[109] I have not met with More's book, and am obliged to transcribe
this from the Biog. Brit.
[110] Howes, in his Chronicle under date 1576, has thus narrated the
story:--"A strange piece of work, and almost incredible, was brought
to pass by an Englishman from within the city of London, and a clerk
of the Chancery, named Peter Bales, who by his industry and practice
of his pen contrived and writ, within the compass of a penny, the
Lord's Prayer, the Creed, the Ten Commandments, a prayer to God, a
prayer for the queen, his posy, his name, the day of the month, the
year of our Lord, and the reign of the queen: and at Hampton Court
he presented the same to the queen's majesty."
[111] This was written in the reign of Elizabeth. Holyoke notices
"virgin-perchment made of an _abortive skin; membrana virgo_."
Peacham, on "Drawing," calls parchment simply _an abortive_.