Firſt the knowledge of angling with the Hooke and Lyne.

HEre will I declare briefly vnto you, how to angle with the hooke & lyne, in what times beſt, and in what places of the water to take fiſh. Firſt in ſtanding pooles, ye ſhall angle where the water is ſomthing déepe. There is no great choiſe of any place where it is any thing déepe, either in poole or other ſtanding water: but in a riuer, ye ſhall angle beſt where it is déepe and cleare by the ground, being grauell or clay without any mudde or wéedes, and in whirling waters, or in a couert, as vnder a hollow banke or rootes of trées, or long wéedes floting aboue on the water, all theſe places are troubleſome: alſo it is good angling in déepe ſtiffe ſtreames, or in falles of waters and weares, and in fludde gates, and mill pooles, and it is good whereas the water reſteth by the banke, or where the ſtreame runneth nigh thereabout, being déepe and cleare by the ground, or any other place where ye may ſée any fiſhhoue aboue in the water, or hath any other féeding place to reſort, or on that ſide the water where the winde hath no great power.

What times beſt to angle.

HEre ſhall ye vnderſtand what time of the day is beſt to angle, from the beginning of May, vnto the moneth of September fiſh will byte. The beſt angling to take fiſh, is earely in the morning from foure of the clock vntil it it be eight a clocke, other be méetly, but not ſo good as in the morning: alſo the euenings be indifferent good to angle, if it be ſome what calme withall, or els not good, the winde blowing from the South or Weſt.

Alſo if it be a cold whiſtling winde in a darke lowring day, for the darke louring weather is much better to angle in: then in a cleare ſunny day, and from the beginning of September vnto the end of Aprill, ye ſhall ſpare no time of the day to angle, and likewiſe many poole fiſh will byte beſt in the mid day about noone. If ye ſhall ſée any time of the day, the Troute, or Grayling leape, ye may then angle to him a double worme, according to the ſame month, and if the water doth ebbe and flow, the fiſh in ſome place will byte beſt at the ebbe, and in ſome places at the floud, according to the places of reſt, as behind pillers and arches of bridges, or ſuch like ſuckering places in the moſt quiet water.

In what wether to angle in.

HEre ye ſhall vnderſtand in what wether ye ſhall beſt angle as aforeſaide in the darke louring day, when the winde bloweth ſouthly from the South or Weſt: in the Summer ſeaſon when the ſunne is very hoie, it is then naught to angle, but from September vnto Aprill, it is then good in a faire ſunny day, the winde being then good: if it haue any part of the Orient or Eaſt, it is then naught to angle, for they will not byte, or when it is a great winde, ſnow, raine, or haile, or in a great tempeſt of thunder, or lightening, for it feareth them, or els in a ſwooly hote wether, all theſe times are not good to angle for to take fiſh.

Of twelue lets in taking fiſh.

YE ſhall here vnderſtand there be twelue manner of impediments or lets which cauſeth a man to take no fiſh, without other cunning that may happe by caſualtie. The firſt is if your harneſſe or lynes be not fitly made▪ the ſecond is, if your baites be not good nor fine: the third is, when that ye angle not in the byting time: the fourth is, if that your fiſh be fearefull of the ſight of man: the fift is, if the water be very thicke, white or redde by any floud late falen: the ſixt is, if the fiſh for colde doe not ſtirre abroade: the ſeuenth is, if the wether then be too hote: the eight is, if it be in rainy wether: the nynth is, if then haile or ſnow do fall: the tenth is, if it be in any tempeſt: the eleuenth is, if then it be a great winde: the twelfth is, if the winde blow from the Eaſt, for that is worſt, and commonly neither winter nor ſummer the fiſh will then byte: the Weſt and North windes be good, but the South winde beſt of all.

To take the Salmon.

THe Salmon is a gentle fiſh, but he is cumbrous to take: for commonly he is but in déepe places of great riuers, and commonly in the middeſt of the riuer: he is in ſeaſon from March vnto Michaelmaſſe, and ye ſhall angle to him with a red worme, from the beginning to the ending, and with the bobbe worme that bréedeth in the dughill: alſo there is a ſoueraigne baite that bréedeth on the water docke: the Salmon byteth not at the ground, but at the flote or aboue: ye may alſo take him with the dubbe worme at ſuch time when he leapeth, but it hath ſeldom ſéene, and ye ſhall take him in like manner as ye doe take the Trout, or Grayling, or the Dace.

For the Troute.

THe Troute is in ſeaſon from March vnto Michaelmaſſe, he vſeth commonly a cleane grauely ground, and in a ſtreame: ye may angle to him at all times with a ground lyne, lying or runniug, ſauing in the leaping time, then with the dubbe flye, and earely in the morning with a running ground lyne, and further in the day with the flote lyne. Alſo yce may angle to him, in March with a Menowe hanged on your hooke by the nether parte without anye flote or plumbe, drawing it vppe and downe in the ſtreame till ye féele him faſt, but if ye angle to him with the flye, ye ſhall ſtrike when he is a foote and more from your baite, for the commeth ſo faſt ye may in the ſame time angle to him with a ground lyne, and bayted with a red worme, for that is a good ſure baite, and is moſt vſed. Alſo in March, Aprill, May, September and October take the Menow on your hooke: in December, Ianuarie and Februarie drag with the bobworme at the ground: in Iune, Iuly and Auguſt, fiſh with made flyes on your hooke: on the vpper parte of the water, for that is a ſure baite and is moſt vſed.

In Aprill take the red worme, and alſo of Iuneba, otherwiſe called ſeuen eyes, or the great canker worme that bréedeth in the barke of a great trée, and the red ſnaile. In May, take the ſtone flye or Caddis worme, and the bobbe worme vnder the Cowtorde: alſo ye may take the ſilke worme, and the baite that bréedeth on a Fearne leafe.

In Iune take the red worme and nippe of his head, and put it on your hooke, and a codworme before. In Iuly take the great red worme, and the codworme together. In Auguſt take the fleſh flye, and the great red worme, and the fat of bacon, and binde it about your hooke. In September take the red worme, and the menow. In October, take the ſame, for they are ſpeciall good for the Troute in all times of the yeare, from April vnto September, the Trout leapeth, then angle to him with a dubbed or armed hooke according to the ſaide monethes, for hee is ſtrong in the water.

For the Grayling.

THe Grayling, otherwiſe named Vmbre, ye may angle for him as ye doe for the Troute, and theſe are commonly his baites: in March and in Aprill ye ſhall take the red worme: in May yee ſhall take the gréene worme, and aſurall grayled worme, and the Docke canker, and the worme on the hawthorne: in Iune, the baite that bréedeth betwéene the barke and the trée of the Oke: in Iuly, the baite that bréedeth on the Fearne leafe, and the great red worme, and nippe of his head, and put it on your hooke with the Codworme before: in Auguſt the red worme and the docke worme, and all the yeare after vſe chiefly the red worme.

For the Barbyll.

THe Barbell is a ſubtill and a ſtraunge fiſh to take, and very daintie to take his baite: theſe are commonly his baytes, in March and in Aprill ye ſhall angle to him with freſh chéeſe laide on a borde, and ſo cut it in ſmall péeces ſquare, the length of your hooke: then take a candle and burne it or ſmeare it on the end at the point of your hooke tillit looke yelow: then binde it on your hooke with Fletchers ſilke, and make it rough like a welbede worme, and this is verie good for all ſomer ſeaſon: but in May and Iune ye ſhall take the Hawthorne worme, and the great redde worme before: in Iuly the red worme for a chéefe baite, and the Hawthorne worme together, and alſo the worme that bréedeth in the water dog leafe, and the yong Hornet worme together: in Anguſt and for all the yeare, take the tallow of a ſhéepe and ſoft chéeſe of each alike, and grinde or ſcrape them well and ſmall together, till it waxe fine and tough, then put a little wheate flower, and make it into little pellets, and this is a good baite to angle at the bottom, and ſée that it doe ſinke alone in the water, or els it is not good for this purpoſe.

The Carpe.

THe Carpe alſo is a ſtraunge and daintie fiſh to take, his baites are not well knowne, for he hath not long béene in this realme. The firſt bringer of them into England (as I haue béene credibly enformed) was maiſter Maſcoll of Plumſted in Suſſex, who alſo brought firſt the planting of the Pippin in England: but now many places are repleniſhed with Carpes, both in poundes and riuers, and becauſe not knowing well his chéefe baites in each moueth, I will write the leſſe of him, he is a ſtraunge fiſh in the water, and very ſtraunge to byte, but at certaine times to wit, at foure a clocke in the morning, and eight at night be his chiefe byting times, and he is ſo ſtrong enarmed in the mouth, that no weake harneſſe will hold him, and his byting is very tickle: but as touching his baytes, hauing ſmall knowledge by experience, I am loth to write more then I know and haue prooued. But well I wote, the red worme and the Menow bee good baites for him in all times of the yeare, and in Iune with the cadys or water worme: in Iuly, and in Auguſt with the Maggot or gentyll, and with the coale worme, alſo with paſte made with hony and wheate flower, but in Automne, with the redde worme is beſt, and alſo the Graſhopper with his legs cut off, which he wil take in the morning, or the whites of hard egges ſtéeped in tarte ale, or the white ſnaile.

The Cheuyn.

THe Cheuyn is alſo a warie fiſh to take, and very fearefull: In March he will byte at the redde worme at the ground, for commonly he will byte at the ground and ſomewhat déepe at all times of the yeare, in Aprill, the cadyee or ditch canker, and the canker that bréedeth in the barke of a trée, and the worme that bréedeth betwéene the barke and the Oke trée: alſo the red worme, and the young frogge his legges and féetè cut off, alſo the ſtone Cadyce flye, and the bobbe worme vnder the cowturd, likewiſe the redde ſnaile: in May, the baite that bréedeth on the Ozyar leafe, and the docke canker together put vpon your hooke, and the baite that bréedeth on the ferne leafe, alſo the eodde worme, and a baite that bréedeth on the hawthorne, and the worme that bréedeth on the oke leafe, and alſo the ſilke worme, and the coddeworme together: in Iune, take then the Crekets and the Dor flye, and alſo the red worme, the eade cut off, and a codde worme before, alſo the worme in the Oziar leafe, and young frogges, the féete cut off by the body or by the knée, alſo the baite on the hawthorne, and the codworme together, and the dunghill grubbe or worme and a great Graſhopper: in Iuly, the Graſhopper, and the humble Bée in the medow the watereſt, alſo young waſps and white young Hornets taken in their combes, and the greate branded flye that bréedeth in pathes of medowes, and the flying Pyſmyars, which be in the piſmyar hilles: in Auguſt, take the Colewort worme, and the Gentyll or Magot vntill Michaclmaſſe, and in September, take then the red worme, and theſe baites when ye may get them, which is, Cheries, young Myſe not haired, and the ſow worme that bréedeth in poſtes of the houſe.

The Breame.

THe Breame is a noble fiſh counted and a daintie, he is good to take, he is a ſtrong fiſh in the water, ye ſhall angle to him from March vnto Auguſt with the redde worme, and then with the Butterflye, and the gréene flye, and alſo with the baite that bréedeth among gréene réede, and a worme that bréedeth in the barke of a dead trée, and to take young Bremets, take the Gentils or Maggots, and from Auguſt all the yeare after yee ſhall take the red worme, and if ye angle for him in the riuer, ye ſhall then take of browne bread, for that is good, yet ſome doe vſe in Aprill and May, the worme that bréedeth on the Elme and willow, and chewed bread is very good, and all other baites vſed for the Cheuyn, but ſpecially young waſpes.

The Tench.

THe Tench is a fiſh that féedeth at the bottom, and moſt parte of the yeare among the mudde, and moſt he ſtirreth in the monethes of Iune and Iuly, and in other times of the yeare but little: the Tench is an euill byter, and very ſubtill to take with the angle, his common baites are theſe, for all the yeare they take browne bread toſted and ſmeared with hony in likeneſſe of a buttered toſte, alſo they take the great red worme, and for a chiefe baite, take the blacke bloud in the hart of a ſhéepe, and mixe it with flower and hony, and temper them all together ſomething ſofter then pappe or paſte, and annoint therewith your red worme on your hooke: it is very good both for this kinde of fiſh, and for other alſo, and they will byte thereat much the better at all times.

To take Pearch.

THe Pearch is a daintie fiſh and paſſing wholeſome for a man, he is alſo a frée and gréedy byter: theſe are his baites, in March they take the red worme, in Aprill, the bobbe worme vnder the cowdung, in May, the hawthorne worme and the codworme, in Iune the baite that bréedeth in an olde hollow oke, and the great canker: in Iuly the baite that bréedeth on the Ozier leafe, and the great hobbeworme that bréedeth in the dunghill, and the flyeboate worme that bréedeth on the wéede raggewort, and the codworme: in Auguſt, then take the red worme and the Maggots or gentils, and the Menow tyed by the lippe, and for all the yeare after, ye ſhall take the red worme, for that is beſt.

The Roche.

THe Roch is a wholeſom fiſh and eaſie to take with the angle, for he is a ready byter: theſe are his baites: in March ye ſhall take the red worme, in Aprill, the bobbe worme vnder the cow dung, in May, the baite that bréedeth on the oke leafe and the flying Emmat, and the bobbe worme that bréedeth in the dunghill: in Iime the flying Ante, and the baite that bréedeth in the Ozier, and the codworme: in Iuly, the worme in the flagge roote, and ye ſhall take of houſe flyes, and the baite that bréedeth on the oke, and the worme that bréedeth in the ſmall nutte, and alſo the gentils, till Michaelmaſſe, and after Michaelmaſſe take the fatte of Bacon. Another ſpeciall baite, take faire wheate and ſéeth it like farmantie: then take it out of the water and drie it, then frie it with hony, and good ſtore of ſaffron, and then put it on your hooke, and the fiſh will byte thereat maruellous faſt But before ye angle, ye ſhall caſt into the water a fewe crummes of bread, or take ſome trummes and fry them with ſome hony, and mixe it with ſaffron, and ſée ye frie it not too much, for this is good and a chieft baite.

The Dace.

THe Dace is a gentle fiſh to take, and quicke at the vayte, hee biteth all the ſommer me the toppe of the water, and they angle to him without the flote in March, his bayte is the red worme, in Aprill. the bobbe worme vnder the cow torde, in May, the docke canker, and the bayte that is vnder the ſlowe thorne, and the worme on the oake leafe: in Iune, the codworme, and the bayte that breedeth on the Ozyer, and the white worme in the dunghill: in Iuly then take houſe flyes and the ſlyes that doe breede in pyſmyre hilles: alſo the codde worme and gentilles or magots, and thoſe vſe vntill Michaelmas, and if the water then becleare, ye ſhall take fiſh when other take none: and from that time foorth, take baytes for him as ye do for the Roch, for commonly of their bayts and byting be all alike.

The Bleke.

