Thys disporte and game of hawkyng is laborous and ryght noyous also as me semyth & it is very trowthe. The fawkner often tymes leseth hys hawkes þe hunter hys houndes þen all hys disporte ben gon and don Full often he cryethe & wystel tyl he be sor a thryst hys hawke taket a bowe and list not onys to hym reward wen he wolde haue her for to fle The wyl sche baythe with mysfedyng þen schall sche haue the frounce þe Rey þe Cray and mony oþer seknes þat brynget hur to þe souce theise me semyth be good profet but the be not þe best gamys of the seyd iiij^or.

The disporte and game of fowlyng me semyth most symplvest for yn the season of somer þe fowler spedyt not But yn þe most herde & colde wedyre he is soyr greved for he wolde go to hys gynnes he may not for colde many a gyn and many a snayr he maket & mony he leset, yn þe mernyng he walket yn the dew he goyth also wetschode and soyr a colde to dyner by the morow and sum tyme to bed or he haue wyl sowpud for any thynge þat he may geyt by fowlyng. Meny other syche y can rehers but my magyf or angre maket me to leyf Thys me semyth þat huntyng haukyng and fowlyng be so laborous & greuous þat non of them may performe to enduce a man to a mery spryȝt þe wyche is cause of longe lyfe acordyng to the seyd parabul of Salomon.

Dowtles then folowyth it þat it must nedys be þe disporte and game of fyschyng with an angul rode for all oþer maner of fyschyng is also ryght labure and grevous often causyng men to be ryght weyth and colde wyche mony tymes hathe be seyn the cheyf cause of infyrmyte and sum tyme deythe. But the angleer may haue no colde ne no disese ne angur but he be causer hymselfe for he may not gretly lose but a lyne or an hoke of wyche he may hayf plente of hys owyne makyng or of oþer mens as thys sympul tretes schall teche hym so then hys loste ys no grevous. And oþer grevous may he haue non But yf any fysche breke a wey from hym wen he is vp on hys hoke in londyng of the same fych or els þat ys to sey þat he cache not þe wich be no greyt grevous For yf he fayl of on he may not faylle of a noþer yf he do as thys tretes folowys schall yn forme hym but yf þer ben non yn þe watur wer he schall angul and ȝet at þe leste he schall haue hys holsom walke & mery at hys own ease and also meny a sweyt eayr of dyuers erbis & flowres þat schall make hyt ryght hongre & well disposud in hys body he schall heyr þe melodyes melodious of þe Ermony of bryde he schall se also þe ȝong swannys & signetes folowyng þer Eyrours Duckes Cootes herons & many oþer fowlys with þer brodys wyche me semyt better þen all þe noyse of houndes & blastes of hornes & oþer gamys þat fawkners & hunters can make or els þe games þat fowlers can make and yf þe angler take þe fysche hardly þen ys þer no man meryer þen he is in hys sprites. Also whoso wol vse þe game and disporte of angleyng he muste take hede to thys sentence of the olde prouerbe þat is thise versus

This is to sey he must ryse erly þe wiche þing ys ryght prophetabul to man yn thys wyse On is for helthe of the sowyl for hyt schall cause a man to be holy yf euer he schall be wel set to God. The ijd cause is it schall cause bodely helthe and schall cause hym to lyfe longe The iij^d hyt schall cause hym to be ryche wordly and gostly yn goodys & goodnes þus haue y proued in myne entent þat the disporte of angelynge is the very meyn þat causeth a man to be mery spyryt wyche aftur þe sayd parabol of Salomon and the doctrine of physyke maket a flowryng age and longe lyfe and þerfor to all þo þat be vertuose gentyle & freborne I wryte þis sympul tretes folowynge by the wiche ȝe may haue þe ful crafte of angelyng to sport ȝow with at ȝowr luste to the yntent þat ȝowr age may be mor flour and þe longur endur Then yf ye wyll be crafte yn angelyng ye muste furst lurne to mak ȝowr harnes þat ys to sey your rod your lynys of dy[uers] colors & your hokes after þat ye must know how ȝe schall angel & yn wat places of the watur how depe & wat tyme of the daye for wat maner of fysche in wath wedur how many Impedimen[ts] þer ben yn anglyng and especially with wat bayt to euery dyuerse fysche yn yche moneth in þe ȝer how ȝe schall make ȝowr baytes brede wher ye schall fynde þem & how ȝe schall fynde them & how ȝe schall kepe þem and for þe most crafty þyng how ye schall make your hokes of steyl & of osmonde som for þe to dub & som for þe flote as ye schall her aftur all þese ȝe schall fynd expressed openly to your ye.

