YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY[Of this Tamphlet 250 copies have been issued at 3/6 net.]|he life of wt
' johnleland
(THE FIRST ENGLISH ANTIQUARY), ^-H^-H-H-HHE LIFE OF JOHN LELAND,$^ (THE : FIRST : ENGLISH : ANTIQUARY), ** WITH EXTENSIVE NOTES AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF HIS WORKS, * INCLUDING THOSE IN MS.	PRINTED
FROM A HITHERTO UNPUBLISHED WORK (BY THE LEARNED EDWARD BURTON).^
LONDON: ALFRED COOPER, 68 CHARING CROSS ROAD,TREFACE.REFACE iTfffrfiTfffi?
This interesting account of the Father of English Antiquaries, is for the first time published from a manuscript formerly in tha magnificent collection formed by the late Sir Thomas Phillipps. The compiler was evidently a painstaking and careful person, and although a great deal of the information respecting Leland is to be found in the works of Huddesford and others, there are in the present pamphlet, particularly in the NOTES, many items of interest which appear to be new.
Considering the unique position occupied by the subject of this memoir as the pioneer of Antiquarian and Historical research, and by his JVorks as the foundation of all that has since been written on the subject of English Antiquities, the publisher believes no apology to be necessary for offering, for the first time, this slight record of a remarkable man and his labours, and trusts the preservation of this little work will commend itself to the ever-increasing circle of those who find delight in the history of our Native Country.
It may be mentioned that the phraseology and grammatical construction of the original, which appears to date from the middle of the 18th century, have been closely followed, although in some cases obviously faulty.
The authorship has been attributed to Edward 'Burton, who is several times mentioned by Hearne in his Diary.OHN LELAND (a) the chief Orn. ament of the reign of Henry VIII., was born on the 13th day of Sept* ember in the City of London^, but in what Parish or year is un* known. Dr. Hall conjectures that his birth is to be placed about the latter end of the reign of Henry VII. This is not unlikely. Who his parents were, or of what reputation or condition they were in the City we are wholly ignorant. He had an elder brother whose Christian name was also John. But it is pfrobable that they were not in very flourishing circumstances, at least at the time of their death, for they then left this their son very young and quite destitute of maintenance so that in all likely ^ hood he might have lived and died in equal ob* scurity with his namesake and had never been known in the Republic of Letters if Providence had not raised up for him a charitable Patron who spared no cost to improve and cultivate the pro^ mising genius of this helpless orphan. This bene^ ficent Patron was " one Thomas Myles," a great favourer of Learning, who nofonly exhibited to his wants, also but took care to have him instructed in Grammar, and other juvenile learning under the famous William Lily who was then Master of St. Paul's School". TFTs wholly owing to his gratitude that we are acquainted with the particulars of his fortunes and other passages of his early life which follow. In this school he had divers contem^ poraries,44 who by their learning and advancement afterwards, added Lustre both to the school where all of them were bred, and to the City where some of them were born/' The chief of them whom Mr. Leland himself men'
tions,
9tions, was Sir Anthony Denny, Sir Edward North afterwards Lord North, and William Paget, after-' wards created Lord Paget of Beaudesert, all who, in his riper years, being great favourites at Court, were great patrons and encouragers of this learned man.
From School Mr. Leland was sent by his gener^ ous patron to the University of Cambridge, where he was admitted into Christ's College. This seems to be about the year 1517 for it appears by the Register of that University that he took his Degree of Bachelor of Arts in A.D. 1521, and according to. the rules of both Universities no one is admitted to that Degree till after four years entrance into their Sophistry.
Mr. Burton the Leicestershire Antiquary seems to make him to have been on the foundation of that house as one of the King's Scholars, but this is contrary to Mr. Leland's own account, who attributes his support in that University to his patron Myles, and the King seems not to have taken notice of his merit till some years afterwards. Nor is there any surer ground to persuade us that he was Fellow of his College (c)t tho' in a cata^ logue of Fellows there they claim him as having been one. The most probable conjecture is that having applied himself in the University very diligently to his studies, to which no doubt he was encouraged by emulation, there being at that time very learned men his contemporaries (d) he was taken notice of as a person of eminent parts and proper to educate youth, and accordingly left that University and came up to Lambeth, where he was intrusted with the care of the education of the Lord Thomas Howard, eldest son by a second venter to the Duke of Norfolk. This young noble^
man
10man being then but twelve years of age he in^ structed in the Latin tongue (e). Whether at this time he had the education and bringing up of Francis afterwards Earl of Hastings, I do not know, but it is certain that this nobleman also was his pupil.
