From George Hickes, A Second Collection of Controversial Letters Relating to the Church of England, and the Church of Rome, As they passed between an Honourable Lady, and Dr. George Hickes. (London, 1710)

Summary

[From pp. x–xii :] I have already spoken of her1 Diligence in reading Books relating to the Popish Controversie, and her making Collections out of them. And I beg leave of the Reader farther to acquaint him, that she was not less studious in reading Books of Devotion, and gathering the choicest Flowers out of them. That excellent Book of Devotion without her Name, Entituled, Daily Devotions, consisting of Thanksgivings, &c. By an humble Penitent, was her collection, and Composition, of which she communicated some few Copies in MS. by which means, as I suppose, it came to be printed at London for Jonathan Edwin, 1673. In the beginning of the Preface it is said, The following Meditations, Praises, Prayers, and Confessions were the Devotions of a learned, and pious Christian, humbly offered up in due Order. This Edition I conceive might be occasioned by a MS. Copy out of a deceased Clergy-Man's Study, who was taken to be the Author thereof. For it was afterwards set forth with this Title Page ; The Humble Penitent, or Daily Devotions, consisting of Thanksgivings, &c. With a preparative Exercise to a good Death. To which is added, The Sacrifice of a Devout Christian, or Preparations to the worthy Receiving of the Blessed Sacrament. By a late Reverend Divine of the Church of England. The Fifth Edition. London, printed for Matthew Gilliflower, 1703. In the beginning of the Preface of this Edition the words in the former are thus altered ; The following Meditations, &c. were the Devotions of a most learned, and pious Divine of the Church of England. In this Edition the Latin Prayer at the end of the former is left out, and as to the Additional Part ; The Sacrifice of a Devout Christian : The true Author of the Book told me it was not of her making, nor did she know by what Hand it was done. Yet there is an Hymn at the end of it, which is taken out of the LAUDS for our Saviour's Office in the Devotions in the ancient way of Offices, of which I may now tell the World, she was the Reformer ; which confirms me in my conjecture, that the DAILY DEVOTIONS consisting of Thanksgivings, &c. tho’ hers, was printed from a MS.