IZAAK WALTON AND HIS FRIENDS 67 



" The wealthiest man among us is the best : 

 No grandeur now in nature or in book 

 Delights us ! " 1 



Venables contends that "the minds of anglers 

 are usually more calm and composed than 

 many others, especially hunters and falconers, 

 who too frequently lose their delight in their 

 passion, and too often bring home more of 

 melancholy and discontent than satisfaction 

 in their thoughts ; but the angler, when he 

 hath the worst success, loseth but a hook or 

 line, or perhaps, what he never possessed, a 

 fish ! " 



Amongst his general observations he says : 

 "Deny not part of what your endeavours shall 

 purchase unto any sick or indigent persons, but 

 willingly distribute a part of your purchase to 

 those who may desire a share " ; and he ends thus : 

 " Make not a profession of any recreation lest your 

 immoderate love towards it should bring a cross 

 wish on the same." There was a very nice reprint 

 brought out of the book in 1827, by T. Gosden. 

 Venables bought the estate of Wincham, in 

 Cheshire, where his descendants are still settled. 



In the notes to Rohinso7i's Discourse of the War 

 in Lancashire, printed for the Chetham Society, 

 p. 97, will be found the best information as to his 

 life, and it is thence that the information given 



' The Sonnets. 