The Duke of Norfolk was a special benefactor to Mr. Leland, and in all probability eased Mr. Myles of supporting him, but on this Duke's death, which happened 21st May, 1524 he quitted all pretensions which might have been expected in Cambridge and went to Oxford (f)f but to what College or Hall, he no where tells us; Howbeit by sure tradition from Thomas Key of All Souls College to Thomas Allen of Glocester Hall, it appears that he spent several years in study in the said College of All Souls. We shall examine the truth of this tradition. How long he staid in this University is uncertain, but he tells us himself (g), that upon some disgust he took, not liking the discipline or methods of learning then practised there, he left the same, and under some probable excuse, and at that time encouraged also by the munificence of the King, he went on his travels in France, perhaps to improve himself in his knowledge of the Greek language. While he was in this kingdom at Paris, he spent not his time idly, but visited the Libraries there, cultivated and improved his genius to Poetry, to which he had a strong natural Genius (h), and became acquainted with the famous Budaeus, Jacques Fevre de 1'Estaphe, Paulus Aemilius the Historian, and Ruellus the interpreter of Dios^ corides. These learned men no doubt encouraged him in the prosecution of his studies, and he atten* ded the lecturers of a famous Grammarian then living in Paris, called Silvius or Dubois, and was
very
11very intimate with him* From hence he went into Italy where learning at the time was in a flourishing condition, according to Mr. Bagford.
But this fact is not certain (i).
At what time Mr. Leland returned from his Travels into England I do not find, but soon after he entered into Holy Orders, and became Chaplain to King Henry VIII., and Rector of Poppeling (sometimes written Popering and Popling) in the Marches of Calais. Afterwards he became Library | Keeper to that King, who gave him the title of Antiquarian (which may answer to the present title of Historiographer Royal, and which no body but Mr. Lelanaever enjoyed), and an yearly pension out of the Exchequer.
During Mr. Leland's travels he had made large Collections out of whatever Printed or Manuscript Books he met with relating to the illustration of the History and Antiquities of Britain, and now while he was promoted to the honour of the King's Librarian, he pursued his design more intently, but when he considered then the various wars and intestine divisions which had afflicted this Island by different nations had destroyed or dispersed the ancient writings or monuments relating to the completion of his design, he almost despaired of ever bringing it to perfection, " tam sunt obducta omnia (are his own words), crassis tenebris et temporum ^iniquitate." Therefore he very prudently thought that the only remedy for this evil was,44 solicite domi forisque disquirere, forulos omneis excutere bibliothecas denique penitus introspicere." In pursuance hereof the King granted him a commission under the Broad Seal, 25 Regni sui A.D. *533t whereby he was impowered "per omnia regna et ditiones suas spatiari et antiqutates
omnes,
Uomnes, scripta, recorda, archiva et quaecunque monumcnta notatu digna in singulis bibliothecis, collegiis, sodalitiis, claustris, coenobiis, basilicis, monasteriis, aliis q locis quibuscunq diligcnter ct fidcliter risuari ct pcrscutari" (k).