And how ȝe schall make your Rodde craftely I schall tell ȝow ye schall kytte betwene Mychelmas and Candulmas a feyr staf evyn of a vj fote long or mor as ye lyst of hasill wilowe or aspe and beke hem in a ovyn when ye bake & set hym evy[n] ryght as ye can make hym þen let hym cole & drye a fowr wykes or mor Then take & bynd hym fast with a good corde vn to a forme or to an evyn squar tree & þen take a plumars wyr þat is evyn & strong & scharpe at þe oon ende þen hete the scharpe ende in a charcol fyr tyl hyt be hote & pers þe stafe þer with thorow þe pith of the seyd stafe Fyrste at þe oon ende & sithen at þe other tyll hyt be thorow & then take a bryd spytte & bryn hym as ye seme tyll it be to thyne entente in a maner as a tapur of wax & wax hym then let hym ly stylle two days after tyl hyt be thorow colde tan vn bynde hym & let hym drye yn a smoke howse or yn a howsroyf tyl hyt be thorow drye In þe same seysen take a yarde of white hasil & beth hym even & streighte & let hym drye yn þe same wyse as hyt ys seyd of the stafe and wen they be drye make þe yarde mete vn to the hole of the seyd stafe yn to þe halfe stafe lynket lyngh and to performe þe other halfe of þe cropþ Take a feyr schoyt of blake thorne crabtre medeler or geneper cut yn þe same sesun and wyl bethed and streyght & bynd hem to gydur fetely so þat þe cropp may justly entur all in to þe seyd hole then schaue the stafe and make hyt tapur wyys waxing þen virell þe staff wel at bothe endys with hopy of yren or laten with a pyke yn þe neþer ende festnyed with a remevyng vise to take in & owt þe cropþ. Then set your crop an honful with yn þe ovir ende of ȝowr stafe in suche wyse þat it be also bigge ther as any other place a bove Than arme ȝowr crop at þe ovir ende down to the frete with a lyn of vi herys & double the lyne & frete hyt fast yn þe top with a nose to fasten an your lyne and þus schall ye make yow a rode so perfet & fete þat ȝe may walke þer with and þer schall no man wyt wer a bowt ye go and hyt wyl be lyȝt & nemyll to fysche with at yowr plesur & devyce.

Aftur þat ye haue made ȝowr rodde ye must lern to colur your lynys of heyr in þys wise First ye must take of a wyht hors tayle þe lengest her þat may be had & euyr the rounder þe better it is & when ye haue departyd it at vi partes þen coler euery parte by hyt selfe in dyuers colers as yn to yelow Grene Broune Tawny Russet and duskyn colur Furst to make ȝowr ȝelo here Take smale ale a potell and stamp it with iij handful of walnot levys and a quarter of alom & put them all to gedur in a bras panne & boyle hem wel to gedur & wen hyt ys colde put yn ȝowr heyr þat ye wyll haue ȝelow tyl hyt be as dyrk as ye wyl heue it & þen take hyt owte.

Ye schall take smal ale þe quantyte of a quarte & put it yn a lytul panne and put þer to halfe lb alom & do zowr here þer to & let hyt boyl halfe a nowyr Then take ȝowr here & let hyt drye þan take a potell of watur and put hyt yn a panne & put þer to of welde or waxen ii^to handful & presse hyt down with a peyse and let hyt boyle softly halfe a nowyr and wen hyt ȝelow in the skome put þer yn yowr here and þer with halfe a lb of coperose wel beton yn to poudur & let it boyle halfe a myle wey and then set hyt down & let it coyl v or vi owres & then take owt your here & let hyt drye & þer ye schall haue þe best greyn þat may be for the watur and þe moyr þat ȝe put to of the coperas the grener hyt wyl be.

[¶ A nother wyse ye maye make more bryghter grene, as thus Lete woode your heer in an woodefatte a lyght plunket colour And thenne sethe hym in olde or wyxin lyke as I haue sayd: sauynge ye shall not put therto neyther coporose ue vertgrees. ¶ For to make your heer yelow dyght it wyth alym as I haue sayd before. And after that wyth oldys or wyxin wythout coporose or vertgrees. ¶ A nother yelow ye shal make thus. Take smalle ale a potell: and stampe thre handful of walnot leues and put togider: And put in your heer tyll that it be as depe as ye woll haue it. ¶ For to make russet heer. Take stronge lye a pynt and halfe a pounde of sote and a lytyll iuce of walnot leuys and a quarte of alym: and put theym alle togyder in a panne and boylle theym well. And whan it is colde put in youre heer tyll it be as derke as ye woll haue it. ¶ For to make a browne colour. Take a pounde of sote and a quarte of ale: and seth it wyth as many walnot leuys as ye maye. And whan they wexe blacke sette it from the fire. And put therin your heer and lete it lye styll tyll it be as browne as ye woll haue it.

¶ For to make a nother browne. Take stronge ale and sote and tempre them togyder. and put therin your heer two dayes and two nyghtes and it shall be ryght a good colour.

¶ For to make a tawney coloure. Take lyme and water & put theym togyder: and also put your heer therin foure or fyue houres. Thenne take it out and put it in a Tanners ose a day: and it shall be also fyne a tawney colour as nedyth to our purpoos ¶ The syxte parte of your heer ye shall kepe styll whyte for lynes for the dubbyd hoke to fysshe for the trought and graylynge: and for smalle lynes for to rye for the roche and the darse.

