William Hole + Michael Drayton, 1622

Map 9 - Lancashire + IoM

Based very loosely on Saxton?

William Hole engraved the title page for the 1st edition (1612) and is assumed to have engraved the maps.
12 new maps in part 2 (maps in part 1 originally published 1612) illustrating songs by M Drayton

Little geographical value; only rivers and major hills shown (probably as decoration!) (Snaefel misplaced in South of Island!) with allegorical figures placed at rivers etc.

This long poetical work is in 30 parts or 'songs ', of which the 27th describes Lancashire and the Isle of Man. The factual information follows Camden's description, but Drayton's treatment has a quality all its own

POLY-OLBION: (part of the) SEVEN AND TWENTIETH SONG

The Sea-Nymphs with their Song, so great a coyle doe keepe,
They cease not to resound it over all the Deepe,
And acted it each day before the Isle of Man,
Who like an Empresse sits in the Virgivian,
By her that hath the Calfe, long Walney, and the Pyle,
As Hand-mayds to attend on her their Soveraigne Isle,
To whom, so many though the Hebrides do show,
Acknowledge, that to her they due subjection owe
With Come and Cattell stor'd, and what for hers is good,
(That we, nor Ireland, need not scorne her neighbourhood)
Her midst with Mountaines set, of which, from Sceafels height,
A cleere and perfect eye, the weather being bright,
(Be Neptunes visage ne'r so terrible and sterne)
The Scotch, the Irish Shores, and th'English may discerne ;
And what an Empire can, the same this Island brings
Her Pedigrees to show, her right successive Kings,
Her Chronicles and can as easily rehearce,
And with all forraine parts to have had free commerce ;
Her Municipiall Lawes, and Customes very old,
Belonging to her State, which strongly shee doth hold:
This Island, with the Song of Lun is taken so,
As shee hath speciall cause before all other, who
For her bituminous Turfe, squar'd from her Mossy ground,
And trees farre under earth, by daily digging found.,
As for the store of Oats, which her black Gleabe doth beare,
In every one of these resembling Lancashire,
To her shee'l stoutly stick, as to her neerest kin,
And cries the day is ours, brave Lancashire doth win.

(Note: The Virgivian = the Irish Sea, and is presumed to derive from Ptolemy-Mare Virgivium.
' Lun ' is the river Lune, taken here to personify Lancashire.)

References

Chubb XXXV; Skelton 13

Appeared in:

A Chorographicall Description of Great Britain by Michael Drayton Esquire London, Printed for John Marriot, John Grismand and Thomas Dewe 1622
The second part, or a Continuance of Poly-Olbion from the eighteenth Song London Printed by Augustine Mathewes for John Marriot, John Grismand and Thomas Dewe 1622

Reproduced 1890 by Spencer Soc.




Any comments, errors or omissions gratefully received The Editor © F.Coakley , 2004