THE NEW STATE OF ENGLAND UNDER THEIR MAJESTIES K. WILLIAM AND Q. MARY; in three parts. Contains I. A geographical description of England in general and every county in particular ... II. An account of the inhabitants, their original, Genius, Customs, Laws, Religion, and Government; of their present Majesties, their Court, Power, Revenues, &c. III. A Description of the several courts of Judicature; Viz. the High Court of Parliament, Privy Council and all other courts, with a catalogue of the present officers in Church and State.
London: H. C. for John Wyat, 1691. First edn. 12mo, pp. [xxxii], [1], 357, [1]; 230; [1]; 240. Three parts in one volume, each with a separate title-page. Engraved frontispiece. Bound in later plain paper wrappers. Some minor soiling and foxing, but a very good tight copy. Wing M-2019. Item #18623
A miscellaneous writer, Miege (1644-1718?) was born in Lausanne. After studying philosophy, Miege removed to London in 1662 and served in the household of the Earl of Elgin. He traveled to Russia, Sweden and Denmark as the secretary to Charles Howard, Earl of Carlisle, before returning to London. "He is best known by his attempt to rival Chamberlayne's year-book Angliae Notitia in the New State of England ... Miege supplied geographical descriptions of England, accounts of the inhabitants, government, religion, courts of justice, &c, with lists of the officers of church and state. The geographical portion was fuller than Chamberlayne's but the arrangement of the subjects inferior, and the lists of officers less accurate"[DNB]. This was republished and updated as late as the mid 18th century and provoked an accusation of plagarism by Chamberlayne's son. Miege defended himself in his pamphlet Utrum Horum (1705).
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