1576      ROWLANDS, Richard

 

Richard Rowlands (fl. 1560–1620, real name Verstegen) was an Anglo-Dutch antiquary and the son of a cooper whose father, Theodore Roland Verstegen, a Dutch emigrant, came to England about 1500. Under the name of Rowlands, Richard went to Christ Church, Oxford, in 1565, where he studied early English history and the Anglo-Saxon language. Leaving the university without a degree, he published in 1576 a work of antiquarian research, translated from the German, entitled The Post of the World, describing the great cities of Europe; and soon afterwards he moved to Antwerp, where he resumed the name of Verstegen, and set up in business as a printer and engraver. In 1587 he went to Paris, and in 1595 to Spain, where he studied in the college at Seville, afterwards returning to Antwerp, where he lived so far as is known until his death, the date of which, though certainly later than 1620, is unknown.

Rowlands was a zealous Roman Catholic, and in 1587 he published at Antwerp Theatrum Crudelitatum haereticorum, in which he criticized the treatment of the Roman Catholics in England under Elizabeth so freely that when a French translation of the book appeared in the following year he was thrown into prison at the instance of the English ambassador in Paris, but soon released on the intervention of supporters.[1] 

At the end of 1581 he secretly printed an account of the execution of Edmund Campion but was discovered and 'being apprehended, brake out of England'. In exile, he resumed his ancestral Dutch surname of Verstegen (Anglicized Verstegan) and, in 1585 or 1586, he moved to the Spanish Netherlands. With covert financial support from the Spanish Crown, Verstegan set up a residence, "in Antwerp near the bridge of the tapestry makers", as a publisher, engraver, "a valued secret agent of the Spanish party", and a smuggler of banned books as well as Roman Catholic priests and laity to and from the British Isles.

Cover illustration taken from the website of Daniel Crouch. 

The Post of the World included a helpful guide to travellers: Here foloweth the varietie of myles.

Gentle Reader, when thou shalt finde in this Booke Italian Myles, then maist thou know, that 5 Italian Myles containe one Germaine Myle.

When thou fyndest French Myles, then three French Myles doe contayne one Germayne Myle.

If thou fyndest Spanish Myles, they are equall in lengthe unto Germayne Myles.

If thou fyndest English Myles, then doe 5 English Myles make two Germayne Myles.

If thou shalt see Hungarian Myles, then accompt two Hungarian Myles for three Germayne Myles.

If thou fyndest Switzers Myles, then accompt two Switzers Myles for three Germayne Myles.

Gentle Reader, I thought it good, to advertise thee, that I have orderly marked in the margent, by certaine letters, whereby thou shalt know which are Cities, Villages, or houses of Religion, lying in the way. (as thus) The letter C for a Citie: the letter M for a Market Town: K for a Kloyster (cloister): and the letter V for a Village, & so foorth. And on the other side the Myles from one place to an other: and for the halfe Myle, this letter, d. 

The Post of the World. Wherein is contayned the antiquities of the most famous Cities in Europe. With their trade & traficke. With their wayes & distances of myles, from country to country.[2]
London: Thomas East: 1576. (BL, B, QMU, Hunts. illustrated).[3]
 

Also sold as The post for divers partes of the world: in 2 parts by Richard Rowlands, a facsimile of which was issued in Amsterdam. Norwood, N.J.: by Theatrum Orbis Terrarum ; W.J. Johnson. 1977.

 

Illustrated: Routes within England and Wales, courtesy of Huntingdon Library via ProQuest.

 

Sets out 6 roads in England: but none in Devon or Cornwall

4.1     From the cittie of London to Dover

4.2     From London to Rie

4.3     From the citie of Oxford to London

4.4     From Bristowe to London

4.5     From the citie of Yorcke to the citie of London

4.6     From Berwicke to yorcke

 RETURN to Book II Introduction - Almanacks and Itineraries 

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[1] See Encyclopaedia Brittanica 1911, Volume 23.  https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica/Rowlands,_Richard. But for more on Richard Verstegen and his activities abroad see Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Verstegen.

[2] Full title: The post of the World : Wherein is contayned the antiquities of the most famous Cities in Europe. With their trade and traficke. With their wayes and distance of myles, from country to country. With the true and perfect knowledge of their coynes, the places of their mynts: with al their martes and fayres. And the raignes of all the kinges of England. A booke right necessary and profitable, for all sortes of persons, the like before this tyme not imprinted.

[3] Cover illustration taken from the website of Daniel Crouch.