This Middle English version of the Pater Noster is known from Wycliffe’s Bible, a group of Bible translations made at the end of the 14^th century under the direction of John Wycliffe (circa 1331 – 1384), a theologian who taught at the University of Oxford before being dismissed because of his criticism of the Church. Many of his opinions foreshadow those advocated later by the Protestant Reformation. His teachings fueled the religious and social contest movement of the Lollards, that was influent in England at the end of the 14^th and the beginning of the 15^th century.

The translation is a traditional English version from the 1928 Book of Common Prayer, still used by the Catholic Church. This must have been the version familiar to Tolkien.

The fifth petition is expressed differently in Middle English and Modern English. The Middle English version follows the gospel of Matthew and literally reads “Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.” The current English versions speaking of trespasses rather follow the gospel of Luke.

The text’s transcription rather resembles the kind of blackletter writing known as textura prescissa or sine pedibus, typified by the lack of serifs on descenders. This style appeared at the end of the 13^th century and spread much in England in the Late Middle Ages. We made use of Robert Pfeffer’s typeface Pfeffer Simpelgotisch.