With what industry he executed this commission his Collectanea show, wherein he has amassed a prodigious quantity of Historical passages and other matter out of the Manuscript Histories lying in those days in the Libraries of Abbies and other places, as Colleges in the Universities, etc. Catalogues of their M.S.S. may be found in the 4th volume of his Collectanea. Many antient authors also he sent to the King's Library. Out of these he intended to write the History of England, and in order to facilitate his design and to make him as easy as possible in his mind, and to give himself up entirely to the same, the King was pleased to grant him a dispensation of his residence on his Parsonage at Poppeling and accordingly 12th July, 1536, he obtained a special Dispensation to keep a curate at Poppeling and " make his residence and contynuall abode at his libertie within the Realme of Englonde or elswhere as he shall thynk best, and to be absente and now residente uppon his said parsonage within our said Towne and Marches of Calais at any tyme or tymes at hys pleasure " (0*
Being thus discharged of his attendance on his spiritual cure he applied himself to write the His* tory of England, and in this very year he had made so great a progress in it, that his friend John Bale then hoped that it would soon come out. This was a noble design, and to bring it to per* fection he engaged John Bale to give him an account of the first entrance of the Carmelites into
England,
13England, their progress, and a catalogue of their | famous men. Which he accordingly did in the 'book called Anglorum Heliades. But to perfect his intentions he resolved to see with his own eyes the country he undertook to describe, and in con* sequence of this resolution he began his Travels thro' England and Wales in 1539 (the year of the final dissolution of Abbies) (m), and continued them for the space of six years, being indefatigable in his researches, and noting down in his journal what' ever he found remarkable relating to the antient or present state of the Country. He was so par^ ticularly solicitous to view all places, that it is no hyperbole which he tells King Henry VIII. on his return from his ramblings in 1545, that " there is neyther Cape nor Bay, Haven, Creke or Pere, Ryver or Confluence of Ryvers, Breches, Wathes, Lakes, Meres, Fenns, Waters, Mountaynes, Vak leys, Mores, Hethes, Forests, Chaces, Woods, Cityes, Burghs, Castels, pryncipal Manor places, Monasteries and Colleges, but I have seen them, and noted in so doing a whole world of thyngs very memorable."
Besides the labour and trouble to which these rambles must have put Mr. Leland, the expenses attending them must have (been) very great. To supply therefore this last article, the King who without doubt was a learned Prince himself and a great encourager of learned men, promoted him on the 3rd April, 1542, to the Rectory of Hasely, about seven miles from Oxford, then vacant by the attainder of the last incumbent Richard Pate, who in Q Mary's days was promoted to the Bishoprick of Worcester. He is particular in his account of this Rectory as to its situation and antiquities and memorables belonging to it, in his Itinerary.
Besides
14Besides this on 3rd April, 1543 his Royal patron gave him a Canonry and Prebend of King's College, now Christ's Church in Oxford (n). And about the same time the King granted to him the Prebend of East Knoll (Ant. Wood adds "and West Knoll") near Salisbury.
Of these his Preferments he lost the Canonry of Christ Church in 1545 when that College was surrendred on 6th Septr., 37, Hen. VIII. into the Kings hands, and like the rest of the Canons had an Annuity of 26. 13. 4. granted to him in lieu thereof, tho' Mr. Wood, on what grounds I know not, says that he had no pension allowed him as other canons had but had preferment else" where. But this is contrary to justice and the Kings regard for his immediate servant, and this annuity is mentioned in the inventory of his Estate in Edw. VI. time, and how he should otherwise come by it can't be accounted for.
On his return from his Travels he drew up an account of his success and presented it in 1545, to the King under the name of a New Year's Gift, in which he gave him a particular narration of his labours and laid the plan of what he designed to do, and in order to execute his promise he retired with his numerous collectons to his habitation in the Parish of St. Michael le Querne in London, where while he was busily spending his time and ] sorting his papers in order to compose such works j as he had promised, he at length fell distracted at least in the year 1548. Thereupon by Inquisition taken before Sir Andrew Judd, Lord Mayor of London on 28th Feb., 1550, he was found a Luna* tick, in consequence whereof the King and Council by Patent dated 21 March following committed the custody of him and his preferments and possessions
to
15to his elder brother John Leland(o). And in this condition it is likely he continued to the day of his death which happened on 18 Apr. 1552 at the house of Reginald Wolfe the Printer, and his body was buried in the Church of St. Michael le Querne, over which it is said was put an inscription of his own writing.
Thus fell this learned man who may be said to be the first who truly and properly applyed him^ self to the studies of the antiquities of his native country. Great were the commendations which his contemporaries give him for his excellency in Poetry and History, and later authors (P).
