Research Notes


Map Group SPEED 1611

Speed 1611
Map, Hantshire, ie Hampshire, scale about 4 miles to 1 inch, by John Speed, London, 1611, using surveys by Norden and Saxton, engraved by Jacob Hondius, Amsterdam, Netherlands; published 1611-1770.
Speeds Map of Hampshire was published in the Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine, 1611. The map studied is in the Map Collection of Hampshire CC Museums Service, item HMCMS:KD1996.16.
Descriptive text about counties is printed on the reverse of the maps with a list of hundreds and an index of parishes showing what hundred they are in.
Notes have also been made from a general road map of England and Wales 1611 and Speed's atlases of 1614 and 1676, from other collections.
 
JOHN SPEED
HAMPSHIRE MAP 1611 - FEATURES
HAMPSHIRE MAP 1611 - COATS OF ARMS
DESCRIPTIVE TEXT WTH HAMPSHIRE MAP 1611
MAP OF GREAT BRITAIN, 1611 - FEATURES
MAP OF GREAT BRITAIN, 1611 - HAMPSHIRE PLACES
SPEED'S ATLAS, 1614
TABLES OF ROADS for SPEED'S ATLAS, 1676
PUBLISHING HISTORY
REFERENCES
ITEMS in the Collection
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JOHN SPEED
John Speed was born at Farndon, Cheshire, 1552 and was brought up in his father's trade, a tailor. In 1598 Speed got encouragement and help from Sir Fulke Greville; Speed acknowledges him:-
Whose merits to me-ward I do acknowledge in setting this hand free from the daily imployments of a manuall Trade, and giving it his liberty thus to express the inclination of my mind.
Speed was introduced by Greville to the Society of Antiquaries where he came into contact with scholars like William Camden, Robert Cotton, and William Smith.
very rare and ingenious capacitie in drawing and setting forthe of mappes and genealogies ...
was commended by the Merchant Taylor' Company in 1660. John Speed's atlas, Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine, was compiled between 1596 and 1610:-
The / Theatre / of the Empire / of Great / Britaine: / Presenting / An Exact Geography / of the Kingdomes of England, / Scotland, Ireland, / and the Iles adioyning: / with / The Shires, Hundreds, Cities and / Shire-townes, within ye Kingdome / of England, divided and / described / By / Iohn Speed. / Imprinted at London / Anno / Cum Privilegio / 1611 / and are to be solde by Iohn Sudbury & Georg / Humble in Popes-head alley at ye signe of ye white Horse.
Sudbury and Humble were the first english firm to specialise as map and print sellers, and were necessary to Speed to undertake the task of making his ideas a reality.
Speed refers to:-
... mine owne travels through every province of England ...
... my many additions, and dimensions of the Shire-townes and Cities true platformes ...
but admits:-
I have put my sickle into other mens corne ...
Little of Speed's maps is original; he has copied, adapted, compiled. His mapping is not entirely copying, the content is revised, though errors are perpetuated. Historical notes were added, perhaps taken from Camden's Britannia. Decoration is added, coats of arms of nobility for example with advice from William Smith on heraldry. The deer and hounds in the New Forest of Hampshire are a pretty extra. Speed sent his maps to be engraved by the best hands, most by Jodocus Hondius the elder in the Netherlands to whom Speed was introduced by Camden; the results are a pleasure to view.
Speed adds hundreds where these were missing from his source; or the equivalent areas:-
The Shires divisions, into Lathes, Hundreds, Wapentakes and cantreds ... I have separated
If not available on earlier maps the information came from 'the Parlament Rowles' or failing there, 'the Nomina Villarum, in their Sheriffes bookes'.
The maps have inset maps, town plans:-
... some have bene performed by others, without scale annexed, the rest by mine owne travels, and unto them for distinction sake, the scale of paces.
Hampshire's map has a town plan of Winchester, with a scale of 'pases', performed by John Speed himself. This atlas is the first comprehensive collection of town plans. A town plan of Southampton is given on the map of the Isle of Wight.
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HAMPSHIRE MAP 1611 - FEATURES
title cartouche    
strapwork cartouche    
map maker    
publisher    
engraver    

The map's title is
HANTSHIRE / described and devided
printed in a strapwork cartouche.
image snip from map
In a plain cartouche attached to the scale line is the map makers name, etc:-
image snip from map
Performed by Iohn Speede and are to be solde in Popes / head alley by I. Sudbury and G. Humbell. Cum Privilegio.
The engraver has put his name about centre bottom:-
Iodocus Hondius caelavit

coat of arms    
The title cartouche is surmounted by the royal coat of arms and mottoes:-
DIEU ET MON DROIT
and:-
HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE
image snip from map
The coat of arms is that of the period, which is not the same as today's:-
Quarterly 1. and 4., quarterly i and iiii azure three fleur de lys or (France), ii and iii gules three lions passant guardant or (England); 2. or a lion rampant within a tressure flory counter flory gules (Scotland); 3. azure a harp or stringed argent (Ireland).
With crests and supporters.

picture frame border    
The border of the map is given the appearance of a carved wood picture frame.
image snip from map

orientation    
labelled borders    

The four edges of the sheet are labelled:-
SEPTENTRIO
ORIENS
MERIDIES
OCCIDENS
image snip from map
For north, east, south, and west. There is no compass rose.

scale line    
scale    
old english mile    

The map has a scale line labelled:-
THE SCALE OF MILES
image snip from map
8 miles, chequered in chequered in quarter miles; within a strapwork cartouche. The 8 miles = 65.3 mm gives a scale, wrongly assuming a statute mile, 1 to 197163. The map scale is about:-
1 to 200000
3 miles to 1 inch
A better estimate of scale can be made from town positions, comparing known town-town distances using DISTAB.exe. The map scale is about:-
1 to 240000
4 miles to 1 inch
The map maker's mile is an:-
Old English Mile = 1.22 statute miles

lat and long scales    
The printed map has no scales of latitude and longitude, but these were engraved, and exist on a proof printing of the plate (Skelton 1970).