THe Bleke is a little fiſh in byting, and commonly hee bytes not nie the bottome, but aboue and in the middeſt of the water. His baytes from March to Michaelmas, are the ſame baytes which are written afore for the Roch. And alſo the Dace, ſauing for all the ſommer ſeaſon, angle for him aſmuch as you may with the houſe flie, & for the winter ſeaſon, ye ſhall angle to him with Bakon fleſh, and other baytes made méete for his purpoſe, as hereafter yee ſhall more vnderſtande thereof.

The Ruffe.

THe Ruffe is a holeſome fiſh & good to byte, and ye ſhall angle to him with the ſame baytes, in all the moneths of the yeare, as I haue tolde you before of the Perch, for theſe two fiſhes are in eating and féeding all alike, ſauing that the Ruffe is not ſo bigge as the Perch, for they are commonly alwayes leſſe of growth, but the red worme is chiefe for them both.

The Flounder.

THe Flounder is alſo a holeſome fiſh for ſicke folkes, and he will be infreſh waters and riuers, he is free in byting, but a ſubtill byter after his manner, in nibling long ere he take the bayte: and commonly when he ſucketh his meate, he feedeth at the ground, and therefore ye muſt angle to him with alying ground line: and they vſe for him but one manner or bayte which is the red worme, for that is the common and chiefeſt bayte for him, and all manner of fiſh.

The Googing.

THe Googing is a good and a holeſome fiſh, he is a readie byter, and byteth commonly at the ground, & his bayts through out the yeare are theſe: the red worme for the chiefeſt, alſo the codde worme and the gentell: and ye muſt angle to him with a flote or eorke, and let alwayes your bayt be within two fingers or an inch of the bottome or leſſe, or elſe for to dragge on the grounde, for ſo it is beſt and moſt ſooneſt to take them. He vſeth in déepe places with cleane ſand or grauell ground at the bottome, as at wayers, bridges, and miltayles.

The Menow.

THe Menow is a ſmall fiſh and a bold byter, and byteth commonly at the bottome, as the Googine: it is aholefome fiſh to eate if he be gauld. For when he ſhineth in the water, he is then bitter, though his bodie be ſmall: and he is a great rauening byter, and will haue the bayte before other fiſh: ye ſhall angle to him with the ſame baytes as ye doe for the Gogin, ſauing they muſt be ſmall. And with a ſmall hooke, or elſe ye ſhall often be deceiued by them: ſome angles to them with a line of two hookes or three, two together and on other hooke aboue: they will be in all ſhalow places as in ditches, and ſuch like.

The Yeele.

THe Yéele is a gréedie féede, and hee byteth alwayes at the bottome, ye ſhall ſee commonly holes in the bottom of the water, if ye put in your hooke there, yee ſhall ſoone haue him byte if he be there, and he will holde very harde a long time, ye muſt therefore holde your line ſtiffe, and hee will yéeld at length if ye plucke and ſtriue with him haſtely ye are like to looſe him. And when he lyeth in a hole, it ſhall be beſt for to angle to him with your proch hooke, as is ſhewed after, but when you angle to the bottome for the Gogin, ye ſhall oft times take the Yeele when that he runneth abroad, as often they will ſpecially in the euening. The great red worme is the chiefeſt bayte for him, or a Menow, or any péece of gutte, or ſuch like.

The Pyke.

THe Pyke is a common deuourer of moſt fiſh, where he commeth for to take him, ye ſhall doe thus. Take a codling hooke, well armed with wyer, then take a ſmall Roch or Gogin, or elſe a Frogge a liue, or a freſh Hearing, and put through your armed wyer with your hooke on the end, and let your hooke reſt in the mouth of your bayte, and out at the tayle thereof, and downe by the ridge or ſide of the freſh Hearing, and then put your line thereto, and drawe it vp and downe the water or poole, and if he ſee it, hee will take it in haſte, let him go with it a while, and then ſtrike and holde, and ſo tyre him in the water. Seene doe put the hooke in at the checke of the bayte, and foorth at the tayle: but when ye will lay your lyne, then muſt ye put a plummet of leade vpon your line, a yarde from your hooke, and a flote in the middeſt betwéene the leade and your bayte, that it ſinke not to the bottome, for then the yéeles will eat your baite away. Ye may lay in your baites without flots and often ye may ſpeede of pykes: and if you will ſée a good ſport in a pond where as there is ſtore of Pykes, you ſhall put in a Gooſe, and put a frogge a liue on a hooke, and tye it with a ſtrong pockthreed (to the Gooſe foote) a yeard long or more, and in ſhort ſpace ye ſhall ſee good ſnatching and tugging betwéene the Pyke and the gooſe. An other maner in taking the Pyke there is: ye ſhall take a liue Frogge, & put him on your hooke at the necke betwéene the ſkinne and the bodie on the backe part, and put a flote as is aforeſaide, then caſt it in a riuer or pound, where ye thinke the Pyke haunteth, and ye ſhall ſoone take him: and the beſt laying or angling for him, is towardes night. Alſo another maner is to take him: take the ſame baite aforeſaide, and put it into a ſafetida, and then caſt it in the water with a long line and a hooke, & ye ſhall not fayle of him ſoone after.

An other baite for him: Take Boares greaſe a ſafetida, neppe, ſo boile altogether, then take a Roch, or other ſmall fiſh, and drie it in your boſome: and take and annoint him with the foreſaide oyntment, and then put him on your hooke, and caſt it into the water, and you ſhall ſpéede: alſo ſome doe vſe to dragge for the Pyke with a bleke, Roch, or Gogin, in drawing it vp and downeithe water, ſometimes aboue, and ſometimes beneath, for ſo he will ſooneſt come, if he ſee it, and ſome anglers do put the hooke in at his gill, and out at his mouth, and ſo drawes the bayte, as though he did flie from the Pyke, which is taken for the better way to make him more eger to take it.

The Loch, and the Millers thumbe.

THe Loch and the cull, or Millers thumbe, they are good and wholſome fiſh, they feede at the bottome, and lye moſt part in weedes, rootes, and holes in bankes, and to angle for them, ye muſt lay to the bottome, they do ſeldome byte at an hooke, but the red worme is their chiefeſt bayte that I do knowe for them, for their foode is commonly at the bottome, in ſucking ſuch as lies on the bottome of the water.

The manner of feeding and preſeruing your quicke baites.

NOw I will tell you how you ſhall féepe and kéede your quicke baites, which is, you ſhal féede and kéepe them al in general, but euery maner by himſelf, with ſuch things as they breede in, and vppon, and ſo long they be quick and newe, ſo long they are fine and good, but when they bee once dead, they are then nothing worth, out of theſe be excepted thrée broodes or kindes, that is to wéete, of hornets, humble bées, and waſpes, which ye ſhall bake them after the bread is drawen out of he ouen, and then dippe their heads in blood, and let them ſo dry, and alſo for the magots when they be bred, and waxe great with their natural féeding, yée ſhall continue and feede them, (ſurthermore) with ſheepes tallowe, and with a cake made of flower, and hony, which will cauſe them to be more greater, and when yée haue cleanſed them in a blanket bagge with ſand, kéepe it hotte vnder your gowne, or other warme thing two howers or three, then they wil be beſt to your purpoſe, and ready for to angle with, and for the frog, when yee angle with him, yee muſt cutte off his legges by the knées, and alſo the graſſe-hopper, his legges and winges by the body, all other made baites I will here let paſſe, but vſe them as yee thinke good.

Baites to laſt all the yeare.

HEre I will ſpeake of certaine baites to laſt al the yeere. The firſt is made of beane flower, and leane fleſhe of the hippes of a cony, or of a catte, with virgin waxe, and ſhéepes tallow, ſo beate them in a morter, and then temper them at the fire, with a litle clarified hony, and ſo make it vppe in ſmall balles, and therewith yée may baite your hooke according to the quantity, and this is a good baite for all manner of fiſhe, that vſeth the freſhe waters.

Another.

Take the ſuet of a ſhéepe, and chéeſe, of each like quantity, and bray them together long in a morter, then take flowre and temper it therewith, and then delay it with hony, and ſo make balles thereof. and this is a ſpecial baite fo the barbell alſo.

Baites for fi • eat fiſhe.

THe baites for great fiſhe, yée ſhall kéepe in minde this rule, that is, whenſouer yée doe take a great fiſhe, yee ſhall open the maw of him, and looke what yee finde therein, make that your baite for that time, for that is alwaies beſt and moſt ſureſt. There is many other making of baites, but for lacke of knowledge therein, I wil here paſſe them ouer, and ſome not ſo needefull as neceſſary as theſe aforeſaide.

Of twelue kindes of made Flies to angle, for the trout, in Sommer with other fiſhe.

THere hath beene vſed twelue maner of flyes, made and ſette vnto the hookes to angle withall, on the top of the water, the which Flies are to angle for the grailing and darce, and chiefeſt for the troute, and alſo for the chub, like as now ye ſhall here me tell and declare, each by him ſelfe, the counterfeiting of them.

Firſt for the dunne Fly.

1 The dun Fly (in March) the body is made of dunne woolle, and the winges of the partridge feathers.

2 Alſo there is another dunne Fly made, the body of blacke wooll, and the winges is made of the blacke drakes feathers, and of the feathers vnder the winges of his taile.

The ſtone Fly.

3 The ſtone Fly (in Aprill) the body is made of black wooll, made yellow vnder the winges, and vnder the tayl, and ſo made with the wings of the drake.

The ruddy Fly.

4 The ruddy Fly, in the beginning of May, is a good Fly to angle with aloft on the water, the body is made of redde wooll, lapt about with blacke ſilke, and the feathers of the winges of the drake, with the feathers of the red capons taile, or hakell.

The yellow Fly.

5 The yellow Fly (in May) is good, the body made of yellow wooll, and the winges made of the redde cockes hackell or taile, and of the drake littid, or coulered yellow,

The blacke Fly.

6 The blacke Fly or lowper, (in May) the body is made of blacke wooll, and lapt about with the herle of the peacockes taile, the winges are made of the winges of a browne capon, with his blew feathers in the head.

The ſad yellow Fly.

7 The ſad yellow Fly (in Iune) the body is made of blacke wooll, with a yellow liſte of either ſide, & the wings taken of the winges of the bozard, bound with blacke bracked hempe.

The More Fly.

8 The mooreriſh Fly is alſo good, made with the body of duſkiſh wooll, and the winges made of the blackiſhe male of the drake.

The tawny Fly.

9 The tawny Fly is good at Sainct Willams day, or vnto midde Iune, the body is made of tawny wooll, and the winges made contrary, one againſt the other, made of the whitiſhe maile of the wilde drake.

The waſpe Fly.

10 The waſpe Fly (in Iuly) the body is made of black wooll, and lapped about with yellowe thréede, & the wings are made of the feathers of the bozard.

The ſhell Fly.

11 The ſhell Fly is good at Saint Thomas day, or midde Iuly, the body is made of gréene wooll, and lapped about with the herell of the peacocks taile, and the winges made of the winges of a bozard.

The darke or drake Fly.

12. The darke drake Fly (in Auguſt) is good, the body is made of blacke wooll, and lapped about with blacke ſilke, his winges are made of the maile of the black drake, with a blacke head. Thus are they made vpon the hooke, lapt about with ſome corke like each Fly afore mentioned.

Here followeth how to couller your lines, to angle with.

NOw to learne how to couler your lines of heare according to the couler of each water and ſeaſon, in this wiſe, firſt yée ſhall take the haire of a white horſe taile, the longeſt and ſtrongeſt yée can get, the rounder haire the better it is. Then yée ſhall deuide it ſixe partes, and yée ſhall couler each part by him ſelfe, as yellow, gréene, brown tawny, ruſſet, and the duſke couler. And to make a good gréene, take a quart of ſmall ale, and put it into a panne, and put thereto halfe a pound of Alum, and ſo put therein your haire, and let it boile ſoftly halfe a hower, then take forth the haire and let it drie, Then take a pottel of water and put it in a panne, and put therein too hand full of Mary golds, or of wixen, and then preſſè it with a tile ſtone and ſo let it boile ſoftly halfe an hower, and when the ſcum is yellow, then put in your haire, with halfe a pounde of coperes beaten into fine pouder, and ſo let it boile the ſpace of halfe a mile way, then take it downe, and let it kéele the ſpace of fiue or ſixe howers, and ſo take forth your hair and drie it, which wilbe the fineſt gréene for the water, alſo the more of coperas yée doe put in it, the gréener it wilbe, or ye may put in ſteed of it, of verdigrece.

Another kinde to make another gréene, as thus, ye ſhal put your haire vnto a wood fatte, of plunket couler and it wilbe a light couler, and to make it plunket couler, then ye ſhall ſéeth it in goldes or wixen, like as I haue aforeſaide, vnto this couler ye ſhall not put coperas, nor verdegrece, for it will doe better without.

To make yellow haire.

FOr to make yellowe haire, ye ſhall ſéeth it with alum, as I haue afore ſhewed, and after that with goldes or wixen, without coperas or verdegrece. Alſo another yellow ye ſhall make thus. Take a pottell of ſmall ale and ſtampe there in thrée handfull of gréene walenut leaues, ſo put them together, and lay your haire therein, ſo long till yée haue it ſo déepe couler as you deſire.

To make a ruſſet.

FOr to make your haire ruſſet, yee ſhall take a pinte of ſtrong lie, and halfe a pound of ſoote, with a little of the iuice of walnut leaues, and a quantitie of alum, then boile them well altogether in a panne, then take it off, and when it is colde, put therein your haire, and ſo let it lie till it be a darke couler, ſo as ye will haue it.

To make a browne couler.

FOr to make your browue couler, ye ſhall take a pound of ſoote and ſéeth it in a quart of ale, and with ſo many of walnut leaues, as ye ſhall thinke good, and when they ſhall waxe blacke, take it off the fire, and put therein your haire, and ſo let it lie ſtill therein till it be as browne as yée will haue it. Alſo another browne couler, take of ſtrong ale, and ſoote, and temper them altogether, and therein put your haire, and let it remaine ſo the ſpace of two daies and two nights, and it wilbe well.

To make a tawny haire.

FOr to make your haire a tawny couler, ye ſhall take a quantity of lime, with the like of water, and ſo put them together, and put your haire therein, and let it reſt foure or fiue howers, then take it out, and put it in tannars ouſe, for a day and it wilbe well.

Alſo ye ſhall kéepe the firſt part of your haire white ſtil, for your lines to be reſerued for the dubbid hooke, to fiſh for the troute, and grailing, and alſo to make ſmall lines, to angle for the roche, and the darce, and ſuch.

Lines fit for each water.

HEre ye ſhall know in what water to angle, & for which ſeaſon of the yeare your coulered lines will beſt ſerue.

The gréene colered line will ſerue in all cleere waters, from Aprill vnto September.

The yellow line is good to angle in euery water which is cleare, frō September vnto Nouember, for it wilbe like the wéedes, & other withered graſſe which is in the water.

The ruſſet line is beſt to angle withall in winter, and ſerueth beſt all the winter, vnto the end of Aprill, as well in riuers, as ſtanding pooles.

The browne coulered line to angle withall, ſerueth for any water that is blacke, or of dediſh couler, be it in riuers or ſtanding waters.

Anglers and fiſhers.