All the MSS. and Collections were after Mr. Leland's death, taken (by command from Edward VI.,) into the custody of Sir John Cheek, Tutor to the said King; (q) who not long after gave the four tomes of his collections to Humphrey Purefoy, Esq. (afterwards of the Privy Council to Queen Elizabeth, in the North Parts of England), whose son Thos. Purefoy, of Barwell in Leicestershire, giving them to Will. Burton of Lyndley in the same County, in the year 1612, came many years after by his gift (when he had made use of them in compiling his description of Leicestershire) to the Bodleian Library at Oxon, together with the Itinerary in five (with the other two) quartos, where they yet (in the Archives of that Library), remain. As for some other of his Collections, they came after the death of Sir John Cheek into the hands of Will. Lord Paget, and Sir William Cecill (>')t but to whom, from them, I find not. Perhaps among the said Collection, were those that came afterwards into Sir Robert Cotton's hands, and the Itinerary into those of Will.Burton before mentioned. Howsoever it is, sure I am that
several
16several eminent Antiquaries (s) have made use of them ft), especially Jon. Bale in his second Edition of British Writers, but not in the same words that Leland wrote. For has he delivered things impartially and in smooth language, so Bale quite contrary, and full of scurrilities. Camden also, tho* now and then he doth mention his author Leland, yet he made considerable use of his collections in the composing of his Britannia. Sir Will. Dugdale hath perused them several times, and made great use of them in his Antiquities of Warwickshire, and in his volumes called The Baronage of England, but withal quotes him honestly for every thing that he hath taken from them. But besides these there are some Authors who have pretended to the merit of consulting Mr. Lelands works who certainly never saw them, such are Mr. Sammes and John Pits.
Mr. Leland was esteemed by the generality of scholars in his time, an excellent Orator and Poet (u)t and of his performances in the last capacity he has given many instances. In his younger years indeed he gave himself up entirely to this study, and wrote three books of Epigrams, to the first of whieh he gave the title:
1.	ENCOMASTICON.
2.	SALES.
3.	EPICEDION. Whether these were ever printed I do not find, but I believe that all the remains of them at present are to be found in the Principum Encomia etc., printed at Lond. 1584, 4to., and by Mr. Hearne in his Appendix I. to the Collectanea, p. 79. It is certain however that these lay in private hands, and by being often transcribed I suppose
*7pose were full of faults, whereupon, Thomas Newton the Cheshire Poet took the pains to correct them and published them (v).
4.	NAENIA IN MORTEM THOMAE VIATI EQUITIS INCOMPARABILUS. This was the first book Mr. Leland published in print, Lond. 1542* It hath been more correctly reprinted by Mr. Hearne in the 2nd vol. of the Itinerary, p. ix., from a copy corrected by the author.
5.	GENETHLIACON ILLUSTRISSIMI EADWERDI PRINCIPII CAMBRIAE DUCIS CORINIAE ET COMITIS PALATINI. To this we may add Syllabus et interpretatio Antiquarum, etc. This piece he published at London, 1543, qu., and it hath been reprinted by Mr. Hearne in the 9th vol. of the Itin., p. 5.
6.	ASSERTIO INCLYTISSIMI ARTURII BRITANNIAE, London, 1544- qu. Re* printed by Mr. Hearne in Append. I. to the Collectanea. There is an English edition of it by Robinson, 1583. It hath had the honour to be printed on Parchment. To it he added Elenchus antiquorum nominum.
7.	CODRUS. First printed by Mr. Hearne, Append. I. to the Collectanea, p. 2.
8.	CYGNEION AZMA. Cygnea Cantio. Lond., 1545. It is dedicated to Henry VIII. To this he added, Commentarii in cygnam can-tionem. A second edition was published at Lond., 1658, 8vo. Mr. Hearne fancied that Mr. Selden took care of this edition, but it is more likely, as he tells us that John
Lamphire,
18Lamphire, History Professor at Oxford pub* lished it* Mr, Hearnc has reprinted it in the 9th volume of Itin. and added the various Readings of the former Editions (w).
9. BONONIA GALLO MASTIX. Lond., 1545. Reprinted by Mr, Hearne in LeL Col* lectanea, vol 6, p. 267. It is a small Historical Poem containing an account of the taking of Boulogne by H. VIII.; the attempt made to recover it by the French on 9th Oct., 1544, and their dislodgement in January 1545, by the Earl of Hertford and Lord Lisle from their encamp' ment in order to raise a Fort at Porter.
10.	NAENIA IN MORTEM SPLENDEDIS-SIMI EQUITIS HENRICI DUDDELEGI, Lond., 1545. Reprinted by Mr. Hearne at the end of J. Ross Histor. de Reg. Angl. p. 235. It is a very short poem on the death of Sir Henry Duddeley a youth of ten years old, who died of a flux at Boulogne, in 1544 soon after the taking of that town by Henry VIII.
