Part 18
I WILL report one thing more, which I saw, concerning the great Can. It is an usuall custome in those parts, that when the foresayd Can traveileth thorow any countrey, his subjects kindle fires before their doores, casting spices thereinto to make a perfume, that their lord passing by may smell the sweet and delectable odours thereof, and much people come forth to meet him. And upon a certaine time when he was comming towardes Cambaleth, the fame of his approch being published, a bishop of ours with certaine of our minorite friers and myselfe went two dayes journey to meet him: and being come nigh unto him, we put a crosse upon wood. I my selfe having a censer in my hand, and began to sing with a loud voice: Veni creator spiritus. And as we were singing on this wise he caused us to be called, commanding us to come unto him: notwithstanding (as it is above mentioned) that no man dare approche within a stones cast of his chariot, unlesse he be called, but such onely as keep his chariot. And when we came neare unto him, he vailed his hat or bonet being of an inestimable price, doing reverence unto the crosse. And immediately I put incense into the censour, and our bishop taking the censer perfumed him, and gaue him his benediction. Moreouer, they that come before the said Can, do alwayes bring some oblation to present unto him, observing the ancient law: Thou shalt not appear in my presence with an empty hand. And for that cause we carried apples with us, and offered them in a platter with reverence unto him: and taking out two of them he did eate some part of one. And then he signified unto us, that we should go apart, lest the horses comming on might in ought offend us. With that we departed from him, and turned aside, going unto certaine of his barons, which had been converted to the faith by certaine friers of our order, being at the same time in his army: and we offered unto them of the foresayd apples, who received them at our hands with great joy, seeming unto us to be as glad, as if we had giuen them some great gift. All the premisses above written frier William de Solanga hath put downe in writing euen as the foresayd frier Odoricus uttered them by word of mouth, in the yeere of our Lord 1330 in the moneth of May, and in the place of S. Anthony of Padua. _Neither did he regard to write them in difficult Latine, or in an eloquent style, but even as Odoricus himselfe rehearsed them, to the end that men might the more easily understand the things reported._ I Odoricus frier, of Friuli, of a certaine territory called Portus Vahonis, and of the order of the minorites, do testifie and beare witnesse unto the reverend father Guidotus minister of the province of S. Anthony, in the marquisate of Treviso (being by him required upon mine obedience so to doe) that all the premisses above written, either I saw with mine owne eyes, or heard the same reported by credible and substantiall persons. The common report also of the countreys where I was, testifieth those things, which I saw, to be true. Many other things I haue omitted because I behelde them not with my owne eyes. Howbeit from day to day I purpose with my selfe to travell countreys or lands, in which action I dispose myselfe to die or to live, as it shall please my God.
_Of the death of frier Odoricus._
IN the yeere therefore of our Lord 1331 the foresayd frier Odoricus preparing himselfe for the performance of his intended journey, that his travel and labour might be to greater purpose, he determined to present himselfe unto Pope John the two and twentieth, whose benediction and obedience being received, he with a certaine number of friers willing to beare him company might convey himselfe unto all the countreys of infidels. And as he was travelling toward the pope, and not farre distant from the city of Pisa, there meets him by the waye a certaine olde man, in the habit and attire of a pilgrime, saluting him by name and saying: All haile frier Odoricus. And when the frier demaunded how he had knowledge of him: he answered: Whilest you were in India I knew you full well, yea, and I knew your holy purpose also: but see that you returne immediately unto the coven[1] from where you came, for tenne dayes hence you shall depart out of this present world. Wherefore being astonished and amazed at these words, (especially the olde man vanishing out of his sight, presently after he had spoken them) he determined to returne. And so he returned in perfect health feeling no crazedness nor infirmity of body. And being in his coven at Udene in the province of Padua, the tenth daye after the foresayd vision, having received the Communion, and preparing himselfe unto God, yea, being strong and sound of body, hee happily rested in the Lord: who sacred departure was signified unto the Pope aforesaid, under the hand of the publique notary in these words following.
