A Book of fishing with Hooke & Line, and of all other instruments thereunto belonging.  
Another of sundry Engines and Traps to take Polecats, Buzzards, Rats, Mice and all other kinds of Vermin & Beasts whatsoever, most profitable for all Warriners, and such as delight in this kind of sport and pastime.  
Made by L. M.  
LONDON. Printed by john Wolf, and are to be sold by Edward White dwelling at the little North door of Paul's at the sign of the Gun.   


First the knowledge of angling with the Hook and line.  
HEre will I declare briefly unto you, how to angle with the hook & line, in what times best, and in what places of the water to take fish. First in standing pools, ye shall angle where the water is something deep. There is no great choice of any place where it is any thing deep, either in pool or other standing water: but in a river, ye shall angle best where it is deep and clear by the ground, being gravel or clay without any mud or weeds, and in whirling waters, or in a covert, as under a hollow bank or roots of trees, or long weeds floating above on the water, all these places are troublesome: also it is good angling in deep stiff streams, or in falls of waters and wears, and in flood gates, and mill pools, and it is good whereas the water resteth by the bank, or where the stream runneth nigh thereabout, being deep and clear by the ground, or any other place where ye may see any fishhove above in the water, or hath any other feeding place to resort, or on that side the water where the wind hath no great power.   

What times best to angle.  
HEre shall ye understand what time of the day is best to angle, from the beginning of May, unto the month of September fish will bite. The best angling to take fish, is early in the morning from four of the clock until it it be eight a clock, other be meetly, but not so good as in the morning: also the evenings be indifferent good to angle, if it be some what calm withal, or else not good, the wind blowing from the South or West.  
Also if it be a cold whistling wind in a dark lowering day, for the dark louring weather is much better to angle in: then in a clear sunny day, and from the beginning of September unto the end of April, ye shall spare no time of the day to angle, and likewise many pool fish will bite best in the mid day about noon. If ye shall see any time of the day, the Troute, or Grailing leap, ye may then angle to him a double worm, according to the same month, and if the water doth ebb and flow, the fish in some place will bite best at the ebb, and in some places at the flood, according to the places of rest, as behind pillars and arches of bridges, or such like suckering places in the most quiet water.   

In what wether to angle in.  
HEre ye shall understand in what wether ye shall best angle as aforesaid in the dark louring day, when the wind bloweth southly from the South or West: in the Summer season when the sun is very hoy, it is then nought to angle, but from September unto April, it is then good in a fair sunny day, the wind being then good: if it have any part of the Orient or East, it is then nought to angle, for they will not bite, or when it is a great wind, snow, rain, or hail, or in a great tempest of thunder, or lightning, for it feareth them, or else in a swooly hot wether, all these times are not good to angle for to take fish.   

Of twelve lets in taking fish.  
YE shall here understand there be twelve manner of impediments or lets which causeth a man to take no fish, without other cunning that may hap by casualty. The first is if your harness or lines be not fitly made▪ the second is, if your baits be not good nor fine: the third is, when that ye angle not in the biting time: the fourth is, if that your fish be fearful of the sight of man: the fift is, if the water be very thick, white or red by any flood late fallen: the sixth is, if the fish for cold do not stir abroad: the seventh is, if the wether then be too hot: the eight is, if it be in rainy wether: the ninth is, if then hail or snow do fall: the tenth is, if it be in any tempest: the eleventh is, if then it be a great wind: the twelfth is, if the wind blow from the East, for that is worst, and commonly neither winter nor summer the fish will then bite: the West and North winds be good, but the South wind 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 deep places of great rivers, and commonly in the midst of the river: he is in season from March unto Michaelmas, and ye shall angle to him with a red worm, from the beginning to the ending, and with the bob worm that breedeth in the dughill: also there is a sovereign bait that breedeth on the water dock: the Salmon biteth not at the ground, but at the float or above: ye may also take him with the dub worm at such time when he leapeth, but it hath seldom seen, and ye shall take him in like manner as ye do take the Trout, or Grailing, or the Dace.   

For the Troute.  
THe Troute is in season from March unto Michaelmas, he useth commonly a clean gravely ground, and in a stream: ye may angle to him at all times with a ground line, lying or runniug, saving in the leaping time, then with the dub fly, and early in the morning with a running ground line, and further in the day with the float line. Also ice may angle to him, in March with a Menowe hanged on your hook by the neither part without any float or plumb, drawing it up and down in the stream till ye feel him fast, but if ye angle to him with the fly, ye shall strike when he is a foot and more from your bait, for the cometh so fast ye may in the same time angle to him with a ground line, and baited with a red worm, for that is a good sure bait, and is most used. Also in March, April, May, September and October take the Menow on your hook: in December, januarie and February drag with the bobworme at the ground: in june, july and August, fish with made flies on your hook: on the upper part of the water, for that is a sure bait and is most used.  
In April take the red worm, and also of juneba, otherwise called seven eyes, or the great canker worm that breedeth in the bark of a great tree, and the red snail. In May, take the stone fly or Caddis worm, and the bob worm under the Cowtorde: also ye may take the silk worm, and the bait that breedeth on a Fern leaf.  
In june take the red worm and nip of his head, and put it on your hook, and a codworm before. In july take the great red worm, and the codworm together. In August take the flesh fly, and the great red worm, and the fat of bacon, and bind it about your hook. In September take the red worm, and the menow. In October, take the same, for they are special good for the trout in all times of the year, from April unto September, the Trout leapeth, then angle to him with a dubbed or armed hook according to the said months, for he is strong in the water.   

For the Grailing.  
THe Grailing, otherwise named Umber, ye may angle for him as ye do for the trout, and these are commonly his baits: in March and in April ye shall take the red worm: in May ye shall take the green worm, and asurall grayled worm, and the Dock canker, and the worm on the hawthorn: in june, the bait that breedeth between the bark and the tree of the Oak: in july, the bait that breedeth on the Fern leaf, and the great red worm, and nip of his head, and put it on your hook with the Codworme before: in August the red worm and the dock worm, and all the year after use chief the red worm.   

For the Barbyll.  
THe barbel is a subtle and a strange fish to take, and very dainty to take his bait: these are commonly his baits, in March and in April ye shall angle to him with fresh cheese laid on a board, and so cut it in small pieces square, the length of your hook: then take a candle and burn it or smear it on the end at the point of your hook tillit look yellow: then bind it on your hook with Fletcher's silk, and make it rough like a welbede worm, and this is very good for all summer season: but in May and june ye shall take the Hawthorne worm, and the great red worm before: in july the red worm for a chief bait, and the Hawthorne worm together, and also the worm that breedeth in the water dog leaf, and the young Hornet worm together: in Angust and for all the year, take the tallow of a sheep and soft cheese of each alike, and grind or scrape them well and small together, till it wax fine and tough, then put a little wheat flower, and make it into little pellets, and this is a good bait to angle at the bottom, and see that it do sink alone in the water, or else it is not good for this purpose.   

The carp.  
THe carp also is a strange and dainty fish to take, his baits are not well known, for he hath not long been in this realm. The first bringer of them into England (as I have been credibly informed) was master Mascoll of Plumsted in Sussex, who also brought first the planting of the Pippin in England: but now many places are replenished with Carp, both in pounds and rivers, and because not knowing well his chief baits in each moveth, I will write the less of him, he is a strange fish in the water, and very strange to bite, but at certain times to wit, at four a clock in the morning, and eight at night be his chief biting times, and he is so strong enarmed in the mouth, that no weak harness will hold him, and his biting is very tickle: but as touching his baits, having small knowledge by experience, I am loath to write more than I know and have proved. But well I wot, the red worm and the Menow be good baits for him in all times of the year, and in june with the cadies or water worm: in july, and in August with the Maggot or gentle, and with the coal worm, also with paste made with honey and wheat flower, but in Automne, with the red worm is best, and also the Grasshopper with his legs cut off, which he will take in the morning, or the whites of hard eggs steeped in tart ale, or the white snail.   

The Chevyn.  
THe Chevyn is also a wary fish to take, and very fearful: In March he will bite at the red worm at the ground, for commonly he will bite at the ground and somewhat deep at all times of the year, in April, the cadyee or ditch canker, and the canker that breedeth in the bark of a tree, and the worm that breedeth between the bark and the Oak tree: also the red worm, and the young frog his legs and féetè cut off, also the stone Cadyce fly, and the bob worm under the cow-turd, likewise the red snail: in May, the bait that breedeth on the Ozyar leaf, and the dock canker together put upon your hook, and the bait that breedeth on the fern leaf, also the eodde worm, and a bait that breedeth on the hawthorn, and the worm that breedeth on the oak leaf, and also the silk worm, and the coddeworme together: in june, take then the Crekets and the Dor fly, and also the red worm, the eade cut off, and a cod worm before, also the worm in the Oziar leaf, and young frogs, the feet cut off by the body or by the knee, also the bait on the hawthorn, and the codworm together, and the dunghill grub or worm and a great Grasshopper: in july, the Grasshopper, and the humble be in the meadow the waterest, also young wasps and white young Hornets taken in their combs, and the great branded fly that breedeth in paths of meadows, and the flying Pysmyars, which be in the pismyar hills: in August, take the Colewort worm, and the gentle or Maggot until Michaclmasse, and in September, take then the red worm, and these baits when ye may get them, which is, Cherries, young Myse not haired, and the sow worm that breedeth in posts of the house.   

The bream.  
THe bream is a noble fish counted and a dainty, he is good to take, he is a strong fish in the water, ye shall angle to him from March unto August with the red worm, and then with the Butterfly, and the green fly, and also with the bait that breedeth among green reed, and a worm that breedeth in the bark of a dead tree, and to take young Bremets, take the Gentiles or Maggots, and from August all the year after ye shall take the red worm, and if ye angle for him in the river, ye shall then take of brown bread, for that is good, yet some do use in April and May, the worm that breedeth on the Elm and willow, and chewed bread is very good, and all other baits used for the Chevyn, but specially young wasps.   

The Tench.  
THe Tench is a fish that feedeth at the bottom, and most part of the year among the mud, and most he stirreth in the months of june and july, and in other times of the year but little: the Tench is an evil biter, and very subtle to take with the angle, his common baits are these, for all the year they take brown bread toasted and smeared with honey in likeness of a buttered toast, also they take the great red worm, and for a chief bait, take the black blood in the heart of a sheep, and mix it with flower and honey, and temper them all together something softer than pap or paste, and anoint therewith your red worm on your hook: it is very good both for this kind of fish, and for other also, and they will bite thereat much the better at all times.   

To take Perch.  
THe Perch is a dainty fish and passing wholesome for a man, he is also a free and greedy biter: these are his baits, in March they take the red worm, in April, the bob worm under the cowdung, in May, the hawthorn worm and the codworm, in june the bait that breedeth in an old hollow oak, and the great canker: in july the bait that breedeth on the Osier leaf, and the great hobbeworme that breedeth in the dunghill, and the flyeboate worm that breedeth on the weed raggewort, and the codworm: in August, then take the red worm and the Maggots or gentiles, and the Menow tied by the lip, and for all the year after, ye shall take the red worm, for that is best.   

The Roche.  
THe Roch is a wholesome fish and easy to take with the angle, for he is a ready biter: these are his baits: in March ye shall take the red worm, in April, the bob worm under the cow dung, in May, the bait that breedeth on the oak leaf and the flying Emmat, and the bob worm that breedeth in the dunghill: in jime the flying Ant, and the bait that breedeth in the Osier, and the codworm: in july, the worm in the flag root, and ye shall take of house flies, and the bait that breedeth on the oak, and the worm that breedeth in the small nut, and also the gentiles, till Michaelmas, and after Michaelmas take the fat of Bacon. Another special bait, take fair wheat and seeth it like farmantie: then take it out of the water and dry it, then fry it with honey, and good store of saffron, and then put it on your hook, and the fish will bite thereat marvelous fast But before ye angle, ye shall cast into the water a few crumbs of bread, or take some trummes and fry them with some honey, and mix it with saffron, and see ye fry it not too much, for this is good and a chieft bait.   