Whan your heer is thus colourid: ye must knowe for whiche waters and for whyche seasons they shall serue. ¶ The grene colour in all clere water rom Apryll tyll Septembre. ¶ The yelowe coloure in euery clere water from Septembre tyll Nouembre: For is is lyke þe wedys and other manere grasse whiche growyth in the waters and ryuers whan they ben broken. ¶ The russet colour seruyth all the wynter vnto the ende of Apryll. as well in ryuers as in poles or lakys ¶ The browne colour seruyth for that water that is blacke dedisshe in ryuers or in other waters. ¶ The tawney colour for those waters that ben hethy or morysshe.

Now must ye make youre lynes in this wyse. Fyrste loke that ye haue an Instrument lyke vnto this fygure portrayed folowynge. Thenne take your heer & kytte of the smalle ende an hondfull large or more, For it is neyther stronge nor yet sure. Thenne torne the toppe to the taylle eueryche ylyke moche. And departe it in to thre partyes. Thenne knytte euery part at the one ende by hymself. And at the other ende knytte all thre togyder: and put þe same ende in that other ende of your Instrument that hath but one clyft. And sett that other ende faste wyth the wegge foure fyngers in alle shorter than your heer. Thenne twyne euery warpe one waye & ylyke moche: and fasten theym in thre clystes ylyke streyghte. Take thenne out that other ende and twyne it that waye that it woll desyre ynough. Thenne streyne it a lytyll: and knytte it for vndoynge: and that is good. And for to knowe to make your Instrument: loo here it is in fygure. And it shall be made of tree sauynge the bolte vnderneth: whiche shall be of yren.

Whan ye haue as many of the lynkys as ye suppose wol suffyse for the length of a lyne: thenne must ye knytte theym togyder wyth a water knotte or elles a duchys knotte. And whan your knotte is knytte: kytte of þe voyde shorte endes a strawe brede for the knotte. Thus shal ye make youre lynes fayr & fyne: and also ryght sure for ony manere fysshe. ¶ And by cause that ye sholde knowe bothe the water knotte & also the duchys knotte: loo theym here in fygure caste vnto the lyknesse of the draughte.

Ye shall vnderstonde that the moost subtyll & hardyste crafte in makynge of your harnays is for to make your hokis. For whoos makyng ye must haue fete fyles, thyn̄ and sharpe & smalle beten: A semy clam̄ of yren: a bender: a payr of longe & smalle tongys: an harde knyfe som deale thycke: an anuelde: & a lytyll hamour. ¶ And for smalle fysshe ye shall make your hokes of the smalest quarell nedlys that ye can fynde of stele, & in this wyse. ¶ Ye shall put the quarell in a redde charkcole fyre tyll that it be of the same colour that the fyre is. Thenne take hym out and lete hym kele: and ye shal fynde him well alayd for to fyle. Thenne reyse the berde wyth your knyfe, and make the poynt sharpe. Thenne alaye hym agayn: for elles he woll breke in the bendyng. Thenne bende hym lyke to the bende fyguryd herafter in example. And greeter nokes ye shall make in the same wyse of gretter nedles: as broderers nedlis: or taylers: or shomakers nedlis spere poyntes, & of shomakers nalles in especyall the beste for grete fysshe. and that they bende atte the poynt whan they ben assayed, for elles they ben not good. ¶ Whan the hoke is bendyd bete the hynder ende abrode: & fyle it smothe for fretynge of thy lyne. Thenne put it in the fyre agayn: and yeue it an easy redde hete. Thenne sodaynly quenche it in water: and it woll be harde & stronge. And for to haue knowlege of your Instruments: lo theym here in fygure portrayd. ¶ Hamour. Knyfe. Pynsons. Clam̄ Wegge. Fyle. Wreste. & Anuelde.

Whan ye haue made thus your hokis: thenne must ye set theym on your lynes acordynge in gretnesse & strength in this wyse. ¶ Ye shall take smalle redde silke. & yf it be for a grete hoke thenne double it: not twynyd. And elles for smale hokys lete it be syngle: & therwyth frette thycke the lyne there as the one ende of your hoke shal sytte a strawe brede. Thenne sette there your hoke: & frette hym wyth the same threde þe two partes of the lengthe that shall be frette in all. And whan ye come to the thyrde parte thenne torne the ende of your lyne agayn vpon the frette dowble. & frette it so dowble that other thyrde parte. Thenne put your threde in at the hose twys or thries & lete it goo at eche tyme rounde abowte the yerde of your hoke. Thenne wete the hose & drawe it tyll that it be faste. And loke that your lyne lye euermore wythin your hokys: & not without. Thenne kytte of the lynys ende & the threde as nyghe as ye maye: sauynge the frette.

