William Atkinson and Richard Whytford

Abstract

The first English version of De imitation Christi, known as the ‘old version’, was made by an anonymous translator but was not printed until 1893. At the request of Lady Margaret Beaufort a second English translation was made by William Atkinson, a native of York. The scant records about his life show that he attended Cambridge University and was made a Fellow of Pembroke Hall in 1477. After taking a Bachelor of Divinity degree in 1485, Atkinson was ordained to the priesthood. In 1498 the university conferred on him the degree of Doctor of Divinity, and he was appointed a canon of Lincoln Cathedral. At the time of his death in 1.504 he was a canon of Windsor, and was buried in St George’s Chapel.