The Digital Ark: Early Modern Collections of Curiosities in England and Scotland, 1580-1700
William Camden (2 May 1551 - 1623)
Antiquary Dictionary of National Biography entry: http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/4431 Other biography: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Camden Author (in assoc. with a ms or print source)Collector (minor)
Relevant locations: Birth place in London, England
Relationships: Thomas Braithwaite (fl. 1604-) was a relative of William Camden
Robert Chambers (fl. 1592-) was a source of information for William Camden
Robert Cotton (22 Jan 1571-06 May 1631) was a associate or acquaintance (general) of William Camden
Jacques Auguste de Thou (1553-1617) was a recipient of object(s) from William Camden
William Lambarde (18 Oct 1536-19 Aug 1601) was a source of information for William Camden
William Lambarde (18 Oct 1536-19 Aug 1601) was a associate or acquaintance (general) of William Camden
John Myddleton (f. 1590s-) was a source of information for William Camden
John Pory (bap. 1572-1633) was a associate or acquaintance (general) of William Camden
John Senhouse (-1604) was a visited by William Camden
Linked print sources: as Author (in assoc. with a ms or print source) - Britannia siue Florentissimorum regnorum, Angliæ, Scotiæ, Hiberniæ, et insularum adiacentium ex intima antiquitate chorographica descriptio, authore Guilielmo Camdeno .
as Author (in assoc. with a ms or print source) - Camden's Britannia.
as Author (in assoc. with a ms or print source) - Camden's Britannia / newly translated into English, with large additions and improvements; publish'd by Edmund Gibson.
as Authority - early modern - History and Description of the Ancient City of York.
as Authority - early modern - William Camden and Early Collections of Roman Antiquities in Britain.
as Collector (minor) - The Library of William Camden.
as Collector (minor) - William Camden and Early Collections of Roman Antiquities in Britain.
as Mentioned or referenced by - 'The Profession of a Gentleman': Books for the Gentry and the Nobility (c.1560-1640).
as Mentions or references - Ducatus Leodiensis; or the topography of the town and parish of Leedes and parts adjacent ...
as Mentions or references - Geschichte der Deutschen in England von den ersten germanischen ansiedlungen in Britannien bis zum ende des 18. jahrhunderts..
Linked images:
References in Documents:
[POSTHUMOUS WORKS, AND Sloane MS 1911-13, f. 96.]
Honoured Sir,
By your letter, dated
to my hands about two days since) I see how much I am
obliged to you for your readinesse to take into consideration
those things which I desired by the note sent to
so that I could not omitt, but by this first opportunity, to re
turne
you my hearty thanks for the favour. I resolve, God
willing, to be in
terme, and by
of the
2 No. 2 of the "Miscellany Tracts."
3 Now first published from MS Sloan. 1848, 1882, 5233.- See vol. IV.
4 Unfortunately it has not come to our hands.
Certainly, sir, the gaining Marshland, in
land
circumstances may be gathered; and therefore considering
the industry and skill of the Romans, I conceive it most like
to have been performed by them.
speaking of the Romans in
out of
(who translated
wore out and consumed the bodies and hands of the Britans,
in clearing of woods, and paving of fens. But the words of
opinion; I meane, whether the word
walling or banking.
Sir, I account my selfe much happy to be thus far known
to you as I am, and that you are pleased to thinke me worthy
to converse with you in this manner, which I shall make bold
still to do upon any good occasion, till I be more happy by a
personall knowledge of you, as I hope in good time I may,
resting
Your very humble servant and honourer,
For my much·honoured friend,
house
my Correspondent in the North transmitted to me
for my Thoughts of them; the
of the
and may tempt us to believe that the old Procolitia, which
was the Station of the Cohors prima Batavorum, was ra
ther there, which is an important Place, (where the
ver TineWall it was but
necessary that the Foard should be secured by making one
of the Cohorts keep that Station
and a half from
Possession of Forster
least Ten Miles distance where Camden
cy it.Blenkinsop †
Castle
berland
Annius
particularly to the Debonair (if Urbana be taken appella
tively) Mansueta Claudia; for thus I read it,
Prope Colerton Cilurnum. Notitia Dignitatum imperii, est tamen
Proco
.
litia alius locus a Cilurno
Nomen hoc indicat.DEABUS
; and hereby the Defects in the Stone seem to
C L A V D I A E VRBanæ, nuncupavit Hoc Lucius
A IVS
be supplied with a right Number of Letters in each Vacu
ity, and this I the rather apprehend to be right, because
'tis now a Year since I communicated the same to an in
genious Gentleman, Dr. Cay
Person that courteously sent me the Copies of both) and
I hear not it is disapproved by any Critick upon the Place.
g)
p. 497.
