no rule without ar- exception, and therefore being pofleft with that hope and patience which I wifh to all Fifhers, efpecially to the Carp- Angler^ I fhall tell you with what bait to fifh for him; but that mufk be either early or ate, and let me tell you,that in hot weather (for he will feldome bite in cold) you can- not bee too e^rly or too late at it. The Carp b^tes either at wormes or at Pafte ; and of worms I think the blewifh MarlhorMe adow worm IS beft; but poflibly another worm, jiot too big may do as well, and (o(> may 1170 The Complete Angler. may a Gentle : and as for Partes, there are almoft as many forts as there are Medicines for the Tooth- i\ch, but doubtlefs fweet Paftes are beft; I mean, Paftes mixtwith ho- ney, or with Sugar ; which, that you may the better beguile this crafty fi{h,{hould be thrown into the Pond or place in which youiifh for him fome hours before you under- take your tryal of skil by the Angle- Rod: and (loubtlefs,if it be thrown into the water a day or two before,at feveral times, and in fmal pellets, you are the likelier when you fifli for the Carp^ to obtain your defired fport : or in a large Pond, to draw them to any certain place, that they may the better and with more hope be fiflhed for: you are to throw into it, in fome certaine place, either grains, orbloud mixt with Cow- dung,or with bran; orany Garbage, as Chickens guts or the like, and thenlome.of yourlmal fweet pellets, with The Complete Angler. \j^ with which you purpofe to angle ; thefe fma] pellets,being few of them thrown in as you are AngUng. And your PaiTie muft bee thus made ; Take the flefh of a Rabet or Cat cut fmal,and Bean-flower,or (if not eafily got then) other flowre, and then mix thefe together,andput to them either Sugar, or Honey, which I think better, and then beat thefe together in a Mortar; or fome- times work them in your hands, (your hands being very clean) and then make it into a ball, or two, or three, as you like beft for your ufe: but you muft work or pound it fo long in the Mortar, as to make it fo tough as to hang upon your hook without wafhing from it,yet not too hard ; or that you may the better keep it on your hook , you may kneade with your faltealitnei^ana not much) white or yellowifh wool. And if you would have this Palle keep all the year for any other fifti , then 172 'The Complete Angler. then mix with it Virgins-wax and clarified honey ^ and work them to- gether with your hands before the £re; then make th?fe into balls, and at will keep all th^ veer. And if you fifh for a Carp with Gentles, then put upon your hook a imall piece of Scarlet about this big- snefs ff , itbeing foked in, or an- nointed with Oyl of Peter y called by ^ome, Oylofthe Rock\ and if your Oentles be put two or three dayes tefore into a box or horn anointed ^vith Honey, and fo put upon your liook, as to nreferve them to be li- ving , you are as like to kill this craftie fifh this way as any other ; , but ftill as yoa are fifhing, chaw a little white or brown bread in your mouth, and caft it into the Pond a- bout the place where your flote -fwims. Other baits there be, but thefe with diligence , and patient watchfulnefs, will do it as well as any as 1 have ever pradlifed , or heard T'he Complete Angler. 173 heard of: and yet T (hall tell you, that the crumbs of white bread and honey made into a Pafte, is a good bait for a Carp^ and you know it is more eaiily made. And having fald thus much of the Carp, my next difcourfe ftial be of the Bream ^ which ihall not prove fo tedious, and therefore I defire the continu- ance of your attention. CHAP. 174 ^k^ Complete Angler. CHAP. IX. Fife. ^ a '^HE Bream being at a I full growth , is a •*• large and ftately fifh, he will breed both in Rivers and Ponds , but loves beft 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 Gefner taken to be more pleafant or fweet then wholefome ; this fiih is long in growing , but breeds ex- ceedingly in a water that pleafes him,yea,in many Ponds fo fail:,as to over ftore them, andftarve the other fifh. The Baits good for to catch the Bream are many ; as name]y,young Waips, and a Pafte made of brown bread and honey, or Gentels^ or eipecially The Complete Angter. \ j$ efpecially a worm, a worm that is not much unlike a Magot, which you will find at the roots of Docks ^or of FlagSy or of Rujhes that grow in the water, or watry places, and a Grajhopper having his legs nip'd off, or a flye that is in June and July to be found amongft the green Reed, growing by the water fide, thofe are faid to bee excellent baits. I doubt not but there be many others that both the Bream and the Carp al- io would bite at ; but thefe time and expe rience will teach you how to find out : And fo having according lo my promife given you thefe fhort Obfervations concerning the Bream ^ I fhall alfo give you fome Obferva- tions concerning thtTench^^ind thofe alfo very briefly. The Tench is obferved to love to live in Ponds;butif he be in a River, then in the ftill places of the River, he is obferved to be a Phyfician to other 176 T^he Complete Angler. other fifhes, and is fo called by ma- ny that have beenfearchers into the nature of fifh; anditisfaid, that a Tike will neither devour nor hurt him, becaufe the Pike being fick or hurt by any accident, is cured by touching the Tenchy and the Tench does the like to other fifhes, either by touching them, or by being in their company. Randelitius fayes in his difcourfe of fifhes (quoted by G^^t) that at his being at Rome, he fav^ certaine Jewes apply Tenches to the feet of a lick man for a cure ; and it is obfer- ved,that many of thofe people have many Secrets unknown to Chrifti- ans, fecrets which have never been written, but have been fuccefsfive- ly fince 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 fon, and fo from generation to ge- neration without writing, or (unlefs it The Complete Angler. it were cafually) without the leaft communicating them to any other Nation or Tribe (for to do fo, they account a profanation) .