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V* ^XPv^

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OUR ENGLISH BIBLE

its

TRANSLATIONS AND TRANSLATORS.

JOHN STOUGHTON, D.D.,
ih
AUTHOR OF
" HOMES AND HAUNTS OF MARTIN LUTHER," " LIGHTS OF THE WORLD,'
"THE PROGRESS OF DIVINE REVELATION," ETC.

THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY,
56, Paternoster Row ; 65, St. Paul's Churchyard ;
and 164, Piccadilly.
/?7r

LONDON :
j. AND W. RIDEK, PRINTERS,
BARTHOLOMEW CLOSK.

PREFATORY NOTE.

T is nearly forty years since the Author began to
study the history of " Our English Bible." At
that period he spent several weeks in the British
Museum, examining early versions and editions. He also
visited Oxford, Cambridge, and Lambeth, to inspect some
of their MS. treasures. The results of these investigations
have already appeared in anonymous publications ; and now,
having revised and abridged his original materials, he finally
commits them to the press, in the present concise and more
popular form.
Within the last half-century many corrections have been
made in the details of Bible history, and many important
particulars have been added to our previous knowledge.
The recent works of Dr. "Westcott and Dr. Eadie have

vi Prefatory Note.
placed some facts in a new light ; Dr. Moulton's papers
in the " Bible Educator " are also useful contributions ; and
in the "Catalogue of the Caxton Exhibition" are found
records of important discoveries by Mr. Stevens. In the
fields thus recently opened the Author has largely reaped :
a further examination of Caxton's " Golden Legend " has
confirmed what Mr. Stevens has said with regard to the
long-neglected bearing of that curious work on Biblical
history ; and his original suggestion as to Coverdale and
Van Meteren has, with some modification, been adopted to
the improvement of the present work.
The origin and labours of the Biblical Bevision Com
panies, both in England and America, are also noticed,
so far as they are publicly known.

CONTENTS.

CHAP. I.
II.
- III. IV. V.
VI.
VII.
VIII. IX. z.
XI.
XII.
XIII.

PAGE
EARLY HISTORY AND ASSOCIATIONS .... 1
WYCLIFFE AND HIS VERSION  25
TRANSLATORS AFTER WYCLIFFE, AND EARLY
PRINTED VERSIONS  43
WILLIAM TYNDALE . .  71
MILES COVERDALE  117
MATTHEW'S BIBLE  138
THE GREAT BIBLE  149
EDWARD THE SIXTH'S REIGN . . . . .170
THE GENEVA VERSION  .186
THE BISHOPS' BIBLE  202
THE RHEMISH VERSION  221
THE "AUTHORIZED VELSION," 1611 . . . .229
THE BIBLE IN THE SEVENTEENTH AND
EIGHTEENTH CENTURIES  260
REVISION OF THE ENGLISH VERSION . . . .279

OUE ENGLISH BIBLE.

£ HAPTER I.
EARLY HISTORY AND ASSOCIATIONS.
he fact of so many different tongues
being spoken by the human family is
sometimes regarded as one of the in
felicities of our present condition ; but
it brings counterbalancing advantages,
in the bond of sympathy and brother
hood which it supplies to each
nationality. And radical differences of
speech form an institution of Provi
dence, which, if it had not appeared at
the building of Babel, would certainly have arisen sooner
or later through the scattering of mankind. It necessitates
some, kind of method by which a Eevelation made from
heaven in one language may be made intelligible in
another. Eevelation is hidden — wherever there is ignorance
of the original — like the sun behind dark clouds, or beneath
6 1 B

vi Our English Bible.
hills before the hour of dawn; we must either acquire a know
ledge of Hebrew and Greek for ourselves, or the book must
be translated into words with which we are familiar. The first
process is no doubt the most effectual, but it must be con
fined in the nature of things to a few ; the second is in
dispensable for the vast majority. What cannot be done hy
the multitude must be done for them ; the result of the
Pentecost miracle must be accomplished in the best way it
can by learning and labour on the part of scholars, that
every man may learn in his own tongue the wonderful
works of God. Tbe reading of what is divinely written
is subject to the same conditions as the hearing of what
was divinely spoken. " Things without life giving sound,
whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the
sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?
For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall pre
pare himself to the battle ? So likewise ye, except ye utter
by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be
known what is spoken ? " " If I know not ihe meaning of
the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian ;
and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me." *
The traditions of the Jews discourage the translation of
their Scriptures ; to this hour the Hebrew original alone is
read in the synagogues : and the religion of the Mahome
tans forbids a change of the Arabic Koran into any
equivalent rendering ; because, say they, not only the sub
stance of it is uncreated and eternal, subsisting in the
essence of Deity, but the words are "inscribed with a pen
of light on the table of His everlasting decrees."
It is otherwise in this country, thank God ! and a
* 1 Cor. xv. 7-9, 11.

Early History and Associations. 3
succession of men have, with zeal and patience, devoted
themselves to the translation of the Holy Scriptures.
' Our English Bible differs from all other vernacular
translations at least in two respects. First, it is the most
widely circulated volume in the world. Copies of it have
been multiplied to an unparalleled extent. They are read
not only by a greater comparative number of persons at
home than any book in any other land, but throughout our
colonial dependencies, and in the vast territory of the
United States, there is no volume which can vie with it in
the multitude of its copies, any more than in the interest
which it has inspired and the effects which it has produced.
And next, whilst most other versions, ancient and modern,
have been produced by individuals who undertook theiask
single-handed, and all the versions have remained much as
they were at first, our Bible is the work of successive
scholars, covering a wide space of time, and only by slow
degrees arriving at completion. Syriac, Latin, Gothic,
Armenian, and Slavonic translations were accomplished with
considerable speed, and the same may be said of those
which have been produced in foreign languages by modern
missionaries : but the English Bible may be called a growth
of centuries ; preparations were made for it before the
sixteenth century, and not until the seventeenth did it take
tbe form in which it now appears. We may almost say the
English Bible is like the English constitution, not indeed as
to its first origin and elements, but as to the successive steps
by which it reached its present state. On these accounts
the history of English translations and translators has an
interest altogether its own.
A thick haze rests over the early history of Christianity
in Britain ; how, when, or where it was first proclaimed

4 Our English Bible
within our shores is a secret which no research has been
sufficient to discover. Traditions that Paul, or Joseph of
Arimathsea, preached the gospel here are utterly worthless,
and have long been rejected ; all that can be said upon
the subject of the first planting of the Church among our
fathers is, that probably during the first century some
Eomans, who visited Britain, or some natives who had
returned from the great city, brought tidings of the new
faith which God had revealed to man. The landing of Csesar
upon our coast, with its attendant events, leading/ to the
establishment of a new earthly dominion, is a^scene preserved
on the page of history with vividness ; but the landing of
the first Christians, as instruments in the hand of God for
establishing His reign among our pagan ancestry, and what
they said and did, how they were opposed, where they
succeeded, and what was the measure of their success — all
this, so interesting to curiosity, and affording such play for
imagination, is lost, for ever lost, amidst the shadows of
the past.
Tertullian expressly alludes to places in Britain inac
cessible to the Eomans, which had been subdued by Christ;*
so that, in his time, Christianity would seem to have
penetrated further than the imperial arms, and to have
reached, perhaps, as far as Scotland. The inspired records,
at first in" detached portions, and afterwards in their collective
form, were prized, and circulated among early Christians as
containing the authoritative rule of religious belief and
conduct. Wherever the gospel was carried and embraced,
the Book from which its facts and precepts were drawn
would speedily follow ; and we cannot question that the
sacred writings were, at an early period, brought over to
* Adversus Judceos, vii.