Oil from the
Oil of Earth, good for Pains and
Aches.
sparkles a little; whence it is (perhaps) that it is called the
Philoso
phers Stone; both these were sent me by
phers Stone
Madox
.Indian
Sear-
Cloth
Cloth
(before-mentioned) fromBitumen
be further noted, that the Inhabitants, who in
Camden
only used it as Pitch, now use it for the Cure of green Wounds, and
commonly sell it at 14
d. a Pound. Besides the
Asphaltites,
others noted by ancient Authors, later Discoveries have found the
Lake at
Zantof the
pag. 379 & 235
MevisBark used for a Vomit:
that worksAmeri
can Physick Nut
can
sursum & deorsum.
MirtleWax ;
;Candle-berries
.)Greathead
Lond
Lond
Plants,
where there are for
Food, Physick, and
Clothing; as Wheat,
Mayz,
and
Milium, Cloves, Nutmegsenclosed in
Mace, and
Cinnamon, Coco-nuts
and
Cacao's(
Chocolate)
Coffee-berries;
,Tea , Liquorish
and
, both Silk and Wool, of which Garments and HammocksCotton
are made, and washed with the
Soap-tree Berries; which, without any
Proportion of Salt lixiviate, Sulphur, or Oil, wash better than any
Castile-Soap, but rot the Linen in Time:
2 ½ Inches in Length;Turkish Wash-Ball
Trales and Branches.
for washing the Skin.Indian Perfume
, (Allestree , Alsop , Ambrose , Ames , Angier , Annesley , Ashe , Ascham ,
Ashmole ;
Barnes , Bates , Baxter , Beaumont , Bentley , Bernard , Blackmore , Bladen ,
Bodley ,
Bolton , Bonnel , Boswel , Bowles , Boyle , Bromley , Buchanan , Burket ,
Busby ; Calamy ,
Camden , Cartwright , Castel , Cave , Cawton , Chadderton ,
Chamberlayn , Chancy , Charlotte ,
Charnock , Chetwynd , Chillingworth , Clarges ,
Clark , Clarkson , Collings , Collier ,
Dodsworth , Dodwell , Doolittle , Dor
rington , Drake
rington
Francis
(Capt.),Dryden , Dugdale , Duport ; Edwards , Ent ,
Evelyn ,
Elstob ; Fairfax , Firmin , Flaherly , Flamsted , Flemming , Floyer ,
Fox , Frankland ; Gale ,
Du Gard , Gascoigne , Gibson , Gilpin , Glisson , Go
dolphin , Goodall , Goodwin , Gouge ,
Gower , Gumble , Gurnall ; Halley , Ham
mond , Hampden , Harley , Harrison , Henry, Herbert,
Herne, Heywood, Hickes,
Hickman, Hickeringil, Higden, Hill, Hildersham, Hobbes, Hody, Holder, Hook,
Hooker, Hopkinson, Howe, Hudson, Humfreys, Hyde; Jacomb, James, Jen
kins, Jenkyn, Johnson (Ben.), Johnston; Keith, Kennet, Kettlewell, King,
Kirke, Knox
dolphin
mond
Hickman, Hickeringil, Higden, Hill, Hildersham, Hobbes, Hody, Holder, Hook,
Hooker, Hopkinson, Howe, Hudson, Humfreys, Hyde; Jacomb, James, Jen
kins, Jenkyn, Johnson (Ben.), Johnston; Keith, Kennet, Kettlewell, King,
Kirke, Knox
Kymberley; Lambarde, Langbain, Lenthall, Le-
