CHAP. VIII. THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 141 



let them all be well salted. If the Pike be more than a 

 yard long, then you may put into these herbs more than 

 a pound, or if he be less, then less butter will suffice : 

 These, being thus mixt, with a blade or two of mace, must 

 be put into the Pike's belly ; and then his belly so sewed 

 up as to keep all the butter in his belly if it be possible ; 

 if not then as much as you possibly can. But take not 

 off the scales. Then you are to thrust the spit through 

 his mouth, out at his tail. And then take four or five or 

 six split sticks, or very thin laths, and a convenient 

 quantity of tape or filleting; these laths are to be tied 

 round about the Pike's body from his head to his tail, 

 and the tape tied somewhat thick, to prevent his breaking 

 or falling off from the spit. Let him be roasted very 

 leisurely; and often basted with claret wine, and ancho- 

 vies, and butter mixt together ; and also with what mois- 

 ture falls from him into the pan. When you have 

 roasted him sufficiently you are to hold under him, when 

 you unwind or cut the tape that ties him, such a dish as 

 you purpose to eat him out of; and let him fall into it 

 with the sauce that is roasted in his belly ; and by this 

 means the Pike will be kept unbroken and complete. 

 Then, to the sauce which was within, and also that sauce 

 in the pan, you are to add a fit quantity of the best but- 

 ter, and to squeeze the juice of three or four oranges. 

 Lastly, you may either put it into the Pike, with the oys- 

 ters, two cloves of garlick, and take it whole out, when 

 the Pike is cut off the spit ; or, to give the sauce a hogoo, 

 let the dish into which you let the Pike fall, be rubbed 

 with it: the using or not using of this garlick is left to 

 your discretion. M. B. 



This dish of meat is too good for any but anglers, or 

 very honest men; and I trust you will prove both, and 

 therefore I have trusted you with this secret. 



Let me next tell you, that Gesner tells us, there are no 



