216 Maps of Wiltshire, 



John Speed, an historian, was born at Farndon, Cheshire, in 1552. 

 His father was a member of the Merchant Taylors' Company, and, fol- 

 lowing his father's trade, he himself was also admitted to that Company 

 in 1580. He took a keen interest in the antiquities of his country, and 

 Sir Faulk Greville discovering this, made him an allowance in order that 

 he might be free to devote his whole attention to study. 



Between 1608 and 1610 Speed published a set of fifty-four maps of 

 England and Wales. These maps were probably issued separately. 

 Some were printed before the plates were finished, as evidenced by the 

 blank cartouches on them, while on others the engravers' names are 

 wanting. Both omissions were rectified in later copies. A collection of 

 the early impressions is in the British Museum. 



The first complete atlas published by Speed was his Theatre of the 

 Empire of Great Britain, London, 1611 — 12, fol., which was issued as 

 part of Speed's History of Great Britain. The first three books bear 

 the date 1611 ; book IV., Ireland, being dated 1612. 



1614. 

 Another edition of Speed's Atlas. 



Referred to by Sir H. G. Fordham. The map of Wiltshire would 

 probably be an unaltered impression of the 1611 map. 



1616. 

 A reprint of Speed's map of 1611. 



In [a. latin TEANSLATION of speed's atlas, by PHILEMON 

 HOLLAND,] 1616. fol. 

 With the addition, at back, of a Latin text. 



I have not been able to examine this edition ; but there is a copy in 

 the Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris, 



1617. 



Wiltonia. Scala miliari, 10 [ = 1J inches]. 4fin. x 3 Jin. 



In GUILIELMI CAMDBNI, VIRI CLARISSIMI BRITANNIA . . . j 

 IN EPITOMEN CONTRACTA A REGNERO VITELLIO . . . AMSTEL- 

 REDAMI, EX OFFICINA GUILIELMI JANSONIJ, 1617. obl. 8vo. 



Quite a small map, reduced from Saxton's map of Wiltshire. Shows 

 towns, villages, hills, rivers, bridges, and, between Trowbridge and 

 Warminster, a clump of trees. The map has a plain double-lined border, 

 from which the lettering " Septen," " Oriens," " Occidens," "Meridies,"j 

 is omitted. Top left-hand corner, an ornamental cartouche encloses the 

 title. Bottom left-hand corner, another cartouche contains the scale.! 

 The engraver's name is not given ; but the map was probably engraved j 

 by Petrus Kaerius (Peter Keer), as his name appears on some of the! 

 other maps in the same work, all of which have Latin text at the back.! 



