i88 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. [PART i. 



with which, if you mean to be a fisher, you must store yourself ; 

 and to that purpose I will go with you, either to * Mr Margrave, 

 who dwells amongst the booksellers in St Paul's Churchyard, or 

 to Mr John Stubs, near to the Swan in Golding Lane : they be 

 both honest men, and will fit an angler with what tackling he 

 lacks. 



VENATOR. Then, good master, let it be at ,f for he is 



nearest to my dwelling. And I pray let's meet there the ninth 

 of May next, about two of the clock ; and I'll want nothing that 

 a fisher should be furnished with. 



PISCATOR. Well, and I'll not fail you, God willing, at the 

 time and place appointed. 



VENATOR. I thank you, good master, and I will not fail you. 

 And, good master, tell me what BAITS more you remember ; for 

 it will not now be long ere we shall be at Tottenham High Cross ; 

 and when we come thither I will make you some requital of your 

 pains, by repeating as choice a copy of Verses as any we have 

 heard since we met together ; and that is a proud word, for we 

 have heard very good ones. 



PISCATOR. Well, scholar, and I shall be then right glad to 

 hear them. And I will, as we walk, tell you whatsoever comes 

 in my mind, that I think may be worth your hearing. You may 

 make another choice bait thus : take a handful or two of the best 

 and biggest wheat you can get ; boil it in a little milk, like as 

 frumity is boiled ; boil it so till it be soft ; and then fry it, very 

 leisurely, with honey, and a little beaten saffron dissolved in 

 milk ; and you will find this a choice bait, and good, I think, for 

 any fish, especially for Roach, Dace, Chub, or Grayling : I know 



* In the first edition Piscator says, "I will go with you either to Char'es Brandons' 

 near to the Swan in Golding Lane, or to Mr Fletcher's, in the court which did once belong 

 to Dr Nowel, the Dean of Paul's, that I told you was a good man, and a good Fisher '. 

 it is hard by the West end of St Paul's Church : they be both honest men, and will fit an 

 angler with what tackling he wants." Viator replies, "Then, good master, let it be at 

 Charles Brandons', for he is nearest to my dwelling, and I pray let's meet there," &c. In 

 the second edition the same names occur, but after the words St Paul's Church is this 

 passage, " But if you will buy choice hooks, I will one day walk with you to Charles 

 Kerbye's in Harp Alley in Shoe Lane, who is the most exact and best hook-maker that 

 the nation affords. They be all three honest men," &c. The third and .fourth editions 

 agree with the second ; but the text has been taken from the fifth, published in 1676, at 

 which time Brandons, Fletcher, and Kerbye were probably dead. At the end of 

 Cotton's Second Part is the following address, which affords some information about Mr 

 Margrave : 



" COURTEOUS READER, You may be pleased to take notice that at the sign of the 

 Three Trouts in St Paul's Churchyard, on the north side, you maybe fitted with all sorts 

 of the best Fishing-tackle, by JOHN MARGRAVE." 



The Charles Kerbye above alluded to, obtained from Prince Rupert a method of 

 tempering his hooks, which long continued in the family. A lineal descendant of his, 

 whose hooks for their shape and temper exceeded all others, was in 1760 living in 

 Crowthers-well Alley near Aldersgate Street. 



t See above note. 