The Dace.  
THe Dace is a gentle fish to take, and quick at the vayte, he biteth all the summer me the top of the water, and they angle to him without the float in March, his bait is the red worm, in April. the bob worm under the cow turd, in May, the dock canker, and the bait that is under the slow thorn, and the worm on the oak leaf: in june, the codworm, and the bait that breedeth on the Ozyer, and the white worm in the dunghill: in july then take house flies and the slyes that do breed in pismire hills: also the cod worm and gentiles or maggots, and those use until Michaelmas, and if the water then becleare, ye shall take fish when other take none: and from that time forth, take baits for him as ye do for the Roch, for commonly of their baits and biting be all alike.   

The Bleak.  
THe Bleak is a little fish in biting, and commonly he bites not nigh the bottom, but above and in the midst of the water. His baits from March to Michaelmas, are the same baits which are written afore for the Roch. And also the Dace, saving for all the summer season, angle for him as much as you may with the house fly, & for the winter season, ye shall angle to him with Bacon flesh, and other baits made meet for his purpose, as hereafter ye shall more understand thereof.   

The Ruff.  
THe Ruff is a wholesome fish & good to bite, and ye shall angle to him with the same baits, in all the months of the year, as I have told you before of the Perch, for these two fishes are in eating and feeding all alike, saving that the Ruff is not so big as the Perch, for they are commonly always less of growth, but the red worm is chief for them both.   

The Flounder.  
THe Flounder is also a wholesome fish for sick folks, and he will be in fresh waters and rivers, he is free in biting, but a subtle biter after his manner, in nibbling long ere he take the bait: and commonly when he sucketh his meat, he feedeth at the ground, and therefore ye must angle to him with allying ground line: and they use for him but one manner or bait which is the red worm, for that is the common and chiefest bait for him, and all manner of fish.   

The Googing.  
THe Googing is a good and a wholesome fish, he is a ready biter, and biteth commonly at the ground, & his baits through out the year are these: the red worm for the chiefest, also the cod worm and the gentle: and ye must angle to him with a float or eorke, and let always your bait be within two fingers or an inch of the bottom or less, or else for to drag on the ground, for so it is best and most soonest to take them. He useth in deep places with clean sand or gravel ground at the bottom, as at wayers, bridges, and miltayles.   

The Menow.  
THe Menow is a small fish and a bold biter, and biteth commonly at the bottom, as the Googine: it is aholefome fish to eat if he be galled. For when he shineth in the water, he is then bitter, though his body be small: and he is a great ravening biter, and will have the bait before other fish: ye shall angle to him with the same baits as ye do for the Gogin, saving they must be small. And with a small hook, or else ye shall often be deceived by them: some angles to them with a line of two hooks or three, two together and on other hook above: they will be in all shallow places as in ditches, and such like.   

The ye'll.  
THe ye'll is a greedy feed, and he biteth always at the bottom, ye shall see commonly holes in the bottom of the water, if ye put in your hook there, ye shall soon have him bite if he be there, and he will hold very hard a long time, ye must therefore hold your line stiff, and he will yield at length if ye pluck and strive with him hastily ye are like to lose him. And when he lieth in a hole, it shall be best for to angle to him with your proch hook, as is showed after, but when you angle to the bottom for the Gogin, ye shall oft times take the ye'll when that he runneth abroad, as often they will specially in the evening. The great red worm is the chiefest bait for him, or a Menow, or any piece of gut, or such like.   

The Pike.  
THe Pike is a common devourer of most fish, where he cometh for to take him, ye shall do thus. Take a coddling hook, well armed with wire, then take a small Roch or Gogin, or else a Frog a live, or a fresh Hearing, and put through your armed wire with your hook on the end, and let your hook rest in the mouth of your bait, and out at the tail thereof, and down by the ridge or side of the fresh Hearing, and then put your line thereto, and draw it up and down the water or pool, and if he see it, he will take it in haste, let him go with it a while, and then strike and hold, and so tire him in the water. Seen do put the hook in at the check of the bait, and forth at the tail: but when ye will lay your line, then must ye put a plummet of lead upon your line, a yard from your hook, and a float in the midst between the lead and your bait, that it sink not to the bottom, for then the yéeles will eat your bait away. Ye may lay in your baits without flots and often ye may speed of pikes: and if you will see a good sport in a pond where as there is store of Pikes, you shall put in a Goose, and put a frog alive on a hook, and tie it with a strong pockthreed (to the Goose foot) a yard long or more, and in short space ye shall see good snatching and tugging between the Pike and the goose. another manner in taking the Pike there is: ye shall take a live Frog, & put him on your hook at the neck between the skin and the body on the back part, and put a float as is aforesaid, then cast it in a river or pound, where ye think the Pike haunteth, and ye shall soon take him: and the best laying or angling for him, is towards night. Also another manner is to take him: take the same bait aforesaid, and put it into a safetida, and then cast it in the water with a long line and a hook, & ye shall not fail of him soon after.  
another bait for him: Take Boars grease a safetida, neep, so boil altogether, then take a Roch, or other small fish, and dry it in your bosom: and take and anoint him with the foresaid ointment, and then put him on your hook, and cast it into the water, and you shall speed: also some do use to drag for the Pike with a bleak, Roch, or Gogin, in drawing it up and downeithe water, sometimes above, and sometimes beneath, for so he will soon come, if he see it, and some anglers do put the hook in at his gill, and out at his mouth, and so draws the bait, as though he did fly from the Pike, which is taken for the better way to make him more eager to take it.   

The Loch, and the Miller's thumb.  
THe Loch and the cull, or Miller's thumb, they are good and wholesome fish, they feed at the bottom, and lie most part in weeds, roots, and holes in banks, and to angle for them, ye must lay to the bottom, they do seldom bite at an hook, but the red worm is their chiefest bait that I do know for them, for their food is commonly at the bottom, in sucking such as lies on the bottom of the water.   

The manner of feeding and preserving your quick baits.  
NOw I will tell you how you shall féepe and kéede your quick baits, which is, you shall feed and keep them all in general, but every manner by himself, with such things as they breed in, and upon, and so long they be quick and new, so long they are fine and good, but when they be once dead, they are then nothing worth, out of these be excepted three broods or kinds, that is to weet, of hornets, humble bees, and wasps, which ye shall bake them after the bread is drawn out of he oven, and then dip their heads in blood, and let them so dry, and also for the maggots when they be bred, and wax great with their natural feeding, ye shall continue and feed them, (surthermore) with sheeps tallow, and with a cake made of flower, and honey, which will cause them to be more greater, and when ye have cleansed them in a blanket bag with sand, keep it hot under your gown, or other warm thing two hours or three, than they will be best to your purpose, and ready for to angle with, and for the frog, when ye angle with him, ye must cut off his legs by the knees, and also the grasshopper, his legs and wings by the body, all other made baits I will here let pass, but use them as ye think good.   

Baits to last all the year.  
HEre I will speak of certain baits to last all the year. The first is made of bean flower, and lean flesh of the hips of a coney, or of a cat, with virgin wax, and sheeps tallow, so beat them in a mortar, and then temper them at the fire, with a little clarified honey, and so make it up in small balls, and therewith ye may bait your hook according to the quantity, and this is a good bait for all manner of fish, that useth the fresh waters.   

Another.  
Take the suet of a sheep, and cheese, of each like quantity, and bray them together long in a mortar, then take flower and temper it therewith, and then delay it with honey, and so make balls thereof. and this is a special bait for the barbell also.   

Baits for fi●eat fish.  
THe baits for great fish, ye shall keep in mind this rule, that is, whensover ye do take a great fish, ye shall open the maw of him, and look what ye find therein, make that your bait for that time, for that is always best and most surest. There is many other making of baits, but for lack of knowledge therein, I will here pass them over, and some not so needful as necessary as these aforesaid.   

Of twelve kinds of made Flies to angle, for the trout, in Summer with other fish.  
THere hath been used twelve manner of flies, made and set unto the hooks to angle withal, on the top of the water, the which Flies are to angle for the grailing and darce, and chiefest for the trout, and also for the chub, like as now ye shall hear me tell and declare, each by himself, the counterfeiting of them.   

First for the done Fly.  
1 The dun Fly (in March) the body is made of done wool, and the wings of the partridge feathers.  
2 Also there is another done Fly made, the body of black wool, and the wings is made of the black drakes feathers, and of the feathers under the wings of his tail.   

The stone Fly.  
3 The stone Fly (in April) the body is made of black wool, made yellow under the wings, and under the tail, 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 red wool, leapt about with black silk, and the feathers of the wings of the drake, with the feathers of the red capon's tail, or hakell.   

The yellow Fly.  
5 The yellow Fly (in May) is good, the body made of yellow wool, and the wings made of the red cocks hackell or tail, and of the drake littid, or coloured yellow,   

The black Fly.  
6 The black Fly or lowper, (in May) the body is made of black wool, and leapt about with the herle of the peacocks tail, the wings are made of the wings of a brown capon, with his blue feathers in the head.   

The sad yellow Fly.  
7 The sad yellow Fly (in june) the body is made of black wool, with a yellow list of either side, & the wings taken of the wings of the bozard, bound with black bracked hemp.   

The More Fly.  
8 The moorerish Fly is also good, made with the body of duskish wool, and the wings made of the blackish male of the drake.   

The tawny Fly.  
9 The tawny Fly is good at Saint Willams day, or unto mid june, the body is made of tawny wool, and the wings made contrary, one against the other, made of the whitish mail of the wild drake.   

The wasp Fly.  
10 The wasp Fly (in july) the body is made of black wool, and lapped about with yellow thread, & the wings are made of the feathers of the bozard.   

The shell Fly.  
11 The shell Fly is good at Saint Thomas day, or mid july, the body is made of green wool, and lapped about with the herell of the peacocks tail, and the wings made of the wings of a bozard.   

The dark or drake Fly.  
12. The dark drake Fly (in August) is good, the body is made of black wool, and lapped about with black silk, his wings are made of the mail of the black drake, with a black head. Thus are they made upon the hook, leapt about with some cork like each Fly afore mentioned.   

Here followeth how to colour your lines, to angle with.  
NOw to learn how to colour your lines of hear according to the colour of each water and season, in this wise, first ye shall take the hair of a white horse tail, the longest and strongest ye can get, the rounder hair the better it is. Then ye shall divide it six parts, and ye shall colour each part by himself, as yellow, green, brown tawny, russet, and the dusk colour. And to make a good green, take a quart of small ale, and put it into a pan, and put thereto half a pound of Alum, and so put therein your hair, and let it boil softly half a hour, then take forth the hair and let it dry, Then take a pottle of water and put it in a pan, and put therein too hand full of Mary golds, or of wixen, and then pressè it with a tile stone and so let it boil softly half an hour, and when the scum is yellow, then put in your hair, with half a pound of coperes beaten into fine powder, and so let it boil the space of half a mile way, then take it down, and let it keel the space of five or six hours, and so take forth your hair and dry it, which willbe the finest green for the water, also the more of coperas ye do put in it, the gréener it willbe, or ye may put in steed of it, of verdigrece.  
Another kind to make another green, as thus, ye shall put your hair unto a wood fat, of plunket colour and it willbe a light colour, and to make it plunket colour, than ye shall seeth it in golds or wixen, like as I have aforesaid, unto this colour ye shall not put coperas, nor verdigris, for it will do better without.   

To make yellow hair.  
FOr to make yellow hair, ye shall seeth it with alum, as I have afore showed, and after that with golds or wixen, without coperas or verdigris. Also another yellow ye shall make thus. Take a pottle of small ale and stamp there in three handful of green walenut leaves, so put them together, and lay your hair therein, so long till ye have it so deep colour as you desire.   

To make a russet.  
FOr to make your hair russet, ye shall take a pint of strong lie, and half a pound of soot, with a little of the juice of walnut leaves, and a quantity of alum, then boil them well altogether in a pan, then take it off, and when it is cold, put therein your hair, and so let it lie till it be a dark colour, so as ye will have it.   

To make a brown colour.  
FOr to make your browue colour, ye shall take a pound of soot and seeth it in a quart of ale, and with so many of walnut leaves, as ye shall think good, and when they shall wax black, take it off the fire, and put therein your hair, and so let it lie still therein till it be as brown as ye will have it. Also another brown colour, take of strong ale, and soot, and temper them altogether, and therein put your hair, and let it remain so the space of two days and two nights, and it willbe well.   

