36 NOTES ON FISH AND FISHING. 



fish, surely there is no man merrier than he is in his spirit. Also 

 whoso will use the game of angling, he must rise early, which thing is 

 profitable to man in this wise, that is to wit, most to the heal of his 

 soul. For it shall cause him to be holy, and to the heal of his body, 

 for it shall cause him to be whole. Also to the increase of his goods, 

 for it shall make him rich. As the old English proverb saith in this 

 wise, whoso will rise early shall be holy, healthy, and zealous. Thus 

 have I proved in my intent that the disport and game of angling is 

 the very mean and cause that induceth a man into a merry spirit : 

 which after the said parable of Solomon, and the said doctrine of 

 physic, maketh a flowering age and a long. And therefore, to all you 

 that be virtuous, gentle, and free-born I write and make this simple 

 treatise, following by which ye may have the full craft of angling to 

 disport you at your last, to the intent that your age may the more 

 flower and the more longer to endure." 



Our authoress concludes her treatise by giving all kinds 

 of good advice. To rich anglers she says., " fish not in no 

 poor man's water/' and " break no man's gins." To all 

 " break no man's hedges/' and " open no man's gates, 

 but that ye shut them again." Anglers are to " use this 

 foresaid crafty disport for no covetousness," but for 

 " solace," and health to both body and soul ; not to take 

 too many persons in their company, so that they may 

 " not be let of their game," or prevented " serving God de- 

 voutly in saying affectuously their customable prayer/' and 

 lastly, they are not to be " too ravenous in taking game," 

 or " to take too much at one time," which they " might 

 lightly do, if in every point they do as this present trea- 

 tise showeth them." With a final injunction to anglers, 

 that they " nourish the game," and " destroy all such 

 things as be devourers of it," she assures them that " if 

 they do after this rule they shall have the blessing of God 

 and St. Peter." 



The first edition of the Boohc of St. Albans was re- 