• yet this fiOi, that does by a natural inbred Balfome, not only cure himfelfe if he be wounded, but others alfo, loves not to live in clear ftreams pa- ved with gravel, but in ftanding wa- ters, where mud and the worft of weeds abound, and therefore it is, I think, that this Tench 177 is by fo many accounted better for N Medi- 1 78 T^he Complete Angler. Medicines then for meat: but for the firft,! am able to fay Httle; and for the later, can fay pofitively, that he eats pleafantly ; and will there- fore give you a few , and but a few directions how to catch him. He will bite at a Pafte made of brown bread and honey, or at a Marfh-worm, or a Lob-worm; he will bite alfo atafmallerworm,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 al- fo in the three hot months (for in the nine colder he ftirs not much) bite at a Flag-worm, or at a green Gentle, but can pofitively fay no more of the Trench ^ he being a fifli that I have not often Angled for ; but I wifh my honeft Scholer may, and be ever fortunate when hee fiflies. Viat. I thank you good Mafler: but I pray Sir, fince you fee it flill rains May butter, give me fome ob- lerva- T^he Complete Angler. 1 79 fervations and diredtions concerning the Pearchy for they fay he is both a very good and a bold biting filh, and I would faine learne to fiih for him. Pifc. You fay true, Scholer, the Pearch is a very good, and a very bold biting fifli, he is one of the fifhes ofprey, that, like the Pike and Tr6?^/, carries his teeth in his mouth, not in his throat, and dare venture to kill and devour another fi(h ; this fifh, and the Pike are (fayes Gefner) the beft of frefh water fifli ; he Spawns but once a year, and is by Phyficians held very nutritive; yet by many to be hard of digeftion : They abound more in the River Poe^ and in 'England^ (fayes Pande- litius) then other parts, and have in ^their brain a ftone, which is in for- rain parts fold by Apothecaries, be- ing there noted tobe very medicina- ble againft the ftone in the reins : Thefe be a part of the commendati- N 2 ons i8o T'he Complete Angler. ons which fome Philofophycal brain havebeftowed upon the frefh-water Pearchy yet they commend the Sea Pearchy which is known by having but one fin on his back, (of which they fay, we EngliJh^QQ but a few) to be a much better fifh. The Pearch grows flowly, yet will grow, as I have been credibly mformed, to be almoft two foot long; for my Informer told me, fuch a one was not long fince taken by Sir Abraham Williams ^ a Gentle- man of worth, and a lover of Ang- ling,thatyetlives,andl wifhhe may: this was a deep bodied fiih; and doubtlefs durft have devoured a P//^^ of half his own length ; for I have told you, he is a bold fifh, fuch a one, as but for extreme hunger, the Pike will not devour ; for to affright the Pike^ the Pearch will fet up his fins, much like as a Turkie-Cock wil (bmetimes fet up his tail. But , my Scholer, the Pearch is not The Complete Angler. j8l not only valiant to defend himfelf, but he is (as you faid) a bold biting fifh,yet he he will not bite at all fea- fons of the yeer; he is very abftemi- ous in Winter; and hath been ob- ferved by fome, not ufually to bite till the Mulberry tree buds, that is to fay, till extreme Frofts be paft for that Spring; for w^hen the Mulberry tree bloffomes, many Gardners ob- fervethei r forward fruit to be paft the danger of Frofts, and fome have made the like obfervation of the Pearches biting. Butbite the Pearcljwi\\,and that very boldly, and as one has wittily obferved, if there be twentie or for- tie in a hole, they may be at one ftanding all catch'd one after ano- ther; theybeing,ashefaies, like the wicked of the world, not afraid, though their fellowes and compa- nions perifh in their figh N 7 And 1 82 T^he Complete Angler. And the baits for this bold fifh arc not many; I mean, he will bite as well at fome, or at any of thefe three, as at any or all others what- foever; a Worm^ a ^Minnow ^ or a little Frog (of which you may find many in hay time) and oiworms^ the Dunghill worm, called a brandling, I take to be beft, be-ing well fcow- red in Mofs or Fennel ; and if you filh for a Pearch with a Minnow^ then it is beft to be alive, you fticking your The Complete Angler. I'Sj your hook through his back fin, and letting him fw jn i up and down about mid-water, or a littJc lower, and you {till 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 fiih for the Pearch with a fmall Frog , your hook being faftened through the skin of his leg, towards the upper part of it : And laftly, I will give you but this advlfe, that you give the Pearch time enough when he bites, for there was fcarfe ever a- ny Angler that has given him too much. And now I think beft to reft my felfe, for I have almoft fpent my ipirits with talking fo long. Viat. Nay, good Mafter, one fifh more, fo^ you fee it rains ftill, and you know our Angles are like money put to ufury ; they may thrive though we fit ftill and do no- thing, but talk & enjoy one another. N 4 Come, 1S4 T'he Compkte Angler. Come, come the other fiih, good Mafter. Pifc. But Scholer, have yoa nothing to mix with this Difcourfe, which now grows both tedious and tirefome ? fhall I have nothing from you that feems to have both a good memorie, and a chearful Spirit ? Viat. Yes, Mafter, I will fpeak you a Coppie of Verfes that were made by Dodlor Donne^ and . 