Now ye knowe wyth how grete hokys ye shall angle to euery fysshe: now I woll tell you]

Fyrst for the menewes with a lyne of on heyr for þe wexen Roche the bleke and the gogyn & þe Roffe with a lynne of ii herys For the Dare & þe greyt Roche vith a lyne of iij herys For the perche the flounder þe breme with a lyne of iiij herys For the cheven chobe the tenche the Ele with a lyne of vj herys For þe trowyt the grelyng and þe barbyl and þe greyt cheven with a lyne of ix herys For þe gret Trowt þe grelyng & þe perche with a lyne of xij herys. For a Samon with xv For the pyke ye schall take a good fyne lyne of pak thryde made yn maner of a chalke lyne made browne with your colour as ys a for seyd enarmyd with wyre for bytyng a sundure your lynys must be plomed with leyd and þe next plume to the hoke schall be ther from a large fote & more and euery plumbe of quantite of þe gretnes of the lyne. þer be iij maner of plumbyng Fyrst for a grond lyne rennyng and for the floyt set vppon the grounde lyne lying a x plumys rennyng all to gedur. On þe gronde lyne lying a xx or x smale plumbes For þe floote plumbe hym so hevy þat þe lest ploke of any fysche may pluke hym doune yn to þe watur And make hym rounde & smothe þat þei fast not on stones or weedys wyche wolde let yow gretly in your disporte of angelynge.

Ye schall make ȝowr flotes in þys wise Take a feyr corke yat ys clene with oute many hoolys boyr hyt þorow with a smale hoyt yrn & put þer yn a penne at þe gretter hoole Then schap hem yn maner of a dove egge lesse and mor os ȝe wylle & make hem smothe a pon a gynston And your floyt for on heyr be no bygger a pese for ij herys as a beyn for xij heres as a walnot and so forthe euery lyne aftur hys gretnes All maner of lynes must haue a floyt to angle with saue only þe gronde lyne and the rernyng ground lyne must haue a floote The lying ground lyne with ovte floyte

Now I haue lerned ȝow to make your hernes now wyll I tell ȝow how ye schall vnderstende þat þer be vj maner of anglyng Oon is at þe grounde for þe troute A nother at þe grounde at an arche of a brydge or at a stondyng wer hyt ebbethe or flowethe for bleke Roche and Dare. The iijd is with owt floote for all maner of fyche The iiij^th with a mener for the troute with owte plumbe or floote the same maner of Roche and Darse with a lyne of i or ij herys batyd with a flye The v^th is with a dubbed hooke for the troute & gralyng and for the principall poynt of anglyng kepe you euer from þe watur and from þe syȝt of fyche fer on the londe or els be hynde a busche or a tre þat þe fysche see yow not for yf he do he wyl not bytte and loke ye shadow not the watur as moche as ye may for hyt ys a thynhe wyche wyl a fray þe fyche and yf he be a frayd he wyl not byt a good while aftur For all maner of fyche þat fedyt by the grownde ye schall angle to hym in the myddes of the watur & som deyl moyr be neythe þen a boue for euer þe greter fyche the ner he lythe þe boten of þe watur and the smaler fyche comenly swymmyth a bove The vj^d good poynte ys when ye fyche byteth þat ȝe be not to hasty to smyt hym nor to late Ye must a byde tylle ye suppose þat þe bayte and the hoke be welle yn the mouthe of the fyche and then stryke hym and þys ys for the grounde and for the floot wen ȝe bey thynke hyt pulled softely vndur the watur or els caryed vpon þe watur softly then smyte hym and se þat ȝe neuer ouer smyt þe strynght of ȝowr lyne for brekyng and yf he hap to stryke a gret fyche with a smayl lyne ye must leyd hym in the watur and labur þer tyll he be ouercome and weryd Than take hym as well as ye may and be war þat ȝe holde not ouer þe strynght of ȝowr lyne and yf ȝe may yn any wyse let not hym on at the lynes ende stregiht from ȝow but kepe hym euer þe rod and euer holde hym streight So þat ȝe may susteyn hys lepys & hys plumbes with the helpe of yowr honde.

Her y wyll declar in wat places of the watur ye schall angle to yowr best spede ye schall angle yn a pole or yn a stondyng watur yn euery place þer it is any þyng depe þer is no grete choyse in a pole for it is but a pryson to fysche and þei lyve moste parte in pryson and hungre as a prisoner þer for it is þe lesse mastry to take hym But in rewarde ye schall angle euery place wher it is depe and clere by þe grounde as grauel or clay with owten mudde or wedes and especiall yf þer be a werly wherly pyt of watur or a couerte as an holow banke or greyt rottes of treys or long wedys flotyng a boue þe watur wher þe fysche may couer hym at dyuerse tymes Also in depe stiff stremys and yn falles of watur and weeres flode gates and mylle pittes and weyr þe watur restith by the banke & þe streme renneyth nye þer by and ys dep & clere by the grounde and yn oþer places wher he may se any fyche howvyng and fede a bove.

