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.

A hutch to take Polcats, as also other Vermin.

[illustration]

THis manner of Engine is called of War∣riners, a hutch, and it is made of bordes, foure square, to be remoued or to stande still, with two falling bordes at the endes: which two bordes must fall into two ry∣gals on both sides of the endes for flipping 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Also there is two la••hes and strings tide to the fal∣ling bordes on the endes to holde them vp, crossing vppon two pillers which are made fast on the vpper borde of the hutch, with a line made fast on the backe side comming o∣uer the endes of the saide lathes downe to the bridge on the fore side. Which bridge is tyde within to the backe side or borde of the hutch an inch from the bottome borde. Some

doe make them with another piller in stéede of the backe string, but this is as good a way, ye may chuse which way ye will haue it.

A latch trappe for the water Ratte, to be made of borde with a hole pinde against the Ratte∣hole in the banke of brookes, pooles, or riuers.

[illustration]

THe latch must be set no wider but two inches and a halfe hie, so that they must créepe thorow when 〈◊〉〈◊〉 comes in or out: it may be set within the water, and ab•••••• the water, where commonly they lie about all day, and come out toward night.

This is called the dead-fall for Polcats, or other Vermine.

[illustration]

THis engine is called a dead fall, it is made with a square péece of timber or such like, waying about halfe a hun∣dreth poundes or more, with a hole boared in the midst of the vpper side thereof, and therein a hooked crooke set fast. Also there is foure forked stakes which must be set fast in the ground, and laying thereon two cudgils a crosse, on which cudgils, ye shall lay a long staffe or poale to hold vp the dead fall by the crooch: vnder which crooch ye shall put a short cudgell, with a line made fast thereunto, which line reacheth downe to the bridge beneath: which bridge ye shall make within fiue or sixe inces broad, like those that are made for the foresaide hutch.

Also on both sides of this fall, ye may set it with borde, pale, or such like: either ye may hedge it with close rods, and to make it ten inches hie or more. The foure spreading corners, are made to shewe the lowe hedges, that no ver∣mine shall passe so easily by, but come thorow the fall, and

the passage must be made no wider then the fall is broade. Some Warreners do make no tay of the bridge behinde, but sets it loose against a pinne before the clicket, and so it stayes vpon the fall.

The latch or Foxe trap.

[illustration]

THis Engine is called a Latch or Foxe trappe, it is made with a thicke péece of wood of two inches in the bottome, and so made taper wise vpwarde. There is also two other square péeces set on the endes of the bottome péece, and made with two regals for the latch to rise and fall in, as ye may sée by example: in turning on a pinne in the lower rigall at the hinder ende. Which latch with the clogge, must be made with his edge downeward, as the o∣ther is vpward: then shall ye haue betwéene the latch, and the lidger, a small round sticke, tyde at the hinder end with a string, and passing thorow the foremost rigall, and at the ende thereof must be two or thrée small holes or nickes made for the pinne that must holde vp the latch with the clogge, and so soone as that sticke or bridge is put downe, the latch with the clogge falles, ye must bush aboue the latch, for any thing leaping ouer, whereas ye sée it poude∣red. Your latch may be made halfe a yeard & more wide.

This latch is to set against a banke or other hill side.

[illustration]

THis engine or latch, is called a dogge latch, almost like the other afore, but that his two pillers or postes are set fast in the ground, and there must be also a hole made within the latch on the inside of the banke or hill side, where the latch must be set: and therein yee may baite it with what baite ye will, for a dogge or other Vermine. Also vpon the vpper side of the latch, there is notches made one by an other all ouer. Then is there a barre in the toppe which runnes vpon a pinne, and runnes into euery notch, and holdes downe the latch, so that the sayde latch cannot rise, what soeuer be within it will holde him fast there, be it dogge, or other vermine: there is also a weight hanging at the end of the latch, to make it fall more quickly.

The latch trappe.

[illustration]

THis engine is called a latch or brake trappe, it is made with foure thicke bordes or péeces of timber, in length thrée quarters of a yeard or lesse, ye may make them as ye shall thinke good, eyther to sit still in the earth, or often to be remoued. But if ye will make them to remooue, then must the vpper fallers be more heauier made. These foure péeces must be pind at both ends, and the two vpper bordes or fallers, must lie within the two neather, as ye may sée by example. Then is there within those neather bordes, a long bridge, which must be tide at the neather ende of the catch with a string, and that bridge hath foure holes at the other ende, for a pinne to put therein to beare and holde vp the two fallers. Which pinne is put into one of those holes of the saide bridge, and the other ende of the pinne, stayes vnder the great square pinne that is betwéene the fallers, and the string that is tide to that pinne, is tide aboue to a trounchin, which trounchin lyeth on two forked stakes, set

in the ground, as ye may sée by example by the neather part of the trappe. Also the neather parts are rebated on the out side, and made edge wise vpward, and hedged on both sides as ye may sée. And to fall toward the hedge is best.

