Report of the Committee, January, 1865.
The close of the first year of the Society’s operations affords the Committee the welcome opportunity of congratulating the members on the Society’s success. Instead of two Texts, which the first Circular to the Society suggested might perhaps be issued, the Committee have been enabled to publish four, and these four such as will bear comparison, as to rareness and intrinsic value, with the publications of any of the longest established societies of the kingdom. TheArthurwas edited for the first time from a unique MS., wholly unknown to even the latest writers on the subject, and exhibits our national hero’s life in a simpler form than even Geoffrey of Monmouth, or Layamon. TheEarly English Alliterative Poems, though noticed long ago by Dr. Guest and Sir F. Madden, for their great philological and poetical value, had been inaccessible to all but students of the difficult and faded MS. in the British Museum: they have been now made public by the Society’s edition, with their large additions to our vocabulary, and their interesting dialectal formations. TheSir Gawayne, from the same MS., could only have been had before in Sir Frederick Madden’s rare and costly edition, printed by the Bannatyne Club. And theLauderhas restored, as it were, to Scotland, a Poet whose name had found no place in the standard History of Scottish Poetry, and the Biographical Dictionaries.
Though the Society started late in the past year, these four Texts were published within a fortnight of its close; and before that time the first Text for the second year was in the printer’s hands. The Committee pledge themselves to continue their exertions to render the Texts issued worthy of the Society, and to complete the issue of each set within the year assigned to it. They rely with confidence on the Subscribers to use their best endeavours to increase the list of Members, in order that funds may not be wanting to print the material that editors place at their service. The aim of the Committee is, on the one hand, to print all that is most valuable of the yet unprinted MSS. in English, and, on the other, to re-edit and reprint all that is most valuable in printed English books, which from their scarcity or price are not within the reach of the student of moderate means.6Those relating toKing Arthurwill be the Committee’s first care; those relating to our Language and its Dialects the second; while in due proportion with these, will be mixed others of general interest, though with no one special common design. The Committee hope that no year will pass withoutthe issue of one Text in the Northern dialect, as well in acknowledgment of the support that the Society has received in Scotland, as to obviate the hitherto limited circulation of the works of the early Scotch writers among students south of the Humber.
The publications for 1864 are:—
1. Early English Alliterative Poems in the West Midland Dialect of the fourteenth century (ab. 1320-30a.d.). Edited for the first time from a unique MS. in the British Museum, with Notes and Glossarial Index, by Richard Morris, Esq.
2. Arthur. Edited for the first time from the Marquis of Bath’s MS. (ab. 1440a.d.), by F. J. Furnivall, Esq., M.A.
3. Ane compendious and breve Tractate, concernyng ye office and dewtie of Kyngis, Spirituall Pastoris, and temporall Jugis; laitlie compylit be William Lauder. Reprinted from the edition of 1556, and edited by Prof. Fitz-Edward Hall, D.C.L.
4. Sir Gawayne and the Green Knight. Edited by R. Morris, Esq., from the Cottonian MS., Nero, A x. (ab. 1320-30a.d.)
The publications for the present year (1865) will comprise Texts from at least four unique MSS., two of which will be edited for the first time.
5. Of the Orthographie and Congruitie of the Britan Tongue, a treates noe shorter then necessarie, be Alexander Hume. Edited for the first time from the MS. in the British Museum (ab. 1617a.d.), by Henry B. Wheatley, Esq.
6. Syr Lancelot du Lak. Edited from the MS. in the Cambridge University Library (15th century), by the Rev. Walter W. Skeat, M.A.
7. Morte Arthure: the Alliterative Version. Edited from Robert Thorntone’s MS. (ab. 1440a.d.) at Lincoln, by the Rev. F. C. Massingberd, M.A.
8. Various Poems relating to Sir Gawayne. Edited from the MSS. by Richard Morris, Esq.
9. Merlin, or the Early History of Arthur. Edited for the first time from the MS. in the Cambridge University Library (ab. 1450a.d.), by F. J. Furnivall, Esq. Part I.
Also, the following, if the amount of subscriptions will justify the Committee in issuing them:—
Animadversions uppon the Annotacions and Corrections of some imperfections of Impressiones of Chaucer’s Workes reprinted in 1598, by Francis Thynne. Edited from the MS. in the Bridgewater Library, by Henry B. Wheatley, Esq.
