INTRODUCTION. SIR THOMAS MALORY AND THE VARIOUS EDITIONS OF "LE MORTE DARTHUR.” HE cycle of stories of King Arthur and the 1 colophon. There we read that Thomas Malory was a knight, that he completed his work in the ninth year of the reign of King Edward IV.—i.e., 1470-twenty-five years before it saw the light fifte of day in print. Caxton further states that Malory "reduced" his work from certain books in French, and that he was the servant of Jesu both day and night, which fact and the general tone of the "Morte Darthur," have sometimes given rise to the hypothesis that he was a priest. The name "Malory" occurs in Leland's time in Yorkshire, and is quoted in the next century in Burton's "Description of Leicestershire," but no clue can be found to connect the 2 1 The name ( Malory," is also sometimes spelt Malorye and "Maleore." See Caxton, p. 861*, line 9; also, W. de Worde, Copland, East and Stansby. "There be 2 John Leland's "Itinerary," 2nd ed., Oxford, 1744, vol. viii. p. 22: two Lordshipps lyenge not very far from Ripon, that is Norton Conyers and Hutton Coniers. Norton hathe Northeton Coniers, and Malory hathe Hutton Coniers. Thes Lands cam to their Aunciters by two doughtars, Heirs Generall of that Coniers. Malory hath another Place caullyd Highe Studly, a litle from Fontaines.” 3 W. Burton, "Description of Leicestershire," 1st ed. 1622, 2nd ed. Lynn, 1777, folio, p. 140, Thomas Malory; p. 262, Sir Thomas Malory, knyght of Winwick, Newbould and Swinford, 19, 27. VOL. II. A 1 author of the "Morte Darthur" with the bearers of his name. The Bibliographia Britannica” 1 says that Leland, and others after him, stated Malory to be a Welshman, but I can find no reference to this fact in Leland's works. The "Morte Darthur" has been in all twelve times printed or edited previously to the present edition: seven times in black letter and five times in Roman type. 3 W. Caxton's impression was finished, according to his own statement, in 1485. He was induced to print the book "by many noble and dyuers gentylmen of thys royame." This edition was brought out in folio and printed in black letter. Only two copies of this first and original edition are known to exist. Of a third copy the second leaf of the table of contents of the book is alone preserved. One of the two above-mentioned copies is throughout perfect and in good condition, and is unanimously considered one of the finest specimens of early printing. Belonging originally to the Harleian Library, this copy was sold to the Earl of Jersey for his library at Osterley Park. In 1885 it became the property of Mrs. Abby E. Pope, of Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1 64 Bibliographia Britannica," vol. iii. p. 372, "Caxton:" "If this Sir Thomas Malory was a Welshman, as Leland and others after him assert, he was most likely a Welsh priest." 2 (a) W. Blades, "The Life and Typography of William Caxton." London, 1861-3, folio, vol. ii. p. 178. (b) "Bibliotheca Spenceriana, or a Descriptive Catalogue of the Books printed in the Fifteenth Century, in the Library of George John, Earl Spencer, K.G., &c." by T. F. Dibdin. London, 1815, folio, vol. iv. pp. 403-9. (c) Dibdin, "Typographical Antiquities, or the History of Printing in England, Scotland, and Ireland." London, 1810-19, 4to, vol. i. pp. 241-85. (d) Lowndes, "Bibliographer's Manual." London, 1864, 8vo, p. 74. (e) W. Carew Hazlitt's "Hand-book to the Popular, Poetical, and Dramatic Literature of Great Britain, from the Invention of Printing to the Restoration." London, 1867, 8vo p. 13. Bagford, "Fragments," vol. viii. No. 58. |