To make a tawny hair.  
FOr to make your hair a tawny colour, ye shall take a quantity of lime, with the like of water, and so put them together, and put your hair therein, and let it rest four or five hours, then take it out, and put it in tannars ouse, for a day and it willbe well.  
Also ye shall keep the first part of your hair white still, for your lines to be reserved for the dubbid hook, to fish for the trout, 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 year your coloured lines will best serve.  
The green colered line will serve in all clear waters, from April unto September.  
The yellow line is good to angle in every water which is clear, from September unto November, for it willbe like the weeds, & other withered grass which is in the water.  
The russet line is best to angle withal in winter, and serveth best all the winter, unto the end of April, as well in rivers, as standing pools.  
The brown coloured line to angle withal, serveth for any water that is black, or of dedish colour, be it in rivers or standing waters.   

Anglers and fishers.  
THe tawny coloured line to angle withal, serveth best for those waters that are heathy, or moorish colour. Thus much for your lines and colours. practised according to the colour of waters, wishing that all anglers would not angle in unseasonable times, as from mid March to mid May, for than is the chiefest spawning time, and increase of fish. A great number there is in this realm which governs waters that spares no time to kill, nor cares for no time to save, but takes at all times, which maketh fresh fish so dear, and so scant in rivers and runiung waters. There is so many tillars, but ●ew that seeks to save and preserve them, they will not suffer the fish so long as the time to spawn, but troubles the waters with nets and weles both night and day, and many Gentlemen lets their waters (as it should appear) without any exception of tunes in the spring, for they make all times alike, not so much as sparing the spawning time, as March, April and May.  
Thus much touching anglers, and all other fishermen, for these three months aforesaid, which I will speak more hereof in their places.   

To order the red worm.  
WHen ye gather them, put them into a box or bag, with wet moss under and above, & they will store therein, then take and put them in parsley, fennel, margeram, if ye change them each night & put them in new dung or earth, ye may so keep them good to angle six weeks.   

Here followeth how to make your hooks.  
IF ye make your hooks of wire, it is the easier to cut the board, with a hard steel knife and bend it (when ye have made the barb and the point) with a pair of plyars, or with an instrument, with a bowed wire in the end, and when ye have bowed him cut the shank of what length ye think good, then batter him at the end, and smooth it with your file, and it done, than heat him red in the fire, and quench him in cold water, and it willbe hard again, if it be a steel needle ye must hold ít in the fire, till it be red hot, or over a candle, and then let it cool of himself, and so it willbe soft as wire, and to have the knowledge of this instruments, and also how much your hooks and lines, shallbe for every fish, here may ye see the figures of your instruments and hooks.  
pike hook, the proch.  
NOw when ye have made thus your hooks of all sorts, then must ye set them to your lines, according in greatness and strength, for every fish in this wise. Ye shall take small red silk, for a great hook double, but twist it not, and for small hooks, let it be single, and therewith fret your hooks in doubling your lines end, and your silk or hair on the inside of your double line, then fret or whip it so fair as ye shall see good, than next your hook at the bought put throw your silk or hair, in going round about the hook three tunes, then pluck first your silk or hair hard down, and then your line, so cut it off hard by the end of your hook (in setting your line on the inside of your hook, and so it is done.   

Now must ye know your hooks, how to angle for every kind of fish.  
I Will tell you with how many sufficient hairs ye shall angle for every kind of fish. For the Meno with a line of one hair, for the small or waxing roche, the bleak, the gagin, and the ruff, with a line of two hairs, for the darce and the great roach, with a line of three hair, for the perch, the flounder, and the small breme, with a line of four hairs, for the chevin chubbe, the breme, the tench, and the ye'll, with a line of six hairs, for the trout, the grailing, the barbyll, and the great chevin, with a line of nine hairs, for the great trout, with twelve hairs, for the sawmon, with a line of fifteen hairs, and for the pike, a chalk line, and brown it with your brown colour aforesaid, and armed with a wire, as hereafter shallbe seen, when I speak of the pike.   

To know how to plumb your line.  
YOur lines must be plumbed with lead, finely & thin beat, and leapt close about your line next your hook, and the next lead to your hook must be from your hook a foot long or else somewhat more: and every plummet ought to be of the quantity according to his line in bigness. There be three manner of plummets and plumbing, which is for a groundline lying, and another for a groundline running: and the third line is the float line set upon the ground line lying, with ten plummets joining altogether, running upon the ground with xx. or ten small plummets: and for the float or cork line, lead or plumb him so heavy, that the least pluck of any fish may pluck it down, and make the leads or plummets sink: for them, make them round and smooth, small and close to the line at both ends, that they fasten not on weeds in the water, which will be a let to your angling, and for the more understanding how they use them, here shall be the figures.  
There is also a line without cork to fish with, which they use in some places in summer to angle for the Darce, the Blcke, and the Trout, which they use to cast his line into the water, and still to draw the line, so that he may always have a sight thereof, and never let the hook and bait sink to the bottom of the water out of sight: but always casting and drawing or moving the bait, and keeping it tied, that as soon as the fish do bite, he giveth a touch, and so keeps his line tied, & lets the fish tire herself on the hook, and then takes her up gently, this is the chiefest way to have both line hook & fish: for in snatching and striking hard when the fish bites, you put your line in danger, or tearing the mouth of the fish, and sometimes so lose him.  
There is also an other kind of angling for the Pike, which is called dragging, your hook being armed with wire for shéering, when you would drag for the Pike, you shall take a small Roch, or a Gogin, and with a needle of wood made thin and flat: put it in at the gill, betwixt the skin and the body of the Roch, and so forth at the tail, and draw your armed wiar and hook after, and place your hook close under his gill, and so drag for him as ye do for the Darce. If it be with a single hook you shall put in your armed wiar at the mouth of the Roch or Gogin, and it will serve well enough, as ye may here see by figure, there is to drag with a live Frog, and tie the double hook under his neck and hips.  
Ye may if ye lust, place your double hook at the mouth of your fish as is declared of the single hook: but then must you have the bigger bait, that the double hook may lie or join close to the head of the bait, and then it will do well.  
There is another kind of hook, called a proching hook, which is made without a bark, this kind or manner of hooks are to put in a hole in the bank, or betwixt two boards 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 hook a little way, and if there be any yéeles, they will take it anon: which proch, is wire whipped on a packethreedes end, and covered with a great worm, and therewith proch into the said holes, as by example for the better understanding, ●o here may you see the figures.  
The proch unbaited.  

The proch hook without out the rod.   
The rod baited with a worm.  
As soon as ye feel she hath the bait, pluck away your rod, 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 yield, if you do pluck hastily, he will hold so stiff, ye shall break your line, or tear his mouth: therefore hold hard still, and at length he will yield, and come forth. And where ye shall see any hole in the buttome of a brook or river, there is like to lie an ye'll, put there in your proch, and he will soon bite if he be there. Thus much for the order of the proch hook to take the ye'll.   

The manner of laying of hooks.  
THere is also a kind of laying of hooks armed for pikes, in pools and rivers, ye shall boyte them as ye bait the hook in dragging for the Pike: and here is to be noted of two manner of layings of hooks, the one way is to the bottom of the water without cork, and the other is with the float or cork, to cast in your baited hook without a cork, it will sink to the bottom, and then the ye'll will have it as soon as the Pike: and if he cannot swallow it, he will bite away the bait by little and little: therefore to lay from the bottom is best for the Pike, ye shall cast your baited hook and line with a cork, of what depth ye lust, for so it will not sink to the bottom.  
Also to lay for the yéeles, ye shall bait your hooks with menowes, gogins, or loaches, great worms and such like. And to stick pools in the banks, with lines at the ends so that your baits may lie on the bottom of the water, for there the ye'll will soon take it, but lay not nigh roots of trees or such, for they will wrap them so, ye shall never come by them.  
Also let your lines be of good great packthréeke, sticking the said poles or pings of wood in the banks, and your lines to be of two or three fathom, some more, some less: & for your proch hook to bait him with the great worm, or the menowe is best, or with a Loch, or small Gogin, so if a great ye'll come, he will swallow it hole. Thus much for laying of hooks for the Pike and ye'll.  
Also to take yéeles in winter, some have used to lay in ponds and running waters, faggots of hay, with a bough of Willow put in the midst, and baited with some garbage of foul or beasts, bound with two bonds, and to pluck it up (after it hath lame two or three days) with hook or cord, and you shall have yéeles therein: when it is a land do but crush it with your foot and the yéeles will come out if there be any. If ye lay it in the midst of a river, you may pluck it into your boat. Thus you may take many yéeles in winter.   

Here is how to save and preserve fish.  
FOr so much as I have afore showed certain ways and practices how to take fish in rivers, pools, and standing waters. I will here declare certain ways how for to maintain fish, and the chiefest ways to save and preserve them in rivers, pools, and standing waters, against such devourers and raverers as hath and will destroy them, as Herne, the Dobchicke, the Coote, the Cormorant, the Sea-pie, the King's fisher and such like: as also the Otter, who is a common destroter of ponds and standing waters, and a great devourer of and spoiler of rivers, brooks, and running waters, which shall be declared in their places.   

The Herne.  
And first, to take the Hearne, which destroys much young fish or other, if they come nigh the shallow places or banks: the Hearne is fearful and subtle for to take, therefore some do bait a hook, or proch hook with a Menow or other small fish, or with the gobbet of some ye'll, than make your line green, or like the water where she haunts in a shallow place or other where she resorts, there put in your pin in the earth of the shallow water, and lay your bait so that she may wade half a feet deep unto it, for else the Kite or Crow will soon have it, for she will soon swallow it and so be taken.   

The Otter.  
They take the Otter or water Wolf, in a we'll made and devised for the nonce, as shall be showed in his place, which weal is not made in all points like unto other weles, where he will eat the fish and come forth again safe before he be drowned. Therefore there is invented among the fisher men, a we'll for to take him made with a double teme or tonuell, and against the utmost teme within is set an yeirne like a gredyeirne with four holes staying and sliding upon two round sticks, which must be set upright in the weal before the teme, to hold up the yeirne: which two sticks must be fast bound to the weal, both above and beneath, then must ye have a good stiff rod, the one end shall be set over the weal to hold up the gredyeirne or grate, and the other end of the rod, must reach over the inner teme, and a small oziar tied at that end of the rod, which small Oziar must be made with a round knot, and so put down upon the end of the nethermost Oziar in the midst of the inner teme, but a very little 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 rod flirts up, and the gredyerne falls and stops the utmost teme where he came in, and as soon as he hears it fall, he will turn back, without touching any fish, gnawing at the gredyerne where he came in, and so is drowned.  
And when ye have a weal of fish rob with the Otter, or your layer, of weles with fish spoiled and rob with the Otter, there lay your Otter We'll, well baited with fish, and so ye shall soon take him. Which Otter We'll must be made of good round Ozyars of the Hasell rod or gore rod, for those are the best. These Otter Weles are made at Twyford, by sides Reading. There be two of the Gootheriches which lives much by making of such, and other weles. Also the Otter weal is made at Dorney, by Windsor, of one called Twiner. If your Otter we'll be old, and not strong, and if the Otter chance to break it and scape, ye shall hardly take him of a long time after, for he is very subtle to be caught again in such a we'll. There be that hath provided many ways ere they could take him. Thus much here for the setting of the Otter We'll, and here shall follow the said Otter We'll, with his proportion how to be made and set, the more easier to make them where as they have not been seen before. To know if an Otter do haunt river or pond, you must watch the waters in the night, then shall you hear him plunging and chase the fish all night by ests and banks ●●des, so watch or else your fish may be killed and you know not how nor when.   