The foote trappe.

[illustration]

THis engines is called Foxe trappe or foote trappe, be∣cause it taketh all by the foote. It is made with a thicke borde or planke, of nine or ten inches broad. And common∣ly a yeard and a halfe long, with a hole made in the middle, nearer the one end, then the other. Also the planke hath iiij. holes, at each end two, to stake downe fast the planke to the earth, that it be not pluckt vp: then there is a poale set, or trée bowed downe to the end of the planke, and to the end thereof is tide a strong line, which line must come vnder the ende of the planke, and drawne out at the foote hole, with a short strong clicket of wood tide thereunto with a short string, which clicket must be set against the nar∣row place of the foote hole, and the other ende in the nicke

on the falling board, which must stay against a short flat pinne of wood, which must be set vnder the planke where∣as ye sée two swmall prickes, to holde vp the falling board: and to that also is tide a strong lingell or other line, which line is layd round about the hole of the foote bord or fall, on the planke, and couered all ouer with dust, sande, or earth, for feare of suspition. This trappe may be set against Fore holes, or other muce, with hedges on both sides the planke that he shall passe no other way, but on the borde. Also your falling bord must be broder vnder, then your hole.

The Wolfes trappe.

The square borded, and the poale, & pin in the top therof.

The whole trap with couer, platter, poale, and baite.

[illustration]

THis Engine is called a Wolfe trappe or pitte. It is a large hole digged sixe foote square, and two yeards com∣monly and a halfe wide from side to side, and borded all round, both bottome and sides vp to the toppe, with a poale set fast in the middest thereof, almost as hie as the toppe of the pitte. Then is there a pinne of yrne put through the middest of a large platter of wood or such like, and that pin set fast in the toppe of the sayde poale: and there vpon it is layde and made fast, some beastes liuer, or such like: or else

a goose or ducke, which is tide fast thereon. Then towards night they make a traine vnto the trappe, and they couer the saide pitte with hurdles, bordes, or such like, round a∣bout (sauing a space) and they lay of gréene turfes thereon, so that when the Wolfe, or Fore, doe come and finde the baite, they can not reach it, without they tread on the plat∣ter, which plarter is set ticklish thereon, and as soone as he treads on the side, it tilts downe, and rise vp againe, and the Wolfe or other falles downe into the pitte: and if other doe come, they are serued the like. Thus much for the Wolfe trappe. For the Fore, if he annoy them, they will lay a péece of a shéepes liuer new, at his hole, and put there∣in closoly of the pouder of rats-bane, which will so kill him. Also the pouder of Aconitum called in Latin, in English Wolfes bane, the pouder put or strowed on flesh will kill them. Touch them not with your bare handes, for they will finde it and forsake it.

The kragge hooke.

[illustration]

THis Engine I call a dragge hooke, because it is made like a dragge, it is made of yeirne or great wiar, and

turnes on the Weuell, like the weuell of a loggar, or like on a gray-hound coller. The husbandmen in France, will hang them on branches, of diuerse trées about their groundes, to take the Foxe, Wolfe, or dogge if he take it, but chiefely for the Foxe: they vse to hang them so hie from the ground, that a Foxe must leape at it, before hee can catch it. Which hookes are baired and couered with liuers of beastes, or other flesh, and when he catches the hooke in his mouth, he cannot deliuer himselfe thereof, but hangs and turnes about with the hooke in his mouth on the weuel and line: and hereunto they make traines with some gar∣bage against night, as they commonly doe to other engins, and by this engin, they doe destroy many of their Foxes, which otherwise would deuour many of their Lambes, and poultrie. For men that dwelles me the sea side where rockes are, there the Foxe will be, there it shall do well to set vppe iebbets and hang your dragges thereon, and so shall ye destroy your Foxes in short time.

The Hare pipe.

[illustration]

THis Engine is called a Hare pipe, because it is made hollow, they are commonly made for the hare, of pipes of Elder, of sixe or seuen inches long, and for the Foxes and dogges, they are made of yrne plate, nie ten or eleuen inches long, with two sharpe pikes in the mouth thereof, and the more they plucke and drawe, the more it strikes in and peirce the flesh of the beast. And also for the Foxe or o∣ther such, it shall be good to arme the string or line with red wiar fer wéering. Which line, the one end is put in at a hole made in the pipe side, as ye may sée, and so drawne

double out at the mouth of the same. The other end comes through the pipe, and is tide vnto some pinne set fast in the ground, or to some bough. They are commonly set in mu∣ses where they passe through: but for the Foxe, they pitch the hare pipe in some places, at the mouth of his hole, when he is hunted or other wise, or in musis where he hauntes to meus houses in killing their lambes, pigges, or other poultrie. Then sée that ye stoppe all other passages there aboutes, so shall ye be sure to saue your poultre, or else to take him. Ye may make traines at your pipe hole, as is afore mentioned of the other.