Early History and Associations. 5
enlighten and comfort the British Church. Where Eome
extended her dominion, she endeavoured to establish her
language as an auxiliary to her power ; and, as it is likely
the Britons were taught Latin, the version of the sacred
book in that tongue would be intelligible to educated
converts in this country.
When pagan Saxons took possession of our island they
introduced their own superstitions and idolatries, and, with
the exception of western parts, where some few vestiges of
Christianity were retained, the whole country relapsed into
a state of heathenism.
The monk Augustine visited Britain at the clpse of the
sixth century, and tradition relates that he left the impress
of his foot on the rock he touched as he stepped on shore.
Putting aside this legend, it may be truly said that, by his
labours in this country," he impressed an effect upon its- cha
racter which has never been effaced. He and his companions
were benefactors to England, far greater than any who had
visited it since the time of the first Christians ; and how
ever we may deplore their errors, we must applaud their
zeal, and rejoice in their success. Kent was the chief scene
of the Eoman apostle's labours and triumphs ; the other
parts of Saxon England were gradually reclaimed by differ-'
ent missionaries. Mixed up with absurd traditions relating
to the events of that period, there are some of a far different
character, full of truth and beauty, upon which the historian
delights to linger. How touching is the story of the
courtier of the Northumbrian king-, who, in council with his
master and fellow-nobles respecting the missionary Paulinus,
observed, " Man's life is like a little sparrow, which, whilst
your Majesty is feasting by the fire in your apartment with
your royal retinue, flies in at one window and out at another.

6 Our English Bible.
Indeed, we see it that short time it remaineth in the house,
and then it is well sheltered from wind and weather ; but
presently it passeth from cold to cold, and whence it comes
and whither it goes we are altogether ignorant. Thus we
can give some account of our soul during its abode in the
body, while housed and harboured therein ; but where it
was before, and how it fareth after, is to us altogether
unknown. If, therefore, Paulinus's preaching will certainly
inform us herein, he deserveth, in my opinion, to be
entertained."* It was no small advantage to have some one
in the regions of Northumbria to tell the inhabitants whence
came the soul, and whither it fled. And a blessing above all
price was that Book which preserved the Divine revelation
respecting the destiny of man, and the realm into which he
enters when the hand of death dismisses the soul from the
body. Though little known among the common people, the
Scriptures were preserved and transcribed with care by
Saxon monks ; and in Ireland and in Scotland, as early as
the sixth century, there were monasteries in which the
copying of the Word of God was a common employment.
The famous Columba of Iona is especially renowned for
his diligence and care in this respect.
The language in which these mss. were written
was not the language of the inspired writers, but that of
the Latin Church, into which its sacred books had been
translated, and in which its sacred offices were commonly
performed. There was an ancient version called the Vetus
Itala, and another founded upon that, by the celebrated
Jerome, who partly revised and partly translated it anew.
This latter was distinguished as the Vulgate, and became
common in the west of Europe, but not to the exclusion of
* Bede, Ecclesiastical Hietciy, ii. 13,

Early History and Associations. 7
the earlier one ; both being transcribed by ecclesiastical
copyists, and read, in part at least, by the priest in public
service. ,
By the Anglo-Saxon tongue is meant that which came to
be commonly spoken by our forefathers, from the shores of
the Eider, the Elbe, the Weser, and the Baltic — tribes of Jutes
and Angles as well as Saxons — who settled down together
within our island borders, and managed to communicate
with each other after some indescribable fashion. Saxon was
the main element of their common speech, and constituted
the backbone of conversation and literature in the early
days of our national history. So vigorous was its life, and so
predominant its influence, that we are told, if our word
books at the present day contain 38,000 English terms,
properly so called, fiye^eighths of them are of Saxon
origin.* Such persons as were ignorant of Latin would, when
interested in the truths of Christianity, naturally wish to see
them written in their native language, provided they were
able to read it ; and priests anxious to promote the spiritual
welfare of their flocks would be glad to meet such a laudable
desire. Hence a number of Christian books in the vernacular
made their appearance at an early period ; and it has been
common with historians, in treating of the earliest written
attempts at Scripture instruction, to class them together, and
to arrange them chronologically, as coming under the common
denomination of Biblical Versions. But they differ so much
from each other, that when presented in this way they are
likely to make an incorrect impression upon the reader's
mind. Some of the so-called Anglo-Saxon versions are,
properly speaking, no versions at all.
* Eadie's English Bible, i. 7.

8 Our English Bible.
To prevent misapprehension, it will be best to notice the
sacred Anglo-Saxon books under certain divisions.
I. Those which took the form of paraphrases, sum
maries, and Scripture lessons in rhyme.
The earliest production of this kind is ascribed to
Csedmon, a brother of the famous monastery which over
looked the sea on Whitby Cliff, where linger still venerable
ruins, attractive to numerous visitors, who in summer
months ramble in that interesting locality. Csedmon lived
in the seventh century, and being fond of versification, he
produced a metrical work, thus described by a modern
author :
" The inequality of the different parts of the poem
attributed to Csedmon was first noticed by Conybeare. A
fine poem on the Fall of the Angels, the Creation, and the
Fall of Man, is awkwardly prefaced by a narration of the
same story much more briefly told. Then we have a barren
version of the chapters of Genesis to the close of the life of
Abraham, except the accounts of the flood, and of the war
of the kings against Sodom, which are told in a superior
style. Suddenly, without any connexion with that of
Abraham, we are introduced to the history of Moses, which
again is told in a very different manner, and has all the
marks of being a separate poem. After the history of
Moses follows that of Nebuchadnezzar, equally distinct and
complete in itself, which occupies all the remainder of the -
first part. The second part comprises chiefly a poem on the
descent of Christ into Hades, a favourite story, known in
somewhat later times as the Harrowing of Hell."*
Judging from Thorpe's prose translation of Csedmon,
* Wright's Literature and Superstitions of England in Middle Ages, i. 27.

Early History and Associations. 9
the reader will probably admit that his work was not
destitute of a certain kind of force.
Take the following specimen from the history of
Abraham :
" Then the chief began the powerful King to tempt,
earnestly proved what the man's fortitude were : with words
austere, he with his voice addressed him — ' Go thou, with
utmost haste, Abraham, journeying set. thy steps, and with
thee lead thine own child. Thou shalt Isaac to me sacrifice,
thy son, thyself as an offering, after thou mountest the
steep downs (the ring of the high land which I from hence
will show thee) up with thine own feet : there thou shalt
prepare a pile, a bale-fire for thy child, and thyself sacrifice
thy son, with the sword's edge, and then with swart flame
burn the beloved's body, and offer it to me as a gift.' He
delayed not the journey, but soon began to hasten for the
way. To him was the Lord of angels' words terrific, and his
Sovereign dear. Then the blessed Abraham his night's
rest gave up, the Preserver's behest despised not, but him
the holy man, girded with a gray sword, showed, that of the
Guardian of Spirits, dread in his breast dwelt.
"Began then his asses to saddle, the sage dispenser of gold,
bade him two young men accompany, his own son was the
third, and he the fourth himself. Then he hastily departed,
from his own house, leading Isaac, a child unwaxen, as him
the Lord had bidden, hastened then much and speeded
forth on the earth's way, as him the Lord had taught, the
ways over the desert, till that, in glory bright,- of the third
day, upover the deep water the morn arose. . . .
" Departed then the man and his own son, to the limit
which liim the Lord had shown, passing over the wealds :
the son bare wood,. the father fire and sword. . . .

