In an article in the _Retrospective Review_ (2nd Series, vol. ii. p.
234.) it is stated that the first book ever printed concerning
Pilgrimages to the Holy Land was the _Peregrinatio Bernhardi de
Breydenbach_, Moguntiæ, 1486; and in the Preface to the _Pylgrymage of
Sir Richard Guylforde to the Holy Land in 1506_, lately published by the
Camden Society, the learned editor remarks that the work of Bernhard de
Breydenbach, _Opus transmarinæ Peregrinationis ad venerandum et
gloriosum Sepulchrum dominicum in Jherusalem_ (fol. Mogunt. 1486), is
believed to be the first book of travels that was printed. Having by me
notes of five works printed earlier than that of Breydenbach just
mentioned,--and all of these, with one exception, being Pilgrimages to
the Holy Land,--I forward them for publication in "N. & Q.," and
probably some of your correspondents may be able to add to the list.
1. _Ludolf von Suchen ("Ludolphus parochialis ecclesiæ in Suchen
rector"), De terra sancta et itinere Jhierosolymitano._--Three undated
editions, but in all probability printed before 1480, are mentioned in
Brunet's _Manuel du Libraire_. A German translation, entitled, _Von dem
gelobten Land vnd Weg gegen Iherusalem_, was published at Augsburg in
1477 in 4to. The author travelled about the year 1340. "His journal,"
observes Dr. Robinson (_Biblical Researches in Palestine_, iii. p. 11.),
"is written with great simplicity, and has something of the marvellous;
but is decidedly the best itinerary of the fourteenth century."
2. _Marco Polo_, the celebrated Eastern traveller, wrote an account of
his peregrinations in Italian, about the year 1300. A German translation
was printed at Nuremberg as early as 1477, with the following title:
_Hie hebt sich an das Puch des edeln Ritters vnd Landtfarers Marcho
Polo; in dem er schreibt die grossen wunderlichen Ding dieser Welt_. (In
folio.)
3. _Sir John Mandeville._ Both French and Italian editions of the
well-known "Marvaylous Travailes" of this worthy knight were printed in
1480. (See Brunet _ut supr._)
4. _Santo Brasca_, a gentleman of Milan, made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem
in 1480, of which he wrote a journal in Italian, and published it the
following year at Milan. Brunet gives the title as follows: _Tutto il
suo Itinerario di giorno in giorno al sanctissima cita di Jerusalem
nell' anno 1480_, 4to. This is a very curious and rare book, written in
simple and natural style; and at the end of which are "Instructioni a
ciascuno che desidra fare questo sanctissimo viagio," and two prayers in
verse: "1. Oratione per sancto brascha fatta a piedi nudi in Monte
Calvario a di 29 Julij, 1480: 2. Oratione facta in la vale de Josaphat a
la sepultura de la Vergene Maria."
5. _Johann_ or _Hans Tucher_, a counsellor (_Rathsherr_) of Nuremberg,
undertook a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and Mount Sinai in the year 1479, in
company with Balthasar, Duke of Mecklenburg, and two of his
fellow-citizens. The title of his itinerary in Brunet is, _Wallfart und
Reise in das gelobte Land_. Such was its popularity that it passed
through two editions in the same year (1482); the one appearing at
Augsburg, in folio; the other, corrected by the author, at Nuremberg, in
4to. (Vide Will's _Nürnbergisches Gelehrten-Lexicon_.) The work is,
however, very rare. In it full directions are given for the guidance of
all such as might thereafter be disposed to venture forth with scrip and
staff on these pious but somewhat perilous expeditions.
Referring again to Breydenbach, Dr. Kitto (no mean authority) is of
opinion that the account which goes under his name was written by the
Dominican monk Felix Faber, who was Breydenbach's secretary and
companion in the journey. (See Kitto's _Physical History of Palestine_,
p. 9.)