CORIDONS Song.Oh the sweet contentmentThe country man doth find!high trolollie laliloehigh trolollie lee,That quiet contemplationPossesseth all my mind:Then care away,and wend along with me.For Courts are full of flattery,As hath too oft been tri'd;high trolollie lollie loehigh trolollie lee,The City full of wantonness,and both are full of pride:Then care away,and wend along with me.But oh the honest countrymanSpeaks truly from his heart,high trolollie lollie loehigh trolollie lee,His pride is in his Tillage,his Horses and his Cart:Then care away,and wend along with me.Our clothing is good sheep skinsGray russet for our wives,high trolollie lollie loehigh trolollie lee.'Tis warmth and not gay clothingthat doth prolong our lives:Then care away,and wend along with me,The ploughman, though he labor hard,Yet on theHoly-day,high trolollie lollie loehigh trolollie lee,No Emperor so merrilydoes pass his time away:Then care away,and wend along with me.To recompence our Tillage,The Heavens afford us showrs;high trolollie lollie loehigh trolollie lee,And for our sweet refreshmentsthe earth affords us bowers:Then care away, &c.TheCuckoeand theNightingalefull merrily do sing,high trolollie lollie loehigh trolollie lee,And with their pleasant roundelayesbid welcome to theSpring:Then care away,and wend along with me.This is not half the happinessthe Country man injoyes;high trolollie lollie loehigh trolollie lee,Though others think they have as muchyet he that says so lies:Then come away, turnCounty man with me.
Pisc. Well sungCoridon, this Song was sung with mettle, and it was choicely fitted to the occasion; I shall love you for it as long as I know you: I would you were a brother of the Angle, for a companion that is cheerful and free from swearing and scurrilous discourse, is worth gold. I love such mirth as does not make friends ashamed to look upon one another next morning; nor men (that cannot wel bear it) to repent the money they spend when they be warmed with drink: and take this for a rule, you may pick out such times and such companies, that you may make your selves merrier for a little then a great deal of money; for'Tis the company and not the charge that makes the feast: and such a companion you prove, I thank you for it.
But I will not complement you out of the debt that I owe you, and therefore I will begin my Song, and wish it may be as well liked.
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The ANGLERS Song.As inward love breeds outward talk,TheHoundsome praise, and some theHawk,Some better pleas'd with private sport,UseTenis,some aMistriscourt:But these delights I neither wish,Nor envy, while I freely fish.Whohunts,doth oft in danger rideWhohauks,lures oft both far & wide;Who uses games, may often proveA loser; but who fals in love,Is fettered in fondCupidssnare:My Angle breeds me no such care.Of Recreation there is noneSo free as fishing is alone;All other pastimes do no lessThen mind and body both possess;My hand alone my work can do,So I can fish and study too.I care not, I, to fish in seas,Fresh rivers best my mind do please,Whose sweet calm course I contemplate;And seek in life to imitate;In civil bounds I fain would keep,And for my past offences weep.And when the timerousTroutI waitTo take, and he devours my bait,How poor a thing sometimes I findWill captivate a greedy mind:And when none bite, I praise the wise,Whom vain alurements ne're surprise.But yet though while I fish, I fast,I make good fortune my repast,And there unto my friend invite,In whom I more then that delight:Who is more welcome to my dish,Then to my Angle was my fish.As well content no prize to takeAs use of taken prize to make;For so our Lord was pleased whenHe Fishers made Fishers of men;Where (which is in no other game)A man may fish and praise his name.The first men that our Saviour dearDid chuse to wait upon him here,Blest Fishers were; and fish the lastFood was, that he on earth did taste.I therefore strive to follow those,Whom he to follow him hath chose.W.B.
Cor. Well sung brother, you have paid your debt in good coyn, we Anglers are all beholding to the good man that made this Song. Come Hostis, give us more Ale and lets drink to him.
And now lets everie one go to bed that we may rise early; but first lets pay our Reckoning, for I wil have nothing to hinder me in the morning for I will prevent the Sun rising.
Pet. A match: ComeCoridon, you are to be my Bed-fellow: I know brother you and your Scholer wil lie together; but where shal we meet to morrow night? for my friendCoridonand I will go up the water towardsWare.
Pisc. And my Scholer and I will go down towardsWaltam.