11.	ENCOMION TES EIRENES. LAUD-ATIO PACIS, Lond., 1546. It is a poem on the peace made between Henry VIII. and Francis I., in this year. It is reprinted by Mr. Hearne in his Append, to Lei. Collect., p. 69.
These are the only pieces which Mr. Leland published during his life time himself (x)9 but in his life time, yet I believe during his madness, was published,
12.	A NEW YEAR'S GIFT etc. Lond. 1549 by John Bale, to which he added Annotations and a Register of the English Writers, that the
second
19sccond part of his work De Scriptoribus Britanniae, shall comprehend. It was after* (wards published by Ralph Brook in 1594,4to. I at the end of his Discovery of certain errors j published in print in the much commended Britannia. Then by John Weever in his Fun. Mon. f. 688. Mr. Burton made a transcript from it, and at last Mr. Hearne published it from the Author's Original in Itin., vol. 1, p. 17, and has observed all the corrections ni the former.
13.	PRINCIPIUM, etc., ENCOMIA. See before.
14.	COMMENTARII DE SCRIPTORIBUS BRITANNICIS. This was published from the Original in the Bodleian Library by Mr. Hall, Oxon, 1715,8vo. Mr. Hearne has noted that he does not in all places follow Mr. Leland's orthography. Dr. Tanner the late Bishop of St. Asaph had a copy which he designed to publish.
15.	ITINERARY. This was published by Mr. Hearne in 9 vols., at Oxon, 1710, 11 and 12, 8vo. Nicholson says that Leland's notes herein are dry and sapless, and will abund-antly convince the world that Mr. Camden could not (had he been so disposed), filch anything out of so beggarly a storehouse. Engl. Hist. Lib. f. 3, and yet in next page he says that Wm. Harrison's description of Britain (which is mostly if not wholly taken from Mr. Leland's), is with great pains and good judgement collected.
16.	CODRUS. See before.
17.	DE REBUS BRITANNICIS COLLECT*
ANEA.
20ANEA. This was published with other things by Mr. Hearne in 6 vols., 8vo., Oxon. I715. Collections at the end of his Itin., IV., 108.
Besides these there are in M.S.
18.	COLLECTIONES. These are in the Cotton Library, Julius C. vi. They are written by Mr. Leland's own hand very fairly. His note about Antoninus Itinerary is printed from this MS. in the Append, to Heming Chartular. p. 637 Mr. Leland there transcribes what is to be found in the Itinerary relating to Britain (y).
19.	ANTIPHILARCHIA. This was in a Library in Norfolk says Mr. Wharton.
20.	TWO LEAVES OF HIS ITINERARY. In the Cotton Library.
21.	VERSES ON THE CORONATION OF Q ANNE. 25 Hen. 8, Royal Library, 18 A.
Ixiv.
John Leland was supposed to have been the author of K. H. 8 DECLARATION OF WAR AGAINST SCOTLAND. Craig of Homage, p. 9.
LIFE OF ST. BREACCA. Harrison. Descript.f 63. See I tin., III. 4.
DICTIONARUM BRITANNICO LATIN-
UM. Nichols Hist. Libr. /. 30.
LIFE OF FULK FITZWARIN. Camden's Letters, p. 218. See Collectan. 1. 230.
ANTIQUITIES OF LONDON. Bagford, 67,
8, 9. Bale p. 671. See I tin., 83, 100, IX, and pref. to VII. 4.	Notes.
21CJS[OTES.(a)	This name often occurs writ' ten in a different manner, as Lai' londe, Laylond, Lelande, Leyland, and Leylonde.
(b)	The place of his birth he tells us of in many passages of his writings, but more particularly he has preserved the Memorial of it in this epigram:
** Mantua Virgilium genuit, Verona Catullum, Patria Londinum est, urbi generosa mihi."
Encornp, 6.
As to his birth day, he acquaints us with it in a copy of verses made on it when he was 24 years of old, as follows:
"Haec lux alma quater senis natalibus Idus Septembris reparat"—Ibid\ p. 30, We should not be at any loss to know the year when he was born if it were possible to fix the date of these verses*
(c)	Dr. Fuller says:—"John Leland that learned Antiquary was a fellow of this foundation (of Xts. College) as he gratefully professeth. In Vita Regis Seberti, foL, 70. Fullers Hist, of Univ. of Cambridge, fol., 90, 91.
