A treatyse of fysshynge
wyth
an Angle.
Dame Juliana Berners
Note: this Renascence
Editions text was transcribed by Risa S. Bear,
November 2002, from The Booke of haukynge, huntyng and fysshyng,
with
all necessary properties and medicines that are to be kept, Tottel,
1561 [STC 3312], with an omission of matter restored [[within double
brackets]]
from the edition of Wynken de Worde, 1496. Typographical errors have
been
emended within brackets. Printer's contractions for words containing
"m"
or "n" have been expanded within brackets. Any errors that have crept
into
the transcription are the fault of the present publisher. The text is
in
the public domain. Content unique to this presentation is copyright
©
2002 The University of Oregon. For nonprofit and educational uses only.
Send comments and corrections to the Publisher, rbear at uoregon.edu.
Here
beginneth a tre-
tyse of
fysshynge
wyth an Angle.
![](fysshyng.jpg)
SAlomon
in his
parables sayeth that a good spyrite maketh a flouring age that is a
fayre
age and a longe. And sythe it is so I aske this question, whiche be the
meanes and the causes that enduce a man into a mery spyryte? Truely to
my best discretion it semeth good disportes and honest games in whom a
man ioyeth without any repentaunce after. Then foloweth it that good
disportes
and honest games: be cause of mannes fayre age and longe lyfe. And
therfore
nowe we wyll I chose of foure good dysportes and honest games, that is
to wete of Haukyng, Huntyng, and fyshyng, and for foulyng. The best to
my discrecion whiche is fyshying called anglyng with a rod, and a lyne,
and an hoke, and therof to treat as my symple wyt may suffyse, both for
the sayd reason of Salomon, & also for the reason that reason
maketh
in this wyse.
Si tibi deficiant medici, medici tibi fiant. Hec tria, mens leta,
labor,
et moderata dieta.
Ye
shall vnderstande that this is for to say, if a man lackes leche or
medicine,
he shall make thre thynges his medicine and he shall neuer need moe.
The
first of them is a mery thought. The seconde is a labour not
outragious.
The third is diet mesurable. The first if a man will euer more be in
mery
thought and haue a glad spyrite, he must eschew all contrarious company
and all places of debate where he myght haue any occasions of
melancholy,
& if he wyll haue a labour not outragious: he must then ordeyne hym
to his hartes ease, and plesaunce without study, pensyfnes of trauayle,
a mery occupacion whiche may reioyce his harte, and in which his
spirites
may haue a mery delyte. And if he will be dieted measurably he must
eschewe
all places of ryot, whiche is cause of surfet and of syckenesse, and he
must drawe hym to places of swete ayre and hungry, and eate nouryshable
meates and disyrable also.
AS now than wyll I descryue
the sayd
disportes and games to fynde the beste of them as berely as I can, all
be it that the ryght noble and full worthy prynce Duke of Yorke late
called
mayster of the game, hath discryued the mirthes of huntyng like as I
thinke
to discryue of it and of al other. For huntyng as to mine intent is to
laborous. For the hunter must alway tunne and folowe his houndes
traueling
and sweting ful sore. He bloweth till his lyppes blyster. And whan he
weneth
it be a hare: full oft it is an hedgehogge. Thus he chaseth and woteth
not what. He commeth home at euen rayne beten, pycked, and his clothes
torn, wete shod and all myrde. Some hounds lost, some surbate. Suche
greues
and many others happeth vnto the hunter, whiche for displeasaunce of
them
that loue it, I dare not reporte. Thus truly me semeth that this is not
the best disporte & game of the said foure. The disport & game
of Hauking is laborous & noyus also as me semeth. for as ofte[n]
the
faukener leseth his haukes, as the hunter his houndes, than is his game
& disporte gone, often cryeth & whysteleth til he be ryght
euill
a thrust. His hauke taketh a bow & list not ones on him to regarde.
Wha[n] he would haue her to fle: tha[n] will she bath. With misfeeding
she shall haue ye frou[n]ce ye rie ye
cray & many other sicknesses yt bringeth the[m] to
souse.
Thus by profe this is not the best disporte & game of the sayd
fo[u]re.
The disport and game of foulyng me semeth moste symplest. For in the
wynter
season the fouler speedeth not, but in the hardest and coldest of the
wether
whiche is greuous for whan he would go to his ginnes he may not for
colde.
Many a gin & many a snare he maketh, yet sorely doth he fare, at
morne
tide in ye dells he is welshod vnto his taile. Many other
such
I could tel but dred of maugre maketh me to leue. Thus me semeth that
huntyng
and haukyng, and also foulyng, ben so laborous & greuous, that none
of them may perfourme nor be very meane to enduce a man to a mery
spyryte
whiche is cause of thys longe lyfe according vnto the sayd parable of
Salomon.
Doubtles then foloweth it that it muste needes be the disport of
fyshyng
with an angle. For all other maner of fysshynge is also laborous and
greuous,
often makyng of folkes ful were and colde which many tymes hath ne seen
cause of greate infirmities, but the angler maye haue no colde nor
dysease
nor angre, but yf he be causer hym selfe, for he maye not lose at the
mooste
but a lyne or an hooke: of which he may haue store plentye of hys owne
makynge, as thys simple treatyse shall teache hym. So then hys losse is
not greuous, and other greefes maye he not haue sauynge but yf any
fysshe
break away after yt he is taken on the hooke, or els yt
he catch nought whyche is not greuous, for yf he fayle of one he maye
not
fayle of an other, yf he doth as thys treatyse teacheth, but if there
be
nought in the water, and yet as the least he hath his holsome walke and
mery at his ease, sweet ayre of the sweet sauour of the medow floures
that
maketh him hungry. He heareth the melodious armony of foules. He seeth
the yonge swans, herons, duckes, cootes, and many other foules with
their
broodes, whyche me semeth better then all the noyse of houndes, the
blastes
of hornes, & the scry of foules, that hu[n]ters, faukeners, &
foulers
ca[n] make. And if the angler take fyshe: surely then is there no ma[n]
meryer then he is in his spirite. And who so wyl vse thys game of
anglyng:
he muste ryse early, which is profytable to man in this wyse. That is
to
wete, most to to the health of hys soule. For it that cause hym to be
holy,
& to the helth of his body for that it shal cause him to be whole.