10 Our English Bible.
"Began then the pile to load, fire awaken, and fettered
the feet and hands of his child, and then on the pile hove
young Isaac, and then hastily griped the sword by the hilt ;
would kill his son with his hands, the fire quench with
the youth's gore. . .
" To him then quickly, from the firmament above the
glory spirit of God spake in words — ' Beloved Abraham,
slay not thine own child, but take thou alive the boy from
the pile, thy son ; him the God of glory favoureth. Parent
of the Hebrews, thou shalt meeds, through the hand
of the holy King of heaven, true rewards of triumph,
thyself receive ; — ample lasting gifts : thee will the Guardian
of spirits requite with favours, for that to thee was dearer
his peace and grace than thine own child.' "*
Under the same division may be ranked what goes by
the name oi Alfred's Dooms, consisting of the substance of
the Ten Commandments, thus translated from the original
Anglo-Saxon by Mr. Thorpe :
" The Lord spake these words to Moses, and thus said—
I am the Lord thy God. I led thee out of the land of the
Egyptians, and of their bondage.
" 1. Love thou not other 'strange gods above Me.
" 2. Utter thou not My name idly, for thou shalt not be
guiltless towards Me if thou utter My name idly.
"3. Eemember that thou hallow the rest-day. Work
for yourselves six days, and on the seventh rest. For in
six days Christ wrought the heavens and the earth, the
seas, and all creatures that are in them, and rested on the
seventh day : and therefore the Lord hallowed it.
" 4. Honour thy father and thy mother, whom the Lord
* THprpe's Ccedmon, pj>. 172-176,

Early History and Associations. 1 1
hath given thee, that thou mayest be the longer living
on earth.
"5. Slay thou not.
" 6. Commit thou not adultery.
" 7. Steal thou not.
"8. Say thou not- false witness.
" 9. Covet thou not thy neighbour's goods unjustly.
"10. Make thou not to thyself golden or silver gods."*'
Such a method of presenting the contents of the Bible,
however interesting and valuable, cannot be justly described
as translating the Holy Scriptures.
Neither can the work of jElfric, written in the tenth
century.f It contains an epitome of the Old and New Testa
ments. He gives often in an abridged fdrm, and with omis
sions, the historical contents of the Pentateuch, the books of
Joshua, Judges, the Kings, Esther, and Job ; also parts ofthe
Apocrypha. Sometimes iElfric gives accurate renderings,
at other times they are incorrect ; and he commonly substi
tutes' for the texts paraphrases and statements of his own.
When William the Norman, England's second great
conqueror, stepped on the shore near Hastings, he came to
effect changes in the language as well as the social habits
and the general civilisation of the Anglican race. A new
dialect made its appearance. The old English tongue
entered a transition state. It became mixed with words
and inflexions of Norman origin. Bask, in his Anglo-Saxon
grammar, fixes the boundary-line between the former and
this new era in the history of our language about the year
1100. Some marks of the change may be traced in the
Saxon Chronicle, written between the years 1079 and 1140 ;
* Thorpe's Ancient Laws and Institutions of England, vo1 , i. p. 45.
f Edited by Thw&ites, 1623,

12 Our English Bible.
but the progress of a language is very gradual, and the
change during a transition state is so fluctuating and
confused, that it is difficult to determine to which dialect in
particular any composition in question may belong.
As this change was going on, some one named Orm, or
Ormin, a canon of the Augustine order, wrote a feeble
versified paraphrase of the Gospels and Acts, running out
to the extent of 20,000 lines:* In this work the older
case-endings of words disappear, though few foreign words
are introduced; it exhibits our language under Henry II.
Eespecting orthography the author was very particular, and
forewarned transcribers against inaccuracy, conscious , of
changes going on at the time in that direction.^
Another specimen of this class is the_ famous Salus
Animi or Soulehele, in the Vernon- Ms. of the Bodleian,
which, according to the best critics,. belongs to the thirteenth
century. The following lines relate to the crucifixion :
" Our ladi and hire sustur stoden under the roode,
And seint John, and Marie Magdaleyn with wel sori moode
Ur Ladi biheold hire sweete son ibrouht in gret pyne,
For monnes gultes nouthen her and .nothing for myne.
Marie weopi wel sore, and bitter teres leet,
The teres fullen uppon the ston doun at hire feet.'-
One may hope that such productions were of some
practical use, that there were earnest minds who studied
these fragments, and caught the influence of the facts which
they record ; but compositions of another class were sought
for with greater avidity, and were commonly read with
deeper interest. The lives of the saints were held in the
highest esteem ; and some of them are found incorporated
* Edited, with a glossary, by Dr. Meadows, 1852. . 2 vols. '
t Eadie's English Bible, i. 30.

Early History and Associations. 13
in the large thick volume of the Vernon MS., to which
reference has been made as containing the work entitled
Soulehele. " This sumptuous volume was undoubtedly
chained in the cloister or church of some capital monastery.
It is not improbable that the novices were exercised in
reciting portions from these pieces. In the British Museum
there is a set of legendary tales in rhyme, which appear to
have been solemnly pronounced by the priest to the people
on Sundays and holidays. This sort of poetry was, also sung
to the harp by the minstrels on Sundays, instead of the
romantic subjects usual at public entertainments."*
It should be also stated that there is preserved in
the Library of Corpus Christi, Cambridge, a MS. Story of
Genesis and Exodus, published in 1865, under the editor
ship of Eichard Morris. The author probably lived about
the middle of the thirteenth century.
II. A second class of productions includes Latin MSS.,
with interlineary glosses.
The first of these is the celebrated Durham Book of the
Four Gospels, preserved in the British Museum. The Latin
text was copied by Eadfrith, a monk, in the bleak Isle of
Lindisfarne, where a famous convent existed, under S,t.
Cuthbert.t Eadfrith died in 687, and his copy must
have been made in the same century which witnessed the
* Warton's History of English Poetry, i. 18. _
+ " Cuthbert's spiritual influence extended far beyond Lindisfarne Priory. He
preached zealously among the Northumbrians ; and when plague swept the country,
and the people, frightened back into paganism, sought a fancied safety in heathen
spells and amulets, he went to and fro among them to warn, to strengthen, and to
bless the sufferers. He was accustomed to betake himself on horseback or on
foot to mountain legions, wheire, gathering about him a population as wild as their
country, he spent the day in teaching and baptizing, and the chief part of the
night in chanting psalms in the open air with a voice so remarkable for compass

14 Our English Bible.
activity of Csedmon in the composition of his poem. Whitby
and Lindisfarne thus became contemporaneously united in
the work of Scripture instruction ; and about two hundred
years later, in the time of Alfred, an interlineary Anglo-
Saxon interpretation of the Latin words was added, by a
priest named Aldred. The gloss is given word for word,
and no attempt is made to transfer the meaning from one
idiom \o another.
It may interest the reader to peruse the rendering of the
Lord's Prayer into the tongue spoken by our ancestors, and
to trace in the rather uncouth-looking words some resem
blance in sound to the language of the present day :
i " Fader uren thu arth in heofnum, sie gehalgud noma
thin : to cymeth ric thin ; sie willo thin susels in heofne & in
eortho ; hlaf userne ofer wistlic sel us todseg : & forgef us
scylda usna suse use forgefon scyldgum usum : & he inlaed
usih in costunge uh gefrig usich from yfle."*
The old quarto volume in which this glossary is preserved
is a most beautiful specimen of ancient penmanship. One
might almost fancy the letters were engraved. There are in
the book many ornaments and pictures by St. Ethelwald,
who succeeded Eadfrith in the see of Durham. It contains
four curious portraits of the Evangelists, and the initial
letter of each Gospel is finely illuminated. Among the
stories told respecting the volume, the following is not the
least remarkable and amusing. When the monks of Lindis
farne were removing from their favourite monastery to
avoid the depredations of the Danes, the vessel in which

and power that the people were ready to believe themselves visited by some
heavenly messenger, and eagerly flocked to his feet." (Lindisfarne arfd Bushworth
Gospels, part iv. pref. p. xvii. Surtees Society, 1865.)
* Cottonian mss., Nero, D. iv. fol. 36.