Cor. Then lets meet here, for here are fresh sheets that smel of Lavender, and, I am sure, we cannot expect better meat and better usage.
Pet. 'Tis a match. Good night to every body.
Pisc. And so say I.
Viat. And so say I.
Pisc. Good morrow good Hostis, I see my brotherPeteris in bed still; Come, give my Scholer and me a cup of Ale, and be sure you get us a good dish of meat against supper, for we shall come hither as hungry asHawks. Come Scholer, lets be going.
Viat. Good Master, as we walk towards the water, wil you be pleased to make the way seeme shorter by telling me first the nature of theTrout, and then how to catch him.
Pisc. My honest Scholer, I wil do it freely: TheTrout(for which I love to angle above any fish) may be justly said (as the ancient Poets say of Wine, and we English say of Venson) to be a generous fish, because he has his seasons, a fish that comes in, and goes out with theStagorBuck: and you are to observe, that as there be somebarren Does, that are good in Summer; so there be some barrenTrouts, that are good in Winter; but there are not many that are so, for usually they be in their perfection in the month ofMay, and decline with theBuck: Now you are to take notice, that in several Countries, as inGermanyand in other parts compar'd to ours, they differ much in their bigness, shape, and other wayes, and so doTrouts; 'tis wel known that in the LakeLemon, the Lake ofGeneva, there areTroutstaken, of three Cubits long, as is affirmed byGesner, a Writer of good credit: andMercatorsayes, theTroutsthat are taken in the Lake ofGeneva, are a great part of the Merchandize of that famous City. And you are further to know, that there be certaine waters that breedTroutsremarkable, both for their number and smalness—I know a little Brook inKentthat breeds them to a number incredible, and you may take them twentie or fortie in an hour, but none greater then about the size of aGudgion. There are also in divers Rivers, especially that relate to, or be near to the Sea, (asWinchester, or the Thames aboutWindsor) a littleTroutcalled aSamletorSkegger Trout(in both which places I have caught twentie or fortie at a standing) that will bite as fast and as freely asMinnows; these be by some taken to be youngSalmons, but in those waters they never grow to bee bigger then aHerring.
There is also inKent, neer toCanterbury, aTrout(called there aFordig Trout) aTrout(that bears the name of the Town where 'tis usually caught) that is accounted rare meat, many of them near the bigness of aSalmon, but knowne by their different colour, and in their best season cut very white; and none have been known to be caught with an Angle, unless it were one that was caught by honest SirGeorge Hastings, an excellent Angler (and now with God) and he has told me, he thought thatTroutbit not for hunger, but wantonness; and 'tis the rather to be believed, because both he then, and many others before him have been curious to search into their bellies what the food was by which they lived; and have found out nothing by which they might satisfie their curiositie.
Concerning which you are to take notice, that it is reported, there is a fish that hath not any mouth, but lives by taking breath by the porinss of her gils, and feeds and is nourish'd by no man knows what; and this may be believed of theFordig Trout, which (as it is said of theStork, that he knowes his season, so he) knows his times (I think almost his day) of coming into that River out of the Sea, where he lives (and it is like feeds) nine months of the year, and about three in the River ofFordig.
And now for some confirmation of this; you are to know, that thisTroutis thought to eat nothing in the fresh water; and it may be the better believed, because it is well known, thatSwallowes, which are not seen to flye inEnglandfor six months in the year, but aboutMichaelmasleave us for a hotter climate; yet some of them, that have been left behind their fellows, [view Sir Fra. Bacon exper. 899.], have been found (many thousand at a time) in hollow trees, where they have been observed to live and sleep [see Topsel of Frogs] out the whole winter without meat; and soAlbertusobserves that there is one kind ofFrogthat hath her mouth naturally shut up about the end ofAugust, and that she lives so all the Winter, and though it be strange to some, yet it is known to too many amongst us to bee doubted.
And so much for theseFordig Trouts, which never afford an Angler sport, but either live their time of being in the fresh water by their meat formerly gotten in the Sea, (not unlike theSwalloworFrog) or by the vertue of the fresh water only, as theCamelionis said to live by the air.
