Sir Henry Spelman on the Chronology of the Elizabethan College of Antiquaries

Abstract

TVHAT self-styled of Antiquaries which flourished in Elizabeth's reign, and of whose fellows William Camden was most representative, existed in order to clarify the English past. were historians-some of them great historians. But they left only one firsthand history of the College itself, Sir Henry Spelman's The of this Discourse, prefaced to his tract on Original of the Four Terms of the Year.' This unique document is of value to students because it contains enough definite statements about the foundation, duration, and revival of the learned order to establish a chronology.2 Because it is firsthand, Spelman's chronology must command respect, at least, from other writers on the subject. use of The Occasion by later historians of the antiquaries follows Gibson's first publication of it in i695.3 text of