The whippe or spring trappe.

[illustration]

THis Engine, is called the whip, or spring, it is set thus: there is a string tyde vnto the end of some poale set fast in the ground, or to some trée: vnto the said string is made fast a small short sticke, with a nicke in the lower end ther∣of, made thinne on the vpper side: then the poale is bowed

downe with it, vnto an other sticke set fast in the grounde with a nicke also, and thinne edge vnder. Then shall yée ioyne both the nickes together, as ye may sée by example, as tickle as ye can. Then open the end of your string, set it in some muse, or where ye thinke good. And when anie Foxe or other thing doe plucke the saide vpper string a side, then the nicke slippes by, and the poale starts and so holdes him vp, as ye may easely sée by example. Thus much for the spring trappe. There is yearely kilde with Foxes in this Realme as many do iudge, of lambes tenne thousand, of poultrie twentie thousand, of Rabbets and Conies nie fortie thousand couple: besides young Faunes in many Parkes and Forests.

The double trappe to take Rattes or Mice.

[illustration]

THis Engine or trap, it is almost made with a square borde in the bottome, and also aboue, and aqout fiue inches in height with a thicke borde in the middest, as yée may sée pointed with fiue nayles, and nayled fast to the

vpper and neather borde, in parting the trappes. There is also two falles naylde with leathers on the vpper borde, which is holde vp and tilde with a string, which string hath a clicket or wedge, and is stayde on a short péece of woode, and so tilde with hooked wiar, which wiar goeth thorowe a bigge hole, and stayes on the vpper bord by a crosse wiar, and on the lower end of the crooked wiar the baite is put on within the trappe, at the further ende of the trappe: and there against ye may sée certaine wiars set from the vpper borde to the neather borde, to tice the Rats there to séeke to goe out. Which is thought yearely they destroy thorow England fortie quarters of corne.

A trappe or fall for Buzardes, and Kytes, with a hurdell.

[illustration]

THis Engine is called a fall or trappe to take Buzardes and Kytes, which is after this sort, ye shall set a hur∣dell on the ground where ye thinke good. Which hurdell is holden vp before with a crooked sticke, and that crooked

sticke holden vp with a forked stick put vnder him, which forked sticke must stand loose on the ground, without the neather bridge or forked sticke. Also in setting vp the nea∣ther end of the crooked stick that holdes vp the hurdell, must be made small and slightly put into the clift of the forked bridge and sticke: which forked sticke is made fast, and tide with two thréedes to the ground, vnder the backe of the hurdell, as ye may easely perceiue: and when yee doe tile or set it vp, it shall be good with the crooked stickes end, to let the bridge stande a handfull hie from the ground, and put therein the ende of your crooked sticke as tickle as yée can, that when any thing comes to take the baite and treades it downe, the hurdell falles suddenly on them.

The Basket fall.

[illustration]

THis Engine is called the Basket fall to take Kytes and Buzardes, it is set and tylde in all thinges like vnto the hurdle before, with all thinges thereunto belonging.

This Basket is commonly made nye thrée fatham about in the skirtes, and so hie that a man may well stande vp∣right within him, The Warriners do commonly in some places vse (in Rabbet time) to set him in plaines, in war∣rens, and in parkes, wheras Connies are bred, and so they take the Kyte and the Buzard, in this Basket.

The Iay trappe to set about corne fields, or orchards.

[illustration]

THis Engine is called a Iay trappe: it is made with a poale of seuen or eight inches abount, and seuen or eight foote long or hie, set fast in the ground about your wheat, or other fruite. There is made in the saide poale two holes, one beneath and the other aboue: in the nea∣ther most hole, there is a spring wand set fast therein, and bowed vnto the hole aboue, which hole ye shall put tho∣rowe a string, tide fast to the ende of the spring wand, with a knot thereon, to stay it that it shall not slippe backe a∣gaine.

Also on the fore side of the hole, ye must put a blunt pinne of wood with a round ende of seuen or eight inches long, set loosely in by the knot to stay the string: which pinne yee shall sée clouen in the middest, and in that cleft they vse to put a cherie, or wheat eare, for a baite. Then shall yée spread finely, and lay the string about on the saide short pinne, and your string to haue a running noose. Also the trappe of your stake must be made sharpe that no foule shall light thereon. And when any lights on the short pinne to catch the baite, it falles downe, and the string thereon takes them by the legges. Thus ye may set many such about your grounds, ye may make these trappes on boughes in trées to take them at all times of the yeare if ye list.

The bow trappe for Rats or other Vermine.

[illustration]

a 1.1 b 1.2 c 1.3 d 1.4 e 1.5 f 1.6 g 1.7

THis engine or trappe with the bow, is made like a boxe, of a whole péece of wood, with the lidde opening & shut∣ting aboue, and this side is vnbent, she wing the left side and the lidde, and clicket, taken out: with holes and the string for to set him, as more plainly shall be shewed bent and set.