There is also inNorthumberland, aTrout, called aBull Trout, of a much greater length and bignesse then any in these Southern parts; and there is in many Rivers that relate to the Sea,Salmon Troutsas much different one from another, both in shape and in their spots, as we see Sheep differ one from another in their shape and bigness, and in the finess of their wool: and certainly as some Pastures do breed larger Sheep, so do some Rivers, by reason of the ground over which they run, breed largerTrouts.
Now the next thing that I will commend to your consideration is, That theTroutis of a more sudden growth then other fish: concerning which you are also to take notice, that he lives not so long as thePearchand divers other fishes do, as SirFrancis Baconhath observed in his History of life and death.
And next, you are to take notice, that after hee is come to his full growth, he declines in his bodie, but keeps his bigness or thrives in his head till his death. And you are to know that he wil about (especially before) the time of his Spawning, get almost miraculously throughWeiresandFloud-Gatesagainst the stream, even through such high and swift places as is almost incredible. Next, that theTroutusually Spawns aboutOctoberorNovember, but in some Rivers a little sooner or later; which is the more observable, because most other fish Spawne in the Spring or Summer, when the Sun hath warmed both the earth and water, and made it fit for generation.
And next, you are to note, that till the Sun gets to such a height as to warm the earth and the water, theTroutis sick, and lean, and lowsie, and unwholsome: for you shall in winter find him to have a big head, and then to be lank, and thin, & lean; at which time many of them have sticking on them Sugs, orTroutlice, which is a kind of a worm, in shape like a Clove or a Pin, with a big head, and sticks close to him and sucks his moisture; those I think theTroutbreeds himselfe, and never thrives til he free himself from them, which is till warm weather comes, and then as he growes stronger, he gets from the dead, still water, into the sharp streames and the gravel, and there rubs off these worms or lice: and then as he grows stronger, so he gets him into swifter and swifter streams, and there lies at the watch for any flie or Minow that comes neer to him; and he especially loves theMayflie, which is bred of theCod-wormorCaddis; and these make theTroutbold and lustie, and he is usually fatter, and better meat at the end of that month, then at any time of the year.
Now you are to know, that it is observed that usually the bestTroutsare either red or yellow, though some be white and yet good; but that is not usual; and it is a note observable that the femaleTrouthath usually a less head and a deeper body then the maleTrout; and a little head to any fish, eitherTrout, Salmon, or other fish, is a sign that that fish is in season.
But yet you are to note, that as you see some Willows or Palm trees bud and blossome sooner then others do, so someTroutsbe in some Rivers sooner in season; and as the Holly or Oak are longer before they cast their Leaves, so are someTroutsin some Rivers longer before they go out of season.
And having told you these Observations concerningTrouts, I shall next tell you how to catch them: which is usually with aWorm, or aMinnow(which some call aPenke;) or with aFlie, either anaturalor anartificialFlie: Concerning which three I wil give you some Observations and Directions.
For Worms, there be very many sorts; some bred onely in the earth, as theearth worm; others amongst or of plants, as thedug-worm; and others in the bodies of living creatures; or some of dead flesh, as theMagotorGentle, and others.
Now these be most of them particularly good for particular fishes: but for theTroutthedew-worm, (which some also cal theLob-worm) and theBrandlingare the chief; and especially the first for a greatTrout, and the later for a lesse. There be also oflob-worms, some calledsquirel-tails(a worm which has a red head, a streak down the back, and a broad tail) which are noted to be the best, because they are the toughest, and most lively, and live longest in the water: for you are to know, that a dead worm is but a dead bait, and like to catch nothing, compared to a lively, quick, stirring worm: And for aBrandling, hee is usually found in an old dunghil, or some very rotten place neer to it; but most usually in cow dung, or hogs dung, rather then horse dung, which is somewhat too hot and dry for that worm.
There are also divers other kindes of worms, which for colour and shape alter even as the ground out of which they are got: as themarsh-worm, thetag-tail, theflag-worm, thedock-worm, theoake-worm, thegilt-tail, and too many to name, even as many sorts, as some think there be of severall kinds of birds in the air: of which I shall say no more, but tell you, that what worms soever you fish with, are the better for being long kept before they be used; and in case you have not been so provident, then the way to cleanse and scoure them quickly, is to put them all night in water, if they beLob-worms, and then put them into your bag with fennel: but you must not put yourBrandlingabove an hour in water, and then put them into fennel for sudden use: but if you have time, and purpose to keep them long, then they be best preserved in an earthen pot with good store ofmosse, which is to be fresh every week or eight dayes; or at least taken from them, and clean wash'd, and wrung betwixt your hands till it be dry, and then put it to them again: And for Moss you are to note, that there be divers kindes of it which I could name to you, but wil onely tel you, that that which is likest aBucks hornis the best; except it bewhiteMoss, which grows on some heaths, and is hard to be found.
