THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 203 



next place how you are to prepare your tackling ; concerning 

 which I will, for sport's sake, give you an old rhyme out of 

 an old fish-book which will prove a part, and but a part, of 

 what you are to provide. 



My rod and my line, my float and my lead, 



My hook and my plummet, my whetstone and knife, 



My basket, my baits both living and dead, 

 My net, and my meat (for that is the chief) : 



Then I must have thread, and hairs green and small, 



With mine angling-purse and so you have all. 



But you must have all these tackling, and twice so many 

 more, with which, if you mean to be a fisher, you must store 

 yourself; and to that purpose, I will go with you either to 

 Mr. Margrave, who dwells amongst the booksellers in St. 

 Paul's Churchyard, or to Mr. John Stubs, near to the Swan 

 in Golden-lane ; they be both honest men, and will fit an 

 angler with what tackling he lacks. 



YEN. Then, good master, let it be at for he is 



nearest to my dwelling ; and I pray let us meet there the 

 ninth of May next, about two of the clock, and I'll want 

 nothing that a fisher should be furnished with. 



Pise. Well, and I'll not fail you (God willing) at the time 

 and place appointed. 



VEN. I thank you, good master, and I will not fail you: 

 and, good master, tell me what baits more you remember, for 

 it will not now be long ere we shall be at Tottenham High- 

 cross, and when we come thither, I will make you some 

 requital of your pains, by repeating as choice a copy of verses 

 as any we have heard since we met together ; and that is a 

 proud word, for we have heard very good ones. 



Pise. Well, scholar, and I shall be then right glad to hear 

 them ; and I will, as we walk, tell you whatsoever comes in 

 my mind, that I think may be worth your hearing. You may 

 make another choice bait thus : take a handful or two of the 

 best and biggest wheat you can get, boil it in a little milk, 

 like as frumity is boiled ; boil it so till it be soft, and then fry 

 it very leisurely with honey, and a little beaten saffron dis- 

 solved in milk ; and you will find this a choice bait, and good, 



show that roach and dace fishing was well understood then. Much improve- 

 ment has taken place since in the methods of taking these interesting little 

 fish, and in the gear necessary for their successful capture. An explanation of 

 them would be too long for a note, therefore I shall give it at the end of this 

 chapter. ED.] 