In the yeere of our Lord 1331, the 14 day of Januarie, Beatus Odoricus a Frier minorite deceased in Christ, at whose prayers God shewed many and sundry miracles, which I Guetelus publique notarie of Utina, sonne of M. Damianus de Porto Gruaro at the commandment and direction of the honorable Conradus of the Borough of Gastaldion, and one of the Councell of Utina, haue written as faithfully as I could, and haue delivered a copie thereof unto the friers minorites, howbeit not of all, because they are innumerable, and too difficult for me to write.
[Footnote 1: Convent.]
[Decoration]
WOODCUTS SELECTED FROM OTHER EDITIONS SHOWING THE DIFFERENT TREATMENT OF THE SAME SUBJECTS.
[Decoration]
LIST OF THE EDITIONS
OF THE VOYAGES AND TRAVELS OF SIR JOHN MANDEVILLE NOW (1884) IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM.
CHRONOLOGICALLY ARRANGED.
MSS.
EGERTON MSS. 672. Johannis de Maundevilla Itinerarium ad partes Ierusolumitanas, &c. Vellum, 14 Cent., small 4^o.
Grenville XXXIX. A 14 Cent. MS. fol. on vellum in double columns, which evidently has belonged to one of the French Royal Libraries, as the binding testifies. It commences "Ci comence le liure qui parle des diuersités des pais qui sunt par universe monde: le quel liure fut compile par mesire Jehan Mandeuille chlr ne dangleterre de la uille con dit Saint Albain."
Harl. 3954. A MS. on vellum, end of 14th Cent., with unfinished illuminations; fine copy.
Sloane, 1464. Voyage in 1356. Vellum, in French. Early 15 Cent.
Harl. 212 (1). Le Geste de S^r John Maundeville de Mervailles de Monde. Small 4^o. French. Vellum. Early 15 Cent. MS. note at end seems to place it as having been written previous to 1425.
Harl. 212 (2). La Copie de la Lettre maunde ovesque cest Escrit a tres noble Prince Monsire E. de Wyndesore Roy d'Engleterre, et de Fraunce, par Monsire Johan de Maundeville, autour susdit.
Cotton, Tit. C. 16. English MS. 4^o. Vellum. Early 15 Cent.
Sloane, 560. De la Terre Seinte, que houme l'appelle Terre de Promissionis de Ierusalem. Vellum. French. 15 Cent.
Add. MSS. 17,335. Travels of Sir John de Mandeville translated into German by Otto von Diemeringen, Canon of Metz. Vellum and paper, 15 Cent., with coloured drawings. Fol.
Add. MSS. 10,129. The Voyages and Travels of Sir John Mandeville; in German. On paper. 15 Cent. Fol.
Egerton MSS. 1982. "Ye buke of (_the voiage and travaile_ of Sir) John Maundeville." The text differs considerably from that of the printed editions, and the prologue does not include the apocryphal passage found in Cotton MS. Titus C. xvi., in which the author states that he translated the work from Latin into French, and from French into English. _Vellum._ 15 Cent. On the fly-leaf, f, 2, is a note by E. Hill, M.D., 22 Mar. 1803, stating that on a leaf of paper pasted on the inside of the old cover, was written, "Thys fayre Boke I have fro the Abbey of Saint Albons in thys yeare of our Lord M.CCCCLXXXX the sixte daye of Apryll. Willyam Caxton," together with the name of Richard Tottyl, 1579, by whose descendant, the Rev. Hugh Tuthill, the book was given to E. Hill. Small quarto.
Harl. 82 (4). Itinerarium D. Joannis de Maundevyle Militis, [Greek: akephaloi], et in fine Truncatum. Vellum, fol. 15 Cent. In Latin.
Harl. 175. Itinerarium Dñi Johannis de Maundeville Militis, de Mirabilibus Mundi. In Latin, 15 Cent. 12^o. Vellum.
Harl. 204. In French. On vellum. 4^o. 15 Cent. On the last page is a copy of the letter to Edward III.
Harl. 3589 (2). A Latin MS. commencing "Incipit Itinerarius magistri Johannis de Mandevelt ad partes Hierosolymitanas, et ulteriores partes transmarinas; qui obiit Leodii A.D. 1382." Paper. 15 Cent.
Harl. 3940. Le Livre de Jeh. de Mandeville, chevalier, le queil fut ney du pais d'engleterre, le queil parle de l'estat de la terre, et de marveilles que il y a veues. 15 Cent. Vellum. French. 4^o.