The bowe trappe set.

[illustration]

a 1.8 b 1.9 c 1.10

THis is side shewes him bent, with the holes and pinnes how to bende him: as the pinne on the lidde is to holde the string bent. And also the pinne set aboue the clicket, is

to order the string comming from the hole of the bridge vn∣to the clicket, which must stay vp the bridge crost and bay∣ted, when he is set. The pikes are set to holde fast when he is put dowe.

The Dragin trappe for Mice or Rattes.

[illustration]

THis engine or trappe is made of wood like the stocke of a Bell, with two holes at the endes, and therein is put thorow haire or corde double, and the lidde put betwéene, and so wreath the haire one way towarde the lidde vppon the vnder hoope, with sharpe wyars set round on the vpper lidde, and a long bridge vnder, falling within the neather hoope with a staffe set fast aboue on the stocke, to tie the string and clicket, which must holde vp the lidde: the vpper trappe lyes with the mouth towarde you, and the lower with the side towardes you.

The fall for Rats or other vermine.

[illustration]

THis engine is called the Ratte trappe or fall, which is made with a thicke bottome borde, and two thinner bordes on both sides, and there is two staues set fast tho∣rowe the bottome borde, then the fall must be a thicke bord and heauie withall, and at the endes thereof must your staues goe thorow easely to fall and rise, which two staues haue holes aboue, which staues must also goe thorowe the long bridge aboue, and at the holes ye must put in two pins to holde vp the sayde bridge. Then must ye set fast another staffe in the middest of the fall, with a latch in the toppe thereof loose set to fall vp and downe: which latch must haue a string, which string commeth downe to the bridge be∣neath, with a small clicket fastened thereunto: and the bridge is fastened beneath on the backeside or borde, an inch from the bottome borde, and so it is done. Yée may make them to take water Rats in setting them in the water, in the sides of your ponds and riuers, and bayted with carion, but then ye must set rowes of short nayles vnder the fall planke, and those will stay either ratte or other fish, if they goe through it, and put downe the bridge.

The boxe trappe.

[illustration]

THis engine or trappe, is to take mice, or rattes, which is made of a thin borde of two inches and a halfe broad, and eight inches long, with a round bole cut thorowe the borde in the one end, and a boxe ioynde and glued therein, which boxe must haue a hole aboue, and therein yee must put your crooked wyar that must holde the batte within the boxe, and stayed aboue on the saide boxe with a crosse wier. Then shall ye sée the falling wyar tylde vp with a string or thréed, and fastened vnto a long clicket, which is staid with a crooked wiar, that holdes the baite within: the sayde clic∣ket to be made of bone, for that is better then wood except it be hard The seochin in the middest of the boxe, is as it were, made for the baite. The foure sharpe wiars beneath the boxe, are to holde the mouse or ratte when the wyar falles. The barre crosse by the boxe, is to stay the wyar, it shall not fall out, or fall too low. And the end of the falling wyar is fastened with two crosse bars, and riueted through the board, and the end of the falling wyar also, so it is done.

The spring trappe for Mice.

[illustration]

THis engine or trappe, is to take mice, it is made with a borde of two inches thicke, and in the one ende, yée must boore so bigge holes as a mouse may easely créep ther∣in, so many as ye shall thinke good. Then must ye boore a∣gainst euery of the sayd holes, foure small hole with a pier∣cer through the sayd borde. And all those holes next the end, ye shall put in strong thréeds on the vpper holes of the bord, so they may be set on the ende of the spring, and lie rounde in each great hole nie the brinke. Then must ye put a smal thréede through the borde double, and tie him on the spring stiffe, to holde downe the spring: and those strings next the end, must beare no tight, but lie slacke, and as they gnawe a sunder the other thréed to come to the baite, that takes them by the belly, or necke: and euer as your inner thréedes are bit a sunder, ye may soone put or drawe them through with a small wyar againe. Also the other endes of the springs must be fast set in holes, boared with a small wimble. Ye may make the like to take Rattes, if ye make the holes square and bigger.

The dragin trappe with a great wyar.

[illustration]

THis engine or trappe, is to take Mice and Rats, it is made of two thinne bordes: the neather borde is made round at the one end, and broad at the other end, like a swallow tayle. Then is there an other bord set on edge in the middest thereof, which borde hath a great wyar bowed and nayled thereon, as ye may sée: and the rounde bowght thereof must lie close on the round ende of the nea∣ther borde. Then is there two short square bordes nayled and spreading toward the great wyar. Also yee sée at the toppe of the vpright borde, a long mortis, wherein the wi∣ar that must holde the clicket and baite, must goe thorowe and there staye on another wyar, and the like is holden vp with the vpper ende thereof: which clicket, doe stay on the toppe of the middle or vpright borde, and so tyde thereat with a thréede which holdes vp the great wyar, when that ye will set or tyle him: also the neather borde is set rounde with sharpe wyars to holde mouce or ratte, and they must

stande all within the bowght of the great wyar, and it is done. This shewes with the side towardes you, or the halfe thereof.