For theMinnoworPenke, he is easily found and caught in April, for then hee appears in the Rivers: but Nature hath taught him to shelter and hide himself in the Winter in ditches that be neer to the River, and there both to hide and keep himself warm in the weeds, which rot not so soon as in a running River in which place if hee were in Winter, the distempered Floods that are usually in that season, would suffer him to have no rest, but carry him headlong to Mils and Weires to his confusion. And of theseMinnows, first you are to know, that the biggest size is not the best; and next, that the middle size and the whitest are the best: and then you are to know, that I cannot well teach in words, but must shew you how to put it on your hook, that it may turn the better: And you are also to know, that it is impossible it should turn too quick: And you are yet to know, that in case you want aMinnow, then a smallLoch, or aSticklebag, or any other small Fish will serve as wel: And you are yet to know, that you may salt, and by that means keep them fit for use three or four dayes or longer; and that of salt, bay salt is the best.
Now forFlies, which is the third bait wherewithTroutsare usually taken. You are to know, that there are as many sorts of Flies as there be of Fruits: I will name you but some of them: as thedun flie, thestone flie, thered flie, themoor flie, thetawny flie, theshel flie, thecloudyor blackishflie: there be of Flies,Caterpillars, andCanker flies, andBear flies; and indeed, too many either for mee to name, or for you to remember: and their breeding is so various and wonderful, that I might easily amaze my self, and tire you in a relation of them.
And yet I wil exercise your promised patience by saying a little of theCaterpillar, or thePalmer flieorworm; that by them you may guess what a work it were in a Discourse but to run over those very manyflies, worms, and little living creatures with which the Sun and Summer adorn and beautifie the river banks and meadows; both for the recreation and contemplation of the Angler: and which (I think) I myself enjoy more then any other man that is not of my profession.
Plinyholds an opinion, that many have their birth or being from a dew that in the Spring falls upon the leaves of trees; and that some kinds of them are from a dew left upon herbs or flowers: and others from a dew left upon Colworts or Cabbages: All which kindes of dews being thickened and condensed, are by the Suns generative heat most of them hatch'd, and in three dayes made living creatures, and of several shapes and colours; some being hard and tough, some smooth and soft; some are horned in their head, some in their tail, some have none; some have hair, some none; some have sixteen feet, some less, and some have none: but (as ourTopselhath with great diligence observed) [in hisHistoryof Serpents.] those which have none, move upon the earth, or upon broad leaves, their motion being not unlike to the waves of the sea. Some of them hee also observes to be bred of the eggs of other Caterpillers: and that those in their time turn to beButter-flies; and again, that their eggs turn the following yeer to beCaterpillars.
'Tis endlesse to tell you what the curious Searchers into Natures productions, have observed of these Worms and Flies: But yet I shall tell you what ourTopselsayes of theCanker, orPalmer-worm, orCaterpiller; That wheras others content themselves to feed on particular herbs or leaves (for most think, those very leaves that gave them life and shape, give them a particular feeding and nourishment, and that upon them they usually abide;) yet he observes, that this is called aPilgrimorPalmer-worm, for his very wandering life and various food; not contenting himself (as others do) with any certain place for his abode, nor any certain kinde of herb or flower for his feeding; but will boldly and disorderly wander up and down, and not endure to be kept to a diet, or fixt to a particular place.
Nay, the very colours ofCaterpillersare, as one has observed, very elegant and beautiful: I shal (for a taste of the rest) describe one of them, which I will sometime the next month, shew you feeding on a Willow tree, and you shal find him punctually to answer this very description: "His lips and mouth somewhat yellow, his eyes black as Jet, his ore-head purple, his feet and hinder parts green, his tail two forked and black, the whole body stain'd with a kind of red spots which run along the neck and shoulder-blades, not unlike the form of a Cross, or the letter X, made thus cross-wise, and a white line drawn down his back to his tail; all which add much beauty to his whole body." And it is to me observable, that at a fix'd age thisCaterpillergives over to eat, and towards winter comes to be coverd over with a strange shell or crust, and so lives a kind of dead life, without eating all the winter, and (as others of several kinds turn to be several kinds of flies and vermin, the Spring following) [view SirFra. Baconexper. 728 & 90 in his Natural History] so thisCaterpillerthen turns to be a painted Butterflye.
