WHan ye haue as many of the lynkys as ye suppose wol suffyse for the length of a lyne : thenne must ye knytte theym togyder wyth a water knotte or elles a duchys knotte. And whan your knotte is knytte : kytte of yevoyde shor | te endes a strawe brede for the knotte. Thus shal ye make you | re lynes fayr & fyne : and also ryght sure for ony manere fysshe. ¶ And by cause that ye sholde knowe bothe the water knotte & also the duchys knotte : loo theym here in fygure caste vnto the lyknesse of the draughte.YE shall vnderstonde that the moost subtyll & hardyste crafte in makynge of your harnays is for to make your hokis. For whoos makyng ye must haue fetefyles.thyn̄and sharpe & smalle beten : A semyclam̄of yren : a bender : a payr of longe & smalle tongys : an harde knyfe somdeale thycke : an anuelde : & a lytyll hamour. ¶ And for smalle fysshe ye shall make your hokes of the smalest quarell nedlys that ye can fyn | de of stele / & in this wyse. ¶ Ye shall put the quarell in a redde charkcole fyre tyll that it be of the same colour that the fyre is. Thenne take hym out and lete hym kele : and ye shal fynde him well alayd for to fyle. Thenne reyse the berde wyth your knyfe / and make the poynt sharpe. Thenne alaye hym agayn : for elles he woll breke in the bendyng. Thenne bende hym lyke to the bende fyguryd herafter in example. And gretter hokes ye shall mabe in the same wyse of gretter nedles : as broderers nedlis : or taylers : or shomakers nedlis spere poyntes / &{9}of shomakers nalles in especyall the beste for grete fysshe. and that they bende atte the poynt whan they ben assayed / for elles they ben not good ¶ Whan the hoke is bendyd bete the hynder ende abrode : & fyle it smothe for fretynge of thy lyne. Thenne put it in the fyre agayn : and yeue it an easy redde hete. Thenne sodaynly quenche it in water : and it woll be harde and stronge.And for to haue knowlege of your Instrumentes : lo theym here in fygure portrayd.¶ Hamour. Knyfe. Pynsons. Clam̄ Wegge. Fyle. Wreste. & Anuelde.WHan ye haue made thus your hokis : thenne must ye set theym on your lynes acordynge in gretnesse & strength in this wyse. ¶ Ye shall take smalle redde silke. & yf it be for a grete hokethen̄edouble it : not twynyd. And elles for sma | le hokys lete it be syngle : & therwyth frette thycke the lyne the | re as the one ende of your hoke shal sytte a strawe brede.Then̄sette there your hoke : & frette hym wyth the same threde yetwo partes of the lengthe that shall be frette in all. And whan ye co | me to the thyrde parte thenne torne the ende of your lyne aga | yn vpon the frette dowble. & frette it so dowble that other thyr | de parte. Thenne put your threde in at the hose twys or thries & lete it goo at eche tyme rounde abowte the yerde of your hoke. Thenne wete the hose & and drawe it tyll that it be faste. And lo | ke that your lyne lye euermore wythin your hokys : & not with | out. Thenne kytte of the lynys ende & the threde as nyghe as ye maye : sauynge the frette.NOw ye knowe wyth how grete hokys ye shall angle to euery fysshe : now I woll tell you wyth how many heeres ye shall to euery manere of fisshe. ¶ For the menow wyth a lyne of one heere. For the waxyng roche the bleke & the{10}gogyn & the ruffe wyta lyne of two heeris. For the darse & the grete roche wyth a lyne of thre heeres. For the perche : the floū | der & bremet with foure heeres. For the cheuen chubbe : the bre | me : the tenche & the ele wyth .vj. heeres. For the troughte : gray | lynge : barbyll & the grete cheuyn with .ix. heeres. For the grete troughte wyth .xij. heeres : For the samon with .xv. heeres. And for the pyke wyth a chalke lyne made browne with your brow | ne colour aforsayd : armyd with a wyre. as ye shal here herafter whan I speke of the pyke.¶ Your lynes must be plumbid wyth lede. And ye shall wyte ytthe nexte pūbe vnto the hoke shall be therfro a large fote & mo | re / And euery plumbe of a quantyte to the gretnes of the lyne. There be thre manere of plūbis for a grounde lyne rennynge. And for the flote set vpon the grounde lyne lyenge .x. plumbes Ioynynge all togider. On the grounde lyne rennynge .ix. or .x. smalle. The flote plūbe shall be so heuy ytthe leest plucke of ony fysshe maye pull it downe in to yewater. And make your plū | bis rounde & smothe ytthey stycke not on stonys or on wedys. And for the more vnderstondynge lo theym here in fygure.The grounde lyne rennynge The grounde lyne lyenge. The flote lyne The lyne for perche or tenche. The lyne for a pyke : ¶ Pln̄be : Corke armyd wyth wyreTHenne shall ye make your flotys in this wyse. Take a fayr corke that is clene without many holes. and bore it{11}thrugh wyth a smalle hote yren : And putt therin a penne iuste and streyghte. Euer the more flote the gretter penne & the gre | ter hole. Thenne shape it grete in the myddis and smalle at bo | the endys. and specyally sharpe in the nether ende / and lyke vn | to the fygures folowynge. And make theym smothe on a gryn | dyng stone : or on a tyle stone. ¶ And loke that the flote for one heer be nomore than a pese. For two heeres : as a beene. for twel | ue heeres : as a walnot. And soo euery lyne after the proporcōn. ¶ All manere lynes that ben not for the groūde must haue flo | tes. And the rennynge grounde lyne must haue a flote. The ly | enge grounde lyne wythout flote.NOw I haue lernyd you to make all your harnays. Here I woll tell you how ye shall angle. ¶ Ye shall angle : vnderstonde that there is .vi. manere of anglyng. That one is at the grounde for the troughte and other fisshe. A nother is at yegrounde at an arche / or at a stange where it ebbyth and flowyth : for bleke : roche. and darse. The thyrde is wyth a flote for all manere of fysshe. The fourth wyth a menow for yetroughte wythout plumbe or flote. The fyfth is rennynge in ytsame wyse for roche and darse wyth one or two heeres & a flye. The syxte is wyth a dubbyd hoke for the troughte & graylyng ¶ And for the fyrste and pryncypall poynt in anglynge : kepe yeeuer fro the water fro the sighte of the fysshe : other ferre on the londe : or ellys behynde a busshe that the fysshe se you not. For yf they doo they wol not byte. ¶ Also loke that ye shadow not the water as moche as ye may. For it is that thynge that woll soone fraye the fysshe. And yf a fysshe be afrayed he woll not bi | te longe after. For alle manere fysshe that fede by the grounde ye shall angle for theim to the botom. soo that your hokys shall renne or lye on the grounde. And for alle