The Samson poste for Rattes.

[illustration]

THis engine is called the Samson poste, it is stayde vp on thrée péeces, and one beares the burden of all, with the helpe of the other two péeces, and made as ye may sée, with notches one to stay vppon the other. These thrée stickes which ye sée, the broadest is called the bridge, and that is made broade and thinne and long withall, to reach vnder the planke or borde a good way, and bayted at the end thereof. The next is the crosse barre which stayes vp the planke or borde, set in a nicke in the end of the bridge. The third is the piller or poste set almost vpright, which stayes the bridge for falling to the ground, which bridge must alwayes stand from the ground an inch or more, that he may the sooner fall when he is touched. Also yee may

make them in length as ye shall sée cause for the bredth of your bordes or plankes, which must be somewhat heauie alwayes.

A Mill to take Mice.

[illustration]

THis engine or Mill, is made of ij. thin bords, and thicker in the midst, then at the ends. The one halfe of the bredth is set in & ioyned within the other halfe, and boared with a per∣cer thorough the midst, and there is put thorow a great wyar, or a smal pinne of wood, as yée may sée, and that pinne is put into a thicke bord of four inch bord, which borde lyeth on some ta∣ble or other borde from the ground halfe a yeard, or as yée shall thinke good: and set some panne or pot with water vnder your mill, and baite your mill on both sides of each leafe with some butter, mixt with otmele and sugar, and set all other things away, and so shall ye drowne thréescore or more perhaps in a night, as I haue séene done, if there be store. Ye shall make your mill to turne very easely, that the least weight thereon shall turne it. Also set your Mill an inch from your square borde that the pinne is in, and baite your borde with some otmeale, to tice them to the

mill. Thus may yée soone destroy them, if your house bée troubled with them neuer so much.

The square mouce trappe.

The mouce trap with a dish & a filboll.

[illustration]

THis engine or square mouce trappe, is made of two bordes, with a hole boared thorough them both at the lower end, and a pinne set set fast in the hole of the neather borde, and comes thorow the vpper borde: which vpper borde riseth and falleth thereon. Then is there a string tide at the sayde pinne with a long bridge, and a pinne on the vpper bord afore with a short string and a clicket tide ther∣vnto, to stay vp the vpper borde, and so it is done. This is a slight way, and soone made for mice.

The other trappe, is with a dish or bowle, tylde vp with a silboll, such as they make to fill puddings, which is made with a thinne stice of wood or such like, with a tayle of thrée inches long, and thereon is the baite tyed. The filboule his bowght is commonly one inch and more hie, to holde vppe the dish, that the mouce touch not the dish before she come

to the baite. Then when she stirs the baite, the dish fals ouer the filboll, and the filboll within, and the mouse also. Then ye may set a vessell of water, and let the mouse fall therein. And thus it is vsed, and also quickly made.

To take the Buzard with three twigs limed.

[illustration]

THis engine is to take the Buzard in the spring of the yeare, as in March and Aprill, which is made thus: with thrée small roddes growing on the end of some bough, or thrée small twigs set on the end of a pretie bigge sticke, and of a shastment long. Ye must so place them that two twigges must lie alwayes on the ground, and the other stand or lie ouer. The sticke must haue a hole board in the end as ye may sée, and therein to fasten the mouse taile, or a thréede with a liue mouse tide vnto it. Also the twigs must be finely layde with lyme, and in a morning layde on the ground, whereas ye shall sée any Buzard nie, and as soone as ye are departed, if she spie the mouse, ye shall sée her come vnto it, and so taken, which is a verie good way to

take them in the spring, but at other times not so good. Also the Buzard may well be taken in March and Aprill with setting thrée limerods, and bayfed in a plaine with the li∣uer of a conny or such like.

The Moull trappe.

[illustration]

TO set this Moull trappe, where any Moull hath cast, ye shall first place two trestles ouer her casting, then tread it downe with your foote softly, so long and so broad as your fall is, or more. Then lay a poale crosse ouer your tresles, and there on hang your trappe ouer the trench. Then set a short stake with the bridge therein, against the midst of your fall, as ye may sée by the figure: and set your stake so that the bridge end may lie and touch the earth all ouer in the trench crosse. For when the Moull doth cast, shée wil put vp that end of the bridge which do crosse the trench, and the other end will fall on the clicket, and so the trappe falles, and the long nayles set at both endes of the fall, kils her, which way soeuer she comes or goes. Your fall must be two foote long, and foure inches broad, and foure inches thicke, for the heauier the better it is. If it be too light, yée

may remedie it as ye thinke good. Also yée may set your long nayles in a thencher or thinne borde, and nayle that to your fall at both endes, and let the next nayles on both sides be foure inches from the bridge. Thus much for the moull trappe, ye may thus kill them in gardens, woodes, high-wayes, or where yee shall thinke good without anie watching of them.

