Utopia

He never left Britain, except once or twice while performing an embassy on behalf of his prince to the Flemish. Besides his marriage, his domestic cares, the performance of his public office, and the waves of legal cases, he is distracted by so many and such great affairs of the realm that you would wonder he has any leisure even to think about books. Therefore, we have sent you his early exercises and his Utopia Nowhere-place, so that, if it seems fit, they may be published by your presses and commended to the world and to posterity. Such is the authority of your workshop that a book pleases the learned for this reason alone, if it is known to have issued from the Frobenian house. Farewell, together with your excellent father-in-law, your most sweet wife, and your honey-sweet children. Take care that young Erasmus, my namesake who was born among books, is educated in the best of letters.
Leuven, August 25th, in the year 1517.