I approached the Curators and Prefects of the Universities and Athenaeums [ and] they lent me the books I had requested for inspection from the library of the Athenaeum of Daventry. The one that I had received for inspection in the catalogue of the year 1832 has the number 1082 and contains the Speculum Stultorum ["Mirror of Fools"] by Nigellus Wireker, from the workshop of Ketelaer and Leempt, printed in Utrecht around 1473. After the Speculum I found another poem which the catalogue refers to in these words: "Reynard the fox in Latin. Without any indication." In this poem I was happy to recognize a new and as yet unknown printed work from the same Utrecht workshop, by which the complete description of the ancient printed works is now significantly increased. ... But as I looked more carefully from contemplating the printed work, my mind gradually turned to reading the poem itself. Then I realized that I had stumbled upon a completely unknown version of one of our oldest animal fables. Then, considering that perhaps those who work on the literary subject of Reinard the Fox would be interested, I transcribed the poem, which I have now, with permission from the Curators of the Daventry Athenaeum, published in print. - [Editor]

Language: Latin