284 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



moisture within his skin : and having done this, tie him with 

 tape or packthread to a spit, and roast him leisurely, and 

 baste him with water and salt till his skin breaks, and then 

 with butter ; and having roasted him enough, let what was 

 put into his belly and what he drips, be his sauce. S. F. 



When I go to dress an eel thus, I wish he were as long 

 and big as that which was caught in Peterborough river in 

 the year 1667, which was a yard and three-quarters long. 

 If you will not believe me, then go and see at one of the 

 coffee-houses in King Street, in Westminster. 



But now let me tell you, that though the eel thus dressed 

 be not only excellent good, but more harmless than any 

 other way, yet it is certain, that physicians account the eel 

 dangerous meat : I will advise you, therefore, as Solomon 

 says of honey, " Hast thou found it, eat no more than is 

 sufficient, lest thou surfeit ; for it is not good to eat much 

 honey." And let me add this, that the uncharitable Italian 

 bids us " give eels and no wine to our enemies." 



And I will beg a little more of your attention to tell you, 

 Aldrovandus, and divers physicians, commend the eel very 

 much for medicine, though not for meat. But let me tell 

 you one observation, that the eel is never out of season, as 

 trouts, and most other fish are at set times ; at least, most 

 eels are not. 



I might here speak of many other fish, whose shape and 

 nature are much like the eel, and frequent both the sea and 

 fresh rivers ; as, namely, the lamprel, the lamprey, and the 

 lamperne ; 2 as also of the mighty conger, taken often in 

 Severn, about Gloucester ; and might also tell in what high 

 esteem many of them are for the curiosity of their taste. 

 But these are not so proper to be talked of by me, becaus 



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