Come, come my Scholer, you see the River stops our morning walk, and I wil also here stop my discourse, only as we sit down under this Honey-Suckle hedge, whilst I look a Line to fit the Rod that our brotherPeterhas lent you, I shall for a little confirmation of what I have said, repeat the observation of the LordBartas.
God not contented to each kind to give,And to infuse the vertue generative,By his wise power made many creatures breedOf liveless bodies, withoutVenusdeed.So the cold humour breeds theSalamander,Who (in effect) like to her births commanderWith child with hundred winters, with her touchQuencheth the fire, though glowing ne'r so much.So in the fire in burning furnace springsThe flyPeraustawith the flaming wings;Without the fire it dies, in it, it joyes,Living in that which all things else destroyes.
Gerb. Herbal. Cabdem
So slowBoötesunderneath him seesIn th'icie IslandsGoslingshatcht of trees,Whose fruitful leaves falling into the water,Are turn'd ('tis known) to living fowls soon after.So rotten planks of broken ships, do changeToBarnacles.Oh transformation strange!'Twas first a green tree, then a broken hull,Lately a Mushroom, now a flying Gull.
Vi. Oh my good Master, this morning walk has been spent to my great pleasure and wonder: but I pray, when shall I have your direction how to make Artificial flyes, like to those that theTroutloves best? and also how to use them?
Pisc. My honest Scholer, it is now past five of the Clock, we will fish til nine, and then go to Breakfast: Go you to yonderSycamore tree, and hide your bottle of drink under the hollow root of it; for about that time, and in that place, we wil make a brave Breakfast with a piece of powdered Bief, and a Radish or two that I have in my Fish-bag; we shall, I warrant you, make a good, honest, wholsome, hungry Breakfast, and I will give you direction for the making and using of your fly: and in the mean time, there is your Rod and line; and my advice is, that you fish as you see mee do, and lets try which can catch the first fish.
Viat. I thank you, Master, I will observe and practice your direction as far as I am able.
Pisc. Look you Scholer, you see I have hold of a good fish: I now see it is aTrout; I pray put that net under him, and touch not my line, for if you do, then wee break all. Well done, Scholer, I thank you. Now for an other. Trust me, I have another bite: Come Scholer, come lay down your Rod, and help me to land this as you did the other. So, now we shall be sure to have a good dish of fish for supper.
Viat. I am glad of that, but I have no fortune; sure Master yours is a better Rod, and better Tackling.
Pisc. Nay then, take mine and I will fish with yours. Look you, Scholer, I have another: come, do as you did before. And now I have a bite at another. Oh me he has broke all, there's half a line and a good hook lost.
Viat. Master, I can neither catch with the first nor second Angle; I have no fortune.
Pisc. Look you, Scholer, I have yet another: and now having caught three brace ofTrouts, I will tel you a short Tale as we walk towards our Breakfast. A Scholer (a Preacher I should say) that was to preach to procure the approbation of a Parish, that he might be their Lecturer, had got from a fellow Pupil of his the Copy of a Sermon that was first preached with a great commendation by him that composed and precht it; and though the borrower of it preach't it word for word, as it was at first, yet it was utterly dislik'd as it was preach'd by the second; which the Sermon Borrower complained of to the Lender of it, and was thus answered; I lent you indeed myFiddle, but not myFiddlestick; and you are to know, that every one cannot make musick with my words which are fitted for my own mouth. And so my Scholer, you are to know, that as the ill pronunciation or ill accenting of a word in a Sermon spoiles it, so the ill carriage of your Line, or not fishing even to a foot in a right place, makes you lose your labour: and you are to know, that though you have my Fiddle, that is, my very Rod and Tacklings with which you see I catch fish, yet you have not my Fiddle stick, that is, skill to know how to carry your hand and line; and this must be taught you (for you are to remember I told you Angling is an Art) either by practice, or a long observation, or both.