The following trappe.

[illustration]

THis engine is called, the following trappe for Mice, it is made with two square bordes, the bottome and the fall borde, with edge bordes of an inch hie, round about the neather borde, and set with two wing bordes of each side one, with a crosse lath ouer the middest to tye the string of the clicket. Which string comes downe to the bridge, plast with a crosse bridge, and then is there wreathed corde, or haire, vnder the lath aboue, and in that wreath, is put the following staffe, which as soone as the lidde doe fall, that following staffe holdes it downe, and the falling borde is nayled with two leathers, as yée may sée, to the lower

borde: and also the bridge is tide vnder vnto the lower bord with a string. Thus much for the vnderstanding of the following trappe.

The griping trappe made all of yrne, the lowest barre, and the ring or hoope, with two clickets, and a turning pinne, which ring is set fast to the sides of the lowest barre,

[illustration]

MOre vnto it is, a plate round in the middest, with fiue holes cut out, and a sharpe yrne pinne in the middest, which plate hath a spring on both sides vnder the edge of the plate, and they stirre not of ioyntes vp and downe, as the other doth, but standes fast in touching the crosse pinne vnder the plate.

Here is more with two springs vntylde on both sides, in holding together the two hoopes with nayles.

[illustration]

NOw when the two springes are opened abroade and holde downe, here it is to be shewed as hee standeth tyled with the two springes, downe flat to the long barre on both sides, which springes are made of good stéele, and as soone as the clickets which holde them downe vnder the plate when both the outward clickets be stirde. The two springes shuts them suddenly together and there is in the two shutting hoopes sharpe pinnes of yrne set one contrary to the other, with holes made for those pinnes to goe tho∣rough and shut close together, that it will holde any thing, if it be but a rush or straw, so close they shut together. The two hoopes on both sides outward are made bigger and bigger vpwarde, to holde more close when they come toge∣ther, as ye may perceiue by the hoopes within the springs, on both sides. Then there is at the ends of the long barres two square holes, which holes are made to pinne the long barre fast to the ground, when yee set or tyle him in any

place at your pleasure. His clickets may so be made, that if any Otter, Foxe, or other, doe but tread thereon he shall be soone taken. This ye must bnide a péece of meate in the middest, and put it on the pricke, and so binde it fast, and in pulling the baite, the clickets will slippe and the springes will rise, and so it will take him. Thus much for this kind of trappe shall be sufficient to vnderstand the order thereof.

The square boxe trappe.

[illustration]

THis trappe is to take mice with any small square boxe, which boxe ye shall set an ende, and make the couer so he may fall of his owne accorde. Then tyle him vp with a small sticke with a nicke, and set it in the middest to holde vp the couer. Then put chéese on the toppe of the sticke within the boxe. So when shée bites the baite, the sticke shakes, and the lidde falles downe, and so the mouce remaynes in the boxe. Thus ye may take many mice with small charge, and soone done.

A spring for a Buzard or Dunkite.

[illustration]

THis engine is called a whippe spring, made and set to take Buzardes and kites, and commonly set by a bush side, it may also be set in a plaine, the spring must be of some growing poale, or some rodde set fast in the ground where ye thinke best. There is also two stakes set halfe a yeard a sunder fast in the ground, and that stake with a crooke, must stand towardes the looce of the spring, and tild with a clicket, which clicket aboue must stay vnder the crooke: and the neather end there of must stand in the nicke of the end of the bridge, which hath a hooke at the other end about the other stake, which bridge must stand thrée inches from the ground, and thereon spread your line as ye sée, with a shooe buckle to slide soone. Then baite your bush side made some what hollow that she can come no way to the batte but ouer the bridge: which baite may be a Conies head, or some eats flesh. Thus much for the spring.

The hoope nette for the Buzard, set against some bush in a plaine or open place.

[illustration]

THis engine called the hoope nette, is made thus: yée must haue a good bigge rodde of two inches about, and bow him round, so that he be a yeard hie in the middest. Then tie his two endes with a small packthréed, within thrée quarters and a halfe quarter, which bowed rodde yée shall put on a péece of some hay net, of an ell long, and the other side of the net, on the ground line. Then set two pins fast in the ground, tyde with packthréede to the two lower endes of the bowed rodde, which must turne easie, and not flie vp. Then set before your bridge, with hoolie and pinne as ye may sée, with a bowed sticke, and a clicket at the o∣ther ende, which clicket is tide with a string reaching to the side of the hoope, and the other part vnto the spring rod, which rodde must lie on the ground, that when the bridge is put downe, it pluckes the hoope ouer the Buzarde and

[illustration]

[illustration]

so holdes it still do one, which hoope must be set vp right a∣gainst some bush, and couered with some light fearne. And this is an excellent way in winter to take them.