3made to (hew the world that hee could make foft and fmooth Verfes, when he thought themfit and worth liislabov*r; and I love them the bet- ter, becaufe they allude to Rivers, and fifh, and fifhing. They bee j thefe : Cojne live with me^andbe my love, Jlnd we willfome new pleafures prove ^ ^Of golden funds ^and Chrijlal brooks^ Withjilken lines andjilver hooks. There The Complete Angler. 185 The?^e will the River wifpering run^ Warm d by thy eyes more then the Sun; And there tH inameTdfiJlj wilftay^ Begging themfelves they may betray. When thou wiltjwim in that live bath^ Eachjijljy which every channel hath Mofi amoroujly to thee willjwimy Gladder to catch thee^ then thou him. IfthoUyto befofeen, beejl loath By Sun or Moon, thou darkneji both ; Andy if mine eyes have leave to fee ^ Ijieednot their light Joaving thee. Let others freeze with Angling Reeds y And cut their legs withfhels & weeds. Or treacheroufy poor fifh befety W ith ftr angling fnares fir windowy net. Let coarfe bold hands ^ from fimy nef. The bedded fifh in banks outwrefi. Let curious Traitors fieavefilkflies^ To 'witch poor wandringfijhes eyes. For l86 The Complete Ajigkt . For thee, thou needji nofucb deceit^ For thou thyfelf art thine own bait ; Thafijh that is not catch' d thereby^ Iswiferfar, alas ^t hen L Fife. Well remembred, honeft Scholer,! thank you for thefe choice Verfes, v/hich I have heard former- ly, but had quite forgot, till they were recovered by your happie me- morie. Well, being I have novir reftedmy felf a little, I v^ill make you fome requital, by telling you fome obfervations of the Fele, for it rains ftill, and (as you fay) our An- gles are as money put to life, that tiirive when w^e play. CHAP. T'he Complete Angler. 187 C IT A P. X- IT is agreed by moft men, that the E^ele is both a good and a moft dain tie fifh; but moft men differ about his breeding; fome fay, they breed by generation as o- ther fifh do; and others, that they breed (as fome worms do) out of the putrifadlion of the earth, and di- vers other waies; thofe that denie them to breed by generation, as o- therfifh do, ask, if any man ever faw an £^/ to have Spawn or Melt? and tiiey are anfwered, That they may be as certain of their breeding, as if they had feen Spawn; for they fay, that they are certain that Eeles have all parts fit for generation , like o- therfifh, butfofmal asnottobeea- fily difcerned, by reafon of their fat- nefs ; but that difcerned they may be 1 88 T^he Ccmplete Angler. be ; and that the Hee and the She Eele may be diftinguifhed by their fins. And others fay, that Eeles grow- ing old, breed other Eeles out of the corruption of their own age, which Sir Francis Bacon fayes, exceeds not ten years. And others fay,that Eeles are bred of a particular dew falling in the Months oi Mayor June on the banks of fome 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 feenin the beginning of y^^f/^, in a River not far from Canterbury^ fome parts of it covered over with young Eeles about the thicknefs of a ftraw; and thefe Eeles did lye on the top of that water, as thick as motes are faid to be in the Sun ; and I have heard the like of other Rivers, as namely,in Severn y and in a pond or Mere in Staff or d-fhirCy where about a fet time in Summer, fuch fmall Eeles The Complete Angler. Eeles abound fo much, that many of the poorer fort of people, that in- habit near to it, take fuch Eeles out of this Mere, with fieves or fheets^ and make a kind of Eele-cake of them, and eat it Hke as bread. And Gefner quotes venerable Bede to fay,, that in England there is an Hand cal- led Efyy by reafon of the innumera- ble number oi Eeles that breed in it^ But that Eeles may be bred as fome worms and fome kind of Bees and JVafps are, either of dew, or out oF the corruption of the earth, feems to be made probable by the Barnacles and young Gojlings bred by the Suns heat and the rotten planks of an old Ship, and hatched of trees, both which are related for truths by Du-- bartasy and our learned Cambdeny and laborious Gerrard in his Her^ ball. It is faid by RandellfiuSythzt thofe Ee/es that are bred in Rivers, that relate to, orbeneer to the Sea, ne- ver .^go The Complete Angler. ver return to the fredi waters (as the Salmon does alwaies deiire to do) when they have once tailed the fait water ; and I do the more eafily be- liev^e this, becaufe I am certain that powdered Bief is a molT: excellent bait to catch an Eele : and S'*. Fran- as Bacon will allow the Eeles life to be but ten years ; yet he in his Hi- ftory of Life and Death, mentions a Lamprey^ belonging to the Roman Emperor, to be made tame, and fo kept for almoft three fcore yeers ; and that fuch ufeful andpleafant ob- fcrvations were made of this Lam- prey, that Cr^^^j the Oratour (who kept her) lamented her dtrath. It is graiited by all, or moft men, that Eeles yfov about fix months (that is to fay, the i^x cold months of the yeer) ftir not up and down, neither in the Rivers nor the Pools in which they arc, but get into the foft earth or mud, and there many of them together bed themfelves, and live with- T^he Complete Angler. 