REMAINES CONCERNING BRITAINE: THEIR LANGUAGES, NAMES, SURNAMES, ALLUSIONS, ANAGRAMMES, ARMORIES, MONIES, EMPRESES, APPARELL, ARTILLARIE, WISE SPEECHES, PROVERBS, POESIES, EPITAPHES; Written by William Camden Esquire, Clarenceaux, King of Armes, Surnamed THE LEARNED

London: Thomas Harper for John Waterson, and are to be sold at his shop in Pauls Church-yard, at the signe of the Crowne, 1637. Fifth Impression. Leather-bound. Very Good. Quarto. 5th edition. English text. Contemporary full calf, bordered with repeating stamped design, then double-ruled in gilt. Raised bands, contrasting spine label, red gilt title. Lacks front blank. [8], 420, [4] p. :  port. ;  4 . Elaborate engraved portrait frontispiece of William Camden. On titlepage, a past owner must have doodled by trying to outline with ink, the word "Britaine". 2 small library stamps (each) to verso title, and that of last leaf. Occasional browning. Elaborate dropcap Initials and headpieces, Exlib University College London. An interesting collection of remains, wise speeches, rebus or name-devises, knightly shields, epitaphs and an interesting treatise on the Elizabethan preoccupation with annagrammes. One page shows a small (upside down) pen trial - signature of a previous owner/user in contemporary hand, perhaps last name Johnsoin?

Historical, linguistic and cultural "studies" in what must have been a truly "fun" anthology when it was first printed, nearly four-hundred years ago. Originally published in 1605 as: "Remaines of a Greater Worke, Concerning Britaine, the Inhabitants thereof, their Languages, Names, Surnames, Empreses, Wise Speeches, Poësies, and Epitaphes". Considering all of the fascinating historical factoids, place origins, etymologies and word play, and with due apologies to those who might consider a centuries-old text sacred simply by the fact that it has outlived the reader thrice-over and then some, I should most irreverently submit that this book is akin to the latter-day "Bathroom Book" -- full of lively little tidbits, aphorisms, linguistic puzzles, etc., designed not so much for reading straight through, but for "reading-at", repeatedly.

"Here lyeth C. under ground
As wise as L. thousand pound
He never refused the Wine of his friend
Drinke was his life, and drinke was his end."