16 ANCIENT ANGLING AUTHORS 



further directions to the angler verbatim et literatim, 

 and they are accordingly given in modernized 

 English. 



What time of the day ye shall angle. From the 

 beginning of May until it be September the biting 

 time is early by the morrow from four of the clock 

 until eight of the clock. And at after noon from 

 four of the clock until eight of the clock ; but not 

 so good as in the morning. 



And if it be a cold whistling wind or a dark 

 lowering day. For a dark day is much better to 

 angle in than a clear day. From the beginning of 

 September till the end of April spare no time of 

 the day. 



And if ye see any time of the day the trout or 

 grayling leap angle to him with a dubbe (an artificial 

 fly) according to the same month. 



In what weather ye shall angle. From September 

 until April in a fair sunny day is right good to 

 angle. And if the wind in that have any part of 

 the Orient, the weather then is nought. And when 

 it is a great wind, and when it snoweth, raineth, or 

 haileth, or is a great tempest, as thunder or lighten- 

 ing, or very hot weather then it is nought for to 

 Angle. 



There be twelve manner of impediments which cause 

 a man to take no fish without other common causes 

 which may casually happen. 



The first is if your harness be not neat or fitly made. 



The second is if your baits be not good nor fine. 



The third is if that ye angle not in biting time. 



The fourth is if the fish be frightened with the 

 sight of a man. 



The fifth is if the water be very thick white or red 

 of any flood late fallen. 



The sixth is if the fish stir not for cold. 