The Story of Genesis and Exodus in English verse of about 1300a.d.To be edited for the first time from the unique MS. in the Library of Corpus Christi Coll., Cambridge, by F. J. Furnivall and R. Morris, Esqrs.
The Harrowing of Hell. To be edited from the MS. in the Bodleian Library, by R. F. Weymouth, Esq.
The following is a list of Texts, which it is proposed to print (among others) in future years:—
The Romance of Arthour and Merlin. To be edited from the Auchinleck MS. (ab. 1320-30a.d.)
Mirk’s Duties of a Parish Priest. To be edited for the first time from the MSS. in the British Museum and Bodleian Libraries (ab. 1420a.d.), by E. Peacock, Esq.
The Romance of William and the Werwolf. To be edited from the unique MS. in the Library of King’s Coll., Cambridge.
The Gospel of Nicodemus in the Northumbrian Dialect. To be edited for the first time from Harl. MS. 4196, &c., Cotton-Galbaeix., by R. Morris, Esq.
The Romance of Melusine. To be edited for the first time from the unique MS. in the Library of Trinity College, Cambridge.
Syr Thomas Maleor’s Mort d’Arthur. To be edited from Caxton’s edition (1485a.d.) with a new Preface, Notes, and a Glossary.
The Arthur Ballads.
The Romance of Sir Tristrem. To be edited from the Auchinleck MS.
The English Charlemagne Romances. To be edited from the Auchinleck MS.
The Early English Version of the Gesta Romanorum. To be edited from the MSS. in the British Museum and other Libraries.
The two different Versions of Piers Plowman, in parallel columns.
Gawain Douglas’s Æneis. To be edited from the Cambridge MS. by Professor Fitz-Edward Hall, D.C.L.
The Romance of Kyng Horn. To be edited from the MS. in the Library of the University of Cambridge.
Roberd of Brunne’s Handlyng Synne, a treatise on the sins, and sketches of the manners, of English men and women ina.d.1303. To be re-edited from the MSS. in the British Museum and Bodleian Libraries by F. J. Furnivall, Esq., M.A.
Cursor Mundi, the best dialectal version. To be edited from the MS. by Richard Morris, Esq.
The History of the Saint Graal or Sank Ryal. By Henry Lonelich, Skynner (ab. 1440a.d.). To be re-edited from the unique MS. in the Library of Corpus Christi Coll., Cambridge, by F. J. Furnivall, Esq., M.A.
Dan Michel’s Ayenbite of Inwyt, the most valuable specimen of the Kentish dialect, 1340a.d.To be edited from the MS. in the British Museum by Richard Morris, Esq.
Froissart’s Chronicles translated out of Frenche into our maternall Englyshe Tonge, by Johan Bourchier Knight, Lord Berners. To be edited by Henry B. Wheatley, Esq.
Skelton’s Translation of Diodorus Siculus, oute of freshe Latin, that is of Poggius Florentinus, containing six books. To be edited for the first time from the unique MS. in the Library of Corpus Christi Coll., Cambridge.
Sir David Lyndesay’s Monarche. Edited by Prof. Fitz-Edward Hall, D.C.L., from the first edition by Jhone Skott.
Some of the earliest English Dictionaries, as—Abecedarium Anglico-latinum, by Richard Huloet (1552); and Baret’s Alvearie or Quadruple Dictionarie, to be edited from the editions of 1573 and 1580 by Henry B. Wheatley, Esq.
The Subscription is £1 1s.a year, due in advance on the 1st of January, and should be paid either to the Society’s Account at the Union Bank of London, 14, Argyll Place, W., or by Post Office Order to the Hon. Secretary, 53, Berners Street, London, W.; to whom Subscribers’ names and addresses should be sent.
The Committee wish to draw the attention of the Subscribers to the fact that the Society’s Account has been transferred from the London and Birmingham Bank to the Regent Street Branch of the Union Bank of London.
The Committee invite offers of voluntary assistance from those who may be willing to edit or copy Texts, or to lend them books for reprinting or for re-reading with the original MSS.