index grid    
Calculations have been made to overlay the National Grid system on the map. For details, and how this grid can be used compare early county maps, and to index places, see:-
   Old Hampshire Mapped
By comparing the headings of the towns from the centroids, and averaging, it is calculated that NGR north is -7.4 degrees from map north.
The grid references of the map borders were calculated as:-
bottom left SY852893
top left ST968790
top right TQ174634
bottom right TV058737
This could be useful to present the map in a GIS system.

sea area    
sea moire effect    
sandbanks    

The sea area is patterned with an engraved moire or watered silk effect
image snip from map
Sandbanks are indicated by dotted areas.

coast line    
coast shaded    
headlands    
harbours    

The coast line is shaded with horizontal lines which are continued into harbours.
image snip from map
Some coast landforms are labelled, eg:-
Black Cliffe
Hengestbury heade
Some harbours are labelled, eg:-
Hamble haven.

coastal defence    
castles    

Several of the old coastal castles are shown:-
image snip from map
Hurst castle
Calshot castle
S Andrews castle
Worth cast
South castle
There is no indication of fortifications at Portsmouth, Southampton, Cosham, etc

rivers    
bridges    

Rivers are drawn tapering from their mouth at the coast; none are named.
image snip from map
There are some bridges shown, eg at Ringwood and Fordingbridge.
image snip from map
A lake is shown at Elvetham and one at Highclere Park. There is a pond near Farnborough:-
image snip from map

relief    
hillocks    

The map has groups of little hillocks, shaded to look real
image snip from map

beacons    
Some beacons are indicated by a 'post', a spiky bit drawn on top, eg:-
Selborne Beacon with 1 post
image snip from map
Popham Beacon with 3 posts
There is a tower on a hill by Bursledon, what is this?

woods    
forests    

Drawings of trees are used on the map. They appear to be grouped meaningfully, either in parks, or in groups for a wood or forest, which mmight be labelled, eg:-
image snip from map
Beare Forest
Newe Forrest
Linwood
There are some forests without any trees, but labelled:-
Buckholt Forrest
Chure Forrest
West Forrest
In the New Forest there is a splendid group of deer leaping through trees and hills, chased by a hound.
image snip from map

parks    
Parks are shewn by a ring of paling fence. This might enclose a group of trees, and perhaps a symbol for a settlement of some sort. Most of the parks are just ovals; Titchfield has a double ring. At least one park is labelled:-
Preu park
image snip from map
But others are only named by implication from the enclosed settlement name - the settlement may be just the park house etc.

county    
The county boundary is a fine dotted line
image snip from map

swash lettering    
Swash lettering, names of the surrounding counties, fills space on the sheet outside Hampshire
image snip from map

hundreds    
Hundreds are indicated; boundary a fine dotted line, areas labelled with names in block caps, eg:-
ALTON HUNDRED
image snip from map

settlements    
Settlements are indicated by a dot in a circle for position, plus some sketchy buildings and a label. Not all places are labelled which provides scope for misinterpretation but checking against the earlier maps of Norden and Saxton, which Speed followed, will help. There is no table of symbols, the reader is left to guess what each symbol means. It is particularly difficult to know whether a simple circle/circle and tower mean a hamlet/village or just a big house. There are some cryptic marks attached to some circles.
In the labelling a tilde (~) is used for internal abbrevaition, and a stop (.) for truncation; a colon (:) is taken to mean hyphenation which can be joined up when transcribing
city     image snip from map
circle, dot, lots of buildings; upright block caps, eg:-
Winchester

town     image snip from map
circle, dot, buildings, tower; slightly larger lettering, upright, eg:-
Ringwood
large town has more buildings, slightly larger lettering, upright, eg:-
Southampton

village     image snip from map
circle, dot, tower; small italic lettering, eg:-
Crawley
various styles, with perhaps a little building besides

hamlet     image snip from map
circle, dot; small italic lettering, eg:-
Burley

     image snip from map
circle, dot, upright spike; small italic lettering, eg:-
Exbury

     image snip from map
circle, dot, carrette; small italic lettering, eg:-
Paultons

religious house     image snip from map
circle, dot, cross; small italic lettering, eg:-
Magdelyne

castle     dot, circle, tower and buildings; eg:-
Malwood Castle


roads    
Roads are not shown on this map. But there is a later edition of the map with roads added, 1676.
 
Route diagram:-

mills    
windmills    
water mills    

A single windmill is drawn; a post mill on a hill north of Catherington - Clanfield windmill?
image snip from map
A spiked circle on the river between St Mary Bourne and Hurstbourne is believed to show a watermill
image snip from map

copperas works    
The copperas industry on the western coast is indicated:-
Bascomb copperashouse

vignettes    
image snip from map
There is a scene depicting the escape of Maud from Winchester in 1141; a litter carried by two horses, with attendant guard with weapons trailing, passing by ?siegeworks and armed soldiers. And a caption:-
The warrs betwixt Maud the Emprese (intituled Lady of England unto whom all the Nobility had sworne Aleagance) And King Stephen Earle of Bolleigne her Cosin germane, was prosecuted with such variable fortune in many conflicts on both partes: that Stephen himselfe was by her taken prisoner and reteyned in Irons with other exstremityes used, But succese of warr altering, Maud the Emprese to save her owne life adventured throwe the Host of her enimie, layde in a coffin fayned to be dead, and soe was caryed in a horse-litter from Winchester to Lutegershall Vices, and Gloucester; and thence to Oxford, whence the yere following she escaped as dangerously by deceaving the Scout watch in a deepe snowe. Anno 1141.
Except for this vignette there is no indication of antiquities.

heraldic border    
coat of arms    
colouring    

Coats of arms of important persons are drawn either side of the map, with each shield there is a caption in a further strapwork cartouche
BOGO or BEAVOUS / Earl of Southamp / ton a famous warrier / against ye Normans.
WIILLIAM FITZ / William created Earl / of Southampton / by Kinge Henry 8.
THO. WRIOTHEOS: / LEY created Earle of / Southampton by / K. Edward 6. Anno. 1.
CLITON a Saxon / Earle of Winchester
SAER QUINCY Earle / of Winchester
HUGH SPENCER / Earle of Winchester.
LODOWICK BRUGET / Earle of Winchester.
WILLIAM PAULET / Marquess of Winchester
There are small letters of the alphabet in the quarters of coats of arms. These stand for the tinctures and furs used in heraldry. From other sources the letters to look for are:-
O - or, gold, use yellow - series of dots
A - argent, silver, uncoloured
G - gules, red - vertica lines
AZ - azure, blue - horizontal lines
V - vert, green - lines diagonally left to right
P - purpure, purple - lines diagonally right to left
S - sable, black - cross hatched vertical and horizontal
T - tenne, tawney, use orange - cross hatched diagonally