Harl. 4383. Voiage de D. Jean Maundeville. 15 Cent. Vellum. French. Fol.
Harl. 1739. A French 4^o MS. of 15 Cent. on vellum and paper, with letter to Edward III., in Latin, at the end.
Arundel, 140 (2). English MS. Fol. Paper, 15 Cent., ending "Her endys the boke of Johne Maundevile, Knyghte, of wayes to Ierusalem and of merveyles of Ynde and othere contrees."
Add. MSS. 18,026. The Voyages and Travels of Sir John Mandeville Knight; translated into German, and written by Johann Segnitz de Castel. 1449. Paper. 4^o.
Egerton MSS. 1781, f. 129. Translation into Irish of the Travels of Sir John Mandeville made by Fineen Mac Mahon in 1475.
Cotton, App. 4, art. 2. Iter. Johannis Mandevill. Vellum. Small fol., in Latin. Late 15 Cent.
Grenville XII. An English MS. on paper, fol., end of 15 Cent., commencing "Here begynñth the boke of Moundevyle Knyzt that techyth the weyes to Je[~s]lm and of the Meruelis of ynde and of the londe of P[~s]t John, and of the grete Cham. and of Constantinople and of many oder Contreys."
[Decoration]
PRINTED EDITIONS.
GRENVILLE, 6775. This is, probably, the oldest printed "Mandeville" extant, certainly the oldest dated copy, except a folio copy printed at Lyons on the 8th day of February of the same year, and there was also an Italian 4^o edition previously printed at Milan. As far as is known this copy is unique, and it is in B. L. double columns, fol. It has, unfortunately, no name of printer, nor place of publication. "Ce liure est eppelle mandeuille et fut fait et compose par monsieur jehan de mandeuille cheualier natif dangleterre de la uille de sainct alein.[1] Et parle de la terre de promission cest assauoir de ierusalem et de pluseurs autres isles de mer et les diuerses et estranges choses qui sont es dites isles. Cy finist ce tres plaisant liure nome Mande ville parlant moult autentiquement du pays et terre doultre mer Et fut fait lan Mil. CCCCLXXX le IIII iour dauril." Folio. B. L.
Grenville, 6702. Itinerario. Explicit Johannes de Mandeuilla impressus Mediolani ductu et auspiciis _Magistri Petri de corneno_ pridie calendas augusti MCCCCLXXX. 4^o. B. L. This is said to be the first Italian edition.
Grenville, 6700. Itinerarius Domini Johannis de Mandeville militis. This is a curious edition, printed in semi-Gothic Letter, and is the first known of the Latin editions. Its date is unknown, as is also the place where it was printed, but its date is fixed _circa_ 1480.
C. 32, m. 5. Mandeville (_Sir_ John) _the Traveller_. The travels of Sir J. M. translated into Dutch. G. L. (no place). 1470? Fol.
566, f. 6/1. Mandeville (_Sir_ John) _the Traveller_. Beginning (fol. 4, verso) Liber pr[=i]s cui auctor fe[~r][~t] joh[=a][=n]es de m[=a]deville militari ordis, agit de divers patrijs, etc. G. L. Alosta? 1478? 4^o. Imperfect.
Grenville, 6774. Hie hebt sich an das püch (_sic_) des Ritters herz Hannsen von Monte Villa. Gedrucht zü Augspurg _von hannsen schönsperger_ am freitag nach Galli. Anno domini (MCCCCLXXXII). Fol.
Grenville, 6773. Johannes von Mondeuilla, Ritter. Getruckt zü Strassburg Johannes Prüssz. 1484. Fol. B. L. This is a very rare German edition, and is attributed to Michelfeld or Michelfelser.
Grenville, 6728/3. Explicit Itinerarius a terra Anglie in partes Ierosolymitanas et in vlteriores transmarinas editus primo in lingua gallicana a domino Johanne de Mandeville milite suo auctore. Anno incarnacionis domini MCCCLV in civitate leodiensi et paulo post in Eadem civitate translatus in dictam forinam latinam. Quod opus ubi inceptum simul et completum sit ipã elementa seu singularum seorsum caracteres literarum quibus impressum vides venatica, monstrant manifeste. 4^o.[2]
789, a. 19. Mandeville (_Sir_ John) _the Traveller_. Tractato de le piu maravegliose cose e piu notabile che si trovino [=i] le parte del mondo reducte e colte sotto brevita in lo [~p]sente comp[~e]dio dal strenuissimo cavalier a speron doro J. de Mandavilla anglico, &c.
