TO THE MOST NOBLE

GEORGE GRANVILLE LEVESON GOWER,

MARQUIS OF STAFFORD, K. G. &c. &c.

My Lord,

THE dedication of a Work, which consists chiefly of materials interesting to curiosity and subservient to useful criticism, will not, it is hoped, be thought obtrusive. What respects the reformers of our language, and the fathers of our poetry, may be inscribed, I trust, with absolute propriety, to him who is the friend of Literature and the head of the illustrious House of Gower. To these motives of thus addressing your Lordship, must be added the wish of gratitude to acknowledge benefits received. From your Lordship's Manuscripts many of these materials, by your permission, have been copied. While I have this opportunity to own publickly so important an obli

gation, I am proud to record it as an addition to various acts of kindness from your Lordship towards me; and I have the honour to subscribe myself,

with the most grateful respect,

My Lord,

Your Lordship's much obliged

and faithful servant,

HENRY J. TODD.

ERRATA.

Page vi, line 10, read with those to which &c.

9, for talbot read a gower, i. e. a wolf-dog. 6, read no man

2, read He bad

15, read Forshronke

for 1554 read 1553.

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 vppon the Annotacions and Correctons of some Imperfectones of Impressones of Chaucers Workes (sett downe before tyme and nowe) reprinted in the yere

a