See below for more about Coats of Arms.

inset map    
streets    

image snip from map
There is an inset street map of Winchester.
Compass rose indicating the cardinal points by lines, north marked by a fleur de lys.
image snip from map
There is a scale line of 240 paces:-
PASES
marked at 60, 120, 180, 240
image snip from map
The coat of arms of Winchester is shown.
Streets and inportant buildings are keyed by number to a table of contents. The map shows streets, houses and some gardens, town wall and gates, bridges and the braided River Itchen, Winchester cathedral and other churches, mills, Winchester College, etc

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HAMPSHIRE MAP 1611 - COATS OF ARMS
The coats of arms on the Speed map of Hampshire are of Earls of Winchester and of Earls of Southampton. The families have not been traced in any detail - this is not the place - and reliable formal descriptions, blazons, have not been found for every coat of arms. The following descriptions should not be relied upon.

EARLS OF WINCHESTER
Cliton, a saxon    
Blazon, approximate:-
gules, six crowns 3,2,1 or
Papworth's Ordinary lists Cliton or Clinton, saxon Earl of Winchester with these arms.

Saer Quincy    
A blazon for Roger de Quincy, Earl of Winchester, 1264, is given by Longbottom:-
gules, seven mascles 3,3,1 or
Saer de Quincy was a powerful baron, an enemy of John, but created Earl of Winchester by him. He was one of the 25 barons appointed to enforce the observance of the Magna Carta; he died on pilgrimage in the Holy Land. His arms are described by Portal:-
or, a fesse gules, a label of twelve points azure
which is quite different! Longbottom confirms this last for Saher de Quincy, Earl of Winchester, 1219.

Hugh Spencer    
A blazon for Hugh le Despencer, Earl of Winchester, 1326, is given by Longbottom:-
quarterly argent and gules, 2 and 3 a fret or, overall a bend sable
Hugh le Despencer was a favourite of Edward II and was created Earl of Winchester 1322 after the de Quincy family had died out. He suffered an ugly death after surrendering Bristol to Queen Isabella, defending it against her for her husband Edward. Isabella had him hung and quartered, his body thrown to the dogs, his head sent to Winchester to be displayed on a pole on the castle gate.

Lodowick Bruget    
There is a Louis de Bruges, Earl of Winchester, 1492, whose blazon accoding to Longbottom is:-
azure, ten mascles, 4,3,2,1 or, a canton gules a lion passant guardant of the second
This is also described by Papworth for Lewis de Bruges, 4th earl of Winchester.

William Paulet    
The Pawlets of Amport are a well known Hampshire family whose arms are described by various authorities. Sir Henry St George sitting at the White Hart, Andover, making a Visitation to Hampshire, 21 July 1686, records the following for William 4th Marquess of Winchester:-
sable, three swords in pile, points in base, argent hilted gules, a crescent for a difference
The description of the coat of arms varies from person to person: the pomels and hilts might be gold (or); and there might be a 'difference around' a bordure ermine.
The 1st marquess, William, died 1572. His eldest son was also William.

EARLS OF SOUTHAMPTON
Bogo or Beavous    
Longbottom provides a blazon for Sir Bevis of Hampton:-
azure, three lions passant guardant or
These are, of course, the arms of England used by Edward I and many others. Portal pictures the lions arranged 2,1 not in the usual arrangement as on Speed's map.
Sir Bevois of Southampton was a champion of english Christianity against danish heathenism, a great saxon chief, son of Guy, Earl of Southampton. He is said to have thrown up Bevois' Mount near the town, to bar the river passage to the Danes. ... and other tales ...

William Fitz Willliam    
The four quarters of these can be described, approximamtely:-
1 lozengy argent and gules - which Papworth lists for William Fitz William, Earl of Southampton 2 gules, a saltire argent, a label for a difference - unidentified 3 argent, 3 lozenges conjoined in fesse gules - which might br Montacute, following Papworth 4 or an eagle displayed wings elevated gules ... or perhaps ... armed gules - unidentified

Thomas Wriothesley    
The Wriothesley arms are described by St George in 1686:-
azure, a cross argent between four falcons close or
which is in the 1st quarter of the arms on Speed's map.
The 2nd quarter of the arms is a bit like those of 'Bill' described by Berry:-
or, a fret sable within a bordure engrailed azure, on a canton argent, five martlets in saltier, of the second
3 argent five fusils conjoined in pale gules, a bordure sable charged with seven bezants or (??) - unidentified 4 per pale indented gules and azure, a lion [rampant] or (??) - unidentified

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DESCRIPTIVE TEXT WTH HAMPSHIRE MAP 1611