The order for setting and drawing the chaffe nette, for Crowes and Sparrowes, as hereafter shall be declared.

YE shall first make your trenches for your nette, and staues, according to the length of each thereof, and your sayd trenches and staues, to be without the ends of your net. First piune downe the backe line of your nette in the trench, with foure small hooked pinnes, so done, then measure thrée yeardes from the further end of your net, and there knocke downe a stake, and tie your draging line ther∣at. But set your stake so that your line, and net may fall straight when he is drawen: then knocke downe in the two vppen endes of your staffe trenches, two hooked pins to holde your two staues, as ye may sée in their places. Then measure from the néere end of your backe line, fiue yeardes towarde your hande, and there knocke downe an∣other stake, and fasten your pull thereat, and drawe your line through it, and pull your line so farre as ye will drawe your net, and there you must knocke down an other strong stake with a hole thorow a foote aboue the ground, & there tie your drawing line to a short sticke to drawe by when ye will, and tie your line so tight it may come stiffe in ben∣ding your net. Then bent it, and put your line in the notch of your surther staffe, and fasten it to the hooked pin in the trench, till ye haue bent the other staffe in the néere trench. Then gather vp your net, and lay it vnder your line in the trench, so done: couer your net and staues, with some short strawe or chaffe, and couer your drawing line with fearne or such like. Then baite your shrape nie the backe line, with offall corne, or chaffe mixt with oates, séedes or such like: and let it so remaine thrée or foure daies, if ye will, without laying your nette, so they will be the

bolder to come when your net is layde, and the more number will knowe, and not seave the nette. Also your staues for the Sparrowe net commonly must be twelue handfuls long, or nigh foure foote: and the casting staues for your Rooke net, may well be a handfull longer. The length betwéene your staues and trenches for your Spar∣rowe net must be two and twentie foote, or according to the length of your net. And so for your Rooke net. Your backe line may be a small line, but your drawing line had néede be strong, and somewhat bigger than a halpeny hal∣tar, to way downe the net. Some doe vse to lay stones, and cloddes by, (if he drawe alone) to lay them on the out sides of the nette, while hee takes or killes the Crowes. Wherefore if these nets were vsed in each parish thorough England, according to the statute: there would not be the tenth Crowe aliue, which is now in this Realme, with in these fewe yeares, and as some doe iudge, the Crowes and birdes doe eate and spoyle as much graine yearely, as would goe nigh to finde all the people and cattell of the gre∣test shiere in England for one yeare. For it is thought they deuour & spoyle yéerely in and for each parish in this Realm of this graine, viij. bushels. There is counted two & fiftie thousande parishes, so then there is two and fiftie quarters of graine destroyed yearely by Crowes and such like, be∣sides a number of other pultrie about mens houses deuou∣red by Crowes and Kytes, and chiefely it is thought, tho∣rough the negligence of slouthfull husbandes, which yearely toyles and labours to sowe corne, and regardes not after the sauing of the same, or yet to wage or giue to other (ac∣cording to the statute) that would in winter and other times be glad to take paine to take & destroy them. Thus I haue declared touching the destruction of corne by crows and such like, and the profite and gaine that would come thereby, in vsing the saide nettes in each parish thorough the Realme which nets may well be vsed all the winter, and also from March till Midsommer or somewhat after. Ye may also baite your shrape, with flesh, or some carrion,

and so ye may take Kytes, flesh Crowes, Rauens, and such like, when ye sée cause. The laying your nette is easle, but to make him cast well, is all in the setting the tayle pinne, and placing the pully stake, in drawing your vpper line. Also in Iuly and August ye may well vse the lime bush, and the call for Sparrowes.

A baite to kill Rattes and Mice.

TAke of Argentum sublimatum, of regall, and of Arse∣nicke, of each a dram, with twentie figges of the fattest, one ounce of hasell nuts rleane pilde and beaten, twelue walnuts pild, and halfe a pound of wheaten meale, also a pound and two ounees of hogges grease, with a little hony beaten and kneaded with the foresaide simples. First beat all into fine pouders, and then mire them all together, so done, then make them into little pellets, and lay them in your house where ye shall thinke good, for the Rattes to re∣ceiue, and set water by them. Taken out of Dutch. Or you may take swéete creame mixt with sugar, and laid in shelts and strowe the fine pouder of Arsenicke thereon.

Another compound for Rattes.

TAke swéeté creame, and mixe it well with sugar, then take the crummes of white bread, with small péeces, and put therein, and make it somewhat thicke. Then make it séeth, and stirre it still till it be as thicke as pappe, then take it off the fire, and put therein of scraped chéese, and stirre it all well together: so doue, take the fine pou∣der of regall, and pouder of Arsenicke, and put it therein, and stirre it well all together: so ye may lay it on shelts, or tyle stones, where ye shall thinke best: yet some herein, will but strow the saide pouders thereon, when they haue layde it, and it will serue so very well, or make the herbe Pedelion in pouder, and lay it on your meate, which herbe is the field clof.