Here followeth the Otter We'll.  
The fashion of the Otter we'll, with two handels above the better to lay him, he must be three quarters and more, betwixt teme, and teme in length.  
This figure under shows the setting of the gredyerne, before the teme of the weal, and when he falls, to rest on two stiff oziars on the lower part of the said teme, as ye make see above: but when ye shall set for tile the said gredyerne, it must be plucked up above the mouth of the Teme, which temes mouth, all the oziars must be cut even by the wretch, save those two that must hold up the gredyerne beneath as ye may see. Which mouth of the teme, must be betwixt vi. and seven. inches deep, so that a good pretty dog may creep to 〈…〉 ●oo little, the Otter will then gnaw the weal, also the 〈◊〉 must fall easily on the two stirkes that stay him, and she gredierne to be brother than the mouth of the teme, which gredierne must be put in the weal when the weal is a making, because it can not be put in when it is made, except ye make it with playing joints on the middle vane to fold, but on the one side of the gredierne, and so ye may set him in, and take him out when the weal is made, or when you will at any time. They do use to make him without any joints, but plain and all flat bars, setting to four round hoops, of yeirne on the four corners of the gredierne: which gredierne is made with five flat bars, and so used, weighing about two pound weight, because it may fall the sooner.   

For the Water-ratte.  
THe Water-rat is a hurtful vermin to kill fish, especially Crevice, Loches, Culles, and Trout lying in holes of the bank. They will soon destroy much other fish and spawn in shallow rivers and brooks, to kill them it is hard to do: but where as ye shall see their path on banks sides, there set a deadfall, for they do range abroad a nights like other Rats, and will be where as is corn mills, and fulling mills, to eat corn, and gnaw clothes, and lives much like to other Rats, and will pill oziar barks and such like. Also to take them in weles is hard, except the weles lie shallow, and nigh the top of the water by the bank: so a small Otter we'll made for the nonce baited, may possible deceive them. They cannot tarry long under water, wherefore they will not hunt deep, nor rob weles if they lie deep, for they commonly take fish nigh the top of the water. But some men do think a very good way to take them, that is: to pin square boards against the holes where they haunt, which boards must have a great hole in the midst, and set just against her coming in or out, fast pined to the banks: then make a latch and set it on the out side of the board, tiled as yond tile the Fox latch, as ye shall see in his place: which hole in the board on the neither part, ye shall set three or four pricks of wire to hold any thing that comes out or in. This practice may easily be made.  
To lay poisoned baits, as pieces of cheese, flesh or such, and to straw the powder of Orsenike thereon, to be laid in ests, where other things come not. I know not what good it will do, for whereas ye touch any thing with your bare hand, they will not lightly come at it. Thus much for taking the water Rats or Otter.   

To preserve spawn in spawning time.  
A Chief way to save spawn of fish, in March, April, and May, is thus, ye shall make faggots of wheat, or rye straw, all whole straw not bruised, or of reed, bind these faggots together with three bonds, and all about thereon stick of young branches of willow. Then cast them in the water among weeds, or by the banks, and put in each faggot two good long stakes, driven fast to the ground, and let your faggots lie covered in the water half a yard or more. So the fish will come a shed their spawn thereon, and then it will quicken therein, so that no other fish can come to destroy or eat it, and as they wax quick they will come forth and save themselves. Thus much for the preserving of spawn in the spring and spawning time.: this is a good practice to preserve the spawn of all scaled fish. These faggots ye may make and lay in all rivers, pounds, or standing waters. Your sagots had need to be a yard and a half long, and bound with three bands not hard, two bands a foot from the ends, and an other band in the midst, and lay them as I have afore declared. Also some do use to hedge in corners in rivers, and ponds with willow, and thereon fish do cast their spawn and so breeds.   

The manner of way to take Seapies.  
The Sea-pie is a foul that useth the seas, and breeds much in islands in the sea, and lives most by fish & worms, and where as they use in fresh rivers, they destroy much fish, young fry, and such as swims nigh the top of the water, and will be in shallow places of the water: and there they haunt to take and feed on them. Therefore the fisher men have invented a way how to take them, which is: ye shall lime two small Oziars, and bind the ends that are next the bait, almost cross wise. Then take an other short stick, and bind the one end unto your ends of cross twigs as ye may see afore, and put that short stick through the fish or bait. Then lay it on some water leaf, rushes, or such like in the midst of the river, and as soon as they shall see it, they will take and fly away with it in their bills, and soon they shall be limed therewith.  
The other way of laying these limed twigs is, ye shall put a small short stick in the bait, as ye may see afore. And at the hinder end tie a thread an intch long, and to that thread tie your limed twigs, and when she takes and flies away with it, she cannot fly far but she will be lyined, for the twigs will turn and touch her wings, and then she will fall. Thus ye may take many Seapies, both in summer and winter, and the like way ye may take both Crows and other Pies, to take the Kite therewith, he will hardly be lyined, because he takes the bait in his feet, and the other takes it in their bills. Thus much here for the taking of the Sea-pie.   

Here shall follow the knowledge how to replenish your fish ponds.  
FOr to save and maintain in mayor's, pools, and standing waters, for such as have not rivers, it shall be good to save, keep, and maintain all such fish as may be nourished and bred in fresh waters: as Pike, bream, Tench, Prch, trout, Darce, Roch, & such like, and the carp for one of the best, which hath not been here in England but of few years past. The Trout will not like but in running and swift waters, and hard gravel at the bottom. The slimy fish is the Tench, the Seacod, and the ye'll, and yet they are commended for a good feeding meat for man, but many will disdain the fresh ye'll, and esteem it as a flaggie and slimy meat, saying: he will gender with the water snake, which thing possible may be, but the ye'll of the fresh river is tried a good and wholesome meat, you shall have also the Lampre, and the Lamporne, which are called venomous fish of the Sea, but when they have scraped and cleansed them in the fresh running waters. Notwithstanding, they are then good and wholesome meat. The excrements of standing pools are frogs, which in many places being well dressed, they eat like fish, and is called a kind of fish, and do taste as well as a young poullet, for I tasted my part of many.  
It is a good thing to have plenty of fresh water fish, in rivers and pools, 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 plenty and well preserved, not to use any other engines, but with the hook: and by such means as the laws of this realm doth permit and allow, not to use fire, handguns, crossbows, oils, ointments, powders, and pellets made to cast in the waters to stonny and poison the fish, nor yet to use all sorts of nets, and such as are devourers of fish, as bow nets, casting nets, small trammels, shove nets, and draft nets: which are destroyers of fish before they are grown to any bigness. These are not meet to be used but of certain Gentlemen in their several waters, I would wish no running waters should be let to any fisher man, without order what mesh, what nets, he or they shall use to fish with, and in what months of the year to refrain fishing, upon pain to forfeit his lease and all such engines.  
Also it shall be good for all Gentlemen and others, having the government of any rivers, brooks, or standing pools, to replenish them with all such kind of fish as may there be preserved or bred, aswell of straying as others. There is a kind of fish in Holland, in the fens besides Peterborrow, which they call a poult, they be like in making and greatness to the Whiting, but of the colour of the Loch: they come forth of the fen brooks, into the rivers nigh there about, as in Wansworth river there are many of them. They stir not all the summer, 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 meat, and some do think they would be aswell in other rivers & running waters, as Huntingdon, Ware, and such like, if those waters were replenished with them, as they may be with small charge. They have such plenty in the fen brooks, they feed their hogs with them. If other rivers were stored with them, it would be good for a common wealth, as the carp which came of late years into England. Thus much for the fen pult.   

Of cleansing your ponds from weeds.  
IF you will have profit of your fish, in your ponds and pools, ye must have a care always to cleanse them from three year to three year, in taking away all weeds, rushes, and flags, for they do greatly stuff and trouble the fish, and makes them to be more slimy, and of a worse taste. Likewise ye must see always for Otters and Water-rats, haunting your ponds and pools: ye shall best know if there be any in the night season, for than they hunt abroad for fish: then seek to take them by such means as afore mentioned, which else they will soon destroy all your fish. Also it is not good to suffer any to shoot with guns nie your ponds or rivers, for it fears and astonish the fish greatly, and worst of all in spawning tune, and many will die thereof: ye may watch the haunt of the Otter and Rat, and strike them if ye can with the trout spear, which is a very good thing to kill them, if it be well done, for so many have been killed.   

Here shall be showed a care of laving your ponds in saving the water where it is scant for to save your fish alive.  
IN laving your ponds and pools, the greatest care is (if there be any scant of water) to keep and bestow it so, that the water which is cast forth, may remain nigh the sides of your ponds and pools, that ye may recover it soon again to save the rest of your fish, while ye cleanse forth the weeds and mud, which will let the water to come quickly to the scoops. Therefore it shall be best to cleanse the sides and banks first of all: in having all such tools ready, as shall be needful thereunto: as mattocks, spades, shoules, scavelts, scoops, and such like: to dispatch it as quickly as ye can. And when the water is lower than the Rat-hole in the banks, ye may set such engines afore their holes to kill them at their coming out as aforesaid, for they will lie always in the holes above the water, to smother them in their holes ye shall hardly do, if ye than let them scape, they will soon convey themselves away in the night or before night, and will run very swift. Thus much for laving your ponds.   

There is also a care always to maintain your pits and stuis with fish.  
HOw your pits and stuis should be used to keep fish in, your stews and pits ought to be oft renewed and helped with great and small fish from time to time, and refreshed often with small fish among: for if ye do always take, and none put to, your store shall soon decrease. It shall be good also to put carefully your fish therein, both small and great, and see that none be hurt if ye may, to put 〈◊〉 Tench with them it shall do well. And it shall be very good husbandry, to prick and set about the hands, of willow, sallo, or alder, which will be good to defend the heat in summer, from your fish, and to avoid the cold in winter: but the falling of leaves will increase mud greatly, and also stinch your ponds.   

How to nourish your fish in pools, mayor's, and standing waters.  
IT is most certain, the fish which is in rivers, and running waters, are at more liberty than those which are closed in ponds and pits: for those in running waters, the water bringeth to them always some what to feed on, and there also the small fish do nourish the great, but the fish enclosed can get no such thing. Therefore it shallbe good to cast unto them of small fish, and of guts and garbage of fish and of beasts, and figs cut small, and nut kernels bruised, or bruised wheat, worms, grains of bruinges, white bread, all sorts of salt fishes cut and hacked in small pieces, and such like. If your fish nourish and fat not with these, ye must feed them with the frets or gubbins of market fish of the fishmongers: if yet they be lean, it shows plain they were taken from the seas, which fish are raveners, or they have come from rivers nigh the seas, but the fish in ponds are restraint from those liberties. Therefore continually they must be fed.   

Of the taking of fish diverse ways.  
THere is diverse manner of ways in taking fish, in some places according to the Country, and the nature of great waters is one, and of rivers and pools, is an other where they inhabit: so likewise is the diversity of the fish. Also in fishing, some manner of fishing is in the Seas, an other manner is in sweet waters, an other manner for great fish, an other manner for yéeles, other ways for roaches and small fish, an other way for the carp, and such like. Now seeing there is so many diversities in taking fish, it will be hard to express and long to write. Wherefore here I leave that knowledge to those that use to fish, and sell in markets. In speaking here in general of the commodities for the father and his family, in taking of fish for the common wealth, whereof the principal manner is, with nets, weiles, lines, and hooks. Thus I have showed of replenishing your ponds to have plenty of fish, and cleansing your ponds from weeds, and a care for your empty ponds, and how to maintain your pits and stews with fish. Also to nourish the fish in your standing waters, and declaring of divers ways in taking of fish. Thus much taken of Stephanus in French.   

Pour Amorcer, or gather Tortues.  
TAke Salarmoniacke eight drams, of Scallion Onions one dram, the fat of veal ten drams. So beat them together, and being made in pellets like beans, cast them by their haunt to the Tortues, and they will come themselves to the smell thereof, and so ye may take them.   

To make it dry.  
TAke the lees of strong wine mixed with oil, and put it in a place where ye know it will dry, let it so remain till it wax black, and they will come to the place, where the oil shall be put, and so ye may take them. Ye may take also Salarmoniack thirteen drams, and the butter of goats milk eight drams, beat altogether, and make small soft pellets thereof, and therewith rub what grain, or small lynséede not broken, but dried: and they will feed there all about, and will not departed, and strait way ye may so take them.   

