Previously believed to have been part of the library of King Charles I by virtue of its binding bearing the Stuart Royal Arms, this book was acquired by Queen Victoria between 1837 and 1860.

At a young age, William Lithgow travelled around Europe and North Africa, visiting various locations and writing about the various religions and cultures he encountered. Although not wholly accurate and likely exaggerated, Lithgow's accounts are full of activity and a sense of adventure which differentiates his work from that of his contemporaries.