Neve, Le-strange, Lesley, Lewys, Lightfoot, Linacre,Lister , Littleton,
Lhoyd(
Neve, Le-strange, Lesley, Lewys, Lightfoot, Linacre,
Lhoyd
Hum. and
Edw.),
Loggan, Lower; Mack-Martin, Madox,
Manton, Marshall, Marsham, Marvel, Mather, Matthewes, Mead, Mickle
thwait, Midgeley, Mildmay, Milner, Molesworth, Molyneux, More, Morice,
Morisone, Morgan, Morland, Morton, Morris, Mountague; Nalson, Nal
ton, Nelson, Newcome, Newcomen, Nowel(
Manton, Marshall, Marsham, Marvel, Mather, Matthewes, Mead, Mickle
thwait, Midgeley, Mildmay, Milner, Molesworth, Molyneux, More, Morice,
Morisone, Morgan, Morland, Morton, Morris, Mountague; Nalson, Nal
ton, Nelson, Newcome, Newcomen, Nowel
Alex. and
Laur.),
Nye; Ogle,
Oley, Olliffe, Otteley, Owen; Pearse, Pearson, Penn, Penton, Pepys, Peters,
Petiver,Petyt , Plot, Pococoke, Pool, Potter,
Preston, Prideaux, Primrose,
Pryor, Purcell, Pymm; Radcliffe, Ralegh(Sir
Oley, Olliffe, Otteley, Owen; Pearse, Pearson, Penn, Penton, Pepys, Peters,
Petiver,
Pryor, Purcell, Pymm; Radcliffe, Ralegh
Walter),
Randolph, Raye,
Rawdon, Rosewell, Rogers, Rule, Rushworth, Russel(Admiral),
Rawdon, Rosewell, Rogers, Rule, Rushworth, Russel
Rycaut,
Rymer; Sacheverell, Sampson, Savile, Scobell, Sedgewick, Selden, Sharp,
Sherburn, Sherlock, Shepard, Shovel(Sir
Rymer; Sacheverell, Sampson, Savile, Scobell, Sedgewick, Selden, Sharp,
Sherburn, Sherlock, Shepard, Shovel
Cloudesley),
Shower, Sibbald, Sid
ney(Sir
ney
Phil.),
Simpson, Skelton, Sloane, Smith, South, Southwell, Spragge,
Spelman, Steel, Stephens, Stretton, Strype, Suckling, Sutherland, Swinburn;
Talbot, Tallents, Tanner, Temple, Thursby, Thwaits, Todd, Towneley, Travers,
Tuckney, Twisse, Tyndal, Tyson; Vernon, Vicars, Vincent, Vyner; Wales,
Walker, Waller, Wallis, Walsingham, Wanley, Ware, Washington, Watson,
Webster, Wentworth, Welwood, Wharton, Wheatley, Wheeler, Whiston, Whit
acre, Whitby, Whitchcote, Whitlock, Whyte, Widdrington, Wild, Williams,
Williamson, Wittie, Wolseley, Woodcock, Woodward, Worthington, Wortley,
Wotton, and
Spelman, Steel, Stephens, Stretton, Strype, Suckling, Sutherland, Swinburn;
Talbot, Tallents, Tanner, Temple, Thursby, Thwaits, Todd, Towneley, Travers,
Tuckney, Twisse, Tyndal, Tyson; Vernon, Vicars, Vincent, Vyner; Wales,
Walker, Waller, Wallis, Walsingham, Wanley, Ware, Washington, Watson,
Webster, Wentworth, Welwood, Wharton, Wheatley, Wheeler, Whiston, Whit
acre, Whitby, Whitchcote, Whitlock, Whyte, Widdrington, Wild, Williams,
Williamson, Wittie, Wolseley, Woodcock, Woodward, Worthington, Wortley,
Wotton
Wren.
