THE MIDDLE AGES. 37 



Whan that true men shulde goo to rest 



To bribe and bere away the best. 



That soiourne and kept bien in stiewe 



Ffor store that nothyng shulde hym remewe. 



But the goode man that oweth that gouernance, 



His costlewe catell and his purviaunce 



And severel oonly for to serue hym selff, 



But nowe other that use anglyng ten or twelff, 



Wyth water hookys, and certayne baite, 



That makyth the fisshe after their foode to wayt, 



To breeke trunkes these traitours use, 



The cely fisshes can nat hem selff excuse ; 



Tyll it be spitted like a sprotte, 



But the goodeman knoweth thereof no grott. 



That paieth for all though that he be blynde 



So that he his fille off fisshe may fynde 



It suffiseth he seieth. No man will stele 



Thus berdes been maade all daye full feele 



With anglers and other gynnes over all, 



There may no mans stiewe stonde seuerall, 



Be it closed neuer so well abowte, 



Therfor I stonde cliere out off doute, 



Shall I never ponde wyth pykes store 



Breame tenche. Perche neuer the moore. 



But in rennyng ryvers that bee commone, 



There will I fisshe and taake my fortune 



Wyth nettys, and with angle hookys, 



And laye weris and sprenteris in narrowe brookys, 



Ffor loochis, and lampreyes, and good layk, 



I will stele off no mans a strayke. 



Ffor whoo so usith that lyff too, and too, 



His fusteryng sothly is for doo, 



4 



