THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY.

furtherance from him in the profeffion and quality wherein I serve his Majefty. But while I am mentioning Benefits, I were worthy of the fouleft censure my self, if I fhould not confefs that the greatest happiness that ever hath or can befall me, was my imployment for the Presentation of the moft Noble Order of the Garter, to your Highness in the Army at Bockstel. And ftanding thus deeply obliged, I fhall ever pray, that successful and perpetual felicity may crown your Highness, and that in your Princely Clemency you will afford a gracious acceptance to the humble endeavours of Your Highneffes thrice humble

and most faithful fervant,

JO. PHILIPOT,

Somerfet Herald.

• AND

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furtherance from him in the profeffion and quali wherein I ferve his Majeftv R

mentioning Benefits ▾

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MEMOIR OF WILLIAM CAMDEN.

HIS eminent hiftorian and antiquary was born on the 2nd of May, 1551. His father, Sampfon Camden, a native of Lichfield, in Staffordshire, having settled in London as a painter, refided in the Old Bailey ; his mother was of the ancient family of Curwen, of Workington, in Cumberland: their fon William Camden received the rudiments of his education, first at Christ's Hospital and afterwards at St. Paul's School. At the age of fifteen he removed to the University of Oxford and was entered as a fervitor at Magdalen College: this he left for Pembroke College, then known as Broadgate Hall, and under the guidance of Dr. Thomas Thornton, one of the canons of Christchurch, his tutor and patron, he acquired a critically accurate knowledge of the Greek and Latin languages, which he esteemed the

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most effectual means of forming his taste and moulding his judgment. From his familiarity at this time with George and Richard Carew and others is to be dated that inclination for the study of antiquities for which he afterwards became diftinguished. Upon leaving the University he made a tour of a great part of England, and in the year 1575, obtained, by the friendship of Dean Goodman, the appointment of Second Mafter of Weftminfter School: here he contributed towards the attainment of claffical learning, by compiling a Greek grammar for the use of the ftudents, and at length attained in 1593 the office of Head Master.

He had been prevailed upon to undertake the "Britannia" by Abraham Ortelius, the great reftorer of Geography, whom he affifted with a defcription of England for his "Theatrum Orbis Terrarum," published at Antwerp in 1584; and during every vacation continued his furvey of the kingdom, in feveral excurfions making notes of remarkable antiquities. In 1582 he travelled through Suffolk into Yorkshire, returning by way

of Lancashire.

Camden entered on this task with the genuine enthusiasm of an antiquarian. Topography was then a new science, and many difficulties had to be encountered, particularly in the names of places; the Roman orthography and terminations had con