other fysshe that fede{12}aboue ye shall angle to theym in the myddes of the water or somdeale byneth or somdeale aboue. For euer the gretter fisshe the nerer he lyeth the botom of the water. And euer the smaller fysshe the more he smymmyth aboue. ¶ The thyrde good poynt is whan the fysshe bytyth that ye be not to hasty to smyte nor to late / For ye must abide tyll ye suppose that the bayte be ferre in the mouth of the fysshe / and thenne abyde noo longer. And this is for the groūde. ¶ And for the flote whan ye se it pul | lyd softly vnder the water : or elles caryed vpon the water softly : thenne smyte. And loke that ye neuer ouersmyte the strengthe of your lyne for brekynge. ¶ And yf it fortune you to smyte a grete fysshe wyth a smalle harnays : thenne ye must lede hym in the water and labour him there tyll he be drownyd and ouercome. Thenne take hym as well as ye can or maye. and euer bewaar that ye holde not ouer the strengthe of your lyne. And as moche as ye may lete hym not come out of your lynes ende streyghte from you : But kepe hym euer vnder the rodde / and euermore holde hym streyghte : soo that your lyne may sus | teyne and beere his lepys and his plungys wyth the helpe of your croppe & of your honde.HEre I woll declare vnto you in what place of the water ye shall angle. Ye shall angle in a pole or in a stondinge water in euery place where it is ony thynge depe. The | re is not grete choyse of ony places where it is ony thynge de | pe in a pole. For it is but a pryson to fysshe. and they lyue for yemore parte in hungre lyke prisoners : and therfore it is the lesse maystry to take theym. But in a ryuer ye shall angle in euery place where it is depe and clere by the grounde : as grauell or claye wythout mudde or wedys. And in especyall yf that there be a manere whyrlynge of water or a couert. As an holow ban | ke : or grete rotys of trees : or longe wedes fletyng aboue in the water where the fysshe maye couere and hyde theymself at certayn tymes whan they lyste Also it is good for to angle in depe styffe stremys and also in fallys of waters and weares : and in floode gatys and mylle pyttes. And it is good for to angle where as the water restyth by the banke : and where the streme rennyth nyghe there by : and is depe and clere by the grounde{13}and in ony other placys where ye may se ony fyssh houe or ha | ne ony fedynge.NOw ye shall wyte what tyme of the daye ye shall angle ¶ From the begynnynge of May vntyll it be Septem | bre the bytynge tyme is erly by the morowe from foure of yeclocke vnto eyghte of the clocke. And at after none from foure of the clocke vnto eyghte of the clocke : but not soo good as is in the mornynge. And yf it be a colde whystelyng wynde and a derke lowrynge daye. For a derke daye is moche better to angle in than a clere daye. ¶ From the begynnynge of Sep | tembre vnto the ende of Apryll spare noo tyme of the daye :¶ Also many pole fysshes woll byte beste in the none tyde.¶ And yf ye se ony tyme of the daye the trought or graylynge lepe : angle to hym wyth a dubbe acordynge to the same month And where the water ebbyth and flowyth the fysshe woll byte in some place at the ebbe : and in some place at the flood. After ytthey haue restynge behynde stangnys and archys of brydgys and other suche manere places.HEre ye shall wyte in what weder ye shall angle. as I sa | yd before in a derke lowrynge daye whanne the wynde blowyth softly. And in somer season whan it is brennyn | ge hote thenne it is nought. ¶ From Septembre vnto Apryll in a fayr sonny daye is ryght good to angle. And yf the wynde in that season haue ony parte of the Oryent : the wedyr thenne is nought. And whan it is a grete wynde. And whan it snowith reynyth or hayllyth. or is a grete tempeste / as thondyr or ligh | tenynge : or a swoly hote weder : thenne it is noughte for to angle.NOw shall ye wyte that there ben twelue manere of ympedymentes whyche cause a man to take noo fysshe. wt| out other comyn that maye casuelly happe. ¶ The fyrst is yf your harnays be not mete nor fetly made. The seconde is yf your baytes be not good nor fyne. The thyrde is yf that ye angle not in bytynge tyme. The fourth is yf that the fysshe be frayed wtthe syghte of a man. The fyfth yf the water be very thycke : whyte or redde of ony floode late fallen. The syxte yf the fysshe styre not for colde. The seuenth yf that the wedyr{14}be hote. The eyght yf it rayne. The nynthe yf it hayll or snow falle. The tenth is yf it be a tempeste. The enleuenth is yf it be a grete wynde. The twelfyfth yf the wynde be in the Eest / and that is worste For comynly neyther wynter nor somer yefysshe woll not byte thenne. The weste and northe wyndes ben good but the south is beste.ANd now I haue tolde you how to make your harnays : and how ye shall fysshe therwyth in al poyntes Reason woll that ye knowe wyth what baytes ye shall angle to euery manere of fysshe in euery moneth of the yere / whyche is all the effecte of the crafte. And wythout whyche baytes know | en well by you all your other crafte here toforn auayllyth you not to purpose. For ye can not brynge an hoke in to a fyssh mo | uth wythout a bayte. Whiche baytes for euery manere of fyssh and for euery moneth here folowyth in this wyse.FOr by cause that the Samon is the moost stately fyssh that ony man maye angle to in fresshe water. Therfore I purpose tobegyn̄at hym. ¶ The samon is a gentyll fysshe : but he is comborous for to take. For comynly he is but in depe places of grete ryuers. And for the more parte he holdyth the myddys of it : that a man maye not come at hym. And he is in season from Marche vnto Myghelmas. ¶ In whyche season ye shall angle to hym wyth thyse baytes whan ye maye gete theym. Fyrste wyth a redde worme in the begynnynge & endynge of the season. And also wyth a bobbe that bredyth in a dunghyll. And specyally wyth a souerayn bayte that bredyth on a water docke. ¶ And he bytith not at the grounde : but at yeflote. Also ye may take hym : but it is seldom seen with a dubbe at suche tyme as whan he lepith in lyke fourme & manere as ye doo take a troughte or a gryalynge. And thyse baytes ben well prouyd baytes for the samon.THe Troughte for by cause he is a right deyntous fyssh and also a ryght feruente byter we shall speke nexte of hym. He is in season fro Marche vnto Myghelmas. He is on clene grauely groūde & in a streme. Ye may angle to hym{15}all tymes wyth a grounde lyne lyenge or rennynge : sauyng in lepynge tyme. and thenne wyth a dubbe. And erly wyth a rennynge grounde lyne. and forth in the daye wyth a flote lyne.