OF

SIR JOHN MAUNDEVILE, KT.

WHICH TREATETH OF THE

WAY TO HIERUSALEM; AND OF MARVAYLES OF INDE,
WITH OTHER ILANDS AND COUNTRYES.

Reprinted from the Edition of A.B. 1725.

WITH AN

INTRODUCTION, ADDITIONAL NOTES, AND GLOSSARY,

BY

J. O. HALLIWELL, Esq., F.S.A., F.R.A.S.

Introduction.

THE text of the following volume is taken from MS. Cotton. Tit. C. xvi., as given in the edition of 1725 (Lond. 8vo), and was printed before the work was placed in my hands. This Introduction, then, the Additional Notes, and Glossary, are the only portions for which I am responsible. All, I believe, that is known of the author's life, is given in the preface of the former editor; and it will be only necessary here to notice the different MSS. and editions which I have been fortunate enough to meet with. Many other MSS. may also be found in the libraries of Oxford, Cambridge, and in almost every collection: so numerous, indeed, are they, owing to its great popularity, that it would be an endless labour to collate them all, though scarcely any two copies agree to any extent. I have consequently thought it a work of supererogation to point out the minor differences.

There are nineteen copies in the British Museum; and there may perhaps be more among the manuscripts not yet catalogued. In Heber's collection there was a very fine MS. of the French version; but I am not acquainted with its present possessor.

1. Bib. Reg. 17 C. xxxviii.

A small folio on vellum, written in double columns, of the latter end of the fourteenth century. It has a list of chapters at the commencement, and the following colophon :-"Here bygynneth the book of John Maundevile, Knyght of Ingelond, that was y bore in the toun of Seynt Albons, and travelide aboute in the wordle in manye diverse contreis to se mervailes and customes of countreis, and diversiteis of folkys, and diverse shap of men, and of beistis, and all the mervaill that he say he wrot and tellith in this book, the which book

a

conteyneth xxii chapiteris. And this knyght wente of Ingelond, and passid the see, the 3er of our lord mcccxxxjj, and passid thorgh many londes, contreis, and Iles, and compiled this book, and let write hit the 3er of our lord mccclxvj, at xxxjjjj 3er after that he wente out of his contre, ffor xxxjjjj 3er he was in travelyng." It has several drawings, some agreeing with the woodcuts in this reprint: imperfect at the end.

2. Arundel. 140. f. 5 b.-41 b.

A folio of the fifteenth century, on paper; imperfect in various places. This MS. seems to be of little value.

3. Sloan. 1464. ff. 164.

An octavo on vellum, of the beginning of the fifteenth century, in French.

4. Sloan. 560. f. 2-55.

A folio on vellum, of the fifteenth century, in French.

5. Cotton. Tit. C. xvi. ff. 132.

A quarto on vellum, written about the year 1400, and from which the present text is taken. It ought to be observed, that the modern letter z had been substituted by the former editor for the middle-age character 3, as was commonly done till lately, and of course is retained in this reprint. Hearne uses the Saxon character 3; but that most generally employed now is the nondescript letter 3, which I have substituted in the Glossary for the sake of conformity with the present custom; and I do not think that the change will present any difficulty to the generality of readers.

6. Cotton. Append. iv. f. 59-102.

A folio on vellum, of the latter part of the fifteenth century, in Latin.

7. Bib. Reg. 17 B. xliii.

A quarto on vellum, of the fifteenth century, in English: imperfect at the end.