Produced by Louise Hope, Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries, Robert Cicconetti and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net [Transcriber's Note: Abbreviated words and syllables are shown in [brackets]. ã,õ,ê,î,û = vowel with overline (following m or n) ¶ = <C> symbol [*V*] [*R*] = Verse and Response symbols ] A ryght profytable treatyse compendiously drawen out of many and dyvers wrytynges of holy men by Thomas Betson Printed in Caxton's house by Wynkyn de Worde about 1500 * * * * * Cambridge at the University Press 1905 The tract here reprinted is one of twenty-six formerly bound together in a remarkable volume (AB. 4. 58) which was presented to the University in 1715 by King George the First together with the rest of the Library of John Moore, Bishop of Ely. The name of the author is only known from the colophon. It will be seen from the facsimile that the fourth letter of the name is not certainly an s. Herbert (p. 204) on the information of W. Cole gives the name as Betton: but it seems probable that we are right in reading it as Betson. Mr Bernard W. Henderson, who has very kindly examined the copy in the Library of Exeter College, Oxford, and Mr F. Madan, to whom he has shown it, are decidedly of opinion that the letter is a blurred s. The date of printing is fixed by competent authorities as 1500, on the evidence of the states of the printer's mark and of the cut of the Crucifixion. FRANCIS JENKINSON This facsimile has been taken from the original in the Library of the University of Cambridge. I certify that I have printed 250 copies only of this facsimile, that the impressions have been rubbed off the plates and the negatives destroyed. P. DUJARDIN * * * * * * * * * * * * * * [Illustration] [Illustration] ¶ Here begynneth a ryght profytable treatyse cõpendiously drawen out of many & dyuers wrytynges of holy men / to dyspose men to be vertuously occupyed in theyr myndes & prayers. And declared the Pater noster. Aue. & Credo. in our moder tonge with many other deuoute prayers in lyke wyse medefull to religyous people as to the laye people with many other moost holsomest Instruccyons / as here after it shall folowe. ¶ The famous doctour Iohan gerson Chaûceler of Parys / takynge his groûde of holy scrypture. & accordynge with all other doctours sayth thus. [Illuminated O]