¶ Ye shall angle to hym in Marche wyth a menew hangyd on your hoke by the nether nesse wythout flote or plumbe : drawynge vp & downe in the streme tyll ye fele hym taste. ¶ In the same tyme angle to hym wyth a groūde lyne with a redde wor | me for the moost sure. ¶ In Aprill take the same baytes : & also Inneba other wyse namyd .vij. eyes. Also the canker that bredyth in a grete tree and the redde snayll. ¶ In May take yesto | ne flye and the bobbe vnder the cowe torde and the sylke worme : and the bayte that bredyth on afern̄leyf. ¶ In Iuyn take a redde worme & nyppe of the heed : and put on thyn hoke a codworme byforn. ¶ In Iuyll take the grete redde worme and the codworme togyder. ¶ In August take a flesshe flye & the grete redde worme and the fatte of the bakon : and bynde abowte thy hoke. ¶ In Septembre take the redde worme and the menew. ¶ In Octobre take the same : for they ben specyall for the trought all tymes of the yere. From Aprill tyll Septembre yetrough lepyth. thenne angle to hym wyth a dubbyd hoke acordyn | ge to the moneth / whyche dubbyd hokys ye shall fynde in then | de of this treatyse; and the monethys wyth theym :THe grayllynge by a nother name callyd vmbre ia a delycyous fysshe to mannys mouthe. And ye maye take hym lyke as ye doo the trought. And thyse ben his bay | tes. ¶ In Marche & in Apryll the redde worme. ¶ In May the grene worme : a lytyll breyled worme : the docke canker. and the hawthorn worme. ¶ In Iune the bayte that bredyth betwene the tree & the barke of an oke. ¶ In Iuyll a bayte that bredyth on afern̄leyf : and the grete redde worme. And nyppe of the he | de : and put on your hoke a codworme before. ¶ In August the redde worme : and a docke worme. And al the yere after a reddde worme.THe barbyll is a swete fysshe / but it is a quasy meete & a peryllous for mannys body. For comynly he yeuyth an introduxion to yeFebres. And yf he be eten rawe : he maye be cause of mannys dethe : whyche hath oft be seen Thyse{16}be his baytes. ¶ In Marche & in Apryll take fayr fresshe che | se : and laye it on a borde & kytte it in small square pecys of the lengthe of your hoke. Take thenne a candyl & brenne it on the ende at the poynt of your hoke tyll it be yelow. Andthen̄ebyn | de it on your hoke with fletchers sylke : and make it rough lyke a welbede. This bayte is good all the somer season. ¶ In May & Iune take yehawthorn̄worme & the grete redde worme. and nyppe of the heed. And put on your hoke a codworme before. & that is a good bayte. In Iuyll take the redde worme for cheyf & thehawthorn̄worme togydr. Also the water docke leyf wor | me & the hornet worme togyder. ¶ In August & for all the yere take the talowe of a shepe & softe chese : of eche ylyke moche : and a lytyll hony & grynde or stampe theym togydrlonge. and tempre it tyll it be tough. And put therto floure a lytyll & make it on smalle pellettys. And ytis a good bayte to angle wyth at the grounde And loke that it synke in the water. or ellys it is not good to this purpoos.THe carpe is a deyntous fysshe : but there ben but fewe in Englonde. And therfore I wryte the lasse of hym. He is an euyll fysshe to take. For he is soo stronge enarmyd in the mouthe that there maye noo weke harnays holde hym. And as touchynge his baytes I haue but lytyll knowlege of it And me were loth to wryte more than I knowe & haue prouyd But well I wote that the redde worme & the menow ben good baytys for hym at all tymes as I haue herde saye of persones credyble & also founde wryten in bokes of credence.THe cheuyn is a stately fysshe & his heed is a deyty morsell. There is noo fysshe soo strongly enarmyd wyth sca | lys on the body. And bi cause he is a stronge byter he ha | the the more baytes / whiche ben thyse. ¶ In Marche the redde worme at the grounde : For comynly thenne he woll byte there at all tymes of yeyere yf he be ony thinge hungry. ¶ In Apryll the dyche canker that bredith in the tree. A worme that bredith betwene the rynde & the tree of an oke The redde worme : and the yonge frosshys whan the fete ben kyt of. Also the stone flye the bobbe vnder the cowe torde : the redde snaylle. ¶ In May ye{17}bayte that bredyth on the osyer leyf & the docke canker togydrvpon your hoke. Also a bayte that bredyth on afern̄leyf : yecod | worme. and a bayte that bredyth on anhawthorn̄.And a bayte that bredyth on an oke leyf & a sylke worme & a codworme togyder. ¶In̄Iune take the creket & the dorre & also a red worme : the heed kytte of & a codworme before : and put theym on yehoke. Also a bayte in the osyer leyf : yonge frosshys the thre-fete kitte of by the body : & the fourth by the knee. The bayte on thehawthorn̄& the codworme togyder & a grubbe that bredyth in a dunghyll : and a grete greshop. ¶ In Iuyll the greshop & the humbylbee in the medow. Also yonge bees & yonge hornettes. Also a grete brended flye that bredith in pathes of medowes & the flye that is amonge pysmeers hyllys. ¶ In August take wortwormes & magotes vnto Myghelmas. ¶ In Septembre the redde worme : & also take the baytes whan ye may gete the | ym : that is to wyte / Cheryes : yonge myce not heeryd : & the hon | ie combe.THe breeme is a noble fysshe & a deyntous. And ye shall angle for hym from Marche vnto August wyth a redde worme : &then̄ewyth a butter flye & a grene flye. & with a bayte that bredyth amonge grene rede : and a bayte that bre | dyth in the barke of a deed tree. ¶ And for bremettis : take mag | gotes. ¶ And fro that tyme forth all the yere after take the red worme : and in the ryuer browne breede. Moo baytes there ben but they ben not easy & therfore I lete theym passe ouer.ATenche is a good fyssh : and heelith all manere of other fysshe that ben hurte yf they maye come to hym. He is the most parte of the yere in the mudde. And he styryth moost in Iune & Iuly : and in other seasons but lytyll. He is an euyll byter. his baytes ben thyse. For all the yere browne bree | de tostyd wyth hony in lyknesse of a butteryd loof : and the gre | te redde worme. And as for cheyf take the blacke blood in yeher | te of a shepe & floure and hony. And tempre theym all togyder somdeale softer than paast : & anoynt therwyth the redde worme : bothe for this fysshe & for other. And they woll byte moche the better therat at all tymes.