Also to the encrease of hys gooddes, for it shall make hym ryche; as
the
olde Englysh prouerbe sayth in this wyse. W[h]o so wyll ryse early,
shalbe
holy, helthy, & happy. Thus haue I proued in myne entent that the
disporte
and game of angling: is the very meane and cause that enduceth a man
into
a mery spyrite, Which after the sayd parable of Salomon and the sayd
doctryne
and the Physicke maketh a stourynge age and a long, and therefore to
all
you that ben vertuous gentyll and fre borne, I wryte & make this
simple
tretise folowing by the which ye may haue the full craft of angling to
disport you at your lust to thentent that your age m[a]y the more
floure,
and the more longer endure.
IF
ye wyl be
crafty in angling, ye must first learne to make your harneys, that is
to
wete your rod, your lines of diuers colours, after that you must know
how
ye shall angle, in what place of the water, how depe and what time of
the
daye, for what maner of fysshe, in what wether, how many impedimentes
there
bene of fysshyng that is called anglyng, and in specially wyth what
baytes
to euery dyuers fyshhe, in euery moneth of the yeare[.] How ye shall
make
your baytes breed, where ye shal finde them, and how ye shall fynd
them,
and how ye shall kepe them and for the moost crafty thyng, how you
shall
make your hookes of stele and of osmonde. Some for the dub and some for
the flote on the ground.
And howe you shall make
your rod craftely, here I shall teache you, ye
shall cut betweene Michelmas & Candelmas a fayre staffe of a fadome
and a halfe longe and arme great of hasyll, wyllowe or aspe, and breath
hym in a hote ouen, and set hym euen. Then let hym coole and drye a
moneth,
take then and frete hym fast wyth a cokshote cord, and bynde it to a
fourme
of an euen square great tre. Then take a plummer wyer that is euen and
strayght, and sharpe at the one ende, and heate the sharpe ende in a
charcole
fyre tyll it be hote, and bren the staffe therewith through, euer
streyght
in the pith at both endes tyll they mete, and after that bren him in
the
nether end with a byrde broche, and with other broches eche greater
then
other and euer the greatest the last, so that ye make your hole aye
taper
wyse. Then let hym lye styl and kele two dayes, vnfrete hym then and
let
hym dry in a house roofe, in the smoke tyll he be through drye[. I]n
the
same season take a fayre yerde of grene hasell, and bathe it euen &
strayght and let it dry with the staffe and when they ben drye make the
yerde mete vnto the hole in the staffe vnto half the length of the
staffe,
and to perfourme that other halfe of the crop, take a fayre shote of
blacke
thorne, crab tree medler or els of Ienepre cut in the same season, and
well bethed, and streyght, and set them together fetely, so that the
crop
may iustly enter all into the sayde hole. Then shaue your staffe and
make
hym capre waye, then vyrell the staffe at both endes with long hoopes
of
yron or larton, in the clennest wyse, a pyke in the nether ende
fastened
with a rennyng vyce, to take in and out your crop. Then set your crop
an
handfull within the ouer ende of your staffe, in suche wyse that it be
as bygge there as in any other place aboue, then arme your crop at the
ouer ende downe to the fret with a lyne of syx heates, and double the
lyne
and frete it fast in the toppe with a bowe to fasten on your lyne. And
thus shall ye make you a rod so pryuy that ye may walke there with, and
there wyll neuer any man wete what thyng ye go about. It wyll be very
lyght
& nymble to fyshe with at your pleasure, & for the more
redynes,
lo here a fygure therof in example.
![[image of fishing rod]](rod.gif)
AFter
ye haue
thus made youre rodde: ye muste learne for to colour your lynes of
heare
in this wyse. First ye must take of a whyte horse tayle the longest
heare
and fayrest that ye can fynde, and euer the rou[n]der that it be: the
better
it is. Departe it in syxe partes, & euery part ye shall colour by
him
selfe in diuers colours as yelowe, grene, browne, tawny, russet, &
duske coloure. And for to make good greene coloures on your heare, ye
shal
do take smale ale a quarte, and put it into a litle pan and put therto
halfe a pounde of Alum, and put therto your heate and let it boyle
softly
halfe an houre. Than take out your heare and let it drye, than take a
pottell
of fayre water and put it in a pan and put therin two handes full of
Wyxene,
and presse it with a tyle stone, and let it boyle softly the space of
an
houre. And whan it is yelowe on the scum: put therein your heare, with
halfe a pounde of coperose beaten in pouder, and lette it boyle halfe a
myle waye. And than set it downe and let it kele fyue or syxe houres.
Than
take out the heate and drie it, and it is than the fynest greene that
is
possible to be had for the water. And euer the more that ye put therto
of cuperose the better it will be, or elles in the stede of it
Vert-grese.