1 9 1 without feeding upon anything (as I have told you ibme Swallows have been obferved to do in hollow trees for thofe fix cold months); and this the Eele and Swallow do, as not be- ing able to endure winter weather ; for Gefner quotes Albertus to fay, that in the yeer 11 25 (^that years winter being more cold then ufual) Eeles did by natures inftind: get out of the water into a ftack of hay in a Meadow upon dry ground, and there bedded tbemfelves, but yet at laft died there. I {hall fay no more of the Eele^ but that, as it is obfer- ved,he is impatient of cold, fo it has been obferved, that in warm wea- ther an Eele has been known to live five days out of the water. And lafi:- ly, let me tell you,th9 1 fome curious fearchers into the natures of fifh, obferve that there be feveral forts or kinds of Eeles , a?, the Jiher-Eele^ and green ovgreeniJljEel{yv\i\i which the River of Thames abounds, and arc 102 T'he Complete Angler. are called Gregs)\ and a blackilh Eele^ whofe head is more flat and bigger then ordinary ^^/t^j- ; and al- fo an Eele whofe fins are redifh, and but feldome taken in this Nation (and yet taken fometimes) : Thefe feveral kinds oiEeles^ are (fay fome) diverfly bred; as namely, out of the corruption of the earth, and by dew, and other wayes ^as I have faid to you;) and yet it is affirmedby fome, that for a certain, the Silver- Eele breeds by generation, but not by Spawning as other fifh do, but that her Brood come alive from her no bigger nor longer then a pin, and I have had too many tefti- monies of this to doubt the truth of it. And this ^^/^ of which I have faid fo much to you, may be caught with divers kinds of baits ; as namely, with powdered Bief with a Lob or JL / Garden-worm^ with a Minnow^ or gut (^i2iHen,Chicken.j or with almoft any T'he Complete Angler. 193 any thing, for he is a greedy fifli : Dut the Eele feldomeftirs in the day, but then hides himfelfe, and there- fore he is ufually caught by night, with one of thefe baits of which I have iJ3oken, and then caught by laying hooks, which you are to faft- en to the bank,or twigsofa tree; or by throwing a firing crofs the ftream, with many hooks at it, and baited with the forefaid baits, and a clod or plummet, or fi:one,thrown into the River with this line, that fo you may in the morning find it neer tofome fixt place, and then take it up with a drag-hook or otherwife : but thefe things are indeed too com- mon to be fpoken of; and an hours fifhing with any Angler will teach you better, both for thefe, and ma- ny other common things in the pra- diical part oi Anglings then a weeks difcour^. I ihall therefore con- clude this dirediion L^r taking the l^le^ by telling you, tiiat in a warm O day 194 ^>^^ Complete Aftgler. day in Summer, I have taken ma- ny a good Eele by fniglmg^ and have been much pleafed with that fport. And becaufe vou that are but a young Angler, know not whaty?^/^- ling is,I wil now teach it to you:you remember I told you that Keles do not ufually ftir in the day time, for then they hide themfelvs under fome covert, or under boards, or planks about Floud-gates,orWeirs,orMils, or in holes in the River banks ; and you obferving your time in a warm day, when the water is loweft, may take a hook tied to a ftrong line, or ' to a firing about a yard long, and then into one of thefe holes, or be- tween any boards about a Mill, or under any great ftone or plank, or a- ny place where you think an £ le may hide or fhelter her felfe, there with the help of a fhort ftick put in your bait, but leifurely, and as far as vou may conveniently ; and it is fcarce T^he Complete Angler. 195 fcarce to be doubted, but that if there be an E(?/ within the fight of it, the Kele will bite inftantly, 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 ly- ing folded double in his hole, will, with the help of his taile, break all, unlefs you give him time to be wea- ried with pulling,and fo get him out by degrees; not pulling too hard. And thus much for this prefent time concerning the Eele\ I wil next tel you a little of the ^^r^^//, and hope with a little difcourfe of him, to have an end of this Ihowr, and fal to fifh- ing, for the weather clears up a little* O 2 CHAP. 196 ^he Complete Angkr. CHAP. XL Fife. r-w-^H'E Barbell, is fo cal- I led^fayes Gefner) from -H- or by reafon of his beard, or wattles at his mouth, his mouth being under his nofe or chaps, and he is one of the leather mouthed fifh that has his teeth inhisthroat,he loves to live in very fwift ftreams, and where it is gravelly, and in the gravel will root or dig with his nofe like a Hog, and there neft himfelf, taking fo fafthold of any weeds or mofs that grows on ftones, or on piles about Weirs, or Floud-gates, or Bridges, that the water is not able,be it never fo fv\dft, to force him from the place which he feems to contend for : this is his conftant cuftome in Summ.er, when both he, ar.dmoft living creatures joy andiport them- felves The Complete Angler. 1 97 felves in the Sun ; but at the ap- proach of Winter, then he forfakes the fwift ftreams and fhallow waters, and by degrees retires to thofe parts of the River that are quiet and deep- er; in which places, (and I think a- bout 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 fame fand to prevent it from being devoured by other fifii. There be fuch ftoi c of this fifh in the River D/^/^^/^/V, \\\2XRandelitius fayes, they may in fome places of it, and in fome months of the yeer, be taken by thofe that dwel neer to the River,with their hands, eight or ten load at a time;he fayes, they begin to be good in May^ and that they ceafe to be fo in .Auguft ; but it is found to be otherwife in this Nation : but thus far we agree with him, that the O 3 Spawn iv^S The Complete Angler. Spawne of a BarbcU is, if be not poifon, as he fayes, yet that it is dangerous meat, and efpecially in the month of May ; and Gefner de- clares, it had an ill efFedl upon him, to the indangering of his life, Thisfifh isof afinecaftandhand- fome fhape. and may be rather faid not to be ill, then to bee good meat ; the Chub and he have (I think) both lofV a part of their credit by ill Cookery j. they T^he Complete Angler. 