THe tawny coulered line to angle withal, ſerueth beſt for thoſe waters that are heathy, or mooriſh couler. Thus much for your lines and cullers. practiſed according to the couler of waters, wiſhing that all anglers would not angle in vnſeaſonable times, as from midde March to mid May, for then is the chiefeſt ſpawning time, and increaſe of fiſhe. A great number there is in this realm which gouerns waters that ſpares no time to kill, nor cares for no time to ſaue, but takes at all times, which maketh freſhe fiſhe ſo deare, and ſo ſcant in riuers and runiung waters. There is ſo many tillars, but • ew that ſeekes to ſaue and preſerue them, they will not ſuffer the fiſhe ſo long as the time to ſpawne, but troubles the waters with nets and weles both night and day, and many Gentlemen lets their waters (as it ſhould appeare) without any exception of tunes in the ſpring, for they make all times alike, not ſo much as ſparing the ſpawning time, as March, Aprill and May.

Thus much touching anglers, and all other fiſhermen, for theſe thrée moneths aforeſaid, which I will ſpeak more hereof in their places.

To order the red worme.

VVHen ye gather them, put them into a boxe or bag, with wet moſſe vnder and aboue, & they wil ſtore therein, then take and put them in parcely, fenell, margeram, if ye change them ech night & put them in new dung or earth, yee may ſo kéepe them good to angle ſixe wéekes.

Here followeth how to make your hookes.

IF yée make your hookes of wier, it is the eaſier to cut the bord, with a hard ſtéele knife and bend it (when ye haue made the barbe and the point) with a paire of plyars, or with an inſtrument, with a bowed wier in the end, and when ye haue bowed him cut the ſhanke of what length ye thinke good, then batter him at the end, and ſmooth it with your file, and it done, then heate him red in the fire, and quenche him in colde water, and it wilbe hard againe, if it be a ſtéele néedle ye muſt holde ít in the fire, till it be red hot, or ouer a candel, and then let it coole of himſelfe, and ſo it wilbe ſoft as wier, and to haue the knowledge of this inſtruments, and alſo how much your hookes and lines, ſhalbe for euerie fiſh, here may ye ſee the figures of your inſtruments and hookes.

pike hooke, the proch.

NOw when ye haue made thus your hookes of al ſorts, then muſt yee ſet them to your lines, according in greatnes and ſtrength, for euery fiſhe in this wiſe. Ye ſhall take ſmall red ſilke, for a great hooke double, but twiſte it not, and for ſmall hookes, let it be ſingle, and therewith fret your hookes in doubling your lines end, and your ſilke or haire on the inſide of your double line, then fret or whippe it ſo faire as yée ſhall ſée good, then next your hooke at the bought put throw your ſilke or haire, in going round about the hooke thrée tunes, then plucke firſt your ſilke or haire hard downe, and then your line, ſo cut it off harde by the end of your hooke (in ſetting your line on the inſide of your hooke, and ſo it is done.

Now muſt yee know your hookes, how to angle for euerie kinde of fiſhe.

I Will tell you with how many ſufficient haires yee ſhall angle for euery kinde of fiſhe. For the Meno with a line of one haire, for the ſmall or wexing roche, the bleke, the gagin, and the ruffe, with a line of two haires, for the darce and the great roche, with a line of three haire, for the perche, the flounder, and the ſmall breme, with a line of foure haires, for the cheuin chubbe, the breme, the tenche, and the yéele, with a line of ſixe haires, for the troute, the grailing, the barbyll, and the great cheuin, with a line of nine haires, for the great troute, with twelue haires, for the ſawmon, with a line of fiftéene haires, and for the pike, a chalke line, and browne it with your browne couler aforeſaid, and armed with a wier, as hereafter ſhalbe ſéene, when I ſpeake of the pike.

To know how to plumbe your line.

YOur lines muſt be plumbed with leade, finely & thin beate, and lapt cloſe about your line next your hooke, and the next leade to your hooke muſt be from your hooke a foote long or elſe ſomewhat more: and euerie plummet ought to be of the quantitie according to his line in bignes. There be thrée maner of plummets and plumbings, which is for a groundline lying, and another for a groundline running: and the third line is the flote line ſet vpon the ground line lying, with ten plummets ioyning altogether, running vpon the ground with xx. or tenne ſmall plummets: and for the flote or corke line, leade or plumbe him ſo heauie, that the leaſt plucke of any fiſh may plucke it downe, and make the leades or plummets ſincke: for them, make them round and ſmooth, ſmall and cloſe to the line at both endes, that they faſten not on wéedes in the water, which will be a let to your angling, and for the more vnderſtanding how they vſe them, here ſhall be the figures.

There is alſo a line without corke to fiſh with, which they vſe in ſome places in ſommer to angle for the Darce, the Blcke, and the Trowt, which they vſe to caſt his line into the water, and ſtill to drawe the line, ſo that he may alwayes haue a ſight thereof, and neuer let the hooke and bayte ſincke to the bottome of the water out of ſight: but alwaies caſting and drawing or moouing the bayte, and kéeping it tight, that as ſoone as the fiſh doe bite, he giueth a tutch, and ſo kéepes his line tight, & lets the fiſh tyre her ſelfe on the hooke, and then takes her vp gently, this is the chiefeſt way to haue both line hooke & fiſh: for in ſnatching and ſtriking hard when the fiſh bites, you put your line in daunger, or tearing the mouth of the fiſh, and ſometimes ſo looſe him.

There is alſo an other kinde of angling for the Pyke, which is calde dragging, your hooke beeing armed with wyer for ſhéering, when you would dragge for the Pyke, you ſhall take a ſmall Roch, or a Gogin, and with a néedle of wood made thinne and flatte: put it in at the gille, betwixt the ſkinne and the bodie of the Roch, and ſo foorth at the taile, and drawe your armed wiar and hooke after, and place your hooke cloſe vnder his gill, and ſo dragge for him as ye doe for the Darce. If it bee with a ſingle hooke you ſhall put in your armed wiar at the mouth of the Roch or Gogin, and it will ſerue well enough, as ye may here ſée by figure, there is to drag with a liue Frogge, and tie the double hooke vnder his necke and hippes.

The ſingle hooke.

The double hooke vnder the gill.

The armed hooke

Ye may if ye luſt, place your double hooke at the mouth of your fiſh as is declared of the ſingle hooke: but then muſt you haue the bigger bayte, that the double hooke may lye or ioine cloſe to the head of the baite, and then it will doe well.

There is another kinde of hooke, calde a proching hooke, which is made without a barke, this kinde or manner of hookes are to put in a hole in the banke, or betwixt two bordes at a bridge or water, or betwixt two ſtones where they lie open, for there commonly lieth the great Yeles, and there put in your proch hooke a little way, and if there bee any yéeles, they will take it anon: which proch, is wier whipt on a packethreedes ende, and couered with a great worme, and therewith proch into the ſaide holes, as by example for the better vnderſtanding, • o here may you ſee the figures.

The proch vnbaited.

The proch hooke without out the rodde.

The rod bayted with a worme.

As ſoone as ye féele ſhe hath the baite, plucke away your rodde, for it doth nothing but guide your proch into ye holes, and then draw ſoftly your packthreed line, and hold a while and he will yéelde, if you do plucke haſtely, he will holde ſo ſtiffe, ye ſhall breake your line, or teare his mouth: therefore holde hard ſtill, and at length he will yeelde, and come foorth. And where ye ſhall ſee any hole in the buttome of a brooke or riuer, there is like to lie an yeele, put there in your proch, and he will ſoone byte if he be there. Thus much for the order of the proch hooke to take the Yeele.

The manner of laying of hookes.

THere is alſo a kind of laying of hookes armed for pikes, in pooles and riuers, ye ſhall b • yte them as ye bayte the hooke in dragging for the Pyke: and here is to be noted of two maner of layings of hookes, the one way is to the bottome of the water without corke, and the other is with the flote or corke, to caſt in your bayted hooke without a corke, it will ſinke to the bottome, and then the yéele will haue it as ſoone as the Pyke: and if he cannot ſwallow it, he will byte away the baite by little and little: therefore to lay from the bottome is beſt for the Pyke, ye ſhal caſt your bayted hooke and line with a corke, of what depth ye luſt, for ſo it will not ſinke to the bottome.

Alſo to lay for the yéeles, ye ſhall baite your hookes with menowes, gogins, or loches, great wormes and ſuch like. And to ſticke pooles in the bankes, with lines at the endes ſo that your baites may lie on the bottome of the water, for there the yéele will ſooneſt take it, but lay not nigh roots of trées or ſuch, for they will wrappe them ſo, ye ſhall neuer come by them.

Alſo let your lines be of good great packthréeke, ſticking the ſaide poles or pinnes of wood in the bankes, and your lines to be of two or thrée fatham, ſome more, ſome leſſe: & for your proch hooke to baite him with the great worme, or the menowe is beſt, or with a Loch, or ſmall Gogin, ſo if a great yéele come, he will ſwallowe it hole. Thus much for laying of hookes for the Pyke and Yéele.

Alſo to take yéeles in winter, ſome haue vſed to lay in pondes and running waters, faggots of hay, with a bough of Willow put in the middeſt, and bayted with ſome garbage of foule or beaſtes, bound with two bondes, and to plucke it vp (after it hath lame two or thrée daies) with hooke or corde, and you ſhall haue yéeles therein: when it is a lande do but cruſh it with your foote and the yéeles will come out if there be any. If ye lay it in the middeſt of a riuer, you may plucke it into your boate. Thus you may take many yéeles in winter.

Here is how to ſaue and preſerue fiſh.

FOr ſo much as I haue afore ſhewed certaine waies and practiſes how to take fiſh in riuers, pooles, and ſtanding waters. I will here declare certaine waies how for to maintaine fiſh, and the chiefeſt waies to ſaue and preſerue them in riuers, pooles, and ſtanding waters, againſt ſuch deuourers and rauerers as hath and will deſtroy them, as Herne, the Dobchicke, the Coote, the Cormorant, the Sea-pie, the Kings fiſher and ſuch like: as alſo the Otter, who is a common deſtroter of pondes and ſtanding waters, and a great deuourer of and ſpoyler of riuers, brookes, and running waters, which ſhall be declared in their places.

The Herne.

And firſt, to take the Hearne, which deſtroyes much young fiſh or other, if they come nigh the ſhallowe places or bankes: the Hearne is fearefull and ſubtill for to take, therefore ſome do bayte a hooke, or proch hooke with a Menow or other ſmall fiſh, or with the gobbet of ſome Yeele, then make your line gréene, or like the water where ſhe hauntes in a ſhallow place or other where ſhe reſorts, there put in your pinne in the earth of the ſhallow water, and lay your baite ſo that ſhe may wade halfe a féete déepe vnto it, for elſe the Kite or Crow will ſoone haue it, for ſhee will ſoone ſwallow it and ſo be taken.

The Otter.

They take the Otter or water Wolfe, in a wele made and deuiſed for the nonce, as ſhall be ſhewed in his place, which wele is not made in all points like vnto other weles, where he will eate the fiſh and come foorth againe ſafe before he be drowned. Therefore there is inuented among the fiſher men, a wele for to take him made with a double teme or tonuell, and againſt the vtmoſt teme within is ſet an yeirne like a gredyeirne with foure hooles ſtaying and ſliding vpon two round ſtickes, which muſt be ſet vpright in the wele before the teme, to holde vp the yeirne: which two ſtickes muſt be faſt bound to the wele, both aboue and beneath, then muſt ye haue a good ſtiffe rod, the one ende ſhall be ſet ouer the wele to hold vp the gredyeirne or grate, and the other ende of the rodde, muſt reach ouer the inner teme, and a ſmall oziar tied at that end of the rodde, which ſmall Oziar muſt be made with a round knot, and ſo put downe vpon the ende of the nethermoſt Oziar in the midſt of the inner teme, but a very litle way put on that when the Otter is within the firſt teme, he comes to the ſecond where the fiſh is, and there he puts off the Oziar, and the rodde flirtes vp, and the gredyerne falles and ſtoppes the vtmoſt teme where he came in, and as ſoone as he heares it fall, he will turne backe, without touching any fiſh, gnawing at the gredyerne where hee came in, and ſo is drowned.

And when ye haue a wele of fiſh robbed with the Otter, or your layer, of weles with fiſh ſpoyled and robbed with the Otter, there lay your Otter Wele, well bayted with fiſh, and ſo ye ſhall ſoone take him. Which Otter Wele muſt be made of good round Ozyars of the Haſell rodde or gore rodde, for thoſe are the beſt. Theſe Otter Weles are made at Twyford, by ſides Reading. There be two of the Gootheriches which liues much by making of ſuch, and other weles. Alſo the Otter wele is made at Dorney, by Windſor, of one called Twiner. If your Otter wele be olde, and not ſtrong, and if the Otter chaunce to breake it and ſcape, ye ſhall hardly take him of a long time after, for he is very ſubtill to be caught againe in ſuch a wele. There be that hath prouided many wayes ere they could take him. Thus much heere for the ſetting of the Otter Wele, and here ſhall follow the ſaide Otter Wele, with his proportion how to be made and ſet, the more caſier to make them where as they haue not béene ſéene before. To knowe if an Otter do haunt riuer or ponde, you muſt watch the waters in the night, then ſhall you heare him plunging and chaſing the fiſh all night by eſts and bankes •• des, ſo watch or elſe your fiſh may be kilde and you know not how nor when.

Here followeth the Otter Wele.

The faſhion of the Otter wele, with two handels aboue the better to lay him, he muſt be thrée quarters and more, betwixt teme, and teme in length.

This figure vnder ſhewes the ſetting of the gredyerne, before the teme of the wele, and when he falles, to reſt on two ſtiffe oziars on the lower part of the ſayde teme, as ye make ſee aboue: but when ye ſhall ſet for tyle the ſaide gredyerne, it muſt be pluckt vppe aboue the mouth of the

Teme, which temes mouth, all the oziars muſt be cut euen by the wreth, ſaue thoſe two that muſt holde vp the gredyerne beneath as ye may ſée. Which mouth of the teme, muſt be betwixt vi. and vii. inches déepe, ſo that a good pretie dogge may creepe to 〈…〉 • oo little, the Otter will then gnaw the wele, alſo the 〈◊〉 muſt fall eaſily on the two ſtirkes that ſtay him, and ſhe gredierne to be broder then the mouth of the teme, which gredierne muſt be put in the wele when the wele is a making, becauſe it can not be put in when it is made, except ye make it with playing ioyntes on the middle vane to folde, but on the one ſide of the gredierne, and ſo ye may ſet him in, and take him out when the wele is made, or when you will at any time. They doe vſe to make him without any ioynts, but plaine and all flat barres, ſetting to foure round hoopes, of yeirne on the foure corners of the gredierne: which gredierne is made with fiue flat barres, and ſo vſed, waying about two pound weight, becauſe it may fall the ſooner.

For the Water-ratte.

