INTRODUCTION.
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larity in the reign of Queen Elizabeth is proved by many allusions in the works of that period. An anonymous comedy, published early in the following reign, and entitled "Sir Giles Goosecap," observes,—"Then for your lordship's quips and quick jests, why Gesta Romanorum were nothing to them[1]." In Chapman's "May-Day[2]," a person speaking of the literary information of another character, styles him "One that has read Marcus Aurelius, Gesta Romanorum, the Mirrour of Magistrates, &c . . . . to be led by the nose like a blind beare that has read nothing[3]!"
The author of this popular work, has been often guessed at, but nothing certain is known. Warton believes him to be Petrus Berchorius, or Pierre Bercheur, a native of Poitou; and
