240
CHRISTOPHER SAXTON, DRAUGHTSMAN OF
THE OLDEST KNOWN MAP OF ESSEX.
By JOHN AVERY, C.A.
[Read December 17th, 1898.]
At the meeting above referred to, Mr. Avery exhibited a very fine copy of
a map of Essex, supposed to be the oldest in existence, dated 1576,
and made some remarks on Saxton's life and works, which are embodied in
the following notes. The next oldest map is probably that left in M.S. by
John Norden, 1594, a facsimile copy of which was, by the kindness of Mr.
Winstone, presented to our readers with Volume I. of the Essex Naturalist.
This was not, however, actually published until 1840. In the same volume Mr.
Winstone gave a reproduction of Robert Morden's map, 1695, being one of
the series of maps of the Counties of England given in Gibson's edition of
Camden's Britannia.—Ed.]
Christopher Saxton, topographical draughtsman, to whom
we are indebted for the first maps of the counties in England and
Wales, was born of an old Yorkshire family at Tingley in Mosley
Hundred, near Leeds. He is said to have been partly educated
at Cambridge, but at what College is not known. He was
attached to the household of Thomas Seckford, Esq., Master of
the Requests to Queen Elizabeth and Master of the Court of
Wards. At Seckford's instigation and expense and with the
authority of Queen Elizabeth, Saxton undertook to survey and
draw careful maps of every county in England and Wales, and
for this purpose spent nine years in travelling over the whole
Kingdom. This was the first survey of the English Counties,
and all subsequent maps of the period were based upon them.
Seckford obtained for Saxton from the Privy Council special
facilities "to be assisted in all places where he shall come for the
view of such places to describe certain counties in cartes, being
thereunto appointed by her Majestie's bill under her signet."
Travelling in Wales being a matter of difficulty, special injunc-
tions were sent in 1576 "to all Justices of Peace, Mayors, and
others in Wales to see him conducted unto any towne, castle,
highe place, or hill, to view that countrey, and that he may be
accompanied with two or three honest men, such as do best know
the country for the better accomplishment of that service ; and
that at his departure from any towne or place that he hath taken
the view of, the said towne do set forth a horseman that can
speke both Welshe and Englishe, to safe conduct him to the next
Market Towne."