In executing a treaty of alliance with Venice, of which the original,
dated 14th December, 1306, exists at Paris. Thibault de Cepoy eventually
went on to Greece with a squadron of Venetian Galleys, but accomplished
nothing of moment, and returned to his master in 1310.[8]
[Illustration: Miracle of S. Lorenzo]
During the stay of Thibault at Venice he seems to have made acquaintance
with Marco Polo, and to have received from him a copy of his Book. This is
recorded in a curious note which appears on two existing MSS. of Polo's
Book, viz., that of the Paris Library (10,270 or Fr. 5649), and that of
Bern, which is substantially identical in its text with the former, and
is, as I believe, a copy of it.[9] The note runs as follows: -
"Here you have the Book of which My Lord THIEBAULT, Knight and LORD OF
CEPOY, (whom may God assoil!) requested a copy from SIRE MARC POL,
Burgess and Resident of the City of Venice. And the said Sire Marc Pol,
being a very honourable Person, of high character and respect in many
countries, because of his desire that what he had witnessed should be
known throughout the World, and also for the honour and reverence he
bore to the most excellent and puissant Prince my Lord CHARLES, Son of
the King of France and COUNT OF VALOIS, gave and presented to the
aforesaid Lord of Cepoy the first copy (that was taken) of his said Book
after he had made the same. And very pleasing it was to him that his
Book should be carried to the noble country of France and there made
known by so worthy a gentleman. And from that copy which the said
Messire Thibault, Sire de Cepoy above-named, did carry into France,
Messire John, who was his eldest son and is the present Sire de
Cepoy,[10] after his Father's decease did have a copy made, and that
very first copy that was made of the Book after its being carried into
France he did present to his very dear and dread Lord Monseigneur de
Valois. Thereafter he gave copies of it to such of his friends as asked
for them.
"And the copy above-mentioned was presented by the said Sire Marc Pol to
the said Lord de Cepoy when the latter went to Venice, on the part of
Monseigneur de Valois and of Madame the Empress his wife, as Vicar
General for them both in all the Territories of the Empire of
Constantinople. And this happened in the year of the Incarnation of our
Lord Jesus Christ one thousand three hundred and seven, and in the month
of August."
Of the bearings of this memorandum on the literary history of Polo's Book
we shall speak in a following section.