And an other way may ye
make a bryghter greene, as thus. Lette wod your
heare in a wodden fat of lyght plunket colour and than set hym in olde
or wyxen lyke as I haue shewed you before, sauyng ye shall not putte
therin
neyther coperose or vertegrees.
For to make your heare
seme yelowe, dight it with Alum as I haue sayde
before, and after that with oldes or Wyxen without coperose or
vertgrece.
An other yelowe ye shall
make thus. Take smale ale & pottle, and stampe
thre handfull of walnut leues & put it together, and put in your
heare
tyll that it be as deep as ye wyll haue it.
For to make russet heare.
Take a pynte of strong
lyes & a half pound of soote, and a lytle iuce
of walnut leues and a quart of Alum, & put them all together in a
pan,
and boile them wel, and whan it is colde: put in your heare till it be
as darcke as ye wyll haue it.
For to make a browne
coloure.
./poems/dingbat.gif
Take a pounde of soote & a quarte of ale, and seeth wyth as many
walnut
leues as ye may, and wha[n] they be blacke set it from the fyre, and
put
therin heare & let it lye styll til it be as browne as ye wyll haue
it.
For to make an other
browne.
Take strong ale, and
soote and tempre the[m] together and put there to
your heare two dayes and two nyghtes, and it shal be a ryght good
coloure.
For to make a tawny
coloure.
Take lyme and water
& put them together, and also put your heare therin
foure or fyue houres. Tha[n] take it out and put it into a tanner sole
one daye and it shal be as fine a tawny coloure as any nedeth to our
purpose.
The sixe parte of your
heare ye wall kepe styl white for lines, for the
double hooke to fysshe for the troute & graylynge, and for small
lynes
for to lye for the roche & the Dase.
WHan
your heare
is thus coloured: ye must know for whiche waters and for which seasons
they shall ser[u]e. The greene colour in all cleare waters from Apryl
unto
Septe[m]ber. The yelow colour in euery clere water, from Se[p]tembre to
Nouembre for it is lyke to the wedes and other maner of grasse whyche
groweth
in the waters and ryuers whan they be broken.
The russet colour
serueth al the wynter vnto the ende of Apryll, as well
in ryuers as in pooles, or lakes.
The browne colour, serueth for
that
water that is black dedish in ryuers or other waters. Then tawny
colour,
for these waters that ben hethy or morysh.
NOw
must ye
make your lynes, in this wyse. Fyrst looke ye haue an instrument lyke
vnto
this fygure portrayed folowyng. Tha[n] take your heare and cut of the
ende
an handfull large or more. For it is neyther stronge nor sure. Than
turne
the top to the tayle, euery one like much and departe it into three
partes.
Than knyt euerye parte at one ende by hym selfe, and at the other ende
knytte all three together. And than put the same ende in that other
ende
of your instrument that hath but one clyft. And than set that other
ende
fast with the wedge foure fyngers in all shorter than your heare. Than
twyne euery warpe one waye, and lyke muche, and fast them in the
clyftes
alyke streyght. Take that out at that other ende, & than twyne it
that
waye that it wyll desyre enough. Than strayne it a lytle and knyt it
for
vndoyng and that is good. And for to knowe howe to make your
instrument:
lo here a fygure[.] And it shalbe made of tree, sauyng the bolte
vnderneth,
whiche shalbe of yron.
![[image of fishing line winder]](line.gif)
SO
whan you
haue as many of the lynkes as ye suppose wil suffyse for the length of
a lyne: than must ye knyt them together with a water knot, or els a
duches
knot, and when your knot is knyt: cut of the voyte short endes a straw
bred fro the knot. Thus shall your lynes be fayre and fyne, and also
right
sure for any maner of fysshe.
YE
shall vnderstande,
that the moste subtill and hardest craft in makyng your harneys, is for
to make your hookes. For whose makyng ye must haue feete toles thyn and
sharpe and small beaten, a semy clam of yron, a bender, a payre of long
and small tones, and an harde knyfe somedely thyke and an anuylde, and
a lytle hamner.
And for small fysshe, ye
shall make your hookes of the smallest quarell
nedilles that ye can fynde of stele, and in this wyse ye shall put the
quarell in a read charcole fyre, tyll it be of the same coloure that
the
fyre is. Than take hym out and let hym kele, and ye shall fynde hym
well
allayed for to fyle. Than rayse the barde with your knyfe, and make the
poynt sharpe. Than alay him agayne or els he will breake in the
bendyng.
Than bende hym lyke to the bende accordyng to the purpose. And greater
hookes ye shall make in the same wyse of great nedles, as broderers
nedelles,
or taylers, or shoomakers nedles, spere pointes of shoomakers nailes,
in
especiall the best for greate fysshe, and loke that they bend at the
poynt
wha[n] they ben assayed, for els they be not good. whan the hoke is
bended
bete the hinder ende abrode, and fyle it smothe for fretting of the
lyne.
Than put it into the fyre agayne, & geue it an easy read heate.
Than
sodonly quenche it in water, and it wyll be harde and strong. And for
to
haue knowledge in your instruments: loe they be here in figure
portrayed.
Hamer, Knyfe Pynsops, Clame, Wedge, Fyle,
Wrest, & Inuelde.