Ye schall wete þe best tyme is to angle from the be gynnyng of May vn to Septembre the bytyng tyme ys erly by the morow from iiij at cloke vn to viij At aftur none from iiij vn to viij but not so good as is in þe morow And yf hyt be a colde westeling wynde and a darke lowryng day þan wyl þe fysche commynly bite all day For a darke day is moche betur þen any oþer cleyr wedur from the be gynnyng of September vn to þe ende of Apryle spare no tyme of the day Also mony poyl fysche wyl bytte beste yn none tyme and yf ye se any tyme of the day þe trowyt or the graylyng lepe angle to hym with a dub accordyng to the same moneth And wer the watur ebbyt and flowythe þe fysche wyll bite in some place at þe floode all after þat þei haue restyng by hynd pilys or arches of briggs and oþer suche places

Ye schall angle as y seyde be for in darke lowryng wedur when the wynde blowethe softely and yn somer seasen when hyt ys brennyng hote It is from September vn to Apryl and yn a feyr sonne day ys good to angle in And yf the wynde þat sesan haue any parte of þe oriente northe þe wetur þen ys good and wen hyt ys a greyt wynde when hyt ys snowyt reynet or haylyth thonderyt or lightneth or also miuynge hoyt þat ys not to angle

Wyche cause men to take no fyche with oute oþir commyn causes wyche may casuelly hap The fyrst yf yowr harnes be not good and well made The ij^d is yf ye angle not yn bytyng tyme The iij^d yf þe fyche be a frayde with ye syȝt of any man The iiij^the yf þe watur be wery thilke whitte or redde as bye of any floyd falle late The v^d yf the fyche styr not for colde or feyr The vi^te is if þe watur be wery hote. The vij^th yf it reyne The viij^th yf hyt hayl or snowe The ix yf þer be any tempest of any veþer The x yf hyt be a greyt wynde by any coste The xij yf hyt be by the northe or north est or sowthe est for commenly neþer by wynter nor by somer yf þe wynde haue any parte of þys costes the fysche wyll not commynly byte ne styre The weste and þe sowthe be ryght good ȝet of þe two þe sowth is þe bettur

And now y haue tolde yow how to make ȝowr harnes and how ȝe schall fysche þer with then reson wyll þat ye know with wat baytys ye schall angle to euery maner freche watur fyche in euery moneth of þe ȝer whiche ys pryncipall effecte of þys disport of angleyng with owt wyche baytys knowen all ȝowr craftes heyr a foyr wryton a waileth litull or nowȝt to þe porpos for ye cannot brynge a hoke to a fyche mouthe but yf þer be mete ther on to hys plesur.

And for be cause þe samond ys þe most goodly fyche þat man may angle to in fresche watur þer for I porpos to be gynne with hym The samond ys a gentyl fyche but he ys cumburs to take for commynly he ys but yn ryght dep waturs and greyt Ryueres and for the moyr parte he holdet þe mydul of þe streym þat a man may not cum to hym easly and he ys in season from þe moneth of Marche vn to Mychelmas In wyche seson ye schall angul to hym with þys baytes when þey may be had fyrst with a bleke like as ye do to þe trowt with a menowe and with a red worme in þe begynnyng and þe endyng of þe seyde season and also with a worme þat bredyt yn a donghyll and especially with a souerent bayt þat bredyt yn þe watur sokul but hyt bydyt not at þe grounde but at þe floot. Also ye may hap to take hym but hyt ys seldim seyn with a dub at hys leping lyke as ye do a trowyt or a gralynge

The trowyt ys a deyntet fyche & a fre bytyng he ys in þe season as þe season ys he wyl not be but yn cleyn grauel grounde watur and yn a streme and ye may angle to hym at all tymys with a grownde lyne lying and rennyng sauyng yn lepyng tyme a þen with a dubbe and erly wyth a erly grounde lyne and forþer moyr yn þe day with a floyt lyne ye schall angle to hym marche with a menew hangud by ȝowr hoke by þe neþer lyp with owt floote or plumbe drawyng vp & down in þe streym tyll ȝe feyl hym fast In þe same seson angle to hym with a grownde lyne with a red worme for þe mor sur In Apryle take þe same baytes also þe same seson take a pryde also þe canker wyche bredyt in a doke royt and þe red snayl In May take a ston flye and þe bub vndur þe cow torde and the dor worme and a bayt þat bredyth on a pyne tre lefe In June take þe red worme & nyp of þe hed & put on þe hoke a codworme by foyr In Julye take þe litle red worme and þe codworme to gedur In August take þe flye þe lytyl red worme the herlesoke & bynde þe hooke. In September take þe red worme & þe meneys. In Octobre take þe same for þey be especiall baytes for þe trowyt all tymys.

