A prospect of the most famous parts of the vvorld Viz. Asia, 3 Affrica, 5 Europe, 7 America. 9 With these kingdomes therein contained. Grecia, 11 Roman Empire, 13 Germanie, 15 Bohemia, 17 France, 19 Belgia, 21 Spaine, 23 Italie, 25 Hungarie, 27 Denmarke, 29 Poland, 31 Persia, 33 Turkish Empire, 35 Kingdome of China, 37 Tartaria, 39 Sommer Ilands, 41 Civill Warres, in England, Wales, and Ireland. You shall find placed in the beginning of the second booke marked with these [3 asterisks in triangle formation] and (5) together with all the provinces, counties, and shires, contained in that large theator of Great Brittaines empire. / Performed by John Speed.

TO THE WELL-AFFECTED AND FAVOVRABLE READER.

SO great was the attempt to assay the erection of this large and laborious THEATRE, whose onely plat-forme might well have expected the readiest hand of the best Artist, that even in the entrance of the first draught, as one altogether discoura∣ged, I found my selfe farre unfit and unfurnished both of matter and meanes, either to build, or to beautifie so stately a project. But how the Lord then composed my minde for the Worke, or rather how his own great power would be seene in my weaknesse, is now in some measure made manifest by raising the frame thereof to this height, which here from the Presse sheweth his aspect unto the world. But with what content to thy eye (gentle Rea∣der) I stand in suspence, so many Master-builders having in this subject gone be∣fore 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 heedlesse presumption alledge any excuse, unlesse it be this, that the zeale of my Countries glory so transported my sen∣ses, as I knew not what I undertooke,* 1.1 untill I saw the charges thereof (by others bestowed) to amount so high, as I held it a conscience to frustrate their designe∣ments; wherein albeit, it may be objected 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 subject of this nature, seeing that the wisest of Kings witnesseth,* 1.2 that there is nothing new under the Sunne) yet let this in part suffice for my defence, that in the worke of the Tabernacle there was more metals used then the orient Gold,* 1.3 and more work-men imployed then Aholiab aud Bezaleel;* 1.4 neither did all the Israelites offer to that most glorious Work, Gold, Silver, Onix-stones, Purple, Scarlet, and fine Linnen: but some of them, Brasse, Wood, Goats-haire, Rams fels, and Badgers skins, as necessary imple∣ments in their severall Services.* 1.5 If then, with the poore Widdow, I cast in my mite, and by mine own travell adde somewhat more then hath been already divul∣ged, let me crave thy acceptance, where I have done right, and thine assistance to correct where I misse, which I trust may as well be hoped as requested, thy love with mine being alike obliged unto this our native Land. Whose beautie and benefits, not afarre off,* 1.6 as Moses saw Canaan from Pisgah, but by mine own travels through every Province of England and VVales,* 1.7 mine eyes have beheld: and whose Climate, Temperature, Plentie and Pleasures, make it to be as the very

Eden of Europe (pardon me I pray, if affection passe limits) for the store of Corn in the Champian, and of Pasturage in the lower Grounds, presseth the Cart under the sheaves to the Barne, and filleth the Coffers of their possessors.

