CHAP. X.
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.
1.Letthe Angler’s apparel be sad dark colours, as sad grey’s, tawny, purple, hair, or musk colour.
2. Use shoe-maker’s wax to your silk or thread, with which you make or mend either rod or fly; it holds firmer, and sticks better than any other.
3. Into such places as you use to angle at, once a week at least, cast in all sorts of corn boiled soft, grains washed in blood, blood dried and cut into pieces, snails, worms chopped small, pieces of fowl, or beast’s guts, beast’s livers; for Carp and Tench you cannot feed too often, or too much; this course draweth the fish to the place you desire. And to keep them together, cast about twenty grains of ground malt at a time, now and then as you angle; and indeed all sorts of baits are good to cast in, especially whilst you are angling with that bait, principally cad-bait, gentles, and wasps, and you will find they will snap up yours more eagerly, and with less suspicion; but by no means, when you angle in a stream cast them in at your hook, but something above where you angle, lest the stream carry them beyond your hook, and so instead of drawing them to you, you draw them from you.
4. Destroy all beasts or birds that devour the fish or their spawn,[4]as the
OTTER
&c. and endeavour, whether in authority or not, to see all statutes put in execution, against such as use unlawful nets, or means to take fish; especially bar-netting and night-hooking.
[4]THE OTTER’S ORATION.Why stand we beasts abasht, or spare to speake?Why make wee not a vertue of our need?We know by proofe, in wit wee are to weake,And weaker much, because all Adams seed,(Which beare away the waight of wit indeed)Do dayly seeke our names for to distaine,With slanderous blotte, for which we Beasts be slaine.First of my selfe, before the rest to treate,Most men cry out, that fishe I do deuoure,Yea some will say, that Lambes (with mee) be meate:I graunt to both, and he that hath the powre,To feede on fish that sweeter were than sowre,And hath yong flesh to banquet at his fill,Were fonde to fraunche on garbage, graynes or swill.But master Man, which findeth all this fault,And streynes deuise for many a daynty dishe,Which suffreth not that hunger him assault,But feedes his fill on euery flesh and fishe,Which must haue all, as much as witte can wish,Us seely Beasts, deuouring Beasts do call,And he himsefe, most bloody beaste of all.Well yet me thinks, I heare him preach this Text,How all that is, was made for vse of man:So was it sure, but therewith followes next,This heauy place, expound it who so can:The very scourge and plague of God his Ban,Will light on such as queyntly can deuise,To eat more meate, then may thir mouthes suffise.Now master Man stand forth and here declare,Who euer yet could see an Otter eate,More meate at once, then serued for his share?Who sees vs beasts sitte bybbing in our seateWith sundry wynes, and sundry kindes of meate?Which breede disease, yfostred in such feastes,If men do so, be they not worse than beasts?The beastly man, must sitte al day and quaffe,The Beaste indeede, doth drincke but twise a day,The beastly man, must stuffe his monstrous masseWith secrete cause of surfeiting alway;Where beasts be glad to feede when they get prey,And neuer eate more than may do them good,Where men be sicke, and surfet thorough foode.Who sees a Beast, for sauery Sawces long?Who sees a beast, or chicke or Capon cramme?Who sees a beast, once luld on sleepe with song?Who sees a beast make venson of a Ramme?Who sees a Beast destroy bothe whelpe and damme?Who sees a Beast vse beastly Gluttonie?Which man doth vse, for great Cinilytie.I know not I, if dyuing be my fault,Me thinks most men, can dine as well as I:Some men can diue in Seller and in vault,In Parlor, Hall, Kitchen and in ButteryTo smell the Roste, whereof the fume doth flee:And as for games, men dine in every streame,All frawdes be fishe, their stomacks neuer squeame.So to conclude, when men their faults can mend,And shunne the shame, where with they beasts do blot,When men their time and treasure not mispend,But follow grace, which is with paines ygot,When men can vice rebuke, and vse it not:Then shall they shine, like men of worthy fame,And else, they be butBeastswell worthy blame.Noble Art of Venerie, 1611,4to.pp. 201-203.
[4]THE OTTER’S ORATION.