Transcription of the descriptive text on the back of the map of Hantshire ie Hampshire by John Speed, published in the Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine, 1611. The map studied is in the Map Collection of Hampshire CC Museums Service, item HMCMS:KD1996.16.
HAnt-shire by the Saxons written Handescyr, lying upon the west of Engla~d, is bordered upon the North by Barkshire, upon the East with Surrey and Sussex, upon the South with the British Seas, and Ile of Wight, & upon the West, with Dorset and Wilt-shires.
(2) The length thereof from Blackwater in the North upon Surrey, unto Bascomb in the South upon the Sea, extended in a right line, is fifty foure English miles: and the breadth drawne from Petersfield in the East, unto Tidworth in the west, and confined of Wilts-shire, is little lesse than thirty miles, the whole Circumference about, one hundred fifty and five.
(3) The aire is temperate, though somewhat thicke by reason of the Seas, and many Rivers that thorow the Shire doe fall, whose plenty of fish and fruitfull increase, do manifoldly redeeme the harmes which they make.
(4) The Soile is rich for corne and cattle, pleasant for pasturage, and plenteous for woods; in a word, in all commodities either for Sea or Land, blessed and happy.
(5) Havens it hath, and those commodious both to let in, and to loose out ships of great burthen in trade of Merchandise, or other imploiments: whereof Portsmouth, Tichfield, Hamble and Southampton are chiefe: beside many other creekes that open their bosomes in those Seas, and the Coast strengthned with many strong Castles, such as Hurst, Calshot, South-hampton, S. Andrewes, Worth, Porchester, and the South Castle, besides other Bulwarkes, or Block-houses that secure the Country: And further in the Land, as Malwood, Winchester, and Odiam, so strong, that in the time of King John, thirteene English men onely defended the Fort for fifteene daies against Lewis of France, that with a great Host assaulted it most hotly.
(6) Anciently it was possessed upon the North by the Segontians, who yeelded themselves to Julius Caesar, & whose chiefe Citie was Vindonum, Caer Segonte, now Silcester; and upon the South by the Belgae, and Regni, who were subdued by Plausius and Vespasian the Romans, where Titus rescuing his father, straitly besieged by the Britaines, as Dio and Forcatulus do report, was grasped about with an adder, but no hurt to his person, and therefore taken for a signe of good lucke. Their chief Towne was Rincewood, as yet sounding the name: and more within Land inhabited the Manures, as Beda calles them, whose Hundreds also to this day give a relish of their names.
(7) Neere Ringwood, and the place once YTENE, from God and people's service, to Beast and luxurie, thirty sixe Parish Churches were converted and pulled downe by the Conquerour, and thirty miles of circuite inforrestred for his game of Hunting, wherein his Sons Richard and Rufus, with Henry the second sonne to Duke Robert, his first, felt by hasty death the hand of Justice and Revenge: for in the same Forrest, Richard by blasting of a pestilent aire, Rufus by shot taken for a beast, and Henry as Absolom hanged by a bough, came to their untimely ends. At so deare a rate the pleasures of dogs, and harbour for beasts were bought in the blood of these Princes.
(8) The generall commodities gotten in this Shire, are woolls, Cloths and Iron, whereof great store is therein wrought from the Mines, and thence transported into all parts of this Realme, and their Clothes & Karsies, carried into many forrain Countries, to that Countries great benefit, and Englands great praise.
(9) The Trade thereof, with other provisions for the whole, are vented through eighteen Market Townes in this Shire, whereof Winchester, the Britaines Caer Gwent, the Romans Venta Belgarum, & the Saxons Windaneasder is chiefe, ancient enough by our British Historians, as built by King Rudhudibras, nine hundred yeeres before the Nativitie of Christ: and famous in the Romans times for the weaving and embroideries therein wrought, to the peculiar uses of their Emperours owne persons. In the Saxons time, after two Calamities of consuming fire, her walles were raised, & the Citie made the Roiall seate of their West Saxons Kings, and the Metropolitan of their Bishops Sea, wherein Egbert and Elfred their most famous Monarchs were Crowned: & Henry the third, the Normans longest raigner, first tooke breath: And here king Aethelstane erected sixe houses for his mint: but the Danish desolation over-runnig all, this Citie felt their furie in the daies of king Ethelbright, and in the Normans time, twice was defaced by the misfortune of fire, which they againe repaired and graced with the trust of keeping the publike records of the Realme. In the Civill warres of Maud and Stephen, this City was sore sacked, but againe receiving breath, was by King Edward the third, appointed the place for Mart of wooll and cloth. The Cathedrall Church built by Kenwolf king of the West Saxons, that had beene Amphibalus, S. Peters, Swythins, and now holy Trinity, is the Sanctuary for the ashes of many English Kings: For herein great Egbert, Anno 836, with his sonne king Ethelwolfe, 857: here Elfred, Oxfords founder, 901, with his Queene Elswith, 904: Here the first Edmund before the Conquest, 924, with his sonnes Elfred, and Elsward: Here Edred, 955, and Edwy, 956, both kings of England: Here Emme, 1052, with her Danish Lord Canute, 1035, and his sonne Hardicanute, 1042: And here lastly the Normans, Richard and Rufus, 1100, were interred; their bones by Bishop Fox were gathered and shrined in little guilt coffers fixed upon a wall in the Quire, where still they remain carefully preserved.
This Cities situation is fruitful and pleasant in a vally under hilles, having her River on the East, and Castle on the west, the Circuite of whose walles, are well neere two English miles, containing one thousand eight hundred and eightie paces; thorow which openeth sixe gates for entrance, and therein are seven Churches for divine service, besides the Minster, and those decaied; such as Callender, Ruell Chappell, S. Maries Abbey, & the Friers, without in the Suburbes, and Sooke; in the East is S. Peters, & in the North Hyde Church and Monasterie, whose ruines remaining, show the beautie that formerly it bare. The Graduation of this Citie by the Mathematicks, is placed for Latitude in the degree 51 10 minutes, and for Longitude 19, 3 minutes.
(10) More south, is South hampton, a Towne populous, rich and beautifull, from whom the whole Shire deriveth her name, most strongly walled about with square stone, containing in circuit, one thousand and two hundred paces, having seven Gates for entrance, and twenty nine Towres for defence, two very stately Keies for Ships arrivage, & five faire Churches for Gods divine service, beisdes an Hospitall called Gods house, wherein the unfortunate Richard, Earle of Cambridge, beheaded for treason, lyeth interred. On the west of this Towne is mounted a most beautifull Castle, in forme Circular, and wall within wall, the foundation upon a hill so topped, that it cannot be ascended but by staires, carying a goodly prospect both by Land and Sea, & in the East without the walles, a goodly Church sometimes stood, called S. Maries, which was pulled down: for that it gave the French direction of course, who with fire had greatly endangered the Towne: in stead thereof is now newly erected a small and unfinished Chappell. In this place, saith learned Campden, stood the ancient Clausentium, or fort of the Romans, whose circuit on that side extended it selfe into the Sea: this suffered many depredations by the Saxon Pirates, and in Anno 980, was by the Danes almost quite overthrowne. In king Edward the thirds time, it was fired by the French, under the Conduct of the king of Sicils sonne, whom a Country man incountred and strucke downe with his Club, He crying Rancon, that is, Ransome: but he neither understanding his language, nor the law that Armes doth allow, laid on more soundly, saying: I know thee a Frankon, and therefore shalt thou die: and in Richard the seconds time it was somewhat removed, and built in the place where now it standeth. In this Clausentium, Cannute to evict his flatterers, made triall of his deitie, commanding the seas to keepe backe from his feate: but being not obeyed, he acknowledged God to be the onely supreame Governor, and in a religious devotion gave up his Crowne to the rood at Winchester. More ancient was Silcester built by Constantius, great Constantines sonne, whose monument (they say) was seene in that Citie and where another Constantine put on the purple roabe against Honorius, as bot Ninnius and Gervase of Canterburie doe witnes. Herein by our Historians record, the warlike Arthur was crowned. Whose greatnesse for circuite contained no lesse then fourescore acres of ground, and the walles of great height, yet standing two miles in compasse about.
This Citie by the Danish Rovers suffred much wracke, that her mounted tops were never since seene, and her Hulk (the walles) inmured to their middle in the earth, which the rubbish of her owne desolations hath filled.
(11) Chiefe Religious houses within this Countie erected and againe suppressed were these, Christs-Church, Beaulieu, Whorwell, Rumsey, Redbridge, Winchester, Hyde, South-Hampton, and Tichfield. The honour of this shire is dignified with the high Title of Marques, and them Earles of Winchester and South-Hampton; whose armes of families are as thou seest, and her division into thirty seven Hundreds, and those againe into two hundred fifty three Parishes, as in her Table shall appeare.
There follows a table of hundreds and parishes.
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MAP OF GREAT BRITAIN, 1611 - FEATURES
  
