Elizabethan England / From 'A Description of England,' by William Harrison
ELIZABETHAN ENGLAND: FROM “A DESCRIPTION OF ENGLAND,” BY WILLIAM HARRISON (IN “HOLINSHED’S CHRONICLES”). EDITED BY LOTHROP WITHINGTON, WITH INTRODUCTION BY F. J. FURNIVALL, LL.D.
LONDON: WALTER SCOTT, 24 WARWICK LANE, PATERNOSTER ROW.
“And yet see the change, for when our houses were builded of willow, then had we oken men; but now that our houses are come to be made of oke, our men are not onlie become willow, but a great manie, through Persian delicacie crept in among vs, altogither of straw, which is a sore alteration.
—when he describes the beauty, virtue, learning, and housewifery, of Queen Elizabeth’s Maids of Honour, he yet acknowledges that as the men
“our common courtiers (for the most part) are the best lerned and indued with excellent gifts, so are manie of them the worst men, when they come abroad, that anie man shall either heare or read of.”
Harrison’s book will inform and amuse the reader.
kept his eyes open to everything going on round him, and lookt after his parishioners, when he wasn’t writing his Description of England in London, or visiting at Lord Cobham’s house in Kent.
On April 23, 1586, William Harrison was appointed Canon of Windsor, and was installd the day after. The Dean has kindly sent me the following extract from the Chapter Book, St. George’s Chapel, Windsor—
For the following abstract of Harrison’s Will, I am indebted to Colonel Chester—
William Harrison
The Camelot Series.
Edited by Ernest Rhys.
ELIZABETHAN ENGLAND.
CONTENTS.
EDITORIAL NOTE.
HARRISON’S PREFACE.
CHAPTER I.
OF CITIES AND TOWNS IN ENGLAND.
OF GARDENS AND ORCHARDS.
OF FAIRS AND MARKETS.
OF THE LAWS OF ENGLAND SINCE HER FIRST INHABITATION.
OF THE ANCIENT AND PRESENT ESTATE OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND.
OF THE FOOD AND DIET OF THE ENGLISH.
OF OUR APPAREL AND ATTIRE.
OF PROVISION MADE FOR THE POOR.
OF THE AIR AND SOIL AND COMMODITIES OF THIS ISLAND.
OF SUNDRY MINERALS AND METALS.
OF CATTLE KEPT FOR PROFIT.
OF WILD AND TAME FOWLS.
OF SAVAGE BEASTS AND VERMIN.
OF OUR ENGLISH DOGS AND THEIR QUALITIES.
OF FISH USUALLY TAKEN UPON OUR COASTS.
OF QUARRIES OF STONE FOR BUILDING.
OF WOODS AND MARSHES.
OF PARKS AND WARRENS.
OF PALACES BELONGING TO THE PRINCE.
OF ARMOUR AND MUNITION.
OF THE NAVY OF ENGLAND.
OF SUNDRY KINDS OF PUNISHMENT APPOINTED FOR OFFENDERS.
OF UNIVERSITIES.
A.—Holinshed’s Dedication.
B.—An Elizabethan Survey of England.
C.—Somebody’s Quarrel with Harrison.
D.—Harrison’s Chronology.
THE CAMELOT SERIES.
GREAT WRITERS.
The Canterbury Poets.