The first English translation direct from the French was made (at least as early as the beginning of the 15th century) from a manuscript of which many pages were lost. Writing of the name 'Califfes', the author says that it is "taut a dire come rol (s). II y soleit auoir V. soudans" "as much as to say king. There used to be 5 sultans". In the defective French manuscript a page ended with "Il y so"; then came a gap, and the next page went on with part of the description of Mount Sinai, "Et est celle vallee mult froide". Consequently, the corresponding English version has "That ys to say amonge hem "Roys Ils" and this vale ys ful colde"! All English printed texts before 1725, and Ashton's 1887 edition, follow these defective copies, and in only two known manuscripts has the lacuna been detected and filled up.