234 THE COMPLETE ANGLER 



cover it with a tile or what you think fit, and set it again 

 on the fire, where it is to boil again softly for half an 

 hour, about which time the scum will turn yellow ; 

 then put into it half a pound of copperas beaten small, 

 and with it the hair that you intend to colour ; then 

 let the hair be boiled softly till half the liquor be wasted, 

 and then let it cool three or four hours with your hair 

 in it ; and you are to observe, that the more copperas you 

 put into it, the greener it will be ; but doubtless, the pale 

 green is best : but if you desire yellow hair, which is 

 only good when the weeds rot, then put in the more 

 marigolds, and abate most of the copperas, or leave it 

 quite out, and take a little verdigrease instead of it. 



This for colouring your hair. And as for painting 

 your rod, which must be in oil, you must first make a 

 size with glue and water, boiled together until the glue 

 be dissolved, and the size of a lye-colour ; then strike 

 your size upon the wood with a bristle, or a brush, or 

 pencil, whilst it is hot ; that being quite dry, take white- 

 lead, and a little red-lead, and a little coal-black, so much 

 as altogether will make an ash-colour ; grind these 

 all together with linseed-oil ; let it be thick, and lay 

 it thin upon the wood with a brush or pencil ; this do 

 for the ground of any colour to lie upon wood. 



For a green, take pink and verdigrease, and grind 

 them together in linseed-oil, as thin as you can well 

 grind it ; then lay it smoothly on with your brush, and 

 drive it thin ; once doing, for the most part will serve, 

 if you lay it well ; and if twice, be sure your first colour 

 be thoroughly dry before you lay on a second. 



Well, scholar, having now taught you to paint your rod, 

 and we having still a mile to Tottenham High Cross, I 

 will, as we walk towards it, in the cool shade of this sweet 

 honeysuckle hedge, mention to you some of the thoughts 

 and joys that have possest my soul since we two met 

 together. And these thoughts shall be told you, that you 



