The International Prester John Project: How A Global Legend Was Created Across Six Centuries

​​​​​​​The Legend of Captaine Jones (continued from his first part to his end)

Written by Welsh-born Anglican clergyman David Lloyd (1597-1663) and published in London in 1648, this sequel of a poem originally designed to satirize the legend of Jamestown's Captain John Smith touches on the legend of Prester John. In the sequel Captain John is chosen to "goe in ambassy to Prester John." 

When they first meet, Captain John speaks to Prester John in Welsh. When none of the priest-king's interpreters can discern the Captain's meaning, they conclude that the Captain speaks in "the very language of the Beast." Quickly the Captain switches to English, which one of Prester John's interpreters understand. After climbing to the top of Mount Amara and battling various African beasts, Captain John returns to England to report his journey to the Queen.  

 

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