These notes are taken from the map of Great Britain and Ireland by John Speed, about 1610-11, in the edition published by Thomas Bassett, Fleet Street and Richard Chiswell, St Paul's Churchyard, London, 1676. The map studied is in private ownership.
The map size is:- wxh, sheet = 56x44cm; wxh, plate = 517x388mm; wxh, map = 512x383mm. The map is not in good condition, but could be rescued to some extent. It is pasted badly onto paper, and rolled, and creased. It has been coloured at a late date, very badly, probably using the wrong sort of paints with heavy pigments and too clumsy a brush and hand, instead of tints or washes with a fine brush and steady hand. There is some hint that there was earlier painting which might have faded. The late painting has spoiled the map, to some extent and to a caring eye, forever.
The map includes the British Isles without the Shetlands, with Orkneys in an inset map. Parts of France and Holland are drawn at the lower left, the areas of Holland, Brabant, Flandger, Hanaut, and Artois.
Where I need to make detail notes these are generally made about Hampshire, out of a personal bias of interest.

MAP FEATURES
title cartouche    
strapwork-    
cartouche    
map maker    
publisher    

Printed upper right of centre is a strapwork title cartouche:-
THE KINGDOME OF GREAT / BRITAINE AND IRELAND / by I. Speed.
And printed lower right in another strapwork cartouche is:-
Are to be sold by Tho: Bassett / in Fleet street and Ric: Chiswell / in St. Pauls Churchyard.
The map was first published in 'The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine ...' by Sudbury and Humble in 1611. This copy of the map is from a later edition of the atlas, published by Bassett and Chiswell, 1676. The plate continued in use for many more years.

vignettes    
coat of arms    
inset map    

Two large strapwork cartouches are drawn either side of the map, near the top; for England, and for Scotland. These are decorated with cherubs holding quill pens.
On the left is the royal coat of arms of the Stuarts; those of James VI and I, the first sovereign of 'Great Britain', when Speed drew the map, and of Charles II when this later edition was published. The blazon is:-
quarterly 1. and 4., quarterly i and iiii azure three fleur de lys or (France), ii and iii gules three lions passant guardant or (England); 2. or a lion rampant within a tressure flory counter flory gules (Scotland); 3. azure a harp or stringed argent (Ireland).
Below is a view of:-
LONDON
with the
Thames fluvius
and London Bridge and old St Paul's Cathdral which had not yet burned down. Below again is a medallion with a figure that could be an early version of Britannia seated on a globe, lettered:-
IMPERAT / S C / BRITANNIA
On the right is an inset map for:-
THE / ILES OF / ORKNAY
Then a view od:-
EDYNBURGH
from Holyrood Palace to Edinburgh Castle. And below a medallion, a kings head, lettered:-
CUNOBILIN
This is Cunobelinus or Cymbeline, king of the Catuvellauni, recognised as the king of Britain by the Romans about AD5.

orientation    
compass rose    
up is N    
labelled borders    

Printed lower left of centre is a compass rose. This is gaudily and clumsily painted. It has star points for the cardinal, half cardinal and false points, and lines for the by points. North is marked with a fleur de lys; east with a cross; south with a crescent; and west with three ?bezzants. All except the west are traditional signs for the purpose, though only the fleur de lys is in common use today. North is aligned up a meridian line, and, generally, the map is printed with north at the top of the page.
Additionaly, the map's four borders are labelled:-
NORTH
EAST
SOUTH
WEST

lat and long scales    
lat and long grid    

The map borders have scales for latitude and longitude, the projection is some sort of conical projection? The scales are chequered in 10 minute intervals, labelled at degrees. Great Britain is within 7 to 23 degrees East, 50 to 60+ degrees N; London is at 20 degrees 38 minutes East. The prime meridian for the map is thus about 20 degrees 38 minutes W of Greenwich. This does not agree with any of the obvious early pre-Greenwich meridians: Canary Islands about 16-18 degrees W, Azores about 28-31 degrees W, Cape Verde Islands about 24 degrees W.
The projection has the size on paper of 1 degree latitude the same from south to north, as well as I can judge. 8 degrees latitude is 275.0 mm giving a scale for the map about 1 to 3238351. The map scale is about:-
1 to 3200000
51 miles to 1 inch

scale line    
scale    
map maker    
old english mile    
dividers    

Printed lower left is a scale line in a strapwork cartouche decorated with cherubs holding a globe and dividers, with a banner:-
Performed by John Speede
In the cartouche labelled:-
The Scale of Miles
are two scales. The upper is chequered in 5 miles intervals labelled in tens, for:-
Common :Mill.
which has 80 miles = 57.1 mm giving a scale 1 to 2254773, a map scale about:-
1 to 2300000
36 miles to 1 inch
These are the map maker's miles which seem to be about 1.4 statute mile, which had not become statute at that period. The map provides an estimate of the common Old English Mile = 1.4 statute mile, greater than the usual range of values for this obscure historical unit.
The lower scale is:-
By Degrees
which has 100 miles in the place of 80 common miles. This gives a scale about:-
1 to 2800000
44 miles to 1 inch
and I don't know how to imterpret this!
It would be possible to get a good estimate of the map's scale by measuring the positions of a couple of dozen towns and comparing their distances from each other with their known distances - a fair bit of work.

