242 



CH.aSTOPHER SAXTON. 



reported upon by Lowndes. It was described in the catalogue 

 as having formerly belonged to Queen Elizabeth. 



In Bryan's Dictionary of Painters it is stated that " Master 

 Rytlier bore the expense of the series which was published in 

 1579," but in Daines Harrington's copy of the Atlas in the Library 

 of the Society of Antiquaries there is a manuscript note to the 

 effect that the work was " made chiefly at the expense of Sir 

 Thomas Sackforde." This statement appears to be supported by 

 the fact that the maps were dedicated to Queen Elizabeth and 

 adorned with the Royal Arms and those of " Master Sekeford " : 

 whom Walpole describes as the promoter. 



Timperley, in his Dictionary of Painters, confirms Walpole's 

 statement. I am inclined to think that the statement in Bryan 

 is incorrect and that " Master Kyther " is a typographical error 

 for " Master Seckford." What is intended is that Ryther was 

 the publisher, for I find that a person by name Augustine Ryther 

 published some of the maps of the Spanish invasion and kept a 

 shop near Leadenhall, next to the sign of the Tower. 



Ryther was also an engraver and had the chief hand in pro- 

 ducing the maps of Cumberland, Durham, Westmoreland, and 

 Yorkshire included in Saxton's Atlas. It is somewhat strange 

 that no record is entered in the Stationer's Company of the 

 registration of the Atlas or of any other work having been pro- 

 duced by Saxton. 



A portrait of Thomas Seckford appears in Vertue's print of 

 the Court of W' ards. I have been unable to trace any portrait 

 of Christopher Saxton. The Essex Map exhibited by me at the 

 meeting of the Club was engra\ed by Leonard Terwoort and is 

 dated 1576. 



I have not been successful in tracing the date or place of 

 death of our first chartographer, but he was alive as late as 

 1596) when he measured and described the town of Manchester. 

 Saxton was married, and left sons who died without issue, and 

 a daughter Grace, who married Thoiuas Nalson, of Altofts, 

 Yorkshire. 



