John Leland

John Leland

John Leland was a Tudor poet and antiquary who was instrumental in preserving and recording many medieval manuscripts at the time of the Protestant reformation of England, and who recorded his extensive tours of England and Wales in detailed itineraries, which he evidently intended as notes for an unpublished history of these countries. 
In many cases these notes form the earliest descriptive record of the places he visited. Leland's itineraries are therefore of great value as primary sources for historians, archaeologists and historical geographers.

Mental characteristics

Personal history

Leland was educated at St Paul's School, London, and Christ Church, Cambridge. He was a friend and protégé of Henry VIII's lord chancellor, Cardinal Wolsey, who had him appointed rector of Laverstoke, Hampshire.
Between 1526 and 1528 Leland studied in Paris, and was impressed with the manuscripts he found in Frewnch monsteries. When he returned to England he found a country in turmoil. His patron, Wolsey, was out of favour (and would be executed the following year). He cultivated the patronage of Thomas Cromwell.
The English government looked to ancient precedent to support Henry VIII's claims of independence from Rome, Leland suggested searching through the libraries of momasteries and other religious houses for documents to support Henry's position, and in 1533 was awarded a royal commission to do just that. His 'library tour' of 1534-1536 identified many manuscripts, some now lost.
He followed the library tour with a series of journeys throughout England and Wales between 1538 and 1543. His intention was to take notes for a series of national histories organised into counties. He came close to finishing his history of Kent. His county-by-county plan would not be realised until the late 19th century, with the Victoria County History series - though it must be noted, work on these has involved very many scholars, and is still ongoing in 2022.
Leland suffered from mental health problems in the last years of his life. He was certified insane in 1550 and died in 1552.
He is considered the father of English local history and bibliography.

Accomplishments & Achievements

Leland left a wide body of poems and historical writing.
His Assertio inclytissimi Arturii regis Britanniae (1544) presents the case for a historical King Arthur (Leland firmly believed in Arthur's historicity).
His Itinerary notebooks were unpublished during his lifetime. They have since been published three times: in nine volumes edited by Thomas Hearne in 1744-45, in five volumes edited by Lucy Toulmin Smith (1906-1910) and in a single modernised volume of Smith's edition by John Chandler in 1993.
Smith's editions are considered authoritative. They are transcripts of Leland's notebooks and retain his Tudor English. They are all in the public domain and available on Archive.org.
Volume 1
Volume 2
Volume 3 (Wales)
Volume 4
Volume 5

Date of Birth

13 September

Date of Death

18 April

Life

1503 AD 1552 AD 49 years old

Birthplace

London

Place of Death

London