By W. Jerome Harrison, F.G.S. 



81 



Leland, John [1506 — 1552] : " The first English antiquary" 

 Leland spent six years travelling over England to collect particulars 

 as to its antiquities, etc. But in 1547 he became insane, and 

 was unable to digest, arrange, and publish the materials which 

 he had amassed. These, however, proved a fruitful mine for 

 Camden, Stow, Burton, Harrison, and other antiquaries. 



1545, C. COMMENTARI DE SCRIPTORI^US BRITANNICIS. [MS.] 



1709. Edition by Ant. Hall ; two vols., 8vo. : Oxford. 

 See Vol. I., pp. 42 — 48, " De Ambrosio Merlino Cambro." It is important 

 to note that Leland here varies Geoffrey's story, so as to cause Merlin to 

 fetch the stones — not from Ireland, but — from a point upon Salisbury 

 Plain, " which was both near the site fixed upon, and was also remarkable 

 for the enormous size of its blocks." He also refers to the fall of some 

 of the stones " through the injury of time." 



1547, c De Eebus Britannicis Collectanea: [MS.] 

 1715. [Edition by Thos. Hearne] : six vols., 8vo. : Oxford. 

 1774. Second Edition ; six vols., 8vo. : London. 

 Vol. I., p. 511 : " Stoneheng, so notable a thing erect by the Britannes, is 



nothing spoken of Bede, and a great many things beside." 

 Vol. II., pp. 31 — 32, repeats Geoffrey's legend about Stonehenge; but 



remarks : — " Fabulosa fere omnia de lapidibus ex Hibernia adductis." 

 Vol. II., p. 44 : — " Monte Ambrosii, qui nunc Stanhenges dicitur." 



1547, c Itinerary [MS.] 



1710 — 12. The Itinerary of John Leland the Antiquary: 

 [Edited by Thos. Hearne] : nine vols., 8vo. ; Oxford. 



1745, Second Edition : 1768—70, Third Edition. 



In this work Leland does not mention Stonehenge ; but for " Ambrosbyri, 

 or Ambresbyri " see Vol. III., folios 60, 85. Upavon to Ambrosbyri is four 

 miles, "and there is a Bridge." Leland does, however, mention both 

 " Selbiri," and "Aibyri," as places " wherby hath ben camps and 

 sepultures of men of warre " ; Vol. VIII., folio 66<ar. 



Gough, in his edition of Camden, remarks that Stonehenge "is not 

 mentioned in the Itinerary of Leland, who travelling among towns and 

 along rivers, did not go out of his way to examine monstrous stones and 

 barrows on wild and widespread downs." 



Leslie, lit. -Col Forbes-. 



1866. Early Races of Scotland, and their Monuments; 

 two vols., 8vo., xx., xii., and 518 ; Edinburgh. 



Well illustrated by sixty plates, including four of Stonehenge, three of 

 Avebury, and a woodcut of Silbury Hill. The "round temple" mentioned 

 VOL. XXXII. — NO. XCVI. G 