[From Aprill tyll Septembre þe trough lepyth. thenne angle to hym with a dubbyd hoke acor∣dynge to the moneth, whyche dubbyd hokys ye shall fynde in thende of this treatyse; and the monethys wyth theym.:

The grayllynge by a nother name callyd vmbre is a delycyous fysshe to mannys mouthe. And ye maye take hym lyke as ye doo the trought. And thyse ben his baytes. ¶ In Marche & in Apryll the redde worme. ¶ In May the grene worme: a lytyll breyled worme: the docke canker. and the hawthorn worme. ¶ In June the bayte that bredyth betwene the tree & the barke of an oke. ¶ In Juyll a bayte that bredyth on a fern̄ leyf: and the grete redde worme. And nyppe of the hede: and put on your hoke a codworme before. ¶ In August the redde worme: and a docke worme. And al the yere after a redde worme.

The barbyll is a swete fysshe, but it is a quasy meete & a peryllous for mannys body. For comynly he yeuyth an introduxion to þe Febres And yf he be eten rawe: he maye be cause of mannys dethe: whyche hath oft be seen. Thyse be his baytes. ¶ In Marche & in Apryll take fayr fresshe chese: and laye it on a borde & kytte it in small square pecys of the lengthe of your hoke. Take thenne a candyl and brenne it on the ende at the poynt of your hoke tyll it be yelow. And thenne bynde it on your hoke with fletchers sylke: and make it rough lyke a welbede. This bayte is good all the somer season. ¶ In May & June take þe hawthorn̄ worme & the grete redde worme. and nyppe of the heed. And put on your hoke a codworme before. & that is a good bayte. In Juyll take the redde worme for cheyf & the hawthorn̄ worm togyder. Also the water docke leyf worme & the hornet worme togyder. ¶ In August & for all the yere take the talowe of a shepe & softe chese: of eche ylyke moche: and a lytyll hony & grynde or stampe theym togyder longe. and tempre it tyll it be tough. And put therto floure a lytyll & make it on smalle pellettys. And þat is a good bayte to angle wyth at the grounde And loke that it synke in the water. or ellys it is not good to this purpoos.

The carpe is a deyntous fysshe: but there ben but fewe in Englonde. And therfore I wryte the lasse of hym. He is an euyll fysshe to take. For he is soo stronge enarmyd in the mouthe that there maye noo weke harnays holde hym. And as touchynge his baytes I haue but lytyll knowlege of it And me were loth to wryte more than I knowe & haue provyd But well I wote that the redde worme & the menow ben good baytys for hym at all tymes as I haue herde saye of persones credyble & also founde wryten in bokes of credence.

The cheuyn is a stately fysshe & his heed is a deyty morsell. There is noo fysshe soo strongly enarmyd wyth scalys on the body. And bi cause he is a stronge byter he hathe the more baytes, which ben thyse. ¶ In Marche the redde worme at the grounde: For comynly thenne he woll byte there at all tymes of þe yere yf he be ony thinge hungry. ¶ In Apryll the dyche canker that bredith in the tree. A worme that bredith betwene the rynde & the tree of an oke. The redde worme: and the yonge frosshys whan the fete ben kyt of. Also the stone flye the bobbe vnder the cowe torde: the redde snaylle. ¶ In May þe bayte that bredyth on the osyer leyf & the docke canker togyder vpon your hoke. Also a bayte that bredyth on a fern̄ leyf: þe codworme. and a bayte that bredyth on an hawthorn̄ And a bayte that bredyth on an oke leyf & a sylke worme and a cod worme togyder. ¶ In̄ June take the creket & the dorre & also a red worme: the heed kytte of & a codworme before: and put theym on þe hoke. Also a bayte in the osyer leyf: yonge frosshys the thre fete kitte of by the body: & the fourth by the knee. The bayte on the hawthorn̄ & the codworme togyder & a grubbe that bredyth in a dunghyll: and a grete greshop. ¶ In Juyll the greshop & the humbylbee in the medow. Also yonge bees & yonge hornettes. Also a grete brended flye that bredith in pathes of medowes & the flye that is amonge pysmeers hyllys. ¶ In August take wortwormes & magotes vnto Myghelmas. ¶ In Septembre the redde worme: & also take the baytes whan ye may gete theym: that is to wyte, Cheryes: yonge myce not heeryd: & the house combe.

The breeme is a noble fysshe & a deyntous. And ye shall angle for hym from Marche vnto August wyth a redde worme: & thenne wyth a butter flye & a grene flye. & with a bayte that bredyth amonge grene rede: and a bayte that bredyth in the barke of a deed tree. ¶ And for bremettis: take maggotes. ¶ And fro that tyme forth all the yere after take the red worme: and in the ryuer browne breede. Moo baytes there ben but they ben not easy & therfore I lete theym passe ouer.

A Tenche is a good fyssh: and heelith all manere of other fysshe that ben hurte yf they maye come to hym. He is the most parte of the yere in the mudde. And he styryth moost in June & July: and in other seasons but lytyll. He is an euyll byter. his baytes ben thyse. For all the yere browne breede tostyd wyth hony in lyknesse of a butteryd loof: and the grete redde worme. And as for cheyf take the blacke blood in þe herte of a shepe & floure and hony. And tempre theym all togyder somdeale softer than paast: & anoynt therwyth the redde worme: bothe for this fysshe & for other. And they woll byte moche the better therat at all tymes.