Why stand we beasts abasht, or spare to speake?Why make wee not a vertue of our need?We know by proofe, in wit wee are to weake,And weaker much, because all Adams seed,(Which beare away the waight of wit indeed)Do dayly seeke our names for to distaine,With slanderous blotte, for which we Beasts be slaine.First of my selfe, before the rest to treate,Most men cry out, that fishe I do deuoure,Yea some will say, that Lambes (with mee) be meate:I graunt to both, and he that hath the powre,To feede on fish that sweeter were than sowre,And hath yong flesh to banquet at his fill,Were fonde to fraunche on garbage, graynes or swill.But master Man, which findeth all this fault,And streynes deuise for many a daynty dishe,Which suffreth not that hunger him assault,But feedes his fill on euery flesh and fishe,Which must haue all, as much as witte can wish,Us seely Beasts, deuouring Beasts do call,And he himsefe, most bloody beaste of all.Well yet me thinks, I heare him preach this Text,How all that is, was made for vse of man:So was it sure, but therewith followes next,This heauy place, expound it who so can:The very scourge and plague of God his Ban,Will light on such as queyntly can deuise,To eat more meate, then may thir mouthes suffise.Now master Man stand forth and here declare,Who euer yet could see an Otter eate,More meate at once, then serued for his share?Who sees vs beasts sitte bybbing in our seateWith sundry wynes, and sundry kindes of meate?Which breede disease, yfostred in such feastes,If men do so, be they not worse than beasts?The beastly man, must sitte al day and quaffe,The Beaste indeede, doth drincke but twise a day,The beastly man, must stuffe his monstrous masseWith secrete cause of surfeiting alway;Where beasts be glad to feede when they get prey,And neuer eate more than may do them good,Where men be sicke, and surfet thorough foode.Who sees a Beast, for sauery Sawces long?Who sees a beast, or chicke or Capon cramme?Who sees a beast, once luld on sleepe with song?Who sees a beast make venson of a Ramme?Who sees a Beast destroy bothe whelpe and damme?Who sees a Beast vse beastly Gluttonie?Which man doth vse, for great Cinilytie.I know not I, if dyuing be my fault,Me thinks most men, can dine as well as I:Some men can diue in Seller and in vault,In Parlor, Hall, Kitchen and in ButteryTo smell the Roste, whereof the fume doth flee:And as for games, men dine in every streame,All frawdes be fishe, their stomacks neuer squeame.So to conclude, when men their faults can mend,And shunne the shame, where with they beasts do blot,When men their time and treasure not mispend,But follow grace, which is with paines ygot,When men can vice rebuke, and vse it not:Then shall they shine, like men of worthy fame,And else, they be butBeastswell worthy blame.
Why stand we beasts abasht, or spare to speake?Why make wee not a vertue of our need?We know by proofe, in wit wee are to weake,And weaker much, because all Adams seed,(Which beare away the waight of wit indeed)Do dayly seeke our names for to distaine,With slanderous blotte, for which we Beasts be slaine.First of my selfe, before the rest to treate,Most men cry out, that fishe I do deuoure,Yea some will say, that Lambes (with mee) be meate:I graunt to both, and he that hath the powre,To feede on fish that sweeter were than sowre,And hath yong flesh to banquet at his fill,Were fonde to fraunche on garbage, graynes or swill.But master Man, which findeth all this fault,And streynes deuise for many a daynty dishe,Which suffreth not that hunger him assault,But feedes his fill on euery flesh and fishe,Which must haue all, as much as witte can wish,Us seely Beasts, deuouring Beasts do call,And he himsefe, most bloody beaste of all.Well yet me thinks, I heare him preach this Text,How all that is, was made for vse of man:So was it sure, but therewith followes next,This heauy place, expound it who so can:The very scourge and plague of God his Ban,Will light on such as queyntly can deuise,To eat more meate, then may thir mouthes suffise.Now master Man stand forth and here declare,Who euer yet could see an Otter eate,More meate at once, then serued for his share?Who sees vs beasts sitte bybbing in our seateWith sundry wynes, and sundry kindes of meate?Which breede disease, yfostred in such feastes,If men do so, be they not worse than beasts?The beastly man, must sitte al day and quaffe,The Beaste indeede, doth drincke but twise a day,The beastly man, must stuffe his monstrous masseWith secrete cause of surfeiting alway;Where beasts be glad to feede when they get prey,And neuer eate more than may do them good,Where men be sicke, and surfet thorough foode.Who sees a Beast, for sauery Sawces long?Who sees a beast, or chicke or Capon cramme?Who sees a beast, once luld on sleepe with song?Who sees a beast make venson of a Ramme?Who sees a Beast destroy bothe whelpe and damme?Who sees a Beast vse beastly Gluttonie?Which man doth vse, for great Cinilytie.I know not I, if dyuing be my fault,Me thinks most men, can dine as well as I:Some men can diue in Seller and in vault,In Parlor, Hall, Kitchen and in ButteryTo smell the Roste, whereof the fume doth flee:And as for games, men dine in every streame,All frawdes be fishe, their stomacks neuer squeame.So to conclude, when men their faults can mend,And shunne the shame, where with they beasts do blot,When men their time and treasure not mispend,But follow grace, which is with paines ygot,When men can vice rebuke, and vse it not:Then shall they shine, like men of worthy fame,And else, they be butBeastswell worthy blame.
