perch (123K)
Viat. Nay, good Master, one fish more, for you see it rains still, and you know our Angles are like money put to usury; they may thrive though we sit still and do nothing, but talk & enjoy one another. Come, come the other fish, good Master.
Pisc. But Scholer, have you nothing to mix with this Discourse, which now grows both tedious and tiresome? Shall I have nothing from you that seems to have both a good memorie, and a cheerful Spirit?
Viat. Yes, Master, I will speak you a Coppie of Verses that were made by DoctorDonne, and made to shew the world that hee could make soft and smooth Verses, when he thought them fit and worth his labour; and I love them the better, because they allude to Rivers, and fish, and fishing. They bee these:
Come live with me, and be my love,And we will some new pleasures prove,Of golden sands, and Christal brooks,With silken lines and silver hooks.There will the River wispering run,Warm'd by thy eyes more then the Sun;And there th'inamel'd fish wil stay,Begging themselves they may betray.When thou wilt swim in that live bath,Each fish, which every channel hathMost amorously to thee will swim,Gladder to catch thee, then thou him.If thou, to be so seen, beest loathBy Sun or Moon, thou darknest both;And, if mine eyes have leave to see,I need not their light, having thee.Let others freeze with Angling Reeds,And cut their legs with shels & weeds,Or treacherously poor fish beset,With strangling snares, or windowy net.Let coarse bold hands, from slimy nest,The bedded fish in banks outwrest,Let curious Traitors sleave silk flies,To 'witch poor wandring fishes eyes.For thee, thou needst no such deceit,For thou thy self art thine own bait;Tha fish that is not catch'd thereby,Is wiser far, alas, then I.
Pisc. Well remembred, honest Scholer, I thank you for these choice Verses, which I have heard formerly, but had quite forgot, till they were recovered by your happie memorie. Well, being I have now rested my self a little, I will make you some requital, by telling you some observations of theEele, for it rains still, and (as you say) our Angles are as money put to use, that thrive when we play.
It is agreed by most men, that theEeleis both a good and a most daintie fish; but most men differ about his breeding; some say, they breed by generation as other fish do; and others, that they breed (as some worms do) out of the putrifaction of the earth, and divers other waies; those that denie them to breed by generation, as other fish do, ask, if any man ever saw anEelto have Spawn or Melt? And they are answered, That they may be as certain of their breeding, as if they had seen Spawn; for they say, that they are certain thatEeleshave all parts fit for generation, like other fish, but so smal as not to be easily discerned, by reason of their fatness; but that discerned they may be; and that the Hee and the SheEelemay be distinguished by their fins.
And others say, thatEelesgrowing old, breed otherEelesout of the corruption of their own age, which SirFrancis Baconsayes, exceeds not ten years. And others say, thatEelesare bred of a particular dew falling in the Months ofMayorJuneon the banks of some particular Ponds or Rivers (apted by nature for that end) which in a few dayes is by the Suns heat turned intoEeles. I have seen in the beginning ofJuly, in a River not far fromCanterbury, some parts of it covered over with youngEelesabout the thickness of a straw; and theseEelesdid lye on the top of that water, as thick as motes are said to be in the Sun; and I have heard the like of other Rivers, as namely, inSevern, and in apondorMereinStafford-shire, where about a set time in Summer, such smallEelesabound so much, that many of the poorer sort of people, that inhabit near to it, take suchEelesout of this Mere, with sieves or sheets, and make a kind ofEele-cakeof them, and eat it like as bread. AndGesnerquotes venerableBedeto say, that inEnglandthere is an Iland calledEly, by reason of the innumerable number ofEelesthat breed in it. But thatEelesmay be bred as some worms and some kind ofBeesandWaspsare, either of dew, or out of the corruption of the earth, seems to be made probable by theBarnaclesand youngGoslingsbred by the Suns heat and the rotten planks of an old Ship, and hatched of trees, both which are related for truths byDubartas, and our learnedCambden, and laboriousGerrardin hisHerball.
It is said byRandelitius, that thoseEelesthat are bred in Rivers, that relate to, or be neer to the Sea, never return to the fresh waters (as theSalmondoes alwaies desire to do) when they have once tasted the salt water; and I do the more easily believe this, because I am certain that powdered Bief is a most excellent bait to catch anEele: and S'r.Francis Baconwill allow theEeleslife to be but ten years; yet he in his History of Life and Death, mentions aLamprey, belonging to theRomanEmperor, to be made tame, and so kept for almost three score yeers; and that such useful and pleasant observations were made of thisLamprey, thatCrassusthe Oratour (who kept her) lamented her death.