Early History- and Associations. 15
the holy brethren were embarked was upset, and the Dur
ham Booh, which they were anxious to convey to some place
of safety, fell into the sea ; but through the merits of St.
Cuthbert the volume was preserved, for, the tide ebbing at
the time- much farther than usual, it was found lying high
and- dry on the sands, at the distance' of full three miles
from the shore. The Latin Gospels in the book had been
used by St. Cuthbert himself, and therefore the volume had
acquired the most precious associations in the thoughts of
the brotherhood ; ' and it is asserted that it was found after
the accident, " much more beautiful than before, both
within and without, being no way injured by the salt water,
but rather polished by some heavenly hand :" but its present
appearance, whilst confirming the fact of its temporary sub
mersion, disproves the assertion that it' was uninjured by
the waves-. For greater safety it was afterwards placed upon
the lid of the inner coffin of St. Cuthbert, where it was
found in 1X04, when the monks ended their wanderings at
Durham, and there built a magnificent cathedral.* After-
Wards taken back to Lindisfarne, where a colony of the
Durham monastics built what was called the Priory of Holy
Island, it remained amongst the costly treasures of the
fraternity until the dissolution of the monasteries under
Henry viii. In some unknown way it fell into Sir Eobert
Cotton's hands, and is now preserved in , the , splendid
collection of mss. bearing his name in the British Museum.
The rich binding is lost, but the caligraphy and the illumi
nations exist in unfaded lustre.
After the Durham Book comes the Bushworth Gloss, a
manuscript existing in the Bodleian Library. It is an inter-
* Raine's St. Cuthbert, pp, 34, 47.

1 6 Our English Bible.
lineary Saxon translation of the Gospels, written about the
same time as the former work. It has coloured initials and
ornamental delineations of the Evangelists. The parties.
who executed the task have preserved their names — " Owen,
that this book glossed, and Farmen, the priest at Hare
wood." The copyist has also taken care to perpetuate his
memory in connexion with his labours, — one MacBeogol,
who prays that the reader may not forget to intercede for
the writer. The Anglo-Saxon Gloss, as in the case of the
Durham Book, follows the Latin word for word, and
resembles it' in form, as probably it corresponds with it
in age.*
III. The third class of Anglo-Saxon Scriptures embrace
what may be more properly called versions than any of those
already mentioned.
The earliest production of this kind of which we have

* " The Rushworth Book, though a noble MS., yields in antiquity, as well as
in beauty of execution, to the Lindisfarne Codex. It is written in lines extending
through the page, and is abundantly ornamented with illuminated letters. Both
MSS. abound with clerical errors; the older one is, however, the more correctly
written of the two." (The Lindisfarne and Bush-worth Gospels, part iii. pref.
p, x. Surtees Society publication for 1863.)
" In the Lambeth Library (1033, 4to., vellum) are two vols., written probably
about 1430 ; mutilated at the beginning and end and in several other places, in
parts much soiled.
" This ms. con-tains the books of the Old Testament, from 2 Paral. (Chron.)
ii. 7 to Baruch inclusive, in the later version, with the prologues to Isaiah and
Baruch. . The textual glosses are numerous, and sometimes peculiar. It has also
occasional glosses in the margin. On Psa. ciii. (civ.) 17, is a Latin note on the word
gerfaucun, which supposes Wycliffe the author of the version, and terms hi™
'Latinitatis ignarus.' The note is- in a, hand of about 1500." (Porshall and
Madden, p. xlvi.)
It would be useless to give specimens of these Saxon mss., as they would
need to be translated into modern English to he intelligible to general readers.
Of course the Saxon renderings are intended to correspond with the Vulgate
text.

Early History and Associations. 19
any account, is a version of the Gospel of St. John, executed
by Bede, the monk of Jarrow. As we read the account of
his death in the year 735, preserved by an eye-witness,
we are transported, in imagination, to the monastery on
the banks of the Tyne, where still, amidst clouds of
smoke and noxious vapours, an old Saxon chancel may
be seen in good preservati6n, connected with a now ruined
monastery, and containing, near the communion table, a
shattered high-backed seat, world-known as Bede's chair.
There, in the monastery, we see the venerable ecclesiastic in
his last hour, intently engaged in dictating to his amanu
ensis. " There remains now only one chapter; but it seems
difficult for you to speak," exclaims the scribe, as his pen
traces on the parchment the last verse of the 20th chapter
of John. " It is easy," replied Bede : " take your pen, dip
it in ink, and write as fast as you can." " Now, master,",
says the Jarrow scribe, after hastily penning down the
sentences from his trembling lips, " now only one sentence
is wanting." Bede repeated it. " It is finished," said the
scribe. " It is finished," replied the dying saint. " Lift up
my head ; let me sit in my cell, in the place where I have
been accustomed to pray ; and now glory be to the Father,
and the Son, and the Holy Ghost." And with the utterance
of these words his spirit fled. It was a noble distinction to
die in the act of translating the Word of God.
Bede is said to have acquired some acquaintance with
Hebrew, and more with Greek, and to have had in his
possession a codex of the Acts of the Apostles in the original,
to the readings of which he refers in a commentary on that
book.* He is thought by some to have translated the whole
* Eadie's English Bible, i. 11.

20 Our English Bible.
Bible. We should be glad to see an accredited MS. of such
a version, but nobody knows where it can be found. John
Foxe, in 1571, printed the Gospels of the four evangelists,
translated in the old Saxon time out of Latin into the
vulgar tongue of the Saxons ; but the worthy martyrologist
was scarcely to be trusted as editor of such a work; and
on examining it we discover that two-thirds only are
composed of the version ; the other third is made up by
verses from the Bishops' Bible, which are sometimes made
to harmonize with an earlier translation. It was conjectured
by Marshall, who published another edition, on the basis of
that by John Foxe, that the collection contained the sup
posed version by Bede ; but this is mere conjecture, and the
text of that version, if there ever was one, continues to be
a desideratum. Foxe rejoiced much that he could appeal to antiquity in
favour of vernacular versions, then viewed with so much
jealousy by the Church of Eome ; and the Eeformers generally
were fond of this argument, considerably overstating the
facts of the case, as might be expected in an uncritical age,
and amidst the heats of controversy. Archbishop Parker
observes, in his preface to the Bishops' Bible : " Their old fore
fathers, that have ruled in this realme, who in their times
and in, diuers ages did their diligence to translate the whole
bookes of the Scriptures to the erudition of the laytie, as yet
at this day, to be seene diuers bookes translated into the
vulgar tongue, some by kynges of the realme, some by
bishoppes, some by abbottes, some by other deuout godly
fathers ; so desirous they were of old tyme to haue the lay
sort edified in godlynes by reading in their vulgar tongue,
that very many bookes be yet extant, though for the age of
the speache, and straungeness of the charect of many of them

Early History and Associations. 21
almost worne out' of knowledge. In whiche bookes may be
seene euidently ho we it was vsed among the Saxons, to haue
in their Churches read the foure gospels so distributed and
piked out in the body of the euangelistes' bookes, that to
euery Sunday and festiuall day in the yere they were sorted
out to the common ministers of the Churche in their
¦' common prayers to be read to their people."
In fact, our knowledge of early Anglo-Saxon Gospels is
altogether unsatisfactory ; for we are told by Sir Frederick
Madden, a great authority on this subject, that of several
mss. in existence, " none appear to give the version in its
original purity."* >
IV. The last division to be noticed consists of Anglo-
Saxon and Early English Psalters. The Psalms formed so
important a part of the church service, ahd so powerfully
touched the hearts of men, that we do not wonder more
attention was paid to them by our forefathers than to any
other portion of Holy Writ. It is very remarkable that the
Psalms have in all ages drawn towards them the affections
of devout minds, and have been 'a true cardiphonia to man
kind in general ; so that in this fact we have a satisfactory
answer to objections brought against them in modern times.
An Anglo-Saxon Psalter, of the ninth century, has been
edited by Stevenson for the Surtees Society ; and an Anglo-
Norman version of the Psalms and canticles of the church
exists, regarded as earlier than 1200.t The earliest prose
translation of an entire book of Scripture is a Psalter by
William de Schorham, vicar of Chart Sutton, near Leeds,
in the county of Kent. It belongs to the fourteenth century

* Preface to edition of Wycliffe's Bible, by Porshall and Madden, p. ii.
f Ibid., p. iii,

22 Our English Bible.
— the beginning of Edward the Third's reign; and in a
version of the Psalms attributed to John Hyde, and pre
served in Trinity College, Dublin, we have, probably, a revi
sion of Schorham's work. Belonging to about the same
period is a MS. by Eichard Eolle, a chantry priest, who died
1349. Having written a Latin commentary on the Psalms,
he afterwards pubhshed an English version of the text, with
an English commentary appended to it.
He lived in solitude, close by the convent of Hampole, a
village about four miles from Doncaster ; and there he
carried on his studies and wrote his works, after invoking
the muse with more of perseverance than genius or taste.
He is known in the annals of our literature as the author of
several theological pieces in Latin, and especially of the
Brick of Conscience ; a curious old English poem, of which
the reader may find ample specimens in Warton's History
of English Boetry* His prose translation of the Book of
Psalms is found in several manuscripts- — the one in Sidney
College claiming to be the original. The beginning of the
first Psalm is translated thus :
" Blisful man, ye whilke way yede noght i ye counseyl of
wicked, and in ye wey of sinfulle stode noght, and in ye
chayr of pestilence he noght sate."
Eolle, in his work of translation, was evidently bent
upon doing good, and in a prologue he informs us that he
sought no strange English, but what was easiest and most
common, that he followed the letter of the Latin text as far
as possible, and that, in expounding, "he followed the holy
doctors, and aimed at reproving sin." This, as he further
observes, was stated in order to meet the objections of
* Vol. ii. p. 43 et seq.

