vuto theym.  Ne to take the fysshe awaye that is taken in theym.  For after a fysshe is taken in a mannys gynne yf the gynne be layed in the comyn waters:  or elles in suche waters as he hireth, it is his owne propre goodes.  And yf ye take it awaye ye robbe hym:  whyche is a ryght shamfull dede to ony noble man to do yt that theuys & brybours done:  whyche are punysshed for theyr evyll dedes by the necke & other wyse whan they maye be aspyed & taken.  And also yf ye do in lyke manere as this treatise shewyth you:  ye shal haue no nede to take of other menys:  whiles ye shal haue ynough of your owne takyng yf ye lyste to labour therfore.  Whyche shall be to you a very pleasure to se the fayr bryght shynynge scalyd fysshes dysceyved by your crafty meanes & drawen vpon londe.  Also that ye breke noo mannys heggys in goynge abowte your dysportes:  ne opyn noo mannes gates but that ye shytte theym agayn.  Also ye shall not vse this forsayd crafty dysporte for no covety senes to thencreasynge & sparynge of your money oonly, but pryncypally for your solace & to cause the helthe of your body, and specyally of your soule.  For whanne ye purpoos to goo on your disportes in fysshyng ye woll not desyre gretly many persones wyth you, whiche myghte lette you of your game.  And thenne ye maye serue God deuowtly in sayenge affectuously youre custumable prayer.  And thus doynge ye shall eschewe & voyde many vices, as ydylnes whyche is pryncypall cause to enduce man to many other vyces, as it is ryght well knowen.

Also ye shall not be to rauenous in takyng of your sayd game as to moche at one tyme:  whyche ye maye lyghtly doo, yf ye doo in euery poynt as this present treatyse shewyth you in euery poynt, whyche lyghtly be occasyon to dystroye your owne dysportes & other mennys also.  As whan ye haue a suffycyent mese ye sholde coveyte nomore as at that tyme.  Also ye shall besye yourselfe to nouryssh the game in all that ye maye:  & to dystroye all such thynges as ben devourers of it.  And all those that done after this rule shall haue the blessynge of god & saynt Petyr, whyche be theym graunte that wyth his precyous blood vs boughte.

And for by cause that this present treatyse sholde not come to the hondys of eche ydle persone whyche wolde desire it yf it were enpryntyd allone by itself & put in a lytyll plaunflet therfore I have compylyd it in a greter volume of dyverse bokys concernynge to gentyll & noble men to the entent that the forsayd ydle persones whyche sholde have but lytyll mesure in the sayd dysporte of fyshyng sholde not by this meane utterly dystroye it.

EMPRYNTED AT WESTMESTRE BY WYNKYN THE WORDE THE YERE THYN-CARNACON OF OUR LORD M.CCCC.LXXXXVI.

Reprinted by Thomas White, Crane Court

MDCCCXXVII.

WALTER BESANT

(1838-)