Why stand we beasts abasht, or spare to speake?Why make wee not a vertue of our need?We know by proofe, in wit wee are to weake,And weaker much, because all Adams seed,(Which beare away the waight of wit indeed)Do dayly seeke our names for to distaine,With slanderous blotte, for which we Beasts be slaine.First of my selfe, before the rest to treate,Most men cry out, that fishe I do deuoure,Yea some will say, that Lambes (with mee) be meate:I graunt to both, and he that hath the powre,To feede on fish that sweeter were than sowre,And hath yong flesh to banquet at his fill,Were fonde to fraunche on garbage, graynes or swill.But master Man, which findeth all this fault,And streynes deuise for many a daynty dishe,Which suffreth not that hunger him assault,But feedes his fill on euery flesh and fishe,Which must haue all, as much as witte can wish,Us seely Beasts, deuouring Beasts do call,And he himsefe, most bloody beaste of all.Well yet me thinks, I heare him preach this Text,How all that is, was made for vse of man:So was it sure, but therewith followes next,This heauy place, expound it who so can:The very scourge and plague of God his Ban,Will light on such as queyntly can deuise,To eat more meate, then may thir mouthes suffise.Now master Man stand forth and here declare,Who euer yet could see an Otter eate,More meate at once, then serued for his share?Who sees vs beasts sitte bybbing in our seateWith sundry wynes, and sundry kindes of meate?Which breede disease, yfostred in such feastes,If men do so, be they not worse than beasts?The beastly man, must sitte al day and quaffe,The Beaste indeede, doth drincke but twise a day,The beastly man, must stuffe his monstrous masseWith secrete cause of surfeiting alway;Where beasts be glad to feede when they get prey,And neuer eate more than may do them good,Where men be sicke, and surfet thorough foode.Who sees a Beast, for sauery Sawces long?Who sees a beast, or chicke or Capon cramme?Who sees a beast, once luld on sleepe with song?Who sees a beast make venson of a Ramme?Who sees a Beast destroy bothe whelpe and damme?Who sees a Beast vse beastly Gluttonie?Which man doth vse, for great Cinilytie.I know not I, if dyuing be my fault,Me thinks most men, can dine as well as I:Some men can diue in Seller and in vault,In Parlor, Hall, Kitchen and in ButteryTo smell the Roste, whereof the fume doth flee:And as for games, men dine in every streame,All frawdes be fishe, their stomacks neuer squeame.So to conclude, when men their faults can mend,And shunne the shame, where with they beasts do blot,When men their time and treasure not mispend,But follow grace, which is with paines ygot,When men can vice rebuke, and vse it not:Then shall they shine, like men of worthy fame,And else, they be butBeastswell worthy blame.
Why stand we beasts abasht, or spare to speake?
Why make wee not a vertue of our need?
We know by proofe, in wit wee are to weake,
And weaker much, because all Adams seed,
(Which beare away the waight of wit indeed)
Do dayly seeke our names for to distaine,
With slanderous blotte, for which we Beasts be slaine.