Early History and Associations. 23
envious men, who might say that he did not understand
what he was doing, and was thereby injuring himself and
others. A short comment or gloss is inserted after each
sentence, which, in the simplest manner, explains the
meaning of the passage ; as, for example, after the third
verse of the first Psalm it is said, " He shall not only be
good in himself, but he shall be as a tree that is profitable
to many, and noyand to none." Hampole's gloss, though
substantially the same in all the manuscripts examined, is
more concise in some than others.
A curious MS. of this version, copied in the time of
Henry vi., states that the work was undertaken at the
request of Dame Margaret Kirkby, a lady recluse, living
probably at Hampole ; that the autograph MS. by the
author was attached to a tomb by chains, and that many
copies, corrupted by the Lollards, were at the time in circu
lation. It is amusing to find this note respecting one of the
mss. : " Being disturbed, I forgot to add that this book
evidently appears to have lain long in water. Thus the
famous Durham Gospels in the Cottonian Library, Nero,
D, iv., were recovered from the sea. So also the comment
of Johannes de Lathbury was taken from the bottom of the
sea, and the works of Mr. Frith found in the belly of a
great fish."*
It may be mentioned here that the Hampole hermit, who,
, without any poetical genius, was fond of versifying, composed
metrical paraphrases of the Lord's Prayer, and of selections
from the Book of Job ; but another and far more effective
labourer in the vineyard was in Eolle's day preparing for
his work. God was raising up Wycliffe to prepare an
* Harl. mss., described in Cat. ii. p. 244.

24 Our English Bible.
English version of the whole Bible, to feed the minds of
those who pined with spiritual hunger. It cannot be said,
indeed, that no man gave unto them, for we have seen that
some diligent and faithful servants did convey refreshment,
at least a few " crumbs from the Master's table ; " but, at
the best, it was a stinted supply. Gratefully do we trace
remains of the least contributions of Scriptural knowledge
among the relics of our old English literature ; but it is
painful to think that, after all, so httle was done for the
instruction of the people in the oracles of God. Happily,
far different times have come over our country, and now by
every cottager the Bible may be easily obtained. The night
of those ages, as far as Scriptural knowledge was concerned, —
to say nothing of other kinds of knowledge, — was illumined
only by a pale moon, whose rays, darting from amidst thick
clouds, and lighting up here and there the wide waste, we '
love to watch, and think how some travellers to eternity
might catch these beams, and, guided by them, pursue the
path of safety ; but a bright morning long since dawned
on our fathers, and we, thank God ! are living in the bright
ness of the full noon-day.

f HAPTEN ii.
WYCLIFFE AND HIS VERSION.
'oweeing atove the pleasant town of Lutter
worth, on the banks of the Swift, there
stands the old Church of St. Mary, an
interesting specimen of the pointed archi
tecture of this country in the thirteenth
century. What with the decay produced
by time, and the mutilation occasioned
by accident, it has lost much of its
original beauty ; but there are associations
which invest it with a charm which the
skill of the architect could never impart.
We look with feelings of peculiar veneration on that
time-worn edifice, as we remember that there John Wycliffe
preached and laboured, and that probably under the shadow
of those walls he prosecuted his task of translating the
Scriptures into the English tongue. The carved oak pulpit
in which he taught, the table on which he wrote, the
chair in which he died, and the i*obe, now torn and tattered,
which he used to wear, are preserved as relics which can
not fail to operate as quickeners of the imagination. With

26

Our English Bible.

the aid of the portrait of his venerable form and face now
hanging on the vestry wall, we can picture that true-hearted
man, occupying the sacred desk, and "proclaiming to his
parishioners the gospel of Christ, and then retiring to

JOHN WYCLIFFE S CHAIR.

resume the study of the Word of God, and to write upon
that oak table page after page of his memorable version !
In 1372, Wycliffe became a theological lecturer at Oxford.
In April, 1374, he was presented by the Crown to the

Wycliffe and his Version. 27
Lutterworth Eectory, and at the same time, it is presumed,
he relinquished the hving of Ludgershall in Buckingham
shire. The same year he was sent to Bruges as a Commissioner
with the Bishop of Bangor, to negotiate with a papal
embassy in that city respecting the reservation of benefices.
That visit made him better acquainted than before with
the chicanery and corruption of the Eoman court, and roused
his indignation against the papal system. At Oxford, where
he was Warden of Balliol * as early as 1361, he had dis
tinguished himself as the inveterate opponent of the
Mendicant Friars, who, whilst overrunning the university
and the country, exerted all their influence to prop up the
despotism of the Eoman see. In the controversy between
Edward in. and the Pope, respecting the papal claim of
tribute from England, Wycliffe had fearlessly contended
against the claim as unjust and arrogant. But, on his
return from Bruges, reviewing what he had there seen and
heard, he came out as a more decided champion than ever
for a reformation of the church. Indeed, so bold was the
course he pursued, that he was cited to appear at St. Paul's
to answer certain charges . against him, when a scene of
tumult occurred, quaintly described by Foxe, which ended
in the deliverance of Wycliffe from his enemies, through the
interposition of his illustrious friend, John of Gaunt, Duke
of Lancaster. His enemies, however, would allow the
reformer no peace, but continued their opposition ; happily
* The preface to Forshall and Madden's edition of Wycliffe's Bible, p. vii., note 5,
says, "Irresistible evidence of the identity of the Warden of Canterbury Hall with
the reformer is to be found in a passage from Will. Wydforde's Septuaginta duo
questions de Sacramento Eucharistiae. ' ' But Professor Shirley, in an introduction
to his edition of Wycliffe's Fasciculi Zizaniorum, questions the force of this
evidence.

28 Our English Bible.
without effect, the refractory ecclesiastic enjoying for a time
the special favour and patronage of the Duke.
All this excitement, whilst it increased his distaste for
the papal system of government and doctrine, sharpened his
love for the Holy Scriptures as the standard of reHgious
principles and ecclesiastical discipline. He wrote a book
upon the Truth and Meaning of Scripture, in which he
maintains that Christ's law is sufficient ; that a Christian
man, well understanding it, may gather sufficient knowledge
during his pilgrimage upon earth ; that all truth is contained
in Scripture ; that we should admit of no conclusion not
approved there ; that there is no court beside the court of
heaven ; that though there were a hundred popes, and all
the friars in the world were turned into cardinals, yet should
we learn more from the gospel than we should from all that
multitude ; and that true sons will in no wise go about to
infringe the will and testament of their beavenly Father.
His writings subsequent to the year 1378 exhibit abundant
arguments in support of the sufficiency of Scripture, and in
defence of vernacular translations. " As the faith of the
church," he says, " is contained in the Scriptures, the more
these are known in an orthodox sense, the better. And
since secular men should assuredly understand the faith, it
should be taught thern in whatever language is best known
to them. Inasmuch also as the doctrines of our faith are
more clearly and precisely expressed in the Scriptures than
they may possibly be by priests, seeing, if one may venture
so to speak, that many prelates are but too ignorant of
Scripture, and as the verbal instructions of priests have
many other defects, the conclusion is abundantly plain, that
believers should ascertain for themselves the matters of their
faith by having the Scriptures in a language which they

