ANCIENT ANGLING AUTHORS 47 



This is followed by instructions how " to make the 

 line": 



Then get good Hayre, so that it be not blacke, 



Neither of Mare nor Gelding let it be ; 



Nor of the tyreling lade that beares the packe : 



But of some lusty Horse or Courser free, 



Whose bushie tayle, upon the ground doth tracke, 



Like blazing Comete that sometimes we see : 



From out the midist thereof the longest take, 

 At leysure best your Linkes Lines to make. 



The directions for making the cork floats are 

 almost identical with those given in the Book of St 

 Albans. The angler at this period is able to buy 

 his hooks : 



Then buy your Hookes the finest and the best 

 That may be had of such as use to sell, 

 And from the greatest to the very least 

 Of every sort pick out and chuse them well, 

 That Hooke I love that is in compasse round 

 Like to the print that Pegasus did make. 



His Shank should neither be too short nor long, 



His point not over sharpe, nor yet too dull : 



The substance good that they may indure from wrong ; 



His Needle slender, yet both round and full, 



Made of the right Iberian mettell strong, 



That will not stretch or breake at every pull, 



Wrought smooth and cleane withouten crack or knot 

 And bearded like the wilde Arabian goat. 



The following is, I believe, the first mention in 

 any angling book of the winder and clearing ring : 



A little Boord, the lightest you can finde, 

 But not so thin that it will breake or bend ; 

 Of Cypres sweet, or of some other kinde, 

 That like a Trenchor shall itselfe extend : 



