(Sir Henry), an eminent English antiquarian, was descended from an ancient family, and born at Cengham, near Lynn in Norfolk, about the year 1561. He was knighted by king James I. who had a particular esteem for him on account of his known capacity for business; and he employed him several times in Ireland on public affairs. When he was about 50 years of age, he went to reside in London; where falling into a study to which his own genius had always inclined him, he collected all such books and MSS. as concerned the subject of antiquities, either foreign or domestic. In 1626, he published the first part of his well-known Glossary, which he never carried beyond the letter L; because, as some have suggested, he had said things under "Magna charta," and "Maximum confinium," that could not then have appeared without giving offence. Upon his death all his papers came into the hands of his son Sir John Spelman, a gentleman who had abilities to have completed his father's design, if death had not prevented him. The second part was afterwards published by Sir William Dugdale; but with all the marks of a scanty unfinished performance. The next work he entered upon was an edition of the English Councils, of which he published the first volume about two years before his death, leaving the second volume, as well as this as of his Glossary, to be published by Sir William Dugdale. Sir Henry wrote several other things, all relating to ancient laws and customs, and died in 1641. His Posthumous Works were published in folio, 1698, under the inspection of Mr Gibbon, afterwards bishop of London.