Wycliffe and his Version. 29
fully understand. According to the constant doctrine of
Augustine, the Scriptures contain the whole of truth, and
this translation of them should therefore do at least this
good, namely, placing bishops and priests above suspicion
as to the parts of it which they profess to explain. Other
means also, as prelates, the pope, and friars, may prove
defective ; and to provide against this, Christ and His
apostles evangelized the greater portion of the world, by
making known the Scriptures in a language which was
familiar to the people. To this end, indeed, did the Holy
Spirit endow them with the knowledge of all tongues.
Why, therefore, should not the living disciples of Christ do
as they did — opening the Scriptures to the people so clearly
and plainly, that they may verily understand them, since,
except to the unbeliever, disposed to resist the Holy Spirit,
the things contained in Scripture are no fiction ? "*
Wycliffe appeared before a synod at Lambeth in 1378,
when conclusions deduced from his writings were exhibited
against him, and he returned answers, which he subse
quently pubhshed in an enlarged form. He referred to a
papal prohibition of Scripture reading ; to doctrines which
he deduced from the written Word as accounted tares, in
allusion to an expression in one of the bulls, "Tares amidst
pure grain;" and to applications for a papal censure of
vulgate versions . as heretical. Besides this, in a tract he
afterwards composed in reply to an anonymous author,
whom he styles Mixtus Theologus, he adverts to the condi
tion in which the doctrine of papal infallibility places Divine
revelation, since, he says,, the Pope might on that ground
claim to exclude books from the canon of Scripture, and
make Holy Writ itself heretical.
*. Vaughan's Life of Wycliffe.

30 Our English Bible.
" It seems probable that Wycliffe's first attempt at the
interpretation of Scripture was his commentary on the
Apocalypse. The fearful pestilence which, between 1345
and 1349, swept away a large portion of the human race,
and other calamities, arising as well from the strife of nations
and parties as from the discord of the natural elements, cast
a general gloom over society. But perhaps nowhere within
the realm of England was there a more melancholy spectacle
than that which, for some years subsequent to the pestilence,
was presented by the University of Oxford. Dwelling in
such a spot, a man of sanguine temperament would almost
of necessity become imbued with the notion, then generally
prevalent, that things were preparing themselves for their
great consummation, and that Antichrist's personal appear
ance was shortly to be expected. This feeling prompted
that which is believed to' be the earliest production of
Wycliffe's pen, The Last Age of the Church. It was
written in 1356."
" It is a remarkable circumstance that about the time
when Wycliffe must have been employed upon the commen
taries just mentioned, another, upon the Gospels, should have
appeared, compiled upon a like principle. The name of the
author has not been discovered, but the preface implies that
he knew of no previous exposition of the Gospels in EngHsh;
and the language accords with the northern dialect in the
middle of the fourteenth century."
The commentary extends to Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
The following is a characteristic extract : " Prechours thei
caHe horn self, and sey that thei be sent, bot contrary tho
thinges to tho Apostels thei teHe : thei magnyfie martirs,
and bene pursuars of martirs. The apostels and martirs of
Crist made no pursuynge, bot sufferd ; thei kursed none, bot

Wycliffe and his Version. 31
sufferd cursynges and wariynges. Bot fals prophetes
pursue men, and vndo cristen men, and blasfemen God,
thof not in word, thei do in hor manere " (Matt. ix. 38.)*
In the Harleian mss. in the British Museum (5085) is
one entitled Mirror of Sermons for the Year. It would
appear to be the same work as that described by Forshall
and Madden. The Homilies abound in legendary tales, which
are notified in the margin. The following is a rendering of
the first few verses of the second chapter of Matthew :
" Yan whan He was borne in bethleem of Jude, in ye dais
of Herod kinge : Se ye maistres come from ye est to Jeru
salem, and saiden, Where is he yat is born ye kinge of Jnes,
For whi we sen his sterre in ye est and we com to anoure
him : And Herod ye kinge whan he herd yis is greteHche
troubled, and al ierlm wiy hi. And he gadred alle princes of
prestes and maisters of ye folk, and asked of hem where yt
crist was borne : And hy saide to him In bethleem of Jude :
For so is it writen yom ye prophete. And you bethleem
lond of jude you nart nou3t lest in ye princes of Jude : For
of ye schal com out aduk yat gouerney mi puple of isrl."
The dates of commencing and of concluding the work
which has made John Wychffe so famous in history cannot
be determined with any precision. He accomplished his
task by degrees. He began with a translation of the
Apocalypse ; next appeared the Gospels in English, with a
commentary ; then followed the other books of the New
Testament, which was beheved to have been finished about
1380. t A version of the Old Testament, as well as the New,
* Forshall and Madden, preface to Wycliffe's Bible, p. x. .Three mss. are men
tioned :— Matthew, in Univ. Libr., Camb., Ii, 2. 12 ; and Brit. Mus. Egerton, 842 ;
Mark and Luke in Corp. Christi Camb., Nasmith xxxii. This last ms. I shall notice
on p. 47.
t Westcott's History ofthe English Bible. Eadie considers it may have been

3 2 Our English Bible.
appeared entire not long afterwards, on which he appears to
have employed himself, and which is supposed to have been
completed by him before 1384, when he peaceably died of
paralysis at the Lutterworth Eectory, exempt from "the
horrible judgment " which his enemies predicted would
befall him. "Admirable," says Fuller, "that a hare so often
hunted with so many packs of dogs should die at last quietly
sitting on his form." In the next century, however, he was
not allowed to continue in his grave,, for the Council of
Constance ordered him to be disinterred and burnt, and
his ashes to be thrown into the river Swift. " Thus this
brook hath conveyed his ashes into Avon, Avon into Severn,
Severn into the narrow seas, they into the main ocean.
And thus the ashes of Wycliffe are the emblems of his
doctrine, which now is dispersed all the world over."*
One loves to picture this remarkable man pursuing his
Biblical toils, now at his Lutterworth Eectory, then in his
college at Oxford, working in the winter nights by his lamp,
and early in the summer's morn as the sun beamed through
his window. We see him with his long grey beard, some
times alone, bending over the parchment manuscript, care
fully writing down some well-laboured , rendering ; and
sometimes in company with others who sympathized in his
sentiments, and loved to aid him in his hallowed enterprise.
There was one who took a part with him at first, who
afterwards forsook the cause to which Wycliffe devoted his
life. The name of Nicolas de Hereford appears as his

finished by 1381. (Vol. i. p. 6.) Dr. Vaughan wrote to me in a letter, many years
ago, saying, " My impression was, and still is, that Wycliffe meditated his transla
tion in 1378, and that he probably commenced it at that time."
* Fuller's Church History of Great Britain, ii. 457 ,"493. Ed. 1837.

