THE MIDDLE AGES. 39 



Among the earliest productions of British literature 

 relative to angling, is the Poetica, attributed to a Scottish 

 rhymster called Blind Harry, who flourished about the 

 termination of the fourteenth century. The lines are 

 upon a fishing excursion of Sir William Wallace, who, in 

 in his rambles, fell in with Lord Percy, and a contention 

 sprung up between them as to the right to fish. 



" So on a time he descried to play, 

 In Aperil the third-and-twentieth day. 

 Till Irvine water fish to tak he went, 

 Sic fantasy fell in his intent. 

 To lead his net a child furth with him yede, 3 

 But he, or 4 noon, was in a fellon dread. 

 His swerd he left, so did he never again ; 

 It did him gude, suppose he suffered pain. 

 Of that labour as than he was not slie, 

 Happy he was, took fish abundantly. 

 Or of the day ten hours o'er couth pass. 

 Eidand there came, near by where Wallace was, 

 The Lord Percy, was captain then of Ayr ; 

 Frae then' he turned, and couth to Glasgow fare, 5 

 Part of the court had Wallace' labour seen, 

 Till him rade five, clad into ganand green, 

 And said soon, ' Scot, Martin's fish we wald have !' 

 Wallace meekly again answer him gave : 

 * It were reason, methink, ye should have part ; 

 Waith 6 should be dealt, in all place, with free heart.' 



* Went. 4 Ere. 



6 He was on his way from Ayr to Glasgow. 



6 Spoil taken in sport. 