G. L. p. U. Rugeri[~u] boñ(_oniæ_). 1488. 4^o.
Grenville, 6703. Another copy of Sir John Mandeville's travels printed at Bologna, "_per mi Ugo di Rugerii_." 1488. 4^o. B. L.
Grenville, 6704. Another copy of Sir John Mandeville's travels, printed at Venice, "_per mi Nicolo de li ferari de pralormo_." 1491. 4^o. B. L.
C. 4, h. II. Mandeville (_Sir_ John) _the Traveller_. Joanne de Mandavilla. G. L. Nicolo de li ferari de pralormo. Venetia, 1491. 4^o.
Grenville, 6705. Tractato belissímo, delle piu marivigliose cose, &c. scripte dallo cavaliere asperondoro Giov. Mandavilla Frazese ridocto in lingua thoscana. Impresso ne la cipta di Firenze, _per Lorenzo de_ Morgiani et Giovanni da Maganza. Adi VII. di Giugno MDCCCCLXXXXII. 4^o. This edition is very rare.
Grenville, 6706. Johanne de Mandauilla. Bologna, _per mi Joanne jacobo et Joanne antonio di benedetti da Bologna_. 1492. 4^o. B. L.
Grenville, 6709. Another copy of Sir John Mandeville's travels, printed at Milan, _per Uldericho Scinzenzeler_. 1497. 4^o. B. L.
Grenville, 6707. A Dutch copy of Sir John Mandeville's travels, printed at Antwerp bii nuy Govaerdt Back. 1494. 4^o. B. L.
Grenville, 6699. Itinerarius in partes Iherosolimitanas. Et in ultiores transmarinas. B. L. 4^o. There is no certainty when or where this was printed, but it contains a MS. note attributing its production to P. Friedberg, of Maintz, _circa_ 1495.
Grenville, 6713. The boke of John Maunduyle Knyght of wayes to Ierusalem and of maruelys of ynde and of other countrees, Emprented _by Richard Pynson_. 4^o. B. L. This is considered the oldest English printed version extant, older even than that of Wynkyn de Worde's of 1499. It is unfortunately undated. Pynson began to print 1493.
Grenville, 6708. Tractato, etc. Venexia, _per Maestro Manfredo da Monferato da Streuo da Bonello_. 1496. 4^o.
789, a. 20. Mandeville (_Sir_ John) _the Traveller_ Johanne de mandauilla. Tractato de le piu marauegliose cose e piu notabili che si trouino in le parte del mondo, etc. per Maestro Manfredo da Mõferato da streno de Bonello. Venice, 1496. 4^o.
100 77, b. Mandeville (_Sir_ John) _the Traveller_. Johanne de mandavilla. Tractato de le piu maravegliose cose e piu notabile che se trouino in le parte del mõdo, etc.
G. L. St[=a]pado p Ulfrycho scienz[=e]zeler, Milaõ. 149(7). 4^o.
Grenville, 6710. Che tracta de le piu marauegliose cose e piu notabile che si trouyns in le parte del Mondo. Bologna, _per mi Piero et Jacobo fratelli da Campii_, 1497. 4^o. B.L.
C. 32, e. 2/2. Mandeville (_Sir_ John) _the Traveller._ Johannis de montevilla Itinerari in partes Iherosolimitanas. Et in ulteriores transmarinas. G.L. 1500? 4^o.
Grenville, 6711. Another copy of Sir John Mandeville's travels. Impressa in Venetia, per _Zuan Baptista Sessa_. Anno 1504. Adi 29, Luio. 4^o. B.L.
280, f. 32. Mandeville (_Sir_ John) _the Traveller_. I. de Mandavilla. Tractato de la piu maraviliose cose e piu notabili che si trovino in le parte del monde redutte.... sotto brevita in lo presente compendio, etc.
Manfredo da sustrevo dacã Bonis. Venezia, 1505. 8^o.
148, c. 3. Mandeville (_Sir_ John) _the Traveller_. Von . der. erfarung . des. streugen . Ritters . johannes . võ . montaville.
