in our land. The first written work by an English woman dates as far back as the eighth century*, and is said to be a biographical memoir of the lives of St. Willibald and St. Wunebald, two devout men, who went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. The writer was a resident in a convent at Heidenheim, and is supposed to have been sent there as a missionary,—a way in which women were often engaged. Thus early did "the gift of narration," for which women are somewhat distinguished, manifest itself. however, probable that, for ages, the ruggedness of our vernacular language presented an insuperable barrier to extensive original composition; and, therefore, we are not surprised that the learned women of ancient times should have chiefly employed themselves in transcribing and translating, which they did to a very considerable extent.

It is,

During the fifteenth century one original female writer appeared: this was the Lady Juliana Berners, sister to Richard Lord Berners, and prioress of the nunnery of Sopewell, near St. Alban's. Holinshed speaks of her as "a gentlewoman endued with excellent gifts of body and mind." She wrote, in verse, treatises on Hawking,

* "Intellectual Condition of Women in England,” in the Anglo-Saxon times. Miss H. Lawrence.

Hunting, and Heraldry; and her works were held in such esteem that they were published when printing was first introduced, and a press set up at St. Alban's. "The Boke of St. Alban's," as it was called, was published in small folio in 1495, some say 1461. There is a doubt whether these works were indeed original, or merely translations from the French, though the personal love of field-sports which characterised Juliana (strangely enough, when we consider her sacred calling and literary tastes) might be considered strong presumptive evidence that they were the genuine effusions of her mind. Warton says somewhat contemptuously, "From an abbess disposed to turn author we might more reasonably have expected a manual of meditations for the closet, or select rules for making salves, or distilling strong waters. But the diversions of the field were not thought inconsistent with the character of a religious lady of this eminent rank, who resembled an abbot in respect of exercising manorial jurisdiction, and who hawked and hunted in common with other ladies of distinction."

This book was reprinted in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, but has become very scarce: Dr. John Moore, Bishop of Norwich, had it in his library. There is another at Cambridge. The MS. that Warton quotes is in the Bodleian Library at Oxford.

We have en die Cutie had previously winde wake of care imale weiter, "Chrisindie wise and wholesome thing why of being transdie scholar as Anthony

La J Lanley, dughter of the Earl of brand wil of Lord Lumley, made some

Greek antions into Latin, and
help of Euripides into
The date of her death is not known,

be that of her father in 1579
Tabuled the most eniment female writer
hellofthe sixth century was
St Bone Mn) digits als Margaret
Apt. She was die alle uisitant of her father

isis and pens were the

Hunting, and Heraldry and he
in such esteem that they

printing was in introde, als pat
at St. Albani's The Bake' Saks
was called, mas pablished in mi
Home By 1411. There is a
works were indeed original, oral
from the French, though the p
field-sports which characterised Jaim
enough, when we consider her and
literary tastes) might be c
sumptive evidence that they won the p
effusions of her mind. Warto
contemptuously, "From an albe de
turn author we might more really have
pected a manual of meditations for the contr
select rules for making salves, or dating g
waters. But the diversions of the few
thought incontent with the charter of
gious lady of this eminent mak, who
an abbot in respect of exenting
diction, and who hawked and hea
with other ladies of distinction."

This book was reprinted in the sig
Elizabeth, but has become very e
Moore, Bishop of Norwich, l'any
There is another at Cambridg. The f
Warton quotes in the Bolin Lin

Margaret Beaufort, the patroness of letters before named, translated two devotional works from the French. She was the third female writer that England produced. Her charities were as great as her zeal for education; but mistaken zeal and superstition were manifest in the regret she expressed that she had not lived at the time of the crusades.

We have seen that Caxton had previously printed the works of one female writer," Christina of Pisa," whose "wise and wholesome proverbs" were thought worthy of being translated by so accomplished a scholar as Anthony Lord Rivers.

Lady Joanna Lumley, daughter of the Earl of Arundel, and wife of Lord Lumley, made some translations of Greek orations into Latin, and also translated the Iphigenia of Euripides into English. The date of her death is not known, but it occurred before that of her father in 1579.

Undoubtedly the most eminent female writer of the first half of the sixteenth century was Sir Thomas More's daughter, Mrs. Margaret Roper. She was the able assistant of her father. Latin epistles, orations, and poems, were the fashion of the age, and in these she excelled. Some treatises of hers were thought equal to her father's; one in particular, "Of the four last Things," showed so much judgment and force of reasoning, that Sir Thomas More sincerely