THe Water-rat is a hurtfull vermin to kill fiſh, eſpecially Creuis, Loches, Culles, and Trowtes lying in holes of the banke. They will ſoone deſtroy much other fiſh and ſpaune in ſhallow riuers and brookes, to kill them it is hard to doe: but where as ye ſhall ſée their path on bankes ſides, there ſet a deadfall, for they do range abroad a nights like other Rats, and will be where as is corne milles, and fulling milles, to eate corne, and gnaw clothes, and liues much like to other Rattes, and will pill oziar barkes and ſuch like. Alſo to take them in weles is hard, except the weles lie ſhallow, and nigh the toppe of the water by the banke: ſo a ſmall Otter wele made for the nonce bayted, may poſſible deceiue them. They cannot tarrie long vnder water, wherefore they will not hunt déepe, nor robbe weles if they lie déepe, for they commonly take fiſh nigh the toppe of the water. But ſome men doe thinke a verie good way to take them, that is: to pinne ſquare bordes againſt the holes where they haunt, which bordes muſt haue a great hole in the middeſt, and ſet iuſt againſt her comming in or out, faſt pinde to the bankes: then make a latch and ſet it on the out ſide of the borde, tyld as yon tyle the Foxe latch, as ye ſhall ſée in his place: which hole in the borde on the nether part, ye ſhall ſet thrée or foure prickes of wyar to holde any thing that comes out or in. This practiſe may eaſely be made.

To lay poyſoned baites, as péeces of chéeſe, fleſh or ſuch, and to ſtraw the powder of Orſenike thereon, to be layde in eſts, where other things come not. I knowe not what good it will doe, for whereas ye touch any thing with your bare hande, they will not lightly come at it. Thus much for taking the water Rattes or Otter.

To preſerue ſpawne in ſpawning time.

A Chiefe way to ſaue ſpawne of fiſh, in March, Aprill, and May, is thus, ye ſhall make fagots of wheate, or rie ſtrawe, all whole ſtraw not bruiſed, or of réede, binde theſe faggots together with thrée bondes, and all about thereon ſticke of young branches of willowe. Then caſt them in the water among wéedes, or by the bankes, and put in each faggot two good long ſtakes, driuen faſt to the ground, and let your fagots lie couered in the water halfe a yeard or more. So the fiſh will come a ſhed their ſpawne thereon, and then it will quicken therein, ſo that no other fiſh can come to deſtroy or eate it, and as they waxe quicke they will come foorth and ſaue themſelues. Thus much for the preſeruing of ſpawne in the ſpring and ſpawning time.: this is a good practiſe to preſerue the ſpawne of all ſcaled fiſh. Theſe fagots ye may make and lay in all riuers, poundes, or ſtanding waters. Your ſagots had néede to be a yeard and a halfe long, and bound with three bandes not hard, two bandes a foote from the endes, and an other bande in the middeſt, and lay them as I haue afore declared. Alſo ſome doe vſe to hedge in corners in riuers, and pondes with willow, and thereon fiſh doe caſt their ſpawne and ſo bréedes.

The manner of way to take Sea-pies.

The Sea-pie is a foule that vſeth the ſeas, and bréedes much in Ilands in the ſea, and liues moſt by fiſh & wormes, and where as they vſe in freſh riuers, they deſtroy much fiſh, young frie, and ſuch as ſwimmes nigh the toppe of the water, and will be in ſhallow places of the water: and there they haunt to take and féede on them. Therefore the fiſher men haue inuented a way howe to take them, which is: ye ſhall lyme two ſmall Oziars, and binde the ends that are next the bayte, almoſt croſſe wiſe. Then take an other ſhort ſticke, and binde the one end vnto your ends of croſſe twigges as ye may ſée afore, and put that ſhort ſticke through the fiſh or bayte. Then lay it on ſome water leafe, ruſhes, or ſuch like in the midſt of the riuer, and as ſoone as they ſhall ſée it, they will take and flie away with it in their bylles, and ſoone they ſhall be lymed therewith.

The other way of laying theſe lymed twigges is, ye ſhall put a ſmall ſhort ſticke in the bayte, as yee may ſée a fore. And at the hinder ende tye a thréed an intch long, and to that thréed tie your lymed twigges, and when ſhe takes and flies away with it, ſhe cannot flie farre but ſhe will be lyined, for the twigs will turne and touch her wings, and then ſhe will fall. Thus ye may take many Sea-pies, both in ſommer and winter, and the like way ye may take both Crowes and other Pyes, to take the Kyte therewith, he will hardly be lyined, becauſe he takes the bayte in his féete, and the other takes it in their billes. Thus much here for the taking of the Sea-pie.

Here ſhall follow the knowledge how to repleniſh your fiſh pondes.

FOr to ſaue and maintaine in mayers, pooles, and ſtanding waters, for ſuch as haue not riuers, it ſhall be good to ſaue, kéepe, and maintaine all ſuch fiſh as may be nouriſhed and bred in freſh waters: as Pyke, Breame, Tench, Prch, Troute, Darce, Roch, & ſuch like, and the Carpe for one of the beſt, which hath not béene here in Englande but of fewe yeares paſt. The Trout will not like but in running and ſwift waters, and hard grauell at the bottom. The ſlymie fiſh is the Tench, the Seacod, and the Yéele, and yet they are cōmended for a good féeding meat for man, but many will diſdaine the freſh yéele, and eſtéeme it as a flaggie and ſlymie meate, ſaying: he will gender with the water ſnake, which thing poſſible may be, but the yéele of the freſh riuer is tryed a good and holſome meate, you ſhall haue alſo the Lampre, and the Lamporne, which are called venemous fiſh of the Sea, but when they haue ſcraped and clenſed them in the freſh running waters. Notwithſtanding, they are then good and holeſome meat. The excrements of ſtanding pooles are frogges, which in many places being well dreſt, they eate like fiſh, and is calde a kinde of fiſh, and doe taſte aſ well as a young poullet, for I taſted my part of many.

It is a good thing to haue plentie of freſh water fiſh, in riuers and pooles, and ſtanding waters: and a great pleaſure for man ſometimes to take with his angle a diſh of fiſh in thoſe waters whereas fiſh is plentie and well preſerued, not to vſe any other engins, but with the hooke: and by ſuch meanes as the lawes of this realme doth permit and allow, not to vſe fire, handguns, croſſebowes, oyles, ointments, pouders, and pellets made to caſt in the waters to ſtonny and poyſon the fiſh, nor yet to vſe all ſortes of nets, and ſuch as are deuourers of fiſh, as bow nets, caſting nets, ſmall trammels, ſhoue nets, and draught nets: which are deſtroyers of fiſh before they are growen to any bigneſſe. Theſe are not méete to be vſed but of certaine Gentlemen in their ſeuerall waters, I would wiſh no running waters ſhould be let to any fiſher man, without order what meſh, what nets, he or they ſhall vſe to fiſh with, and in what moneths of the yeare to refraine fiſhing, vpon paine to forfaite his leaſe and all ſuch engins.

Alſo it ſhall be good for all Gentlemen and others, hauing the gouernment of any riuers, brookes, or ſtanding pooles, to repleniſh them with all ſuch kinde of fiſh as may there be preſerued or bred, aſwell of ſtraying as others. There is a kinde of fiſh in Holand, in the fennes beſides Peterborrow, which they call a poult, they be like in making and greatneſſe to the Whiting, but of the cullour of the Loch: they come foorth of the fenne brookes, into the riuers nigh there about, as in Wanſworth riuer there are many of them. They ſtirre not all the ſommer, but in winter when it is moſt coldeſt weather. There they are taken at Milles in Welles, and at wayers likewiſe. They are a pleaſant meate, and ſome do thinke they would be aſwell in other riuers & running waters, as Huntington, Ware, and ſuch like, if thoſe waters were repleniſhed with them, as they may be with ſmall charge. They haue ſuch plentie in the fenne brookes, they féede their hogges with them. If other riuers were ſtored with them, it would be good for a common wealth, as the Carpe wich came of late yeares into England. Thus much for the fenne pult.

Of clenſing your pondes from weedes.

IF you will haue profite of your fiſh, in your pondes and pooles, ye muſt haue a care alwayes to clenſe them from thrée yeare to thrée yeare, in taking away all wéedes, ruſhes, and flagges, for they doe greatly ſtuffe and trouble the fiſh, and makes them to be more ſlymie, and of a worſer taſte. Likewiſe ye muſt ſée alwayes for Otters and Water-rats, haunting your pondes and pooles: yee ſhall beſt know if there be any in the night ſeaſon, for then they hunt abroad for fiſh: then ſéeke to take them by ſuch means as afore mentioned, which elſe they will ſoone deſtroy all your fiſh. Alſo it is not good to ſuffer any to ſhute with guns nie your ponds or riuers, for it feares and aſtoniſh the fiſh greatly, and worſt of all in ſpawning tune, and many will die •• ereof: ye may watch the haunt of the Otter and Ratte, and ſtrike them if yee can with the trowte ſpeare, which is a very good thing to kill them, if it be well done, for ſo many haue béene kilde.

Here ſhall be ſhewed a care of lauing your pondes in ſauing the water where it is ſcant for to ſaue your fiſh aliue.

IN lauing your pondes and pooles, the greateſt care is (if there be any ſcant of water) to kéepe and beſtow it ſo, that the water which is caſt foorth, may remaine nie the ſides of your pondes and pooles, that ye may recouer it ſoone againe to ſaue the reſt of your fiſh, while ye clenſe forth the wéedes and mudde, which will let the water to come quickly to the ſcoopes. Therefore it ſhall be beſt to clenſe the ſides and bankes firſt of all: in hauing all ſuch tooles readie, as ſhall be néedefull thereunto: as mattockes, ſpades, ſhoules, ſcauelts, ſcoopes, and ſuch like: to diſpatch it as quickly as ye can. And when the water is lower then the Rat-hole in the bankes, ye may ſet ſuch engins afore their holes to kill them at their comming out as aforeſaide, for they will lye alwaies in the holes aboue the water, to ſmother them in their holes ye ſhall hardly doe, if ye then let them ſcape, they will ſoone conuay them ſelues away in the night or before night, and will runne very ſwift. Thus much for lauing your pondes.

There is alſo a care alwayes to maintaine your pits and ſtuis with fiſh.

HOw your pits and ſtuis ſhould bee vſed to kéepe fiſh in, your ſtues and pits ought to bee oft renued and helpt with great and ſmall fiſh from time to time, and refreſhed often with ſmall fiſh among: for if ye doe alwaies take, and none put to, your ſtore ſhall ſoone decreaſe. It ſhall be good alſo to put carefully your fiſh therein, both ſmall and great, and ſée that none be hurt if ye may, to put 〈◊〉 Tench with them it ſhall do well. And it ſhall be very good huſbandrie, to pricke and ſet about the handes, of willow, ſallo, or alder, which will be good to defend the heate in ſommer, from your fiſh, and to auoide the colde in winter: but the falling of leaues will increaſe mudde greatly, and alſo ſtinch your pondes.

How to nouriſh your fiſh in pooles, mayers, and ſtanding waters.

IT is moſt certaine, the fiſh which is in riuers, and running waters, are at more libertie then thoſe which are cloſed in pondes and pits: for thoſe in running waters, the water bringeth to them alwaies ſome what to féede on, and there alſo the ſmall fiſh doe nouriſh the great, but the fiſh incloſed can get no ſuch thing. Therefore it ſhalbe good to caſt vnto them of ſmall fiſh, and of guts and garbage of fiſh and of beaſts, and figges cut ſmall, and nut curnels brooſed, or brooſed wheate, wormes, graines of bruinges, white bread, all ſortes of ſalt fiſhes cut and hackt in ſmall péeces, and ſuch like. If your fiſh nouriſh and fat not with theſe, ye muſt féede them with the frettes or gubbins of market fiſh of the fiſhmongers: if yet they be leane, it ſhewes plaine they were taken from the ſeas, which fiſh are raueners, or they haue come from riuers nigh the ſeas, but the fiſh in pondes are reſtraint from thoſe liberties. Therefore continually they muſt be fedde.

Of the taking of fiſh diuerſe wayes.

THere is diuerſe maner of wayes in taking fiſh, in ſome places according to the Countrie, and the nature of great waters is one, and of riuers and pooles, is an other where they inhabite: ſo likewiſe is the diuerſitie of the fiſh. Alſo in fiſhing, ſome manner of fiſhing is in the Seas, an other manner is in ſwéete waters, an other maner for great fiſh, an other maner for yéeles, other wayes for Roches and ſmall fiſh, an other way for the Carpe, and ſuch like. Now ſéeing there is ſo many diuerſities in taking fiſh, it willl be hard to expreſſe and long to write. Wherefore here I leaue that knowledge to thoſe that vſe to fiſh, and ſell in markets. In ſpeaking here in generall of the commodities for the father and his famelie, in taking of fiſh for the common wealth, whereof the principall maner is, with nets, weiles, lines, and hookes. Thus I haue ſhewed of repleniſhing your pondes to haue plentie of fiſh, and clenſing your pondes from wéedes, and a care for your emtie pondes, and how to maintaine your pits and ſtues with fiſh. Alſo to nouriſh the fiſh in your ſtanding waters, and declaring of diuers waies in taking of fiſh. Thus much taken of Stephanus in French.

Pour Amorcer, or gather Tortues.

TAke Salarmoniacke eight drams, of Scalion Onions one dram, the fat of veale ten drams. So beate them together, and being made in pellets like beanes, caſt them by their haunt to the Tortues, and they will come themſelues to the ſmell thereof, and ſo ye may take them.

To make it drie.

TAke the lées of ſtrong wine mixt with oyle, and put it in a place where ye know it will drie, let it ſo remaine till it waxe blacke, and they will come to the place, where the oile ſhall be put, and ſo ye may take them. Ye may take alſo Salarmoniack thirtéene drams, and the butter of goates milke eight drams, beate altogether, and make ſmall ſoft pellets thereof, and therewith rubbe what graine, or ſmall lynſéede not broken, but dride: and they will féede there all about, and will not depart, and ſtraite way ye may ſo take them.

To take Loches or ſmall fiſh.

TAke the branne of wheate meale, two pound, of lenten peaſe, halfe a pound, mixe them together, and beate them with a ſufficient quantitie of brine, and put thereto halfe a pound of ſeſſame. Then ſhall ye part it in péeces, and throw them here and there: for as ſoone as ye haue thrown it in the water, all the ſmall fiſh will come vnto it, and remaine in one place, although they be 300. paces off. Alſo ye may take the bloud of an Oxe, Goate, Shéepe or of a Hogge, with the dung that is in the ſmall guts of them. Alſo of time, peniryall, léekes, ſauerie, margerum, garlick, with the lées of good wine, of each in like, with the greaſe or marow of the ſaide beaſtes, ſo much as ye ſéeme good: beate them a part, and then mixe them a like together, and ſo make ſmall pellets thereof, and caſt it where ye will haue the fiſh to come an houre before ye caſt in your lines: or elſe take the bloud of a blacke Goate, the lées of good wine, of barley meale, all in like portion: beate them all together with the lites of a Goate, and then cut them in ſmall péeces and make pellets thereof, and ſo vſe them as aboue ſayde.

Another way.

