APPENDIX. 171 



evyn square grete tree." After this it was to be 

 pierced through with a hot plummer's wire, and the 

 bore to be enlarged, first with a " byrde broche," a 

 small kind of spit, and then with a larger "broche," 

 the operator taking heed that this hollowing out "be 

 aye tap re wexe." When the stock is thus sufficiently 

 hollowed it is to be unwrapped, and placed in the 

 house roof to be seasoned by the smoke. The upper 

 part of the rod the" crop or coppe," as it is called is 

 to be formed of a yard of small hazel, for the top piece ; 

 and of a shoot of black thorn, crab tree, medlar, or 

 juniper, for the other half. The coppe was to be of 

 such a thickness as to be contained within the hollow 

 of the stock, which was to be "vyrelled" at both 

 ends " wyth longe hopis of yron or laton in the 

 clennest wise, wyth a pyke in the nether ende, fas- 

 tynd wyth a rennynge vyce to take in and oute your 

 croppe." When drawn out for use, the lower end 

 of the " croppe" was always to be a hand's breadth 

 within the upper part of the " staffe" or stock. 

 " Thenne arme your croppe at thover ende downe 

 to the frette [the wrapping of the splice] wyth a 

 lyne of vi heeres. And dubbe the lyne and frette it 

 fast in the toppe wyth a bowe to fasten on your 

 lyne. And thus shall ye make you a rodde so prevy 

 that ye maye walke therwyth, and there shall noo 

 man wyte where abowte ye goo. It woll be lyghte 

 and full nymbyll to fysshe wyth at your luste. And 

 for more redynesse loo here a fygure of the rod." 



