1809.) 
Speculum Britannic. The first parte. 
An historicall, and chorographicall de- 
scription of Middlesex. Wherein are 
also alphabeticallie sett downe, the 
names of the cyties, townes, parishes, 
hamletes, howses of name, &c, wilh di- 
rection spedelie to finde anie place de- 
- sired in the mappe, and the distance be- 
tweene place and place without compas- 
ses. Cum Priviiegio. By the Truvaile 
- and Vew, of John Norden, anno 1593. 
Ato. 
John Norden, the author of this work, 
(says Mr. Gough,) was born in Wiltshire 
about 1548. His university education he 
received at Hart Hall, in Oxford, where 
he was admitted a member in1564, He 
had patronage, but little else, from the 
great Lord Burleigh ; and in his old age 
obtained, jointly with his son, the place 
of surveyor to the Prince of Wales. He 
died about 1626. ‘ 
The Account of Middlesex was evident- 
ly designed as the forerunner of a work, 
which, in point of execution, had Norden 
followed up his first plan, would propably 
have been more extensive than even Cam- 
den’s Britannia. The Description of 
Hertfordshire,” forming another portion, 
was printed 1596: and in 1728, the 
‘* Description of Cornwall,” from a ma- 
nuscript. 
The “ Description of Middlesex,” is 
first prefaced with a “ Briefe Declaration 
ef the titles, inhabitants, divisions, and 
situation” of the kingdom, as a general 
introduction to the work, followed by a 
more minute description of the county, its 
limits, soil, fertility,‘ ecclesiastical and 
civil government, hundreds, market- 
townes, houses of law, battles in Middle- 
sex, ruyal parks, hills of name, and “ an- 
cient highwaics now unaccustomed ;” 
with a map of the county, taken by Nor- 
‘den himself, in1593. Then comes ‘an 
alphabet of the cities, townes, hamlets, 
villages, and howses of name, within Mid- 
dlesex, contained in the map of the shire, 
with necessarie annotations upon sun- 
drie of them, The use of which alphabet 
as set down before to the reader.” 
~From this we shall make a few Extracts, 
“ Augustines Lodge.—H.18, alodgein 
Enfield chace.” . vedi 
“ Blackwall,—G. 22, neere which isa 
harhor in the Thames for shivping, the 
piace taketh name of the blackenes, or 
darkenes of the water bankes,or wall at 
that place.” Hd 
“ Conburie or Cannonburie—E. 20, a 
- house in the hands of Arce, gentleman. 
#8 way builded by prior Boliony prior af 
Scarce Tracts, Ke. 
£95 
Saint Bartholmewes in Smithfeld, in the 
time of H. 8.” 
“ Finckley.—D. 16. In the church 
whereof lyeth the’ Lord Frowyke, Lord 
Chiefe Justice of England, in the time of 
H. 6. under a marble toombe; where 
hath beene his picture and armes in 
brasse, with circumscription about the 
toombe, but now defaced, his armes only 
remayning in the chauncell window 
in this manner. 
“There is also another marble stone 
having the picture of a woman, whereon 
is inscribed thus: 
Joan la feme Thomas de Frowicke gist - 
acy, et le dit Thomas pense de giser ave- 
gue luy. : 
«There lyeth also buried under a mar 
ble stone in the chauneell of the chureh, 
one Tromas Aldenham, esquire, sometime 
Chirurgion to King Henrie VI. who died 
in anny 1431. 
“« Hampton Court.—K, 12. An-honour 
of Queen Ehizabethes, a most regall palace, 
stately raysed of bricke after a most 
princely forme, by Cardinal! Woulsey, 
most pleasantly seytuate vpon delight- 
some Thamise. Queene Elizabeth hath 
of late caused avery beautifull fountaine, 
there to be erected, in the second court, 
which graceth the pallace, and serveth to 
great and necessarie use; the fountaime 
was finished in anno 1590, not withove 
great charge, 
“Tt is called Hampton Court, of the 
parish of Hampton, which standeth not 
far thence; and court commeth of Curia, 
which was the place where the Senate of 
Rome assembled, and was taken for the 
senate itselfe, and thereof groweth eur 
word court, which signifieth all assem- 
bles either for tryall of controversies, er 
consulting of matters of state; as also it 
is aMOngst us Used as an adjunet to divers 
houses in this Jand of greatest antiquitie, 
as the most ancient house ina mannor 
called the Court-house. But this word 
Cowré is hereunto added neither in Ye- 
gard of antiquitie, nor bead house of a 
mannors But in regard of the Majestie 
and princely bewtie thereof, fit for none 
but fora King or Queene, whose resi-+ 
dence in any place draweth.a princely 
assembly, which is called the court, for 
where his Majesty is resident, there is 
the court of state. “This word court, is 
a most common adjunct to places of an« 
tiquitie in Artetia, es also in divers pros 
vinces of France, and elsewhere, as Has 
plincourt, in Normandy; Boulayn-court, 
in Champaigne; and Hall-court, neere 
Amyens, : 
«“ There 
7 
