ABSTRACT
Erasmus’ Precatio dominica in septem portiones distributa, a short treatise which, as the title indicates, follows the mediaeval manner of biblical exposition known as postillating,1 was first published in 1523 by Froben at Basle. Several editions appeared during this and the next’year.2 By October 1, 1524,3 it had been translated
258 R. E. S., V O L . 13, 1937 (N ° 51, JU LY)
into English by Margaret Roper, eldest daughter of Sir Thomas More, and this translation, with an introductory letter 1 by Richard Hyrde, a member of More’s household at Chelsea, was printed by Berthelet before March 1 2 ,1525/6.2
The translation and the letter have survived in what is evidently a unique copy of an edition which was probably not the first, but one soon after it.3 The title-page (A ir) of this copy, a black-letter quarto in the British Museum, reads as follows :
•J A deuout treatise/ vpon the Pater no=|ster/ made fyrst in latyn by the moost fa =|mous doctour mayster Erasmus | Roterodamus/ and tourned | in to englisshe by a yong | vertuous and well | lerned gentylwoman of .xix. | yere of age.
