A booke of fishing with hooke & line, and of all other instruments thereunto belonging. Another of sundrie engines and trappes to take polcats, buzards, rattes, mice and all other kindes of vermine & beasts whatsoeuer, most profitable for all warriners, and such as delight in this kinde of sport and pastime. Made by L.M.

For the Water-ratte.

THe Water-rat is a hurtfull vermin to kill fish, especi∣ally Creuis, Loches, Culles, and Trowtes lying in holes of the banke. They will soone destroy much other fish and spaune in shallow riuers and brookes, to kill them it is hard to doe: but where as ye shall sée their path on bankes sides, there set a deadfall, for they do range abroad a nights like other Rats, and will be where as is corne milles, and fulling milles, to eate corne, and gnaw clothes, and liues much like to other Rattes, and will pill oziar barkes and such like. Also to take them in weles is hard, except the weles lie shallow, and nigh the toppe of the water by the banke: so a small Otter wele made for the nonce bayted, may possible deceiue them. They cannot tarrie long vn∣der water, wherefore they will not hunt déepe, nor robbe weles if they lie déepe, for they commonly take fish nigh the toppe of the water. But some men doe thinke a verie good way to take them, that is: to pinne square bordes a∣gainst the holes where they haunt, which bordes must haue a great hole in the middest, and set iust against her comming in or out, fast pinde to the bankes: then make a latch and set it on the out side of the borde, tyld as yon tyle the Foxe latch, as ye shall sée in his place: which hole in the

borde on the nether part, ye shall set thrée or foure prickes of wyar to holde any thing that comes out or in. This pra∣ctise may easely be made.

To lay poysoned baites, as péeces of chéese, flesh or such, and to straw the powder of Orsenike thereon, to be layde in ests, where other things come not. I knowe not what good it will doe, for whereas ye touch any thing with your bare hande, they will not lightly come at it. Thus much for taking the water Rattes or Otter.