William Camden

William Camden (May 2, 1551–November 9, 1623) was an English antiquarian and historian. He wrote the first topographical survey of Britain and the first detailed historical account of the reign of Elizabeth I.

Britannia

In 1577, with the encouragement of Abraham Ortelius, Camden began his great work Britannia, a topographical and historical survey of all of Britain. His stated intention was "to restore antiquity to Britaine, and Britaine to its antiquity." The first edition was published in 1586. The work, which was written in Latin, was very popular, going into seven editions by 1607. The first English translation, prepared by Philemon Holland (probably under Camden's direction) appeared in 1610.

Related Topics:
Abraham Ortelius - Philemon Holland

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Britannia is a county-by-county description of Britain. It is a work of chorography: a study that relates landscape, geography, antiquarianism and history. Rather than write a history, Camden wanted to describe in detail the Britain of the present, and to show how the traces of the past could be discerned in the existing landscape. By this method he produced the first coherent picture of Roman Britain.

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He continued to collect materials and to revise and expand Britannia throughout his life. He drew on the published and unpublished work of John Leland and William Lambarde, among others, and received the assistance of a large network of correspondents with similar interests. He did not simply accept older authorities unquestioningly, but travelled through Britain and looked at documents, sites and artifacts for himself. His firsthand research set new standards for the time. He even learned Welsh and Old English for the task. (Camden's tutor in Old English was Lawrence Nowell, who later left Camden his library.) The result is one of the great achievements of sixteenth century scholarship.

Related Topics:
John Leland - William Lambarde - Lawrence Nowell

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In 1593, Camden became Headmaster of Westminster School. He held the post for four years, but left when he was appointed Clarenceux King of Arms. By this time, he was a well-known and revered figure, and the appointment was meant to free him from the labor of teaching and to facilitate his research. (The College of Arms at that time was not only a center of genealogical and heraldic study, but a center of antiquarian study as well.) The appointment, however, roused the jealousy of the herald Ralph Brooke, who in retaliation published an attack on Britannia, charging Camden with inaccuracy and plagiarism. Camden successfully defended himself against the charges in subsequent editions of the work.

Related Topics:
King of Arms - College of Arms

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