¶ The perche is a daynteuous fysshe & passynge holsom and a free bytyng. Thise ben his baytes. In Marche the redde worme. In Aprill the bobbe vnder the cowe torde. In May the slothorn̄ worme & the codworme. In June the bayte that bredith in an olde fallen oke & the grete canker. In Juyll the bayte that bredyth on the osyer leyf & the bobbe that bredeth on the dunghyll: and the hawthorn̄ worme & the codworme. In August the redde worme & maggotes. All the yere after the red worme as for the beste.

¶ The roche is an easy fysshe to take: And yf he be fatte & pennyd thenne is he good meete. & thyse ben his baytes. In Marche the most redy bayte is the red worme. In Apryll the bobbe vnder the cowe torde. In May the bayte þat bredyth on the oke leyf & the bobbe in the dunghyll. In June the bayte that bredith on the osyer & the codworme. In Juyll hous flyes. & the bayte that bredith on an oke. and the notworme & mathewes & maggotes tyll Myghel∣mas. And after þat the fatte of bakon.

¶ The dace is a gentyll fysshe to take. & yf it be well refet then̄ is it good meete. In Marche his bayte is a redde worme. In Apryll the bobbe vnder the cowe torde. In May the docke canker & the bayte on þe slothorn̄ & on the oken leyf. In June the codworme & the bayte on the osyer and the whyte grubbe in þe dunghyll. In Juyll take hous flyes & flyes that brede in pysmer hylles: the codworme & maggotes vnto Mighel∣mas. And yf the water be clere ye shall take fysshe whan other take none And fro that tyme forth doo as ye do for the roche. For comynly theyr bytynge & theyr baytes ben lyke.

¶ The bleke is but a feble fysshe. yet he is holsom His baytes from Marche to Myghelmas be the same that I haue wryten before. For the roche & darse sauynge all the somer season asmoche as ye maye angle for hym wyth an house flye: & in wynter season with bakon & other bayte made as ye herafter may know. ¶ The ruf is ryght an holsom fysshe: And ye shall angle to him wyth the same baytes in al seasons of the yere & in the same wise as I haue tolde you of the perche: for they ben lyke in fysshe & fedinge, sauynge the ruf is lesse. And therfore he must haue þe smaller bayte.

¶ The flounder is an holsom fisshe & a free. and a subtyll byter in his manere: For comynly whan he soukyth his meete he fedyth at grounde. & therfore ye must angle to hym wyth a grounde lyne lyenge. And he hath but one manere of bayte. & that is a red worme. which is moost cheyf for all manere of fysshe. ¶ The gogen is a good fisshe of the mochenes: & he byteth wel at the grounde. And his baytes for all the yere ben thyse. þe red worme: cod worme: & maggotes. And ye must angle to him with a flote. & lete your bayte be nere þe botom or ellis on þe gron̄de.

¶ The menow whan he shynith in the water then is he byttyr And though his body be lytyll yet he is a rauenous biter & an egre. And ye shall angle to hym wyth the same baytes that ye doo for the gogyn: sauynge they must be smalle.

¶ The ele is a quasy fysshe a rauenour & a deuourer of the brode of fysshe. And for the pyke also is a deuourer of fysshe I put them bothe behynde all other to angle. For this ele ye shall fynde an hole in the grounde of the water. & it is blewe blackysshe there put in your hoke tyll that it be a fote wythin þe hole. and your bayte shall be a grete angyll twytch or a menow.

¶ The pyke is a good fysshe: but for he deuouryth so many as well of his owne kynde as of other: I loue hym the lesse. & for to take hym ye shall doo thus. Take a codlynge hoke: & take a roche or a fresshe heering & a wyre wyth an hole in the ende: & put it in at the mouth & out at the taylle downe by the ridge of the fresshe heeryng. And thenne put the lyne of your hoke in after. & drawe the hoke in to the cheke of þe fresshe heeryng. Then̄ put a plumbe of lede vpon your lyne a yerde longe from youre hoke & a flote in mydwaye betwene: & caste it in a pytte where the pyke vsyth. And this is the beste & moost surest crafte of takynge the pyke. ¶ A nother manere takyne of hym there is. Take a frosshe & put it on your hoke at the necke bytwene the skynne & the body on þe backe half: & put on a flote a yerde ther fro: & caste it where the pyke hauntyth & ye shall haue hym. ¶ A nother manere. Take the same bayte & put it in Asa fetida & cast it in the water wyth a corde & a corke: & ye shall not fayll of hym. And yf ye lyst to haue a good sporte: thenne tye the corde to a gose fote: & ye shall se god halynge whether the gose or the pyke shall haue the better.