sea area    
sea plain    
swash lettering    
flags    
beasts    
sea monsters    
ships    

The sea is plain, and has been tinted blue. Sea areas are labelled:-
THE DEUCALIDON SEA
THE IRISH SEA
THE BRITISH SEA
THE WEST OCEAN
THE GERMAN OCEAN
The last two in florid swash lettering to fill otherwsie empty space on the map.
The sea is decorated with a couple of ships, sea monsters, and 'royal beasts' carrying flags of the three nations of Great Britain.
The ships are crudely drawn two masted carracks. That on the left seems to have pointed ends, not a flat stern with rudder. Three ships' flags appear to be the flag of Aragon, Spain, horizontal bands, red yellow red (but we don't know who coloured the map or when).
Three of the monsters in the sea are interesting. There is a lion carrying the standard of England; a unicorn carrying the standard of Scotland; and some other mythical beast carrying the standard of Ireland.

coast line    
coast shaded    

The coast line is shaded.

rivers    
bridges    

Rivers are drawn by a wiggly line and are generally unlabelled. The larger river mouths might be labelled, eg:-
Severn flu.
Thames mouth
Aestuarium Fyrth
(In case your lost the last is the Forth.)
Judging by Hampshire the coverage is not bad. All its major river systems are shown with some tributaries. Errors of drawing do put some rivers out of the county!
A few bridges are marked by a double line across a river. For example, looking at Hampshire, at Stockbridge.

relief    
hillocks    

Scattered on the map are a few hillocks, shaded to the east, suggesting relief. Space is very limited for this information. Judging from Hampshire the representation of the shape of a county is not reliable! There are one or two hillocks sort of where the South Downs might be. In other parts of the map there is some suggestion of the Penine Way and of hilly regions in Scotland and Wales.

woods    
forests    

Scattered in some available spaces there are tree symbols. Looking in Hampshire they suggest wooded areas in the New Forest and Buckholt Forest, but none of the other prominent woodlands. It would take a lot of work to make sense of what is shown; and the labour might be wasted for the symbols might just be filling space.

country    
county    

The boundaries between countries and between counties are confused by the style of engraving. The greater boundaries looks as if they should be dashed lines and the lesser dotted. If you follow the lines you will be confused. The colourist has not helped by colouring the english scottish border along Hadrian's Wall with Northumberland in Scotland. The position of Monmouthshire is also confused. Counties are labelled, eg:-
HANTSHIRE
WILTSHIRE

settlements    
Settlements are positioned by a dot and circle, differentiated by added elements and lettering style. I have not done a through check of what is city, town, etc, so the comments below, looking mainly in Hampshire, are unreliable.
capital     dot and circle, buildings and towers; labelled in upright lowercase text:-
London
city     dot and circle, towers; labelled in upright lowercase text, eg:-
Winchester
town     dot and circle, tower; labelled in italic lowercase text, eg:-
Andover
but this symbol is also used for The Vine, which is just a great house, Hurst Castle, etc. Calshot Castle has only a dot and circle.

roads    
Although the title page of the 1676 edition of the atlas mentions roads on the county maps, these do not appear on this general map of the country.

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MAP OF GREAT BRITAIN, 1611 - HAMPSHIRE PLACES
Hampshire     The places shown in:-
HANTSHSIRE
which then includes the Isle of Wight and the area of [now] Dorset around Christchurch, are:-
Andover
Aulton
Basingstok
Calshot
Hurst ca
Kingesclere
Odyham
Porchester
Portesmouth
Ringwood
S. Hampto~
Stoke bridg
The Vine
Winchester
and:-
Black rock
Hyde
The Isle of Wight
Newport

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SPEED'S ATLAS 1614
These notes are made from an atlas, the Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine by John Speed, published 1614. The atlas studied is in the collections of Birmingham Central Library, call number E094/1614/6.