But now lets say Grace, and fall to Breakfast; what say you Scholer, to the providence of an old Angler? Does not this meat taste well? And was not this place well chosen to eat it? for thisSycamoretree will shade us from the Suns heat.
Viat. All excellent good, Master, and my stomack excellent too; I have been at many costly Dinners that have not afforded me half this content: and now good Master, to your promised direction for making and ordering my Artificiall flye.
Pisc. My honest Scholer, I will do it, for it is a debt due unto you, by my promise: and because you shall not think your self more engaged to me then indeed you really are, therefore I will tell you freely, I find Mr.Thomas Barker(a Gentleman that has spent much time and money in Angling) deal so judicially and freely in a little book of his of Angling, and especially of making and Angling with aflyefor aTrout, that I will give you his very directions without much variation, which shal follow.
Let your rod be light, and very gentle, I think the best are of two pieces; the line should not exceed, (especially for three or four links towards the hook) I say, not exceed three or four haires; but if you can attain to Angle with one haire; you will have more rises, and catch more fish. Now you must bee sure not to cumber yourselfe with too long a Line, as most do: and before you begin to angle, cast to have the wind on your back, and the Sun (if it shines) to be before you, and to fish down the streame, and carry the point or tip of the Rod downeward; by which meanes the shadow of yourselfe, and Rod too will be the least offensive to the Fish, for the sight of any shadow amazes the fish, and spoiles your sport, of which you must take a great care.
In the middle ofMarch('till which time a man should not in honestie catch aTrout) or in April, if the weather be dark, or a little windy, or cloudie, the best fishing is with thePalmer-worm, of which I last spoke to you; but of these there be divers kinds, or at least of divers colours, these and theMay-flyare the ground of allfly-Angling, which are to be thus made:
First you must arm your hook, with the line in the inside of it; then take your Scissers and cut so much of a browneMalardsfeather as in your own reason wil make the wings of it, you having with all regard to the bigness or littleness of your hook, then lay the outmost part of your feather next to your hook, then the point of your feather next the shank of your hook; and having so done, whip it three or four times about the hook with the same Silk, with which your hook was armed, and having made the Silk fast, take the hackel of aCockorCaponsneck, or aPloverstop, which is usually better; take off the one side of the feather, and then take the hackel, Silk or Crewel, Gold or Silver thred, make these fast at the bent of the hook (that is to say, below your arming), then you must take the hackel, the silver or gold thred, and work it up to the wings, shifting or stil removing your fingers as you turn the Silk about the hook: and still looking at every stop or turne that your gold, or what materials soever you make your Fly of, do lye right and neatly; and if you find they do so, then when you have made the head, make all fast, and then work your hackel up to the head, and make that fast; and then with a needle or pin divide the wing into two, and then with the arming Silk whip it about crosswayes betwixt the wings, and then with your thumb you must turn the point of the feather towards the bent of the hook, and then work three or four times about the shank of the hook and then view the proportion, and if all be neat, and to your liking, fasten.
I confess, no direction can be given to make a man of a dull capacity able to make a flye well; and yet I know, this, with a little practice, wil help an ingenuous Angler in a good degree; but to see a fly made by another, is the best teaching to make it, and then an ingenuous Angler may walk by the River and mark what fly falls on the water that day, and catch one of them, if he see theTroutsleap at a fly of that kind, and having alwaies hooks ready hung with him, and having a bag also, alwaies with him with Bears hair, or the hair of a brown or sad coloured Heifer, hackels of a Cock or Capon, several coloured Silk and Crewel to make the body of the fly, the feathers of a Drakes head, black or brown sheeps wool, or Hogs wool, or hair, thred of Gold, and of silver; silk of several colours (especially sad coloured to make the head:) and there be also other colour'd feathers both of birds and of peckled fowl. I say, having those with him in a bag, and trying to make a flie, though he miss at first, yet shal he at last hit it better, even to a perfection which none can well teach him; and if he hit to make his flie right, and have the luck to hit also where there is store oftrouts, and a right wind, he shall catch such store of them, as will encourage him to grow more and more in love with the Art offlie-making.
Viat. But my loving Master, if any wind will not serve, then I wish I were inLapland, to buy a good wind of one of the honest witches, that sell so many winds, and so cheap.