An other way for the same.

TAke of faire colde water, and mixe it with fine wheate flower, and then worke it well all together, & sée there be no lumpes of flowar vnbroken, then boyle it softly, and stirre it alwayes for burning: and when it waxeth thicke put in sugar, then take it from the fire, and mixe it with a little clarified hony, and being thicke like pappe, put there∣in as much as ye shall sée good, of the fine pouder of Arse∣nicke, and then beate and stirre it all well together, and so when it is colde, ye may lay it where ye shall thinke good.

A baite for Mice.

TAke swéete butter, otmeale, and the pappe of a roasted apple, with a quantitie of wheate flower, and sugar. Then worke these all together, and put therein of the pou∣der of Argentum sublimatum, so worke it well together like a paste, and so make it into small pellots, and laye it where ye thinke good.

Another to kill Mice. ••. Dioscorides.

TAke the pouder of white Elleborie, otherwise called née∣sing pouder, and mixe it with barley meale. Then put to honny, and make a paste thereof, then bake it, or séeth it, or frie it, and it will kill those Mice that eates ther∣of.

An other for Mice.

TAke of barley meale a quantitie, and mixe therewith clarified hony: then put thereto a quantitie of the pou∣der finely beaten of Antimoneum, which is like vnto red glasse, also put therein a littel clarified shéepes suet, then beate and worke them all together, and make it in paste, and vse it as the other afore rehearsed, ye may put of sugar

therein if ye list: and here is to be noted, that when yée shall lay these baytes aforesayde in your houses, yee must then kéepe all other things from your Rattes and Mice, or else ye shall not haue your purpose of them sulfilled, which may be layde for Pies and Crowes.

An other for Rats, Mice, Woolfes, or Foxes.

TAke the roote of an herbe called in Latine, Aconi••um: in English, Wolfes bane: and make it into a fine powder, then stowe of that powder on flesh, or other thing what ye will, and it shall kill them soone after they haue taken it.

To take Rauens, Pyes, and Crowes.

YE shall take of Nux vomica, so called, which ye shall buy at the Apothecaries, they are gathered in the sea, and are as broad as a péece of foure pence, and a quarter of an inch thicke or more. Those which are the whitest with∣in, are counted for the best, when ye will ocupie any, doe grate, or cut one small in thinne slices, then beate it into powder if ye can, the finer it is the better, and the sooner will make the Crowes or Pyes to fall. Put of the sayde powder into a péece of flesh, and so lay it abroad, and yée shall soone sée Pie, or Crowe or Rauen take it. Then must ye watch hun a while after, and ye shall perceiue him to fall downe, then must ye follow to take him. But if yée let him remaine one quarter of an houre, he will recouer againe, for this nux vomica it doth but make them drunk, and dyzie for a time. The Kyte I haue not séene taken, for he will cast it vp againe.

The spring net for Buzard or other kind of foule.

THis spring net or hoope net, is to take the Buzarde on the plaine, or to take Crowes, Pyes, or other small birdes with their naturall baites, as the worme for the Blackbird, & the Nytingale: it may be made with a hoope of wood, or of yrne, or stéele wyar, ye must bring the endes

together fortie as ye shall thinke good. Then lap those ends with horse haire, or packth••éed, so oft about the ends as ye sée good: then put a piune of yrne, or of wood, betwéene the

[illustration]

saide haire or line. Then turne & twist the haire as ye do for a mouce trappe, so stiffe as ye shall sée cause, so knocke that yrne pin into the ground where ye will set your net. Then take a small string that must be tide in the midst of y^e hoope, which string must haue a knot at the end, so put it vnder the wreath of haire, and thorow a hole in a pinne of wood set in the ground before the yrne pin, and let the knot of the same string, rest in the sayd hole. Then fill the said hole with an other short pinne of wood made blunt, putting it slight into the hole, to stay the knot of the string that kéepes downe the net, and on that short pinne, make a hole, or slit, & put a thorne with a baite theron: and when any thing do touch the baite, the short pinne will soone fall, and the string slips through the hole, and so the net turnes suddenly vpon the fowle. Thus much for ordering this kinde of net.

Notes

• a 1.1

  The hole to tie the string of the bridge.
• b 1.2

  The clicket▪
• c 1.3

  The lidde.
• d 1.4

  The hole to tye the string.
• e 1.5

  The hole to put through the string on the side.
• f 1.6

  The pin for the string.
• g 1.7

  The hole to carrie it by.
• a 1.8

  The lidde.
• b 1.9

  The hole to tic the string.
• c 1.10

  The hole to carry it.