INTRODUCTORY PAGES
Title page
THE / THEATRE / OF THE EMPIRE / OF GREAT / BRITAINE: / Presenting / AN EXACT GEOGRAPHY / of the Kingdomes of ENGLAND, / SCOTLAND, IRELAND, / and the ILES adjoyning: / With / The Shires, Hundreds, Cities and / Shire-townes, within ye Kingdome / of ENGLAND, divided and / described / By / JOHN SPEED.
IMPRINTED AT LONDON / Anno / cum Privilegio / 1614 / And are to be solde by John Sudbury & Georg / Humble, in Popes -head alley at ye signe of ye white Horse.
Introductory page:-
TO THE WELL-AFFECTED AND FAVOURABLE READER.
SO great was the attempt to assay the erection of this large and laborious THEATRE, whose onely platforme might well have expected the readiest hand of the best Artist, that even in the entrance of the first draught, as one altogether discouraged, I found my self farie unfit and unfurnished both of matter and meanes, either to build, or to beautifie so stately a proiect.
...
But with what content to thy eye (gentle Reader) I stand in suspence, so many Master-builders having in this Subiect gone before me, and I the least, not worthy to hew (much lesse to lay) the least stone in so beautifull a Building: neither can I for my headlesse presumtion alledge any excuse, unlesse it be this, that the zeale of my Countries glory so transported my senses, as I knew not what I undertooke, untill I saw the charges thereof (by others bestowed) to amount so high as I held it a conscience to frustrate their designements; wherein albeit, it may be obiected that I have put my Sickle into other mens Corne, and have laid my Building upon other mens Foundations (as indeed who can doe otherwise, especially in a subiect of this nature, seeing that the wisest of Kings witnesseth, that there is nothing new under the Sunne) ...
... I cast in my mite, and by my owne travell adde somewhat more then hath beene already divulged, let me crave thy acceptance, ...
There is a tabulation of data about the counties:-
A Catalogue of all the Shires, Cities, Bishoprickes, Market Townes, / Castles, Parishes, Rivers, Bridges, Chases, Forrests, and Parkes, conteyned / in every particuler Shire of the Kingdome of England.
The column headings (in one line on the page)(slashes added):-
Shires / Cities / Bishopricks / Mark Townes / Castles / Parrish church / Rivers / Bridgs / Chases / Forrests / Parkes
The Hampshire entry is:-
Hant-shire / 01 / 01 / 18 / 05 / 248 / 04 / 31 / 00 / 04 / 22
Which should be compared with Saxton's county atlas.
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TABLES OF ROADS for SPEED'S ATLAS, 1676
These notes are taken from the itineraries, tables of roads, in an edition of John Speed's atlas, published by Bassett and Chiswell, London, 1676. The item studied is in a private collection, and, as yet, I have only seen photocopies of the loose pages from which data is extracted below.
The tables of roads cannot be by John Speed.

Publication
The title page of the edition of John Speed's atlas ends:-
... By JOHN SPEED
LONDON: Printed for Thomas Bassett at the George in Fleetstreet, and Richard Chiswell at the Rose and Crown in St. Paul's Church-Yard, 1676.
This edition notes that it includes:-
... The Principal Roads ... with their computed distances. In a new and accurate method.

Hampshire Roads
The tables of roads attempt a diagram of a great road and its branches by clever typesetting. This is tricky to describe! too tricky to reproduce in text. An example:-
 

 
The roads involving Hampshire are listed below; places as spelt, county names added.

Western Road
Title, in a plain cartouche upper left:-
The Western-road from London to the Lands-end in Cornwal; and its Branches to several of the principal Towns, with their computed distances..
 
from London; through Staines, Middlesex; bagshot, Surrey; then Hartlerow, Hook, Newnham, Basingstoke, Worting, Tetherton, Whitchurch, Downhurstborn, Andover, Middle-wallop, Hampshire; to Salisbury, Wiltshire; and beyond to Senan, Cornwall ie Lands End.
 
branch from Salisbury, Wiltshire; through Cranborn, Poole, Ifford, Christchurch, Dorset; then Somerford, Milton, Evelton, Efford, to Limington, Hampshire.
 
branch from Salisbury, Wiltshire; through Rumsey, Upton, to Southampton, Hampshire.
 
branch from Salisbury, Wiltshire; across a corner of Hampshire; to Oxford, Oxfordshire.
 
branch from Basingstoke, through Cranborn, Sutton, Stockbridge, Broughton, West Tetherley, East-Dean, Hampshire; then through Dunkton, Wiltshire; Cranborn, Blandford, Dorchester to Weymouth, Dorset.
 
branch from Basingstoke through Kings Clere, Hampshire; then Newbury, Berkshire; to Oxford, Oxfordshire.
 
branch from Bagshot, through Farnham, Surrey; then Aulton, Arlesford, Twyford, Swaland, to Southampton, Hampshire.
 
from London; through Godlaming, Surrey; and Midherst, from whence Chichester, West Sussex; then Petersfield, Langridge, Bordean, Bramdean, to Winchester, Hampshire.

West Road
Title, in a plain cartouche upper right:-
The West-road from London to Bristol; and its Branches to several of the principal Towns, with their computed distances.
 
from London; through Staines, Middlesex; and Bagshot and Farnham, Surrey; then Aulton, Arlesford, Winchester, Pitt, Hursley, Rumsey, Malwood, Ringwood, Hampshire; to Poole, Dorset.
 
branch from Arlesford, through Twiford, to Southampton, Hampshire AND from Southampton, through Upton, Rumsey, Hampshire; to Salisbury, Wiltshire.

South Roads
Title, in a plain cartouche upper right:-
The South-East, South and South-west-roads from London; and its Branches to several of the principal Towns, with their computed distances.
 
from London; through Godlaming, Surrey; then Lipock, Petersfield, Harnden, Portsey-bridge, Hilsey, Kingstone, to Portsmouth, Hampshire.
 
branch from Godlaming, Surrey; to Chichester, West Sussex, branching at Midherst; through Petersfield, Langridge, Bordean, Bramdean, to Winchester, Hampshire.
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PUBLISHING HISTORY
Published in 'The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine: Presenting An Exact Geography of the Kingdomes of England, Scotland, Ireland, and the Iles adioyning: With The Shires, Hundreds, Cities and Shire-townes, within ye Kingdome of England, divided and described By John Speed. Imprinted at London. Anno, Cum Privilegio, 1611. And are to be solde by John Sudbury & Georg Humble, in Popes-head alley at ye signe of ye white Horse.'
The 1611 map is said to derive from Norden's map, about which Speed is honest and open; the map has an inset plan of Winchester by Speed himself, and coats of arms of Cliton a Saxon, Saer Quincy, Hugh Spencer, Lodowick Bruget, Earls of Winchester, and William Paulet Marques of Winchester, and Bogo or Beavous, William Fitz William, Thomas Wriothesley, Earls of Southampton, also the arms of Winchester and the royal arms; the text on the back of the map is abridged from Camden's Britannia.
The 1611 atlas has a pictorial title page, and 6 leaves of text including a dedication, contents and Speed's preface 'To the Well-affected and favourable Reader'; it is the earliest published atlas of the British Isles, the town plans are the first comprehensive collection of such; its size 9 1/2 x 15 ins.
Early proof copies of Speed's map exist without the engraver's name and with Bogo's shield bare, plain on the reverse, perhaps 1605-10.

Published in an edition of the atlas printed 1614.

