38 ANGLING LITERATURE OF 



Idrowned, on day peraventure sodeynly, 



Taken to prison in povert dye. 



And therfor lett true men liven in pays, 



Stroye natt theire stiews, stele dat theire plays. 



I see suche thynge afoore the eye 



That dayly encresith save the severalte 



Beeth wise and ware howe that ye wende 



Ffor off false fisshying commy th a fowle ende, 



Therfor eschewe all suche prevy slaunders 



Com there nat daily out off fflaunders 



Off ffat elys full many a showte ? 



And grete chepe whoso waiteth aboute, 



But no we men in deyntyes so hem delyte, 



To feede them on tendre fisshes lyte, 



As floundres, perches, and such pikyng waare, 



I see no man that will gladly spaare 



To suffre them wex unto their o age ; 



Theye shullen be endyted for suche damage, 



And ete the olde fisshe, and leve the yonge, 



Thought they moore towgh be uppon the tdnge, 



And the belyes not shewyng an ynche resett, 



Yet savowre off sawce may make goode mete. 



Late this yonge fisshe lyve till certayn yeres, 



And payne us to fisshe oure olde weres, 



But stynkkyng fisshe, and unseasonable, 



Latt passe, and taake such as be able. 



Spaare no man, but love no wast, 



Beth well waare when ye feele such tast, 



Ffor in fisshe ffatt is felt no boone, 



But whoo that about suche game shulde goon, 



Off governance he must have a name, 



And suffre no man to fisshe in others game. 