Neither are the faces of the Mountaines and Hils onely spread over with in∣finite Herds and sorts of Cattell,* 1.8 but their intrals also are in continuall travell, and continually delivered of their rich Progenies of Copper, Lead, and Iron, Marble, Crystall, Jet, Alabaster; yea the most wonder-working Loadstone; to say nothing either of Cannol and Sea coale, as rich for profit, and as needfull for use, or of the goodly Quarries of choisest stone, as necessary for strength, as esti∣mable for beautie. Her Seas and Rivers so stored with Fish, and her Fels and Fens so replenished with wild Fowle, that they even present themselves for ready prey to their takers: briefly, every soile is so enriched with plentie and pleasures, as the Inhabitants thinke there is no other Paradise in the earth but where them∣selves dwell. The true plot of the whole Land, and that againe into parts in se∣verall Cards,* 1.9 are here described, as likewise the Cities and Shire-townes are insert∣ed, whereof some have been performed by others, without Scale annexed, the rest by mine own travels, and unto them for distinctions sake, the Scale of Paces, ac∣counted according to the Geometricall measure, five foot to a pace I have set; but in this imployment I am somewhat to excuse my selfe from wrongs conceived done unto more beautifull and richer Corporatious, which in this survey are in silence over-passed, and places of lesse note and frequency described: For satisfaction whereof (good Reader) understand my purpose, according to the Title prefixed, which in this Iland (besides other things) is to shew the situation of every Citie and Shire-towne onely.* 1.10 So that without injury to all, I could not insert some, though oftentimes it grieved me much to leave such beautifull places untouched: which notwithstanding being well knowne so to be, giveth no little glory to the Land in generall, so to be replenished with store and choise, as hardly can be judged which may be omitted. The Shires divisions into Lathes, Hundreds, Wapentakes and Cantreds,* 1.11 according to their ratable and accustomed manner, I have separa∣ted, and under the same Title that the record beareth, in their due places distin∣guished; wherein by the help of the Tables annexed, any Citie, Towne, Bur∣rough, Hamlet,* 1.12 or place of note may readily be found, and whereby safely may be affirmed, that there is not any one Kingdome in the world so exactly described, as is this our Iland of Great Britaine, that only excepted which Josua conquered, and into Tribes divided. The Armes of such Princes and Nobles as have had the dignities,* 1.13 and borne the titles either of Dukes, Marquesses, or Earles, in the same Province, Citie, or place: and finally, the Battels fought either by the forrain or home-bred Conspirators,* 1.14 I have also added. Where we from under our own Vines, without feare, may behold the prints of endured miseries, sealed with the bloud of those times, to the losse of their lives and liberties; our selves (as in the raigne of Augustus, when the Temple of Ianus stood shut, and Mars his hands bound with chains of Brasse, as Virgil speaketh) heare not the sound of the Alarum in our Gates, nor the clattering of Armour in our Campes, whose Swords are now turned into Mattockes, and Speares into Sithes, as Micah sheweth the peace∣able times under Christ.* 1.15 In shewing these things, I have chiefly sought to give sa∣tisfaction to all, without offenoe to any, whereof if I faile, yet this to my selfe have I gained, that whilst I set all my thoughts and cogitations hereon, I had small regard to the bewitching pleasures and vaine enticements of this wicked world,* 1.16 neither had I leisure to be led by an ambitious desire to raise my station above the levell of my equals, or with base flattery to follow, and fill the eares of Fortunes Deputies, the

raines of these intents checking the bit of affection into another way. And applying my selfe wholly to the frame of this most goodly Building, have as a poore Labou∣rer carried the carved stones and polished Pillars from the hands of the more skilfull Architects, to be set in their fit places, which here I offer upon the Altar of Love to my Countrey, and wherein I have held it no sacriledge to rob others of their richest Iewels to adorn this my most beautifull Nurse, whose VVombe was my conception, whose Breasts were my nourishment, whose Bosome my Cradle, and Lad (I doubt not) shall be my bed of sweet rest, till CHRIST by his Trumpet raise me thence.

1 Chron. 28.8.

Therefore in the sight of the Congregation of the Lord▪ and in the audience of our God, let us keepe and ••••cke for all the Commandements of the Lord our God, that we may possesse this good Land, and leave it for an inheritance for our Children after us for ever.

Thine in Christ Iesus, JOHN SPEED.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The principall motives of Writing.
• * 1.2

  Eccles. 1.9.
• * 1.3

  Exod. 31.
• * 1.4

  Exod. 25.
• * 1.5

  Mark. 12.42.
• * 1.6

  Exod. 34.
• * 1.7

  Things de∣scribed upon a personall sur∣vey of all Eng∣land and Wales.
• * 1.8

  Amos 2.13.
• * 1.9

  What is per∣formed in this Worke.
• * 1.10

  Cities and Shire-townes.
• * 1.11

  Shire-divisions.
• * 1.12

  Tables to finde all names in the Maps.
• * 1.13

  Armes of the titular Nobles.
• * 1.14

  Places of great Battels.
• * 1.15

  Micah 4.3.
• * 1.16

  The benefit made of this labour.