¶ The perche is a daynteuous fysshe & passynge holsom and{18}a free bytyng. Thise ben his baytes. In Marche the redde wor | me. In Aprill the bobbe vnder the cowe torde. In May theslo | thorn̄worme & the codworme. In Iune the bayte that bredith in an olde fallen oke & the grete canker. In Iuyll the bayte that bredyth on the osyer leyf & the bobbe that bredeth on the dung | hyll : and thehawthorn̄worme & the codworme. In August the redde worme & maggotes. All the yere after the red worme as for the beste.¶ The roche is an easy fysshe to take : And yf he be fatte & pen | nyd thenne is he good meete. & thyse ben his baytes. In Marche the most redy bayte is the red worme. In Apryll the bobbe vnder the cowe torde. In May the bayte ytbredyth on the oke leyf & the bobbe in the dunghyll. In Iune the bayte that bredith on the osyer & the codworme. In Iuyll hous flyes. & the bayte that bredith on an oke. and the notworme & mathewes & maggotes tyll Myghelmas. And after ytthe fatte of bakon.¶ The dace is a gentyll fysshe to take. & yf it be well refetthen̄is it good meete. In Marche his bayte is a redde worme. In Apryll the bobbe vnder the cowe torde. In May the docke can | ker & the bayte on yeslothorn̄and on the oken leyf. In Iune the codworme & the bayte on the osyer and the whyte grubbe in yedunghyll. In Iuyll take hous flyes & flyes that brede in pysmer hylles : the codworme & maggotes vnto Mighelmas. And yf the water be clere ye shall take fysshe whan other take none And fro that tyme forth doo as ye do for the roche. For comyn | ly theyr bytynge & theyr baytes ben lyke.¶ The bleke is but a feble fysshe. yet he is holsom His baytes from Marche to Myghelmas be the same that I haue wryten before. For the roche & darse sauynge all the somer season asmo | che as ye maye angle for hym wyth an house flye : & in wynter season wtbakon & other bayte made as ye herafter may know.¶ The ruf is ryght an holsom fysshe : And ye shall angle to him wyth the same baytes in al seasons of the yere & in the same wi | se as I haue tolde you of the perche : for they ben lyke in fysshe & fedinge / sauynge the ruf is lesse. And therfore he must haue yesmaller bayte.¶ The flounder is an holsom fisshe & a free. and a subtyll byter in his manere : For comynly whan he soukyth his meete he{19}fedyth at grounde. & therfore ye must angle to hym wyth a gro | unde lyne lyenge. And he hath but one manere of bayte. & that is a red worme. whiche is moost cheyf for all manere of fysshe.¶ The gogen is a good fisshe of the mochenes : & he byteth wel at the grounde. And his baytes for all the yere ben thyse. yered worme : codworme : & maggotes. And ye must angle to him wta flote. & lete your bayte be nere yebotom or ellis on yegron̄de.¶ The menow whan he shynith in the waterthen̄is he byttyr And though his body be lytyll yet he is a rauenous biter & an egre. And ye shall angle to hym wyth the same baytes that ye doo for the gogyn : sauynge they must be smalle.¶ The ele is a quasy fysshe a rauenour & a deuourer of the bro | de of fysshe. And for the pyke also is a deuourer of fysshe I put them bothe behynde all other to angle. For this ele ye shall fyn | de an hole in the grounde of the water. & it is blewe blackysshe there put in your hoke tyll that it be a fote wythin yehole. and your bayte shall be a grete angyll twytch or a menow.¶ The pyke is a good fysshe : but for he deuouryth so many as well of his owne kynde as of other : I loue hym the lesse. & for to take hym ye shall doo thus. Take a codlynge hoke : & take a roche or a fresshe heering & a wyre wyth an hole in the ende : & put it in at the mouth & out at the taylle downe by the ridge of the fresshe heeryng. And thenne put the lyne of your hoke in af | ter. & drawe the hoke in to the cheke of yefresshe heeryng.Then̄put a plumbe of lede vpon your lyne a yerde longe from youre hoke & a flote in mydwaye betwene : & caste it in a pytte where the pyke vsyth. And this is the beste & moost surest crafte of ta | kynge the pyke. ¶ A nother manere takynge of him there is. Take a frosshe & put it on your hoke at the necke bytwene the skynne & body on yebacke half : & put on a flote a yerde ther | fro : & caste it where the pyke hauntyth and ye shall haue hym. ¶ A nother manere. Take the same bayte & put it in Asa fetida & cast it in the water wyth a corde & a corke : & ye shall not fayll of hym. And yf ye lyst to haue a good sporte : thenne tye the co | rde to a gose fote : & ye shall se god halynge whether the gose or the pyke shall haue the better.NOw ye wote with what baytes & how ye shall angle to euery manere fysshe. Now I woll tell you how ye shall{20}kepe and fede your quycke baytes. Ye shall fede and kepe them all in generall : but euery manere by hymself wyth suchethyngꝭin and on whiche they brede. And as longe as they ben quycke & newe they ben fyne. But whan they ben in a slough or elles deed thenne ben they nought. Oute of thyse ben excepted thre brodes : That is to wyte of hornettys : humbylbees. & waspys. whom ye shall bake in breede & after dyppe theyr heedes in blo | de & lete them drye. Also excepte maggotes : whyche whan thei ben bredde grete wyth theyr naturell fedynge : ye shall fede the | ym ferthermore wyth shepes talow & wyth a cake made of flou | re & hony. thenne woll they be more grete. And whan ye haue clensyd theym wyth sonde in a bagge of blanket kepte hote vn | der your gowne or otherwarm̄thyng two houres or thre.then̄ben they beste & redy to angle wyth. And of the frosshe kytte yelegge by the knee. of the grasshop the leggys & wynges by the body.¶ Thyse ben baytes made to laste all the yere. Fyrste been flou | re & lene flesshe of the hepis of a cony or of a catte : virgyn wexe & shepys talowe : and braye theym in a morter : And thenne tem | pre it at the fyre wyth a lytyll puryfyed hony : & soo make it vp in lytyll ballys & bayte therwyth your hokys after theyr quan | tyte. & this is a good bayte for all manere fresshe fysshe.¶ A nother take the sewet of a shepe & chese in lyke quantyte : & braye theim togider longe in a mortere : And take thenne floure & tempre it therwyth. and after that alaye it wyth hony & make ballys therof. and that is for the barbyll in especyall.¶ A nother for darse. & roche & bleke. take whete & sethe it well & thenne put it in blood all a daye & a nyghte. and it is a good bayte.¶ For baytes for grete fyssh kepe specyally this rule. Whan ye haue take a grete fysshe : vndo the mawe. & what ye fynde therin make that your bayte : for it is beste.¶ Thyse ben the .xij. flyes wyth whyche ye shall angle to yetro | ught & grayllyng / and dubbe lyke as ye shall now here me tell.¶ Marche.