It is granted by all, or most men, thatEeles, for about six months (that is to say, the six cold months of the yeer) stir not up and down, neither in the Rivers nor the Pools in which they are, but get into the soft earth or mud, and there many of them together bed themselves, and live without feeding upon any thing (as I have told you someSwallowshave been observed to do in hollow trees for those six cold months); and this theEeleandSwallowdo, as not being able to endure winter weather; forGesnerquotesAlbertusto say, that in the yeer 1125 (that years winter being more cold then usual)Eelesdid by natures instinct get out of the water into a stack of hay in a Meadow upon dry ground, and there bedded themselves, but yet at last died there. I shall say no more of theEele, but that, as it is observed, he is impatient of cold, so it has been observed, that in warm weather anEelehas been known to live five days out of the water. And lastly, let me tell you, that some curious searchers into the natures of fish, observe that there be several sorts or kinds ofEeles, as theSilver-Eele, and green or greenishEel(with which the River of Thames abounds, and are calledGregs); and a blackishEele, whose head is more flat and bigger then ordinaryEeles; and also anEelewhose fins are redish, and but seldome taken in this Nation (and yet taken sometimes): These several kinds ofEeles, are (say some) diversly bred; as namely, out of the corruption of the earth, and by dew, and other wayes (as I have said to you:) and yet it is affirmed by some, that for a certain, theSilver-Eelebreeds by generation, but not by Spawning as other fish do, but that her Brood come alive from her no bigger nor longer then a pin, and I have had too many testimonies of this to doubt the truth of it.
And thisEeleof which I have said so much to you, may be caught with divers kinds of baits; as namely, with powdered Bief, with aLoborGarden-worm, with aMinnow, or gut of aHen, Chicken, or with almost any thing, for he is a greedy fish: but theEeleseldome stirs in the day, but then hides himselfe, and therefore he is usually caught by night, with one of these baits of which I have spoken, and then caught by laying hooks, which you are to fasten to the bank, or twigs of a tree; or by throwing a string cross the stream, with many hooks at it, and baited with the foresaid baits, and a clod or plummet, or stone, thrown into the River with this line, that so you may in the morning find it neer to some fixt place, and then take it up with a drag-hook or otherwise: but these things are indeed too common to be spoken of; and an hours fishing with anyAnglerwill teach you better, both for these, and many other common things in the practical part ofAngling, then a weeks discourse. I shall therefore conclude this direction for taking theEele, by telling you, that in a warm day in Summer, I have taken many a goodEelebysnigling, and have been much pleased with that sport.
And because you that are but a young Angler, know not whatsniglingis, I wil now teach it to you: you remember I told you thatEelesdo not usually stir in the day time, for then they hide themselvs under some covert, or under boards, or planks about Floud-gates, or Weirs, or Mils, or in holes in the River banks; and you observing your time in a warm day, when the water is lowest, may take a hook tied to a strong line, or to a string about a yard long, and then into one of these holes, or between any boards about a Mill, or under any great stone or plank, or any place where you think anEelemay hide or shelter her selfe, there with the help of a short stick put in your bait, but leisurely, and as far as you may conveniently; and it is scarce to be doubted, but that if there be an Eel within the sight of it, theEelewill bite instantly, and as certainly gorge it; and you need not doubt to have him, if you pull him not out of the hole too quickly, but pull him out by degrees, for he lying folded double in his hole, will, with the help of his taile, break all, unless you give him time to be wearied with pulling, and so get him out by degrees; not pulling too hard. And thus much for this present time concerning theEele: I wil next tel you a little of theBarbell, and hope with a little discourse of him, to have an end of this showr, and fal to fishing, for the weather clears up a little.
Pisc. TheBarbell, is so called (sayesGesner) from or by reason of his beard, or wattles at his mouth, his mouth being under his nose or chaps, and he is one of the leather mouthed fish that has his teeth in his throat, he loves to live in very swift streams, and where it is gravelly, and in the gravel will root or dig with his nose like a Hog, and there nest himself, taking so fast hold of any weeds or moss that grows on stones, or on piles aboutWeirs, orFloud-gates, orBridges, that the water is not able, be it never so swift, to force him from the place which he seems to contend for: this is his constant custome in Summer, when both he, and most living creatures joy and sport themselves in the Sun; but at the approach of Winter, then he forsakes the swift streams and shallow waters, and by degrees retires to those parts of the River that are quiet and deeper; in which places, (and I think about that time) he Spawns; and as I have formerly told you, with the help of the Melter, hides his Spawn or eggs in holes, which they both dig in the gravel, and then they mutually labour to cover it with the same sand to prevent it from being devoured by other fish.
barbell (31K)
There be such store of this fish in the RiverDanubie, thatRandelitiussayes, they may in some places of it, and in some months of the yeer, be taken by those that dwel neer to the River, with their hands, eight or ten load at a time; he sayes, they begin to be good inMay, and that they cease to be so inAugust; but it is found to be otherwise in this Nation: but thus far we agree with him, that the Spawne of aBarbellis, if be not poison, as he sayes, yet that it is dangerous meat, and especially in the month ofMay; andGesnerdeclares, it had an ill effect upon him, to the indangering of his life.