As to the Name of that Roman-Station upon the Moor near
-Adel
Mill, I am now enclined to think it was
, because thatBurgo-dunum
having lately by the Favour of my honoured Friend
Peter le NeveEsq
Norroy, had the Perusal of that famous Record,
Domesday-Book, in
her Majesty's Court of
Exchequerat
, I find nearWestminster
, beAdele
twixt
andCucheric
, a Place calledEchope
. Of theBurghedunum
, bothRoman
Burgi
Burgi
. make frequent mention, and the SiCamden , Burton , &c
tuation of the Place upon a Hill, sufficiently accounts for the Termi
of
Burden-head.
Roman
, whencePierse-Bridge
Dr.
(Phil. Col. N°4.) and the Figure of it already twice enLister
graved,
viz. in the new Editions of
(p. 782.) andCamden 's Britannia
's Itinerary (Antoninus
pag. 50.) it is but 11 Inches in Height, and eight
in Breadth. The distinct mention of CONDATI or CONDATE
(for by the Distance from the Side there seem to have been
liniolæan
nexed to I) would almost tempt one to believe, thar
Consleyin that
Neighbourhood was the ancient
, whichCondate
placeth inCamden
, but that the learnedChe
shire
shire
Gale
Conjecture. It will not however be denied, but that
Consleyas well as
was in all Probability then calledCongleton
; and I am the moreCondate
confirmed in my Opinion (
p. 161.) that the
had several CitiesRomans
of the same Name, because my said honoured Friend
Roger GaleEsq
informs me that the
Geographer hath no less than fiveRavennate
Alauna's. The last Line, as I take it, is to be read
ex jussu solvit libente
animo.
animo
'sCamden
BritanniaN. E.
pag. 697
a little in the Form, particularly the Ring in this is not moveable,
nor indeed needs to be so, for the Use
Lhwyd
ing a distinct Place for the fastning of the
Acusor Tongue of the Buckle.
ly met with: I have made a most diligent Inquest after those that
mentions atCamden
Grimscarnear
, but can find no more ReEland
mains of them, than of the noted Inscription,
Paulinus hic prædicavit
& celebravit, at
& celebravit
, which was not to be met with upon theDewsbury
strictest Scrutiny, I could possibly make, when I went purposely to
the Place. This shews the Necessity of Repositories for such vene
rable Remains. But though those of the
fourth Cohortare lost, yet
good Hap hath brought to my Notice and Possession
ninth
Legion's, which the learned
Legion's
Hen. Savile
,Tacitus
shews to have been in
inBritain
's Time, and that it was alsoGalba
; but that it, as well as the VIth and XXth, was also calHispaniensis
led
Victrix, or that it resided at
, was not known before; andYorke
yet both are evident from the Inscription upon this Brick found there,
in
Mickle-gate
Trinity-yard
Funeral Monument of the Standard-Bearer of the said VIIII Legion
(which Way of Writing 9 is frequent upon the
Monies); ofRoman
which see the
Phil. Trans. N° 305
Oxford Livy(Vol.
6. p. 181.)
Camden British Brass
Swords found in
England
and
, to which I may add that others are digg'd up inWales
,Ireland
and the
, that which I received fromIsle of Man
is mentionedDublin
already,
pag. 473. Since which I have been honoured with some va
luable Curiosities from the Learned
Sodor and Man
which is one of the Brass
in that Island.
As Prologues were contrived by Poets to let the Auditory into
the Design of the Drama: So Authors have found it necessary to exhibit their
Prefaces to give the Reader an Idea of the import of their Writings;
Conformable whereunto, I shall here, not only acquaint the Reader what to
expect in the following Sheets, but also that the motive which induced me to
the Undertaking, resulted from a Common Complaint, That
I communicated my purpose in this Affair to a Relation of mine,
that had travelled
and
who intirely advised
the pursuing and finishing my Design, as a thing both Novel and Useful: And
I am assured that the Matter contained in the Subsequent Pages will
prepare our
Youth, not only to answer many curious Enquiries, but will also furnish them with Topicks proper to entertain the most Judicious in Conversation: And this small Treatise will consequently be of use to such as Travel to see
who by this Auxiliary Companion may save much Time, Pains, and Expence, and yet return Home with a larger share of the knowledge of what is most Remarkable, than if they had undertaken an Expedition through each County Personally.