The Honorary Secretary’s Cash Account is annexed.
Abstract of the Income and Expenditure of theEarly English Text Societyfor the Year ending December 31st, 1864.
One hundred Subscriptions, at 1l.1s.
Forty-five ditto (through Agents), at 1l.
Two Subscriptions, at 1l.1s.
Alliterative Poems
Arthur
Lauder’s Tractate
Sir Gawayne
3,500 Prospectuses
Packing, Postage, &c., of Alliterative Poems and Arthur
Purchase of Books for Re-editing
Stationery, &c.
Postages (Circulars, &c.)
Deduction on Country Cheque
Balance in the hands of the Hon. Secretary
Balance at the Bankers
We have examined this Account with the Books and Vouchers, and certify that it is correct.
Wm. CUNNINGHAM GLEN,REGINALD HANSON, B.A., Auditors.
The Royal Library, Windsor Castle.
Adams, Dr. Ernest, Victoria Park, Manchester.
Alexander, George Russell, Esq., Glasgow.
Alexander, John, Esq., 43, Campbell Street, Glasgow.
Amhurst, Wm. A. Tyssen, Esq., Didlington Park, Brandon, Norfolk.
Asher & Co., Messrs., 13, Bedford Street, Covent Garden. W.C. (10 sets.)
Atkinson, Rev. J. C., Danby Parsonage, Grosmont, York.
Aufrecht, Professor, 12, Cumin Place, Grange, Edinburgh.
Austin, Stephen, Hertford.
Backhouse, John G., Esq., Blackwell, Darlington.
Bain, J., Esq., Haymarket.
Baker, Charles, Esq., 11, Sackville Street, W.
Beard, James, Esq., The Grange, Burnage Lane, near Manchester
Blackman, Frederick,Esq., 4, York Road. S.
Bladon, James, Esq., Albion House, Pont y Pool.
Bohn, Henry G., Esq., York Street, Covent Garden, W.C.
Bosworth, Rev. Professor, D.D., 20, Beaumont Street, Oxford.
Bradshaw, Henry, Esq., King’s College, Cambridge.
Buxton, Charles, Esq., M.P., 7, Grosvenor Crescent, S.W.
Chappell, William, Esq., 30, Upper Harley Street. W.
Cheetham, Rev. S., King’s College, London. W.C.
Clark, Rev. Samuel, The Vicarage, Bredwardine, Hereford.
Clark, E. C., Esq., Trinity College, Cambridge.
Cohen, A., Esq., 6, King’s Bench Walk, Temple, E.C.
Coleridge, Miss Edith, Hanwell Rectory, Middlesex.
Coleridge, J. Duke, Esq., Q.C., 1, Brick Court, Temple, E.C.
Cosens, Frederick, Esq., Larkbere Lodge, Clapham Park.
Cowper, J. Meadows, Esq., Davington, Faversham.
Craik, Professor George L., 2, Chlorina Place, Belfast.
Craik, George L., Esq., Glasgow.
Davies, Rev. John, Walsoken Rectory, near Wisbeach.
De la Rue, Warren, Esq., Bunhill Row.
De la Rue, Wm. Frederick, Esq., 110, Bunhill Road, E.C.
Dickinson, F. H., Esq., Kingweston House, Somerton, Somerset.
Dodds, Rev. James, St. Stephen’s, Glasgow.
Donaldson, David, Esq., Free Normal Seminary, Glasgow.
D’Orsey, Rev. A. J., B.D., 8, Lancaster Terrace, Regent’s Park. N.W.
Dowden, Edward, Esq., 8, Montenotte, Cork.
Dublin, Right Rev. Richard C. Trench, Archbishop of, Dublin.
Dykes, Rev. J. Oswald, Free St. George’s Church, Edinburgh.
Earle, Rev. J., Swanswick Rectory, Bath.
Edinburgh University Library.
Eisdell, Miss S. L., Colchester.
Euing, William, Esq., 209, West George Street, Glasgow.
Field, Hamilton, Esq., New Park Road, Brixton Hill.
Freethy, Mr. Frederick, Working Men’s College, London.
Fry, Danby P., Esq., Poor Law Board, Whitehall.
Fry, Frederick, Esq., Wellington Street, Islington.