![[image of tools to make fishing gear]](tools.gif)
WHen
ye haue
made your hookes: then must ye set them on your lynes accordyng in
greatnes
and strength in this wyse, ye shall take small read sylke, and if it be
for a great hooke then dowble it not, twyned. And els for small hookes
let it be syngle, and therewith frete thycke the lyne there as the one
ende of your hooke shall fyt a strawe breade. Then set there your hooke
and freete him with the same threde the two partes of the length that
shalbe
fret in all. And when ye come to the thyrde part: the[n] turne the ende
of your lyne agayne vpon the fret double, and frete it so double at the
other thyrde parte, then put your threde in at the hole twyse or
thryse,
and let it goe eche tyme round aboute the yerde of your hooke, then
were
the hole and drawe tyll it be faste, and looke that youre lyne lye
euermore
within your hookes, and not without, then cut of the lynes ende and the
threde, as nyghe as ye may sauyng the frete.
So ye knowe with howe
great hookes ye shall angle to euery fysshe now I
wyll tell you with howe many heares ye shall angle to euery fysshe.
Fyrst
for the Menowe with a lyne of one heare. For the waryng roche, the
bleke,
the Gogyn and the Ruf with a lyne of two heares, for the Darse and the
great Roche with a lyne of thre heares. For the Perche with Flounder
and
Bremer with foure heares. For the Cheuyn chubbe, the Breme, the Tenche,
and the Eele with six heares. For the Troute, graylyng barbell &
the
great cheuyn: with nyne heares. For the greate [troute] with twelve
heares.
For the Samon with fyftene heares, and for the pyke with a chalke lyne
made browne with youre browne coloure aforesayde armed with a lyne as
ye
shall heare hereafter whan I speake of the pyke. Your lynes must be
plummed
with lead. And ye shall wete that the next plumbe to the hooke, shalbe
therfro a large foote and more, and euery plumbe a quantitie vnto the
greatnes
of the lyne. There be the maner of plumbes for a grounde lyne rennyng.
And for the flote set vpon the ground lyne lyeng .x. plumbes ioynyng
all
together on the ground line rennyng nyne or ten small. The flote
plu[m]be
shal be heuy that the first plucke of any fysshe may pull it downe into
the water, and make your plumbes round and smothe, yt they
stick
not on stones or weedes, and for the more vnderstandyng, lo here be
they
in fygures.
The ground lyne, rennyng
and lyeng.
![[image of hook and line]](hook1.gif)
The
Flote lyne, and the lyne for Perche or Tenche.
![[image of hook and line]](hook2.gif)
The lyne for
a pyke, plu[m]be, corke, and armed with wire.
![[image of hook and line]](hook3.gif)
THen
shall
ye make your flotes in this wyse. Take a fayre corke that is clene
wtout
any holes and bore it through with a small bore yron, and put therin a
pen iust and streyght, euermore note the greater pen, and the greater
hole.
Than shape it great in the middes, and smal at both endes, and
specially
sharpe in the nether ende, and lyke vnto the fygures folowyng and make
them smothe on a grydyng stone or on a tyle stone, and looke that
floote
for one heare be no more then a pease, for two heares as a beane, for
twelue
heares as a walnut, and so euery lyne must haue accordyng to his
porcion.
All maner lynes that be
not for the grounde must haue flotes, and the rennyng
ground lyne must haue a flote, the lyeng ground lyne must haue a flote.
![[image of floats]](floats.gif)
NOw
I haue lerned
you to make all your harneys[.] Here I wyll [tell you] how ye shall
angle.
Ye shall understande that there is syxe
maner of anglyng. That one is at
the ground for the troute and other fysshe. An other is at the grounde
at an arche or a stange, where it ebbeth and floweth: for bleke, roche,
and Darse. The thirde is with a flote for all maner of fysshe. The
fourth
with a menow for the Troute, without plumbe or flote. The Fyfth is
rennyng
in the same for the Roche and darse, with one or to heares and a flye.
The syxte is a dubbed hooke, for the Troute or Graylyng. And for the
fyrst
and pryncipall poynt in anglyng: kepe the euer from the water for the
syght
of the fysshe, eyther ferre vpon the lande, or els behynde a bushe that
the fyshe se you not. For if they doo: they wyll not byte. And looke
that
ye shadowe not the water as much as ye maye. For it is that
thyng that wyll sone fraye the fyshe. And if a fysshe be a frayde: he
wyll
not byte long after. For all maner of fysshe that fede by the grounde
ye
shall angle for them to the bottome, so that your hooke shall renne, or
lye on the grounde. And for all other fysshe, that fedeth aboue: ye
shall
angle for them in the mides of the water, or somdely beneth, or som
dele
aboue, for euer the greater fysshe: the nerer he lyeth to the botome of
the water. And euer the smaler fysshe the more he swymmeth aboue. The
thyrde
good poynte is whan the fysshe byteth that ye be not to hasty to smyte,
nor to late.
For ye must abyde tyll
ye suppose that the bayte be fer in the mouthe of
the fysshe and then abyde no lenger, and this is for the ground. And
for
the floote, when ye se it pulled softly vnder the water, or eis caryed
softly vpon the water, then smite. And looke that ye neuer ouersmite
the
strength of your lyne for breakyng. And if it fortune you to smyte a
great
fyshhe with a small harneys, then ye must lede hym in the water, and
labour
him there tyll he be drowned and overcome. Then take him as well as ye
can or may, and euer be ware that ye holde not ouer the strength of
your
lyne[.] And as much as ye may let him not come out of your li[n]es ende
streyght from you but kepe him euer vnder the rod, and euermore holde
him
streight so that your lyne may susteyne and beare his leapes and his
plu[n]ges
with the helpe of your crop and of your hand.
HEre
I wyll
declare vnto you, in what place of the water ye shall angle, ye shall
angle
in a poole or in a landing water in euery place where it is any thing
deepe.