(d)	His contemporaries were very learned men.
This character he gives of the University of Cambridge in his time.
(e)	This Lord taking to wife the Lady Margaret Douglass, daughter to Margaret Queen of Scots by her husband the Earl of Angus, niece to King Henry was attainted of Treason 28 Hen. VIII. upon some suspicion of his in' tents to aspiring to the Crown and departing this life in the Tower of London 1st Nov.
1537-
251537* 29* Hen. VIII. (it is falsely printed 29 Eliz.) was buried at Thetford. Dugdale Baron. Tom. III. f. 268, vide Stowes Annal. f. 574.
(f)	"It is probable that when he was a young man and a student in this University, he had through the strength of his Natural Genius, made Ample Collections concerning the History and Antiquities of that and other places. It is not unlikely but this was one end of his com" ing hither from Cambridge, where perhaps he had imployed himself with equal industry in the same laudable undertaking." Hearne. Account Lei. Itin., p.p. 64-66.
(g)	In his copy of verses to Sir Wm. Paget he com' plains of his hard fortune at Oxford. Encom. p. 100.
(h)	He acknowledges that at Paris he improved himself in Poetry. Encom. p. 9.
(i)	Perhaps Mr. Bagford was led to think thus from Mr. Leland's address to the Muses to commend Henry VIII. in which are verses which seem to be written on his going abroad. Encom. p. 42. No doubt he intended to do so as he did to go into Greece, which he does in verses to W. Gunter. Encom., p. 7.
(The M.S. is here mutilated, but the author intimates that there is no evidence of Leland having ever gone further than France. ED.)
(k) The copy of Bale's Edition of Mr. Leland's New Year's Gift makes this commission to have been granted in 35 Hen. VIII. and Mr. Strype (Eccles. Memoir, vol. I. fol. 385J being led by his authority has fallen into the same mistake, whereas, had this last gentleman con" suited the original M.S. of Leland from which
Mr. Hearne
26Mr. Hcarnc published his Edition, he would have found that the commission was granted in the 25. Hen. VIII.
(I) 44 The day of Desolation was coming on, when that excellent Antiquary Mr. John Leland ob^ tained a Commission from Hen. VIII. 1533 to authorise him to have access to all the libraries of Cathedrals, Abbies, Priories, and all other places wherein Records and Antient Writings were reposed, for collecting and transcribing whatever pertained to the History of the Nation. By virtue of this power, he transmitted the knowledge of many Manuscripts and other evi* dences which might have been dispersed by the Dissolutions which followed in the years 1536 and 1537/' Life of Somner, p. 16.
(m) Mr. Burton in the title to vol. I., of the Itinerary makes it to have begun about 1538, an. 30. H. VIII. On this journey he set out from Cambridge. On 5th May 1542, he set out from London. Vol. II., p. 1.
(n) And he thereupon visited Oxford.
(o) Mr. Strype supposes him his Uncle. Eccl. Mem. vol. I. But it was no unusual thing for brothers to have the same Christian name. Thomas, Duke of Norfolk, and Lord Thomas Howard, Mr. Leland's pupil, were brothers, tho' indeed by different venters, living at the same time.
(p) 44 Our most judicious Antiquary of the last age John Leland;" by Mr. Selden on Polyolbion. Tom. 3. I740.
(q) I do not in the least question, but that most of his writings (after his Death) first came into the
hands
27hands of Reginald Wolfe the printer, at whose house I believe Leland died* Bagford, LXVIII.
(r) "Maritum sororis dicti Johannis Cheke." Burton.
(s) "Many authors that have written of the An^ tiquities of England, have made frequent use of his Works, he alone laying the Foundation of what hath since been discovered." Bagford, LXVIII. His remains have been ever since a standard to all that have in any way treated of the Antiquities of England. R. Wolfe intended to have made use of them, altho' this was not done till after his death by Harrison, HollingS' head and others concerned in that work. Harrison transcribed his Itinerary giving a description of England by the Rivers, but he did not understand it. They have likewise been made use of in part, as by John Bale, Michael Drayton, Will. Burton, Camden, Pettys and Fuller in his lives of our Famous Men (LXXVII). Mr. John Williams the Queen's Goldsmith, procured Leland's Itinerary for Mr. Drayton (LXXVIII.) Ralph Brooke reflects on Mr. Camden for stealing from Mr Leland in these verses: 44 But Heaven and Human Laws cannot digest, That such rare fruicts of his laboriouse Penn CAME to be drowned in such a thankless DENN."
