Old Hampshire Mapped

Blome's Geography

The Preface / to the Reader.

[ der] but with such things and places that are note-worthy, either for antiquity, or concernment as to matter of Trade and Commerce: nor can it in reason be expected that large Discourses should be made, if they consider that I am confined to the narrow limits of a Twenty shillings Volume.

That as to the Mapps, I cannot justifie them without fault; yet I may say, they are not much inferiour to the best yet extant for truth, though for sightliness (as being in a smaller Scale) they may be (by some) deemed not so graceful; and I hope the Reader will be so partial as not to condemn them for their faults until they have recourse to those of Speeds from which they were taken, for I do not pretend to a new survey. And I am of the opinion, That there are none (nor ever will be any) made without faults, either in the position, omission or miscalling of places, the courses of Rivers, the division, form, or extent of the Country: yet there may be some that by new Surveys may pretend to do much in the rectifying all such errors, and to make them faultless, which I should be heartily glad to see, as being a Work of such general good.

And being unwilling to give birth to a Volume that shall have nothing new in it, I have (with no small pains and expence) collected an Alphabetical Catalogue of the Names, Titles, and Seats of the Nobility and Gentry that each County of England and Wales is (or lately was) enobled with, hoping in the whole the Reader may find matter to please his phansie, which may make it favourably accepted of, and embolden me to proceed with the remainder of my Volumes.

But the Reader is desired to take notice that the framing of such a Catalogue, with restriction to such a County or Seat, is a thing ruffled with so many contingencies, that exactness is scarce ever attainable, the thing in it self bearing so much repugnancy, for there are several Gentlemen that can no more be said to be of one County then of another, having either Estates in one, and Mansion-houses in another, or equal Lands and equal residence in both. Again, some of the ancient houses, through decay have only noted residence, no noted Estates; others, Lands no fixed residence; others are Tenants here, owners elsewhere; / and
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and others wealthy in money, but landed no where. And it appears that a Gentleman may be as well known by the place where he hath sometime lived, as where he hath been some time landed (especially in a felling age as ours is.) Now this design being comprehensive, and to furnish such as are conversant in Honour, with hints for further discoveries; it is thought convenient to give as many instances as do occur of such Families of note, as now are (or lately were) known to be seated, dwelling, or possessors of Estates in each County of England and Wales. And if any shall find himself grieved by omission, when others of less eminency are taken notice of, or that he hath not right done him in his Name, Titles, or Seat: I must give this for my plea, That there is no corn without some chaff, and for such omissions or mistakes, I am altogether ignorant of, presuming the information I received (being from the hands of Persons so knowing in the several Counties as well by reason of their public Offices as otherwise) was true, and my sufficient warrant for the same. But if they please to give themselves the trouble to inform me of the same; for the present I shall beg their pardon, and for the future be ready to serve them, and do them right.

But before I conclude, it will not be unnecessary to acquaint the Reader with my next Volume, hoping that some that are concerned in this, may be also encouragers thereof; an account of which is as followeth. The Volume shall contein two Parts, or Tomes; the first shall be a Geographical Description of the four parts of the world, being a Translation from the Works of the famous Monsieur Sanson late Geographer to the French King; to which are inserted the Commodities, Coyns, and Measures (as to the matter of Trade with England) of the chief Cities and places of Traffick in the known World, as they were received from the hands of divers eminent Merchants: And as an Appendix there is added a Treatise of Travel, and another of Traffick; and for the further utility are added divers Mapps of the particular Kingdomes. And this Volume is already printed.

The Second Part (which is now in the Press) is a Translation from the Works of the much esteemed Geographer Varenius; and treateth of the Arts of Cosmography and Geography. Wherein / are
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are at large handled all such Arts as are necessary to be understood for the true knowledge thereof; as the use of the Globes, and other Mathematical Instruments, the Arts of Navigation and Dyalling, and the making of Mapps and Sea-Charts, &c. to which shall be added the much wanted Schemes omitted by the Author. And for the further compleating the same, shall be added about 100 Geographical and Hydrographical Tables of all the known Countries, Kingdomes and Isles in the World; with their chief Cities, Sea-port Towns, &c. And for England and Wales, there shall be added an Alphabetical Account of all the Cities, Towns, Villages, &c. shewing in what County, and in what hundred or wapontack in the said County they are seated; by which means any Town, Village or Hamlet may be readily found out in the Mapp of the County in which it is seated. And this Part shall be finished by or before Hillary Terme next, and ready to be delivered to those that are, or shall be concerned therein, paying for both Parts 10s. to wit 20s. when they subscribe, for which if they please they shall receive the first Part, and 20s. upon the delivery of the Second; as aforesaid. Farewell.

Richard Blome.