_Fish_ of no rare Meat; however, is good for a young Angler, and is thus
to be taken: Bait your hook with a _Grass-hopper_, find the Hole where
he lies, accompanied in a hot day, with twenty or more, floating almost
on the very superficies of the Water; choose which you think best, and
fairest, and drop your Hook some two foot before him, and he will bite
at it greedily, and cannot break hold with his _Leather Mouth_; let him
play and tire, lest you break your Line. If you cannot get a
_Grass-hopper_, then any _Worm_, or _Fly_ you will. In cold Weather,
fish for him near the Bottom, and the _Humble-Bee_ is the best Bait.
Some appropriate Baits according to the Month, but I shall Omit that;
The _Chub_ (being best and in his Prime in the Winter, and then
excellent meat Baked) a Paste made of _Cheese_, and _Turpentine_, is the
only Bait to take him.
The _Carp_ is subtle, and full of Policy, will never bite in Cold
Weather, but in Hot you cannot be too Early, or too Late. In _March_, he
seldome refuseth the _Red-Worme_, in _June_ the _Cadice_, and the three
next _Months_ the _Grass-hopper_: Pastes that are sweet, of which I have
spoken before, are very delightfull to _Carps_: And especially; if you
Bait your ground two or three dayes before you angle, with _Pellets_ of
course Paste, _Chickens-guts_, _Garbage_, &c. _Gentles_ anointed, and a
Piece of _Scarlet_ dipt in _Honey_, put them on the Hook, is an approved
way.
The _Dace_, _Dare_, _Rudd_, and _Roach_, being much of a kind, and
feeding, I shall put together, and are easily taken with small _Worms_,
_Bobs_, _Cadbaits_, _Flies_, _sheeps-Blood_, all sorts of _Worms_, bred
on _Trees_ or _Herbs_, _Paste_, _Wasps_, _Gnats_, _Lipberries_, &c. The
Heads of the _Wasps_, being dipt in Blood, is good for _Dace_, and
_Dare_; as is likewise the _Ant-flie_.
The _Eel_, takes great _Red-worms_, _Beef_, _Wasps_, _Guts_ of _Fowl_,
or _Fish_, _Menow_, small _Roaches_ are good Bait for Night Hooks; the
Hooks being in the Mouth of the _Fish_. Now because this is very
delightfull to most, I shall prescribe three wayes of taking them, as
are most full of Pleasure. The first way is called, _Sniggling_, or
_Broggling_ for _Eels_, thus: Take a strong Line and Hook, baited with a
_Lob_, or _Garden-Worm_, and observing where _Eels_ lurk in the day
time, with a stick forked at the Top, gently put your Bait into the
Hole, and if there be any _Eels_ there, you will not fail of a Bite, of
as large _Eels_ as can be had, but pull not too hard lest you spoyl all.
The second is called _Bobbing_, which is thus done: Take some large well
scowred _Lobs_, and with a Needle, run some strong twisted _Silk_
through them, from end to end, so many as are enough to wrap about a
Board near a dozen times; tye them fast with the two ends of the _Silk_
to hang in so many Hanks; then fasten all to a strong Cord, and a
handfull above the _Worms_ fasten a _Plumb_ of three quarters of a
pound, and your Cord to a strong _Pole_, and in muddy Waters, you may
_Fish_, and find the _Eels_ tug lustily, and when you think they have
swallowed them, draw up your Line, and a-shore with them. _Lastly_, the
_Eel-Spear_ made with four Teeth, jagged on both sides, stricken into
the Mud, on the bottom of a River, and if you chance to strike where
they lye, you infallibly take.
There is likewise an assured way of taking _Eels_, approved to excel any
other, thus done: Take some Bottles of _Hay_, mixt with green _Osiers_,
or _Willows_, Bait them with _Sheeps Guts_, or other _Beasts Garbage_,
sink them down in the middle, to the bottom of your _Pond_, or by the
_Bank-sides_, having fastned a Cord to the Bottles, that you may twitch
them up at your pleasure, and all the best _Eels_ will resort to them,
and you may take abundance.
The _Flounder_, _Shad_, _Thwait_, _Suant_, and _Mullet_, are taken with
_Red-Worms_ of all sorts, _Wasps_, and _Gentles_.
