the MS., as that would have often involved restoring the copy of 1620 A.D., or later, to its original of 1420 A.D., or earlier, thus destroying the very copy which it was their sole purpose to give. Emendations have therefore been introduced into the text with a very sparing hand, and have been sometimes confined to the notes. Mr. Furnivall is, in the main, responsible for the text, the proofs and revises of which have been read thrice with the MS.
It has been thought due to Bishop Percy's work and memory to print all the notes and readings that he wrote in the margin of the MS.—whether the Editors agree with them or not—except where the readings were only clearer copies of the words of the MS., and meant to assist an inexperienced reader. All such notes and readings are marked by a —P. The contractions used by Percy are chiefly those of the Glossaries to Gawain Douglas and Urry's edition of Chaucer.
The Editors tender their thanks to Professor Child, Mr. Wm. Chappell, Dr. Eobson, Mr. C. H. Pearson, Mr. David Laing, Mr. D. W. Nash, Mr. Thomas Wright, Mr. Pattrick, and the Rev. W. W. Skeat, for their help.
April 20, 1867.