1 99 thev being reputed the worft or coarfeft of frefh v/ater fifli : but the Barbell affords an Angler choice fport, being a luftic and a cunning lifh ; fo luftie and cuiniing as to en- danger the breaking of the Anglers line, by running his head forcibly towards any covert or hole, or bank, and then ftriking atth'^^ iine,to break it off with his tail (as is ohferved by Flutarky in his book De Indujiria a- nimalium) and alfo fo cunning to nibble and fuck off your worme clofe to the hook, p.nd yet avoid the letting the hook com^. into his mouth. The 5^r^^//is alfo curious for his baits, that is lo fay, that they be clean and fweet ; that is to fay, to have your woi*ms well fcowred,and not kept in fowre or muftie mofs ; for at a well Icowred Lob- worm, he vs ill bite as boldly as at any bait, e- fpecially, if the night or two before you lifh for him, you fhall bait the O 4 places 200 T'he Complete Angler. places where you intend to fifli for him v/ith big worms cut into pieces; and Gentles (not being too much fcowred,but green) are a choice bait for him, and fo is cbeefe, 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 alfo bait the water a day or two before you fiih for the Bar be U and be much the likelier to catch ftore; and if the cheefe were laid in clarified honey a fhort time before (as namely, an hour or two) you were ftill the like- lier to catch fifh ; fome have dire- d:ed to cut the cheefe into thin pie- ces, and tofte it, and then tye it on the hook with fine Silk ; and fome advife to fifh for the Barbell with Sheeps tallow and foft cheefe beaten or work'd into a Pafle, and that it is choicely good in Auguji ; and X believe it : but doubtlefs the Lob- worm w<^:ll fcoured, and the Gentle not too much fccw^ed, and cheefe ordered T^he Complete Angler. 20 e ordered as I have diredied, are baits enough, and I think will ferve in a- ny Month; though I fhall commend any Angler that tryes concluiions, and is induftrious to improve the Art. And now,my honeft Scholer, the long fhowre, and my tedious difcourfe are both ended together ; and I fhall give you but this Obfer- vation, That w^hen you fifh for a Barbell^ your Rod and Line be both long, and of good ftrength, for you will find him £ heavy and a doged fifli to be dealtwithal,yethe feldom or never breaks his hold if he be once ftrucken. And now lets go and fee what in- tereft the Trouts will pay us for let- ting our Angle-rods lye fo long and fo quietly in the water. Come , Scholer; which will you take up ? Viat. Which you think fit, Ma- iler. Pifc. Why, ^oa fhall take up that ; for I am certain by viewing the ao2 The Complete Aftgler. the Line, it has a fifli 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 leafe of Trout s 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 oiTrouts for their fupper. Viat. Mafter, I like your moti-« on very well, and I think it is now about milking time, and yonder they be at it. Pifc. God ipeed you good wo- man,! thank you both for our Songs laft night; I and my companion had fuch fortune a fifhing this day, that we refolve to give you and Maudlin a brace of Tr^jz/Zj-for fupper, andv/e will nowtafte a draught of your i^d^^ Cows 7nilk. Milkw. Marry, and that you Hial with all my heart, and I will be ftill your The Complete Angler. 2or| your debtor : when you come next this way, if you will but fpeak the word, I will make you a good Silla- bub^ and then you may fit down in a Hay-cock2.x\6. ^2X'Vi,7mdi Maudlin fhal fit by and fing you the good old Song oi\}[\^ Hunting in Chevy Chafe ^ or fome other good Ballad, for fhe hath good ftore of them : Maud- lin hath a notabl^^ memory. Viat. We tlj ank you, an d intend once in a Month to call upon you again, and giveyoualittle warning, and fo good night ; good night Maudlin. And now, good Mafter, lets lofe no tim?, but tell me fome- what more of fifhing ; and if you pleafe, firftfomething of fifhing for a Gudgion. Pifc. I will, honefl: Scholer. The Gudgion is an excellent fifh to eat, and good alfo to enter a young Angler ; he is eafie to bee taken with afmalredworm at the ground and is one of thofe leather mouthed fiih 204 The Complete Angler. fifh that has his teeth in his throat and will hardly be loft off from the hook if he be once ftrucken : they be ufually fcatteredup and down every River in the fhallows, in the heat of Summer ; but in Autome^ when the weeds begin to grow fowre or rot, and the weather colder, then they gather together, and get into the deeper parts of the water, and are to be fifh'd for there, with your hook alwaies touching the ground, if you fifh for him with a flote or with a cork ; but many will fifh for the Gudgion by hand, with a running line upon the ground without a cork as a Trout is fifhedfor,and it is an ex- cellent way. There is alfo another fiHi called a Fope^ and by fome a Rujj^y a fifh that is not known to be in fome Ri- vers ; it is much like the Pearch for his fhape, bmt will not grow to be bigger then a Gudgion ; he is an ex- cellent fifh, no fifh that fwims is of a pleafanter 7/3^ Complete Angler. 205 pleafanter tafte; and he is alfo excellent to enter a young Angler ^ for he is a greedy biter, and they will ufually lye abundance of them together in one referved place where the water is deep, and runs quietly, and an eafie Angler, ifhe has found where they lye, may catch fortie or fiftie, or fometimes twice fo many at aftanding. There is alfo a Bleak^z fifh that is ever in motion, and therefore cal- led by fome the River Swallow; for juft as you (hall obferve the Swallow to be moft evenings in Summer ever in motion, making fhort and quick turns when he flies to catch flies in the aire, by which he lives, fo does the Bleak at the top of the water; and this fi{h is beft caught with a fine fmal Artificial Fly, which is to be of a brown colour, and very fmal, and the hook anfwerable: There is no better iport then whip- ping for Bleaks in a boa4: in a Sum- *ners ^c6 T^he