ABSTRACT
The first to put into English any part of Thomas à Kempis’ work was Margaret, the mother of King Henry VII. She translated from the French the fourth book of the Imitatio Christi. The title, in modern spelling, runs : “ Here beginneth the fourth book of the following of Jesus Christ and of the contemning of the world. Imprinted at the commandment of the most excellent princess Margaret, mother unto our sovereign lord king Henry the VII, countess of Richmond and Derby. And by the same princess it was translated out of French into English in form and manner ensuing : the year of our Lord God, 1504.” The following year the remaining three books appeared by the order, but not as the work, of the same princess. She was a remarkable woman, a student and lover of books, and still more a lover of goodness. She had absorbed the spirit of the book which she was the first to give to English readers, as Bishop Fisher’s funeral oration shows : “ She was bounteous and liberal to every person of her knowledge and acquaintance. Avarice and covetousness she most hated, and sorrowed it full much in all persons, but specially in any that belonged unto her. She was of singular easiness to be spoken unto, and full courteous answer she would make to all that came unto her. Of marvellous gentleness she was unto all folks, but specially unto her own, whom she trusted and loved right tenderly. Unkind she would not be unto any creature, nor forgetful of any service done to her before, which is no little part of very nobleness. She was not vengeable, nor cruel, but ready anon to forget and to forgive injuries done unto her, at the least desire or motion made unto her for the same. Merciful, also 23piteous, she was unto such as was grieved and wrongfully troubled, and to them that were in poverty or sickness or any other misery. She was of singular wisdom, far surpassing the common rate of women. She was good in remembrance, and of holding memory ; a ready wit she had also, to conceive all things, albeit they were right dark. Right studious she was in books, which she had in great number, both in English, and in Latin, and in French ; and for her exercise and for the profit of others, she did translate divers matters of devotion out of the French into English. In favours, in words, in gesture, in every demeanour of herself, so great nobleness did appear, that what she spake or did, it marvellously became her. She had in a manner all that was praiseable in a woman, either in soul or body.” 1
