William Lambarde

He is particularly remembered as the author of A Perambulation of Kent (1576), the first English county history; Eirenarcha (1581), a widely read manual on the office and role of justice of the peace; and Archeion (completed c.1591, though not published until 1635), a discourse that sought to trace the Anglo-Saxon roots of English common law, prerogative and government.

In 1568, with Laurence Nowell's encouragement, he published a collection of Anglo-Saxon laws, Archaionomia, which was printed by John Day.

[4] In 1570, while Lambarde was courting the daughter of George Multon,[1] he completed his Perambulation of Kent, the first English county history.

[2] Shortly before his death he had a conversation with Elizabeth in which she commented obliquely on Essex's Rebellion, saying "I am Richard II knowe you not that[?

Her words are often read as a reference to Shakespeare's Richard II, a performance of which was commissioned by Essex's followers shortly before the rising.

[10] In the same year, Lambarde's grandson put out an authorized edition of the work to correct certain errors in Frere's version.