WHan ye haue as many of the lynkys as ye suppose wol suffyse for the length of a lyne : thenne must ye knytte theym togyder wyth a water knotte or elles a duchys knotte. And whan your knotte is knytte : kytte of yevoyde shor | te endes a strawe brede for the knotte. Thus shal ye make you | re lynes fayr & fyne : and also ryght sure for ony manere fysshe. ¶ And by cause that ye sholde knowe bothe the water knotte & also the duchys knotte : loo theym here in fygure caste vnto the lyknesse of the draughte.
YE shall vnderstonde that the moost subtyll & hardyste crafte in makynge of your harnays is for to make your hokis. For whoos makyng ye must haue fetefyles.thyn̄and sharpe & smalle beten : A semyclam̄of yren : a bender : a payr of longe & smalle tongys : an harde knyfe somdeale thycke : an anuelde : & a lytyll hamour. ¶ And for smalle fysshe ye shall make your hokes of the smalest quarell nedlys that ye can fyn | de of stele / & in this wyse. ¶ Ye shall put the quarell in a redde charkcole fyre tyll that it be of the same colour that the fyre is. Thenne take hym out and lete hym kele : and ye shal fynde him well alayd for to fyle. Thenne reyse the berde wyth your knyfe / and make the poynt sharpe. Thenne alaye hym agayn : for elles he woll breke in the bendyng. Thenne bende hym lyke to the bende fyguryd herafter in example. And gretter hokes ye shall mabe in the same wyse of gretter nedles : as broderers nedlis : or taylers : or shomakers nedlis spere poyntes / &{9}of shomakers nalles in especyall the beste for grete fysshe. and that they bende atte the poynt whan they ben assayed / for elles they ben not good ¶ Whan the hoke is bendyd bete the hynder ende abrode : & fyle it smothe for fretynge of thy lyne. Thenne put it in the fyre agayn : and yeue it an easy redde hete. Thenne sodaynly quenche it in water : and it woll be harde and stronge.And for to haue knowlege of your Instrumentes : lo theym here in fygure portrayd.
¶ Hamour. Knyfe. Pynsons. Clam̄ Wegge. Fyle. Wreste. & Anuelde.
WHan ye haue made thus your hokis : thenne must ye set theym on your lynes acordynge in gretnesse & strength in this wyse. ¶ Ye shall take smalle redde silke. & yf it be for a grete hokethen̄edouble it : not twynyd. And elles for sma | le hokys lete it be syngle : & therwyth frette thycke the lyne the | re as the one ende of your hoke shal sytte a strawe brede.Then̄sette there your hoke : & frette hym wyth the same threde yetwo partes of the lengthe that shall be frette in all. And whan ye co | me to the thyrde parte thenne torne the ende of your lyne aga | yn vpon the frette dowble. & frette it so dowble that other thyr | de parte. Thenne put your threde in at the hose twys or thries & lete it goo at eche tyme rounde abowte the yerde of your hoke. Thenne wete the hose & and drawe it tyll that it be faste. And lo | ke that your lyne lye euermore wythin your hokys : & not with | out. Thenne kytte of the lynys ende & the threde as nyghe as ye maye : sauynge the frette.
NOw ye knowe wyth how grete hokys ye shall angle to euery fysshe : now I woll tell you wyth how many heeres ye shall to euery manere of fisshe. ¶ For the menow wyth a lyne of one heere. For the waxyng roche the bleke & the{10}gogyn & the ruffe wyta lyne of two heeris. For the darse & the grete roche wyth a lyne of thre heeres. For the perche : the floū | der & bremet with foure heeres. For the cheuen chubbe : the bre | me : the tenche & the ele wyth .vj. heeres. For the troughte : gray | lynge : barbyll & the grete cheuyn with .ix. heeres. For the grete troughte wyth .xij. heeres : For the samon with .xv. heeres. And for the pyke wyth a chalke lyne made browne with your brow | ne colour aforsayd : armyd with a wyre. as ye shal here herafter whan I speke of the pyke.¶ Your lynes must be plumbid wyth lede. And ye shall wyte ytthe nexte pūbe vnto the hoke shall be therfro a large fote & mo | re / And euery plumbe of a quantyte to the gretnes of the lyne. There be thre manere of plūbis for a grounde lyne rennynge. And for the flote set vpon the grounde lyne lyenge .x. plumbes Ioynynge all togider. On the grounde lyne rennynge .ix. or .x. smalle. The flote plūbe shall be so heuy ytthe leest plucke of ony fysshe maye pull it downe in to yewater. And make your plū | bis rounde & smothe ytthey stycke not on stonys or on wedys. And for the more vnderstondynge lo theym here in fygure.
The grounde lyne rennynge The grounde lyne lyenge. The flote lyne The lyne for perche or tenche. The lyne for a pyke : ¶ Pln̄be : Corke armyd wyth wyre
THenne shall ye make your flotys in this wyse. Take a fayr corke that is clene without many holes. and bore it{11}thrugh wyth a smalle hote yren : And putt therin a penne iuste and streyghte. Euer the more flote the gretter penne & the gre | ter hole. Thenne shape it grete in the myddis and smalle at bo | the endys. and specyally sharpe in the nether ende / and lyke vn | to the fygures folowynge. And make theym smothe on a gryn | dyng stone : or on a tyle stone. ¶ And loke that the flote for one heer be nomore than a pese. For two heeres : as a beene. for twel | ue heeres : as a walnot. And soo euery lyne after the proporcōn. ¶ All manere lynes that ben not for the groūde must haue flo | tes. And the rennynge grounde lyne must haue a flote. The ly | enge grounde lyne wythout flote.