The _Grayling_ is next; In _Angling_ for which, you must head your Hook
upon the shank, with a very slender and narrow plate of _Lead_, that the
Bait (a large _Grass-hopper_) may the more easily come over it; and at
the point put a _Cadbait_, and keep the Bait in continual motion; not
forgetting to pull off the _Grass-hoppers_ Wings.
The _Gudgeon_, takes the smallest _Red-Worm_, _Wasps_, _Gentles_, and
_Cadbaits_. When you _Fish_ for him, stir up the _Sand_ or _Gravel_ with
a _Pole_, which will make them gather thither, and bite more eagerly.
The _Guiniad_, I shall remit speaking to, only mentioning it in course,
being no where found, but in a place called, _Pemble-Mere_, in which
place they abound, as the River _Dee_ does with _Salmon_.
The _Pope_, or _Ruff_, is excellent for a young _Angler_, bites
greedily, and quantities may be taken, by Baiting the Ground with
_Earth_, and your Hook with small Red _Worms_.
The _Pike_, loveth all sorts of Baits (unless the _Fly_) _Gudgeon_,
_Dace_, _Roaches_ and _Loaches_; and young _Frogs_ in _Summer_ time,
of which the yellowest is best.
The _Pearch_, taketh all sorts of _Earth-worms_, especially the
_Lob-worm_, and _Brandling_, well scowred, _Bobs_, _Oak-worms_, _Dors_,
_Gentles_, _Cole-wort-worms_, _Wasps_, _Cadbaits_, and _Menow_, or a
little _Frog_, the Hook being fastned through the skin of his Leg,
towards the upper part of it. Be sure you give the _Pearch_ time enough
to pouch his Bait, before you strike.
The _Salmon_, is taken best with _Lob-worms_, scented with the Oyl of
_Ivy-berries_, or the Oyl of _Polypody_ of the _Oak_ mixt with
_Turpentine_: Or the well-scowred _Garden-worm_, is an excellent Bait:
The _Salmon_ bites best in _May_, _June_, and _July_, at three a _Clock_
in the Afternoon, if the Water be clear, a little Wind stirring,
especially near the _Sea_.
The _Tench_, is a great lover of large Red _Worms_, first dipt in _Tar_.
As also all sorts of Paste, made up with strong scented _Oyls_, or
_Tar_, or a Paste made up of Brown _Bread_, and _Honey_. He will bite
too at a _Cad-worm_, _Lob-worm_, _Flag-worm_, green _Gentle_, _Cadbait_,
_Marsh-worm_, or soft boil'd _Bread-grain_.
The _Torcoth_, being before mentioned, I only let you know, that he is
only found, in the Pool _Linperis_ in _Carnarvan-shire_; and leave you
to the _Welch-mens_ description, both of him and his _Bait_.
The _Trout_, is fattest, and in his prime in _May_, and is caught with
all sorts of _Worms_, especially _Brandlings_, commonly found in an Old
_Dung-hill_, _Cow-dung_, _Hors-dung_, or _Tanners-bark_: Also with
_Flies_, Natural and Artificial, with young _Frogs_, _Menow_, _Marsh_,
_Dock_ or _Flag-worms_; all sorts of _Cad-bait_, _Dors_, _Bobs_,
_Palmers_, _Gentles_, _Wasps_, _Hornets_, &c. and with the
_Catterpiller_, used according to the Rule before prescribed for the
_Grayling_.
_Lastly_, The _Umber_, endeth our _Alphabet_, and _Discourse_ of
_Fishing_ too, and gives me occasion to add no more, but that he is
taken as the _Trout_, just now mentioned; And therefore now to your
Sport: To assist your well effecting which, I have but this to add; Cast
into your Haunts where you use to _Fish_, once in four or five dayes,
soft boyled _Corn_ (or oftner for _Carp_, and _Tench_) Also _Garbage_,
_Beasts Livers_, chopt _Worms_, _Grains_ steept in _Blood_, to attract
them to the place; and to keep them together, throw in half a handfull
of _Grains_ of ground _Malt_: But in a stream, cast it above your Hook,
that floating towards you may draw the Fish thither.