Now ye wote with what baytes & how ye shall angle to euery manere fysshe. Now I woll tell you how ye shall kepe and fede your quycke baytes Ye shall fede and kepe them all in generall: but euery manere by hymself wyth suche thyng, in and on whiche they brede. And as longe as they ben quycke & newe they ben fyne. But whan they ben in a slough or elles deed thenne ben they nought. Oute of thyse ben excepted thre brodes: That is to wyte of hornettys: humbylbees. & waspys. whom ye shall bake in breede & after dyppe theyr heedes in blode & lete them drye. Also excepte maggotes: whyche whan thei ben bredde grete wyth theyr naturell fedynge: ye shall fede theym ferthermore wyth shepes talow & wyth a cake made of floure & hony. thenne woll they be more grete. And whan ye haue clensyd theym wyth sonde in a bagge of blanket kepte hote vnder your gowne or other warm thyng two houres or thre. then̄ ben they beste & redy to angle wyth. And of the frosshe kytte þe legge by the knee. of the grasshop the leggys & wynges by the body. ¶ Thyse ben baytes made to laste all the yere. Fyrste been floure & lene flesshe of the hepis of a cony or of a catte: virgyn wexe & shepys talowe: and braye theym in a morter: And thenne tempre it at the fyre wyth a lytyll puryfyed hony: & soo make it vp in lytyll ballys & bayte therwyth your hokys after theyr quantyte. & this is a good bayte for all manere fresshe fysshe.

¶ A nother. take the sewet of a shepe & chese in lyke quantyte: & braye theim togider longe in a mortere: And take thenne floure & tempre it therwyth. and after that alaye it wyth hony & make ballys therof. and that is for the barbyll in especyall.

¶ A nother for darse. & roche & bleke. take whete & sethe it well & thenne put it in blood all a daye & a nyghte. and it is a good bayte.

¶ For baytes for grete fyssh kepe specyally this rule. Whan ye haue take a grete fysshe: vndo the mawe. & what ye finde therin make that your bayte: for it is beste.

¶ Thyse ben the .xij. flyes wyth whyche ye shall angle to þe trought & grayllyng, and dubbe lyke as ye shall now here me tell.

Ye that can angle & take fysshe to your plesures as this forsayd treatyse techyth & shewyth you: I charge & requyre you in the name of alle noble men that ye fysshe not in noo poore mannes seuerall water: as his ponde: stewe: or other necessary thynges to kepe fysshe in wythout his lycence & good wyll. ¶ Nor that ye vse not to breke noo mannys gynnys lyenge in theyr weares & in other places due vnto theym. Ne to take the fysshe awaye that is taken in theym. For after a fysshe is taken in a mannys gynne yf the gynne be layed in the comyn waters: or elles in suche waters as he hireth, it is his owne propre goodes. And yf ye take it awaye ye robbe hym: whyche is a ryght shamfull dede to ony noble man to do þat that theuys & brybours done: whyche are punysshed for theyr euyll dedes by the necke & otherwyse whan they maye be aspyed & taken. And also yf ye doo in lyke manere as this treatise shewyth you: ye shal haue no nede to take of other men̄ys: whiles ye shal haue ynough of yowr owne takyng yf ye lyste to labour therfore. whyche shall be to you a very pleasure to se the fayr bryght shynynge scalyd fysshes dysceyued by your crafty meanes and drawen vpon londe. ¶ Also that ye breke noo mannys heggys in goynge abowte your dysportes: ne opyn noo mannes gates but that ye shytte theym agayn. ¶ Also ye shall not vse this for∣sayd crafty dysporte for no couetysenes to then-creasynge & sparynge of your money oonly, but pryncypally for your solace & to cause the helthe of your body. and specyally of your soule. For whanne ye purpoos to goo on your disportes in fysshyng ye woll not desyre gretly many persones wyth you. whiche myghte lette you of your game. And thenne ye maye serue god deuowtly in sayenge affectuously youre custumable prayer. And thus doynge ye shall eschewe & voyde many vices. as ydylnes whyche is pryncypall cause to enduce man to many other vyces. as it is ryght well knowen. ¶ Also ye shall not be to rauenous in takyng of your sayd game as to moche at one tyme: whiche ye maye lyghtly doo yf ye doo in euery poynt as this present treatyse shewyth you in euery poynt. whyche sholde lyghtly be occasyon to dystroye your owne dysportes & other mennys also. As whan ye haue a suffycyent mese ye sholde coueyte nomore as at that tyme. ¶ Also ye shall besye yourselfe to nouryssh the game in all that ye maye: & to dystroye all suche thynges as ben deuourers of it. ¶ And all those that done after this rule shall haue the blessynge of god & saynt Peter, whyche he theym graunte that wyth his precyous blood vs boughte.

¶ And for by cause that this present treatyse sholde not come to the hondys of eche ydle persone whyche wolde desire it yf it were enpryntyd allone by itself & put in a lytyll plaunflet therfore I haue compylyd it in a greter volume of dyuerse bokys concernynge to gentyll & noble men to the entent that the forsayd ydle persones whyche sholde haue but lytyll mesure in the sayd dysporte of fysshyng sholde not by this meane vtterly dystroye it