Wycliffe and his Version. 33
coadjutor in a MS. of the Old Testament translation preserved
in the Bodleian Library. This man for a while took part
with the English reformers before the Eeformation; and
on account of these circumstances he was suspected of
heresy and thrown into prison. The displeasure of his
ecclesiastical superiors induced Nicholas to recant ; and the
abrupt close of the translation of the Old Testament in the
middle of the Book of Baruch, as appears from his MS. in
the Bodleian, is thought to have been occasioned by his
departure from England for a time, just after he had been
excommunicated for heresy. The work, however, was carried
on by some one else, — Wycliffe himself is believed to
have been the person, thus completing what had been his
own project, in the execution of which he had been assisted
by another. Unfortunately for the fame of Nicholas de
Hereford, he subsequently comes before us in history as
persecutor of the very persons who held opinions similar to
his own at an earlier period. He sat in commission in the
Cathedral of Hereford, accompanied "with many other
prelates, and worshipful men, and wise graduates in sundry
faculties,"* to try and condemn some who had departed
from Eoman Catholic doctrines and practices.
In spite of efforts made to deprive Wycliffe ofthe honour
of being the first English translator of the Bible, his claims
are 'now in that respect generally acknowledged. Antiqua
rian investigation has fully refuted all rival claims. Sir
Thomas More, when opposing Tyndale, to serve a purpose,
maintained that the " hole Bible was long before [Wycliffe's]
days, by virtuous and well-learned men translated into the
English tongue ; " but, strangely enough, Sir Thomas at
the same time admitted that it would be a dangerous
* Foxe, iii. 187.
D

34 Our English 'Bible.
thing for a printer to publish a Bible, " and then hang
upon a doubtful trial whether the first copy of his trans
lation was made before Wycliffe's days or since."* Others '
have spoken of Bibles antecedent to Wycliffe's, but it has
been satisfactorily shown that the versions to which they
refer were made after Wycliffe's death. All the attempts
to wrest from the rector of Lutterworth the honourable
distinction of being the earliest translator or editor of a
complete English collection of sacred writings have proved
futile ; and to him, therefore, are due the admiration and
gratitude of his country for the achievement of an enter
prise as unprecedented as it was important and beneficial.
He opened the gates of revelation to all his countrymen.
He wrote for the people. He intended his work not for
the library of the church and convent, not for a shelf in
the priest's study, but for the table of every man who
had ability to read. He pubhshed his translation, sent it
abroad throughout ihe land, encouraged persons to tran
scribe it, and urged men to read in their own tongue the
wonderful message from God. Nor would he guard by
gloss or comment the pure truth of heaven, as almost
all his predecessors had done, but he left the oracle to
speak for itself, thus virtually asserting the right of
private judgment. This is a peculiarity of the utmost
importance. The Church authorities of the age were
exceedingly jealous of any appeal to the right of private
judgment. All reHgious instruction was to be conveyed
by the priesthood, or to be under their control; and
Holy Scripture was to be accompanied by ecclesiastical
interpretations. Wycliffe was perhaps the first to break
through these trammels, and to trust the Word of God
* More's Dialogue, iii. c. 16.

Wycliffe and his Version. 35
to its own intrinsic power and efficacy, and to the
operation of the Holy Spirit in connection with it.
That this act was a novelty, that it gave a shock to
ecclesiastical prejudices, is apparent from the pages of the
historian Knighton, Wycliffe's contemporary, who mournfully
deplores that the gospel pearl was thus scattered abroad and
cast before swine. It may seem, in the present day, no
mighty thing to make such a translation, and attempt its
general circulation ; but those who are disposed on that
ground to lessen the fair fame of our first great translator,
should remember how well the detractors of Columbus, the
first to sail on an untried ocean, were rebuked in the famiHar
story of the broken egg. In such an age as that in which
Wychffe lived, to translate the whole Bible for popular
use, to conceive the plan, and to execute the project, impHed
the possession of quahties of mind and heart such as belong
only to the truly noble of our race. Wycliffe was the con
temporary of some whose brilliant genius streaked the early
morn of our revived literature, ajid whose rich poetic splen
dour far eclipses any literary honours which adorn his name ;
but we must be allowed to pronounce Wychffe, on the whole,
a greater character than our British Chaucer or the Itahan
Petrarch. The moral courage of the reformer was beyond
all praise. There were others in his day, and before his time,
who saw the corruptions of the Church, and assailed them,
in a timid spirit and a covert form : they wrote in a double
sense, concealing their more important meanings under the
veil of aUegory, " the trembling muse, for its own safety,
induced by fear to disguise itself in sacred vestments ; " but
Wychffe — bold, sincere, and earnest — brooked no trammels
and feared no opposition, while with one hand he opened the
Book of revelation before all the people, and with the other

36

Our English Bible.

hand laid bare, in the face of the world, and to the appre
hension of the humblest, the corruptions of the Church of
Eome. It is a remarkable fact that though Wycliffe's version has

'atflofc'*-"''- "¦'¦'  aXsu" '
POKTION OF WYCLIFFE'S BIBLE.
been talked of and written about for centuries, it was never
satisfactorily identified until lately, and consequently could
not be judged of according to its intrinsic merits. It is now
estabhshed as a fact that the version of the New Testament

Wycliffe ana his Version. 37
printed as WycHffe's in the edition by Baber, and again
printed in a revised form by Bagsterin the English Hexapla,
is not the version executed by the reformer, but one prepared
on his model by some who became his followers. The true
text of Wycliffe never appeared in print until Forshall and
Madden, after the toil of twenty-two years, brought it out in
1850 — although the errors of eariier editors had been detected
by Lea Wilson, who in 1848 pubhshed the New Testament
from a genuine Wychffe MS. In ForshaH and Madden's edi
tion every one may see what the reformer effected, and form
an estimate of it for himself. The following are extracts :
" Therfore when Jhesus was born in Bethlem of Juda,
in the days of kyng Herode, loo ! kyngis, or wijs men, camen
fro the eest to Jerusalem, sayinge, Wher is he, that is borun
kyng of Jewis ? forsothe we han seyn his sterre in the este,
and we comen for to wirshipe hym. Sothely kyng Herode
herynge is trubhd, and al Jerusalem with him. And he,
gedrynge to gidre alle the princis of prestis and scribis of
the peple, enquiride of hern wher Crist shulde be borun"
(Matt. ii. 1-4).
" Poul, seruaunt of Jhesu Crist, clepid apostle, departed
into the evangelie of God ; the which he behi3t bifore by his
prophetis in hooly scripturis of his sone, the which is maad
to him of the seed of Dauith after the fleisch, the which is pre-
destynat, or bifore ordeyned bi grace, the sone of God in virtu
after the spirit of halewyng of the a3eyn rysynge of deed
men, of Jhesus Crist oure Lord, by whom we han resseyued
grace and apostilhed, or stat of apostle, to obeische to the
feith in ane folkis for his name, in which, and 3e ben clepid
of Jhesu Crist, to alle that ben at Eome, the louede of God,
clepid hooly, grace to 3ou, and pees of God our fadir, and of
the Lord Jhesu Crist " (Eom. i. 1-7).

38 Our English Bible.
Probably Wychffe knew nothing or next to nothing of
Greek : a few words in that language sprinkled over his
writings afford no proof of much acquaintance with it.
Certainly he did not make his translation of the New Tes
tament from the original, but from the Latin Vulgate, as he
did his version of the Old Testament. In his Hteral render
ings he was anxious, no doubt, to avoid giving a handle to
his adversaries for charging him with perverting the Scrip
tures ; and in the use of plain and racy Anglo-Saxon he
sought to instruct and interest the common people — thus,
in both respects, proceeding on Hampole's principle of seek
ing " no strange EngHsh, but easiest and commonest, and
such as is most Hke the Latin." Whether he derived any
assistance from previous translations we are unable to say ;
yet it appears very probable that he. would seek out such
fragmentary versions in existence as he could : certainly it
was, at the best, only in certain portions of the Word pf
Gpd that he could get help from his predecessors ; for, as
already shown, till he undertook the task no one appears
to have executed anything Hke a complete version.
" One is surprised to see how, when Wycliffe's work is
modernized in spelling, it so closely resembles subsequent
translations in the general aspect of the version, in the, flow
and position of the words, in the distinctive terms and con
necting particles, in the rhythm of its clauses, and the mould
of its sentences. Several of its phrases must have passed
early into the language, especially those which from their
currency had acquired a kind of proverbial power, such as
'strait gate" and 'narrow way,' 'beam' and 'mote,'
and being adopted by Tyndale, they have kept their place
unto this present.' . . . Wychffe is easily read, though
not a few of his words are obsolete. His theological nomen-

, Wycliffe and his Version. 39
clature, part of which he had learned from Bradwardine,
has not been changed to any great extent, and many
of the terms explained in the margin of the mss., as if
needing explanation, are now part of the language, while the
explanatory terms have themselves disappeared." *
The effect of Wychffe's labours was immense. His
translation was studied ; poor priests — as the preachers of
his doctrines came to be caUed — went through the land
diffusing the knowledge they had acquired by the study
of that translation. They became popular, and in some
' quarters rivaHed in influence the Mendicant order. " Men
came to mock them, but went away struck to the heart,
overawed, humbled, and converted. At' the same time
that they arrested the attention and commanded the
passions of the vulgar, they challenged the most refined to
the contest; and it seems to be generally admitted that
no one was found able to cope with them in the field of
argumentation. Though the • multitude are not quahfied
to be direct judges of the higher powers of intellect, and
though they are often made the dupes of loquacious
effrontery, yet there is something in true genius and
sterhng merit which, when skilfuUy employed for that
purpose, will produce a more powerful and extraordinary
effect than ignorant assurance can ever reach."t The
character of the times was also in favour of the success of
Wychffe's labours, for the fourteenth century was an age of
revival in freedom, commerce, Hterature, and civilization.
Men were waking up after the slumber of centuries, they
were stimulated to thought and inquiry, and thus were
prepared to Hsten to instruction on the most interesting of
• * Eadie's English Bible, i. 72, 73. '
f Godwin's Life of Chaucer, ii. 378.

