A clean example of Chauncy’s view of the town of Hitchin. Sir Henry Chauncy (1632-1719) was born in London in 1632, studied at Caius College, Cambridge and was called to the bar in 1656. Becoming Justice of the Peace in Hertfordshire he was knighted at Windsor Castle in 1681. He wrote a history of his ancestral county Hertfordshire entitled ‘Historical Antiquities of the County of Hertford’ which was published in 1700. It is in this work that the view is found, there was no further edition. The view is dedicated to Sir Ralph Radcliffe by John Drapentier who was born in France about 1650. Drapentier was an etcher and line engraver specialising in portraits and frontispieces. There is a rare North Prospect of the town which appears in only some examples of the book. The view bears the pagination engraved lower left. ESTC R6200; Upcott pp. 333-8 no. 33.