148 Colonel V enables. 



the particulars of his life after this period, 

 have baffled all attempts at discovery." 

 It seems extraordinary that of a soldier 

 so well known as Venables no trace can 

 be found after his imprisonment in the 

 Tower. 



All we know about him after 1655 is 

 that his book was published in 1662, and 

 that Walton wrote the charming commen- 

 datory letter to him which I have already 

 quoted. Although a great deal of his 

 writing is evidently the result of actual 

 experience as an angler, I think it is 

 equally clear that he used the prose 

 version of The Secrets of Anglings a basis 

 for his work. Among the rivers and 

 places he mentions as having experience 

 of are " the Weever in Cheshire, the Sow 

 in Staffordshire, the Blackwater in Ulster, 

 Lough Neaugh, Tom Shanes Castle, 

 Mountjoy, Antrim," etc. He has some 

 brief but interesting references to salmon 

 and salmon-fishing, and evidently, when 

 stationed in different parts of England 

 and Ireland, occupied his leisure time in 

 angling. Want of space prevents a longer 

 notice of the work of this brave soldier, 

 devout man, and keen angler, whom 

 Walton tells us he never had the happi- 

 ness to meet face to face. 



