INTRODUCTION.

THE following Illustrations, it is hoped, will gratify the lovers of our early literature; and may perhaps afford some little assistance, in their researches, to those who are intent upon further investigation of it. A minute account of the authentick documents, which form this collection, will naturally be expected. Such therefore I will give; together with some remarks pertaining to the subjects, which each division of these Illustrations severally exhibits.

I. Of these the first, and most considerable, is the entire Manuscript of Francis Thynne; entitled, Animadversions oppon the Annotacions and Correctons of some Imperfectones of Impressones of Chaucers Workes (sett downe before tyme and nowe) reprinted in the

a

yere

of our Lorde *1598. This document belongs to the fine collection of curious and important Manuscripts, which had been formed at Ashridge by Lord Chancellor Ellesmere and his descendants, more particularly the first and second Earls of Bridgewater; and is now in the possession of the Marquis of Stafford; the collection having been bequeathed to him by his uncle, that great but unassuming benefactor to his Country, the late duke of Bridgewater.

That Thynne had communicated some remarks to Speght, before a second edition of Chaucer's Works was published by the latter in 1602, is obvious from the address of Speght To the Readers when that edition made its appearance. "After this booke was last printed, I vnderstood, that M. Francis Thynn had a purpose, as indeed he hath, when time shall serue, to set out Chaucer with a Coment in our tongue, as the Italians have Petrarke and others in their language. Whereupon I purposed not to meddle

*This edition of Speght usually bears, in the title-page, the date of 1597; but is described by others, as well as Thynne, to have been a publication in 1598. It was probably published in the January, February, or March of 1597, that is, 1597-8.

any further in this work, although some promise made to the contrarie, but to referre all to him, being a gentleman for that purpose inferior to none, both in regard of his own skill, as also of those helps left to him by his father. Yet notwithstanding, Chaucer now being printed againe, I was willing not only to helpe some imperfections, but also to adde some things: Whereunto he did not only persuade me, but most kindly lent me his helpe and direction. By this meanes most of his [Chaucer's] old words are restored; Prouerbes and Sentences marked; such Notes, as were collected, drawn into better order; and the text by old copies corrected."

The preceding Extract, at first` sight, might lead us to suppose that the Manuscript of Thynne could exhibit nothing but what had been communicated to Speght, and consequently what had already appeared in his improved edition. But this is not the fact. Of the points, discussed in Thynne's Animadversions, few are found in Speght's reimpression, which are accompanied with the elaborate disquisition here given; and several are not found at all. Indeed in the Glossary of Speght, under the word harrold, not only that curious illustration which is here be

stowed upon it, will be sought for in vain; but the reader is dismissed with a brief explanation, and with this notice from Speght himself: "But morë hereof, when time shall serue, in M. F. Thin's comment." Gloss. edit. 1602. Other instances of this description might be cited. The reader may satisfy himself by a comparison of passages in the Animadversions, whether critical or biographical, to which they apply, or were intended to apply, in Speght's edition.

The value of Thynne's Manuscript, thus exemplified, is further shewn in the interesting description which it offers of The Pilgrim's Tale. Here again I must introduce the words of Speght in his Life of Chaucer; where he excites in the reader an expectation which hitherto has not been gratified, and hias directed the critick to pursuits which have not ended in success: "M. William Thynn, in his first printed booke of Chaucers works with one columbe on a side, had a tale called the Pilgrim's tale, which was more odious to the Clergie than the speach of the Plowman. The tale began thus: In Lincolneshire fast by a fenne: Standeth a religious house who doth it kenne. The ar: gument of which tale, as also the occasion

thereof, and the cause why it was left out of Chaucers works, shall hereafter be shewed, if God permit, in M. Fran. Thyns coment upon Chaucer; and the Tale itselfe published, if possibly it can be found." The argument, occasion, and cause, thus specified, are in this Manuscript minutely exhibited. But I will consider Mr. Tyrwhitt's reasoning on the extract just cited from Speght.

"It must be allowed that this description of Mr. *Thynne's first edition, with one cotumbe on a side and a tale called The Pilgrim's Tale, does not suit the edition printed by Godfray, which is in two columns, and has no Pilgrim's tale: but I observe that Mr. Speght does not pretend to have seen this book; he even doubts whether the tale can be found. If therefore I should be able to prove that the tale which he speaks of could not possibly be in Mr. Thynne's first edition, I presume no great stress will be laid upon the other part of his evidence, in which he supposes that edition to have been printed with only one column on a side.-It appears very strange at first sight that The Plough

* Mr. W. Thynne, the father of F. Thynne.