1923. St. Thomas and San Thomé, Mylapore. 197 
The letter in question appears in Assemani only in part. 
Herr Zancke in an elaborate treatise on Prester John gives a 
list of close on a hundred MSS. of it. It purports, according 
to Yule, to have been addressed by Prester John to the Greek 
Emperor Manuel, who reigned from 1143 to 1184. About 
1165 it became widely circulated.! 

‘This letter,” writes Assemani (Bibl. Orientalis, tom. 111, 
Part II, or Vol. IV, p. 490, sqq.), ‘“‘ exists in a Latin MS. of the 
Vatican Library, Codex Regius Alexandrinus 657, fol. 37 sqq. 
Although it is full of boasting and contains many fabulous 
things, the Latin translator ? seems to have added a few things 
to it. However, as it confirms the account of the Bishop of 
Gabala * and will not be unpleasant to the reader, neither is 
it foreign to our purpose, we proceed to insert here fragments 
of it: for we omit for brevity’s sake what is said or invented 
about the river of Paradise, the sea of stone and of sand, the 
subterraneous streams, the wonderful fountain, certain herbs, 
stones, and animals, and the description of the palace.” 

[P. 490] Letter of John Priest to the Governor of Constanti- 
nople 
ple. 
John Priest by the power and virtue of God and of Our 
Lord Jesus Christ, Lord of Lords, to A.,* Governor of Con- 
stantinople. 
May he enjoy health and with the grace of God advance 
to greater things. 
has been made known to Our Majesty that thou es- 
teemest our excellency and that there has been speech among 
you of our greatness. We have learned from our secretary 
that thou wishest to send us some curious and amusing things 
wherewith to delight our justice, etc.6 What we desire and 
wish to know is whether thou hast like us the true faith, 
whether in everything thou believest in Our Lord Jesus Christ. 
Though we know thee to be a man, and consider thon art but 


' Yule in Encyel. Britann., 9th ed., XIX (1885), p. 715. 
* ““Interpres vel descriptor.” —Assemani. 
* ** A.D. 1145."’"—A ssemant. 
* “* Perhaps Alexis Comnenus, who died in 1118.”—Assemani. 
th . hese ‘* etc.” are from Assemani, and show where he omits parts of 
© text, 