This fish is of a fine cast and handsome shape, and may be rather said not to be ill, then to bee good meat; theChuband he have (I think) both lost a part of their credit by ill Cookery, they being reputed the worst or coarsest of fresh water fish: but theBarbellaffords anAnglerchoice sport, being a lustie and a cunning fish; so lustie and cunning as to endanger the breaking of the Anglers line, by running his head forcibly towards any covert or hole, or bank, and then striking at the line, to break it off with his tail (as is observed byPlutark, in his bookDe industria animalium) and also so cunning to nibble and suck off your worme close to the hook, and yet avoid the letting the hook come into his mouth.
TheBarbellis also curious for his baits, that is to say, that they be clean and sweet; that is to say, to have your worms well scowred, and not kept in sowre or mustie moss; for at a well scowred Lob-worm, he will bite as boldly as at any bait, especially, if the night or two before you fish for him, you shall bait the places where you intend to fish for him with big worms cut into pieces; and Gentles (not being too much scowred, but green) are a choice bait for him, and so is cheese, which is not to be too hard, but kept a day or two in a wet linnen cloth to make it tough; with this you may also bait the water a day or two before you fish for theBarbel, and be much the likelier to catch store; and if the cheese were laid in clarified honey a short time before (as namely, an hour or two) you were still the likelier to catch fish; some have directed to cut the cheese into thin pieces, and toste it, and then tye it on the hook with fine Silk: and some advise to fish for theBarbellwith Sheeps tallow and soft cheese beaten or work'd into a Paste, and that it is choicely good inAugust; and I believe it: but doubtless the Lob-worm well scoured, and the Gentle not too much scowred, and cheese ordered as I have directed, are baits enough, and I think will serve in any Month; though I shall commend any Angler that tryes conclusions, and is industrious to improve the Art. And now, my honest Scholer, the long showre, and my tedious discourse are both ended together; and I shall give you but this Observation, That when you fish for aBarbell, your Rod and Line be both long, and of good strength, for you will find him a heavy and a doged fish to be dealt withal, yet he seldom or never breaks his hold if he be once strucken.
And now lets go and see what interest theTroutswill pay us for letting our Angle-rods lye so long and so quietly in the water. Come, Scholer; which will you take up?
Viat. Which you think fit, Master.
Pisc. Why, you shall take up that; for I am certain by viewing the Line, it has a fish at it. Look you, Scholer, well done. Come now, take up the other too; well, now you may tell my brotherPeterat night, that you have caught a lease ofTroutsthis day. And now lets move toward our lodging, and drink a draught of Red-Cows milk, as we go, and give prettyMaudlinand her mother a brace ofTroutsfor their supper.
Viat. Master, I like your motion very well, and I think it is now about milking time, and yonder they be at it.
Pisc. God speed you good woman, I thank you both for our Songs last night; I and my companion had such fortune a fishing this day, that we resolve to give you andMaudlina brace ofTroutsfor supper, and we will now taste a draught of your Red Cows milk.
Milkw. Marry, and that you shal with all my heart, and I will be still your debtor: when you come next this way, if you will but speak the word, I will make you a goodSillabuband then you may sit down in aHay-cockand eat it, andMaudlinshal sit by and sing you the good old Song of theHunting in Chevy Chase, or some other good Ballad, for she hath good store of them:Maudlinhath a notable memory.
Viat. We thank you, and intend once in a Month to call upon you again, and give you a little warning, and so good night; good nightMaudlin. And now, good Master, lets lose no time, but tell me somewhat more of fishing; and if you please, first something of fishing for aGudgion.
Pisc. I will, honest Scholer. TheGudgionis an excellent fish to eat, and good also to enter a youngAngler; he is easie to bee taken with a smal red worm at the ground and is one of those leather mouthed fish that has his teeth in his throat and will hardly be lost off from the hook if he be once strucken: they be usually scattered up and down every River in the shallows, in the heat of Summer; but inAutome, when the weeds begin to grow sowre or rot, and the weather colder, then they gather together, and get into the deeper parts of the water, and are to be fish'd for there, with your hook alwaies touching the ground, if you fish for him with a flote or with a cork; but many will fish for theGudgionby hand, with a running line upon the ground without a cork as aTroutis fished for, and it is an excellent way.
