292 APPENDIX TO THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



surely then is there no man merrier than he is in his spirit. Also whoso will 

 use the game of angling, he must rise early, which thing is profitable to 

 man in this wise, that is to wit, most to the heal of his soul. For it shall 

 cause him to be holy, and to the heal of his body, for it shall cause him to 

 be whole. Also to the increase of his goods, for it shall make him rich. 

 As the old English proverb saith in this wise, whoso will rise early shall 

 be holy, healthy, and zealous. Thus have I proved in my intent that the 

 disport and game of angling is the very mean and cause that induceth a 

 man into a merry spirit : which after the said parable of Solomon, and the 

 said doctrine of physic, maketh a flowering age and a long. And there- 

 fore, to all you that be virtuous, gentle, and free-born, I write and make 

 this simple treatise following, by which ye may have the full craft of 

 angling to disport you at your Isst, to the intent that your age may the 

 more flower and the more longer to endure. 



"Ye that can angle and take fish to your pleasures, as this foresaid 

 treatise teacheth and showeth you, I charge and require you in the name 

 of all noble men that ye fish not in no poor man's several water, as his 

 pond, stew, or other necessary things to keep fish in, without his license 

 and goodwill. Nor that ye use not to break no man's gins lying in their 

 weirs and in other places due unto them ; nor to take the fish away that is 

 taken in them. For after a fish is taken in a man's gin, if the gin be laid 

 in the common waters, or else in such waters as he hireth, it is his own 

 proper goods : and if ye take it away ye rob him, which is a right shame- 

 ful deed to any noble man to do that that thieves and bribers do : which 

 are punished for their evil deeds by the neck and otherwise, when they 

 may be espied and taken. And also if ye do in like manner as this treatise 

 showeth you, ye shall have no need to take of other men's while ye shall 

 have enough of your own taking if ye list to labour therefore, which shall 

 be to you a very pleasure to see the fair bright shining scaled fishes 

 deceived by your crafty means and drawn upon land. Also that ye break 

 no man's hedges in going about your disports : nor open no man's gates 

 but that ye shut them again. Also ye shall not use this foresaid crafty 

 disport for no covetousness, to the increasing and sparing of your money 

 only, but principally for your solace, and to cause the health of your body, 

 and specially of your soul. For when ye purpose to go on your disports 

 in fishing, ye will not desire greatly many persons with you, which might 

 let you of your game ; and then ye may serve God devoutly in saying 

 affectuously your customable prayer. And thus doing ye shall eschew 

 and avoid many vices, as idleness, which is principal cause to induce man 

 to many other vices, as it is right well known. Also ye shall not be too 

 ravenous in taking of your said game, as too much at one time, which ye 

 may lightly do if ye do in every point as this present treatise showeth you 

 in every point, which lightly be occasion to destroy your own disports and 

 other men's also. As when ye have a sufficient mess ye should covet no 

 more as at that time. Also ye shall busy yourself to nourish the game in 

 all that ye may, and to destroy all such things as be devourers of it. And 

 all those that do after this rule shall have the blessing of God and Saint 

 Peter, which he them grant that with his precious blood us bought." 



