Norden, John
, an industrious topographer, classed
by Wai pole and Strutt among engravers, seems to have
been horn in Wiltshire about 1548, and admitted of Hartball, Oxford, in 1564. He proceeded A. M. in 1573. He
bad patronage, but little else, from the great Burleigh;
and in his old age obtained jointly with his son the place
of surveyor to the prince of Wales. He lived in narrow
circumstances at Fulham and Hendon, and died about
1626. Wood ascribes to him fifteen devotional pieces,
though he doubts if they were really written by him, and
Granger, who describes a print of him, thinks they must
have been his father’s. As a topographer, however, we are
more certain of his productions. He surveyed the county
of Essex in 1584, and Hertfordsire and Middlesex in 1593;
and besides these, he executed the maps of Cornwall,
Hampshire, Surrey, and Sussex, all which, except those
of Herts and Hants, were copied, with additions, into
“Speed’s Theatre.” He was the first that inserted the
roads. His map of Surrey was much larger and more
exact than any of his others. Among his published works
are, “England; an intended guyde for English travailers,
&c.” Lond. 1625, 4to; “Speculum Britanniae, a topographical and historical description of Cornwall,” 1728, 4to.
It was published from a very old ms. in the British Museum,
Mss. Karl. 6252. Mr. Gough says that the better part of
this most finished of Norden’s works is a mere transcript of
Carew; from the other parts very little of moment is to be
learned; and no stress is to be laid on his drawings. Norden wrote also an account of the estate of the dutchy of
Cornwall, the right by which the duke holds his estates,
and many of the customs of the manors; which was once
deposited in the duchy office. Another of his publications,
is “Speculum Britanniae, or an historical and chorographical description of Middlesex and Hertfordshire,” 1573,
4to, reprinted 1637. and 1723. The Middlesex part was
the first of his labours there is a copy of it among the
Harleian Mss. No. 570, supposed to be in Norden’s own
writing, which differs from the printed books both in the
| arrangement and the additions made to it. The last of
this kind was his “Speculum Brit, pars altera, or a delineation of Northamptonshire,” Lond. 1720, 8vo. This is the
most superficial of all his surveys, except in a few towns;
nor were the map and plans of Peterborough and Northampton referred to in it ever engraved. Norden was not
only a practical surveyor, but wrote a good treatise on the
subject, entitled “The Surveyor’s Dialogue, &c.” 1607,
4to. Of this an account, with extracts, is given in the
Cens. Lit. vol. I. There are some Mss. by Norden in the
British Museum and other public libraries. 1
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Works found by this author (or others with similar names) in the Early English Books Online Collection:
A pensiue mans practise Very profitable for all personnes, wherein are conteyned verie deuout and necessary prayers for sundry godlie purposes. VVith requisite perswasions before euery prayer. VVritten by Iohn Norden.Pensive mans practise. Part 1 (1584) by Norden, John, 1548-1625?
A sinfull mans solace most sweete and comfortable, for the sicke and sorowful soule: contriued, into seuen seuerall daies conference, betweene Christ and a carelesse sinner. Wherin, euerie man, from the highest, to the lowest: from the richest, to the poorest: and aboue all, the sorowfull sinner: maye take such sweet repaste of resolution, to amendment of lyfe, and confirmation of fayth: that (in respect of the heauenlie solace, therin faithfully remembered:) all the pompes and pleasures of this wicked worlde, shall be plainely perceiued to be meere miserie. Writcen [sic], by Iohn Norden. (1585) by Norden, John, 1548-1625?
A mirror for the multitude, or Glasse Wherein maie be seene, the violence, the error, the weaknesse, and rash consent, of the multitude, and the daungerous resolution of such, as without regard of the truth, endeaour to sinne and ioyne themselues with the multitude: with a necessary conclusion, that it is not the name, or title of a protestant, christian, or catholicke, but the true imitation of Christ, that maketh a Christian. By I.N. (1586) by Norden, John, 1548-1625?
A path-way to penitence with sundry deuout prayers, fruiteful aduertisementes, and wholesome counsailes of godly fathers towards the amendement of life and some withdrawing of the bridle of ouer-much liberty taken. (1591) by Norden, John, 1548-1625?
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. By the trauaile and vew of Iohn Norden. Anno 1593Speculum Britanniae. Part 1 (1593) by Norden, John, 1548-1625?
Surrey Jo. Nordenus deliniauit 1594 ; Carolus Whitwell sculpsit. (1594) by Norden, John, 1548-1625?
A christian familiar comfort and incouragement vnto all English subiects, not to dismaie at the Spanish threats Whereunto is added an admonition to all English Papists, who openly or couertly couet a change. With requisite praiers to almightie God for the preseruation of our queene and countrie. By the most vnworthie I.N.Christian familiar comfort and incouragement unto all English subjects, not to dismaie at the Spanish threats. (1596) by Norden, John, 1548-1625?
