HONOURED FRIEND.

SIR,

I HAVE made so ill use of your former favours, as by them to be encouraged to entreat, that they may be enlarged to the patronage and protection of this Book: and I have put on a modest

NOTE.] 1 Son and heir of Sir John Offley, of Madeley, in the county of Stafford, Knight, and great grandson of Sir Thomas Offley, who was Lord Mayor of London in 1557. Mr. Offley, to whom this work is dedicated, succeeded his father in 1646, and was twice married; first to Dorothy, daughter of Sir John Lidcott, of Mousley in Surrey; and

B

confidence, that I shall not be denied, because it is a discourse of Fish and Fishing, which you know so well, and both love and practise so much.

a

You are assured, though there be ignorant men of another belief, that Angling is an Art: and you know that Art better than others; and that this is truth is demonstrated by the fruits of that pleasant labour which you enjoy, when you purpose to give rest to your mind, and divest yourself of your more serious business, and, which is often, dedicate a day or two to this recreation.

At which time, if common Anglers should attend you, and be eyewitnesses of the success, not of your fortune, but your skill, it would

VARIATION.] a than any that I know.1st and 2nd Edit.

secondly, to Mary, daughter of Thomas Broughton, of Broughton in Staffordshire. He died in 1658, leaving, by his second wife, John, who was thirteen years old in 1663; Thomas, then aged twelve; and Mary, who became the wife of Sir Willoughby Aston, of Aston, in the county of Chester, Bart. John Offley, the eldest son, acquired Crew, in Cheshire, in right of his wife, Ann, daughter and coheiress of John Crew, of that place, Esq. by whom he had, first, John; second, Crew; third, Mary, who married Robert, Viscount Kilmorrey. John Offley, his son and heir, assumed the name of Crew, and died in 1749, leaving John Crew, of Crew, Esq. his son and heir, who was living in 1751, three other sons, and three daughters. Crew Offley, of Wichner, in the county of Stafford, the second son, married Mary, daughter of Sir Thomas Lawrence, of Chelsea; and dying in 1739, left, by her, two sons, John Offley, of Wichner, in the county of Stafford, living unmarried, and aged thirty-four in 1751, and Lawrence Offley, who died in 1749, unmarried. Records of the College of Arms, marked C 36 and 3 D 14. This Dedication is not the only evidence of a personal acquaintance between the families of Walton and Offley: a John Offley proved the will of Agnes Walton, of the parish of Madeley, on the 22nd of April, 1573.