TAke halfe a pound of garlick, of burnt ſeſſame as much, of pouliot, of organie, of time, great margerum, of ſauerie, of wild ſtauiſacre, of ech two and thirtie drams, of barley meale, one pound, of wheate as much, and of the barke of a Frankinſence trée thirtéen drams, worke all together with branne, and caſt it to the fiſh, and they will aſſemble thereabout.

To take Perch.

THe Perch is not ſo eaſily taken with hooke, nets, or bownet, but rather with proper baites made and vſed in a troubled water: therefore ye muſt make baites with the liuer of a Goate, and the ſnaile, or take the yellow butter flie which flyeth: of Goates whay, called fromage de cheureau of each foure drams, opopauicis two drams, hogges bloud foure drams, galbony foure drams, beate all well together, and ſprincle it all ouer with pure wine, and make thereof ſmall pellets, or as ye make perfumes, and drie them in the ſhade.

To take the Samon as well in the Riuer, as in the Sea.

TAke eight drams of Cockes ſtones, and the curnels of pine apple trée burnt, ſixtéene drams: beate all together a like, till it be in maner of a meale. Another. Take the ſéedes of wilde Rue, eight drams: the fat of a veale, eyght drams: of Seſſame, thirtéene drams, beate all together, and make ſmall loaues thereof, and vſe them as the other before mentioned. Thus much more taken from Stephanus in French.

To take much fiſh by a light in the night.

YE ſhall diſtill in a lembeck of glaſſe, a quantitie of glowormes that ſhineth in the night, with a ſoft fire, and put the diſtilled water into a thin viall of glaſſe, and thereunto put foure ounces of quickſiluer, that muſt be purged or paſt thorough leather, or Kidde ſkinne. Then ſtoppe the glaſſe that no water enter, and tie it in the midſt of your bow net for breaking, and ſo caſt it in the water, and the fiſh will ſoone come vnto the light, and couet to enter into the net, and ſo ye ſhall take many. And ſome doth ſuppoſe if ye doe but take a certaine of thoſe glo-wormes, and put them in a thinne viole or glaſſe, and then ſtoppe it cloſe, and tie it in the net, they will ſhine as well and giue as much light. But then I doubt they will not long be aliue without meate, except ye put herbes vnto them in the day and let them féede, and vſe them in the night as before. So yée may reſerue them for your purpoſe (I thinke) a long time.

To take Yeeles in the winter in haye or ſtrawe bottles.

YE ſhall make long fagots of hay, wrapt about willow boughes, which ye ſhall put in the midſt of your bottle or faggot of hay, and then ſinke it in the déepe by the banke, and ſo let it lie two or thrée dayes, and tie a wythe or rope thereunto that ye may ſoone plucke it vp on land or boate: and ſo ye ſhall take yéeles therein good ſtore, in a colde weather very good. And if ye baite or lay in your fagotte guttes or garbedge of a beaſt, yee ſhall be the more certaine to haue them in a ſmall time.

How to breede and increaſe yeeles in riuers, pondes, and ſtanding waters.

THe common ſaying among fiſher men is, if ye wil haue in your pits and pondes (being of a ſwéete water) great plentie of Yéeles in few yeares, ye ſhall digge two round or ſquare turfes, or ſo many as ye will haue, and cut them on a ſwéete ground, & a ſhort graſſe, a foote or more round or ſquare turfes, whereon the dewe ſhewes moſt in the morning before the ſunne doe riſe. Then take them vp and clappe the gréene ſides together one vpon another, and pin them faſt together with prickes of wood. Then carrie and lay them ſoftly in what pit or pond ye liſt, and ye ſhall ſée experience. This is to be done in the moneth of May, by the dew then on the ground, and at no other time elſe of the yeare to be good.

The Gaſe for to catch Menowes.

THis Gaſe, is a round net of ſmall meſh, with a hoope of yeirne, or great wier halfe an intch about, and to let ſinke in a ditch, or brooke which is not déepe, and ſo holde it a while by thrée ſtrings like a ballans, with a loope in the toppe, and therein to put through a ſtaffe or poale, and yée ſhall haue within a while ſo many Menowes which will come and gaſe at it, as will couer it: ye muſt hang a ſmall plommet in the middeſt, to make it ſinke. And alſo the roundes muſt be flat oyſter ſhelles tyde to, and the ſquares muſt be ſcarlet or red cloth ſowed on: your hoope and net, may be thrée quarters and a halfe of a yeard broad from ſide to ſide. Thus much for the Gaſe.

How to bobbe for yeeles.

THere is alſo a taking of yéeles with great wormes drawen through on a long thréede one by an other, and then feulded vp thrée fingers déepe, and then tyde aboue all together, and a bigge ſtring tide thereunto, and faſtened bnto a ſhort poale, which ye ſhall holde in your hand. This is vſed to bobbe at the comming of a floud water, and at the ebbing water of any water that ebbes and flowes. Alſo it is vſed after a great raine in brookes and running waters, ye muſt let your bobbe touch the bottome, and ſo vp with it ſoftly againe, and ſo vſe it ſtill, and ye ſhall féele when any yéele doe bite: then pluck it vp not very faſt, for then he will forſake the worme he hath hold of, and as ſoone as he féeles the ayre, he will léeſe his holde, therefore yée muſt haue a veſſell on the water alwaies readie, that hée may fall therein. Thus much for the bobbing for yéeles.

The yeele ſpeare to take yeeles.

The Otter Speare.

THe Yéele ſpeare is made with fiue thinne barres, cut in the ſides with téeth, to holde that yéele that is within them, and made with thicker and rounder plates aboue toward the ſocket, which ſocket muſt be made ſtrong, and therein put your poale or ſtaffe, which they vſe in mudde, riuers, and brookes, to take a diſh of yéeles at pleaſure: but it is euill to vſe the yéele ſpeare whereas there is Teech, or Carpe, for they will commonly lie in the mudde when the water is beaten or troubled, and thereby they may ſoone be ſtriken and die thereof.

The Otter ſpeare is vſed when a man hunteth the Otter in riuers or brookes, when as a man ſhall chance to ſée him vent aboue the water, then to throw the ſpeare at him, which ſpeare hath a line tide at the ende, and a ſmall boxe faſtened at the end of the line, that when yee haue ſtricken him, ye ſhall the ſooner perceiue him where he diueth in the riuer. Or if ye chaunce to finde him lying out of the water, there to ſtrike him, and let him go into the water, and ſo kill him.

To breede Millars-thumbes and Loches, in ſhallow brookes or riuers.

THe fiſhes called Loches, and the other called Millars-thumbes or Culles, they alwayes féede in the bottome of brookes, and riuers. They are fiſh holeſome to be eaten of féeble perſons hauing an ague, or other ſickneſſe. Theſe fiſh delight to be in ſandie grauell in riuers and brookes, and they are very eaſie to be taken with ſmall trauell, in remouing the ſtones where they lie vnder, for they cannot ſwim faſt away. Therefore in certaine ſhallow riuers & brookes, they do vſe to bréede, and ſaue them ye may in laying round heapes of pebble ſtones or flint, in ſhallow places of the ſaide riuers and brookes, halfe a foote déepe of water or leſſe. Like as there is a ſhallow riuer running from Bareamſtede to Cheſtum, and ſo to Chaue: alſo by Croyden and other places, wherein they might bréede of the ſaide fiſh great ſtore, if they were ſo giuen. The like riuer runnes in Hampeſhiere by ſides Altum, increaſing by diuerſe ſpringes, and runnes ſhallow in many placed, and by a certaine pariſh there called the Parſon thereof hath tolde me, he hath had ſo many of the ſaide Culles and Loches, to his tithe wéekely, that they haue founde him ſufficient to eate Fridayes and Saterdayes, whereof he was called the Parſon of Culles. This order of ſtones are laide hollow in ſhallow places leſſe then halfe a foote déepe of water. Which fiſh among the ſaide heapes of ſtones doth there lie ſafe, and ſo bréedes: and there they are ſaued from the water Rats, and all other foules, which otherwiſe would ſtill deuour them. Theſe ſtore of fiſh, men might haue in diuerſe ſuch like riuers in this Realm, if they would take the like paine, to lay ſuch heapes of ſtones as is aboue ſet downe: which ſheweth the maner of laying them round in the bottome, the circuit of two yeardes about, or as yée ſhall ſée cauſe. Thus much I thought good to ſhew for the maintenance and bréeding of Culles and Loches. Alſo it is euident in other Countries, the great care they haue in preſeruing their fiſh, eſpecially in the ſpring: as in France, no fiſher men or other, ſhall lay any engins in riuers or brookes in the night, as flewes, ſtalles, buckes, kéepes, weles, and ſuch like, from mid March, to mid May: for then the fiſh doeth ſhed their ſpawne among wéedes and buſhes, nor ſhall not beate the waters or brookes with any plonging poales, nor yet the fiſher men to fiſh at no time, with any net vnder foure inches maſh, becauſe they ſhall not kill the ſmall fiſh before they are well growen, vppon paine of forfaite and loſſe of all ſuch engins. There is alſo prohibited, that no fiſh ſhall be taken and ſolde in markets, which are out of their ſeaſon: as the Lampre and Lampornes, which are venemous in the Sea before they be ſcoured in freſh water, and not in ſeaſon from mid March to mid September, for they will (being out of ſeaſon) looke ruſſet and ſpeckled vpon their bellies. Alſo Oyſters and Muſkles, are not good from mid March, to mid September: and likewiſe Salmons and Trowtes, are in ſeaſon from mid March to mid September, and after waxe out of ſeaſon. Smelts not in ſeaſon from mid March to mid September or after. Cockles and ſuch are not kindly but in the monethes of March, Aprill, and May: all the reſt of the yeare not holeſome to be eaten or ſolde. Moreouer Darce, Roch, Perch and ſuch like, are not kindly to be kilde from mid March, to the end of May: for in theſe times they doe caſt their ſpawne, and then they will be rough and broken, ſcaled and pilde for a while, after they haue ſo caſt their ſpawne. And being then out of ſeaſon, they are not ſo holeſome nor yet good of liking. All theſe afore mentioned with all other which are out of ſeaſon, are forbid to be taken and ſolde in markets, or otherwiſe priuely eaten, vpon the like penaltie afore mentioned. I would to God it were ſo here with vs in England, and to haue more preſeruers, and leſſe ſpoylers of fiſh out of ſeaſon and in ſeaſon: then we ſhould haue more plentie then we haue through this Realme. Alſo I would wiſh that all ſtoppe nets, and drags with caſting nets, were baniſhed in all common riuers through this Realme for thrée moneths: as in March, Aprill, and May, wherein they take fiſh out of ſeaſon as well as others, with great ſpoyles of ſpawne, both of great and ſmall fiſh, for they vſe ſuch nets with ſmall meſh, that kils all fiſh afore they come to any growth and good ſeruice for the common wealth. Who ſo euer doe preuent ſuch, they ſhall doe good to the common wealth. And water Bayles which are appointed to ſée ſoo ſuch nets in riuers, and running ſtreames (which is thought) they neglect their duties, for they let the fiſher men vſe what nets they liſt, as the voyce goes: and Gentlemen which owes the waters lets them alſo alone, and the fiſher men they ſay they pay ſuch rents, they muſt take what they can, ſo herein are none y• cares for the preſeruing of the common wealth: whereby fiſh cannot increaſe, nor yet ſuffer to growe. So I leaue, wiſhing that carefull men were put in office, and ſuch as fauours the common wealth, and all other put out that ſéekes for their owne profite onely. Then ſhould wee haue within fewe yeares, much plentie of all riuer fiſh, and alſo a great ſparing to fleſh, if they would vſe fiſh as they were woont on Frydayes, Saterdayes, and faſting dayes commanded by our Prince, and ſo truely kept of all people, from time to time.

The breeding of Creuis.

THe freſh water Creuis, commonly liues and lyes in bankes and holes in riuers and brookes, and they are a holeſome fiſh for all ſickne and weake perſons. They will eaſt their ſpawne in the ſpring about the moneth of May, and will ſhed it on ſtones, & wéedes in the bottome, whereof moſt is eaten vp with yéeles and water rats, as ſome do ſuppoſe. Therefore it were not vnméete to make fagots of hole ſtrawe to ſaue the ſpawne as aforeſaide. Alſo they will ſoone be driuen with flouds downe the ſtreame, in few yeares they will greatly increaſe, if they be not taken with mens handes, and kild with Rats for they will lie in holes and vnder ſtones, and wéedes, and ſo are ſoone taken: for they cannot flie faſt away, If they be taken in May, it will be a great ſpoyle of their increaſe, for commonly then they doe ſhed their ſpawne. The Water rat is alſo a great deuourer of them lying in holes: and whereas many rats are, they cannot lightly proſper or increaſe there. Thus much for the freſh water Creauis. Yée may ſtore any brooke or riuer with the Creuis, but eſpecially he loues the ſandie and grauely running waters.

The Kinges fiſher.

THere is a bird which is a great deſtroyer of all young fry and ſmall fiſh, and he is called the Kinges fiſher: he is about the bigneſſe of a Larke, and doth commonly bréede in bankes, ſides of riues and brookes, in the ſpring of the yeare: his feathers are gréene and blewe, and he will alwayes haunt about the ſides of riuers and brookes, whereas ſmall fiſh is, and as ſoone as he hath caught a fiſh, he will ſtraight way 〈◊〉 to the next bough, and there will ſit on a twigge and eate the fiſh, and ſo fetch an other. Thus he liueth by the deuouring of all ſortes of ſmall frie, ſuch as he may take and carrie away. For to take this birde, they vſe to marke where his haunt is, and there they ſet downe a buſh or branch, and they put a limed twigge vnder the ſaide buſh or branch: for ſo ſoone as he hath taken a fiſh, he will flie to the next buſh and light on that vnder twigge lymed, and ſo they take him. Alſo they ſay this bird, being dead, if he be hanged vp by the bill with a thréed in your houſe where no winde bloweth, his breſt will alway hang againſt the winde, whereby ye may knowe perfectly in what qnarter the winde is at all times, both night and day. Thus much of the bird called the Kings fiſher.

The Cormarant.

THe Cormarant is alſo a great deſtroyer of fiſh, hee vſeth the freſh waters, and will diue vnder the water, and will take and eate fiſh of thrée & foure yeares growth. How to take or deſtroy them I know not well, otherwiſe then to deſtroy their neſts in bréeding time, whereas they bréede in Ilands, and rockes by the ſea: ſome may be deſtroyed in riuers and pooles, with croſſebow, or handgun, other wayes I haue not knowen or heard of, not with lime lines except it be in the night, and then they will pike them ſoone cleane againe.

The Dobchicke.

THe Dobchicke is likewiſe a water fowle, and they will be alwayes commonly on riuers and pooles, and they are nigh as great as the Teales, and are of cullour blacke, and they will commonly diue vnder the water to take young fiſh, as I haue ſéene in riuers & brookes. Howe for to take them, the fiſher men ſome doe vſe to lay on the water long lines of ſmall thréede knit full of little corkes, a handfull a ſunder on the line, and cut foure ſquare like bigge dice, and ſo limed and fold on aracle, as I ſhall ſhewe hereafter: and where they ſée them haunt, they will ſpread the ſaide line afore them on the water, and then with their boats, driue them to the ſayd line, and ſo many are taken. Thus much for taking the Dobchickes.

