The School of Recreation Part 7

_Inward_, In having his Mind cloathed with these Qualifications, _viz._

1. _Learning_, throughly to understand his Art, and skilfully argue and dispute its Excellency, _&c._

2. _Faith_, to enjoy the Benefit of his Expectation.

3. _Love_, to his Pleasure, not thinking it irksom and tedious, to his Neighbour, in not offending him.

4. _Patience_, In not excruciating himself for Accidents of Losses, _&c._

5. _Humility_, in wetting himself, lying down, kneeling, _&c._ as Occasion requires.

6. _Liberality_, in dispencing to others the Fruits of his Labour.

_Outward_, In cloathing his body with plain and comely Apparel, of sad dark Colours, as sad grayes, tawny, purple, hair or Musk Colour. Warm and well lined, to prevent the Evils which the Coldness of the Air, or Moistness of the Water may produce.

And now thus equipt let us walk to the Rivers side, there give me leave to direct you in the _Measures_ you must take and observe, for the obtaining the End of what all our forementioned Preparations aime at; I mean the Catching those sundry kinds of Fish I enumerated at the begining of this Discourse; and observing that first method, I shall Alphabetically describe, what Baits are most Proper for taking them, and How to use them.

To begin then with the _Barbel_. The best time for Angling for this Fish is at the latter end of _May_, _June_, _July_, and beginning of _August_, in his Haunts aforementioned; and the best Bait (omiting others) is the well-scoured _Lob-Worm_ (being of a curious cleanly Palate as well as shape) or Cheese steept an hour or two in clarified Honey. He is a subtile Fish, extraordinary strong, and dogged to be dealt with, and therefore be sure to have your Rod and Line strong and long, or you may endanger to break it.

The _Breame_ is next in order; The most seasonable time to Angle for him is from St. _James_ tide till _Bartholomew_ tide. He sp.a.w.neth in _June_ or begining of _July_; is easily taken, as falling on his side after one or two gentle turnes, and so drawn easily to Land. The best Bait for him is that (most delightful to him) _Red-Worme_ (found in Commons & _Chalky_ Grounds after Rain) at the root of a great _Dock_, wrapt up in a round Clue. He loves also Paste, Flag-Wormes, Wasps, Green-Flies, b.u.t.ter-Flies, and a Gra.s.s-hopper, without Leggs.

Bait your Ground the night before with gross-ground Malt, boiled and strained, and then in the morning with the Red-Worm, bait your Hook, and plumbing your Ground within half an Inch, Fish.

The _Bleak_, an eager Fish, is caught with all sorts of Worms bred on Trees or Herbs, also with _Flies_, _Cad-bait_, _Bobs_, _Paste_, _Sheeps-Blood_, _White Snails_, _Wasps_, _Gnats_, &c. In a warm clear day the small Flye at the rim of the Water is best; In a Cloudy day, _Gentles_ or _Cadis_ two foot under the Water.

The _Bull-head_ or _Millers-thumb_, being Childrens Recreation, I shall speak little of, only being serviceable for Baits, I shall only say he is easily taken with a small Worm, being lazie and simple, and will swallow any thing; and the _Minnow_, _Loach_, and _Bansticle_ being of the same diet, I place here too.

The _Chevin_, loveth all sorts of _Worms_, _Flies_, _Cheese_, _Grain_, and _Black Worms_, their Bellies being slit, that the White may be seen: And very much delighteth in the _Pith_ of an _Oxes back_, the tough outward skin being carefully taken off, without breaking the inward tender skin. In the Morning early angle for _Chevin_, with a _Snail_; in the heat of the day, with some other Bait; in the afternoon with the _Fly_; the great _Moth_, with a great Head, yellow Body, and whiteish Wings, usually found in _Gardens_, about the Evening: The larger the _Chevin_, the sooner taken; loving his Bait large, and variety on a Hook.

The _Char_ is a _Lancas.h.i.+re Fish_, found in a _Mere_, called _Winander-Mere_ in that _County_, the largest in _England_; and being to be found no where else, I shall not lead my _London_ Angler thither to teach him to take it.

The _Chub_, called by some a _Cheven_, by others a _Villain_, is a _Fish_ of no rare Meat; however, is good for a young Angler, and is thus to be taken: Bait your hook with a _Gra.s.s-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 _Gra.s.s-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 _Gra.s.s-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 l.u.s.tily, and when you think they have swallowed them, draw up your Line, and a-sh.o.r.e 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 a.s.sured 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 _Gra.s.s-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 _Gra.s.s-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 quant.i.ties 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-s.h.i.+re_; 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 _Fis.h.i.+ng_ 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 a.s.sist 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 dest.i.tute 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 Compa.s.s 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-Gra.s.s_, laying them very close together, pin them down fast with small stakes and windings: This Gra.s.s 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-f.a.ggots, into which the Fish may cast their sp.a.w.n, and preserve it: In another place lay Sods upon Sods, the gra.s.s 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 _Sp.a.w.ners_, 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 Gra.s.s: The _Winter_ being come the VVater will encrease and over-top all the Gra.s.s, 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 surpa.s.s them.

Thus much of _Fis.h.i.+ng_ 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 Ill.u.s.trious Family, bequeaths a _singular Portion_ to his beloved _Joseph_, which the _strength of his Bow_ had int.i.tled him to. _Gen._ 48. 22.