"Restitution Of Decayed Intelligence In Antiquities Concerning The Most
Noble And Renowned English Nation. By The Study And Travel Of R.V."
(Richard Verstegan). Printed in London for Samuel Mearne, John Martyn
and Henry Herringman, 1673.
A restitution of decayed intelligence in antiquities - VERSTEGAN, Richard
Important history of the Saxon invasions, the development
of the English language, the formation of its surnames, and general early
English lore. Verstegan displays a great knowledge of early English history and
of Anglo Saxon, which he had studied at Oxford before leaving on account of his
Catholicism. He removed to Antwerp, whence his grandfather originated, and set
up a printing press. There he acted as agent for the transmission of Catholic
literature (some of which he printed) and letters to and from England and the
rest of Europe. He corresponded with Cardinal Allen and Robert Parsons and for
a time was in their pay, he was a very well connected figure in the recusant
world. The Restitution was first published in 1605, but it continued to be
reprinted long after Verstegan s death, and it s probably the book for which he
is best known in England. It is very straightforward work, with the simple
object of demonstrating the descent of the English from the Germanic peoples of
northern Europe. This was not as foregone a conclusion as one might think today
and Verstegan presented the book with all the trappings of authority he could
muster. The present work contains, amongst other exotica, the first account of
the Pied Piper of Hamlyn, and a description of werewolves; the werewolves are
certayne sorcerers, who having annoynted their bodies with an oyntment which
they make by the instinct of the devil, and putting on a certayne inchaunted
girdle, doe not openly unto to the view of others, but to their owne thinking
have both shape and nature of wolves so long as they weare the said girdle. And
they do dispose of themselves as very wolves, in worrying and killing, and most
of humane creatures . Verstegan was one of the first generation of Anglo Saxon
scholars, the work contains one of the earliest published Anglo Saxon word
lists, predating Somner. It is dedicated to King James I whom Verstegan
describes as descended of the chiefest bloud Royall of our antient English
Saxon kings ; followed by an epistle to the English nation and some 10 verses
including one by Thomas Shelton, translator of Don Quixote, also a most useful
table of contents. Verstegan begins his work by describing the origins of the
English, that they were descended from Saxons whom he states are from Germany.
However he says that the Welsh, Cornish, Irish and Scots retain their ancient
origins and are not of Saxon descent, indeed they refer to the English in their
own language as Sasons, or Saxsonach . Verstegan deals with every aspect of
England s history including stating in chapter 4 that England was once joined
to France before the flood of Noah . He ends his work with a final chapter on
the origins and purpose of tithes of honour, dignities and offices , and
intriguingly the significance of our English names of disgrace or contempt . A
very interesting gathering of anecdote and history, illustrated at key points
with very detailed and clear engravings
500-8000/10000
