CHAP.V. THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 165 



waters, a minnow is not to. be got ; and therefore 

 (let me tell you,) I have, which I will shew to 

 you, an artificial minnow, that will catch a Trout 

 as well as an artificial fly: and it was made by 

 a handsome woman that had a fine hand, and a 

 live minnow lying by her : the mould or body of the 

 minnow was cloth, and wrought upon, or over it, thus 

 with a needle, the back of it with very sad French 

 green silk, and paler green silk towards the belly, sha- 

 dowed as perfectly as you can imagine, just as you see 

 a minnow : the belly was wrought also with a needle, 

 and it was a part of it, white silk ; and another part 

 of it with silver thread : the tail and fins were of a quill, - 

 which was shaven thin : the eyes were of two little 

 black beads : and the head was so shadowed, and 

 all of it so curiously wrought, and so exactly dis- 

 sembled, that it would beguile any sharp-sighted 

 Trout in a swift stream. And this minnow I will 

 now shew you ; look ! here it is ; and if you like 

 it, lend it you, to have two or three made by it ; for 

 they be easily carried about an angler ; and be of ex- 

 cellent use, for note, That a large Trout will 

 come as fiercely at a minnow, as the highest mettled 

 haNvk doth seize on a partridge, or a grey-hound OHL 

 a hare. I have been told that 160 minnows have 

 been found in a Trout's belly ; either the Trout had 

 devoured so many, or the miller that gave it a friend 

 of mine had forced them down his throat after he had 

 taken him. 



Now for flies; which is the third bait wherewith 

 Trouts are usually taken. You are to know, that 

 there are so many sorts of flies as there be of fruits : 

 I will name you but some of them ; as the dun-fly, the 

 stone-fly, the red-fly, the moor-fly, the tawney-fly, 

 the shell-fly, the cloudy or blackish-fly, the flag-fly, 

 the vine-fly : there be of flies caterpillars, and can- 

 ker-flies, and bear-flies ; and indeed too many either fo* 

 me to name, or for you to remember. And their breed- 

 ing is so various and wonderful, that I, might easily 

 amaze myself, and tire you in a relation of them. 

 And, yet, I will exercise your promised patience by 



