74r MEMOIR OF CAMOKN. 



its history and antiquities. For the purpose of 

 examining with his own eyes the relics of former 

 times, he made a journey in 1582 through some of 

 the Eastern and Northern parts of the kingdom ; 

 and he established various correspondencies from 

 which he might derive further information. The 

 first of these researches appeared in 1586, in his 

 " Britannia ; a Chorographical Description of the 

 most flourishing kingdom of England, Scotland, 

 Ireland, and the adjacent Islands, from remote an- 

 tiquity." Lond. 8vo. It was dedicated to Lord 

 Burleigh, whose patronage and assistance Camdeii 

 gratefully acknowledges. His work even in this 

 early imperfect state, obtained great applause, and 

 placed him high among Antiquaries and men of 

 learning. Its improvement was thenceforth one of 

 the great objects of his life. He made journeys into 

 the west of England and into Wales, in 1589 and 

 1590, consulted archives, obtained the memoirs and 

 genealogies of great families, and thus successively 

 enriched and corrected the editions of the 'Britannia,* 

 which became so popular, that the fourth appeared 

 in 1594, enlarged to 4to. His talents were re ward- 

 ed by his appointment of Head master of Westmin- 

 ster ; and soon after by having the vacant post of 

 Clarencieux King of Arms bestowed upon him ; a 

 change of profession well suited to his favourite 

 pursuits, and productive of a much larger share of 

 literary leisure. He died in 1623, in the 73 year of 

 his age, and was buried with great Heraldic pomp 

 in Westminster Abbey. A monument was erected 

 near the place, with his effigy holding the Britannia 

 in his hand* 



