Leland's Itinerary

The text of that part of Leland's Itinerary which concerns Wales, beginning 'All the way yt I rode between Hales and Pershore ...' (see L. Toulmin Smith, The Itinerary in Wales of John Leland in or about the years 1536-1539, London, 1906, p. 40) (ff. 1-42). Part of the first paragraph of the text on f. 1 is also to be found on f. vii, which appears to be an abortive beginning to this copy of the Itinerary. The text of the Itinerary in our MS follows Toulmin Smith's edition fairly closely (op. cit. pp. 40-126), and the fact that the section on 'Castles in Montgomerikeshire', etc. (Toulmin Smith, pp. 53-57) which Toulmin Smith supplied from Stow's copy of Leland's original MS, but which is now missing from Leland's MS, is not included in our MS (see f. 6), suggests strongly that the writer of our MS was either copying Leland's MS in the Bodleian library (MS Gen. Top. e12) or a copy of it made after Stow's time. Two other items in our MS (ff. 47, 49) are said to have been copied from Leland's MSS, in the Bodleian. There are however minor differences between our text of the Itinerary and Leland's as printed.
The volume also includes a brief note on Worcestershire (f. vii); extracts from Latin text: 'Ex libro Roberti Prioris Salapesbiriae de vita S: + Wenefredae Virginis ad Guarinum Priorem Vigorniae' (marginal note 'E codice M-S: Jo: Leylandi in Bibliotheca Bodleiana Oxonii existente') (ff. 47-48 verso); Latin notes on the early history of the universities of Oxford and Cambridge: 'Ex Collectionibus Johannis Rowse de Antiquitate Oxonii et Academiae' (marginal note, as above f. 47) (ff 49-51 verso); and Latin notes on the (legendary) early history of the university of Cambridge: 'Ex veteri sed fabuloso Libro incerti Authoris de antiquitate Ca[n] tabrigiensi' (ff. 51 verso-52 verso).

Access to the original manuscript by authorised permission only. Readers are directed to use surrogate copies.

Formerly Mostyn MS 255.

Possibly copied for Sir Thomas Mostyn, 2nd bart (1651-?1700).

Original title.

Preferred citation: NLW MS 21246D [RESTRICTED ACCESS].

Available on microfilm at the Library.

Armorial bookplate of Sir Thomas Mostyn, 4th bart, on front paste down with 'Th. Mostyn 1744 No. 34' written on it in ink. On lower paste down the 19th cent. Gloddaeth library ticket. Appears as MS 255 in HMC Cat. and inside upper cover where there is also a shelf mark. Lot 1501 in the Mostyn sale at Christie’s, 24 Oct. 1974.

Published