There is no great choyse
of any place where it is any thyng depe in a poole.
For it is but a pryson vnto all fysshes & therfore it is the lesse
maistry to take them. But in a riuer, ye shall angle in euery place
where
it is depe and clere by the ground: as grauell or clay without mud or
wedes,
and in especiall if that there be a maner whyrlyng of water or a
couert.
As an holowe banke or great rootes of trees, or long weedes floting
aboue
the waters where as the fysshe may couer and hyde them self at certayne
tymes when they lyst. Also it is good for to angle in depe styffe
streames,
and also in vallays of water and weares, and in flode gates or myll
pyttes.
And at the banke, and where
the
streame renneth nyghe therby, and is depe and clere by the grounde and
in any other places where ye may se any fysshe haue any feding[.]
AS now
shall
ye wyt, what tyme of the day ye shall angle. From the begynning of Maye
vntill it be September: the byting tyme is early in the morow from four
of the clocke vnto eyght of the clocke, at after none from foure to
eyght
also, but not so good as in the mornyng, and if it be a colde wynde and
a lowryng day, it is muche better than a cleere daye. Also many poole
fysshes
will byte best in the morne tyde.
And if ye se in any tyme
of the day the Troute or greylyng lepe angle to
him with a dub according to the same moneth. And where the water ebbeth
and floweth: the fish wyll byte in some place at the ebbe and in some
place
at the flud after they haue restyng behynde stanges, and arches of
brydges,
and other suche maner places.
HEre
shal ye
wete in what maner of wether ye shal angle in, as I sayd before in a
darke
louryng daye whan the winde bloweth softly. And in sommer seaso[n] whan
it is brenning hote, than it is naught. From Septembre vnto Apryll, in
a fayre sunny daye it is ryght good to angle: and yf the wynde in that
season haue any parte of the Oryent wether: than it is naught, and whan
it is great wynde whan it snoweth, rayneth, or hayleth, or is a great
tempest,
as thunder or lyghtnynge or a swoly hote wether: than it is nought for
to angle.
YE
shall now
wit that there be twelue maner of impedymentes whiche cause a man to
take
no fysshe, without other comyn that may casually hap. The fyrst is if
your
harneis be not mete, nor fetely made. The second is, if your baytes be
not good nor fyne. The third is if that ye angle not in byting tyme.
The
fourth is if the fysshe be frayde with the syght of a man. The fyft if
that the water be ve[r]y thycke, whyte or read of any floude late
fallen.
The syxt if the fysshe stere not for colde. The seuenth, if that the
wether
be hote. The eyght, if it rayne. The .ix. if it hayle or snowe. The .x.
if it be tempest. The .xi. if it be great wynde. The .xii. if the wynde
be in the east, and that is worste. For commonly neyther wynter nor
somer
the fysshe wyl not byte than. The west and the north wynde ben good,
but
the south is best.
ANd
nowe I haue
told you howe to make your harneys, and howe ye shall fysshe therewith
in all poyntes: reason wyll that ye knowe with what baytes ye shall
angle
to euery maner of fysshe in euery moneth of the yere whiche is all the
effect of the craft. And without whiche baytes: knowe[n] well by you,
all
your other crafte here toforne auayleth you not to purpose. For ye
cannot
brynge a hooke into a fysshe mouthe withoute a bayte, whiche baytes for
euery maner of fysshe, and for euery moneth here foloweth in this wyse.
AS now because[ ]that the
Samon is
more statelye fysshe that any man maye angle to in fresshe water:
Therfore
I purpose to begyn at hym.
The Samon is
a gentyll fysshe, but he is cumberous for to take. For commo[n]ly
he is but in depe places of great ryuers, and for the moste part he
holdeth
him in the myddes of it, that a man may not come at hym. And he is in
season
from Marche vnto Michelmas. In whiche season ye shall angle to hym with
these baytes whan ye may get them. First with a red worme in the
begynnyng
and endyng of the season, and also with a grub that breedeth in a
dunghill,
and especially with a souerayne bayte that bredeth in a water docke.
And
he bydeth not at the grou[n]d but at the floote, also ye may take hym,
but it is seldome seene with a grub at such tymes as whan he lepeth, in
lyke fourme and maner as ye do take a Troute or a Gralyng, and these
ben
well proued baytes for the Samon.
THe
Troute for
because he is a right deynteous fisshe and also feruent bitter, we
shall
speake next of hym. He is in season fro Marcshe vnto Mychelmas. He is
on
clene grauell grounde, and in a streame, ye may angle to hym at all
tymes
with a ground lyne, lying or rennyng, sauing only in leapyng time, and
than with a dubbe. And erly with a rennyng grounde lyne, and forth on
the
daye with a flote line.
Ye shal
angle to hym in Marche with a menow ha[n]ged on your hooke by the
nethernes without floote or plumbe drawyng vp and downe in the streme
tyll
ye feele him fast.
In the same tyme angle
to him with ground lynes, and with a red worme for
the moste sure. In Aprill take the same baytes and also Iuneba,
otherwyse
named .vii. eyes, & also the ca[n]ker that breedeth in a great tre
& the red snayle[.]
In May take the stone
flye & the bobbe vnder the cow torde & the
sylk worm & the bayte yt bredeth on a ferne lefe[.]
In Iune take a red worme
& nip of the head and a codworme before vpo[n]
the hoke. In Iuly take the great red worme & the codworme together.