There is also another fish called aPope, and by some aRusse, a fish that is not known to be in some Rivers; it is much like thePearchfor his shape, but will not grow to be bigger then aGudgion; he is an excellent fish, no fish that swims is of a pleasanter taste; and he is also excellent to enter a youngAngler, for he is a greedy biter, and they will usually lye abundance of them, together in one reserved place where the water is deep, and runs quietly, and an easie Angler, if he has found where they lye, may catch fortie or fiftie, or sometimes twice so many at a standing.
There is also aBleak, a fish that is ever in motion, and therefore called by some the River Swallow; for just as you shall observe theSwallowto be most evenings in Summer ever in motion, making short and quick turns when he flies to catch flies in the aire, by which he lives, so does theBleakat the top of the water; and this fish is best caught with a fine smal Artificial Fly, which is to be of a brown colour, and very smal, and the hook answerable: There is no better sport then whipping forBleaksin a boat in a Summers evening, with a hazle top about five or six foot long, and a line twice the length of the Rod. I have heard SirHenry Wottonsay, that there be many that inItalywill catchSwallowsso, or especiallyMartins(the Bird-Angler standing on the top of a Steeple to do it, and with a line twice so long, as I have spoke of) and let me tell you, Scholer, that bothMartinsandBlekesbe most excellent meat.
I might now tell you how to catchRochandDace, and some other fish of little note, that I have not yet spoke of; but you see we are almost at our lodging, and indeed if we were not, I would omit to give you any directions concerning them, or how to fish for them, not but that they be both good fish (being in season) and especially to some palates, and they also make the Angler good sport (and you know the Hunter sayes, there is more sport in hunting the Hare, then in eating of her) but I will forbear to give you any direction concerning them, because you may go a few dayes and take the pleasure of the fresh aire, and bear any common Angler company that fishes for them, and by that means learn more then any direction I can give you in words, can make you capable of; and I will therefore end my discourse, for yonder comes our brotherPeterand honestCoridon, but I will promise you that as you and I fish, and walk to morrow towardsLondon, if I have now forgotten any thing that I can then remember, I will not keep it from you.
Well met, Gentlemen, this is luckie that we meet so just together at this very door. Come Hostis, where are you? is Supper ready? come, first give us drink, and be as quick as you can, for I believe wee are all very hungry. Wel, brotherPeterandCoridonto you both; come drink, and tell me what luck of fish: we two have caught but tenTrouts, of which my Scholer caught three; look here's eight, and a brace we gave away: we have had a most pleasant day for fishing, and talking, and now returned home both weary and hungry, and now meat and rest will be pleasant.
Pet. AndCoridonand I have not had an unpleasant day, and yet I have caught but fiveTrouts; for indeed we went to a good honest Alehouse, and there we plaid at shovel-board half the day; all the time that it rained we were there, and as merry as they that fish'd, and I am glad we are now with a dry house over our heads, for heark how it rains and blows. Come Hostis, give us more Ale, and our Supper with what haste you may, and when we have sup'd, lets have your Song,Piscator, and the Ketch that your Scholer promised us, or elseCoridonwil be doged.
Pisc. Nay, I will not be worse then my word, you shall not want my Song, and I hope I shall be perfect in it.
Viat. And I hope the like for my Ketch, which I have ready too, and therefore lets go merrily to Supper, and then have a gentle touch at singing and drinking; but the last with moderation.
Cor. Come, now for your Song, for we have fed heartily. Come Hostis, give us a little more drink, and lay a few more sticks on the fire, and now sing when you will.
Pisc. Well then, here's to youCoridon; and now for my Song.
Oh the brave Fisher's life,It is the best of any,'Tis full of pleasure, void of strife,And 'tis belov'd of many:Other joyesare but toyes,only thislawful is,for our skilbreeds no ill,but content and pleasure.In a morning up we riseEreAurora'speeping,Drink a cup to wash our eyes,Leave the sluggard sleeping;Then we gotoo and fro,with our knacksat our backs,to such streamsas theThamesif we have the leisure.When we please to walk abroadFor our recreation,In the fields is our abode,Full of delectation:Where in a Brookwith a hook,or a Lakefish we take,there we sitfor a bit,till we fish intangle.We have Gentles in a horn,We have Paste and worms too,We can watch both night and morn.Suffer rain and storms too:None do hereuse to swear,oathes do frayfish away.we sit still,watch our quill,Fishers must not rangle.If the Suns excessive heatMakes our bodies swelterTo anOsierhedge we getFor a friendly shelter,where in a dikePearchorPike,RochorDacewe do chaseBleakorGudgionwithout grudging,we are still contented.Or we sometimes pass an hour,Under a green willow,That defends us from a showr,Making earth our pillow,There we maythink and praybefore deathstops our breath;other joyesare but toyesand to be lamented.
