1 1 8 SHAKESPEARE'S [FLY. 



is not to be found one spider, nor a spider's web. Because 

 (as it is thought) the timber wherewith the roof is builded 

 was brought out of Ireland, and did grow there. 

 [N.B. This belief was still held in Wales in 1869.] In 

 all which country of Ireland, I have not only heard it 

 credibly told that there is neither spider, toad, nor any 

 other venomous thing ; but also that some of the earth of 

 that country hath been brought hither, whereon a toad 

 being laid, she hath died presently. Though this be mar- 

 vellous and strange, yet it is true. 



Lupton, "A Thousand Notable Things," bk. iv. 31. 



IF you rub slightly any kind of beast or cattle with the 

 juice of gourds in hot weather, no kind of Flies will then 

 hurt or molest them, nor yet annoy them. A thing desired 

 of many, and very necessary for such as rides in the hot 

 weather. lbid bk> v> 42 . 



FLIES are generated two ways, by coupling with their 

 own species, or by the putrefaction of other things. When 

 the Flies bite harder than ordinary, making at the face and 

 eyes of men, they foretell rain or wet weather. Trouts 

 are taken with the Ground-fly, but chiefly with the Dung- 

 fly ; so that the anglers use to fasten one or two of them 

 to their hook, and with a sporting or rather cunning snatch- 

 ing back of their line do invite the trouts more greedily to 

 bite, and the bait being swallowed down to hang the surer. 

 Others put as many of those Flies upon their hooks as 

 they will hold, and plunge them quite down to the bottom, 

 especially where they know the greater trouts use to haunt. 

 But every month must have his several Fly ; the which the 

 fishers do very well know, who in defect of the natural 

 Fly do substitute artificial Flies made of wool, feathers, or 

 divers kind of silken colours, with which they cozen and 

 deceive the fish. Only you must take heed that as soon as 

 ever they bite, you pull your line to you, lest the fish 

 refusing the unsavoury bait get away. We conclude this 

 art of making Flies to be very ancient, and derived to us 

 by long tract of time ; however, we have some bold 

 bragging book-men at this day [i.e., 1582] that ascribe it 

 to their own invention. 



"Theatre of Insects," pp. 932, 944, 946. 