Before I conclude, I was afraid this discourse would have been
imperfect, had not something been spoken of _Fish-ponds_, their
Ordering, and Improving, that the private Gentleman may not be destitute
of some appropriated place to himself, wherein he may Recreate himself
in this excellent Pastime; great _Rivers_ belonging either to the King,
or to Lords of Mannours, whose Authorities and Jurisdictions must be
kept inviolate, and excludes our Intrusion there.
_Of Fish-ponds._
When you have a desire to dig a _Fish-pond_, coveting the several
Advantages that do thence accrue to you, you must first of all consult,
what _Grounds_ are most fit and proper to be cast into a Pond, _viz_,
Those which are _Marrishy_; or _Boggy_; or full of _Springs_, unfit for
_Grazing_, or to be put to any profitable use besides. Of these the
last, full of _springs_, will yield the best Water; that which is
_Marshy_ will feed Fish; and that which is _Boggy_ is best for a Defence
against Thieves.
Thus being furnished with a piece of Wast Ground, I now mentioned, let
us now to work; And first draw by small Trenches all the Springs or
moist Veines into one place, and so drain the rest of the Ground; then
mark out the Head of your Pond, and make it the highest part of the
ground in the Eye, tho it be the lowest in the true Level: Cut the
Trench of your _Floodgate_ so, that when the VVater is let out, it may
have a swift Fall: On each side of which Trench drive in great Stakes of
_Oak_, _Ash_ or (which is best) _Elme_, six foot long, and six Inches
square; place these in Rowes four foot distance one from another, as
broad and wide from the _Floodgate_ as you intend the Head of your Pond
shall go: Now give us the Spade _Tom_, and fetch us the Pick-ax _Jack_,
and to digging of our Pond; Dig it as big and large a Compass as the
Ground will permit, throw your Earth amongst the said stakes, and ram it
between them, hard and firm, till you have covered the stakes: Drive in
as many new ones more besides the heads of the first stakes, and ram
more Earth above them too: Do thus with stakes above stakes till the
head-sides be of a convenient Height: Taking care, that the inside of
your Banks be smooth, even, hard and strong, that you may not fear the
wearing of the Earth off the stakes by any Current of the Water.
Having thus digged about _eight foot deep_, that so it may carry about
_six foot_ VVater, pave all the _bottom_ and the Banks of the Pond with
large Sods of _Flot-Grass_, laying them very close together, pin them
down fast with small stakes and windings: This Grass is a great Feeder
of Fish, and grows naturally under VVater. Stake down to the bottom of
one side of the Pond divers Bavens and Brush-VVood-Faggots, into which
the Fish may cast their spawn, and preserve it: In another place lay
Sods upon Sods, the grass sides together to nourish and breed _Eels_.
The Pond being thus made, let in the Water, and now observe to store it
thus: Put your _Carp_, _Breame_ and _Tench_ by themselves: _Pike_,
_Pearch_, _Eel_ and _Tench_ (the Fishes Physician) by themselves; & for
Food of the greater Fishes, as well as Meat for your greater Dishes, put
good store of _Roach_, _Dace_, _Loach_ and _Menow_; and Lastly to every
one _Melter_ put three _Spawners_, and in three Years the Increase will
be great; and in five Years with difficulty destroyed.
At the end of three Years _Sue your Pond_; which you must ever continue
so to do, for that the _Roach_, &c. will increase in such abundance,
that eating up the sweetest food, will make your other Fish, as _Carps_,
&c. be lean and hunger-starved: And therefore every Year view your Pond,
and observe if any such Fry appears; and use your Discretion.
And because the _Carp_ is a Fish of a general Acceptation, and is of a
_bon goust_ almost in every mans palate; and being by the aforesaid
little Devourers and Multiplyers, very often Deceived in your
expectation of a fat _Carp_, large and sweet; I shall insert here an
excellent VVay of making _Carps_ grow to an extraordinary Bigness in a
Pond.
