[20] See passage from Jacopo d’Acqui, supra, p. 54.

[21] It is the transcriber of one of the Florence MSS. who appends this
    terminal note, worthy of Mrs. Nickleby:—­“Here ends the Book of Messer
    M. P. of Venice, written with mine own hand by me Amalio Bonaguisi
    when Podesta of Cierreto Guidi, to get rid of time and ennui.  The
    contents seem to me incredible things, not lies so much as miracles;
    and it may be all very true what he says, but I don’t believe it;
    though to be sure throughout the world very different things are found
    in different countries.  But these things, it has seemed to me in
    copying, are entertaining enough, but not things to believe or put any
    faith in; that at least is my opinion.  And I finished copying this at
    Cierreto aforesaid, 12th November, A.D. 1392.”

[22] Vulgar Errors, Bk.  I. ch. viii.; Astley’s Voyages, IV. 583.

[23] A few years before Marsden’s publication, the Historical branch of
    the R. S. of Science at Goettingen appears to have put forth as the
    subject of a prize Essay the Geography of the Travels of Carpini,
    Rubruquis, and especially of Marco Polo. (See L. of M. Polo, by
    Zurla, in Collezione di Vite e Ritratti d’Illustri Italiani.  Pad.
    1816.)

[24] See Staedtewesen des Mittelalters, by K.  D. Huellmann, Bonn, 1829,
    vol. iv.

After speaking of the Missions of Pope Innocent IV. and St. Lewis, this author sketches the Travels of the Polos, and then proceeds:—­ “Such are the clumsily compiled contents of this ecclesiastical fiction (Kirchengeschichtlichen Dichtung) disguised as a Book of Travels, a thing devised generally in the spirit of the age, but specially in the interests of the Clergy and of Trade....  This compiler’s aim was analogous to that of the inventor of the Song of Roland, to kindle enthusiasm for the conversion of the Mongols, and so to facilitate commerce through their dominions....  Assuredly the Poli never got further than Great Bucharia, which was then reached by many Italian Travellers.  What they have related of the regions of the Mongol Empire lying further east consists merely of recollections of the bazaar and travel-talk of traders from those countries; whilst the notices of India, Persia, Arabia, and Ethiopia, are borrowed from Arabic Works.  The compiler no doubt carries his audacity in fiction a long way, when he makes his hero Marcus assert that he had been seventeen years in Kublai’s service,” etc. etc. (pp. 360-362).

    In the French edition of Malcolm’s History of Persia (II. 141),
    Marco is styled “pretre Venetien”!  I do not know whether this is due
    to Sir John or to the translator.

    [Polo is also called “a Venetian Priest,” in a note, vol. i., p. 409,
    of the original edition of London, 1815, 2 vols., 4to.—­H.  C.]