In August take a flesh flye, and the great red worme, and the fat of
the
bakon, & bynde them together about the hoke. In Septembre take the
read worme and the menow. In October take the same, for they be special
for the trout at al tymes of the yere. From Apryll tyll September the
troute
lepeth tha[n] angle to hym with a dubbed hoke accordyng to the moneth
whiche
dubbed hookes ye shall fynde at the ende of this tratyse, and the
monethes
with them.
THe
Grayling
by an other name called Umbre is a ryght delcious fysshe to mannis
mouthe,
and ye may take him as ye do the Troute, and these ben his baytes. In
Marche
& in Apryll the read worme. In May the greene worme, a lytle
braised
worme, the docke canker and the haut[h]orne worme. In Iune the bayte
that
breedeth betwene the tree and the barke of an Oke. In Iuly a bayte that
bredeth on a ferne lefe and a great red worm and nyp of the head and
put
it on your hooke, and a cod worme before, in August the read worme and
a Docke worme, and all the yere after a read worme.
THe
Barbell
is a swete fysh but it is a qualy meat and perylous for a mans body.
For
commonly he gyueth an introduction to the febres. And yf that he be
eaten
rawe, he may be cause of mannes deth, whiche hath oftentymes bene sene.
These be his baytes. In Marche and in Apryll take a fayre freshe chese,
and laye it on the borde, and cut it in small square peces of the
le[n]gth
of your hooke. Than take a candell and brenne it at the ende at the
poynt
of the hooke vnto the tyme that it be yelowe, and than bynde it on your
hooke with fletchers sylke, and make it tough lyke a welbede, this
bayte
is good all the sommer season. In May and Iune take the hautorne worme,
& the great red worme, & nip of ye head and put vpon
your hooke a cod worme before, and that is a good bayte. In Iuly take
the
read worme for chese, & the hauthorne together, also the water
docke
lefe worme together in August, and for al the yere, take the talow of a
shepe, and soft chese of eche like much, & a lytel hony, &
grinde
or sta[m]pe the[m] together long & te[m]per it till it be tough and
put thereto a lytell floure, & make it in small pelletes & that
is a good bait to angle wt at the ground, & loke yt
it sinke in the water, or else it is not good to this purpose.
THe
Carpe is
a deinteous fishe, but there be but few in England, and therefore I
wryte
least of him he is an euill fyssh to take. For he is so strong enarmed
in ye mouthe that there may no weke harneis holde him[.] And
as touchyng his baytes I haue but lytle knowledg of it, and I
were
lothe to wryte more then I knowe, and haue proued. But well I know that
the red worme and the menow ben good baytes for hym, at all tymes, as I
haue heard saye of persons credyble, and also found writen in bookes of
credence.
THe
cheuin
is a stately fishe, & his head is a deinty morsell. THere is no
fish
so strongly enarmed wt scales on the bodye, and because he
is
a strong byter: he hath the more baytes which ben these. In Marche the
red worme at the ground, for commonly then he wil bite there at all
tyme
of the yere, yf he be any thyng hungry.
In Apryll the dyche Canker
that
breedeth in the tree, & worme that breedeth betwene the rynde and
the
tree of an oke. The red worme, and the yong frosshes when the feete be
cut of. Also the stone fly, the bob vnder the cow torde, the read
snayle.
In Maye, the bayte that breedeth in the osyer lefe, and the docke
canker
together vpon your hooke, and a bayte that breedeth on a ferne lefe,
the
read worme, and a bayte that breedeth on a hauthorne, and a bayte
that breedeth on an oken lefe, and a sylke worme, & a cod worme
together.
In Iune take the creker and the dorre, and also a read worm, the head
cutte
of and a cod-worme before, and put them on the hooke. Also a bayte in
the
osyer lefe, yong frosshes, the thre fete cut of by the body & the
.iiii.
by the knee. The bayte on the hauthorne, & the codworme together
and
also a grub that breedeth on a du[n]g hill, a great greshop and the
humblebee
in the medow. Also young bees, and young hornettes, also a great
bre[n]deth
flye that breedeth in pathes medowes, and the flye that is amonge
pysmer
hylles. In August take worte wormes, and magottes to Mychelmas. In
September
the read worme, and also take the baytes when yo[u] may get them,
that is to wete, cheryes, and young myce not heared, and the house
combe.
THe
Breme is
a noble fyshhe, and a deynteous, and ye shall angle for hym from Marche
vnto August with a red worme, and then with a butter flye, and a grene
flye, and with a bayte that breedeth among greene reed, and a bayte
that
breedeth in the barke of a dead tree, and for bremettes take magottes.
And from that tyme forth all the yeare after take the read worme, and
in
the ryuer brownebread. More baytes there be, not easy, and therefore
let
them passe.
THe
Tenche
is a good fysshe, and healeth al maner of other fish that ben hurt if
thei
may come to him[.] He is moste part of the yere in the mud, and styreth
moste in Iune and Iuly, and in other season but lytle. He is an euyll
byter,
and his baytes bene these for all the yeare, browne bread tosted with
hony,
in lykenes of a buttred lofe, and the great read worme. And take the
blacke
bloud in the harte of a shepe, and floure & hony, and tempre them
altogether,
somedele softer then past, and anoynt the read worme there with, bothe
for this fyshhe and for other. And they wyll byte muche the better
thereat,
at all tymes.
The perche is a
deynteous fysshe, and passing holsome and after byting.
These ben his baytes. In Marche the red worme. In Apryll the bobbe
vnder
the cow torde. In May the Hothorne worme, & the cod worme. In Iune
the bayte that breedeth in an olde fallen oke, and the great canker. In
Iuly the bayte that bredeth on the oyser lefe & the bob that
bredeth
on a dunghyll, & the hathorne worme & the codworme. In August
the
read worme & magottes, and all the yeare after take read worme for
the best.
