WALES
The map of Wales has surprising detail showing the main physical features, bridges and settlements. John Speed was not happy about including Monmouthshire in Wales because it was administered by the English although Welsh speaking. He compromised by including Monmouthshire in the regional map, but excluding the town of Monmouth in the town plans decorating the map.

ANGLESEY
The small island of Anglesey is separated from the mainland by the Menai Strait. John Speed thought that it's air was "reasonable, grateful and helpful, and not generally subject to diseases excepting certain agues at some times, which are occasioned by the fogs and misty exhalations, which arise from the sea". For transport and communications, Anglesey relied almost exclusively on coastal shipping. There were only two markets and a single bridge giving access to Holyhead. Until the union of the crowns in 1603, Anglesey was subject to attack by Scottish raiders. For this reason Edward 1 had built his last major fortress at Beaumaris following the incorporation of Anglesey into the principality of North Wales.

CAERNARVONSHIRE
John Speed wrote that "the heart of this shire is altogether mountainous, as if nature had a purpose here, by rearing up these craggy hills so thick together, strongly to compact the joints of this our Island, and to frame the village part they are a fit place of refuge to the Britons against adversity. These mountains may not unfitly be termed the British Alps, as being the most vast in Britain, and for their steepness and cragginess not unlike to those of Italy, all of them towering into the air, and round encompassing one far higher than all the rest....called Snowdon"

CARDIGANSHIRE
Cardiganshire was popularly known as being very bare and mountainous. The countryside wasteland was grazed by cattle and some sheep and, where possible, arable land was cultivated. But this was limited to the coastal river valleys and to common fields. The weaving of a coarse cloth known as "cotton" helped the small holders supplement their farming incomes. Of great importance were the veins of lead and copper found in the Northern uplands. However, there was not sufficient wood, charcoal or coal to fully exploit these resources

GLAMORGANSHIRE
Glamorganshire was one of the wealthiest and most heavily populated areas of Wales. The hills and woodlands were well suited to deer and herds of cattle, sheep and goats. The farmland benefited greatly, during the Tudor period, from liming which increased the revenue from wheat, oats, barley and rye. Glamorgan had natural deposits of coal and iron and the Mines Royal exploited copper since the reign of Elizabeth the first. With his extensive coastline and numerous harbours, Glamorganshire was a paradise for smugglers and Welsh and Irish pirates.

MERIONETHSHIRE
Merionethshire was undoubtedly the poorest and most desolate county in England and Wales. Even John Speed had difficulty in finding kind words to say about the county. He found it a "rough" place and "unpleasant to see. The air for great pleasure, nor the soil for great profit I cannot greatly recommend, unless it to be for the many and mighty great winds, that for the most part therein do rage". The map of Merionethshire is well drawn depicting the mountainous countryside.

MONMOUTHSHIRE
Monmouthshire "The Countye of Monmouth with the situation of the Shire-town described" A most surprising amount of detail is featured, including a portrait of "King Henry VI The Great"

MONTGOMERYSHIRE
Montgomeryshire was predominantly a pastoral county extending from the fertile Shropshire plain in the East to the mountain regions in the West. The ancient oak forests and good pastures of cattle, horses and sheep, together its lush grasslands justified the counties reputation as the paradise of Wales. However, during the sixteenth century, Montgomeryshire suffered the same problems of deforestation and enclosure as the rest of the country. The county had deposits of iron ore, which helped supplement the fee farming economy.

PEMBROKESHIRE
The map of Pembrokeshire clearly represents the counties landscape of hilly uplands to the north and softer plains to the south, together with its varied coast-land with offshore islands, rocks, headland and havens. The county town of Pembroke was tiny. In fact, John Speed commented that Pembroke was " a city with few inhabitants, and no more houses that inserted in the draught (drawing) yet hath it a fair Cathedral Church". Even so Henry the seventh, who had been born at Pembroke, was greatly enamoured of the small cathedral city, and the Tudor dynasty bestowed a series of royal favours on it. The town of Pembroke was the first to be incorporated in Wales in 1485 and the shire was chosen for Anne Boleyn's marquessate before her marriage to Henry VIII.