Pisc. Marry Scholer, but I would not be there, nor indeed from under this tree; for look how it begins to rain, and by the clouds (if I mistake not) we shall presently have a smoaking showre; and therefore fit close, thisSycamore treewill shelter us; and I will tell you, as they shall come into my mind, more observations of flie-fishing for aTrout.
But first, for the Winde; you are to take notice that of the windes the South winde is said to be best. One observes, That
When the winde is south,It blows your bait into a fishes mouth.
Next to that, thewestwinde is believed to be the best: and having told you that theEastwinde is the worst, I need not tell you which winde is best in the third degree: And yet (asSolomonobserves, thatHee that considers the winde shall never sow:) so hee that busies his head too much about them, (if the weather be not made extreme cold by an East winde) shall be a little superstitious: for as it is observed by some, That there is no good horse of a bad colour; so I have observed, that if it be a clowdy day, and not extreme cold, let the winde sit in what corner it will, and do its worst. And yet take this for a Rule, that I would willingly fish on the Lee-shore: and you are to take notice, that the Fish lies, or swimms neerer the bottom in Winter then in Summer, and also neerer the bottom in any cold day.
But I promised to tell you more of the Flie-fishing for aTrout, (which I may have time enough to do, for you see it rainsMay-utter). First for aMay-flie, you may make his body with greenish coloured crewel, or willow colour; darkning it in most places, with waxed silk, or rib'd with a black hare, or some of them rib'd with silver thred; and such wings for the colour as you see the flie to have at that season; nay at that very day on the water. Or you may make theOak-fliewith an Orange-tawny and black ground, and the brown of a Mallards feather for the wings; and you are to know, that these two are most excellentflies, that is, theMay-flieand theOak-flie: And let me again tell you, that you keep as far from the water as you can possibly, whether you fish with a flie or worm, and fish down the stream; and when you fish with a flie, if it be possible, let no part of your line touch the water, but your flie only; and be stil moving your fly upon the water, or casting it into the water; you your self, being also alwaies moving down the stream. Mr.Barkercommends severall sorts of the palmer flies, not only those rib'd with silver and gold, but others that have their bodies all made of black, or some with red, and a red hackel; you may also make thehawthorn-fliewhich is all black and not big, but very smal, the smaller the better; or theoak-fly, the body of which is Orange colour and black crewel, with a brown wing, or aflymade with a peacocks feather, is excellent in a bright day: you must be sure you want not in yourMagazinbag, the Peacocks feather, and grounds of such wool, and crewel as will make the Grasshopper: and note, that usually, the smallest flies are best; and note also, that, the light flie does usually make most sport in a dark day: and the darkest and least flie in a bright or cleare day; and lastly note, that you are to repaire upon any occasion to yourMagazinbag, and upon any occasion vary and make them according to your fancy.
And now I shall tell you, that the fishing with a naturall flie is excellent, and affords much pleasure; they may be found thus, theMay-flyusually in and about that month neer to the River side, especially against rain; theOak-flyon the Butt or body of anOakorAsh, from the beginning ofMayto the end ofAugustit is a brownish fly, and easie to be so found, and stands usually with his head downward, that is to say, towards the root of the tree, the small black fly, orhawthornfly is to be had on any Hawthorn bush, after the leaves be come forth; with these and a short Line (as I shewed to Angle for aChub) you may dap or dop, and also with aGrashopper, behind a tree, or in any deep hole, still making it to move on the top of the water, as if it were alive, and still keeping your self out of sight, you shall certainly have sport if there beTrouts; yea in a hot day, but especially in the evening of a hot day.
And now, Scholer, my direction forfly-fishingis ended with this showre, for it has done raining, and now look about you, and see how pleasantly that Meadow looks, nay and the earth smels as sweetly too. Come let me tell you what holy Mr.Herbertsaies of such dayes and Flowers as these, and then we will thank God that we enjoy them, and walk to the River and sit down quietly and try to catch the other brace ofTrouts.
Sweet day, so cool, so calm, so bright,The bridal of the earth and skie,Sweet dews shal weep thy fall to night,for thou must die.Sweet Rose, whose hew angry and braveBids the rash gazer wipe his eye,Thy root is ever in its grave,and thou must die.Sweet Spring, ful of sweet days & roses,A box where sweets compacted lie;My Musick shewes you have your closes,and all must die.Only a sweet and vertuous soul,Like seasoned timber never gives,But when the whole world turns to cole,then chiefly lives.