_To make _Carps_ grow large, &c._
About the Month of _April_, when you perceive your Pond grow low in
VVater, rake all the sides where the VVater is fallen away with an Iron
Rake, and sow _Hay-seeds_ there, and rake it well; and at the Latter end
of Summer you shall have good store of Grass: The _Winter_ being come
the VVater will encrease and over-top all the Grass, and there being
VVater enough to carry them, the _Carps_ will resort to the seeds, and
feed briskly and grow as fat as _Hoggs_: Thus do every _Summer_, till
you sue your pond, and no River _Carp_ can surpass them.
Thus much of _Fishing_ and _Fish-Ponds_.
Of Shooting.
The Use of the Bow is of so great Antiquity, and of so important a
Consequence for a _defensive_ and _offensive Armes_, that I could not
but a little consider, how needful the true knowledge of its Use was
esteemed of Old, and how _little it is accounted_ now. It is uncertain,
as well as (almost) unknown, who was the First Inventor of the Bow; but
if we examine the _Probability_ there may be of its being derived from
the Tyranical Government of _Nimrod_, that so _Mighty Hunter before the
Lord_, we may _Conjecture_ him to be the first Inventor of the Bow: For
as he is called the _First Founder_ of a _Monarchick Government_, by
reducing and subduing a disordered People under the Government of
himself; so was he likewise esteemed a _Mighty Hunter_ in another
respect, for that he _Subdued likewise the Beasts of the Field_; as is
observed of him and his Character, by sundry Commentators on him and his
Family. So that in the whole we may suppose him to be the Inventor, or
first Finder out of the Bow, as a Weapon of an infallible Execution and
mortal Efficacy on that account. Nor can I find any mention made of the
_Bow_ thro the whole Hystory of _Genesis_ from _Nimrod_ to _Esau_, they
both being characterized with those Epithets of _Mighty and Cunning
Hunters_, _Men of the Field_; who very well understood the Use of the
Bow, as well for their _Profit_ as _Pleasure_; the last of which is
particularly hinted in the commands of _Isaac_ to _Esau_, that with his
_Quiver_ and his _Bow_, he should Hunt and take that only _Seasonable_
Dish, which might procure and entaile a _Blessing_ on him and his
Posterity. Nay, that Holy Patriarch _Jacob_ himself, in his last Will
and Testament to his Illustrious Family, bequeaths a _singular Portion_
to his beloved _Joseph_, which the _strength of his Bow_ had intitled
him to. _Gen._ 48. 22.
Nor are we to doubt in what Estimation it was held to the Reign of
_David_ King of _Israel_, who thought it the most _Necessary
Qualification_ of his Subjects, to be very well versed in the Use of the
_Bow_. The _Bow_ which was the Famous _Signal_ between his beloved
_Jonathan_ and himself, and made the private _Testimonial_ of the
undeserv'd Fury of his Maliciously & Enviously incensed _Father Saul_:
By reason of whose eminent Skill, in the expert use of it, he chants
forth his _Mournful Elegy_, The _Bow of _Jonathan_ returned not empty,
from the Blood of the slain_, &c. Nay further so useful (no doubt) he
thought the Knowledge of the Bow was, and of so necessary a Consequence
for a Defensive as well as Offensive Armes, that it is observable he
issued out a particular Edict or Proclamation, commanding the _general
Learning its use throughout_ Judah. And the Use of it continued and
still does in the East, as the only Weapon they are skilled in.
Dr. _Heylin_ in his Cosmographical Description of the World, tells us,
That the _Czeremissi_, a People living in great Forrests, without
Houses, feeding on Honey & the Flesh of Wild Beasts & Clothed with their
Skins, under the Empire of the _Czar_ of _Russia_, are such excellent
Archers, and so light of Foot, that they carry their Bows continually in
their hands, and practise their Children so timely in it, that (after
such an age) till they can hit a _White_ that is set before them, they
give them nothing to eat.
Further; it is recorded of the _Parthians_ (and indeed all the
_Persians_ too) that their greatest Fame consisted in their skilful
handling their _Bows_ and _Arrows_, & were deservedly reckon'd the best
Archers in the World, having the Art of _Shooting backwards_, and making
their _Retreat_ and _Flight_ more pernicious and terrible, than their
_Charge_ and _Onset_. So that when _Marcus Crassus_ in his expedition
against them, was told by an _Astrologer_, that having found an ill
Aspect in _Scorpio_, he presaged his Enterprize would prove
unsuccesseful, _Tush Man_ (quoth he) _I fear not Scorpio, but
Sagittarius_.
