In 1491 at the command of two royal ladies - Elizabeth of York wife of Henry VII and Lady
Margaret Beaufort Henry's mother - William Caxton published a small collection of prayers in
Latin and English (STC 20195). The volume is now known as 'The Fifteen Oes' from its opening
set of prayers. The Latin Oes were very popular and probably of English origin but sometimes
erroneously attributed to St Birgitta of Sweden. Although the prayers were translated into
numerous European vernaculars English versions as here are relatively rare. The Oes
constitute about a third of the book. About thirty other prayers in English and Latin follow
some with antiphons responses and psalms (in Latin) many of them also common in later
medieval books of hours and other prayer books in England and elsewhere. The whole collection
is important for several reasons. It was the first collection of prayers to be printed in
England and then to be frequently reprinted as a supplement to printed books of hours it is
connected with Lady Margaret Beaufort and highlights her close relationship with Caxton and
also with Syon Abbey the only Birgittine house in England it combines Latin prayers with
English indicating that literate laywomen at the end of the fifteenth century were using both
the vernacular and the official language of the Church in their devotions.