Viat. I thank you, good Master, for your good direction for fly-fishing, and for the sweet enjoyment of the pleasant day, which is so far spent without offence to God or man. And I thank you for the sweet close of your discourse with Mr.HerbertsVerses, which I have heard, loved Angling; and I do the rather believe it, because he had a spirit sutable to Anglers, and to those Primitive Christians that you love, and have so much commended.
Pisc. Well, my loving Scholer, and I am pleased to know that you are so well pleased with my direction and discourse; and I hope you will be pleased too, if you find aTroutat one of our Angles, which we left in the water to fish for it self; you shall chuse which shall be yours, and it is an even lay, one catches; And let me tell you, this kind of fishing, and laying Night-hooks, are like putting money to use, for they both work for the Owners, when they do nothing but sleep, or eat, or rejoice, as you know we have done this last hour, and fate as quietly and as free from cares under thisSycamore, asVirgils Tityrusand hisMelibaeusdid under their broadBeechtree: No life, my honest Scholer, no life so happy and so pleasant as the Anglers, unless it be the Beggers life in Summer; for then only they take no care, but are as happy as we Anglers.
Viat. Indeed Master, and so they be, as is witnessed by the beggers Song, made long since byFrank Davison, a good Poet, who was not a Begger, though he were a good Poet.
Pisc. Can you sing it, Scholer?
Viat. Sit down a little, good Master, and I wil try.
Bright shines the Sun, play beggers, play,here's scraps enough to serve to day:What noise of viols is so sweetAs when our merry clappers ring?What mirth doth want when beggers meet?A beggers life is for a King:Eat, drink and play, sleep when we list,Go where we will so stocks be mist.Bright shines the Sun, play beggers, &c.The world is ours and ours alone,For we alone have world at will;We purchase not, all is our own,Both fields and streets we beggers fill:Play beggers play, play beggers play,here's scraps enough to serve to day.A hundred herds of black and whiteUpon our Gowns securely feed,And yet if any dare us bite,He dies therefore as sure as Creed:Thus beggers Lord it as they please,And only beggers live at ease:Bright shines the Sun, play beggers play,here's scraps enough to serve to day.
Pisc. I thank you good Scholer, this Song was well humor'd by the maker, and well remembred and sung by you; and I pray forget not the Ketch which you promised to make against night, for our Country man honestCoridonwill expect your Ketch and my Song, which I must be forc'd to patch up, for it is so long since I learnt it, that I have forgot a part of it. But come, lets stretch our legs a little in a gentle walk to the River, and try what interest our Angles wil pay us for lending them so long to be used by theTrouts.
Viat. Oh me, look you Master, a fish, a fish.
Pisc. I marry Sir. that was a good fish indeed; if I had had the luck to have taken up that Rod, 'tis twenty to one he should not have broke my line by running to the Rods end, as you suffered him; I would have held him, unless he had been fellow to the greatTroutthat is neer an ell long, which had his picture drawne, and now to be seen at mine HosteRickabiesat theGeorgeinWare; and it may be, by giving thatTroutthe Rod, that is, by casting it to him into the water, I might have caught him at the long run, for so I use alwaies to do when I meet with an over-grown fish, and you will learn to do so hereafter; for I tell you, Scholer, fishing is an Art, or at least, it is an Art to catch fish.
Viat. But, Master, will thisTroutdie, for it is like he has the hook in his belly?
Pisc. I wil tel you, Scholer, that unless the hook be fast in his very Gorge, he wil live, and a little time with the help of the water, wil rust the hook, & it wil in time wear away as the gravel does in the horse hoof, which only leaves a false quarter.
And now Scholer, lets go to my Rod. Look you Scholer, I have a fish too, but it proves a logger-headedChub; and this is not much a miss, for this wil pleasure some poor body, as we go to our lodging to meet our brotherPeterand honestCoridon—Come, now bait your hook again, and lay it into the water, for it rains again, and we wil ev'n retire to theSycamoretree, and there I wil give you more directions concerning fishing; for I would fain make you an Artist.
Viat. Yes, good Master, I pray let it be so.