Complete Angler. mers evening, with a hazle top about five or fix foot long, and a line tw^ ice the length of the Rod. I have heard Sir Henry Wotton fay, that there be many that in ItalyWiW. catch Swallows fo, or efpecially Martins (the Bird-Angler ftanding on the top of a Steeple to do it, and v^ith a line twice fo long, as I have fpoke of) and let n\t tell you, Scholer,that both Martins and Blekes be mofi: ex- cellent meat. I might now tell you how to catch Roch TindDace^ and fome other fifh of little note,that I have not yet fpoke of; but you fee we are almofl atourlodgirig,^Ldindeedifwewere not, I woujid omit to give you any direcfllons concerning them, or how to fiih for them, not but that they be both good fi(h ^being in feafon) and efpecially to fome palates, and they alfo make the Angler good iport (and you know the Hunter fayes, there is mere fport in hunting the T'he Complete Angler. 207 the Hare,then in eating of her) but I will forbear to give you any diredli- on concerning them, becaufe you may go a few dayes and take the pleafure of the frefh aire, and bear any common Angler company that iiihes for them, and by that means learn more then any direcflion I can give you in words, can make you capable of; and I will there- fore end my difcourfe, for yonder comes our brother Pf/^r and honeft Coridon^ but I will promife you that as you and I iilh, and walk to mor- row towards London^ if I have now forgotten any thing that I can then remember, I will not keep it from you. Well met, Gent'emen, this is luckie that we meet lb juft together at this very door. Come Hoilis, where are you ? is Supper ready } come, firft give us drink, and be as quick as you can, for I believe wee are all very hungry. Wei, brother Pcter^ 20 8 T^he Complete Angler. Peter and Coridon to you both ; come drink, and tell me what luck of fifh : 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 moft pleafant day for fifhing, and talking, and now returned home both weary and hungry, and now meat and reft will be pleafant. Pet. And Coridon and I have not had an unpleafant day, and yet I have caught but five Trouts; for in- deed we went to a good honeft Ale- houfe, and there we plaid at fhovel- board half the day; all the time that it rained we were there, and as mer- ry as they that fifh'd, and I am glad we are now with a dry houfe over our heads, for heark how it rains and blows. Come Hoftis, give us more Ale, and our Supper with what hafte you may, and when we have fup'd, lets have your Song, Pifcator^ and the Ketch that your Scholer promi- led The Complete Angler. 209 fed us, or elfe Coridon wil be doged. Fife. Nay, I will not be worfe then my word, you fhall not want my Song, and I hope I fhall be per- fed: 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 iing- ing and drinking; but the laft with moderation. Cor. Come,now for your Song, for we have fed heartily. Come Hoftis, give us a little more drink, and lay a few more flicks on theiire, and now fing when you will. Pifc. Well then, here's to you Coridon ; and now for my Song. oh the bra^'je Fiflxr s Ufe^ It is the beji of any ^ ' T is full ofpleafure^void offtrife^ And'tisbelovdofmany : Other joyes are but toyeSy P only 210 T'he Complete Angler. only this lawful is ^ for our skil breeds no /?/, hut content and pleafure. In a morning up we ri^? Ere Aurora^ peeping^ Drink a cup to wajh our eyes, Leave thefluggardpei)ing\ 2 hen we go too and fro ^ with our knacks at our backs ^ tofuchftreams <^.f//7^ Thames if we haie the bifure. When wepleafe to walk abroad For our recreationy In the fields is our -bode, Full of delegation : Where in a Brook with a hook, or a Lake fijh we take, there T'he Complete Angler* 21 1 there we fit for a bity tillwe ffi int angle. We have Gentles iK horn, We have Pajit and worms toOy We can watch both night ar^J morn^ Suffer rain and ft or ms too * None do here ufe tofwear. oathes do fray fifh away. weftjhi*. watch our ouil\ Fijhers muji not r/^ngh% If the Suns excifsive hea\ Makes our bodies fwelter To an Ofier hedge we get For ajriendly fhelter , where in £^ dike Pearch 07 Pike, Roch 2 1 8 The Complete Angler. Pet. I marry Sir, this is Muiick indeed, this has cheered my heart, and made me to remember fix Ver- I'es in praife of Muiick, which I will fpeak to you inftantly. Miifick, miraculous Rhetorick, that fpeak'Ji fenfc Without a tongue, ex eel ling eloquence ; With zvhat eafe might thy errors be excufd Wert thou as truly lov'd as th'art abuf d. But though dull fouls negleSf, andfome reprove thee, I camiot hate thee, 'caufe the Angels love thee. Pifcat. Well remembred, bro- tlier Peter ^ thefe Verfes came fea- fonably. Come, we will all joine together, mine Hofte and all, and iing my Scholers Ketch over again, and then each man drink the tother cup and to bed, and thank God we have a dry houfe over our heads. Fife. Well now, good night to everybody. Pet. And ib fay I. Viat. And fo fay I. Cor. The Complete Angler. 219 Cor. Good night to you all,arid I thank you. Pifc. Good morrow brother Feter, and the like to you, honeft Coridon ; come, my Hoftis fayes there s feven fhilHngs to pay, lets each man drink a pot for his mor- nings draught, and lay downe his two ihillingSjthat fo my Hoftis may not have occafion to repent her felf of being fo diligent, and uling us fo kindly. Pet. The motion is liked by every body; And fo Hoftis, here's your mony, we Anglers are all behold- ing to you, it wil not be long ere He fee you again. And now brother P//2'^/^r,I wiftiyou andmy brother vour Scholer a fair day, and good fortune. Come Coridon^ this is our way. CHAP. 220 Tbe Co?np!efe Angler. CH A PXII Vtat. ^f"^ Ood Mafter, as we go ■ ^ now tow ^ivdi^ London y ^•^-^ be ftill fo courteous as to give me more inftrud:ions, for I have feveral boxes in my memory in vv^hich I will keep them all very fafe, there fhall not one of them be loft. Fife. Well Scholer, that I will, and I will hide nothing from you that I can remember. 