Furnivall, F. J., Esq., 3, Old Square, Lincoln’s Inn., W.C.
Gee, William, Esq., High Street, Boston.
Gibbs, Captain Charles, 2nd Regiment, Devonport.
Gibbs, H. H., Esq., St. Dunstan’s, Regent’s Park.
Glen, W. Cunningham, Esq., Poor Law Board, Whitehall.
Goldstücker, Professor, 14, St. George’s Square. N.W.
Gordon, Rev. Robert, 14, Northumberland St., Edinburgh.
Guild, J. Uylie, Esq., Glasgow.
Hales, J. W., Esq., Christ’s College, Cambridge.
Halkett, Samuel, Esq., Advocates’ Library, Edinburgh.
Hall, Professor Fitz-Edward, D.C.L., 18, Provost Road, Haverstock Hill. N.W.
Hamlen, Charles, Esq., 27, Virginia Street, Glasgow.
Hanson, Reginald, Esq., 43, Upper Harley Street. W.
Heath, N., Esq., Rector, The Academy, Alloa.
Hodgson, Shadworth H., Esq., 45, Conduit Street, Regent’s Street. W.
Hooper, Rev. Richard, Aston Upthorpe.
Horwood, Alfred S., Esq., New Court, Middle Temple. E.C.
Howard, Hon. Richard E., D.C.L., Stamp Office, Manchester.
India Office Library, Cannon Row.
Jackson, E. Steane, Esq., Walthamstow House, Essex.
Johnson, W., Esq., Eton College, Windsor.
Jones, C. W., Esq., Gateacre, near Liverpool.
Jones, E. B., Esq., 62, Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury.
Jones, Thomas, Esq., Chetham Library, Manchester.
King, W. Warwick, Esq., 29, Queen Street, Cannon Street West. E.C.
Laing, David, Esq., Signet Library, Edinburgh.
Lamont, Colin D., Esq., Union Bank of Scotland, Greenock.
Leckie, Thomas, Esq., M.D., 60, Cambridge Terrace, Hyde Park. W.
Leigh, John, Esq., 26, St. John’s Street, Manchester.
Lodge, Rev. Barton, Colchester.
London Library, St. James’s Square. S.W.
Luard, Rev. Henry Richard, 4, St. Peter’s Terrace, Cambridge.
Lushington, E. L., Esq., Park House, Maidstone.
MacDonald, George, Esq., 12, Earles Terrace, Kensington. W.
MacDouall, Professor Charles, LL.D., Queen’s College, Belfast.
Mackenzie, John Whitefoord, Esq., 16, Royal Circus, Edinburgh.
Macmillan, A., Esq., Bedford Street, Covent Garden. W.C.
Madden, Sir Frederick, K.H., British Museum. W.C.
Manchester, The Duke of.
Melbourne Public Library, Victoria.
Morris, Richard, Esq., Christ Church School, St. George’s East. E.
Muir, John, Esq., 16, Regent’s Terrace, Edinburgh.
Muller, Professor Max, 64, High Street, Oxford.
Murdoch, James Barclay, Esq., 33, Lyndoch Street, Glasgow.
Napier, George W., Esq., Alderley Edge, near Manchester.
Nash, D. M., Esq., 21, Bentinck Street, Manchester Square. W.
Neaves, Lord, 7, Charlotte Square, Edinburgh.
Nichol, Professor, University, Glasgow.
Nichols, John Gough, Esq., 25, Parliament Street, Westminster.
Norris, Edwin, Esq., 6, Michael’s Grove, Brompton. S.W.
Ogle, Messrs. Maurice & Co., Glasgow.
Owen’s College Library, Manchester.
Paine, Cornelius, Jun., Esq., Surbiton Hill, Surrey.
Panton, Rev. George A., Crown Circus, Dowanhill, Glasgow. (2 sets.)
Parker, H. T., Esq., 3, Ladbroke Gardens. W. (10 sets).
Peile, John, Esq., Christ’s College, Cambridge.
Perceval, Charles Spencer, Esq., 64, Eccleston Square. S.W.
Priaulx, Osw. De Beauvoir, Esq., 8, Cavendish Square. W.
