Fishing with an Angle
A Treatise of Fishing with an Angle by Dame Juliana Berner.
I discovered this book while reading another book on fishing. A Treatise of Fishing with an Angle is written in the late 15th Century (1496), and the writing is attributed to a nun, Benedictine sister, Dame Juliana Berner who was prioress of a Benedictine convent near St. Albans. The work is one of the earliest known comprehensive guides on fishing. In addition to a treatise on fishing, the writings provide advice on living a happy life, a long, fulfilling life for the soul.
A Long, Happy Life
Berner begins with reference to a proverb in the Book of Solomon where a good spirit leads to a long, happy life. She goes on to say that good sports and honest games also lead to longevity and happiness. Berner mentions four good sports and honest games: to wit, hunting, hawking, fishing, and fowling. For the author, the best is fishing, also called angling, with a rod, line, and hook. (p. 37)
Three other elements contribute to a sustained healthy life. First is a happy mind, a mindset that centers on a positive disposition of “merry thoughts” and avoids “quarrelsome company.” Second is work, a job that empowers a cheerful heart, and raises one’s spirits. The third is a good diet, food in moderation to avoid overindulgence and sickness. (p. 38)
Make yourself a rod so secret that you can walk with it, and no one will know what you are doing. – Dame Juliana Berner
The Skill of Angling
In the book, angling is being skilled in knowing how to fish, how you make your rod, hooks, tackle, and lines, where to fish, the places of deep water, the best time of day, the types of fish, and the impediments to fishing. (p. 40) Along with the skill of angling, fishing is more for your solace and the health of mind, body, and soul. (p. 67)
I love fishing. My Dad taught me to fish when I was about seven years old. We fished nearly every pond, lake, and waterway in the region of Kentucky where I lived in my youth. I have great memories of fishing with my Dad. I loved it then, and I still savor fishing today, especially fly fishing. Fishing is a soulful experience for me, where I can be mindful, be nurtured, and be attentive to the fullness of life.
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