G. L. J. Knoblouch. Strassburg, 1507. 4^o.
Grenville, 6701. Tractato bellissimo delle piu marauigliose cose, et piu notabile che si trouino nelle parte del mondo. Impresso nella excelsa cipta di Firenze appetitione _di Ser Piero da Pescia_, etc. Circa, 1512. 4^o.
Grenville, 6712. Another copy of Sir John Mandeville's travels printed at Milan, _per Rocho et fratelli da Valle_. 1517. 4^o. B. L.
Grenville, 6656. Another copy of Sir John Mandevilles travels, printed at Venice, _per Marchio Sessa e Piero de rauani._ 1521. 8^o.
1051, c. 1/1. Mandeville (_Sir_ John) _the Traveller_. I. de Mandavilla, qual tratta della piu maravegliose cose e piu notabile che si trovino, etc. Venetia, 1537. 8^o.
567, i. 5. Mandeville (_Sir_ John) _the Traveller_. Juan de Mandavila. Libro de las Marauillas del mundo y del viage d' la tierra santa di Hierusal[~e] & de todas las provincias & hombres monstrussos que hayen las Indias. G. L. Valencia, 1540, fol.
149, e. 6. Libro de las maravillas del mondo que trata del viage de la Tierra Santa de Hierusalem y de todas las provincias y Ciudades de las Indias y de los hombres mostruosos que ay en el mundo. Alcala de Heuares. 1547, fol.
1074, k. 4/1. Mandeville (_Sir_ John) _the Traveller_. Maistre Iehan Mandeville Chevalier natif du pays Dangleterre, lequel parle des grandes Adventures des pays estrange, tant par mer, que par terre.... Ensemble la terre de promission & du sainct voyage de Hierusalem. G. L. _Jehan Bonfons_. Paris, 1560? 4^o.
Grenville, 6657. Another copy of Sir John Mandeville's travels. Nel quale si contengono di molte cose maravigliose. Venetia, 1567. 8^o.
1046, a. 26/4. Mandeville (_Sir_ John) _the Traveller_. I. de Mandavilla, nel quale si contengono di molte cose maravigliose, etc. Venetia, 1567. 8^o.
1045, h. 2. Mandeville (_Sir_ John) _the Traveller_. The Voiage and travayle of Syr I. M. which treateth of the way toward Hierusalem, and of marvayles of Inde, with other Ilands and Countryes. B. L. Lond. 1568. 8^o.
10,076, a. Mandeville (_Sir_ John) _the Traveller_. Reysen und Wander schafften, durch das Gelobte Land, Indien und Persien, dess ... Ritters J. de Montevilla ... von ihm in Frantzösischer unnd Lateinischer Sprach ... beschrieben. Nachmals durch O. von Dameringer ... verteutscht ... auffs neuw corrigieret und mit ... Figuren gezieret. Franckfurt am Mayn, 1580. 8^o.
790, m. 16. Mandeville (_Sir_ John) _the Traveller_. Reysen ins gelobte Land ... Persien, Indien, Tartary, etc. 1584, fol.
Grenville, 6714. Another copy of Sir John Mandeville's travels in English, unfortunately mutilated, said to be probably printed by Thomas East or Este[2]--but it is unlike his type--and the engravings are totally different.
791, l. 12. Mandeville (_Sir_ John) _the Traveller_. Reysen ... durch das gelobte Landt, Indien, und Persien, etc. 1609, fol.
Grenville, 6715. Another copy of Sir John Mandeville's travels. "Wherein is set downe the way to the Holy Land, and to Hierusalem: as also to the land of the great Caane, and of Prester John; to Inde, and diuers other countries: together with the many and strange Meruailes therein. London, _by Thomas Stansby_. 1618. 4^o. B. L.
10,056, bbb/2. Mandeville (_Sir_ John) _the Traveller_. De wonderlijcke Reyse van I. Mandevijl, be schrijvende eerst de Reyse ende gheschiedenisse van den H. Lande.... Daer na de ghestaltenisse ende zeden van den Lande van Egipten, Syrien, Persen ... Indien, ende Ethiopien, &c.--t'Amsterdam. 1650. 4^o.