Viat. Well sung, Master; this dayes fortune and pleasure, and this nights company and Song, do all make me more and more in love withAngling. Gentlemen, my Master left me alone for an hour this day, and I verily believe he retir'd himself from talking with me, that he might be so perfect in this Song; was it not Master?
Pisc. Yes indeed, for it is many yeers since I learn'd it, and having forgotten a part of it, I was forced to patch it up by the help of my own invention, who am not excellent at Poetry, as my part of the Song may testifie: But of that I will say no more, least you should think I mean by discommending it, to beg your commendations of it. And therefore without replications, lets hear your Ketch, Scholer, which I hope will be a good one, for you are both Musical, and have a good fancie to boot.
Viat. Marry, and that you shall, and as freely as I would have my honest Master tel me some more secrets of fish and fishing as we walk and fish towardsLondonto morrow. But Master, first let me tell you, that that very hour which you were absent from me, I sate down under a Willow tree by the water side, and considered what you had told me of the owner of that pleasant Meadow in which you then left me, that he had a plentiful estate, and not a heart to think so; that he had at this time many Law Suites depending, and that they both damp'd his mirth and took up so much of his time and thoughts, that he himselfe had not leisure to take the sweet content that I, who pretended no title, took in his fields; for I could there sit quietly, and looking on the water, see fishes leaping at Flies of several shapes and colours; looking on the Hils, could behold them spotted with Woods and Groves; looking down the Meadows, could see here a Boy gatheringLilliesandLady-smocks, and there a Girle croppingCulverkeysandCowslips, all to make Garlands sutable to this pleasant Month ofMay; these and many other Field-flowers so perfum'd the air, that I thought this Meadow like the field inSicily(of whichDiodorusspeaks) where the perfumes arising from the place, makes all dogs that hunt in it, to fall off, and to lose their hottest sent. I say, as I thus sate joying in mine own happy condition, and pittying that rich mans that ought this, and many other pleasant Groves and Meadows about me, I did thankfully remember what my Saviour said, thatthe meek possess the earth; for indeed they are free from those high, those restless thoughts and contentions which corrode the sweets of life. For they, and they only, can say as the Poet has happily exprest it.
Hail blest estate of poverty!Happy enjoyment of such minds,As rich in low contentedness.Can, like the reeds in roughest winds,By yeelding make that blow but smalAt which proud Oaks and Cedars fal.
Gentlemen, these were a part of the thoughts that then possest me, and I there made a conversion of a piece of an old Ketch, and added more to it, fitting them to be sung by us Anglers: Come, Master, you can sing well, you must sing a part of it as it is in this paper.
The ANGLERS Song.
For two Voyces, Treble and Basso. CANTUS. Mr. Henry Lawes.
An's life is but vain; for 'tis subject to pain, and sorrow,and short as a buble; 'tis a hodge podge of business, and mony, andcare; and care, and mony, and trouble. But we'l take no care when theweather proves fair, nor will we vex now though it rain; we'l banishall sorrow, and sing till tomorrow, and Angle, and Angle again.
The ANGLERS song.
BASSUS. For two Voyces. By Mr. Henry Lawes.
An's life is but vain; for 'tis subiect to pain and sorrow, andshort as a buble, 'tis a hodge podge of business, and mony, and care;and care, and mony, and trouble. But we'l take no care when theweather proves fair, nor will we vex now though it rain; we'l banishall sorrow, and sing till to morrow, and Angle, and Angle again.
Pet. I marry Sir, this is Musick indeed, this has cheered my heart, and made me to remember six Verses in praise of Musick, which I will speak to you instantly.
Musick, miraculous Rhetorick, that speak'st senseWithout a tongue, excelling eloquence;With what ease might thy errors be excus'dWert thou as truly lov'd as th'art abus'd.But though dull souls neglect, and some reprove thee,I cannot hate thee, 'cause the Angels love thee.
Piscat. Well remembred, brotherPeter, these Verses came seasonably. Come, we will all joine together, mine Hoste and all, and sing my Scholers Ketch over again, and then each man drink the tother cup and to bed, and thank God we have a dry house over our heads.
Pisc. Well now, good night to every body.
Pet. And so say I.
Viat. And so say I.
Cor. Good night to you all, and I thank you.