This ra • le, turnes round of the middle ſtaffe, and as ye ſée the thréede limed with ſmall corkes, that is fold thereon, ſo long as ye will haue it of length to lie on the water, and each corke to be but foure fingers a ſunder, or leſſe, ſhall ſuffice.

The More-coore or bauld Coote kils fiſh alſo.

THe More henne or bauld coote, liues likewiſe on waters, and they alſo eate fiſh if they can take them. To kill or take theſe, I know no other way, but with lime, or with the gunne, or ſuch like to kill them.

The making of a water lime, a verie good and a perfect way.

YE ſhall firſt waſh your birdlime in running water, that no knots be found therein, nor yet motes, but pike them out as cleane as ye can in the waſhing. Then take and boyle it in a pot or ſkillet, and in the boyling put in a little roſome, with ſome freſh greaſe, or gooſe greaſe, and ſo let it boyle ſoftly a pretie ſpace in ſtoring it ſtil. Then take off the ſame lime, and put it to a weat teſtorne in water, if it come with the lime, it is good, if not, boyle it longer vntill ye ſée that proofe. Alſo in ſtéede of roſom, ye may take white turpentine, for that is better. And this kinde of water lime, will holde both in water and froſtie wether.

The Oſpray.

THe Oſpray is a bird like a Hawke, nie as bigge as the Tarcell of a goſhawke, he liueth by fiſh, and is a great deſtroyer of fiſh: for I haue ſéene him take fiſh in the middeſt of a great ponde, they ſay he hath one foote like a Ducke, and the other like a Hawke, and as he flies nie ouer the water, the fiſh will come vp vnto him. Howe to take him I know no other way but to watch where hee prayes to eate his fiſh, for he will flie to ſome trée there aboutes, and there to kill him with the handgunne, which I haue ſéene in Hampſhire. Thus much for the Oſpray.

The tempering of bird-lime, and it will ſerue alſo well in water.

TAke a pound of bird lime, cleanſe and waſh it in running water verie cleare that no knots be left therein. Then beate out the water and drie it againe. Then put thereto two ſpoonefuls of ſharpe vineger, and ſo much gooſe greaſe as will make it ſubtill to runne: and put therto halfe a ſpoonefull of lampe oyle, and a litle Venice Turpentine. Then boyle all theſe together in an earthen leaden panne, and ſturre it alwayes, and let it but bubble and play ſoftly. Then take it off the fire, and ſo reſerue it and vſe it at your pleaſure, warme it when you will haue the vſe thereof.

Lime made of Miſteltoo.

DYoſcorides ſayth, they do gather the berries in Automne, in the full of the Moone, (for then they are of moſt force) and then they brooſe them, and ſo let them lie for a ſpace and rotte, and then they waſh them in running water, till they be cleane like other lime, and therewith they doe take birdes, as with other birde lime, made of Holly barkes.

A pretie way to take a Pye.

YE ſhall lime a ſmall thréede, a foote long or more, and then tie one end about a péece of fleſh ſo bigge as ſhée may flie away withall: and at the other end of the thréed, tie a ſhooe buckle, and lay the fleſh on a poſt, and let the thréede hang downe, and when ſhe flies away with it, the thréede with the buckle will wrappe about her, and then ſhe will fall, ſo ye may take them.

FINIS

A hutch to take Polcats, as alſo other Vermin.

THis manner of Engine is called of Warriners, a hutch, and it is made of bordes, foure ſquare, to be remoued or to ſtande ſtill, with two falling bordes at the endes: which two bordes muſt fall into two rygals on both ſides of the endes for flipping 〈◊〉 . Alſo there is two la • hes and ſtrings tide to the falling bordes on the endes to holde them vp, croſſing vppon two pillers which are made faſt on the vpper borde of the hutch, with a line made faſt on the backe ſide comming ouer the endes of the ſaide lathes downe to the bridge on the fore ſide. Which bridge is tyde within to the backe ſide or borde of the hutch an inch from the bottome borde. Some doe make them with another piller in ſtéede of the backe ſtring, but this is as good a way, ye may chuſe which way ye will haue it.

A latch trappe for the water Ratte, to be made of borde with a hole pinde againſt the Rattehole in the banke of brookes, pooles, or riuers.

THe latch muſt be ſet no wider but two inches and a halfe hie, ſo that they muſt créepe thorow when 〈◊〉 comes in or out: it may be ſet within the water, and ab ••• the water, where commonly they lie about all day, and come out toward night.

This is called the dead-fall for Polcats, or other Vermine.

THis engine is called a dead fall, it is made with a ſquare péece of timber or ſuch like, waying about halfe a hundreth poundes or more, with a hole boared in the midſt of the vpper ſide thereof, and therein a hooked crooke ſet faſt. Alſo there is foure forked ſtakes which muſt be ſet faſt in the ground, and laying thereon two cudgils a croſſe, on which cudgils, ye ſhall lay a long ſtaffe or poale to hold vp the dead fall by the crooch: vnder which crooch ye ſhall put a ſhort cudgell, with a line made faſt thereunto, which line reacheth downe to the bridge beneath: which bridge ye ſhall make within fiue or ſixe inces broad, like thoſe that are made for the foreſaide hutch.

Alſo on both ſides of this fall, ye may ſet it with borde, pale, or ſuch like: either ye may hedge it with cloſe rods, and to make it ten inches hie or more. The foure ſpreading corners, are made to ſhewe the lowe hedges, that no vermine ſhall paſſe ſo eaſily by, but come thorow the fall, and the paſſage muſt be made no wider then the fall is broade. Some Warreners do make no tay of the bridge behinde, but ſets it looſe againſt a pinne before the clicket, and ſo it ſtayes vpon the fall.

The latch or Foxe trap.

THis Engine is called a Latch or Foxe trappe, it is made with a thicke péece of wood of two inches in the bottome, and ſo made taper wiſe vpwarde. There is alſo two other ſquare péeces ſet on the endes of the bottome péece, and made with two regals for the latch to riſe and fall in, as ye may ſée by example: in turning on a pinne in the lower rigall at the hinder ende. Which latch with the clogge, muſt be made with his edge downeward, as the other is vpward: then ſhall ye haue betwéene the latch, and the lidger, a ſmall round ſticke, tyde at the hinder end with a ſtring, and paſſing thorow the foremoſt rigall, and at the ende thereof muſt be two or thrée ſmall holes or nickes made for the pinne that muſt holde vp the latch with the clogge, and ſo ſoone as that ſticke or bridge is put downe, the latch with the clogge falles, ye muſt buſh aboue the latch, for any thing leaping ouer, whereas ye ſée it poudered. Your latch may be made halfe a yeard & more wide.

This latch is to ſet againſt a banke or other hill ſide.

THis engine or latch, is called a dogge latch, almoſt like the other afore, but that his two pillers or poſtes are ſet faſt in the ground, and there muſt be alſo a hole made within the latch on the inſide of the banke or hill ſide, where the latch muſt be ſet: and therein yee may baite it with what baite ye will, for a dogge or other Vermine. Alſo vpon the vpper ſide of the latch, there is notches made one by an other all ouer. Then is there a barre in the toppe which runnes vpon a pinne, and runnes into euery notch, and holdes downe the latch, ſo that the ſayde latch cannot riſe, what ſoeuer be within it will holde him faſt there, be it dogge, or other vermine: there is alſo a weight hanging at the end of the latch, to make it fall more quickly.

The latch trappe.

THis engine is called a latch or brake trappe, it is made with foure thicke bordes or péeces of timber, in length thrée quarters of a yeard or leſſe, ye may make them as ye ſhall thinke good, eyther to ſit ſtill in the earth, or often to be remoued. But if ye will make them to remooue, then muſt the vpper fallers be more heauier made. Theſe foure péeces muſt be pind at both ends, and the two vpper bordes or fallers, muſt lie within the two neather, as ye may ſée by example. Then is there within thoſe neather bordes, a long bridge, which muſt be tide at the neather ende of the catch with a ſtring, and that bridge hath foure holes at the other ende, for a pinne to put therein to beare and holde vp the two fallers. Which pinne is put into one of thoſe holes of the ſaide bridge, and the other ende of the pinne, ſtayes vnder the great ſquare pinne that is betwéene the fallers, and the ſtring that is tide to that pinne, is tide aboue to a trounchin, which trounchin lyeth on two forked ſtakes, ſet in the ground, as ye may ſée by example by the neather part of the trappe. Alſo the neather parts are rebated on the out ſide, and made edge wiſe vpward, and hedged on both ſides as ye may ſée. And to fall toward the hedge is beſt.

The foote trappe.

THis engines is called Foxe trappe or foote trappe, becauſe it taketh all by the foote. It is made with a thicke borde or planke, of nine or ten inches broad. And commonly a yeard and a halfe long, with a hole made in the middle, nearer the one end, then the other. Alſo the planke hath iiij. holes, at each end two, to ſtake downe faſt the planke to the earth, that it be not pluckt vp: then there is a poale ſet, or trée bowed downe to the end of the planke, and to the end thereof is tide a ſtrong line, which line muſt come vnder the ende of the planke, and drawne out at the foote hole, with a ſhort ſtrong clicket of wood tide thereunto with a ſhort ſtring, which clicket muſt be ſet againſt the narrow place of the foote hole, and the other ende in the nicke on the falling board, which muſt ſtay againſt a ſhort flat pinne of wood, which muſt be ſet vnder the planke whereas ye ſée two ſwmall prickes, to holde vp the falling board: and to that alſo is tide a ſtrong lingell or other line, which line is layd round about the hole of the foote bord or fall, on the planke, and couered all ouer with duſt, ſande, or earth, for feare of ſuſpition. This trappe may be ſet againſt Fore holes, or other muce, with hedges on both ſides the planke that he ſhall paſſe no other way, but on the borde. Alſo your falling bord muſt be broder vnder, then your hole.

The Wolfes trappe.

The ſquare borded, and the poale, & pin in the top therof.

The whole trap with couer, platter, poale, and baite.

THis Engine is called a Wolfe trappe or pitte. It is a large hole digged ſixe foote ſquare, and two yeards commonly and a halfe wide from ſide to ſide, and borded all round, both bottome and ſides vp to the toppe, with a poale ſet faſt in the middeſt thereof, almoſt as hie as the toppe of the pitte. Then is there a pinne of yrne put through the middeſt of a large platter of wood or ſuch like, and that pin ſet faſt in the toppe of the ſayde poale: and there vpon it is layde and made faſt, ſome beaſtes liuer, or ſuch like: or elſe a gooſe or ducke, which is tide faſt thereon. Then towards night they make a traine vnto the trappe, and they couer the ſaide pitte with hurdles, bordes, or ſuch like, round about (ſauing a ſpace) and they lay of gréene turfes thereon, ſo that when the Wolfe, or Fore, doe come and finde the baite, they can not reach it, without they tread on the platter, which plarter is ſet tickliſh thereon, and as ſoone as he treads on the ſide, it tilts downe, and riſe vp againe, and the Wolfe or other falles downe into the pitte: and if other doe come, they are ſerued the like. Thus much for the Wolfe trappe. For the Fore, if he annoy them, they will lay a péece of a ſhéepes liuer new, at his hole, and put therein cloſoly of the pouder of rats-bane, which will ſo kill him. Alſo the pouder of Aconitum called in Latin, in Engliſh Wolfes bane, the pouder put or ſtrowed on fleſh will kill them. Touch them not with your bare handes, for they will finde it and forſake it.

The kragge hooke.

THis Engine I call a dragge hooke, becauſe it is made like a dragge, it is made of yeirne or great wiar, and turnes on the Weuell, like the weuell of a loggar, or like on a gray-hound coller. The huſbandmen in France, will hang them on branches, of diuerſe trées about their groundes, to take the Foxe, Wolfe, or dogge if he take it, but chiefely for the Foxe: they vſe to hang them ſo hie from the ground, that a Foxe muſt leape at it, before hee can catch it. Which hookes are baired and couered with liuers of beaſtes, or other fleſh, and when he catches the hooke in his mouth, he cannot deliuer himſelfe thereof, but hangs and turnes about with the hooke in his mouth on the weuel and line: and hereunto they make traines with ſome garbage againſt night, as they commonly doe to other engins, and by this engin, they doe deſtroy many of their Foxes, which otherwiſe would deuour many of their Lambes, and poultrie. For men that dwelles me the ſea ſide where rockes are, there the Foxe will be, there it ſhall do well to ſet vppe iebbets and hang your dragges thereon, and ſo ſhall ye deſtroy your Foxes in ſhort time.

The Hare pipe.

THis Engine is called a Hare pipe, becauſe it is made hollow, they are commonly made for the hare, of pipes of Elder, of ſixe or ſeuen inches long, and for the Foxes and dogges, they are made of yrne plate, nie ten or eleuen inches long, with two ſharpe pikes in the mouth thereof, and the more they plucke and drawe, the more it ſtrikes in and peirce the fleſh of the beaſt. And alſo for the Foxe or other ſuch, it ſhall be good to arme the ſtring or line with red wiar fer wéering. Which line, the one end is put in at a hole made in the pipe ſide, as ye may ſée, and ſo drawne double out at the mouth of the ſame. The other end comes through the pipe, and is tide vnto ſome pinne ſet faſt in the ground, or to ſome bough. They are commonly ſet in muſes where they paſſe through: but for the Foxe, they pitch the hare pipe in ſome places, at the mouth of his hole, when he is hunted or other wiſe, or in muſis where he hauntes to meus houſes in killing their lambes, pigges, or other poultrie. Then ſée that ye ſtoppe all other paſſages there aboutes, ſo ſhall ye be ſure to ſaue your poultre, or elſe to take him. Ye may make traines at your pipe hole, as is afore mentioned of the other.

The whippe or ſpring trappe.

THis Engine, is called the whip, or ſpring, it is ſet thus: there is a ſtring tyde vnto the end of ſome poale ſet faſt in the ground, or to ſome trée: vnto the ſaid ſtring is made faſt a ſmall ſhort ſticke, with a nicke in the lower end therof, made thinne on the vpper ſide: then the poale is bowed downe with it, vnto an other ſticke ſet faſt in the grounde with a nicke alſo, and thinne edge vnder. Then ſhall yée ioyne both the nickes together, as ye may ſée by example, as tickle as ye can. Then open the end of your ſtring, ſet it in ſome muſe, or where ye thinke good. And when anie Foxe or other thing doe plucke the ſaide vpper ſtring a ſide, then the nicke ſlippes by, and the poale ſtarts and ſo holdes him vp, as ye may eaſely ſée by example. Thus much for the ſpring trappe. There is yearely kilde with Foxes in this Realme as many do iudge, of lambes tenne thouſand, of poultrie twentie thouſand, of Rabbets and Conies nie fortie thouſand couple: beſides young Faunes in many Parkes and Foreſts.

The double trappe to take Rattes or Mice.