Grenville, 6716. Voyages and travels, wherein is set down the way to the Holy Land, &c. London, 1657. 4^o. B. L.
791, l. 25. Mandeville (_Sir_ John) _the Traveller_. Reysen unnd Wanderschafften durch das gelobte Landt, Indien und Persien ... durch Otto von Demeringen ... verteutscht. 1659, fol.
10,055, a. Mandeville (_Sir_ John) _the Traveller._ The voyages and travels of Sir J. Mandevile, Knight. Wherein is set down the way to the Holy Land, and to Hierusalem; as also to the lands of the Great Caane, and of Prester John, &c. (Woodcuts). B. L. Lond. 1670. 4^o.
12,410, f. 10. Mandeville (_Sir_ John) _the Traveller_. De Wonderlycke Reyse van I. Mandevyl. Naer het H. Landt, ghedan in 't Jaer 1322 &c. Antwerpen, 1677. 4^o.
Grenville, 6717. Another copy of Sir John Mandeville's travels. London, for R. Scot, 1684. 4^o.
1045, h. 30. Mandeville (_Sir_ John) _the Traveller_. The voyages of Sir I. M., &c. B. L. Lond. 1684. 4^o.
Grenville, 6718. Another copy of Sir John Mandeville's travels. London, for R. Chiswell, &c. 1696. 4^o. The woodcuts in this edition are the same as in Grenville 6717.
12,315, c. 5/4. Mandeville (_Sir_ John) _the Traveller_. Des vortrefflich Welt-Erfahrnen ... Ritters Johannis de Montevilla, curieuse Reiss-Beschreibung wie derselbe in das gelobte Land, Palästinum, Jerusalem, Egypten, Türkey, Judäam, Indien, Chinam, Persien, angekommen, und fast den ganzen Erd-und Welt. Kriebs durchzogen seye; ... Nunmehrins Teutsche übersetzt ... Jetzt von neuem auferlegt, vermehrt und verbessert, &c. (no place named) 1700? 8^o.
1077, g. 35/2. Mandeville (_Sir_ John) _the Traveller_. The voyages and travels of Sir J. M., &c. Lond. 1705. 4^o.
10,056, c. Mandeville (_Sir_ John) _the Traveller_. The voyages and travels of Sir J. Mandevile ... where in is set down the way to the Holy Land.... As also to the lands of the Great Caan, and of Prester John; to India, and divers other countries, &c. Lond. 1710. 4^o.
10,055, a. Mandeville (_Sir_ John) _the Traveller_. The Travels and voyages of Sir J. M., &c. Lond. 1720? 12^o.
Grenville, 2247. Another copy of Sir John Mandeville's travels. London, for J. Osborne. (A chap book.) No date ? 1720-30. 12^o.
683, f. 18. Mandeville (_Sir_ John) _the Traveller_. The voiage and travaile of Sir I Maundevile, which treateth of the way to Hierusalem, and of marvayles of Inde, with other ilands, and countreyes. Now publish'd entire from an original MS. in the Cotton Library. Lond. 1725. 8^o.
_Note._ There is another title page, with the date 1727.
149, b. 8. Another edition of the same in the King's Library--without the 1727 title page.
The Grenville Library also has copies of the 1727 edition of the Cotton M.S. and Halliwell's reprint of same, edition 1839.
212, e. 6. Mandeville (_Sir_ John) _the Traveller_. Receuil ou abrègè des voiages et observations de, &c. (Receuil de divers Voyages Curieux, &c.) Vol. 2. 1729. 4^o.
435, a. I. Mandeville (_Sir_ John) _the Traveller_. The Travels and Voyages of Sir I. M. Lond. 1730? 8^o.
454, f. 6. Mandeville (_Sir_ John) _the Traveller_. See Bergeron (P.) _Parisien_ Voyages faits principalement en Asie dans les XII. XIII. XIV. et XV siecles, &c. 1735. 4^o.
100,56, cc. Mandeville (_Sir_ John) _the Traveller_. De Wonderlÿke Reyse van Ian Mandevyl, &c. Amsterdam, 1742? 4^o.
790, b. 34. Mandeville (_Sir_ John) _the Traveller_. De wonderlyke Reize van Jan Mandevyl, &c. Amsterdam 1750? 4^o.