Contributed by Maine State Archives
Description
James Phinney Baxter commissioned this map to be copied in Great Britain and Europe in the late 19th century. He later donated the copies to the State of Maine.
John Scott (circa 1632–1704) drew the original map, held by the British Library. Scott was an explorer and tradesman and was appointed ‘royal geographer’ to King Charles II in 1668.
The map is undated, but there is a clue about when it might have been made.
The first letter of each line of verse just to the right of the map's title, when read vertically from top to bottom, spells out "James Duke of York." The map was therefore made sometime between 1660 and 1685, during the reign of Charles II of England, when his younger brother James held the title of Duke of York.
James became King James II in 1685, upon the death of Charles. The surveyor was trying to flatter the duke:
Just Great and Good are Princely epithets
And each of these your highness well befitts
My aime with your great virtues cannot want
Encouragement (craving what's fit to grant)
Serenest Prince I heer (unto your eye)
Declare (by mapp) how England's strength doth lye
Unseen in rivers of the New Plantations
Kingly commanding heads of other nations
Equally it to honor neither Spain
Or the boasting Dutch can shew the like againe!
Freely accept (Great Sire) the loyaltie
Your meanest servant offers to your eye
Oceans and rivers ring loud peales of faime
Resounding echoes to your honor'd name
Kind heav'ns and stars continue long the same.
About This Item
- Title: Pascatway River in New England, ca. 1890
- Creation Date: circa 1890
- Subject Date: circa 1670
-
Locations:
- York County, ME
- NH
- Media: Paper
- Dimensions: 40 cm x 54 cm
- Local Code: B.R.M.#54 PISCATAQUA RIVER
- Collection: Baxter Rare Maps
- Object Type: Image
Cross Reference Searches
Standardized Subject Headings
- Geography
- Kings--England
- Map making
- Piscataqua River (N.H. and Me.)--Maps, Manuscript--Early works to 1800.
Other Keywords
For more information about this item, contact:
Maine State Archives84 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0084
(207) 287-5790
Website
Use of this Item is not restricted by copyright and/or related rights, but the holding organization is contractually obligated to limit use. For more information, please contact the contributing organization. However, watermarked Maine Memory Network images may be used for educational purposes.
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