THis Engine or trap, it is almoſt made with a ſquare borde in the bottome, and alſo aboue, and aqout fiue inches in height with a thicke borde in the middeſt, as yée may ſée pointed with fiue nayles, and nayled faſt to the vpper and neather borde, in parting the trappes. There is alſo two falles naylde with leathers on the vpper borde, which is holde vp and tilde with a ſtring, which ſtring hath a clicket or wedge, and is ſtayde on a ſhort péece of woode, and ſo tilde with hooked wiar, which wiar goeth thorowe a bigge hole, and ſtayes on the vpper bord by a croſſe wiar, and on the lower end of the crooked wiar the baite is put on within the trappe, at the further ende of the trappe: and there againſt ye may ſée certaine wiars ſet from the vpper borde to the neather borde, to tice the Rats there to ſéeke to goe out. Which is thought yearely they deſtroy thorow England fortie quarters of corne.

A trappe or fall for Buzardes, and Kytes, with a hurdell.

THis Engine is called a fall or trappe to take Buzardes and Kytes, which is after this ſort, ye ſhall ſet a hurdell on the ground where ye thinke good. Which hurdell is holden vp before with a crooked ſticke, and that crooked ſticke holden vp with a forked ſtick put vnder him, which forked ſticke muſt ſtand looſe on the ground, without the neather bridge or forked ſticke. Alſo in ſetting vp the neather end of the crooked ſtick that holdes vp the hurdell, muſt be made ſmall and ſlightly put into the clift of the forked bridge and ſticke: which forked ſticke is made faſt, and tide with two thréedes to the ground, vnder the backe of the hurdell, as ye may eaſely perceiue: and when yee doe tile or ſet it vp, it ſhall be good with the crooked ſtickes end, to let the bridge ſtande a handfull hie from the ground, and put therein the ende of your crooked ſticke as tickle as yée can, that when any thing comes to take the baite and treades it downe, the hurdell falles ſuddenly on them.

The Basket fall.

THis Engine is called the Baſket fall to take Kytes and Buzardes, it is ſet and tylde in all thinges like vnto the hurdle before, with all thinges thereunto belonging. This Baſket is commonly made nye thrée fatham about in the ſkirtes, and ſo hie that a man may well ſtande vpright within him, The Warriners do commonly in ſome places vſe (in Rabbet time) to ſet him in plaines, in warrens, and in parkes, wheras Connies are bred, and ſo they take the Kyte and the Buzard, in this Baſket.

The Iay trappe to ſet about corne fields, or orchards.

THis Engine is called a Iay trappe: it is made with a poale of ſeuen or eight inches abount, and ſeuen or eight foote long or hie, ſet faſt in the ground about your wheat, or other fruite. There is made in the ſaide poale two holes, one beneath and the other aboue: in the neather moſt hole, there is a ſpring wand ſet faſt therein, and bowed vnto the hole aboue, which hole ye ſhall put thorowe a ſtring, tide faſt to the ende of the ſpring wand, with a knot thereon, to ſtay it that it ſhall not ſlippe backe againe. Alſo on the fore ſide of the hole, ye muſt put a blunt pinne of wood with a round ende of ſeuen or eight inches long, ſet looſely in by the knot to ſtay the ſtring: which pinne yee ſhall ſée clouen in the middeſt, and in that cleft they vſe to put a cherie, or wheat eare, for a baite. Then ſhall yée ſpread finely, and lay the ſtring about on the ſaide ſhort pinne, and your ſtring to haue a running nooſe. Alſo the trappe of your ſtake muſt be made ſharpe that no foule ſhall light thereon. And when any lights on the ſhort pinne to catch the baite, it falles downe, and the ſtring thereon takes them by the legges. Thus ye may ſet many ſuch about your grounds, ye may make theſe trappes on boughes in trées to take them at all times of the yeare if ye liſt.

The bow trappe for Rats or other Vermine.

The hole to tie the ſtring of the bridge. The clicket▪ The lidde. The hole to tye the ſtring. The hole to put through the ſtring on the ſide. The pin for the ſtring. The hole to carrie it by.

THis engine or trappe with the bow, is made like a boxe, of a whole péece of wood, with the lidde opening & ſhutting aboue, and this ſide is vnbent, ſhe wing the left ſide and the lidde, and clicket, taken out: with holes and the ſtring for to ſet him, as more plainly ſhall be ſhewed bent and ſet.

The bowe trappe ſet.

The lidde. The hole to tic the ſtring. The hole to carry it.

THis is ſide ſhewes him bent, with the holes and pinnes how to bende him: as the pinne on the lidde is to holde the ſtring bent. And alſo the pinne ſet aboue the clicket, is to order the ſtring comming from the hole of the bridge vnto the clicket, which muſt ſtay vp the bridge croſt and bayted, when he is ſet. The pikes are ſet to holde faſt when he is put dowe.

The Dragin trappe for Mice or Rattes.

THis engine or trappe is made of wood like the ſtocke of a Bell, with two holes at the endes, and therein is put thorow haire or corde double, and the lidde put betwéene, and ſo wreath the haire one way towarde the lidde vppon the vnder hoope, with ſharpe wyars ſet round on the vpper lidde, and a long bridge vnder, falling within the neather hoope with a ſtaffe ſet faſt aboue on the ſtocke, to tie the ſtring and clicket, which muſt holde vp the lidde: the vpper trappe lyes with the mouth towarde you, and the lower with the ſide towardes you.

The fall for Rats or other vermine.

THis engine is called the Ratte trappe or fall, which is made with a thicke bottome borde, and two thinner bordes on both ſides, and there is two ſtaues ſet faſt thorowe the bottome borde, then the fall muſt be a thicke bord and heauie withall, and at the endes thereof muſt your ſtaues goe thorow eaſely to fall and riſe, which two ſtaues haue holes aboue, which ſtaues muſt alſo goe thorowe the long bridge aboue, and at the holes ye muſt put in two pins to holde vp the ſayde bridge. Then muſt ye ſet faſt another ſtaffe in the middeſt of the fall, with a latch in the toppe thereof looſe ſet to fall vp and downe: which latch muſt haue a ſtring, which ſtring commeth downe to the bridge beneath, with a ſmall clicket faſtened thereunto: and the bridge is faſtened beneath on the backeſide or borde, an inch from the bottome borde, and ſo it is done. Yée may make them to take water Rats in ſetting them in the water, in the ſides of your ponds and riuers, and bayted with carion, but then ye muſt ſet rowes of ſhort nayles vnder the fall planke, and thoſe will ſtay either ratte or other fiſh, if they goe through it, and put downe the bridge.

The boxe trappe.

THis engine or trappe, is to take mice, or rattes, which is made of a thin borde of two inches and a halfe broad, and eight inches long, with a round bole cut thorowe the borde in the one end, and a boxe ioynde and glued therein, which boxe muſt haue a hole aboue, and therein yee muſt put your crooked wyar that muſt holde the batte within the boxe, and ſtayed aboue on the ſaide boxe with a croſſe wier. Then ſhall ye ſée the falling wyar tylde vp with a ſtring or thréed, and faſtened vnto a long clicket, which is ſtaid with a crooked wiar, that holdes the baite within: the ſayde clicket to be made of bone, for that is better then wood except it be hard The ſeochin in the middeſt of the boxe, is as it were, made for the baite. The foure ſharpe wiars beneath the boxe, are to holde the mouſe or ratte when the wyar falles. The barre croſſe by the boxe, is to ſtay the wyar, it ſhall not fall out, or fall too low. And the end of the falling wyar is faſtened with two croſſe bars, and riueted through the board, and the end of the falling wyar alſo, ſo it is done.

The ſpring trappe for Mice.

THis engine or trappe, is to take mice, it is made with a borde of two inches thicke, and in the one ende, yée muſt boore ſo bigge holes as a mouſe may eaſely créep therin, ſo many as ye ſhall thinke good. Then muſt ye boore againſt euery of the ſayd holes, foure ſmall hole with a piercer through the ſayd borde. And all thoſe holes next the end, ye ſhall put in ſtrong thréeds on the vpper holes of the bord, ſo they may be ſet on the ende of the ſpring, and lie rounde in each great hole nie the brinke. Then muſt ye put a ſmal thréede through the borde double, and tie him on the ſpring ſtiffe, to holde downe the ſpring: and thoſe ſtrings next the end, muſt beare no tight, but lie ſlacke, and as they gnawe a ſunder the other thréed to come to the baite, that takes them by the belly, or necke: and euer as your inner thréedes are bit a ſunder, ye may ſoone put or drawe them through with a ſmall wyar againe. Alſo the other endes of the ſprings muſt be faſt ſet in holes, boared with a ſmall wimble. Ye may make the like to take Rattes, if ye make the holes ſquare and bigger.

The dragin trappe with a great wyar.

THis engine or trappe, is to take Mice and Rats, it is made of two thinne bordes: the neather borde is made round at the one end, and broad at the other end, like a ſwallow tayle. Then is there an other bord ſet on edge in the middeſt thereof, which borde hath a great wyar bowed and nayled thereon, as ye may ſée: and the rounde bowght thereof muſt lie cloſe on the round ende of the neather borde. Then is there two ſhort ſquare bordes nayled and ſpreading toward the great wyar. Alſo yee ſée at the toppe of the vpright borde, a long mortis, wherein the wiar that muſt holde the clicket and baite, muſt goe thorowe and there ſtaye on another wyar, and the like is holden vp with the vpper ende thereof: which clicket, doe ſtay on the toppe of the middle or vpright borde, and ſo tyde thereat with a thréede which holdes vp the great wyar, when that ye will ſet or tyle him: alſo the neather borde is ſet rounde with ſharpe wyars to holde mouce or ratte, and they muſt ſtande all within the bowght of the great wyar, and it is done. This ſhewes with the ſide towardes you, or the halfe thereof.

The Samſon poſte for Rattes.

THis engine is called the Samſon poſte, it is ſtayde vp on thrée péeces, and one beares the burden of all, with the helpe of the other two péeces, and made as ye may ſée, with notches one to ſtay vppon the other. Theſe thrée ſtickes which ye ſée, the broadeſt is called the bridge, and that is made broade and thinne and long withall, to reach vnder the planke or borde a good way, and bayted at the end thereof. The next is the croſſe barre which ſtayes vp the planke or borde, ſet in a nicke in the end of the bridge. The third is the piller or poſte ſet almoſt vpright, which ſtayes the bridge for falling to the ground, which bridge muſt alwayes ſtand from the ground an inch or more, that he may the ſooner fall when he is touched. Alſo yee may make them in length as ye ſhall ſée cauſe for the bredth of your bordes or plankes, which muſt be ſomewhat heauie alwayes.

A Mill to take Mice.

THis engine or Mill, is made of ij. thin bords, and thicker in the midſt, then at the ends. The one halfe of the bredth is ſet in & ioyned within the other halfe, and boared with a percer thorough the midſt, and there is put thorow a great wyar, or a ſmal pinne of wood, as yée may ſée, and that pinne is put into a thicke bord of four inch bord, which borde lyeth on ſome table or other borde from the ground halfe a yeard, or as yée ſhall thinke good: and ſet ſome panne or pot with water vnder your mill, and baite your mill on both ſides of each leafe with ſome butter, mixt with otmele and ſugar, and ſet all other things away, and ſo ſhall ye drowne thréeſcore or more perhaps in a night, as I haue ſéene done, if there be ſtore. Ye ſhall make your mill to turne very eaſely, that the leaſt weight thereon ſhall turne it. Alſo ſet your Mill an inch from your ſquare borde that the pinne is in, and baite your borde with ſome otmeale, to tice them to the mill. Thus may yée ſoone deſtroy them, if your houſe bée troubled with them neuer ſo much.

The ſquare mouce trappe. The mouce trap with a diſh & a filboll.

THis engine or ſquare mouce trappe, is made of two bordes, with a hole boared thorough them both at the lower end, and a pinne ſet ſet faſt in the hole of the neather borde, and comes thorow the vpper borde: which vpper borde riſeth and falleth thereon. Then is there a ſtring tide at the ſayde pinne with a long bridge, and a pinne on the vpper bord afore with a ſhort ſtring and a clicket tide thervnto, to ſtay vp the vpper borde, and ſo it is done. This is a ſlight way, and ſoone made for mice.

The other trappe, is with a diſh or bowle, tylde vp with a ſilboll, ſuch as they make to fill puddings, which is made with a thinne ſtice of wood or ſuch like, with a tayle of thrée inches long, and thereon is the baite tyed. The filboule his bowght is commonly one inch and more hie, to holde vppe the diſh, that the mouce touch not the diſh before ſhe come to the baite. Then when ſhe ſtirs the baite, the diſh fals ouer the filboll, and the filboll within, and the mouſe alſo. Then ye may ſet a veſſell of water, and let the mouſe fall therein. And thus it is vſed, and alſo quickly made.

To take the Buzard with three twigs limed.

THis engine is to take the Buzard in the ſpring of the yeare, as in March and Aprill, which is made thus: with thrée ſmall roddes growing on the end of ſome bough, or thrée ſmall twigs ſet on the end of a pretie bigge ſticke, and of a ſhaſtment long. Ye muſt ſo place them that two twigges muſt lie alwayes on the ground, and the other ſtand or lie ouer. The ſticke muſt haue a hole board in the end as ye may ſée, and therein to faſten the mouſe taile, or a thréede with a liue mouſe tide vnto it. Alſo the twigs muſt be finely layde with lyme, and in a morning layde on the ground, whereas ye ſhall ſée any Buzard nie, and as ſoone as ye are departed, if ſhe ſpie the mouſe, ye ſhall ſée her come vnto it, and ſo taken, which is a verie good way to take them in the ſpring, but at other times not ſo good. Alſo the Buzard may well be taken in March and Aprill with ſetting thrée limerods, and bayfed in a plaine with the liuer of a conny or ſuch like.

The Moull trappe.

TO ſet this Moull trappe, where any Moull hath caſt, ye ſhall firſt place two treſtles ouer her caſting, then tread it downe with your foote ſoftly, ſo long and ſo broad as your fall is, or more. Then lay a poale croſſe ouer your treſles, and there on hang your trappe ouer the trench. Then ſet a ſhort ſtake with the bridge therein, againſt the midſt of your fall, as ye may ſée by the figure: and ſet your ſtake ſo that the bridge end may lie and touch the earth all ouer in the trench croſſe. For when the Moull doth caſt, ſhée wil put vp that end of the bridge which do croſſe the trench, and the other end will fall on the clicket, and ſo the trappe falles, and the long nayles ſet at both endes of the fall, kils her, which way ſoeuer ſhe comes or goes. Your fall muſt be two foote long, and foure inches broad, and foure inches thicke, for the heauier the better it is. If it be too light, yée may remedie it as ye thinke good. Alſo yée may ſet your long nayles in a thencher or thinne borde, and nayle that to your fall at both endes, and let the next nayles on both ſides be foure inches from the bridge. Thus much for the moull trappe, ye may thus kill them in gardens, woodes, high-wayes, or where yee ſhall thinke good without anie watching of them.

The following trappe.