To take Loches or small fish.  
TAke the bran of wheat meal, two pound, of lenten pease, half a pound, mix them together, and beat them with a sufficient quantity of brine, and put thereto half a pound of sessame. Then shall ye part it in pieces, and throw them here and there: for as soon as ye have thrown it in the water, all the small fish will come unto it, and remain in one place, although they be 300. paces off. Also ye may take the blood of an Ox, Goat, Sheep or of a Hog, with the dung that is in the small guts of them. Also of time, peniryall, leeks, savoury, marjoram, garlic, with the lees of good wine, of each in like, with the grease or marrow of the said beasts, so much as ye seem good: beat them a part, and then mix them a like together, and so make small pellets thereof, and cast it where ye will have the fish to come an hour before ye cast in your lines: or else take the blood of a black Goat, the lees of good wine, of barley meal, all in like portion: beat them all together with the lights of a Goat, and then cut them in small pieces and make pellets thereof, and so use them as above said.   

Another way.  
TAke half a pound of garlic, of burnt sessame as much, of pouliot, of organy, of time, great marjoram, of savoury, of wild stavisacre, of each two and thirty drams, of barley meal, one pound, of wheat as much, and of the bark of a Frankincense tree thirteen drams, work all together with bran, and cast it to the fish, and they will assemble thereabout.   

To take Perch.  
THe Perch is not so easily taken with hook, nets, or bownet, but rather with proper baits made and used in a troubled water: therefore ye must make baits with the liver of a Goat, and the snail, or take the yellow butter fly which flieth: of goats whey, called fromage de cheureau of each four drams, opopavicis two drams, hogs blood four drams, galbony four drams, beat all well together, and sprinkle it all over with pure wine, and make thereof small pellets, or as ye make perfumes, and dry them in the shade.   

To take the Salmon as well in the River, as in the Sea.  
TAke eight drams of cocks stones, and the kernels of pine apple tree burnt, sixteen drams: beat all together a like, till it be in manner of a meal. Another. Take the seeds of wild Rue, eight drams: the fat of a veal, eight drams: of Sessame, thirteen drams, beat all together, and make small loaves thereof, and use 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 alembic of glass, a quantity of glowworms that shineth in the night, with a soft fire, and put the distilled water into a thin vial of glass, and thereunto put four ounces of quicksilver, that must be purged or passed through leather, or Kid skin. Then stop the glass 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 soon come unto the light, and covet to enter into the net, and so ye shall take many. And some doth suppose if ye do but take a certain of those glow-worms, and put them in a thin viol or glass, and then stop it close, and tie it in the net, they will shine as well and give as much light. But then I doubt they will not long be alive without meat, except ye put herbs unto them in the day and let them feed, and use them in the night as before. So ye may reserve them for your purpose (I think) a long time.   

To take Yeeles in the winter in hay or straw bottles.  
YE shall make long faggots of hay, wrapped about willow boughs, which ye shall put in the midst of your bottle or faggot of hay, and then sink it in the deep by the bank, and so let it lie two or three days, and tie a with or rope thereunto that ye may soon pluck it up on land or boat: and so ye shall take yéeles therein good store, in a cold weather very good. And if ye bait or lay in your faggot guts or garbedge of a beast, ye shall be the more certain to have them in a small time.   

How to breed and increase yeeles in rivers, ponds, and standing waters.  
THe common saying among fisher men is, if ye will have in your pits and ponds (being of a sweet water) great plenty of Yéeles in few years, ye shall dig two round or square turfs, or so many as ye will have, and cut them on a sweet ground, & a short grass, a foot or more round or square turfs, whereon the dew shows most in the morning before the sun do rise. Then take them up and clap the green sides together one upon another, and pin them fast together with pricks of wood. Then carry and lay them softly in what pit or pond ye list, and ye shall see experience. This is to be done in the month of May, by the dew then on the ground, and at no other time else of the year to be good.   

The Gaze for to catch Menowes.  
THis Gaze, is a round net of small mesh, with a hoop of yeirne, or great wire half an intch about, and to let sink in a ditch, or brook which is not deep, and so hold it a while by three strings like a ballans, with a loop in the top, and therein to put through a staff or pole, and ye shall have within a while so many Menowes which will come and gaze at it, as will cover it: ye must hang a small plummet in the midst, to make it sink. And also the rounds must be flat oyster shells tied to, and the squares must be scarlet or red cloth sowed on: your hoop and net, may be three quarters and a half of a yard broad from side to side. Thus much for the Gaze.   

How to bob for yeeles.  
THere is also a taking of yéeles with great worms drawn through on a long thread one by an other, and then feulded up three fingers deep, and then tied above all together, and a big string tied thereunto, and fastened unto a short pole, which ye shall hold in your hand. This is used to bob at the coming of a flood water, and at the ebbing water of any water that ebbs and flows. Also it is used after a great rain in brooks and running waters, ye must let your bob touch the bottom, and so up with it softly again, and so use it still, and ye shall feel when any ye'll do beat: then pluck it up not very fast, for than he will forsake the worm he hath hold of, and as soon as he feels the air, he will lose his hold, therefore ye must have a vessel on the water always ready, that he may fall therein. Thus much for the bobbing for yéeles.   

The ye'll spear to take yeeles.  
The Otter spear.  
THe ye'll spear is made with five thin bars, cut in the sides with teeth, to hold that ye'll that is within them, and made with thicker and rounder plates above toward the socket, which socket must be made strong, and therein put your pole or staff, which they use in mud, rivers, and brooks, to take a dish of yéeles at pleasure: but it is evil to use the ye'll spear whereas there is Teach, or carp, for they will commonly lie in the mud when the water is beaten or troubled, and thereby they may soon be stricken and die thereof.  
The Otter spear is used when a man hunteth the Otter in rivers or brooks, when as a man shall chance to see him vent above the water, then to throw the spear at him, which spear hath a line tide at the end, and a small box fastened at the end of the line, that when ye have stricken him, ye shall the sooner perceive him where he diveth in the river. Or if ye chance to find him lying out of the water, there to strike him, and let him go into the water, and so kill him.   

To breed Millars-thumbes and Loches, in shallow brooks or rivers.  
THe fishes called Loches, and the other called Millars-thumbes or Culles, they always feed in the bottom of brooks, and rivers. They are fish wholesome to be eaten of feeble persons having an ague, or other sickness. These fish delight to be in sandy gravel in rivers and brooks, and they are very easy to be taken with small travel, in removing the stones where they lie under, for they cannot swim fast away. Therefore in certain shallow rivers & brooks, they do use to breed, and save them ye may in laying round heaps of pebble stones or flint, in shallow places of the said rivers and brooks, half a foot deep of water or less. Like as there is a shallow river running from Bareamstede to Chestum, and so to Chave: also by Croyden and other places, wherein they might breed of the said fish great store, if they were so given. The like river runs in Hampeshiere by sides Altum, increasing by diverse springs, and runs shallow in many placed, and by a certain parish there called the Parson thereof hath told me, he hath had so many of the said Culles and Loches, to his tithe weekly, that they have found him sufficient to eat Fridays and Saturdays, whereof he was called the Parson of Culles. This order of stones are laid hollow in shallow places less than half a foot deep of water. Which fish among the said heaps of stones doth there lie safe, and so breeds: and there they are saved from the water Rats, and all other fowls, which otherwise would still devour them. These store of fish, men might have in diverse such like rivers in this Realm, if they would take the like pain, to lay such heaps of stones as is above set down: which showeth the manner of laying them round in the bottom, the circuit of two yards about, or as ye shall see cause. Thus much I thought good to show for the maintenance and breeding of Culles and Loches. Also it is evident in other Countries, the great care they have in preserving their fish, especially in the spring: as in France, no fisher men or other, shall lay any engines in rivers or brooks in the night, as flewes, stalls, bucks, keeps, weles, and such like, from mid March, to mid May: for then the fish doth shed their spawn among weeds and bushes, nor shall not beat the waters or brooks with any plunging poles, nor yet the fisher men to fish at no time, with any net under four inches mash, because they shall not kill the small fish before they are well grown, upon pain of forfeit and loss of all such engines. There is also prohibited, that no fish shall be taken and sold in markets, which are out of their season: as the Lampre and Lampornes, which are venomous 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) look russet and speckled upon their bellies. Also Oysters and muscles, are not good from mid March, to mid September: and likewise Salmon and Trout, are in season from mid March to mid September, and after wax out of season. Smelts not in season from mid March to mid September or after. Cockles and such are not kindly but in the months of March, April, and May: all the rest of the year not wholesome to be eaten or sold. Moreover Darce, Roch, Perch and such like, are not kindly to be killed from mid March, to the end of May: for in these times they do cast their spawn, and then they will be rough and broken, scaled and piled for a while, after they have so cast their spawn. And being then out of season, they are not so wholesome nor yet good of liking. All these afore mentioned with all other which are out of season, are forbidden to be taken and sold in markets, or otherwise privily eaten, upon the like penalty afore mentioned. I would to God it were so here with us in England, and to have more preservers, and less spoilers of fish out of season and in season: then we should have more plenty than we have through this Realm. Also I would wish that all stop nets, and drags with casting nets, were banished in all common rivers through this Realm for three months: as in March, April, and May, wherein they take fish out of season as well as others, with great spoils of spawn, both of great and small fish, for they use such nets with small mesh, that kills all fish afore they come to any growth and good service for the common wealth. Who so ever do prevent such, they shall do good to the common wealth. And water bail which are appointed to see so such nets in rivers, and running streams (which is thought) they neglect their duties, for they let the fisher men use what nets they list, as the voice 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 preserving of the common wealth: whereby fish cannot increase, nor yet suffer to grow. So I leave, wishing that careful men were put in office, and such as favours the common wealth, and all other put out that seeks for their own profit only. Then should we have within few years, much plenty of all river fish, and also a great sparing to flesh, if they would use fish as they were wont on fridays, Saturdays, and fasting days commanded by our Prince, and so truly kept of all people, from time to time.   

The breeding of Crevice.  
THe fresh water Crevice, commonly lives and lies in banks and holes in rivers and brooks, and they are a wholesome fish for all sicken and weak persons. They will east their spawn in the spring about the month of May, and will shed it on stones, & weeds in the bottom, whereof most is eaten up with yéeles and water rats, as some do suppose. Therefore it were not unmeet to make faggots of hole straw to save the spawn as aforesaid. Also they will soon be driven with floods down the stream, in few years they will greatly increase, if they be not taken with men's hands, and killed with Rats for they will lie in holes and under stones, and weeds, and so are soon taken: for they cannot fly fast away, If they be taken in May, it will be a great spoil of their increase, for commonly than they do shed their spawn. The Water rat is also a great devourer of them lying in holes: and whereas many rats are, they cannot lightly prosper or increase there. Thus much for the fresh water Creavis. ye may store any brook or river with the Crevice, but especially he loves the sandy and gravely running waters.   

The kings fisher.  
THere is a bird which is a great destroyer of all young fry and small fish, and he is called the kings fisher: he is about the bigness of a Lark, and doth commonly breed in banks, sides of rives and brooks, in the spring of the year: his feathers are green and blue, and he will always haunt about the sides of rivers and brooks, whereas small fish is, and as soon as he hath caught a fish, he will strait way 〈◊〉 to the next bough, and there will sit on a twig and eat the fish, and so fetch an other. Thus he liveth by the devouring of all sorts of small fry, such as he may take and carry away. For to take this bird, they use to mark where his haunt is, and there they set down a bush or branch, and they put a limed twig under the said bush or branch: for so soon as he hath taken a fish, he will fly to the next bush and light on that under twig limed, and so they take him. Also they say this bird, being dead, if he be hanged up by the bill with a thread in your house where no wind bloweth, his breast will always hang against the wind, whereby ye may know perfectly in what qnarter the wind is at all times, both night and day. Thus much of the bird called the King's fisher.   

The Cormarant.  
THe Cormarant is also a great destroyer of fish, he useth the fresh waters, and will dive under the water, and will take and eat fish of three & four years growth. How to take or destroy them I know not well, otherwise then to destroy their nests in breeding time, whereas they breed in islands, and rocks by the sea: some may be destroyed in rivers and pools, with crossbow, or handgun, other ways I have not known or heard of, not with lime lines except it be in the night, and then they will pike them soon clean again.   