Pisc. Good morrow brotherPeter, and the like to you, honestCoridon; come, my Hostis sayes there's seven shillings to pay, lets each man drink a pot for his mornings draught, and lay downe his two shillings, that so my Hostis may not have occasion to repent her self of being so diligent, and using us so kindly.
Pet. The motion is liked by every body; And so Hostis, here's your mony, we Anglers are all beholding to you, it wil not be long ere Ile see you again. And now brotherPiscator, I wish you and my brother your Scholer a fair day, and good fortune. ComeCoridon, this is our way.
Viat. Good Master, as we go now towardsLondon, be still so courteous as to give me more instructions, for I have several boxes in my memory in which I will keep them all very safe, there shall not one of them be lost.
Pisc. Well Scholer, that I will, and I will hide nothing from you that I can remember, and may help you forward towards a perfection in this Art; and because we have so much time, and I have said so little ofRochandDace, I will give you some directions concerning some several kinds of baits with which they be usually taken; they will bite almost at any flies, but especially at Ant-flies; concerning which, take this direction, for it is very good.
Take the blackishAnt-flyout of the Mole-hill, or Ant-hil, in which place you shall find them in the Months ofJune; or if that be too early in the yeer, then doubtless you may find them inJuly, Augustand most ofSeptember; gather them alive with both their wings, and then put them into a glass, that will hold a quart or a pottle; but first, put into the glass, a handful or more of the moist earth out of which you gather them, and as much of the roots of the grass of the said Hillock; and then put in the flies gently, that they lose their wings, and as many as are put into the glass without bruising, will live there a month or more, and be alwaies in a readiness for you to fish with; but if you would have them keep longer, then get any great earthen pot or barrel of three or four gallons (which is better) then wash your barrel with water and honey; and having put into it a quantitie of earth and grass roots, then put in your flies and cover it, and they will live a quarter of a year; these in any stream and clear water are a deadly bait forRochorDace, or for aChub, and your rule is to fish not less then a handful from the bottom.
I shall next tell you a winter bait for aRoch, aDace, orChub, and it is choicely good. AboutAll-hollantide(and so till Frost comes) when you see men ploughing up heath-ground, or sandy ground, or greenswards, then follow the plough, and you shall find a white worm, as big as two Magots, and it hath a red head, (you may observe in what ground most are, for there the Crows will be very watchful, and follow the Plough very close) it is all soft, and full of whitish guts; a worm that is in Norfolk, and some other Countries called aGrub, and is bred of the spawn or eggs of a Beetle, which she leaves in holes that she digs in the ground under Cow or Horse-dung, and there rests all Winter, and inMarchorAprilcomes to be first a red, and then a black Beetle: gather a thousand or two of these, and put them with a peck or two of their own earth into some tub or firkin, and cover and keep them so warm, that the frost or cold air, or winds kill them not, and you may keep them all winter and kill fish with them at any time, and if you put some of them into a little earth and honey a day before you use them, you will find them an excellent baite forBreameorCarp.
And after this manner you may also keepGentlesall winter, which is a good bait then, and much the better for being lively and tuffe, or you may breed and keep Gentle thus: Take a piece of beasts liver and with a cross stick, hang it in some corner over a pot or barrel half full of dry clay, and as the Gentles grow big, they wil fall into the barrel and scowre themselves, and be alwayes ready for use whensoever you incline to fish; and these Gentles may be thus made til afterMichaelmas: But if you desire to keep Gentles to fish with all the yeer, then get a deadCator aKite, and let it be fly-blowne, and when the Gentles begin to be alive and to stir, then bury it and them in moist earth, but as free from frost as you can, and these you may dig up at any time when you intend to use them; these wil last tillMarch, and about that time turn to be flies.
But if you be nice to fowl your fingers (which good Anglers seldome are) then take this bait: Get a handful of well made Mault, and put it into a dish of water, and then wash and rub it betwixt your hands til you make it cleane, and as free from husks as you can; then put that water from it, and put a small quantitie of fresh water to it, and set it in something that is fit for that purpose, over the fire, where it is not to boil apace, but leisurely, and very softly, until it become somewhat soft, which you may try by feeling it betwixt your finger and thumb; and when it is soft, then put your water from it, and then take a sharp knife, and turning the sprout end of the corn upward, with the point of your knife take the back part of the husk off from it, and yet leaving a kind of husk on the corn, or else it is marr'd; and then cut off that sprouted end (I mean a little of it) that the white may appear, and so pull off the husk on the cloven side (as I directed you) and then cutting off a very little of the other end, that so your hook may enter, and if your hook be small and good, you will find this to be a very choice bait either for Winter or Summer, you sometimes casting a little of it into the place where your flote swims.