And to descend to our own Countrymen the English, the frequent Victories
they obtained over the _French_ formerly, rendred them as famous and
able Bow-men (next the _Parthians_) as were in the World.
But since the Ingenious _Franciscan_ Fryer (_Bertholdus Swart_) appeared
in _Germany_, his _Sulphureous_ Brain has quite (or almost) _blown_ up
the Reputation of the Bow, and all other Ancient Devices and Engines of
War, by his _Accidental Invention_ of that Fatal Instrument the _Gun_,
which he first communicated to the _Venetians_, _Anno 1330_. Who gave by
these (then so called) _Bombards_, a notable discomfiture to the
_Genoys_; and was next made use of by the Inhabitants of the _Baltick
Sea_; And at the Siege of _Callice_ _Anno 1347._ used by the _English_;
who taught it the _Mounsieur Frenchman_, and he gratified him with the
death of the Famous Leader, _Thomas Mountacute_ Earl of _Salisbury_,
shot at the Siege of _Orleance_, _Anno. 1425_. After which _Spain_
learnt it, and the _Jews_ and _Moors_ from thence taught the _Turk_; and
from the first Invention of _large_ and _unweildy_, they were made fit
for _Walls_ and _Hands_; and in fine _is a less expensive way of
shedding blood than that of Archery is_.
Thus you see how Ancient the Use of the _Bow_ is, and how lately its
Disuse began (I mean in relation to the Common-Wealth, as a defensive,
or offensive Weapon) and how great the Ancient Fame of our _English_ was
in the knowledge of it: However the Glory of it is somewhat still
preserved (though in a Pastime) by the Honourable City of _London_,
whose _Lord Mayor_ annually appears to see a _Prize_ performed by
_Shooting_ with a Pound _Arrow_: And therefore all I have to say more,
is, That it is deservedly placed amongst my Recreations, having
_Metamorphosed_ its Use, and become a Healthful Conserver, instead of
Destroyer of mens Bodies. And is vulgarly distinguished into two sorts,
the _Long-bow_, and the _Cross_ or _Crow-Bow_.
I shall begin first with the _Long-bow_, whose Use is (now) thus to be
understood. That it conduces much to the Health of our Body, disperses
our stagnated Blood, extends our contracted Limbs, and renders the
Members of our Bodies plyant, and flexible; and for the better obtaining
these Effects, the following Rules are to be Observed.
Before the _Archer_ goes to his Sport (to follow the Method of this
Treatise) he must first provide himself with necessary _Accoutrements_,
_viz_, The _Bow_ which claimes his first Care, must be the best (_as
best is best Cheap_) of _Spanish_ or _English Yew_, (the _VVithen_, or
_Elme_ being the worst:) Next his _Shaft_, which must be of _Birch_,
_Sugar-Chest_, or _Brazeel_, with _Gray_, or _White Feathers_.
Thus equipt, to the Field, and here we are to understand three sorts of
_Marks_, _viz_, The _But_, which is a _Mark_ that is level, and requires
a strong _Arrow_ with a broad Feather: The _Prick_, a _Mark_ of some
compass, of a certain distance, requires an _Arrow_ that is strong, and
nimble, with a middle Feather: The _Rover_, is an uncertain _Mark_, and
Proportionable to the distance, suit your _Arrows_. But before you
Shoot, hold a little, and hearken to your Charge.
_First_, The _Archer_ must have a good _Eye_, to see and discern his
_Mark_; attended with a _Knowing Judgment_, to Understand the distance
of Ground, and in what compass his _Arrow_ must Fly, and to take the
true Advantage of a Side-Wind; and a Dexterity to give his _Shaft_ a
sharp strong and sudden Loose, and without hanging on the string, to
draw his _Arrow_ close to the Head, and in an instant deliver it.
_Secondly_, He must observe a _Decorum_ in his standing Posture, that
his Body be fair, comely, and upright; his left Foot a convenient stride
before his right, with both his Hams stiff, his left Arm holding his
_Bow_ in the midst, stretch'd out streight; and with his three
Fore-Fingers and Thumb of his right-hand, draw the string to his right
Ear, the Notch of his _Arrow_ resting between his fore and long Fingers
of his Right-Hand, and the _Steel_ of his _Arrow_ below the _Feathers_
upon the middle _Knuckle_ of his fore-finger, on his Left-Hand, drawing
it up close, as abovesaid.