The roche is an easy
fyshhe to take, & if he be fat & penned then
is he good meat & these ben his baytes. In marche the read worme.
In
Apryll the bobbe vnder the cowe torde. In may the bayte that breedeth
on
the oke lefe, and the bob on the dunghyll. In Iune the bayte that
bredeth
on oysyer & the codworm. In Iuly house spyes & the bait that
bredeth
on an oke & the nut worme, & mathewes, and maggots vnto
mychelmas,
& then after yt the fat of bako[n].
The Dace is a gentyl
fyche to take & if it be wel refert then it is
good meate. In March his bayte is a redworm. And in Apryll the bob
vnder
the cowtorde. In Maye the docke canker, & the bayte on the
[h]othorne
and on the oke lefe. In Iune the codworme & the bayte on the oyser,
and the whyte grub in the dunghill. In Iuly take house spies &
flyes
yt breede in pismire hilles, the codworme & magots, vnto
mychelmas, & if the water be clere, ye shall take fysshe when other
take none, & from yt time forth do as ye do for ye
roach, for com[m]o[n]ly it is sene yt their biting &
baytes
be lyke.
The Bleke is but a feble
fysshe,
yet he is holso[m], his baytes from marche to michelmas be the same yt
I haue write[n] before for the roche & the darse, sauing all yt
somer season yt ye may angle for him with a house flie,
&
in winter seaso[n] wt bakon & other baite made as ye
hereafter
may know.
The Ruf is a ryght and
holsom fysshe, & ye shall angle to hym with
the same baytes in a ll seasons of the yeare & in the same
wyse
as I haue told you of the perche, for they be lyke in fysshe and in
feding,
sauyng the ruf is lesse and therefore ye must haue the smaller bayte.
The flounder is an
holsome fysshe & a fre, & a subtyll byter in
his maner. For commonly when he souketh his meate he fedeth at the
ground,
& therfore ye must angle to hym with a ground lyne lyeng, & he
hath but one maner of bayte, & that is a red worme, & that
moste
chefe for all maner of fysshe.
The Gugyn is a good fysshe of the mochenes, and he byteth well at
the ground, and his baytes for all the yere ben these, the read worme,
codworm & magottes & ye must angle to him wt a
flote,
and let youre bayte be nere the botome or els vpon the grounde.
The menow whe[n] he
shineth in the water, the[n] he is bitter, and though
his body be but littel yet he is a rauenous byter and egre, and ye
shall
angle for him with the same baytes yt ye do for the gogon
sauing
they must be small.
The Eele is a quaisy
fysshe, a rauenous & deuourer of the broode of
fysshe, & the pyke also is a devourer of fish. I put them both
behynde
al other for to angle, for this ele ye shall find an whole in ye
grou[n]
of water, & it is blew & blackish, there put in your hoke till
yt it be a fote wtin the hole & your bayte
shal
be a great angle with a menow. The pyke is a good fisshe but for he
deuoureth
so many as wel of his owne kynde as of other, I loue him the lesse
&
for to take him ye shal do thus. Take a roche or a fresh hering, &
a wyre with a hoke in the ende & put it in at the mouth, & on
by
the taile down by the ridge of the fresh herying, & than put your
lyne
of your hoke in after, and draw the hoke into the cheke of the fresh
hering,
tha[n] put a plu[m]be of lead vpon your lyne a yerde long from your
hooke
and a flote in mydway betwene, and cast it in a pyt where the pyke vse,
and this is the best and moste surest craft to take the pyke. And three
maner of taking him there is. Take a frosshe & put it on your hoke
at the necke betweene the skin and the body, on the back half, &
put
on a flote a yerd there in, and cast it where the pike haunteth, &
ye shall haue hym.
Another maner, take the same bayte & put it in assafetida, &
cast
it into the water with a corde, and a corke, and ye shall not fayle of
hym. And if ye lest to haue a good sport than tye the corde to a goose
fote and ye shall se good halyng whether the goose or the pyke shall
haue
the better.
Nowe ye wote with what baytes
and
how ye shall angle vnto euery maner of fisshe. Now I wil tel you how ye
shall keepe and feede your quicke baytes, ye shall feede and keepe them
all in generall, but euery maner by hym selfe with such things in and
on
which they brede. And as long as they be quicke & new they be fine.
But whe[n] they haue bene in a sloughe or els dead than bene they
nought.
Out of these bene excepted three broodes, that is to wyte of Hornettes,
Humblebees, and Waspes, Whoome ye shall bake in breade, and after dyppe
their headdes in bloude and lette them drye. Also excepte magottes,
whyche
whan they be breed greate with their naturall feedyng, ye shall feede
them
forthermore with shepes talowe.
[[ ... & wyth a cake
made of
floure & hony. thenne woll they be more grete. And whan you haue
clensyd
theym wyth sonde in a bagge of blanket kepte hote vnder your gowne or
other
warmm thyng two houres or thre, thenn ben they beste & redy to
angle
wyth. And of the frosshe kytte the legge by the knee. of the grasshop
the
leggys & wynges by the body.
Thyse ben baytes made to
laste all the yere. Fyrste been floure & lene
flesh of the hepis of a cony or of a catte: virgyn wexe & shepys
tallowe:
and braye theym in a mortar: And thene tempre it at the fyre wyth a
lytell
puryfyed hony: & soo make it vp in lytyll ballys & bayte
therwyth
your hokys after theyr quantyte. & this is a good bayte for all
manere
fresshe fysshe.