And to take theRochandDace, a good bait is the young brood of Wasps or Bees, baked or hardened in their husks in an Oven, after the bread is taken out of it, or on a fire-shovel; and so also is the thick blood ofSheep, being half dryed on a trencher that you may cut it into such pieces as may best fit the size of your hook, and a little salt keeps it from growing black, and makes it not the worse but better; this is taken to be a choice bait, if rightly ordered.
There be several Oiles of a strong smel that I have been told of, and to be excellent to tempt fish to bite, of which I could say much, but I remember I once carried a small bottle from SirGeorge Hastingsto SirHenry Wotton(they were both chimical men) as a great present; but upon enquiry, I found it did not answer the expectation of SirHenry, which with the help of other circumstances, makes me have little belief in such things as many men talk of; not but that I think fishes both smell and hear (as I have exprest in my former discourse) but there is a mysterious knack, which (though it be much easier then the Philosophers-Stone, yet) is not atainable by common capacities, or else lies locked up in the braine or brest of some chimical men, that, like theRosi-crutions, yet will not reveal it. But I stepped by chance into this discourse of Oiles, and fishes smelling; and though there might be more said, both of it, and of baits forRochandDace, and other flote fish, yet I will forbear it at this time, and tell you in the next place how you are to prepare your tackling: concerning which I will for sport sake give you an old Rhime out of an old Fish-book, which will be a part of what you are to provide.
My rod, and my line, my flote and my lead,My hook, & my plummet, my whetstone & knife,My Basket, my baits, both living and dead,My net, and my meat for that is the chief;Then I must have thred & hairs great & smal,With mine Angling purse, and so you have all.
But you must have all these tackling, and twice so many more, with which, if you mean to be a fisher, you must store your selfe: and to that purpose I will go with you either toCharles Brandons(neer to theSwaninGolding-lane); or to Mr.Fletchersin the Court which did once belong to Dr.Nowelthe Dean ofPauls, that I told you was a good man, and a good Fisher; it is hard by the west end of SaintPaulsChurch; they be both honest men, and will fit an Angler with what tackling hee wants.
Viat. Then, good Master, let it be atCharles Brandons, for he is neerest to my dwelling, and I pray lets meet there the ninth ofMaynext about two of the Clock, and I'l want nothing that a Fisher should be furnished with.
Pisc. Well, and Ile not fail you, God willing, at the time and place appointed.
Viat. I thank you, good Master, and I will not fail you: and good Master, tell me what baits more you remember, for it wil not now be long ere we shal be atTotenham High-Cross, and when we come thither, I wil make you some requital of your pains, by repeating as choice a copy of Verses, as any we have heard since we met together; and that is a proud word; for wee have heard very good ones.
Pisc. Wel, Scholer, and I shal be right glad to hear them; and I wil tel you whatsoever comes in my mind, that I think may be worth your hearing: you may make another choice bait thus, Take a handful or two of the best and biggestWheatyou can get, boil it in a little milk like as Frumitie is boiled, boil it so till it be soft, and then fry it very leisurely with honey, and a little beatenSaffrondissolved in milk, and you wil find this a choice bait, and good I think for any fish, especially forRoch, Dace, ChuborGreyling; I know not but that it may be as good for a RiverCarp, and especially if the ground be a little baited with it.
You are also to know, that there be divers kinds ofCadis, orCase-wormsthat are to bee found in this Nation in several distinct Counties, & in several little Brooks that relate to bigger Rivers, as namely oneCadiscalled aPiper, whose husk or case is a piece of reed about an inch long or longer, and as big about as the compass of a two pence; these worms being kept three or four days in a woollen bag with sand at the bottom of it, and the bag wet once a day will in three or four dayes turne to be yellow; and these be a choice bait for theChuborChavender, or indeed for any great fish, for it is a large bait.
There is also a lesserCadis-worm, called aCock-spur, being in fashion like the spur of aCock, sharp at one end, and the case or house in which this dwels is made of smalhusksandgravel, andslime, most curiously made of these, even so as to be wondred at, but not made by man (no more then the nest of a bird is): this is a choice bait for any flote fish, it is much less then thePiper Cadis, and to be so ordered; and these may be so preserved ten, fifteen, or twentie dayes.