THis engine is called, the following trappe for Mice, it is made with two ſquare bordes, the bottome and the fall borde, with edge bordes of an inch hie, round about the neather borde, and ſet with two wing bordes of each ſide one, with a croſſe lath ouer the middeſt to tye the ſtring of the clicket. Which ſtring comes downe to the bridge, plaſt with a croſſe bridge, and then is there wreathed corde, or haire, vnder the lath aboue, and in that wreath, is put the following ſtaffe, which as ſoone as the lidde doe fall, that following ſtaffe holdes it downe, and the falling borde is nayled with two leathers, as yée may ſée, to the lower borde: and alſo the bridge is tide vnder vnto the lower bord with a ſtring. Thus much for the vnderſtanding of the following trappe.

The griping trappe made all of yrne, the loweſt barre, and the ring or hoope, with two clickets, and a turning pinne, which ring is ſet faſt to the ſides of the loweſt barre,

MOre vnto it is, a plate round in the middeſt, with fiue holes cut out, and a ſharpe yrne pinne in the middeſt, which plate hath a ſpring on both ſides vnder the edge of the plate, and they ſtirre not of ioyntes vp and downe, as the other doth, but ſtandes faſt in touching the croſſe pinne vnder the plate.

Here is more with two ſprings vntylde on both ſides, in holding together the two hoopes with nayles.

NOw when the two ſpringes are opened abroade and holde downe, here it is to be ſhewed as hee ſtandeth tyled with the two ſpringes, downe flat to the long barre on both ſides, which ſpringes are made of good ſtéele, and as ſoone as the clickets which holde them downe vnder the plate when both the outward clickets be ſtirde. The two ſpringes ſhuts them ſuddenly together and there is in the two ſhutting hoopes ſharpe pinnes of yrne ſet one contrary to the other, with holes made for thoſe pinnes to goe thorough and ſhut cloſe together, that it will holde any thing, if it be but a ruſh or ſtraw, ſo cloſe they ſhut together. The two hoopes on both ſides outward are made bigger and bigger vpwarde, to holde more cloſe when they come together, as ye may perceiue by the hoopes within the ſprings, on both ſides. Then there is at the ends of the long barres two ſquare holes, which holes are made to pinne the long barre faſt to the ground, when yee ſet or tyle him in any place at your pleaſure. His clickets may ſo be made, that if any Otter, Foxe, or other, doe but tread thereon he ſhall be ſoone taken. This ye muſt bnide a péece of meate in the middeſt, and put it on the pricke, and ſo binde it faſt, and in pulling the baite, the clickets will ſlippe and the ſpringes will riſe, and ſo it will take him. Thus much for this kind of trappe ſhall be ſufficient to vnderſtand the order thereof.

The ſquare boxe trappe.

THis trappe is to take mice with any ſmall ſquare boxe, which boxe ye ſhall ſet an ende, and make the couer ſo he may fall of his owne accorde. Then tyle him vp with a ſmall ſticke with a nicke, and ſet it in the middeſt to holde vp the couer. Then put chéeſe on the toppe of the ſticke within the boxe. So when ſhée bites the baite, the ſticke ſhakes, and the lidde falles downe, and ſo the mouce remaynes in the boxe. Thus ye may take many mice with ſmall charge, and ſoone done.

A ſpring for a Buzard or Dunkite.

THis engine is called a whippe ſpring, made and ſet to take Buzardes and kites, and commonly ſet by a buſh ſide, it may alſo be ſet in a plaine, the ſpring muſt be of ſome growing poale, or ſome rodde ſet faſt in the ground where ye thinke beſt. There is alſo two ſtakes ſet halfe a yeard a ſunder faſt in the ground, and that ſtake with a crooke, muſt ſtand towardes the looce of the ſpring, and tild with a clicket, which clicket aboue muſt ſtay vnder the crooke: and the neather end there of muſt ſtand in the nicke of the end of the bridge, which hath a hooke at the other end about the other ſtake, which bridge muſt ſtand thrée inches from the ground, and thereon ſpread your line as ye ſée, with a ſhooe buckle to ſlide ſoone. Then baite your buſh ſide made ſome what hollow that ſhe can come no way to the batte but ouer the bridge: which baite may be a Conies head, or ſome eats fleſh. Thus much for the ſpring.

The hoope nette for the Buzard, ſet againſt ſome buſh in a plaine or open place.

THis engine called the hoope nette, is made thus: yée muſt haue a good bigge rodde of two inches about, and bow him round, ſo that he be a yeard hie in the middeſt. Then tie his two endes with a ſmall packthréed, within thrée quarters and a halfe quarter, which bowed rodde yée ſhall put on a péece of ſome hay net, of an ell long, and the other ſide of the net, on the ground line. Then ſet two pins faſt in the ground, tyde with packthréede to the two lower endes of the bowed rodde, which muſt turne eaſie, and not flie vp. Then ſet before your bridge, with hoolie and pinne as ye may ſée, with a bowed ſticke, and a clicket at the other ende, which clicket is tide with a ſtring reaching to the ſide of the hoope, and the other part vnto the ſpring rod, which rodde muſt lie on the ground, that when the bridge is put downe, it pluckes the hoope ouer the Buzarde and

ſo holdes it ſtill do one, which hoope muſt be ſet vp right againſt ſome buſh, and couered with ſome light fearne. And this is an excellent way in winter to take them.

The order for ſetting and drawing the chaffe nette, for Crowes and Sparrowes, as hereafter ſhall be declared.

YE ſhall firſt make your trenches for your nette, and ſtaues, according to the length of each thereof, and your ſayd trenches and ſtaues, to be without the ends of your net. Firſt piune downe the backe line of your nette in the trench, with foure ſmall hooked pinnes, ſo done, then meaſure thrée yeardes from the further end of your net, and there knocke downe a ſtake, and tie your draging line therat. But ſet your ſtake ſo that your line, and net may fall ſtraight when he is drawen: then knocke downe in the two vppen endes of your ſtaffe trenches, two hooked pins to holde your two ſtaues, as ye may ſée in their places. Then meaſure from the néere end of your backe line, fiue yeardes towarde your hande, and there knocke downe another ſtake, and faſten your pull thereat, and drawe your line through it, and pull your line ſo farre as ye will drawe your net, and there you muſt knocke down an other ſtrong ſtake with a hole thorow a foote aboue the ground, & there tie your drawing line to a ſhort ſticke to drawe by when ye will, and tie your line ſo tight it may come ſtiffe in bending your net. Then bent it, and put your line in the notch of your ſurther ſtaffe, and faſten it to the hooked pin in the trench, till ye haue bent the other ſtaffe in the néere trench. Then gather vp your net, and lay it vnder your line in the trench, ſo done: couer your net and ſtaues, with ſome ſhort ſtrawe or chaffe, and couer your drawing line with fearne or ſuch like. Then baite your ſhrape nie the backe line, with offall corne, or chaffe mixt with oates, ſéedes or ſuch like: and let it ſo remaine thrée or foure daies, if ye will, without laying your nette, ſo they will be the bolder to come when your net is layde, and the more number will knowe, and not ſeave the nette. Alſo your ſtaues for the Sparrowe net commonly muſt be twelue handfuls long, or nigh foure foote: and the caſting ſtaues for your Rooke net, may well be a handfull longer. The length betwéene your ſtaues and trenches for your Sparrowe net muſt be two and twentie foote, or according to the length of your net. And ſo for your Rooke net. Your backe line may be a ſmall line, but your drawing line had néede be ſtrong, and ſomewhat bigger than a halpeny haltar, to way downe the net. Some doe vſe to lay ſtones, and cloddes by, (if he drawe alone) to lay them on the out ſides of the nette, while hee takes or killes the Crowes. Wherefore if theſe nets were vſed in each pariſh thorough England, according to the ſtatute: there would not be the tenth Crowe aliue, which is now in this Realme, with in theſe fewe yeares, and as ſome doe iudge, the Crowes and birdes doe eate and ſpoyle as much graine yearely, as would goe nigh to finde all the people and cattell of the greteſt ſhiere in England for one yeare. For it is thought they deuour & ſpoyle yéerely in and for each pariſh in this Realm of this graine, viij. buſhels. There is counted two & fiftie thouſande pariſhes, ſo then there is two and fiftie quarters of graine deſtroyed yearely by Crowes and ſuch like, beſides a number of other pultrie about mens houſes deuoured by Crowes and Kytes, and chiefely it is thought, thorough the negligence of ſlouthfull huſbandes, which yearely toyles and labours to ſowe corne, and regardes not after the ſauing of the ſame, or yet to wage or giue to other (according to the ſtatute) that would in winter and other times be glad to take paine to take & deſtroy them. Thus I haue declared touching the deſtruction of corne by crows and ſuch like, and the profite and gaine that would come thereby, in vſing the ſaide nettes in each pariſh thorough the Realme which nets may well be vſed all the winter, and alſo from March till Midſommer or ſomewhat after. Ye may alſo baite your ſhrape, with fleſh, or ſome carrion, and ſo ye may take Kytes, fleſh Crowes, Rauens, and ſuch like, when ye ſée cauſe. The laying your nette is eaſle, but to make him caſt well, is all in the ſetting the tayle pinne, and placing the pully ſtake, in drawing your vpper line. Alſo in Iuly and Auguſt ye may well vſe the lime buſh, and the call for Sparrowes.

A baite to kill Rattes and Mice.

TAke of Argentum ſublimatum, of regall, and of Arſenicke, of each a dram, with twentie figges of the fatteſt, one ounce of haſell nuts rleane pilde and beaten, twelue walnuts pild, and halfe a pound of wheaten meale, alſo a pound and two ounees of hogges greaſe, with a little hony beaten and kneaded with the foreſaide ſimples. Firſt beat all into fine pouders, and then mire them all together, ſo done, then make them into little pellets, and lay them in your houſe where ye ſhall thinke good, for the Rattes to receiue, and ſet water by them. Taken out of Dutch. Or you may take ſwéete creame mixt with ſugar, and laid in ſhelts and ſtrowe the fine pouder of Arſenicke thereon.

Another compound for Rattes.

TAke ſwéeté creame, and mixe it well with ſugar, then take the crummes of white bread, with ſmall péeces, and put therein, and make it ſomewhat thicke. Then make it ſéeth, and ſtirre it ſtill till it be as thicke as pappe, then take it off the fire, and put therein of ſcraped chéeſe, and ſtirre it all well together: ſo doue, take the fine pouder of regall, and pouder of Arſenicke, and put it therein, and ſtirre it well all together: ſo ye may lay it on ſhelts, or tyle ſtones, where ye ſhall thinke beſt: yet ſome herein, will but ſtrow the ſaide pouders thereon, when they haue layde it, and it will ſerue ſo very well, or make the herbe Pedelion in pouder, and lay it on your meate, which herbe is the field clof.

An other way for the ſame.

TAke of faire colde water, and mixe it with fine wheate flower, and then worke it well all together, & ſée there be no lumpes of flowar vnbroken, then boyle it ſoftly, and ſtirre it alwayes for burning: and when it waxeth thicke put in ſugar, then take it from the fire, and mixe it with a little clarified hony, and being thicke like pappe, put therein as much as ye ſhall ſée good, of the fine pouder of Arſenicke, and then beate and ſtirre it all well together, and ſo when it is colde, ye may lay it where ye ſhall thinke good.

A baite for Mice.

TAke ſwéete butter, otmeale, and the pappe of a roaſted apple, with a quantitie of wheate flower, and ſugar. Then worke theſe all together, and put therein of the pouder of Argentum sublimatum, ſo worke it well together like a paſte, and ſo make it into ſmall pellots, and laye it where ye thinke good.

Another to kill Mice. • . Dioſcorides.

TAke the pouder of white Elleborie, otherwiſe called néeſing pouder, and mixe it with barley meale. Then put to honny, and make a paſte thereof, then bake it, or ſéeth it, or frie it, and it will kill thoſe Mice that eates therof.

An other for Mice.

TAke of barley meale a quantitie, and mixe therewith clarified hony: then put thereto a quantitie of the pouder finely beaten of Antimoneum, which is like vnto red glaſſe, alſo put therein a littel clarified ſhéepes ſuet, then beate and worke them all together, and make it in paſte, and vſe it as the other afore rehearſed, ye may put of ſugar therein if ye liſt: and here is to be noted, that when yée ſhall lay theſe baytes aforeſayde in your houſes, yee muſt then kéepe all other things from your Rattes and Mice, or elſe ye ſhall not haue your purpoſe of them ſulfilled, which may be layde for Pies and Crowes.

An other for Rats, Mice, Woolfes, or Foxes.

TAke the roote of an herbe called in Latine, Aconi • um: in Engliſh, Wolfes bane: and make it into a fine powder, then ſtowe of that powder on fleſh, or other thing what ye will, and it ſhall kill them ſoone after they haue taken it.

To take Rauens, Pyes, and Crowes.

YE ſhall take of Nux vomica, ſo called, which ye ſhall buy at the Apothecaries, they are gathered in the ſea, and are as broad as a péece of foure pence, and a quarter of an inch thicke or more. Thoſe which are the whiteſt within, are counted for the beſt, when ye will ocupie any, doe grate, or cut one ſmall in thinne ſlices, then beate it into powder if ye can, the finer it is the better, and the ſooner will make the Crowes or Pyes to fall. Put of the ſayde powder into a péece of fleſh, and ſo lay it abroad, and yée ſhall ſoone ſée Pie, or Crowe or Rauen take it. Then muſt ye watch hun a while after, and ye ſhall perceiue him to fall downe, then muſt ye follow to take him. But if yée let him remaine one quarter of an houre, he will recouer againe, for this nux vomica it doth but make them drunk, and dyzie for a time. The Kyte I haue not ſéene taken, for he will caſt it vp againe.

The ſpring net for Buzard or other kind of foule.

THis ſpring net or hoope net, is to take the Buzarde on the plaine, or to take Crowes, Pyes, or other ſmall birdes with their naturall baites, as the worme for the Blackbird, & the Nytingale: it may be made with a hoope of wood, or of yrne, or ſtéele wyar, ye muſt bring the endes together fortie as ye ſhall thinke good. Then lap thoſe ends with horſe haire, or packth • éed, ſo oft about the ends as ye ſée good: then put a piune of yrne, or of wood, betwéene the

ſaide haire or line. Then turne & twiſt the haire as ye do for a mouce trappe, ſo ſtiffe as ye ſhall ſée cauſe, ſo knocke that yrne pin into the ground where ye will ſet your net. Then take a ſmall ſtring that muſt be tide in the midſt of ye hoope, which ſtring muſt haue a knot at the end, ſo put it vnder the wreath of haire, and thorow a hole in a pinne of wood ſet in the ground before the yrne pin, and let the knot of the ſame ſtring, reſt in the ſayd hole. Then fill the ſaid hole with an other ſhort pinne of wood made blunt, putting it ſlight into the hole, to ſtay the knot of the ſtring that kéepes downe the net, and on that ſhort pinne, make a hole, or ſlit, & put a thorne with a baite theron: and when any thing do touch the baite, the ſhort pinne will ſoone fall, and the ſtring ſlips through the hole, and ſo the net turnes ſuddenly vpon the fowle. Thus much for ordering this kinde of net.