NOw I haue lernyd you to make all your harnays. Here I woll tell you how ye shall angle. ¶ Ye shall angle : vnderstonde that there is .vi. manere of anglyng. That one is at the grounde for the troughte and other fisshe. A nother is at yegrounde at an arche / or at a stange where it ebbyth and flowyth : for bleke : roche. and darse. The thyrde is wyth a flote for all manere of fysshe. The fourth wyth a menow for yetroughte wythout plumbe or flote. The fyfth is rennynge in ytsame wyse for roche and darse wyth one or two heeres & a flye. The syxte is wyth a dubbyd hoke for the troughte & graylyng ¶ And for the fyrste and pryncypall poynt in anglynge : kepe yeeuer fro the water fro the sighte of the fysshe : other ferre on the londe : or ellys behynde a busshe that the fysshe se you not. For yf they doo they wol not byte. ¶ Also loke that ye shadow not the water as moche as ye may. For it is that thynge that woll soone fraye the fysshe. And yf a fysshe be afrayed he woll not bi | te longe after. For alle manere fysshe that fede by the grounde ye shall angle for theim to the botom. soo that your hokys shall renne or lye on the grounde. And for alle other fysshe that fede{12}aboue ye shall angle to theym in the myddes of the water or somdeale byneth or somdeale aboue. For euer the gretter fisshe the nerer he lyeth the botom of the water. And euer the smaller fysshe the more he smymmyth aboue. ¶ The thyrde good poynt is whan the fysshe bytyth that ye be not to hasty to smyte nor to late / For ye must abide tyll ye suppose that the bayte be ferre in the mouth of the fysshe / and thenne abyde noo longer. And this is for the groūde. ¶ And for the flote whan ye se it pul | lyd softly vnder the water : or elles caryed vpon the water softly : thenne smyte. And loke that ye neuer ouersmyte the strengthe of your lyne for brekynge. ¶ And yf it fortune you to smyte a grete fysshe wyth a smalle harnays : thenne ye must lede hym in the water and labour him there tyll he be drownyd and ouercome. Thenne take hym as well as ye can or maye. and euer bewaar that ye holde not ouer the strengthe of your lyne. And as moche as ye may lete hym not come out of your lynes ende streyghte from you : But kepe hym euer vnder the rodde / and euermore holde hym streyghte : soo that your lyne may sus | teyne and beere his lepys and his plungys wyth the helpe of your croppe & of your honde.
HEre I woll declare vnto you in what place of the water ye shall angle. Ye shall angle in a pole or in a stondinge water in euery place where it is ony thynge depe. The | re is not grete choyse of ony places where it is ony thynge de | pe in a pole. For it is but a pryson to fysshe. and they lyue for yemore parte in hungre lyke prisoners : and therfore it is the lesse maystry to take theym. But in a ryuer ye shall angle in euery place where it is depe and clere by the grounde : as grauell or claye wythout mudde or wedys. And in especyall yf that there be a manere whyrlynge of water or a couert. As an holow ban | ke : or grete rotys of trees : or longe wedes fletyng aboue in the water where the fysshe maye couere and hyde theymself at certayn tymes whan they lyste Also it is good for to angle in depe styffe stremys and also in fallys of waters and weares : and in floode gatys and mylle pyttes. And it is good for to angle where as the water restyth by the banke : and where the streme rennyth nyghe there by : and is depe and clere by the grounde{13}and in ony other placys where ye may se ony fyssh houe or ha | ne ony fedynge.
NOw ye shall wyte what tyme of the daye ye shall angle ¶ From the begynnynge of May vntyll it be Septem | bre the bytynge tyme is erly by the morowe from foure of yeclocke vnto eyghte of the clocke. And at after none from foure of the clocke vnto eyghte of the clocke : but not soo good as is in the mornynge. And yf it be a colde whystelyng wynde and a derke lowrynge daye. For a derke daye is moche better to angle in than a clere daye. ¶ From the begynnynge of Sep | tembre vnto the ende of Apryll spare noo tyme of the daye :¶ Also many pole fysshes woll byte beste in the none tyde.¶ And yf ye se ony tyme of the daye the trought or graylynge lepe : angle to hym wyth a dubbe acordynge to the same month And where the water ebbyth and flowyth the fysshe woll byte in some place at the ebbe : and in some place at the flood. After ytthey haue restynge behynde stangnys and archys of brydgys and other suche manere places.
HEre ye shall wyte in what weder ye shall angle. as I sa | yd before in a derke lowrynge daye whanne the wynde blowyth softly. And in somer season whan it is brennyn | ge hote thenne it is nought. ¶ From Septembre vnto Apryll in a fayr sonny daye is ryght good to angle. And yf the wynde in that season haue ony parte of the Oryent : the wedyr thenne is nought. And whan it is a grete wynde. And whan it snowith reynyth or hayllyth. or is a grete tempeste / as thondyr or ligh | tenynge : or a swoly hote weder : thenne it is noughte for to angle.
NOw shall ye wyte that there ben twelue manere of ympedymentes whyche cause a man to take noo fysshe. wt| out other comyn that maye casuelly happe. ¶ The fyrst is yf your harnays be not mete nor fetly made. The seconde is yf your baytes be not good nor fyne. The thyrde is yf that ye angle not in bytynge tyme. The fourth is yf that the fysshe be frayed wtthe syghte of a man. The fyfth yf the water be very thycke : whyte or redde of ony floode late fallen. The syxte yf the fysshe styre not for colde. The seuenth yf that the wedyr{14}be hote. The eyght yf it rayne. The nynthe yf it hayll or snow falle. The tenth is yf it be a tempeste. The enleuenth is yf it be a grete wynde. The twelfyfth yf the wynde be in the Eest / and that is worste For comynly neyther wynter nor somer yefysshe woll not byte thenne. The weste and northe wyndes ben good but the south is beste.
ANd now I haue tolde you how to make your harnays : and how ye shall fysshe therwyth in al poyntes Reason woll that ye knowe wyth what baytes ye shall angle to euery manere of fysshe in euery moneth of the yere / whyche is all the effecte of the crafte. And wythout whyche baytes know | en well by you all your other crafte here toforn auayllyth you not to purpose. For ye can not brynge an hoke in to a fyssh mo | uth wythout a bayte. Whiche baytes for euery manere of fyssh and for euery moneth here folowyth in this wyse.
FOr by cause that the Samon is the moost stately fyssh that ony man maye angle to in fresshe water. Therfore I purpose tobegyn̄at hym. ¶ The samon is a gentyll fysshe : but he is comborous for to take. For comynly he is but in depe places of grete ryuers. And for the more parte he holdyth the myddys of it : that a man maye not come at hym. And he is in season from Marche vnto Myghelmas. ¶ In whyche season ye shall angle to hym wyth thyse baytes whan ye maye gete theym. Fyrste wyth a redde worme in the begynnynge & endynge of the season. And also wyth a bobbe that bredyth in a dunghyll. And specyally wyth a souerayn bayte that bredyth on a water docke. ¶ And he bytith not at the grounde : but at yeflote. Also ye may take hym : but it is seldom seen with a dubbe at suche tyme as whan he lepith in lyke fourme & manere as ye doo take a troughte or a gryalynge. And thyse baytes ben well prouyd baytes for the samon.
