_Laurence Howel, the Original Pilgrim._--The unfortunate Laurence Howel
published in 1717 (the year in which he was committed to Newgate) a little
volume, entitled _Desiderius; or, the Original Pilgrim, a Divine Dialogue,
showing the most compendious Way to arrive at the Love of God. Rendered
into English, and explained, with Notes._ By Laurence Howel, A.M. London;
printed by William Redmayne, for the Author, 1717. In the preface he tells
us, that the work was originally written in Spanish; afterwards translated
into Italian, French, High-Dutch and Low-Dutch, and about the year 1587
into Latin from the High-Dutch, by Laurentius Surius. There were
subsequently two more Latin versions: one by Vander Meer, from the French
and Dutch copies, compared with the original; and another by Antonius
Boetzer in 1617. The author's name, he says, was unknown to all the
editors, and the several editions had different titles; by some it was
called the _Treasure of Devotion_, by others the _Compendious Way to
Salvation_. The last, however (Boetzer's, I presume), bears that of
_Desiderius_. As this was the author's title, Mr. Howel adopted it for his
translation, adding, he says, that of the _Original Pilgrim_, to
distinguish it from others of the same name, or very like it. He there
informs us that Mr. Royston (the distinguished publisher in Charles II.'s
and James II.'s reigns) had declared that Bishop Patrick took his _Parable
of the Pilgrim_ from it, and that it had formed the ground-work of the
writings of many authors in that style.
Can any of your readers give me the titles of the editions in Spanish, or
any language, of this interesting little book? I should be much obliged for
any information regarding it. Is Howel's little translation scarce? Has the
authorship of the original ever been hinted at?