THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 229 



happy. But let me tell you, that riches, with them, remove 

 many fears and cares ; and therefore my advice is, that you 

 endeavour to be honestly rich, or contentedly poor : but be 

 sure that your riches be justly got, or you spoil all. For it is 

 well said by Caussin,* " he that loses his conscience, has 

 nothing left that is worth keeping." Therefore be sure you 

 look to that. And, in the next place, look to your health : 

 and if you have it, praise God, and value it next to a good 

 conscience ; for health is the second blessing that we mortals 

 are capable of ; a blessing that money cannot buy, and there- 

 fore value it, and be thankful for it. As for money, which 

 may be said to be the third blessing, neglect it not : but note, 

 that there is no necessity of being rich ; for I told you there 

 be as many miseries beyond riches, as on this side them : and 

 if you have a competence, enjoy it with a meek, cheerful, 

 thankful heart. I will tell you, scholar, I have heard a grave v 

 divinef say, that God has two dwellings, one in heaven, and 

 the other in a meek and thankful heart. Which Almighty 

 God grant to me, and to my honest scholar : and so you are 

 welcome to Tottenham High-cross. 



YEN. Well, master, I thank you for all your good direc- 

 tions ; but for none more than this last, of thankfulness, 

 which I hope I shall never forget. J And pray let's now rest 



* Nicholas Caussin, a native of Troyes, in Champagne, wrote a book called 

 " The Holy Court," of which there is an English translation in folio. He was 

 esteemed a person of great probity, and of such a spirit, that he attempted to 

 displace Cardinal Richelieu; but that minister proved too hard for him, and 

 got him banished. The sentiment above quoted from him is worthy of 

 Marcus Antoninus, or, if that be not enough to say, of Dr. Jeremy Taylor 

 himself. H. 



t Dr. Donne, as a reverend and learned friend of mine informs me. H. 



t The four preceding paragraphs beginning with, " Well, scholar," etc., 

 deserve most attentive perusal. They are entirely worthy of the excellent 

 man who styles angling the " Contemplative Man's Recreation." See how 

 frequently and sincerely he urges upon us meekness and thankfulness the 

 former towards man, the latter towards God. Cheerfulness, contentment 

 health, a quiet guileless conscience, are in his eyes the greatest of mundane 

 possessions. He says, " every misery that I miss is a new mercy. Nay, let me 

 tell you, there be many that have forty times our estates, that would give the 

 greatest part of it to be healthful and cheerful like us ; who with the expence 

 of a little money, have ate and drank, and latight, and sung, and slept ; and 

 rose next day, and cast away care, and sung, and laught, and angled again ; 

 which are blessings rich men cannot purchase with all their money." What a 

 genial and more than pretty picture of angling life ! In another passage, he 

 says, the meek man " shall obtain mercy, and see God, and be comforted, and 

 at last come to the kingdom of heaven ; but in the mean time, he, and he only 

 possesses the earth as he goes toward that kingdom of heaven, by being humble 

 and cheerful, and content with what his good God has allotted him." Again 