There is also anotherCadiscalled by some aStraw-worm, and by some aRusse-coate, whose house or case is made of little pieces of bents and Rushes, and straws, and water weeds, and I know not what which are so knit together with condens'd slime, that they stick up about her husk or case, not unlike thebristlesof aHedg-hog; these threeCadisare commonly taken in the beginning of Summer, and are good indeed to take any kind of fish with flote or otherwise, I might tell you of many more, which, as these doe early, so those have their time of turning to be flies later in Summer; but I might lose my selfe, and tire you by such a discourse, I shall therefore but remember you, that to know these, and their several kinds, and to what flies every particularCadisturns, and then how to use them, first as they beeCadis, and then as they be flies, is an Art, and an Art that every one that professes Angling is not capable of.
But let mee tell you, I have been much pleased to walk quietly by a Brook with a little stick in my hand, with which I might easily take these, and consider the curiosity of their composure; and if you shall ever like to do so, then note, that your stick must be cleft, or have a nick at one end of it, by which meanes you may with ease take many of them out of the water, before you have any occasion to use them. These, my honest Scholer, are some observations told to you as they now come suddenly into my memory, of which you may make some use: but for the practical part, it is that that makes an Angler; it is diligence, and observation, and practice that must do it.
Pisc. Well, Scholar, I have held you too long about theseCadis, and my spirits are almost spent, and so I doubt is your patience; but being we are now within sight ofTotenham, where I first met you, and where wee are to part, I will give you a little direction how to colour the hair of which you make your lines, for that is very needful to be known of anAngler; and also how to paint your rod, especially your top, for a right grown top is a choice Commoditie, and should be preserved from the water soking into it, which makes it in wet weather to be heavy, and fish ill favouredly, and also to rot quickly.
Take a pint of strong Ale, half a pound of soot, and a like quantity of the juice of Walnut-tree leaves, and an equal quantitie of Allome, put these together into a pot, or pan, or pipkin, and boil them half an hour, and having so done, let it cool, and being cold, put your hair into it, and there let it lye; it wil turn your hair to be a kind of water, or glass colour, or greenish, and the longer you let it lye, the deeper coloured it will bee; you might be taught to make many other colours, but it is to little purpose; for doubtlesse the water or glass coloured haire is the most choice and most useful for anAngler.
But if you desire to colour haire green, then doe it thus: Take a quart of smal Ale, halfe a pound of Allome, then put these into a pan or pipkin, and your haire into it with them, then put it upon a fire and let it boile softly for half an hour, and then take out your hair, and let it dry, and having so done, then take a pottle of water, and put into it two handful of Mary-golds, and cover it with a tile or what you think fit, and set it again on the fire, where it is to boil softly for half an hour, about which time the scum will turn yellow, then put into it half a pound of Copporis beaten smal, and with it the hair that you intend to colour, then let the hair be boiled softly till half the liquor be wasted, & then let it cool three or four hours with your hair in it; and you are to observe, that the more Copporis you put into it, the greener it will be, but doubtless the pale green is best; but if you desire yellow hair (which is only good when the weeds rot) then put in the moreMary-golds, and abate most of the Copporis, or leave it out, and take a little Verdigreece in stead of it.
This for colouring your hair. And as for painting your rod, which must be in Oyl, you must first make a size with glue and water, boiled together until the glue be dissolved, and the size of a lie colour; then strike your size upon the wood with a bristle brush or pensil, whilst it is hot: that being quite dry, take white lead, and a little red lead, and a little cole black, so much as all together will make an ash colour, grind these all together with Linseed oyle, let it be thick, and lay it thin upon the wood with a brush or pensil, this do for the ground of any colour to lie upon wood.
For a Green.
Take Pink and Verdigreece, and grind them together in Linseed oyl, as thick as you can well grind it, then lay it smoothly on with your brush, and drive it thin, once doing for the most part will serve, if you lay it wel, and be sure your first colour be thoroughly dry, before you lay on a second.
Well, Scholer, you now seeTotenham, and I am weary, and therefore glad that we are so near it; but if I were to walk many more days with you, I could stil be telling you more and more of the mysterious Art of Angling; but I wil hope for another opportunitie, and then I wil acquaint you with many more, both necessary and true observations concerning fish and fishing: but now no more, lets turn into yonder Arbour, for it is a cleane and cool place.
Viat. 'Tis a faire motion, and I will requite a part of your courtesies with a bottle ofSack, andMilk, andOrangesandSugar, which all put together, make a drink too good for anybody, but us Anglers: and so Master, here is a full glass to you of that liquor, and when you have pledged me, I wil repeat the Verses which I promised you, it is a Copy printed amongst SirHenry WottonsVerses, and doubtless made either by him, or by a lover of Angling: Come Master, now drink a glass to me, and then I will pledge you, and fall to my repetition; it is a discription of such Country recreations as I have enjoyed since I had the happiness to fall into your company.