TO

THE RIGHT REVEREND

THE BISHOP OF ELY;

THIS VOLUME

IS,

WITH HIS LORDSHIP'S PERMISSION,

INSCRIBED,

AS A TESTIMONY

OF SINCERE GRATITUDE AND ESTEEM,

BY HIS LORDSHIP'S

MOST OBLIGED AND OBEDIENT SERVANT,

WILLIAM BELOE.

INTRODUCTION.

I SHOULD have dismissed this Volume to join those which have preceded, without any prefatory remark, but that my introduction to the last portion of my work, made a promise which I have not found myself enabled to perform.

The appointment of Sir Gore Ouseley to a high and important office in a distant quarter of the globe, necessarily prevented his communicating to me the abstract of his oriental manuscripts, which I hoped on the sent occasion to place before my readers.

pre

Whether I shall yet have it in my power to be the instrument of so great a gratification to the public as these oriental treasures

6

contain,

contain, must entirely depend upon circumstances which it is impossible to foresee. In the mean time I presume to hope, that even without this recommendation, the present volume will be found to exhibit what may interest from its novelty, and afford some amusement from its variety.

On the present occasion I am not aware that I have any thanks to communicate, except to the Bishop of Ely, whose kindness has in the multiplied employments of his great office, continued unaltered.

A sixth volume already in great forwardness will compleat my plan-this will principally comprehend articles of early English literature, old poetry, and such miscellaneous matter as my opportunities have enabled me to collect.

Omissions and corrections to the preceding volumes will be supplied, and a copious Index to the whole will compleat the work,