First of my selfe, before the rest to treate,
Most men cry out, that fishe I do deuoure,
Yea some will say, that Lambes (with mee) be meate:
I graunt to both, and he that hath the powre,
To feede on fish that sweeter were than sowre,
And hath yong flesh to banquet at his fill,
Were fonde to fraunche on garbage, graynes or swill.
But master Man, which findeth all this fault,
And streynes deuise for many a daynty dishe,
Which suffreth not that hunger him assault,
But feedes his fill on euery flesh and fishe,
Which must haue all, as much as witte can wish,
Us seely Beasts, deuouring Beasts do call,
And he himsefe, most bloody beaste of all.
Well yet me thinks, I heare him preach this Text,
How all that is, was made for vse of man:
So was it sure, but therewith followes next,
This heauy place, expound it who so can:
The very scourge and plague of God his Ban,
Will light on such as queyntly can deuise,
To eat more meate, then may thir mouthes suffise.
Now master Man stand forth and here declare,
Who euer yet could see an Otter eate,
More meate at once, then serued for his share?
Who sees vs beasts sitte bybbing in our seate
With sundry wynes, and sundry kindes of meate?
Which breede disease, yfostred in such feastes,
If men do so, be they not worse than beasts?
The beastly man, must sitte al day and quaffe,
The Beaste indeede, doth drincke but twise a day,
The beastly man, must stuffe his monstrous masse
With secrete cause of surfeiting alway;
Where beasts be glad to feede when they get prey,
And neuer eate more than may do them good,
Where men be sicke, and surfet thorough foode.
Who sees a Beast, for sauery Sawces long?
Who sees a beast, or chicke or Capon cramme?
Who sees a beast, once luld on sleepe with song?
Who sees a beast make venson of a Ramme?
Who sees a Beast destroy bothe whelpe and damme?
Who sees a Beast vse beastly Gluttonie?
Which man doth vse, for great Cinilytie.
I know not I, if dyuing be my fault,
Me thinks most men, can dine as well as I:
Some men can diue in Seller and in vault,
In Parlor, Hall, Kitchen and in Buttery
To smell the Roste, whereof the fume doth flee:
And as for games, men dine in every streame,
All frawdes be fishe, their stomacks neuer squeame.
So to conclude, when men their faults can mend,
And shunne the shame, where with they beasts do blot,
When men their time and treasure not mispend,
But follow grace, which is with paines ygot,
When men can vice rebuke, and vse it not:
Then shall they shine, like men of worthy fame,
And else, they be butBeastswell worthy blame.
Noble Art of Venerie, 1611,4to.pp. 201-203.
5. Get your rods and tops without knots, they are dangerous for breaking.
6. Keep your rod dry, lest it rot, and not near the fire, lest it grow brittle.
7. In drought, wet your rod a little before you begin to angle.
8. Lob-worms, dew-worms, and great garden worms, all one.
9. When you angle at ground, or with the natural fly, your line must not exceed the length of your rod. For the Trout at ground, it must be shorter, and in some cases, not half the length as in small brooks or woody rivers, either at ground, or with the natural fly.
10. When you have hooked a good fish, have an especial care to keep your rod bent, lest he run to the line, and break your hook, or his hold.
11. Such tops or stocks as you get, must not be used till fully seasoned, which will not be in one year and a quarter, but I like them better if kept till they be two years old.
12. The first fish you take, cut up his belly, and you may then see his stomach; it is known by its largeness and place, lying from the gills to the small guts; take it out very tenderly, if you bruise it, your labour and design are lost; and with a sharp knife cut it open without bruising, and then you may find his food in it, and thereby discover what bait the fish at that instanttakes best, either flies or ground-baits, and so suit them accordingly.
