Breknoke (Breconshire) by John Speed

Code: 53397

Author: John Speed

Date published: 1676

Bassett and Chiswell edition (1676). Long title:Breknoke (Breconshire)Both Shyre and Towne described Copper engraving with later hand colouring. Overall size : 54cms x 40.6cms. Image size : 507mm x 381mm. Title in cartouche, coat of arms above. Scale of distance. Inset plan of Brecon. Prince of Wales feathers and royal lions in two cartouches. English text on verso detailing historical and geographical features including: a County neither very large, nor greatly to be praised or disliked of.......Hay upon Wye and Dulas, pleasant for situation, in the rebellion of Owen Glendowerdwy, was diswalled, depopulated and burnt, in whose foundations for new repairs, many Roman coins have been found and thereby thought to be a seat of their Legion: etc. One small archival repair at centrefold on verso else no tears or repairs but show through in blank areas is quite noticeable hence price. Until his late thirties, John Speed was a tailor by trade but his passion for history and map-making led him to gain a patron in Sir Fulke Greville, the poet and statesman, who found him a post in the customs and helped subsidize his map-making, giving him "full liberty to express the inclination of my mind"". He became aquainted with the publisher William Camden