Old Hampshire Mapped
Speed's Hampshire 1611
Notes byMartin and Jean Norgate: 1999
Speed, John: 1614: Theatre of the Empire of Great Britain: (London)Made from the copy in Birmingham Central Library, call number E094/1614/6, to whom we are grateful.
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.
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 otherwide, 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, ...
ricks
Townes
church
rests
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