The Dobchicke.  
THe Dobchicke is likewise a water fowl, and they will be always commonly on rivers and pools, and they are nigh as great as the Teals, and are of colour black, and they will commonly dive under the water to take young fish, as I have seen in rivers & brooks. How for to take them, the fisher men some do use to lay on the water long lines of small thread knit full of little corks, a handful a sunder on the line, and cut four square like big dice, and so limed and fold on aracle, as I shall show hereafter: and where they see them haunt, they will spread the said line afore them on the water, and then with their boats, drive them to the said line, and so many are taken. Thus much for taking the Dobchickes.  
This ra●le, turns round of the middle staff, and as ye see the thread limed with small corks, that is fold thereon, so long as ye will have it of length to lie on the water, and each cork to be but four fingers a sunder, or less, shall suffice.   

The More-coore or bald Coote kills fish also.  
THe More hen or bald coote, lives likewise on waters, and they also eat fish if they can take them. To kill or take these, I know no other way, but with lime, or with the gun, or such like to kill them.   

The making of a water lime, a very good and a perfect way.  
YE shall first wash your bird-lime in running water, that no knots be found therein, nor yet motes, but pike them out as clean as ye can in the washing. Then take and boil it in a pot or skillet, and in the boiling put in a little rosome, with some fresh grease, or goose grease, and so let it boil softly a pretty space in storing it still. Then take off the same lime, and put it to a wet testorne in water, if it come with the lime, it is good, if not, boil it longer until ye see that proof. Also in steed of rosom, ye may take white turpentine, for that is better. And this kind of water lime, will hold both in water and frosty wether.   

The Ospray.  
THe Ospray is a bird like a Hawk, nigh as big as the Tarcell of a goshawk, he liveth by fish, and is a great destroyer of fish: for I have seen him take fish in the midst of a great pond, they say he hath one foot like a Duck, and the other like a Hawk, and as he flies nigh over the water, the fish will come up unto him. How to take him I know no other way but to watch where he prays to eat his fish, for he will fly to some tree there abouts, and there to kill him with the handgun, which I have seen in Hampshire. Thus much for the Ospray.   

The tempering of bird-lime, and it will serve also well in water.  
TAke a pound of bird lime, cleanse and wash it in running water very clear that no knots be left therein. Then beat out the water and dry it again. Then put thereto two spoonfuls of sharp vinegar, and so much goose grease as will make it subtle to run: and put thereto half a spoonful of lamp oil, and a little Venice Turpentine. Then boil all these together in an earthen leaden pan, and stir it always, and let it but bubble and play softly. Then take it off the fire, and so reserve it and use it at your pleasure, warm it when you will have the use thereof.   

Lime made of Misteltoo.  
DYoscorides saith, they do gather the berries in Automne, in the full of the Moon, (for then they are of most force) and then they bruise them, and so let them lie for a space and rot, and then they wash them in running water, till they be clean like other lime, and therewith they do take birds, as with other bird lime, made of Holly barks.   

A pretty way to take a Pye.  
YE shall lime a small thread, a foot long or more, and then tie one end about a piece of flesh so big as she may fly away withal: and at the other end of the thread, tie a shoe buckle, and lay the flesh on a post, and let the thread hang down, and when she flies away with it, the thread with the buckle will wrap about her, and then she will fall, so ye may take them.  
FINIS    

A Book of Engines and traps to take Polecats, Buzardes, Rats, Mice and all other kinds of Vermin and beasts whatsoever, most profitable for all Warriners, and such as delight in this kind of sport and pastime.  
LONDON. Printed by john Wolf, and are to be sold by Edward White dwelling at the little North door of Paul's at the sign of the Gun. 1590.   


A hutch to take Polecats, as also other Vermin.  
THis manner of Engine is called of Warriners, a hutch, and it is made of boards, four square, to be removed or to stand still, with two falling boards at the ends: which two boards must fall into two rygals on both sides of the ends for flipping 〈◊〉. Also there is two laches and strings tied to the falling boards on the ends to hold them up, crossing upon two pillars which are made fast on the upper board of the hutch, with a line made fast on the back side coming over the ends of the said lathes down to the bridge on the fore side. Which bridge is tied within to the back side or board of the hutch an inch from the bottom board. Some do make them with another pillar in steed of the back string, but this is as good a way, ye may choose which way ye will have it.   

A latch trap for the water Rat, to be made of board with a hole pined against the Rattehole in the bank of brooks, pools, or rivers.  
THe latch must be set no wider but two inches and a half high, so that they must creep thorough 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 deadfall for Polecats, or other Vermin.  
THis engine is called a dead fall, it is made with a square piece of timber or such like, weighing about half a hundredth pounds or more, with a hole bored in the midst of the upper side thereof, and therein a hooked crook set fast. Also there is four forked stakes which must be set fast in the ground, and laying thereon two cudgils a cross, on which cudgils, ye shall lay a long staff or pole to hold up the dead fall by the crouch: under which crouch ye shall put a short cudgel, with a line made fast thereunto, which line reacheth down to the bridge beneath: which bridge ye shall make within five or six inces broad, like those that are made for the foresaid hutch.  
Also on both sides of this fall, ye may set it with board, pale, or such like: either ye may hedge it with close rods, and to make it ten inches high or more. The four spreading corners, are made to show the low hedges, that no vermin shall pass so easily by, but come thorough the fall, and the passage must be made no wider than the fall is broad. Some Warreners do make no tay of the bridge behind, but sets it lose against a pin before the clicket, and so it stays upon the fall.   

The latch or Fox trap.  
THis Engine is called a Latch or Foxe trap, it is made with a thick piece of wood of two inches in the bottom, and so made taper wise upward. There is also two other square pieces set on the ends of the bottom piece, and made with two regals for the latch to rise and fall in, as ye may see by example: in turning on a pin in the lower regal at the hinder end. Which latch with the clog, must be made with his edge downward, as the other is upward: then shall ye have between the latch, and the leaguer, a small round stick, tied at the hinder end with a string, and passing thorough the foremost regal, and at the end thereof must be two or three small holes or nicks made for the pin that must hold up the latch with the clog, and so soon as that stick or bridge is put down, the latch with the clog falls, ye must bush above the latch, for any thing leaping over, whereas ye see it powdered. Your latch may be made half a yard & more wide.   

This latch is to set against a bank or other hill side.  
THis engine or latch, is called a dog latch, almost like the other afore, but that his two pillars or posts are set fast in the ground, and there must be also a hole made within the latch on the inside of the bank or hill side, where the latch must be set: and therein ye may bait it with what bait ye will, for a dog or other Vermin. Also upon the upper side of the latch, there is notches made one by an other all over. Then is there a bar in the top which runs upon a pin, and runs into every notch, and holds down the latch, so that the said latch cannot rise, what soever be within it will hold him fast there, be it dog, or other vermin: there is also a weight hanging at the end of the latch, to make it fall more quickly.   

The latch trap.  
THis engine is called a latch or brake trap, it is made with four thick boards or pieces of timber, in length three quarters of a yard or less, ye may make them as ye shall think good, either to sit still in the earth, or often to be removed. But if ye will make them to remove, then must the upper fallers be more heavier made. These four pieces must be pinned at both ends, and the two upper boards or fallers, must lie within the two neither, as ye may see by example. Then is there within those neither boards, a long bridge, which must be tied at the neither end of the catch with a string, and that bridge hath four holes at the other end, for a pin to put therein to bear and hold up the two fallers. Which pin is put into one of those holes of the said bridge, and the other end of the pin, stays under the great square pin that is between the fallers, and the string that is tied to that pin, is tied above to a trounchin, which trounchin lieth on two forked stakes, set in the ground, as ye may see by example by the neither part of the trap. Also the neither parts are rebated on the out side, and made edge wise upward, and hedged on both sides as ye may see. And to fall toward the hedge is best.   

The foot trap.  
THis engines is called Fox trap or foot trap, because it taketh all by the foot. It is made with a thick board or plank, of nine or ten inches broad. And commonly a yard and a half long, with a hole made in the middle, nearer the one end, than the other. Also the plank hath iiij. holes, at each end two, to stake down fast the plank to the earth, that it be not plucked up: then there is a pole set, or tree bowed down to the end of the plank, and to the end thereof is tied a strong line, which line must come under the end of the plank, and drawn out at the foot hole, with a short strong clicket of wood tied thereunto with a short string, which clicket must be set against the narrow place of the foot hole, and the other end in the nick on the falling board, which must stay against a short flat pin of wood, which must be set under the plank whereas ye see two swmall pricks, to hold up the falling board: and to that also is tied a strong lingell or other line, which line is laid round about the hole of the foot board or fall, on the plank, and covered all over with dust, sand, or earth, for fear of suspicion. This trap may be set against Fore holes, or other muce, with hedges on both sides the plank that he shall pass no other way, but on the board. Also your falling board must be brother under, than your hole.   

The Wolves trap.  
The square boarded, and the pole, & pin in the top thereof.  
THis Engine is called a Wolf trap or pit. It is a large hole digged six foot square, and two yards commonly and a half wide from side to side, and boarded all round, both bottom and sides up to the top, with a pole set fast in the midst thereof, almost as high as the top of the pit. Then is there a pin of iron put through the midst of a large platter of wood or such like, and that pin set fast in the top of the said pole: and there upon it is laid and made fast, some beasts liver, or such like: or else a goose or duck, which is tied fast thereon. Then towards night they make a train unto the trap, and they cover the said pit with hurdles, boards, or such like, round about (saving a space) and they lay of green turfs thereon, so that when the Wolf, or Before, do come and find the bait, they can not reach it, without they tread on the platter, which plarter is set ticklish thereon, and as soon as he treads on the side, it tilts down, and rise up again, and the Wolf or other falls down into the pit: and if other do come, they are served the like. Thus much for the Wolf trap. For the fox, if he annoy them, they will lay a piece of a sheeps liver new, at his hole, and put therein closoly of the powder of ratsbane, which will so kill him. Also the powder of Aconitum called in Latin, in English Wolves bane, the powder put or strewed on flesh will kill them. Touch them not with your bare hands, for they will find it and forsake it.   

The kragge hook.  
THis Engine I call a drag hook, because it is made like a drag, it is made of yeirne or great wiar, and turns on the Wevell, like the wevell of a loggar, or like on a grayhound collar. The husbandmen in France, will hang them on branches, of diverse trees about their grounds, to take the Fox, Wolf, or dog if he take it, but chiefly for the Fox: they use to hang them so hie from the ground, that a Fox must leap at it, before he can catch it. Which hooks are baired and covered with livers of beasts, or other flesh, and when he catches the hook in his mouth, he cannot deliver himself thereof, but hangs and turns about with the hook in his mouth on the wevel and line: and hereunto they make trains with some garbage against night, as they commonly do to other engines, and by this engine, they do destroy many of their Foxes, which otherwise would devour many of their Lambs, and poultry. For men that dwells me the sea side where rocks are, there the Fox will be, there it shall do well to set up iebbets and hang your drags 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 six or seven inches long, and for the Foxes and dogs, they are made of iron plate, nigh ten or eleven inches long, with two sharp pikes in the mouth thereof, and the more they pluck and draw, the more it strikes in and pierce the flesh of the beast. And also for the Fox or other such, it shall be good to arm the string or line with red wiar far wéering. Which line, the one end is put in at a hole made in the pipe side, as ye may see, and so drawn double out at the mouth of the same. The other end comes through the pipe, and is tied unto some pin set fast in the ground, or to some bough. They are commonly set in muses where they pass through: but for the Fox, 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 haunts to meus houses in killing their lambs, pigs, or other poultry. Then see that ye stop all other passages there abouts, so shall ye be sure to save your poultre, or else to take him. Ye may make trains at your pipe hole, as is afore mentioned of the other.   

The whip or spring trap.  
THis Engine, is called the whip, or spring, it is set thus: there is a string tied unto the end of some pole set fast in the ground, or to some tree: unto the said string is made fast a small short stick, with a nick in the lower end thereof, made thin on the upper side: then the pole is bowed down with it, unto an other stick set fast in the ground with a nick also, and thin edge under. Then shall ye join both the nicks together, as ye may see by example, as tickle as ye can. Then open the end of your string, set it in some muse, or where ye think good. And when any Fox or other thing do pluck the said upper string a side, than the nick slips by, and the pole starts and so holds him up, as ye may easily see by example. Thus much for the spring trap. There is yearly killed with Foxes in this Realm as many do judge, of lambs ten thousand, of poultry twenty thousand, of Rabbits and Coneys nigh forty thousand couple: besides young Fauns in many Parks and Forests.   