THe Troughte for by cause he is a right deyntous fyssh and also a ryght feruente byter we shall speke nexte of hym. He is in season fro Marche vnto Myghelmas. He is on clene grauely groūde & in a streme. Ye may angle to hym{15}all tymes wyth a grounde lyne lyenge or rennynge : sauyng in lepynge tyme. and thenne wyth a dubbe. And erly wyth a rennynge grounde lyne. and forth in the daye wyth a flote lyne.¶ Ye shall angle to hym in Marche wyth a menew hangyd on your hoke by the nether nesse wythout flote or plumbe : drawynge vp & downe in the streme tyll ye fele hym taste. ¶ In the same tyme angle to hym wyth a groūde lyne with a redde wor | me for the moost sure. ¶ In Aprill take the same baytes : & also Inneba other wyse namyd .vij. eyes. Also the canker that bredyth in a grete tree and the redde snayll. ¶ In May take yesto | ne flye and the bobbe vnder the cowe torde and the sylke worme : and the bayte that bredyth on afern̄leyf. ¶ In Iuyn take a redde worme & nyppe of the heed : and put on thyn hoke a codworme byforn. ¶ In Iuyll take the grete redde worme and the codworme togyder. ¶ In August take a flesshe flye & the grete redde worme and the fatte of the bakon : and bynde abowte thy hoke. ¶ In Septembre take the redde worme and the menew. ¶ In Octobre take the same : for they ben specyall for the trought all tymes of the yere. From Aprill tyll Septembre yetrough lepyth. thenne angle to hym wyth a dubbyd hoke acordyn | ge to the moneth / whyche dubbyd hokys ye shall fynde in then | de of this treatyse; and the monethys wyth theym :
THe grayllynge by a nother name callyd vmbre ia a delycyous fysshe to mannys mouthe. And ye maye take hym lyke as ye doo the trought. And thyse ben his bay | tes. ¶ In Marche & in Apryll the redde worme. ¶ In May the grene worme : a lytyll breyled worme : the docke canker. and the hawthorn worme. ¶ In Iune the bayte that bredyth betwene the tree & the barke of an oke. ¶ In Iuyll a bayte that bredyth on afern̄leyf : and the grete redde worme. And nyppe of the he | de : and put on your hoke a codworme before. ¶ In August the redde worme : and a docke worme. And al the yere after a reddde worme.
THe barbyll is a swete fysshe / but it is a quasy meete & a peryllous for mannys body. For comynly he yeuyth an introduxion to yeFebres. And yf he be eten rawe : he maye be cause of mannys dethe : whyche hath oft be seen Thyse{16}be his baytes. ¶ In Marche & in Apryll take fayr fresshe che | se : and laye it on a borde & kytte it in small square pecys of the lengthe of your hoke. Take thenne a candyl & brenne it on the ende at the poynt of your hoke tyll it be yelow. Andthen̄ebyn | de it on your hoke with fletchers sylke : and make it rough lyke a welbede. This bayte is good all the somer season. ¶ In May & Iune take yehawthorn̄worme & the grete redde worme. and nyppe of the heed. And put on your hoke a codworme before. & that is a good bayte. In Iuyll take the redde worme for cheyf & thehawthorn̄worme togydr. Also the water docke leyf wor | me & the hornet worme togyder. ¶ In August & for all the yere take the talowe of a shepe & softe chese : of eche ylyke moche : and a lytyll hony & grynde or stampe theym togydrlonge. and tempre it tyll it be tough. And put therto floure a lytyll & make it on smalle pellettys. And ytis a good bayte to angle wyth at the grounde And loke that it synke in the water. or ellys it is not good to this purpoos.
THe carpe is a deyntous fysshe : but there ben but fewe in Englonde. And therfore I wryte the lasse of hym. He is an euyll fysshe to take. For he is soo stronge enarmyd in the mouthe that there maye noo weke harnays holde hym. And as touchynge his baytes I haue but lytyll knowlege of it And me were loth to wryte more than I knowe & haue prouyd But well I wote that the redde worme & the menow ben good baytys for hym at all tymes as I haue herde saye of persones credyble & also founde wryten in bokes of credence.
THe cheuyn is a stately fysshe & his heed is a deyty morsell. There is noo fysshe soo strongly enarmyd wyth sca | lys on the body. And bi cause he is a stronge byter he ha | the the more baytes / whiche ben thyse. ¶ In Marche the redde worme at the grounde : For comynly thenne he woll byte there at all tymes of yeyere yf he be ony thinge hungry. ¶ In Apryll the dyche canker that bredith in the tree. A worme that bredith betwene the rynde & the tree of an oke The redde worme : and the yonge frosshys whan the fete ben kyt of. Also the stone flye the bobbe vnder the cowe torde : the redde snaylle. ¶ In May ye{17}bayte that bredyth on the osyer leyf & the docke canker togydrvpon your hoke. Also a bayte that bredyth on afern̄leyf : yecod | worme. and a bayte that bredyth on anhawthorn̄.And a bayte that bredyth on an oke leyf & a sylke worme & a codworme togyder. ¶In̄Iune take the creket & the dorre & also a red worme : the heed kytte of & a codworme before : and put theym on yehoke. Also a bayte in the osyer leyf : yonge frosshys the thre-fete kitte of by the body : & the fourth by the knee. The bayte on thehawthorn̄& the codworme togyder & a grubbe that bredyth in a dunghyll : and a grete greshop. ¶ In Iuyll the greshop & the humbylbee in the medow. Also yonge bees & yonge hornettes. Also a grete brended flye that bredith in pathes of medowes & the flye that is amonge pysmeers hyllys. ¶ In August take wortwormes & magotes vnto Myghelmas. ¶ In Septembre the redde worme : & also take the baytes whan ye may gete the | ym : that is to wyte / Cheryes : yonge myce not heeryd : & the hon | ie combe.
THe breeme is a noble fysshe & a deyntous. And ye shall angle for hym from Marche vnto August wyth a redde worme : &then̄ewyth a butter flye & a grene flye. & with a bayte that bredyth amonge grene rede : and a bayte that bre | dyth in the barke of a deed tree. ¶ And for bremettis : take mag | gotes. ¶ And fro that tyme forth all the yere after take the red worme : and in the ryuer browne breede. Moo baytes there ben but they ben not easy & therfore I lete theym passe ouer.