And that this Book might prove the more adapt for the two
Purposes above, I have contracted it into as few Words as the Subject would
well admit of, which renders it a portable Vade Mecum, of Matters both Profitable and Diverting.
The most remarkable things contained therein are Reducible, 1.
To CURIOSITIES in NATURE, as
petrifying Water and Earth, as at
&c. Such Waters as are Hot and
Physical, as those of
&c. such as are Cold and Purging, as
&c. Others
that in Pooles, Fountains, Wells and Ponds do Ebb and Flow, as those at
&c. Some that are both Laxative and
Restringent; others Salt and Fresh, in Wells, not exceeding two yards distance from each other, as those near
&c. Some on whose Surface floateth Liquid Pitch, others that cast up small Bones, and some that burn like Brandy, as those at
in
and nearWigan , &c. There are also
accounts of Subteranious Rivers, as the
at
&c. Likewise ofAbisles, Clefts,
andCaverns,
as
&c. at
thePeak
near
and in the
Isle ofPortland
&c. An account likewise of
and other strange Stones; as those found at
in
&c. Also the highest Hills, and largest Lakes; as
&c. in
and
And of
&c. in
As to Vegetal things you have an account of a perfect Chair of Natural Growth, the usefulness of the Coco-tree, strange Nature of Saffron, &c. as on
Page29. 44, 46
Also various instances of Animal Curiosities, as the Cameleon (that lives on the Air,) one Joint of the Vertebra of a Whale30 l.
Weight, &c. in theRoyal Society
Repository ; the rib of another Whale 21 Foot long; an account of
the Man that slept near 5 Months; The Woman who had 19 Children at 3
Births the prodigious Skeleton of a Man, &c.
as on
Page7, 21, 43, 55, 120, &c
Also an account of the most pleasant Situations, as those of
the
and of
St. Edmundsbury&c.
It may not be improper after this short Specimen of the
Natural, to give some instances of the ARTIFICIAL CURIOSITIES in this Book mentioned. And these are either Monuments of
Antiquity, as the Ruins of Old Castles, Monasteries, Walls, &c. Or the Reliques of
Camps, Garisons, Stations, Trophies, Coins, Altars, Urns,
Pavements of Mosaic Work, &c. as those at
on the Wouldand many other places; other Ancient Monuments, as
Page 11 or those of like kind at
that
near
in
&c. Others are of
Stones Separate but erected, as the
near
those so
vastly Large and Numerous, near
in
&c.
The Barrows, or
Artificial Hills, how they were made;
and the spacious Trenches, Dykes, &c.
as at
&c.
,
’s, and that termed
the Devils, &c. as in
near
&c.
The Ancient Monuments of Kings and great Personages, as of
at
at
at
the Confessorand many other
Kings of
at
King John’s at
Duke Humphrey’s at
St. Albansthe TempleVenerable Bedeat
&c. You will
also find notice taken of the most Beautiful Churches, as
St. Paul’sand others; and also the Altitude of the most remarkable
Steeples, &c. in
as
St. Paul’sand the Monument in
&c. And the stately and most observable Bridges,
as
&c. together with the
Beautiful and Spacious
Market Cross at
Coventryand the Chapels and Houses cut in
Rocks.
And here I shall observe that the Study of Antiquity is a most
delectable Amusement, and in many cases very much tends to Advantage both
National and Personal; It affords to the Antiquary a kind of Satisfaction,
like his who hath lived many Centuries, giving him a prospect of things both
in their Ancient and Modern States, and of the great mutability in
Empires, Kingdoms, Towns, Families, Languages, Customs, &c.
the Improvement, and Decay of some, and totall Extinction of others.
