ents, and it has been shown that this _Voyage Imaginaire_
{5} was written by Simon Berington, a Catholic priest, and the member of a
family resident for many years in Herefordshire. The following Query will
relate to another work of the same class, but of an earlier date.

The _Histoire des Sevarambes_ is a fictitious account of a nation in the
Southern Ocean, visited by a supposed navigator named Siden. It's first
appearance was as an English work, with this title:

"The History of the Sevarites or Sevarambi, a nation inhabiting part of
the third continent, commonly called Terrae Australes Incognitae; with an
account of their admirable government, religion, customs, and language.
Written by one Captain Siden, a worthy person, who, together with many
others, was cast upon those coasts, and lived many years in that
country. London: printed for Henry Brome, at the Gun, at the west end
of St. Paul's Churchyard, 1675. 12mo. pp. 114." No preface.

There is a second part, "more wonderful and delightful than the first,"
published in 1679 (pp. 140.). The licence by Roger Lestrange bears date
Feb. 25. 1678/9. There is a short preface, without signature, arguing that
the country of the Sevarites is not fabulous.

A copy of the original edition of these two parts is in the British Museum.

Shortly after its publication in England, this work appeared in France with
the following title:--

"Histoire des Sevarambes, peuples qui habitent une partie du troisieme
continent ordinairement appelle Terre Australe, contenant un compte
exact du gouvernement, des moeurs, de la religion et du langage de
cette nation, jusques aujourd'hui inconnue aux peuples de l'Europe.
Traduite de l'Anglois." First Part, Paris, 1677. 2 vols. 12mo. Second
Part, 1678-9. 3 vols. 12mo.

Both parts are dedicated to Monsieur Riquet, Baron de Bonrepos; and the
dedications are both signed with the initials D.V.D.E.L.

The British Museum contains no French edition of this work earlier than an
Amsterdam reprint of 1716. The above account of the early French edition is
taken from the _Dictionnaire Historique_ of Prosper Marchand (La Haye,
1758), tom. i. p. 11., art. ALLAIS. This article (which may be cited as a
model of bibliographical research) attributes the authorship of the
_Histoire des Sevarambes_, upon evidence, which, if not conclusive, is very
strong, to Denis Vairasse, or Vayrasse. Marchand explains the