Published, presumably for sale abroad, in a Latin edition 'Theatrum Imperii Magnae Britanniae: Exactam Regnorum Angliae, Scotiae, Hiberniae et Insularum adiacentium Geographia ob oculos ponens uno cum Comitatibus, Centurijs, Urbibus et primarijs Comitatum oppidis, intra Regnum Angliae, divisis et descriptis. Opus, Nuper quidem a Johanne Spedo cive Londinensi, Anglice conscriptum: Nunc vero, a Philemone Hollando, apud Coventrianos Medicinae Doctore Latinitate donatum. Imprinted at London Anno Cum Privilegio 1616 And are to be solde by John Sudbury & Georg Humble in Popes-head alley at ye signe of ye white Horse. 1616.'

Published in 'The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine ... by John Speed ... 1627. Are to be sold by George Humble at the Whit horse in Popes-head Alley.'
The Hampshire map has 'Regnum' added; it should be in Sussex not Hampshire.

Published in an edition, after Speed's death in 1631, by George Humble, 1632.
The 1632 edition of the atlas includes a portrait of John Speed engraved by Savery.
From this time the map is included in many editions without much change except wear.
The map was published in the 1637 edition of William Camden's Britannia.

Published in editions by William Humble, 1646, 1650, 1651, 1652, 1653, 1654.

Published in 'The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine ... by John Speed. Imprinted at London ... 1650. Are to be sold by Roger Rea the Elder, and Younger, at the Golden Crosse in Cornhill agat: ye Exchange, ...' 1665.
The text of the 1665 edition is reset in smaller type; the map is the same except that Rea's imprint is substituted for Sudbury and Humble's.

Published in 'The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine. ... As also A Prospect of the most famous Parts of the World. By John Speed. With many Additions never before Extant. London. Printed for Thomas Bassett and Richard Chiswell, 1676.'; and noting '... The Principal Roads ... with their computed distances. In a new and accurate method. The Market Towns wanting in the former Impressions. A Continuation of all the Battels fought ... The Arms of all the Dukes and Earls ... to the Last Creation. ... London; Printed for Thomas Basset at the George in Fleet Street, and Richard Chiswel, at the Rose and Crown in St. Paul's Church-yard, MDCLXXVI.' 1676.
The title and text pages, and the text on the reverse of the maps of the 1676 edition are much modified, see Chubb.
In this edition the imprint on the maps is for Bassett and Chiswell; the maps are corrected as described.
The maps without text were offered by Bassett and Chiswel in 1676, perhaps before their complete atlas was ready; 'Particular maps of ... any Shire and County in the Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, will be sold by themselves, without the Description, to such as desire them, each Map, 6d.'
Speed's plates were later in possession of:- Christopher Browne, about 1690; John Overton, d1713; his son Henry Overton, d.1751; and the latter's nephew Henry; C Dicey and Co, about 1770.
The Hampshire map by Speed does not appear in the collection of Speed's maps published by John Seller, 1680.

Published in another series 'A Catalogue of a Set of Maps of the several Counties of England and Wales with the Islands thereto belonging, each Map is printed on a sheet of good Royal Paper ... Printed and sold by Henry Overton at the White Horse without Newgate, London. Sold either in compleat sets or singly.' 1710.
The 1710 map has Overton's imprint?

Published with alterations from 1713, see Speed 1713.
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REFERENCES
Speed, John: 1611 & 1614 & 1627=1631 & 1650=1662: Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine: (London)
Speed, John: 1616: Theatrum Imperii Magnae Britanniae: (London)
Speed, John: 1627: Theatre of the Empire of Great Britain, The: Humble, George (London)
Speed, John: 1646: Theatre of the Empire of Great Britain, The: Humble, William (London)
Speed, John: 1665: Theatre of the Empire of Great Britain, The: Rea, Roger (London)
Speed, John: 1676: Theatre of the Empire of Great Britain, The: Bassett, Thomas & Chiswell, Richard (London)
 
Arlot, John (ed): 1953: John Speede's England: Phoenix House (London):: facsimile in 5 vols; NLS Map.fac.b.C17.b(1676)
Hodges, C W: 1949: John Speed's Theatre: Theatre Notebook: 3: pp28-31
Potter, Johnathon: 1991: Theatre of Empire of Great Britain: Drayton Manor Publishing:: ISBN 0 9511577 3 6; facsimile
Skelton, R A: 1952: Tudor Town Plans in John Speed's Theatre: Archaeological J: 108: pp109-120
Skelton, R A: 1970: County Atlases of the British Isles 1580-1850: Carta Press:: p.35 about lat and long
Smith, David: 1986: Jansson versus Blaeu: Cartographic Journal: 23: pp 106-14
Tooley: 1949: British Maps and Map Makers: Batsford (London)
Hodges, C W: 1949: John Speed's Theatre, Some Reflections on the Style of the Elizabethan Playhouse: Theatre Notebook: 3: pp.28-31
Skelton, R A: 1952: Tudor Town Plans in John Speed's Theatre: Archaeological J: 108: pp.109-20
Arlott, J (ed): 1953: John Speed's England (facsimile): (London)
 
Coats of Arms
Longbottom, F W: 1982: Heraldry in the Windows of the Great Hall of Winchester Castle: (unpublished ms in Hampshire Library, Local Studies Collection)
Portal, Melville, Sir: 1899: Great Hall at Winchester: Warren (Winchester, Hampshire)
St George, Henry, Sir & Squibb, G D (ed): 1686; 1991 (edn): Visitation of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight 1686: Harleian Society (London)
Wagner, A R: 1961: Papworth's Ordinary of British Armorials: Tabard Publications (London):: which is arranged alphabetically by pictorial elements
also see:- 
  related map group -- Speed 1695
  related map group -- Blome 1681
   the presentation in Old Hampshire Mapped
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ITEMS  in HMCMS Map Collection and Private Collections   (scanned item in bold)
  HMCMS:FA1990.11 -- map
  HMCMS:FA2001.12 -- map
  HMCMS:FA2002.30 -- map
  HMCMS:FA2002.31 -- map
  HMCMS:KD1996.16 -- map
  HMCMS:WOC4459 -- map
  private collection (8) -- map
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   All Old Hampshire Mapped Resources