A nother, take the sewet
of a shepe & cheese in lyke quantyte: &
braye theim togider long in a mortere: And take thenne floure
&
tempre it therwyth. and after that alaye it wyth hony & make ballys
therof. and that is for the barbell in especyall.
A nother for darse,
& roche & bleke. Take whete & sethe it
well & thenne put it in blood all a daye & a nyghte, and it is
a good bayte.
For baytes for grete
fyssh kepe specyally this rule. Whan ye haue take
a grete fysshe: vndo the mawe. & what ye fynde therin make that
your
bayte: for it is beste.
Thyse ben
the .xij. flyes wyth whyche ye shall angle to ye trought
and grayllyng and dubbe lyke as ye shall now here me tell.
THe donne flye the body of
the donne
woll & the wyngis of the pertryche. A nother doone flye. the body
of
blacke woll: the wynges of the blackyst drake: and the Iay vnder the
wynges
& vnder the tayle.
Apryll.
The stone flye. the body
of blacke wull: & yelowe vnder the wynge.
and vnder the tayle & the wynges of the drake. In the begynnynge of
May a good flye. the body of roddyd wull and lappid abowte wyth blacke
sylke: the wynges of the drake & of the redde capons hakyll.
May.
The yelow flye. The body
of yelow wull: the wynges of the redde cocke hakyll
& of the drake lyttyd yelow. The blacke louper. the body of blacke
wull & lappyd abowte wyth the herle of the pecok tayle: & the
wynges
of the redde capon wt a blewe heed.
Iune.
The donne cutte: the body of blacke wull & a yelow lyste after
eyther
syde: the wynges of the bosarde bounde on wyth barkyd hempe. The maure
flye. the body of doske wull the wynges of the blackest mayle of the
wylde
drake. The tandy flye at saynt Wyllyams daye. the body of tandy &
wull
& the wynges contrary eyther ayenst other of the whitest mayle
ofthe
wylde drake.
Iu[ly].
The waspe flye. The
body of blacke wull & lappid abowte wt
yelow threde: the winges of the bosarde. The shell flye at saynt Thomas
daye. the body of grene wull & lappyd abowt wyth the herle of the
pecoks
tayle: wynges of the bosarde.
August.
The drake flye. the body of blacke wull & lappyd abowte wyth blacke
sylke: wynges of the mayle of the blacke drake wyth a blacke heed,
Thyse
fygures are put here in ensample of your hokes.
![[image of various sizes of hooks]](hook.gif)
Here
folowyth the order made to all those whiche shall haue the
vnderstondynge
of this forsayde treatyse & vse it for theyr pleasures.
YE
that can
angle & take fysshe to your plesures as this forsayd treatyse
techyth
& shewyth you: I charge & requyre you in the name of alle noble
men that ye fysshe not in noo poore mannes seuerall water: as his
ponde:
stewe: or other necessary thynges to kepe fysshe in wythout his lycence
& good wyll.
Nor that ye vse not to breke noo mannys gynnys lyenge in their weares
&
in other places due vnto theym. Ne to take the fysshe awaye that is
taken
in theym. For after a fysshe is taken in a mannys gynne yfthe gynne be
layed in the comyn waters: or elles in suche waters as he hireth it is
his owne propre goodes. And yf ye take it awaye ye robbe hym: whyche is
a ryght shamfull dede to ony noble man to do that that the uys &
brybours
done: whyche are punysshed for theyr euyll dedes by the necke &
otherwyse
whan they maye be aspyred & taken. And also yf ye doo in lyke
manere
as this treatise sheweth you: ye shall haue no nede to take of other
mennys:
whiles ye shal haue enough of your owne takyng yf ye lyste to labour
therfore,
whyche shall be to you a very pleasure to se the fayr bryght
shynynge
scalyd fysshes dyceyued by your crafty meanes and drawen vpon
londe.
Also that you breke no mannys hegges in goyng about your disportes ...
]]
And take good hede
that in
goyng about your disportes ye ope[n] no mans gates but that ye shyt
them
agayn. Also ye shal not vse this for said crafty disortes for no
couetousnes,
to the encreasing & sparing of your mony onely, but pryncypally for
your solace, & to cause the helth of your body, & specially of
your soule. For whe[n] you purpose to go on your disportes in fysshing,
ye wyll not desyre greatlye many persons with you which might let you
of
your game. And then ye may serve God deuotedly in saying
effectually
your customable prayers. And thus doyng: ye shall eschewe and also
auoyde
many vyces, as ydelnes whiche is pryncypall cause to enduce man to many
other vices as it is ryght well knowen. Also ye shall not be to
rauenous
in takyng of your sayde game, as too muche at one tyme whiche ye may
lightly
doo yf ye do in euery poynt as this present treatyse shewed you, whiche
should lyghtly be the occasion to destroye your owne disportes and
other
mens also. And when ye haue a sufficient messe, ye should couet no more
at that tyme, Also ye shal [helpe] your selfe to nouryshe the game in
all
that ye may and also to destroye all suche thynges as bene deuourers of
it.
Finis.
And all those that dooth after this rule
shall haue the blessyng of God
and saynt Peter, whiche he them graunt that with his precious bloud vs
bought. Amen.
Here
endeth the booke of Haukyng huntyng, and
fysshyng, with other dyvers
matters.
Imprinted at
London in Fleetestreate at
the Sygne of the Rose
Garlande,
by Wylliam
Coplande: for Rychard
Tottell.
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