But craving the Readers Favour on Account of this small
Digression: I proceed to acquaint him with other artificial Curiosities in
this Treatise: As a Machine for Ploughing, Sowing, and Harrowing at the same
time; most admirable Turned Work; a wonderful Burning-Glass; a
Geometrical Floor, and many other Rarities about
as in the
the Tower of London&c. and
the
Two Universities, which are so
numerous as not to admit of so much as being here named, but the Reader will
find them in the Book,
Pages 33, &c 57, &c. and 76, &cas he will notice taken
of the Cartoons (at
said to be
the most Noble Pieces of Painting in
Page
51In which curious Art there are extraordinary
Performances to be seen, at others of the Queens Palaces, and at the Houses
of most of the Nobility, and many of the Gentry. Of which Seats of
Noblemen I have in this Treatise given an Account shewing the
Situation of some Hundreds, which are generally speaking not only adorn’d
with Elegant Painture as above hinted, but also with delightful Gardens,
Pleasant Walks, Airy Vistoes, Sprightly Statues, Spacious Canals, Artful
Fountains, Cascade, and other aquatical Curiosities; and many of
the Houses
of ourGentlemen
are not deficient in all or most of the like Beauty and Ornament, although I have not room (this Book being intended an Enchiridion) to insist on them particularly. TheHalls
ofCompany’s,
and many of theMerchants Houses
are stately Structures, richly Finished; and especially the
and
described in brief,
Page46, &c
You’ll find also herein, an Account of some things which have
an Aspect Supernatural or Miraculous, as the Motion of
near
the druming
Wells at
the
River Womernear
the budding Oak
in
the
Relations given, whereof being so surprisingly unaccountable, that were they
not asserted as Truth by reputable Authors, as
&c. I should have passed them by as
Incredibilities.
Having inserted, as above, a Summary Account of Natural and
Artificial Things which are Curious and Remarkable
contained in the following Treatise: I do farther acquaint the Reader that
he will also find many observables Historical and Geographical: As the places of Birth and
Interment of some of our Kings (not commonly known) and of Men Eminent for
Learning, &c. The unusual and
&c. And I have shewed the distance of places treated on, from their respective County Towns (or some other of good Note) and of each Shire, Town, and middle of each County from
as near as I could measure them by the Maps; which last Dimensions are inserted in the Scheme or Table to fold up, containing likewise upwards of 20 Columns of so many different things, as I judged most material and proper for a Strangers Cognisance.
The Appendix was an after Thought, to
which I was induced by considering it might be of use to Strangers that they
be acquainted with our Manner and Charge of Travelling, and of Carriages. The
Account given of the Market-Towns in each County, with the Days
of Markets and Fairs may serve
to give him a Notion of the Largeness and
Populousnessthereof: For as those of a Town may be
supposed by the Number of Markets it hath in each Week: So may the County by
the Multiplicity of Market-Towns, and Fairs Annually therein; by both
which may be formed a Judgment of the Vastness of our Inland Trade:
Especially if it be farther consider’d. That there are very many small Towns
(not Markets) which yet have Fairs; so that there is scarce a day in the
Year which hath not a Fair held on it
the First
and
the25th
theFirst
and
And the Catalogue ofMarkets
andFairs
will also be in many respects further necessary for such who Travel the Country with any Species of Goods or Wares, and do consequently frequent such Concourses.
Thus far the Subject: As to Method
I have not thought it best to treat of the several
Counties in Alphabetical Order, but as they lie Contiguous: And in the
Scheme folded up at the end of the Book. I have regarded the Alphabet, the
second Column towards the Left Hand contains References to the Pages where
the Counties are inserted.
I did not intend to have erected a Portico of half the
Magnitude, to so small a Structure; but if the Disproportion should be
objected, I have this to answer; that the Nature of the Work doth more than
ordinarily require the setting its Contents in a due
Light this way (the Title Page not being sufficient for that end) and I
cannot (on that account) see where the Preface admits
of Sublation. I shall only add that both my Design and Endeavour have not
been wanting to render the Composition such as that the Variety of
Curiosities comprised in a Volumn so small and portable, might (with
the Copiousness and Novelty of the Scheme) answer the Expectation of the
Reader; and (together with the well timing of the Publication) that of the
Bookseller.
1712
Monuments at
the AbbyCloudsly Shovell, (the Famous Admiral,)Stepny, a Foreign
Embassador&c. in the S. Isle. Of Divines, Antiquaries, Poets, &c. As BarrowOughtramBusbyHorneckCamdenS. Stem of the Cross Isle. And not far from the W. end of the Church, and near the N. side is the Inscription, O Rare Ben Johnson, in Memory of that
Poet.