ATenche is a good fyssh : and heelith all manere of other fysshe that ben hurte yf they maye come to hym. He is the most parte of the yere in the mudde. And he styryth moost in Iune & Iuly : and in other seasons but lytyll. He is an euyll byter. his baytes ben thyse. For all the yere browne bree | de tostyd wyth hony in lyknesse of a butteryd loof : and the gre | te redde worme. And as for cheyf take the blacke blood in yeher | te of a shepe & floure and hony. And tempre theym all togyder somdeale softer than paast : & anoynt therwyth the redde worme : bothe for this fysshe & for other. And they woll byte moche the better therat at all tymes.¶ The perche is a daynteuous fysshe & passynge holsom and{18}a free bytyng. Thise ben his baytes. In Marche the redde wor | me. In Aprill the bobbe vnder the cowe torde. In May theslo | thorn̄worme & the codworme. In Iune the bayte that bredith in an olde fallen oke & the grete canker. In Iuyll the bayte that bredyth on the osyer leyf & the bobbe that bredeth on the dung | hyll : and thehawthorn̄worme & the codworme. In August the redde worme & maggotes. All the yere after the red worme as for the beste.¶ The roche is an easy fysshe to take : And yf he be fatte & pen | nyd thenne is he good meete. & thyse ben his baytes. In Marche the most redy bayte is the red worme. In Apryll the bobbe vnder the cowe torde. In May the bayte ytbredyth on the oke leyf & the bobbe in the dunghyll. In Iune the bayte that bredith on the osyer & the codworme. In Iuyll hous flyes. & the bayte that bredith on an oke. and the notworme & mathewes & maggotes tyll Myghelmas. And after ytthe fatte of bakon.¶ The dace is a gentyll fysshe to take. & yf it be well refetthen̄is it good meete. In Marche his bayte is a redde worme. In Apryll the bobbe vnder the cowe torde. In May the docke can | ker & the bayte on yeslothorn̄and on the oken leyf. In Iune the codworme & the bayte on the osyer and the whyte grubbe in yedunghyll. In Iuyll take hous flyes & flyes that brede in pysmer hylles : the codworme & maggotes vnto Mighelmas. And yf the water be clere ye shall take fysshe whan other take none And fro that tyme forth doo as ye do for the roche. For comyn | ly theyr bytynge & theyr baytes ben lyke.¶ The bleke is but a feble fysshe. yet he is holsom His baytes from Marche to Myghelmas be the same that I haue wryten before. For the roche & darse sauynge all the somer season asmo | che as ye maye angle for hym wyth an house flye : & in wynter season wtbakon & other bayte made as ye herafter may know.¶ The ruf is ryght an holsom fysshe : And ye shall angle to him wyth the same baytes in al seasons of the yere & in the same wi | se as I haue tolde you of the perche : for they ben lyke in fysshe & fedinge / sauynge the ruf is lesse. And therfore he must haue yesmaller bayte.¶ The flounder is an holsom fisshe & a free. and a subtyll byter in his manere : For comynly whan he soukyth his meete he{19}fedyth at grounde. & therfore ye must angle to hym wyth a gro | unde lyne lyenge. And he hath but one manere of bayte. & that is a red worme. whiche is moost cheyf for all manere of fysshe.¶ The gogen is a good fisshe of the mochenes : & he byteth wel at the grounde. And his baytes for all the yere ben thyse. yered worme : codworme : & maggotes. And ye must angle to him wta flote. & lete your bayte be nere yebotom or ellis on yegron̄de.¶ The menow whan he shynith in the waterthen̄is he byttyr And though his body be lytyll yet he is a rauenous biter & an egre. And ye shall angle to hym wyth the same baytes that ye doo for the gogyn : sauynge they must be smalle.¶ The ele is a quasy fysshe a rauenour & a deuourer of the bro | de of fysshe. And for the pyke also is a deuourer of fysshe I put them bothe behynde all other to angle. For this ele ye shall fyn | de an hole in the grounde of the water. & it is blewe blackysshe there put in your hoke tyll that it be a fote wythin yehole. and your bayte shall be a grete angyll twytch or a menow.¶ The pyke is a good fysshe : but for he deuouryth so many as well of his owne kynde as of other : I loue hym the lesse. & for to take hym ye shall doo thus. Take a codlynge hoke : & take a roche or a fresshe heering & a wyre wyth an hole in the ende : & put it in at the mouth & out at the taylle downe by the ridge of the fresshe heeryng. And thenne put the lyne of your hoke in af | ter. & drawe the hoke in to the cheke of yefresshe heeryng.Then̄put a plumbe of lede vpon your lyne a yerde longe from youre hoke & a flote in mydwaye betwene : & caste it in a pytte where the pyke vsyth. And this is the beste & moost surest crafte of ta | kynge the pyke. ¶ A nother manere takynge of him there is. Take a frosshe & put it on your hoke at the necke bytwene the skynne & body on yebacke half : & put on a flote a yerde ther | fro : & caste it where the pyke hauntyth and ye shall haue hym. ¶ A nother manere. Take the same bayte & put it in Asa fetida & cast it in the water wyth a corde & a corke : & ye shall not fayll of hym. And yf ye lyst to haue a good sporte : thenne tye the co | rde to a gose fote : & ye shall se god halynge whether the gose or the pyke shall haue the better.
NOw ye wote with what baytes & how ye shall angle to euery manere fysshe. Now I woll tell you how ye shall{20}kepe and fede your quycke baytes. Ye shall fede and kepe them all in generall : but euery manere by hymself wyth suchethyngꝭin and on whiche they brede. And as longe as they ben quycke & newe they ben fyne. But whan they ben in a slough or elles deed thenne ben they nought. Oute of thyse ben excepted thre brodes : That is to wyte of hornettys : humbylbees. & waspys. whom ye shall bake in breede & after dyppe theyr heedes in blo | de & lete them drye. Also excepte maggotes : whyche whan thei ben bredde grete wyth theyr naturell fedynge : ye shall fede the | ym ferthermore wyth shepes talow & wyth a cake made of flou | re & hony. thenne woll they be more grete. And whan ye haue clensyd theym wyth sonde in a bagge of blanket kepte hote vn | der your gowne or otherwarm̄thyng two houres or thre.then̄ben they beste & redy to angle wyth. And of the frosshe kytte yelegge by the knee. of the grasshop the leggys & wynges by the body.¶ Thyse ben baytes made to laste all the yere. Fyrste been flou | re & lene flesshe of the hepis of a cony or of a catte : virgyn wexe & shepys talowe : and braye theym in a morter : And thenne tem | pre it at the fyre wyth a lytyll puryfyed hony : & soo make it vp in lytyll ballys & bayte therwyth your hokys after theyr quan | tyte. & this is a good bayte for all manere fresshe fysshe.¶ A nother take the sewet of a shepe & chese in lyke quantyte : & braye theim togider longe in a mortere : And take thenne floure & tempre it therwyth. and after that alaye it wyth hony & make ballys therof. and that is for the barbyll in especyall.¶ A nother for darse. & roche & bleke. take whete & sethe it well & thenne put it in blood all a daye & a nyghte. and it is a good bayte.¶ For baytes for grete fyssh kepe specyally this rule. Whan ye haue take a grete fysshe : vndo the mawe. & what ye fynde therin make that your bayte : for it is beste.
¶ Thyse ben the .xij. flyes wyth whyche ye shall angle to yetro | ught & grayllyng / and dubbe lyke as ye shall now here me tell.
¶ Marche.