1688            MOLL, Herman and TERRY, Thomas

 

Although this separately issued map only covers the southwest of England, it is nevertheless an interesting road map published by Herman Moll and Thomas Terry. Advertised in the London Gazette on 6-10 December 1688 it was "fitted for travellers to carry in a pocket book without damage; price 6d. coloured 8d, on sarcenet 2s. 6d," sarcenet being a fine soft silk. The following year Moll and Terry would sell a similar map of Ireland described as a pocket map and available on silk. Two further maps are noted by Terry ‘A new Mapp of the Kingdom of Hungary’ and ‘Greece with part of Anatolia’. Although Moll was engraving maps from as early as 1678 for Moses Pitt, 1688 is the year of his own first publications, all of them are rare.

Date of publication and coverage suggests that the map was produced to provide information for a public audience on the progress of the Glorious Revolution. William of Orange landed at Torbay on 5 November 1688, advancing upon London from Plymouth on 21 November. James II's troops were stationed at Hounslow, which is included in the map despite lying beyond its right-hand inner border.

William had his own agenda which involved his war with Louis XIV’s France. Although William arrived with military force in England it was in fact a peaceful conflict, at least in England. His overwhelming force consisted of 43 men-of-war and over 400 other sea going vessels. A force four times that of the Spanish Armada. William landed at Torbay 5 November 1688 aided by the wind which had kept James’ fleet from intercepting. James had built a formidable force of 25,000 men which were encamped at Hounslow Heath clearly identified on the edge of the map by ‘Hounslow 10 Miles From London’. As they advanced to the west to meet William’s advance, support within his own forces withered away to such a degree that James retreated to London. At the time of publication William had advanced to Salisbury.

With this background in mind Herman Moll and Thomas Terry published this map of the west of England. Probably the best clue as to the fact that the map was designed for this development in mind is the fact that London is omitted entirely. The map illustrates an extensive network of ‘Great & Small Roads’ in sigle and double lines.

 

A New Map of The West or Southwest Part of England - Containing all the Citties, Market Townes, Villages, Castle, Harbours Great & Small Roads & London. Sold by Herman Moll in Vanly's Court in Black Fryars and by Thomas Terry at ye Red lyon without Newgate. Title in panel top left being supported by one putti. Scale of English Miles below. Shows South Wales, Cornwall to Oxford and Staines. Graticulated border broken for Land's End. Half Compass Rose. Size: 280 mm x 490 mm on  (BL, YALE, CAB).[1] 

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 [1] The British Library copy (Maps CC.5.c.39) is recorded as having hand colour. The YALE example is inserted into a copy of The history of the Rebellion and Civil Wars in England begun in the year 1641 : with the precedent passages, and actions, that contributed thereunto, and the happy end, and conclusion thereof by the king's blessed restoration and return upon the 29th of May, in the year 1660 / written by ... Edward, Earl of Clarendon .... The map is one of five added. The work was published: Oxford : Printed at the Theater, 1702-1704. Yale erroneously suggest a date of 17++ for the map. BL copy is Maps CC.5.c.39. Illustrations and some notes taken from C A Burden Ltd website.