An Account of a Map of Kent Dated 1596

86 AN ACCOUNT OP A MAP OP KENT DATED 1596. 21 by 16 inches, and includes the whole of Sussex and Middlesex, and parts of Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Essex, as well as Kent. As regards details, Saxton only gives symbols for churches and shews no roads, and in other respects is distinctly inferior to Symonson. Before drawing attention to the numerous valuable and, in some respects, unique features of Symonson's map, I will deal with its date and reprints. The impression which I have before me, and of which a reduced facsimile (if I may be excused the expression) is herewith given, bears two dates. My attention was first drawn to this fact by a MS. note in the copy of Philipot's Villare Cantianum, in the handwriting of the well-known antiquary William Twopeny. The note refers to this copy of the map, which was inserted in the volume. Twopeny says: " The map inserted in this volume appears to be an impression of it in its original state. The original date, 1576, is nearly effaced from the copper, 1596 being inserted near it." In order to obtain further information on this point I enquired at the British Museum, the Bodleian, and the Guildhall, but none of them possessed a copy; nor, indeed had they ever heard of one. I also communicated with Sir George Fordham, whose knowledge of .cartography, more especially in connection with English county maps, is second to none, and with Dr. Cock of Appledore, but neither of those two great authorities could assist me. It will be noticed that in the bottom right-hand corner one can read clearly the date 1596, and, in the extreme corner, but appearing very faintly, the date 1576* Considering the manner in which this map has been dealt with at later dates, it seems to be desirable to give contemporary corroborative evidence of the date of its publication. Lambarde, iu the second edition of his Perambution of Kent, published in 1596, says: " Divers other smal pipes of water there be . . . . which I may the better passe over with silence, because they may with more pleasure bee * This second date on all the impressions of the map that I have seen is exceedingly faint, so that it is difficult to be certain about it, but I, on the whole, agree with the late Mr. Twopeny that its correct reading is 1576.