study, after his death. Mr. Camden set a great value upon it. I suppose it was presented by the author to Mr. Camden. Philemon Holland's translation came out in 1610, which was the year in which Knolles died.""

From this note of Hearne, Mr. Beloe very naturally suspects, that, Camden might have lent Knolles's translation to Holland, as he communicated with him on the subject; and consequently, that Holland's is not his own genuine translation-a fact, however, which (as he observes) may be ascertained by examining the MS. referred to in the Ashmolean collection.

Mr. Gough's translation appeared in 1789, (from the edition of 1607,) enlarged by the latest discoveries, and illustrated with a new set of maps, and other copper-plates. This work was the result of many years' travel, inquiry, and labour.

Camden informs us, that he was employed ten years in compiling his Britannia; and that the plan of the publication was suggested to him by Ortelius, the geographer; ́though he had been before employed in making collections. Ortelius coming to England, applied to Camden for information respecting

VOL. II.

the state of the country; and learning what he had done, persuaded him to enlarge his materials, and prepare them for the public eye. To accomplish himself for this arduous undertaking, he had to learn the British and Saxon languages, to peruse the ancient English historians, and to survey various parts of England. All this he performed with indefatigable perseverance; and has thus erected a monument, alike to his own and his country's honour. He put the last hand to this great work, in 1607, and now obtained the flattering titles of the Varro, the Strabo, and the Pausanias of his age.

2. While master of Westminster school, he drew up a Greek Grammar, which is still considered as a good introduction to that language. This grammar, however, was not properly speaking his own; but merely an abridgment of a more copious one compiled by his predecessor, Mr. Edward Grant.

3. During his intervals of leisure from school-occupation, a common recreation with him was, to view the monuments in the Abbey, of which he published a catalogue in → 1600; and some fragments still remain of a similar list which he had begun of the monu

ments in the churches and chapels of Oxford.

4. In 1603, was published at Francfort, his volume of "English Historians," The Latin title of this book is-Anglica, Normanica, Hibernica, Cambrica, a veteribus Descripta : ex quibus Asser Menevensis, Anonymus de Vitâ Gulielmi Conquestoris, Thomas Walsingham, Thomas de la More, Gulielmus Genuticensis, Giraldus Cambrensis; plerique nunc in lucem editi ex bibliotheca Gulielmi Camdeni. Francofurti, folio, 1603. This collection has been of great utility: for it has served as the common source of documents for all our modern histories.

5. The following year he published his "Remains," which he dedicated to his friendsir Robert Cotton. The title complete is"Remains of a Greater Work concerning Britain, the Inhabitants thereof, their Languages, Names, Surnames, Impresses, Wise Speeches, Poesies, and Epitaphs;" London, 1605, 4to. The design of this work was, to preserve to posterity a great variety of curious things communicated to him, while making collections for his Britannia, and which he probably thought did not exactly accord

with the main object of that more finished work.

6. On the discovery of the gun-powder plot, Camden was pitched upon by James, to draw up in Latin a statement of the whole affair, with a view to justify the king's proceedings against the conspirators, and to give timely notice to the reformed churches of Europe, of the inveterate animosity of the Catholics. This production was also published in 1607, and was among the books expressly prohibited by the church of Rome.

7. His last work was the "Annals of Queen Elizabeth," begun in the year 1597, but not published till 1615. It came no lower down than 1589. At the instance of his friends, he was induced to continue it; but his second volume did not appear till after his death, in 1625.

8. From the death of queen Elizabeth to his own, he kept a diary of all the remarkable transactions in the reign of her successor, James. This was afterwards published, together with his Letters..

9. Being a member of the society of antiquaries, he wrote also many learned and curious essays on British Antiquities. The pre

servation of a few of these we owe to the industry of Thomas Hearne. I shall select one of them as forming a complete, if not the best extract which might have been found.

Of the Antiquity, Office, and Privilege of Heralds in England.

Among all civil nations, since civility first entered the world, there have been officers of arms as mediators to negociate peace and war between princes and countries. The ancient Greeks called them Kýgures, , by whose mediation solemn covenants with their enemies were made. They were men of especial reputation, and carried for their ensign a Caduceus, whereupon they were also called Caduceatores, which was a white staff, whereunto were fixed two serpents, male and female, whereunto was added afterwards Copia-cornu. The staff was white, in token of simple truth; the serpents betokened wisdom; both sexes, as also the Copia-cornu, betokened fruitful increase and plenty, the companions of peace. They were sent to redeem captives, to treat of peace, to procure safe conducts for ambassadors, to require the dead bodies to be buried. Inviolable they were in the greatest rage of war, and reputed men of a divine original, as first descended from Kńguxos, the son of Mercury, of whom they were named Kneuxes,