The double trap to take Rats or Mice.  
THis Engine or trap, it is almost made with a square board in the bottom, and also above, and aqout five inches in height with a thick board in the midst, as ye may see pointed with five nails, and nailed fast to the upper and neither board, in parting the traps. There is also two falls naylde with leathers on the upper board, which is hold up and tiled with a string, which string hath a clicket or wedge, and is stayed on a short piece of wood, and so tiled with hooked wiar, which wiar goeth thorough a big hole, and stays on the upper board by a cross wiar, and on the lower end of the crooked wiar the bait is put on within the trap, at the further end of the trap: and there against ye may see certain wiars set from the upper board to the neither board, to 'tice the Rats there to seek to go out. Which is thought yearly they destroy thorough England forty quarters of corn.   

A trap or fall for Buzardes, and Kites, with a hurdel.  
THis Engine is called a fall or trap to take Buzardes and Kites, which is after this sort, ye shall set a hurdel on the ground where ye think good. Which hurdel is holden up before with a crooked stick, and that crooked stick holden up with a forked stick put under him, which forked stick must stand lose on the ground, without the neither bridge or forked stick. Also in setting up the neither end of the crooked stick that holds up the hurdel, must be made small and slightly put into the cleft of the forked bridge and stick: which forked stick is made fast, and tide with two threads to the ground, under the back of the hurdel, as ye may easily perceive: and when ye do tile or set it up, it shall be good with the crooked sticks end, to let the bridge stand a handful high from the ground, and put therein the end of your crooked stick as tickle as ye can, that when any thing comes to take the bait and treads it down, the hurdel falls suddenly on them.   

The Basket fall.  
THis Engine is called the Basket fall to take Kites and Buzardes, it is set and tylde in all things like unto the hurdle before, with all things thereunto belonging. This Basket is commonly made nigh three fathom about in the skirts, and so high that a man may well stand upright within him, The Warriners do commonly in some places use (in Rabbit time) to set him in plains, in warrens, and in parks, whereas Coneys are bred, and so they take the Kite and the Buzzard, in this Basket.   

The jay trap to set about corn fields, or orchards.  
THis Engine is called a jay trap: it is made with a pole of seven or eight inches abount, and seven or eight foot long or high, set fast in the ground about your wheat, or other fruit. There is made in the said pole two holes, one beneath and the other above: in the neither most hold, there is a spring wand set fast therein, and bowed unto the hole above, which hole ye shall put thorough a string, tied fast to the end of the spring wand, with a knot thereon, to stay it that it shall not slip back again. Also on the fore side of the hole, ye must put a blunt pin of wood with a round end of seven or eight inches long, set loosely in by the knot to stay the string: which pin ye shall see cloven in the midst, and in that cloven they use to put a cherry, or wheat ear, for a bait. Then shall ye spread finely, and lay the string about on the said short pin, and your string to have a running noose. Also the trap of your stake must be made sharp that no foul shall light thereon. And when any lights on the short pin to catch the bait, it falls down, and the string thereon takes them by the legs. Thus ye may set many such about your grounds, ye may make these traps on boughs in trees to take them at all times of the year if ye list.   

The bow trap for Rats or other Vermin.  

a The hole to tie the string of the bridge.  
b The clicket.  
c The lid.  
d The hole to tie the string.  
e The hole to put through the string on the side.  
f The pin for the string.  
g The hole to carry it by.   
THis engine or trap with the bow, is made like a box, of a whole piece of wood, with the lid opening & shutting above, and this side is unbent, she wing the left side and the lid, and clicket, taken out: with holes and the string for to set him, as more plainly shall be showed bend and set.   

The bow trap set.  

a The lid.  
b The hole to tic the string.  
c The hole to carry it.   
THis is side shows him bend, with the holes and pings how to bend him: as the pin on the lid is to hold the string bend. And also the pin set above the clicket, is to order the string coming from the hole of the bridge unto the clicket, which must stay up the bridge crossed and baited, when he is set. The pikes are set to hold fast when he is put dough.   

The Dragin trap for Mice or Rats.  
THis engine or trap is made of wood like the stock of a Bell, with two holes at the ends, and therein is put thorough hair or cord double, and the lid put between, and so wreathe the hair one way toward the lid upon the under hoop, with sharp wyars set round on the upper lid, and a long bridge under, falling within the neither hoop with a staff set fast above on the stock, to tie the string and clicket, which must hold up the lid: the upper trap lies with the mouth toward you, and the lower with the side towards you.   

The fall for Rats or other vermin.  
THis engine is called the Rat trap or fall, which is made with a thick bottom board, and two thinner boards on both sides, and there is two staves set fast thorough the bottom board, than the fall must be a thick board and heavy withal, and at the ends thereof must your staves go thorough easily to fall and rise, which two staves have holes above, which staves must also go thorough the long bridge above, and at the holes ye must put in two pins to hold up the said bridge. Then must ye set fast another staff in the midst of the fall, with a latch in the top thereof lose set to fall up and down: which latch must have a string, which string cometh down to the bridge beneath, with a small clicket fastened thereunto: and the bridge is fastened beneath on the backside or board, an inch from the bottom board, and so it is done. ye may make them to take water Rats in setting them in the water, in the sides of your ponds and rivers, and baited with carrion, but than ye must set rows of short nails under the fall plank, and those will stay either rat or other fish, if they go through it, and put down the bridge.   

The box trap.  
THis engine or trap, is to take mice, or rats, which is made of a thin board of two inches and a half broad, and eight inches long, with a round bowl cut thorough the board in the one end, and a box joined and glued therein, which box must have a hole above, and therein ye must put your crooked wire that must hold the bat within the box, and stayed above on the said box with a cross wire. Then shall ye see the falling wire tylde up with a string or thread, and fastened unto a long clicket, which is stayed with a crooked wiar, that holds the bait within: the said clicket to be made of bone, for that is better than would except it be hard The seochin in the midst of the box, is as it were, made for the bait. The four sharp wiars beneath the box, are to hold the mouse or rat when the wire falls. The bar cross by the box, is to stay the wire, it shall not fall out, or fall too low. And the end of the falling wire is fastened with two cross bars, and riveted through the board, and the end of the falling wire also, so it is done.   

The spring trap for Mice.  
THis engine or trap, is to take mice, it is made with a board of two inches thick, and in the one end, ye must boor so big holes as a mouse may easily creep therein, so many as ye shall think good. Then must ye boor against every of the said holes, four small hole with a piercer through the said board. And all those holes next the end, ye shall put in strong threads on the upper holes of the board, so they may be set on the end of the spring, and lie round in each great hole nigh the brink. Then must ye put a small thread through the board double, and tie him on the spring stiff, to hold down the spring: and those strings next the end, must bear no tied, but lie slack, and as they gnaw a sunder the other thread to come to the bait, that takes them by the belly, or neck: and ever as your inner threads are bit a sunder, ye may soon put or draw them through with a small wire again. Also the other ends of the springs must be fast set in holes, bored with a small wimble. Ye may make the like to take Rats, if ye make the holes square and bigger.   

The dragin trap with a great wire.  
THis engine or trap, is to take Mice and Rats, it is made of two thin boards: the neither board is made round at the one end, and broad at the other end, like a swallow tail. Then is there an other board set on edge in the midst thereof, which board hath a great wire bowed and nailed thereon, as ye may see: and the round bowght thereof must lie close on the round end of the neither board. Then is there two short square boards nailed and spreading toward the great wire. Also ye see at the top of the upright board, a long mortis, wherein the wiar that must hold the clicket and bait, must go thorough and there stay on another wire, and the like is holden up with the upper end thereof: which clicket, do stay on the top of the middle or upright board, and so tied thereat with a thread which holds up the great wire, when that ye will set or tile him: also the neither board is set round with sharp wyars to hold mouse or rat, and they must stand all within the bowght of the great wire, and it is done. This shows with the side towards you, or the half thereof.   

The Samson post for Rats.  
THis engine is called the Samson post, it is stayed up on three pieces, and one bears the burden of all, with the help of the other two pieces, and made as ye may see, with notches one to stay upon the other. These three sticks which ye see, the broadest is called the bridge, and that is made broad and thin and long withal, to reach under the plank or board a good way, and baited at the end thereof. The next is the cross bar which stays up the plank or board, set in a nick in the end of the bridge. The third is the pillar or post set almost upright, which stays the bridge for falling to the ground, which bridge must always stand from the ground an inch or more, that he may the sooner fall when he is touched. Also ye may make them in length as ye shall see cause for the breadth of your boards or planks, which must be somewhat heavy always.   

A Mill to take Mice.  
THis engine or Mill, is made of ij. thin boards, and thicker in the midst, then at the ends. The one half of the breadth is set in & joined within the other half, and bored with a piercer through the midst, and there is put thorough a great wire, or a small pin of wood, as ye may see, and that pin is put into a thick board of four inch board, which board lieth on some table or other board from the ground half a yard, or as ye shall think good: and set some pan or pot with water under your mill, and bait your mill on both sides of each leaf with some butter, mixed with otmele and sugar, and set all other things away, and so shall ye drown threescore or more perhaps in a night, as I have seen done, if there be store. Ye shall make your mill to turn very easily, that the least weight thereon shall turn it. Also set your Mill an inch from your square board that the pin is in, and bait your board with some otmeale, to 'tice them to the mill. Thus may ye soon destroy them, if your house be troubled with them never so much.   

The square mouse trap.  
The mouse trap with a dish & a filboll.  
THis engine or square mouse trap, is made of two boards, with a hole bored through them both at the lower end, and a pin set set fast in the hole of the neither board, and comes thorough the upper board: which upper board riseth and falleth thereon. Then is there a string tied at the said pin with a long bridge, and a pin on the upper board afore with a short string and a clicket tied thereunto, to stay up the upper board, and so it is done. This is a slight way, and soon made for mice.  
The other trap, is with a dish or bowl, filled up with a silboll, such as they make to fill puddings, which is made with a thin stice of wood or such like, with a tail of three inches long, and thereon is the bait tied. The filboule his bowght is commonly one inch and more high, to hold up the dish, that the mouse touch not the dish before she come to the bait. Then when she stirs the bait, the dish falls over the filboll, and the filboll within, and the mouse also. Then ye may set a vessel of water, and let the mouse fall therein. And thus it is used, and also quickly made.   

To take the Buzzard with three twigs limed.  
THis engine is to take the Buzzard in the spring of the year, as in March and April, which is made thus: with three small rods growing on the end of some bough, or three small twigs set on the end of a pretty big stick, and of a shastment long. Ye must so place them that two twigs must lie always on the ground, and the other stand or lie over. The stick must have a hole board in the end as ye may see, and therein to fasten the mouse tail, or a thread with a live mouse tide unto it. Also the twigs must be finely laid with lime, and in a morning laid on the ground, whereas ye shall see any Buzzard nigh, and as soon as ye are departed, if she spy the mouse, ye shall see her come unto it, and so taken, which is a very good way to take them in the spring, but at other times not so good. Also the Buzzard may well be taken in March and April with setting three limerods, and bayfed in a plain with the liver of a coney or such like.   

The Moull trap.  
TO set this Moull trap, where any Moull hath cast, ye shall first place two trestles over her casting, then tread it down with your foot softly, so long and so broad as your fall is, or more. Then lay a pole cross over your tresles, and there on hang your trap over the trench. Then set a short stake with the bridge therein, against the midst of your fall, as ye may see by the figure: and set your stake so that the bridge end may lie and touch the earth all over in the trench cross. For when the Moull doth cast, she will put up that end of the bridge which do cross the trench, and the other end will fall on the clicket, and so the trap falls, and the long nails set at both ends of the fall, kills her, which way soever she comes or goes. Your fall must be two foot long, and four inches broad, and four inches thick, for the heavier the better it is. If it be too light, ye may remedy it as ye think good. Also ye may set your long nails in a thencher or thin board, and nail that to your fall at both ends, and let the next nails on both sides be four inches from the bridge. Thus much for the moull trap, ye may thus kill them in gardens, woods, highways, or where ye shall think good without any watching of them.   

