Speculum Britanniae. The first parte an historicall, & chorographicall discription of Middlesex. Wherin are also alphabeticallie sett downe, the names of the cyties, townes, parishes hamletes, howses of name &c. W.th direction spedelie to finde anie place desired in the mappe & the distance betwene place and place without compasses. Cum priuilegio

This is the first part of an ambitious project to provide historical and general guides to every county, accompanied by an improved map of the same. The attempt however failed through lack of adequate support. Only the Middlesex and Hertfordshire parts (published in 1593 and 1598 respectively) were completed, though the maps of Surrey, Sussex, probably Hampshire and possibly Kent and Northamptonshire were engraved and issued. The Brotherton Library copy contains a map of Middlesex and pictorial plans of the cities of London and Westminster. The map of Middlesex was the earliest printed map on which roads were shown.--Whitaker: The Harold Whitaker Collection... Univ. of Leeds, 1947, p. 126.

The title page is engraved. In this issue (Variant 1) the title-page is unsigned. Another issue of 1593 is signed "Pieter Vanden Keere scalp: [sic] 1593".

Identification of printer from STC.

With Elizabeth I's arms on [A]2v. Variant 2: this page blank.

With an Anglo-Saxon alphabet on [A]4v. Variant 3: quire [A] in another, probably earlier setting, lacking the alphabet.

Running title reads: Middlesex I. pars Speculi Britanniæ.

With a final leaf of verses and errata.

Includes index.