But 44 N.B.—(says Mr. Hearne, Lei. Itin., IV 2) Mr. Camden ought not to be reckoned amongst the Plagiaries that are reflected upon in these verses." But whether he ought or not Brooke intended him, which made Dr. Fuller {Ch. Hist. Cent. XVI. Bo. V Sect. III. 54,) say: "Who this Plagiary was, complained of for plundering Ley-land, if the reader cannot conjecture, I will not tell
such
28such the honour I bear to his admirable perform' ances, though herein not to be excused/' And Brooke in his second Discovery of Errors, p. 96, has these words:
"This, his new coated Britannia is made and digested of the industrious Labours of John Ley> land, who in his own person for seven years to' gether travaled over and rounde aboute this whole Realme of England, uppon the charge and com' mission of H. 8. as may appeare by the said Ley-land's six volumes written with his owne hand yet extant in the custodye of Mr. Osborne of the Ex* chequer, which six Books or Volumes were copied out by John Stowe, and by him sold to this learned man for annuitie of eyght pounds per. ann. which he did paye unto the said Stowe during his Lyfe, as the said Stowe before his death confessed to dyvers persons of Credite lamenting the wronge donne to Leyland both by this Learned man, as also by one Harrison of Wyndsore, who likewise had robbed Leyland of the Islands adjacent to this Realme of England, setting them downe in Hollingshed as his owne travails and Collections, when, as in his Epistle to the Lord Cobham in that booke (he being charged with the stealth), confesseth the Facte. These bookes of Leylands with some additions and alterations hath this Learned man now published as his owne sole worke and travaile, it being well knowne at the first publish' ing thereof, that he was never any travayler, neither of abillitie to undertake such a worke or taxe as John Leyland the King's Antiquarye had performed in his seven years travaile uppon the said King's Charge and Commission. Neyther for his Learning was this man to be compared to John Leyland (.P- 98), who had seven languages."
But
29But to this accusation Mr. Strype (Life of Stowe, fol. XI.) answers ingenuously thus: " These lines, reflecting unworthily upon Stow, as well as Camden are easily answered, since both do freely acknowledge where they have made use of Ley-land, by writing his name in their Margins."
Mr. Ashmole's mistake about the sense of Iceland's Ghost. Theatr. Chymicum, 701.
(t) I take Wolfe to have been not only the first Projector of the two Tomes of the Chronicles of England (which commonly go under the name of Raphael Holingshead and W. Har-rison) out of Leland, but also to have been the first Designer of a large Map of England by the Sketches he had taken from Leland's New Year's Gift. Bagford, LXVII.
(u) "Nostra habet insignes, Lelande, Britannia Vates."
"Te magis insignem non habet ilia tamen."
Parkhurst. Epigram. Lond. 1 573. p. 28.
(v) Tho' Mr. Leland seems to make his Encomia a particular Book. Encom. p. 58.
(w) This is a Poetical piece of Flattery, or a Pane-gyrick on King Henry, wherein the Author brings his Swan down the River of Thames from Oxford to Greenwich, describing (as he passed along) all the Towns, Castles, and other places of Note within her view. And the antient Names of these being sometimes different from what the common Herd of Writers had given, therefore (in his Commentary of this Poem), he Alphabetically explains his Terms, and by the bye brings in a deal of the antient Geography of this Island. Engl. His. Libr. f. 3.
Dr. Hickes
30Dr. Hickes sets a great value on this perform^ ance.
(x) Dr. Tanner 1 Oct. 1693 published proposals for printing by subscription his Works, and the first volume thereof was to contain De Script. Brit.
(y) These are Collections completely made of what' ever is found in the antient Greek or Roman Poets Historians and Geographers relating to Britain, besides some Historical Extracts from more modern Authors. Mr. Leland has here and there added his notes and remarks ac^ cording to his manner. The Collections take up in folio 88 pages.
END.
Printed by GEO. W. JONES, at No. 35 St. Bride Street, London, E.C.Date JLinii^i
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