13. Fish are frightened with any the least sight or motion, therefore by all means keep out of sight, either by sheltering yourself behind some bush or tree, or by standing so far off the river’s side, that you can see nothing but your fly or float; to effect this, a long rod at ground, and a long line with the artificial fly, may be of use to you. And here I meet with two different opinions and practises, some will always cast their fly and bait up the water, and so they say nothing occurs to the fish’s sight but the line; others fish down the river, and so suppose, the rod and line being long, the quantity of water takes away, or at least lessens the fish’s sight; but others affirm, that rod and line, and perhaps yourself, are seen also. In this difference of opinions I shall only say, in small brooks you may angle upwards, or else in great rivers you must wade, as I have known some, who thereby got the sciatica, and I would not wish you to purchase pleasure at so dear a rate; besides, casting up the river you cannot keep your line out of the water, which has been noted for a fault before; and they that use this way confess, that if in casting your fly, the line fall into the water before it, the fly were better uncast, because it frightens the fish; then certainly it must do it this way, whether the fly fall first or not, the line must first come to the fish, or fall on him, which undoubtedly will frighten him: my opinion is, therefore, that you angle down the river, forthe other way you traverse twice so much, and beat not so much ground as downwards.
14. Keep the sun, and moon, if night, before you, if your eyes will endure, which I much question, at least be sure to have those planets on your side, for if they be on your back, your rod will with its shadow offend much, and the fish see further and clearer, when they look towards those lights, than the contrary; as you may experiment thus in a dark night, if a man come betwixt you and any light, you see him clearly, but not at all if the light come betwixt you and him.
15. When you angle for the Trout, you need not make above three or four trials in one place, either with fly or ground-bait, for he will then either take it, or make an offer, or not stir at all, and so you lose time to stay there any longer.
PEARCH
Pearchbites exceedingly well at all sorts of earth-worms, especially lob-worms, brandlings, bobs, oak-worms, gentles, cad-bait, wasps, dores, minnows, colwort-worm, and often at almost any bait, save the fly.
He bites well all day long in seasonable weather, but chiefly from eight in the morning till after ten, and from a little before three in the afternoon till almost five.
CHUB
16. AChevinloves to have several flies, and of divers sorts, on the hook at once, and several baits also at once on the hook, as a wasp and colwort-worm, or an old wasp, and young dore, or humble, when his wings and legs are grown forth, or a fly and cad-worm, or oak-worm.
17. Take for a Trout, two lob-worms well scoured, cut them into two equal halves, put them on your hook; this is an excellent bait.
In a muddy water, a Trout will not take a cad-bait, you must therefore only use it in clear water.
If you desire to angle in a very swift stream, and have your bait rest in one place, and yet not over burthen your line with lead; take a small pistol bullet, make a hole through it, wider at each side than the middle, yet so open in every place, as that the line may easily pass through it without any stop; place a very small piece of lead on your line, that may keep this bullet from falling nearer the hook than that piece of lead, and if your float be made large enough to bear above water, against the force of the stream, the fish will, when they bite, run away with the bait as securely,as if there were no more weight upon your line, than the little piece of lead, because the hole in the bullet gives passage to the line, as if it were not there.
18. When cattle in Summer come into the fords, their dung draws the fish to the lower end of the ford; at such time angle for a Chevin, with baits fit for him, and you will have sport.
19. Before you set your hook to your line, arm the line by turning the silk five or six times about the link, and so with the same silk set on your hook; this preserves your lines, that your hook cut it not asunder, and also that it will not, when using the cast fly, snap off so easily, which it is very subject to do.
20. In very wet seasons Trouts leave the rivers and larger brooks, and retreat into such little brooks as scarce run at all in dry Summers.
21. To all sorts of pastes, add flax, cotton, or wool, to keep the paste from falling off your hook.
22. Deny not part of what your endeavours shall purchase unto any sick or indigent persons, but willingly distribute a part of your purchase to those who may desire a share.
23. Make not a profession of any recreation, lest your immoderate love towards it should bring a cross wish on the same.
FINIS
J. Johnson, Printer, Brook Street, Holborn, London.
Transcriber’s NotesPage 10— changed were to where—wherethe fish lie in wait for themPage 14—changed then runthe thesame round your fly — then run the same round your fly.Page 16— changed artifical to artificial.Page 20—changed fall to falls, twice;— that your flyfallsfirst— if the linefallsfirstPage 23— changed get to gets—and close his mouth so no watergetsin.
Page 10— changed were to where—wherethe fish lie in wait for them
Page 14—changed then runthe thesame round your fly — then run the same round your fly.
Page 16— changed artifical to artificial.
Page 20—changed fall to falls, twice;— that your flyfallsfirst— if the linefallsfirst
Page 23— changed get to gets—and close his mouth so no watergetsin.