A booke of fishing with hooke & line, and of all other instruments thereunto belonging. Another of sundrie engines and trappes to take polcats, buzards, rattes, mice and all other kindes of vermine & beasts whatsoeuer, most profitable for all warriners, and such as delight in this kinde of sport and pastime. Made by L.M.

A Booke of fishing with Hooke & Line , and of all other instruments thereunto belonging .

Another of sundrie Engines and Trappes to take Polcats , Buzards , Rattes , Mice and all other kindes of Vermine & Beasts whatsoeuer , most profitable for all Warriners , and such as delight in this kinde of sport and pastime .

Made by L. M.

LONDON . Printed by Iohn Wolfe , and are to be solde by Edwarde White dwelling at the little North doore of Paules at the signe of the Gunne .

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 in fresh 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 Yee le .

THe Yée le 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 Yee le 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 aliue 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 wil be the finest gréene for the water , also the more of coperas yée doe put in it , the gréener it wil be , 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 wil be 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 wil be 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 wil be 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 , from September vnto Nouember , for it wil be 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 .

WHen 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 wil be 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 wil be soft as wier , and to haue the knowledge of this instruments , and also how much your hookes and lines , shal be 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 yée le , 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 shal be 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 .

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 the 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 yee le , 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 Yee le .

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 yée le 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 yée le 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 yée le come , he will swallowe it hole . Thus much for laying of hookes for the Pyke and Yée le .

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 Yee le , 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 we le 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 we le 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 We le , well bayted with fish , and so ye shall soone take him . Which Otter We le 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 we le 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 we le . There be that hath prouided many wayes ere they could take him . Thus much heere for the setting of the Otter We le , and here shall follow the saide Otter We le , with his proportion how to be made and set , the more easier 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 We le .

The fashion of the Otter we le , 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 we le 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 afore . 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 Yée le , and yet they are commended for a good féeding meat for man , but many will disdaine the fresh yée le , and estéeme it as a flaggie and slymie meate , saying : he will gender with the water snake , which thing possible may be , but the yée le 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 shal be 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 vnto 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 yée le 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 yee le speare to take yeeles .

The Otter Speare .

THe Yée le speare is made with fiue thinne barres , cut in the sides with téeth , to holde that yée le 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 yée le 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 the 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 Booke of Engines and traps to take Polcats , Buzardes , Rattes , Mice and all other kindes of Vermine and beasts whatsoeuer , most profitable for all Warriners , and such as delight in this kinde of sport and pastime .

LONDON . Printed by Iohn Wolfe , and are to be solde by Edwarde White dwelling at the little North doore of Paules at the signe of the Gunne . 1590.

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 .

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 .

a a The hole to tie the string of the bridge . b b The clicket . c c The lidde . d d The hole to tye the string . e e The hole to put through the string on the side . f f The pin for the string . g g 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 .

a a The lidde . b b The hole to tic the string . c c 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 , fylde 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 further 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 fulfilled , 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 him 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 the 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 .

Notes, typically marginal, from the original text

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