The Several Editions of These Travels.

We have already shown that this work was originally written in Latin, and if not by the author’s hand, at least from his mouth; but after the Italian version that was made of it, the copies of the Latin manuscript became extremely rare, insomuch that the Italian translation was taken for the original. One Francis Pepin, a monk, translated it into Latin, and abridged it at the command of his superiors; and it is a copy of this manuscript that is in the library of the King of Prussia. It was printed at Basil by the care of the celebrated Reinecius, and afterwards in other places. It was from one of these copies that it was translated by Hakluyt, of which Purchas so heavily, and at the same time so justly, complains. Ramusio took a great deal of pains, as well in restoring the sense of the text of our author, as in justifying his character, and supporting the credit of his work by his learned discourses. He was assisted therein by a copy of the original Latin manuscript, which was lent him by his friend Signior Chisi, without which it had been impossible for him to have brought, it into so good order as we now see it.

There has been, besides the translations already mentioned, at least two in the German language. It was printed in Portuguese at Lisbon in 1502, and it has been several times translated into Dutch. I have been the more particular in the account of these additions and translations because they differ very much from each other; so that the only way to come at a complete view of the author, is by collecting and comparing these; a work of infinite pains and labour, in which, however, we have the assistance of Andrew Müller, a learned German critic, and of Peter Bergeron, a Frenchman, who, next to Ramusio, was, of all others, the most capable of such an undertaking, and has succeeded in it the best.

There was, however, one thing wanting, which was the justifying the dates, verifying the facts, and explaining the obscure names of places which occur in these travels, and this we have done to the best of our ability in this translation, so that the reader may be satisfied that he has the work of this ancient writer as entire, and in as good condition as it was in our power to give it him.