Sir Henry, an eminent antiquary, was descended from an ancient family, and born at Congham, near Lynn in Norfolk, in 1562. He studied at Trinity College, Cambridge, and afterwards took to the profession of law. He was appointed sheriff of his county, and afterwards Spence, Joseph.

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 in public affairs. When he was about fifty years of age, he retired to London, whither his genius had always inclined him. He collected all such books and MSS. as concerned the subject of antiquities, either foreign or domestic, and published in 1626 the first part of his well-known *Glossarium Archaeologicum*, which he never carried beyond the letter L. The next work which he undertook was an edition of the *English Councils*; of which he published the first volume in 1639, leaving the second volume, as well as this of his *Glossary*, to be published by Dugdale. The second volume appeared in 1644. Spelman wrote several other works relating to ancient laws and customs, and died in 1641. 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. His *Treatise concerning Tithes*, and his *History of Sacrilege*, deserve a passing notice. His posthumous works were published at Oxford, in folio, in the year 1698, under the inspection of Gibson, afterwards Bishop of London.