CHAP. xix. THE FIFTH DAY. 163 



hook, as he is like to turn, then sew up his mouth to your line, 

 and he is like to turn quick, and tempt any trout ; but if he do 

 not turn quick, then turn his tail a little more or less towards 

 the inner part, or towards the side of the hook, or put the 

 minnow, or sticklebag, a little more crooked or more straight on 

 your hook, until it will turn both true and fast, and then doubt 

 not but to tempt any great trout that lies in a swift stream. 

 And the loach that I told you of will do the like : no bait is more 

 tempting, provided the loach be not too big. 



And now, scholar, with the help of this fine morning, and your 

 patient attention, I have said all that my present memory will 

 afford me concerning most of the several fish that are usually 

 fished for in fresh waters. 



VEN. But, master, you have, by your former civility, made me 

 hope that you will make good your promise, and say something 

 of the several rivers that be of most note in this nation ; and also 

 of fish-ponds, and the ordering of them : and do it, I pray, good 

 master, for I love any discourse of rivers, and fish and fishing : 

 the time spent in such discourse passes away very pleasantly. 



CHAPTER XIX. 



OF SEVERAL RIVERS: AND SOME OBSERVATIONS OF FISH. 



PiSC. Well, scholar, since the ways and weather do both 

 favour us, and that we yet see not Tottenham Cross, you shall 

 see my willingness to satisfy your desire. And first, for the 

 rivers of this nation, there be, as you may note out of Doctor 

 Heylin's Geography, and others, in number 325, but those of 

 chiefest note he reckons and describes as followeth : 



i. The chief is Thamesis, compounded of two rivers, Thame 

 and Isis, whereof the former, rising somewhat beyond Thame in 

 Buckinghamshire, and the latter near Cirencester in Gloucester- 

 shire, meet together about Dorchester in Oxfordshire; the issue 

 of which happy conjunction is the Thamesis, or Thames; 