The following trap.  
THis engine is called, the following trap for Mice, it is made with two square boards, the bottom and the fall board, with edge boards of an inch high, round about the neither board, and set with two wing boards of each side one, with a cross lath over the midst to tie the string of the clicket. Which string comes down to the bridge, placed with a cross bridge, and then is there wreathed cord, or hair, under the lath above, and in that wreath, is put the following staff, which as soon as the lid do fall, that following staff holds it down, and the falling board is nailed with two leathers, as ye may see, to the lower board: and also the bridge is tied under unto the lower board with a string. Thus much for the understanding of the following trap.   

The griping trap made all of iron, the lowest bar, and the ring or hoop, with two clickets, and a turning pin, which ring is set fast to the sides of the lowest bar,  
MOre unto it is, a plate round in the midst, with five holes cut out, and a sharp iron pin in the midst, which plate hath a spring on both sides under the edge of the plate, and they stir not of joints up and down, as the other doth, but stands fast in touching the cross pin under the plate.   

Here is more with two springs untylde on both sides, in holding together the two hoops with nails.  
NOw when the two springs are opened abroad and hold down, here it is to be showed as he standeth tiled with the two springs, down flat to the long bar on both sides, which springs are made of good steel, and as soon as the clickets which hold them down under the plate when both the outward clickets be stirred. The two springs shuts them suddenly together and there is in the two shutting hoops sharp pings of iron set one contrary to the other, with holes made for those pings to go through and shut close together, that it will hold any thing, if it be but a rush or straw, so close they shut together. The two hoops on both sides outward are made bigger and bigger upward, to hold more close when they come together, as ye may perceive by the hoops within the springs, on both sides. Then there is at the ends of the long bars two square holes, which holes are made to pin the long bar fast to the ground, when ye set or tile him in any place at your pleasure. His clickets may so be made, that if any Otter, Fox, or other, do but tread thereon he shall be soon taken. This ye must bnide a piece of meat in the midst, and put it on the prick, and so bind it fast, and in pulling the bait, the clickets will slip and the springs will rise, and so it will take him. Thus much for this kind of trap shall be sufficient to understand the order thereof.   

The square box trap.  
THis trap is to take mice with any small square box, which box ye shall set an end, and make the cover so he may fall of his own accord. Then tile him up with a small stick with a nick, and set it in the midst to hold up the cover. Then put cheese on the top of the stick within the box. So when she bites the bait, the stick shakes, and the lid falls down, and so the mouse remains in the box. Thus ye may take many mice with small charge, and soon done.   

A spring for a Buzzard or Dunkite.  
THis engine is called a whip spring, made and set to take Buzardes and kites, and commonly set by a bush side, it may also be set in a plain, the spring must be of some growing pole, or some rod set fast in the ground where ye think best. There is also two stakes set half a yard a sunder fast in the ground, and that stake with a crook, must stand towards the loose of the spring, and tilled with a clicket, which clicket above must stay under the crook: and the neither end there of must stand in the nick of the end of the bridge, which hath a hook at the other end about the other stake, which bridge must stand three inches from the ground, and thereon spread your line as ye see, with a shoe buckle to slide soon. Then bait your bush side made some what hollow that she can come no way to the bat but over the bridge: which bait may be a Coney's head, or some eats flesh. Thus much for the spring.   

The hoop net for the Buzzard, set against some bush in a plain or open place.  
THis engine called the hoop net, is made thus: ye must have a good big rod of two inches about, and bow him round, so that he be a yard high in the midst. Then tie his two ends with a small packthréed, within three quarters and a half quarter, which bowed rod ye shall put on a piece 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, tied with packthréede to the two lower ends of the bowed rod, which must turn easy, and not fly up. Then set before your bridge, with hoolie and pin as ye may see, with a bowed stick, and a clicket at the other end, which clicket is tied with a string reaching to the side of the hoop, and the other part unto the spring rod, which rod must lie on the ground, that when the bridge is put down, it plucks the hoop over the Buzarde and so holds it still do one, which hoop must be set up right against some bush, and covered with some light fern. And this is an excellent way in winter to take them.   

The order for setting and drawing the chaff net, for Crows and Sparrows, as hereafter shall be declared.  
YE shall first make your trenches for your net, and staves, according to the length of each thereof, and your said trenches and staves, to be without the ends of your net. First piune down the back line of your net in the trench, with four small hooked pings, so done, then measure three yards from the further end of your net, and there knock down a stake, and tie your draging line thereat. But set your stake so that your line, and net may fall strait when he is drawn: then knock down in the two uppen ends of your staff trenches, two hooked pins to hold your two staves, as ye may see in their places. Then measure from the near end of your back line, five yards toward your hand, and there knock down another stake, and fasten your pull thereat, and draw your line through it, and pull your line so far as ye will draw your net, and there you must knock down an other strong stake with a hole thorough a foot above the ground, & there tie your drawing line to a short stick to draw by when ye will, and tie your line so tied it may come stiff in bending your net. Then bent it, and put your line in the notch of your further staff, and fasten it to the hooked pin in the trench, till ye have bend the other staff in the near trench. Then gather up your net, and lay it under your line in the trench, so done: cover your net and staves, with some short straw or chaff, and cover your drawing line with fern or such like. Then bait your shrape nigh the back line, with offal corn, or chaff mixed with oats, seeds or such like: and let it so remain three or four days, if ye will, without laying your net, so they will be the bolder to come when your net is laid, and the more number will know, and not seave the net. Also your staves for the sparrow net commonly must be twelve handfuls long, or nigh four foot: and the casting staves for your Rook net, may well be a handful longer. The length between your staves and trenches for your sparrow net must be two and twenty foot, or according to the length of your net. And so for your Rook net. Your back line may be a small line, but your drawing line had need be strong, and somewhat bigger than a halfpenny halter, to way down the net. Some do use to lay stones, and clods by, (if he draw alone) to lay them on the out sides of the net, while he takes or kills the Crows. Wherefore if these nets were used in each parish through England, according to the statute: there would not be the tenth Crow alive, which is now in this Realm, with in these few years, and as some do judge, the Crows and birds do eat and spoil as much grain yearly, as would go nigh to find all the people and cattle of the greatest shire in England for one year. For it is thought they devour & spoil yearly in and for each parish in this Realm of this grain, viii. bushels. There is counted two & fifty thousand parishes, so then there is two and fifty quarters of grain destroyed yearly by Crows and such like, besides a number of other poultry about men's houses devoured by Crows and Kites, and chiefly it is thought, through the negligence of slothful husbands, which yearly toils and labours to sow corn, and regards not after the saving of the same, or yet to wage or give to other (according to the statute) that would in winter and other times be glad to take pain to take & destroy them. Thus I have declared touching the destruction of corn by crows and such like, and the profit and gain that would come thereby, in using the said nets in each parish through the Realm which nets may well be used all the winter, and also from March till Midsummer or somewhat after. Ye may also bait your shrape, with flesh, or some carrion, and so ye may take Kites, flesh Crows, Ravens, and such like, when ye see cause. The laying your net is easle, but to make him cast well, is all in the setting the tail pin, and placing the pulley stake, in drawing your upper line. Also in july and August ye may well use the lime bush, and the call for Sparrows.   

A bait to kill Rats and Mice.  
TAke of Argentum sublimatum, of regal, and of Arsenic, of each a dram, with twenty figs of the fattest, one ounce of hazel nuts rleane piled and beaten, twelve walnuts piled, and half a pound of wheaten meal, also a pound and two ounees of hogs grease, with a little honey beaten and kneaded with the foresaid simples. First beat all into fine powders, and then mire them all together, so done, then make them into little pellets, and lay them in your house where ye shall think good, for the Rats to receive, and set water by them. Taken out of Dutch. Or you may take sweet cream mixed with sugar, and laid in shelts and strow the fine powder of Arsenic thereon.   

Another compound for Rats.  
TAke swéeté cream, and mix it well with sugar, then take the crumbs of white bread, with small pieces, and put therein, and make it somewhat thick. Then make it seeth, and stir it still till it be as thick as pap, then take it off the fire, and put therein of scraped cheese, and stir it all well together: so dove, take the fine powder of regal, and powder of Arsenic, and put it therein, and stir it well all together: so ye may lay it on shelts, or tile stones, where ye shall think best: yet some herein, will but strew the said powders thereon, when they have laid it, and it will serve so very well, or make the herb Pedelion in powder, and lay it on your meat, which herb is the field clof.   

another way for the same.  
TAke of fair cold water, and mix it with fine wheat flower, and then work it well all together, & see there be no lumps of flowar unbroken, then boil it softly, and stir it always for burning: and when it waxeth thick put in sugar, then take it from the fire, and mix it with a little clarified honey, and being thick like pap, put therein as much as ye shall see good, of the fine powder of Arsenic, and then beat and stir it all well together, and so when it is cold, ye may lay it where ye shall think good.   

A bait for Mice.  
TAke sweet butter, otmeale, and the pap of a roasted apple, with a quantity of wheat flower, and sugar. Then work these all together, and put therein of the powder of Argentum sublimatum, so work it well together like a paste, and so make it into small pellots, and lay it where ye think good.   

Another to kill Mice. ●. Dioscorides.  
TAke the powder of white Elleborie, otherwise called neezing powder, and mix it with barley meal. Then put to honey, and make a paste thereof, then bake it, or seeth it, or fry it, and it will kill those Mice that eats thereof.   

An other for Mice.  
TAke of barley meal a quantity, and mix therewith clarified honey: then put thereto a quantity of the powder finely beaten of Antimoneum, which is like unto red glass, also put therein a little clarified sheeps suet, then beat and work them all together, and make it in paste, and use it as the other afore rehearsed, ye may put of sugar therein if ye list: and here is to be noted, that when ye shall lay these baits aforesaid in your houses, ye must then keep all other things from your Rats and Mice, or else ye shall not have your purpose of them fulfilled, which may be laid for Pies and Crows.   

An other for Rats, Mice, wolves, or Foxes.  
TAke the root of an herb called in Latin, Aconitum: in English, Wolves 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 soon after they have taken it.   

To take Ravens, Pies, and Crows.  
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 piece of four pence, and a quarter of an inch thick or more. Those which are the whitest within, are counted for the best, when ye will ocupie any, do grate, or cut one small in thin slices, than beat it into powder if ye can, the finer it is the better, and the sooner will make the Crows or Pies to fall. Put of the said powder into a piece of flesh, and so lay it abroad, and ye shall soon see Pie, or Crow or Raven take it. Then must ye watch him a while after, and ye shall perceive him to fall down, then must ye follow to take him. But if ye let him remain one quarter of an hour, he will recover again, for this nux vomica it doth but make them drunk, and dyzie for a time. The Kite I have not seen taken, for he will cast it up again.   

The spring net for Buzzard or other kind of foul.  
THis spring net or hoop net, is to take the Buzarde on the plain, or to take Crows, Pies, or other small birds with their natural baits, as the worm for the Blackbird, & the Nytingale: it may be made with a hoop of wood, or of iron, or steel wire, ye must bring the ends together forty as ye shall think good. Then lap those ends with horse hair, or packth●éed, so oft about the ends as ye see good: then put a piune of iron, or of wood, between the said hair or line. Then turn & twist the hair as ye do for a mouse trap, so stiff as ye shall see cause, so knock that iron pin into the ground where ye will set your net. Then take a small string that must be tied in the midst of the hoop, which string must have a knot at the end, so put it under the wreath of hair, and thorough a hole in a pin of wood set in the ground before the iron pin, and let the knot of the same string, rest in the said hole. Then fill the said hole with an other short pin of wood made blunt, putting it slight into the hole, to stay the knot of the string that keeps down the net, and on that short pin, make a hole, or slit, & put a thorn with a bait thereon: and when any thing do touch the bait, the short pin will soon fall, and the string slips through the hole, and so the net turns suddenly upon the fowl. Thus much for ordering this kind of net.