Raine, Rev. James, York.
Regent’s Park College. N.W.
Reilly, Francis S., Esq., 22, Old Buildings, Lincoln’s Inn. W.C.
Richardson, Sir John, Lancrigg, Grasmere.
Rossetti, Wm., Esq., 160, Albany Street. N.W.
Ruskin, John, Esq., Denmark Hill, Camberwell (10 sets).
St. David’s, Right Rev. Connop Thirlwall, Bishop of, Abergwili Palace, Carmarthen.
Sion College, President and Fellows of, London Wall.
Skeat, Rev. Walter W., Christ’s College, Cambridge.
Slatter, Rev. John, Streatley Vicarage, Reading.
Smith, Charles, Esq., Faversham.
Smith, J. Guthrie, Esq., Glasgow.
Sprange, A. D., Esq., 12, Princes Street, Bayswater. W.
Stephens, Professor George, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Stevenson, Rev. Prof., D.D., 37, Royal Terrace, Edinburgh.
Stewart, Alexander B., Esq., Glasgow.
Strathearn, Sheriff, County Buildings, Glasgow.
Tennyson, Alfred, Esq., D.C.L., Faringford, Isle of Wight.
Trübner, Nicholas, Esq., 60, Paternoster Row (19 sets).
Tucker, Stephen, Esq., 11, St. Petersburgh Place. W.
Tyssen, John R. D., Esq., Didlington Park, Brandon, Norfolk.
Ward, Harry, Esq., British Museum. W.C.
Watts, Thomas, Esq., British Museum. W.C.
Wedgwood, Hensleigh, Esq., 1, Cumberland Place, Regent’s Park.
Weymouth, R. F., Esq., Portland Grammar School, Plymouth.
Wheatley, Henry B., Esq., 53, Berners Street. W.—Hon. Sec.
Williams, Sydney, Esq., 14, Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, W.C. (2 sets.)
Williamson, Stephen, Esq., 13, Virginia Street, Glasgow.
Wilson, Edward J., Esq., 6, Whitefriars Gate, Hull.
Wright, W. Aldis, Esq., Trinity College, Cambridge.
Young, Alexander, Esq., 38, Elm Bank Crescent, Glasgow.
1.Wood’s Fasti Oxonienses, by Bliss, I., 217.
2.M’Crie’s Life of Melville, vol. ii., p. 509.
3.“An Alvearie or Quadruple Dictionarie, containing four sundrie tongues, namelie, English, Latine, Greeke and French ... by Jo. Baret.London, 1580.” Folio. An edition was published in 1573, with three languages only, the Greek not being included.
4.“De recta et emendata Linguæ Anglicæ Scriptione Dialogus.Lutetiæ, 1568.” 4to.
5.It will be here as well to mention that as the punctuation in the MS. is extremely unsystematic, it has been dispensed with whenever the meaning was confused by it.
6.“A vast mass of our early literature is still unprinted, and much that has been printed has, as the late Herbert Coleridge remarked, ‘been brought out by Printing Clubs of exclusive constitution, or for private circulation only, and might, for all that the public in general is the better for them, just as well have remained in manuscript, being, of course, utterly unprocurable, except in great libraries, and not always there.’ It is well known that the Hon. G. P. Marsh, the author of ‘The Origin and History of the English Language,’ could not procure for use in his work a copy of ‘Havelok’ for love or money; and the usual catalogue-price of ‘William and the Werwolf,’ or ‘The Early English Gesta Romanorum,’ etc., etc., is six guineas, when the book should be obtainable for less than a pound. Notwithstanding the efforts of the Percy, Camden, and other Societies and Printing Clubs, more than half our early printed literature—including the Romances relating to our national hero, Arthur—is still inaccessible to the student of moderate means; and it is a scandal that this state of things should be allowed to continue.... Those who would raise any objection to these re-editions—as a few have raised them—are asked to consider the absurdity and injustice of debarring a large number of readers from the enjoyment of an old author, because a living editor has once printed his works, when the feeling of the editor himself is well expressed in the words of one of the class, ‘You are heartily welcome to all I have ever done. I should rejoice to see my books in the hands of a hundred, where they are now on the shelves of one.’”—Extract from the first Prospectus.