The _Cross-Bow_ (as I said in the Introduction to this _Treatise_) is of
equal Benefit and Pleasure with the _Long-Bow_, when through an
imbecillity in the _Arm_ or _Back_, that will not be a suitable
Recreation: This _Bow_ must be made of the same Wood with the other, for
_Gafel_ carried upon a string, and the other end being placed in a Rest,
furnish your self with strong and heavy _Arrows_, suitable to your
_Bows_ strength, and all the foregoing _Marks_, may afford you an equal
Delight with the Former; but especially for Persons that have the
unhappiness of looking asquint, it is an excellent Disposer of the
sight, to a direct Line, and helps that _Watermans_ quality of _Looking
one way, and Rowing another_. Thus much shall suffice for _Shooting_.
Of Bowling,
This is a Recreation of an Ancient Institution, the _Lydians_ being
thought to have been the first Inventors of _Sphaeromachia_, which
signifies _Bowling_, as well as _Tennis-Playing_; besides these they
instituted several other Games, as the _Dice_, _Tables_, _Cards_, &c.
Necessity, and Hunger enforcing them to that Ingenuity, as _Persius_
well observes, _Artis Magister, Ingenijque largitor Venter_: For that
Country being Oppressed with a great Dearth and Famine, in the time of
_Atis_, one of the Progenitors of _Omphale_, they Devised these Games,
that every second day playing at them, they might beguile their Hungry
Bellies, and drive away the Tediousness of the Famine. And indeed,
according to its Original institution, of infinite use for the diverting
Melancholly, for Exercise of the Body, by runing and stirring in this
Game, for helping likewise sundry Bodily Infirmities, as the _Stone_,
_Gravel_, _Reins_, &c. For which aforesaid ends several Pious, Learned
and Sober Persons have sometimes made up the Company of a
_Bowling-Green_ (tho I must confess rarely to be seen in those common
_Bowling-Allies_ and _Bares_, which too usually are pestered with
_Damming-Rooks_, _Cunning Betters_, _Crafty Matchers_, and base
_Booty-Players_:) Herein we may see the World moralized, or
emblematically described, where most are short, over, wide or
wrong-Byassed, and few justle in to the Mistress _Fortune_: On one side
we find _Heraclitus_ and his Followers fret, vex, rail, swear and cavil
at every thing; on the other side _Democritus_, and his Company rejoice
and laugh, as if they were created for that purpose. On one side you may
see the _Mimick_ screwing and twisting his Body into several Postures,
which he perswades himself adds either to the Swiftness or Slowness of
his Bowl; On the other side the senseless _Orator_, with his perswasive
Intreaties of _Rub, O Rub a little_; Or, _Flee, Flee_, and the like, to
hasten or retard the Speed of his Bowl; when if the stupid Bowl lend a
deaf Ear to his Perswasions, then he _belyes_ his Disobedience, by
crying _Short, Short, O Short_, when tis gone ten yards over; and when
tis bowled short of the _Jack_ six yards, he cryes, _Gone a Mile,
a Mile, a Mile_, &c. But not to detain you any longer in characterizing
this excellent sport: (_Excellent_ I mean if rightly used) I shall
before I lead you into the _Green_ or _Bare_, instruct you in some
Rules, how to choose your _Bowls_.
The first and greatest Cunning to be observed in _Bowling_, is the right
_chusing your Bowl_, which must be suitable to the Grounds you design to
run on, thus: For _close Alleys_, your best Choice is the _Flat Bowl_:
2. For _open Grounds_ of Advantage, the _Round-Byassed-Bowl_; 3. For
_Green Swarths_, that are plain and level, the Bowl that is _Round as a
Ball_.
The next thing requires your Care is, _The chusing out your Ground_, and
preventing the Windings, Hangings, and many turning _Advantages_ of the
same, whether it be in open wide places, as _Bares_ and
_Bowling-Greens_, or in close _Bowling-Alleys_.