No one can hope to complete successfully a project like the volume of essays presented in this book without the help of many people. The subjects were selected in consultation with two outstanding specialists in the field of Middle Dutch literature, Professors W. P. Gerritsen (Utrecht) and F. P. van Oostrom (Leiden), who also helped to draw up a list of contributors; the latter moreover proved an indefatigable source of sound advice during the prolonged period in which the book took shape (most of the essays were written in 1989-90). My special thanks are due to both of them. After the papers had been translated they were all read by Miss Jane K. Hodgart (Cambridge) and it is a pleasure here to acknowledge my indebtedness to her: her expert comments have led to many an improvement, both of the English and of the clarity of the articles. A similar debt I owe the general editor of the Cambridge Series, Alastair Minnis, who, from the moment the idea of this book was first discussed in his office, has shown an unflagging interest in its welfare. Other debts I have incurred are to Dr Evert van den Berg, Dr A. M. J. van Buuren, Mr Koert van der Horst, Professor F. W. N. Hugenholtz and Dr Orlanda Lie, as well as to the editorial staff of Cambridge University Press: Dr Katharina Brett, Caroline Murray, Jenny Potts and Joanna West.