HOW TO FISH FOR TROUT. 167 



and the May-fly are the ground of all fly-angling, which are 

 to be thus made : 



First, you must arm your hook with the line in the inside 

 of it, then take your scissors and cut so much of a brown 

 mallard's feather as in your own reason will make the wings 

 of it, you having withal regard to the bigness or littleness 

 of your hook ; then lay the outmost part of your feather 

 next to your hook, then the point of your feather next the 

 shank of your hook ; and having so done, whip it three or 

 four times about the hook with the same silk with which 

 your hook was armed ; and having made the silk fast, take 

 the hackle of a cock or capon's neck, or a plover's top, 

 which is usually better ; take off the one side of the feather, 

 and then take the hackle, silk, or crewel, gold or silver 

 thread, make these fast at the bent of the hook, that is to 

 say, below your arming ; then you must take the hackle, 

 the silver or gold thread, and work it up to the wings, 

 shifting or still removing your finger as you turn the silk 

 about the hook ; and still looking at every stop or turn that 

 your gold, or what materials soever you make your fly of, 

 do lie right and neatly ; and if you find they do so, then, 

 when you have made the head, make all fast ; and then 

 work your hackle up to the head, and make that fast ; and 

 then with a needle or pin divide the wing into two, and then 

 with the arming silk whip it about crossways betwixt the 

 wings, and then with your thumb you must turn the point 

 of the feather towards the bent of the hook, and then work 

 three or four times about the shank of the hook ; and then 

 view the proportion, and if all be neat and to your liking, 

 fasten. 



I confess, no direction can be given to make a man of a 