A progresse of pietie. Or the harbour of heauenly harts ease to recreate the afflicted soules of all such as are shut vp in anye inward or outward affliction. By Iohn Norden. (1596) by Norden, John, 1548-1625?
Nordens preparatiue to his Speculum Britanniæ. Intended a reconciliation of sundrie propositions by diuers person tendred, concerning the same. (1596) by Norden, John, 1548-1625?
The mirror of honor wherein euerie professor of armes, from the generall, chieftaines and high commanders, to the priuate officer and inferiour souldier, may see the necessitie of the feare and seruice of God, and the vse of all diuine vertues, both in commanding and obeying, practising and proceeding in the most honorable affayres of warre. A treatise most necessarie ... (1597) by Norden, John, 1548-1625?
1598 Speculi Britan[n]iæ pars the description of Hartfordshire by Iohn Norden.Speculum Britanniae. Part 2 (1598) by Norden, John, 1548-1625?
A prayer for the prosperous proceedings and good successe of the Earle of Essex and his companies, in their present expedition in Ireland against Tyrone and his adherents, rebels there. Fit to be vsed of all loyall subiects, as well in that countrie, as in England. / By Iohn Norden.. (1599) by Norden, John, 1548-1625?
Vicissitudo rerum An elegiacall poeme, of the interchangeable courses and varietie of things in this world. The first part. (1600) by Norden, John, 1548-1625?
A pensiue soules delight The contents whereof, is shewen in these verses following. I. The pensiue soule recounteth in this place, Elizaes troubles, and Elizaes grace. 2. Here are expressed the stratagems of foes, Elizaes conquests, and their falls that rose. 3. Here is set forth Elizaes lenitie, and locust-Catholickes superbitie. By Iohn Norden. (1603) by Norden, John, 1548-1625?
The surueyors dialogue Diuided into fiue bookes: very profitable for all men to peruse, that haue to do with the reuenues of land, or the manurance, vse, or occupation thereof, both lords and tenants: as also and especially for such as indeuor to be seene in the faculty of surueying of mannors, lands, tenements, &c. By I.N. (1607) by Norden, John, 1548-1625?
The labyrinth of mans life. Or Vertues delight and enuies opposite. By Io: Norden (1614) by Norden, John, 1548-1625?
A load-starre to spirituall life. Or, a Christian familiar motiue to the most sweet and heauenly exercise of diuine prayer With prayers for morning and euening. Written to stir vp all men to watchfulnesse and reformation of their carnall and corrupt liues. By I. Norden. (1614) by Norden, John, 1548-1625?
A pensiue soules delight. Or, The deuout mans helpe. Consisting of motiues, meditations and prayers, for all persons and purposes, vpon what occasion so euer, either priuate or publike. By Iohn Norden (1615) by Norden, John, 1548-1625?
An eye to heauen in earth A necessarie watch for the time of death, consisting in meditations and prayers fit for that purpose. With the husbands christian counsell to his wife and children, left poore after his death. (1619) by Norden, John, 1548-1625?
A poore mans rest founded vpon motiues, meditations, and prayers. Expressing to the inward man, true consolation. In all kindes and times of afflication. By Io. Norden. (1620) by Norden, John, 1548-1625?
A godlie mans guide to happinesse A manuell of necessary motiues, holy meditations, and godly prayers, to stirre vp the hearts of men vnapt to pray. To the great comfort of all, that with due and holy attention will practise this most godly and Christian dutie. Written for his owne, and published for the comfort of them that long for trv[e] happinesse. by I.N. (1624) by Norden, John, 1548-1625?
The imitation of Dauid his godly and constant resolution in bearing all his trialls, troubles and afflictions being a king whose example of faith, patience, hope, obedience and deliueries, thankfulnesse and prayer, is left euen for princes, potentates, and all true Christians to imitate. Collected by way of meditations and prayers out of the 27. Psalme. By I.N. (1624) by Norden, John, 1548-1625?
The fathers legacie VVith precepts morall, and prayers diuine: fitted for all sorts, both yong and old, times and seasons: morning, noone, and night. (1625) by Norden, John, 1548-1625?
A table shewing the distances betweene all the cities and shire townes of England, that are comprehended in the same inuented and performed by Iohn Norden. (1625) by Norden, John, 1548-1625?
A pathvvay to patience in all manner of crosses, tryals, troubles, and afflictions: inwardly for sinne, or outwardly by sicknesse, pouerty, enemies, imprisonment, banishment, slaunders, disobedience of children, houshold-crosses betweene man and wife, &c. With necessary prayers for euerie of them; as also for diuers other necessarie purposes. By I.N. (1626) by Norden, John, 1548-1625?
A good companion for a Christian directing him in the way to God, being meditiations and prayers for euery day in the weeke; and graces before and after meate. (1632) by Norden, John, 1548-1625?