munities which correspond to the Lesser Eastern Churches, while the fourth would have treated of the Maronites, who have no similar counterpart.
The present volume contains, besides the chapter on the Uniate Churches in general, the principal portion of Part I. According to the author's intention, about two-thirds of the book were to have been devoted to the description of the Byzantine Uniates. What is now presented is thus about one-half of the proposed work. It includes the interesting study of the Italo-Greeks, a Uniate Church which had a particular fascination for Dr. Fortescue, since in their abbey-church at Grottaferrata[1] received the inspiration of devoting himself to the study of things Eastern.
Much of the information in the chapter on the Melkites is the fruit of the author's personal investigation during his journeyings in the East. Incidentally it contains several instances of that satirical but not unkindly humour so characteristic of Dr. Fortescue, which even those at whom it is pointed may find difficult to resist.
The book, therefore, must be judged as a fragment. It may be found to lack that finish which it would assuredly have received at the skilful hands of the author. Some inaccuracy may have crept in, which on his revision would have been eliminated. Whatever be its defects, it cannot fail to be of great value to all who are interested in the subject. To ensure that none of the fruits of this study be lost, I have included the author's own copious bibliography for the whole work.
Dr. Fortescue would certainly have wished me to express his thanks to all those-unfortunately I have no record of their names—who have assisted him in collecting material. For even the smallest service he was always most grateful.
My own task in editing the manuscript of one who was a model of neatness and method in his work has been light. It has been rendered still more easy for
- ↑ See p. 150, n. 4.