3nd may help you forward towards a perfeftion in this Art ; and becaufe we have fo much time, and I have fold fo little of Roc/j and Dace, I will give you fome direftions concerning feme fe- veral kinds of baits with which they be ufually taken ; they will bite al- moft at any flies, but eipecially at Ant- I'be Complete Anghr. Z2i Ant-flies; concerning which, take this direftion , fcr it is very- good. Take the blacki^i Ant-fly owt of the Mole-hill, orAnt-hil, inwhich place you fliall find them in the Months oijune; or if that be too- early in the yeer, then doubtlefs you may find them in Jiifyj Auguji^ zndmoii of Septeml^er; gather them aUve with both their wings, and then put them into a glafs, that will hold a quart or a pottle ; but firft^ put into the glars,a handful or more of the moift earth out of which you gather them, and as much of the roots of the grafsof the faid Hillock; and then put in the flies gently, that they lofe not their wings, and fo many as are put into the glafs with- outbruifing, will live there a month or more, and be alwaies in a readi- nefs for you to filh with ; but if yout would have them keep longer, then get any great earthen pot or barrel of tzz I' he Complete Angler. of three or four gallons (which is better) then wafh your barrel with water and honey ; and having put into it a quantitie of earth and grafs roots, then put in your flies and co- ver it, and they will live a quarter of a year; thefe in any ftream and clear water are a deadly bait for Roch or Dace^ or for a Chub^ and your rule is to fidi not lefs then a handful from the bottom. I fhall next tell you a winter bait for a Rochy2i Dace^ov Chub, and it is choicely good. About All-hol- lantide (and fo till Frofi: comes) when you fee men ploughing up heath-ground, or fandy ground, or greenfwards , then follow the plough, and you iliall find a white worm, as big as two Magots, and it hath a red head, (you may obferve in what ground moft are, for there the Crows will be very watchful, and follow the Plough very clofe) it is all foft,andfullcf whitill)[guts;a worm The Complete Angler. 223 worm that is in Norfolk, and fome other Countries called a Grub , and is bred of the fpawn or eggs of a Beetle, which ihc leaves in holes that {he digs in the ground under CoworHorfe-dung, and there refts all Winter, and in March or April comes to be firft a red, and then a black Beetle; gather a thoufand or two of thefe, and put them with a peck or two of their own earth into Ibme tub or firkin, and cover and keep them fo warm, that the frofh or cold air, or winds kill them not, and you may keep them all winter and kill fifh with them at any time, and if you put fome ot them into a little earth and honey a day before you ufe them, you will find them an excellent baite for Breame or Carp. And after this manner you may alfo keep Gentles all winter, which is a good bait then, and much the better for being lively and tuffe, or you !4 The Complete Angler. you may breed and keep Gentle thus: Take a piece of beafts liver and with a crofs flick, hang it in fome corner over a pot or barrel half full of dry clay, and as the Gentles grow big, they wil fall into the bar- rel and fcowre themfelves, and be alwayes ready for ufe whenfoever you incline to fifh; and thefe Gen- tles may be thus made til after Mi- chaehnas : But if you defire to keep Gentles to filh with all the yeer, then get a dead Cat or a Kite, and let it be Ry-blowne, and when the Gentles begin to be alive and toftir, then bury it and them in moift earth, but as free from froft as you can, and thefe you may dig up at any time when you intend to ufe them; thefe wil lad till March, and about that time turn to be flies. But if you be nice to fowl your fingers (which good Anglers fel- dome are) then take this bait; Get a handful of well made Mault, and put ^he Complete Angler. 225 put It into a difh of water, and then vs^afh and rub it betwixt your hands til you make in cleane, and as ir^^ from husks as you can ; then put that water from it, and put a fmal quan- titie of frelh water to it, and fet it in fomething that is fit for that purpofe , over the fire , where it is not to boil apace, but leifurely, and very foftly, until it become fome- what foft, which you may try by feeling it betwixt your finger and thumb; and when it is foft, then putyour water from it, and then take afharpknife, and '■aiming thefprout end of the corn upward, with the point of your knife tak^ the back part of the husk off from it, and yet leaving a kind of husk on the corn, or elfe it is marr'd ; and then cut off that fprouted end (I mean a little of it) that the white may appear, and fo pull offthe husk on the cloven fide (as I diredled you) and then cutting ofFa very little of the otherend, that Q fo 226 H'he Complete Angler. (o your hook may enter, and if your hook be fmall and good, you will find this to be a very choice bait ei- ther for Winter or Summer, you fometimes calling a Httle of it into the place where your flote fwims. And to take the Koch 2ind Dace, a good bait is the young brood of WafpsorBees, baked or hardned in their husks in an Oven, after the bread is taken out of it, or on a fire- fliovel ; and fo alfo is the thick blood of sheep, being half dryed on a trencher that you may cut it into fuch pieces as may beil fit the fize of your hook, and a little fait keeps it from growing black, and makes it not the worfe but better ; this is ta- ken to be a choice bait, if rightly or- dered. There be feveral Oiles of a ftrong fmel that I have been told of, and to be excellent to tempt fifh to bite, of which I could fay much, but I remember I once carried a fmall bottle T^he Complete Angler. 