NORTHERN MEMOIRS 157 



A trout also was taken in the river at Ware, and 

 presented to Charles the First, then King of 

 England, which trout was of such a vast proper- 

 tion, as would seem incredible for me to report ; 

 which for any man's satisfaction the figure of it 

 as yet remains (for ought I know) at the George- 

 Inn in Ware, to convince the incredulous, if any 

 be suspicious. 



A pike also Van Helmont tells of, that a sign 

 hung on him is noted to have lived three hun- 

 dred years, and to have grown to an amazing 

 bigness ; nor then to have died, but by a violent 

 death. Great pikes I have also observ'd to be 

 taken out of the Lough of Minever, that have 

 measured more than a yard and a half ; and such 

 were surprized with a hook and a line. So in 

 the rivers of Lire (nigh the village Rumst) an 

 eel was taken, which was sent to Brtixels, unto 

 the Emperor Charles the First ; which was ob- 

 served to have been seventeen foot in length. 



Another notable relation I have from a gen- 

 tleman, born in Nottingham-shire ; his name is 

 Armstrong, whose grandfather very much af- 

 fected the rod : and trolling in some river there- 

 abouts, but whether in Trent or the river Soar, 

 he remembers not ; however, he encountred a 

 lusty pike that disarm'd him, both of his hook 

 and his hopes at once ; so melancholy he left off 

 his recreation for that time, but the ensuing day 



