Londinum feracissimi Angliae Regni metropolis

This derivative of Braun & Hogenberg's 1572 map of London was published in Belle Forest's 'La Cosmographie universelle de tout le monde'. The map's title features at the top of the plate, flanked by Tudor and city arms. Descriptive notes in French appear at bottom left and bottom right, with figures of merchants at bottom centre. The map is similar in detail to the 'Copperplate Map', the earliest printed map of London of which no complete copy survives. Merchant ships, cranes, mills, bull- and bear-baiting pits, the large tennis courts at Westminster and the stags in St. James's are examples of London business and leisure activities. Walled gardens, elegant churches and livery halls testify to the high quality of life enjoyed by its citizens.