brought into due prominence, I have translated the letter of Budé, as well as some other pieces not included by Robynson. There is no need to specify which these are. The style of the older translator speaks for itself. Whatever is not his, is mine. The reader will find in the present edition everything comprised in the original one of 1516, excepting the letter and verses of Joannes Paludanus. These were deliberately omitted from the second edition, probably as having no intrinsic merit, and so are properly omitted here. Nothing is here left out which was in the second edition of the Latin, or in the first edition of the English translation. The reason for adopting different editions of the Latin and English is simply this. In the Latin, the later one was more complete and accurate than its predecessor, and evidently more what the author designed to make it. His wish is entitled to respect. On the other hand, our interest in Robynson's translation is chiefly due to its representing an early period of English; and for this purpose the earlier edition is the better. Moreover, while the second edition of Robynson has been often reprinted, the first has never been so, and it thus has the advantage of freshIt will be seen from the various readings, which are all carefully noted, that, except in matters of spelling, the differences between the two are not really important. In obtaining texts suitable to print from not a little difficulty was experienced. It was not thought advisable to reproduce the contractions, with which the old typography abounds. And so, after losing some time in trying expedients, I wrote out the whole of the Latin, from a copy of the edition of March, 1518, kindly lent me by Mr. Seebohm. A transcript of the first edition of Robynson's translation was also made for me, by the obliging permission of Dr. Sinker, from a copy in the Library of Trinity College, Cambridge. In making both these transcripts, the only alteration permitted has been expanding the contractions, and occasionally readjusting the division of sentences. No student of the period of English history in which More lived can fail to own his obligations to the Calendars of Letters and Papers of Henry the Eighth's reign made by the late Professor Brewer, and to the valuable Introductions prefixed to them. For my special subject I have, besides these, found great assistance in Dr. Lumby's excellent edition of the Utopia, and in the bibliographical Introduction to Professor Arber's reprint. Both of these, however, deal only with the English translation. To Mr. Seebohm's Oxford Reformers I am much indebted, not now for the first time. The edition. I have used of it is the second. I have also derived much benefit from Father Bridgett's recently published Life and Writings of Sir Thomas More. It is the work of one well acquainted with his subject, and is pervaded by a candid spirit. I could wish that the chapter on the Utopia had been fuller. For the loan of scarce books my thanks are due in several quarters. The use of a copy of the rare folio edition of More's English Works has been allowed me by the kindness of the Master of the Library of Gray's Inn, John Archibald Russell, Esq., Q.C. For the like use of a copy of Robynson's second edition, and of the Paris edition of 1517, I am indebted to the kindness of Professor John E. B. Mayor, and the Librarian of my own College, Mr. J. Bass Mullinger. Through the courtesy of the late Dr. Sieber and his assistants, I had the privilege, in the autumn of 1891, of inspecting some early copies of the Utopia in the University Library at Basle; among them being one that had belonged to Froben's old masters in his craft, the Amerbachs, bearing their autographs and a few annotations. I have to thank Bodley's Librarian for allowing the three facsimiles given in this volume to be made from a copy of the edition of March, 1518, in his charge. To Dr. F. J. Furnivall, who has contributed to our knowledge of More's time by his editions of its ballad literature; to Mr. R. W. Douthwaite, the Librarian of Gray's Inn; and lastly to my son, Mr. J. M. Lupton, assistant master in Marlborough College, my acknowledgements are due for kind help in various ways, which has greatly lightened my task. J. H. L. ST. PAUL'S SCHOOL: Easter, 1895. CONTENTS Title-page of the first Edition of the Translation, 1551 |