TO 



THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL 



JOHN OFFLEY, ESQ.,* 



OF 



MADELEY MANOR, 



INTHECOUNTYOrSTAFFORD, 



my most honored friend. 



Sir: 

 1 HAVE made so ill use of your former favors, as by them to be 

 encouraged to entreat that they may be enlarged to the patron- 

 age and protection of this book ; and I have put on a modest 

 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. 



You are assured, though there be ignorant men of another be- 

 lief, 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 labor 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 recre- 

 ation. 



Variations. — Wherever an interesting variation has been made in the 

 text by the author's own pen, it will be noted ; unimportant alterations 

 will be passed by. The text has been carefully compared, so far as my 

 means would permit. — Am. Ed. 



1 Than any that I know. First and second editions. 



* Great grandson of Sir Thomas Offley, who was Lord Mayor of London 

 in 1557. A John OfRey proved the will of Agnes Walton in 1673, showing 

 an acquaintance between the families. — Sir Harris J\''icholas, abridged. 