227 bottle from Sir George Hajitngs to Sir Henry Wotton (they were both chimical meny/ as a great prefent; but upon enquiry, I found it did not anfwertheexpedlation of Sir Henry ^ which with the help of other cir- cumftances, makes me have little belief in fuch things as many men talk of; not but that I think iifhes both fmell and hear (as I have ex- preft in my former difcourfe) but there is a myfterious knack, which (though it be much eafier then the Philofophers-StonCj yet) is not a- tainable by common capacities, or elfe lies locked up in the braine or breft of fome chimical men, that, like the Roft-crutions^ yet will not re- veal it. But I ftepped by chance in- to this difcourfe of Oiles, and fifhes fmelling; and though there might be more faid, both of it, and of baits for Roch and Dace^ and other flote fifh, yet I will forbear it atthistime^ and tell you in the next place how Q 2 yo^^ 2 28 The Complete Angler. you are to prepare your tackling: concerning which I will for Iport fake give you an old Rhime out of an old Fi(h-book, ^A^hich will be a part of what you are to pro- vide. My rod, and my line^my flote and my lead^ My hook^& 7ny plummet, my whetjione & knife y My Basket, ?ny baits ^ both living and dead. My net, and my me at, for that is the chief". Then Imujl have thred^ hairs great &fmal^ With mine Angling purfe,andloyou have all. But you muft have all thefe tack- ling, and twice fo many more, with which, if you mean to be a fi{her,you muft fto^'e your felfe: and to that purpofe I will go with you either to Charles Brandons (neer to the Swan in Golding-lane) ; or to Mr. Fletchers in the Courtwhich did once belong to Dr. Nowel theDean oi Pauls, that I told you was a good man, and a good Fiflier; it is hard by the weft end The Complete Angler. 229 end of Saint Pauls Church: they be both honeft men, and will fit an Angler with what tackling hee wants. Viat. Then, good Mafter, let it be at Charles Brandons^ for he is neereft to my dwelling, and I pray lets meet there the ninth of ikf^j^next about two of the Clock, andl'l want nothing that a Fiiher fhould be fur- nifhed with. Pifc. Well, and He not fail you, God willing, at the time and place appointed. Viat. I thank you, good Ma- fter, and I will not fail you : and good Mafter, tell me what baits more you remember, for it wil not now be long ere we ftial ht'ditToten- ham jF//^/6-Cr^,andwhen wecome thither, I wil make ycu feme requi- tal of your pains, by repeating as choice a copy of Verfes, as any we have heard fince we met toge- Q 3 ther; 230 The Complete Angler. ther, and that is a proud word ; for wee have heard very good ones. Fife. Wei, Scholer, and I fhal be right glad to hear them; and I wil tel you whatfoever comes in my mind, that I think may be worth your hearing ; you may make ano- ther choice bait thus, Takeahand- ful or two of the beft and biggefl Wheat you can get, boil it in a little milk like as Frumitie is boiled, boil it fo till it be foft, and then fry it ve- ry leifurely with honey, and a little beaten Saffron diiTolved in milk, and you wil find this a choice bait, and good I think for any fifh, efpe- cially for Roch^ Dace^ Chub or Grey- ling ; I know not but that it may be as good for a River Carp^ and efpe- cially if the ground be a little baited with it. You are alio to know, that there be divers kinds of Cadis^ or Cafe^ worms The Complete Angler. 231 worms ^ that are to bee found In this Nation ir feveral diftinil Counties, & in feveral little Brooks that relate to biggerRivers,as namely oneC^^/V called a Piper^whofe husk or cafe is a piece of reed about an inch long or longer,and as big about as the com- pafs of a two pence; thefe worms be- ing kept three orfour days in a wool- len bag with fand at the bottom of it,and the bag wet once a day,will in three or four dayes turne to be yel- low; and thefe be a choice bait for the C/ju/f or Chavendery or indeed for any great fifh, for it is a large bait. There is alfo a lefTer Cadis-worm^ called a Cock-fptir^ being in fafhion like the fpur of a Cock, (harp at one end, and the cafe or houfe in which this dwels is made of fmal husks and gravely zxidijlime^ moft curioufly made of thefe, even fo as to be won- dred at, but not made by man (v\o Q 4 more 232 27?^ Complete Angler. more then the neft of a bird is : thiA is a choice bait for any flote fifh, it ismuch lefs then thtPiper Cadis ^^nd to be fo ordered; and thefe may be fo preferved ten, fifteen, or twentie dayes. There is alio another Cadis cal- led by fome a Straw-worm^ and by fome a Rtiffe-coate^ whofe houfe or cafe is made of little pieces of bents and Ruflies, and ftraws, and was ter weeds, and I know not wha,^ which are fo knit together v^ith con- denf d flime,thar they ftick up about herhuskorcafejnotunliket.ie^^r^/^i" oi2iHedg-hog\ thefe three Cadis are commonly taken in the be/; inning of Summer, and are good indeed to take any kind of fifh wil n flote or otherwife, I might t( 11 you of many moie, which, as thefe doe early , fo thofe have their time of turning to be flies later in Sum- mer ; but I might lofe my felfe, and The Complete' Angler. ,233 and tire you by fuch a difcourfe, I fhall therefore but rememberyou, that to know thele, and their feve- ral kinds, and to what flies every particular Cadis turns , and then how to ufe them, fifft as they bee Cadis y and then as they be flies, is an Art , anrJ an Art that every one that profeffes Angling is not ca- pable of. But let mee tell you , I have been much pleafed to walk quiet- ly by a Brook with