And thus Englished dooth hit rehers
Antoin Widevylle therl Ryvers.
"Go thou litil quayer and recommaund me
Unto the good grace of my special lorde
Therle Ryveris, for I have enprinted the
At his commandement, followyng eury worde
His copye, as his secretaire can recorde
At Westmestre, of feuerer the xx daye
And of kynd Edward the xvjj yere vraye."
The author, Christine de Pisan, wife of Étienne Castel, was one of the most famous women of the middle ages. Left early a widow, with but narrow means, she had three children and her own parents to provide for. Being a woman of high attainments and considerable learning, she took up the profession of literature, and for many years worked incessantly. Les proverbes moraulx was written as a supplement to Les enseignemens moraulx, an instructive work addressed to her young son, Jean Castel, who was for some time in England in the service of the Earl of Salisbury.