40 Oitr English Bibte.
all subjects— reHgion. The corruptions of the Church, too
which were exposed in so many quarters by poetry and
satire, had produced a revulsion of feeling in the breasts of
multitudes, and, sickened at heart with a system palpably
false, they turned to look for what was reaHy true. Above
all, there was doubtless the concurrent power of God — the
disposal of His Providence, and the effusion of His grace — to
aid the labours of Wycliffe and his foUowers.
That we have not overstated the effect of the toils of our
reformer and translator may be proved by an appeal to the
pages of his bitter enemy, Knighton. He compares the pro
gress of Lollardism to the shooting forth of saplings from
the root of a tree, and informs us that it filled the land with
its fruit, and he goes so far as to aver that, if you met two
men on the road, one was sure to be a Wycliffite.* If it
be conceded, as pi-obably it ought, that many who bore
' Wychffe's name only partially adopted his doctrines, yet it
mus.t be admitted, on Knighton's testimony, that a very
large multitude of persons were thoroughly imbued with the
spirit of the reformer's teaching. The number of manu
scripts still extant containing a vernacular version, which
must have been written by his followers, substantiate the
same fact. These manuscripts may justly be regarded- at
once as the proof and the means of Wycliffe's success. A
cause which depended mainly on the circulation of the Holy
Scriptures for its extension can leave Httle doubt on one's
mind as to whence it came, and with whose honour it ought
to be identified. Wycliffe's character and distinctive work
was evidently of God, and it was not in the power of man to
overthrow it. No one ever was more maligned ; but,* as in
many other cases, time has reversed the judgment of the past,
* Knighton de Eventibus, 2663.

Wycliffe and his Version. 41
and vindicated from aspersion the character of one among the
greatest of the world's benefactors. The favourite title of
" the morning star of the Eeformation " points to the prepa
ratory influences exerted by him in relation to the great
change of the sixteenth century ; and that influence no- doubt
includes the whole effect of his career as a politician, a theo
logian, and a translator. The most distinguished Churchmen
of the Middle Ages took a leading part in State affairs ; and
it must not be forgotten that Wycliffe went to Bruges in
the capacity of a Eoyal Commissioner, to negotiate business
connected with the reservation of benefices. Opposed to the
pohcy of the papal court, he promoted the pohcy of liberal
EngHsh statesmen of the fourteenth century, who aimed at
maintaining, as far as possible, the independence of their
country. He held decided opinions on many social questions,
which he boldly expressed. His reHgious convictions were
very profound, and differed from those of many around him.
What exactly were his views on several important questions,
in which he felt a deep interest, has not been ascertained.
Though many new lights are kindled round his biography,
we should be glad to discover additional documents, such as
might clear up remaining difficulties. Only by a careful study
of his works can we acquire such knowledge as is within
our reach ; but to see what he was all round, we need to
recover some of his works, which, for the present, continue
in oblivion. That he was perfectly wise and consistent in
his teaching is more than can be imagined. Eash propo
sitions, no doubt, he maintained ; but perhaps, if we knew
all he wrote, some perplexities relating to him might be
cleared -up. At all events, his moral character cannot be
impugned'; nor can the evangelical cast of his sentiments be
denied ; neither are his spirituahty of mind and devoutness

42

Our English Bible.

of life open to question. What he was in these respects is
found worthy of one who undertook to open the Word of
God before the eyes of aU the people. And by his work of
translation, beyond all other kinds of influence exerted by
him, was the cause of reformed Christianity advanced in
his native land. In that point of view there is nothing
to mar the beauty of his career and the efficiency of his
labours. Whatever he might be as a politician, a divine,
and a social instructor, his labours on an English version
of the Scriptures entitle him to the eulogium pronounced
on Simon, the son of Onias: "Even as the morning star
being in the midst of a cloud, and as the moon being full
in her course, and as the bright beams of the sun, so doth
he shine and glisten in the temple and church of God."

LinTERWOKTH CHURCH.

¦pHAPTEFJ III.

TRANSLATORS AFTER "WYCLIFFE, AND
EARLY PRINTED VERSIONS.
i hat there were two EngHsh versions of
Scripture towards the end of the four
teenth century was long ago surmised, but
only of late has the fact been clearly esta-
bhshed and satisfactorily explained. Much
confusion remained, even after the point
of a double translation had been set at
rest, since, for want of a careful collation
of mss., and the employment of sufficient
critical skill upon the whole inquiry, it
continued doubtful which of the two ascer
tained versions belonged to Wychffe. As previously stated,
editors made serious though excusable mistakes, printing, as
did Baber and Offor, the second version instead of the first, -
under the reformer's name. The labours of Forshall and
Madden have done much to disentangle the confused skein.
They examined about one hundred and seventy mss. and
classified them, so as to obtain a distinctive text, which is
entitled to the claim of priority. That is of right assigned

44 Ottr English Bible.
to Wycliffe, on grounds which appear in the preface to the
valuable edition of 1850. Out of one hundred and seventy
mss., fifteen of the Old Testament and eighteen of the New
belong to that version — the rest exhibit another of later date.
Not one-fifth of these are earlier than the year 1408 ; the
greater part seem to belong to about the second quarter of
the century.
The second version appears to have been the work of John
Purvey or Purnay, a zealous disciple of Wychffe, who Hved
with his master and continued in his house to the day ,of his
death. He was born near Olney, in Buckinghamshire, and
after Wycliffe's decease he removed to Bristol, where through
his zealous preaching he feH into trouble. Being appre
hended, and also alarmed by the fate of the martyr Sautre,
burnt for heresy, he retracted his opinions at St. Paul's
Cross in the year 1400. After this Archbishop Chichele
received the recanter, and gave him the vicarage of Hythe. •
Again he was accused of heresy, and again cast into prison,
where, it is supposed, he ended his days. In a prologue to ,
this version reference is made to " the EngHsh Bible late
translated," by which Wycliffe's version is no doubt in
tended ; and the author says that, in executing his labours,
he bad much travail with " divers fellows and helpers." As
Purvey had been, for some time before Wycliffe's death, his
companion and fellow-labourer, I think it probable that he
had taken some part in the first version ; but this second
work, or rather revision, for it does not amount to more,
was most Hkely executed mainly by himself. He says, " At
the beginning I purposed, with God's help, to make the
sentences as true and open in EngHsh as it is in Latin,
either more true and more open than it is in Latin ; and I
pray for. charity and for common profit of Christian souls,

Translators after Wycliffe. 45
that if any wise man find any default of the truth of trans
lation, let him set in the true sentence and open of holy
writ . . . for . . . the common Latin Bibles have
some need to be corrected, as many as I have seen in my
Hfe, than hath the EngHsh Bible late translated." * And, to
show that Purvey did not lack an appreciation of moral as
well as critical quahfications for such a task, another pas
sage may be quoted from the same prologue : " He hath
need to Hve a clean Hfe, and be full devout in prayers, and
have not his wit occupied about worldly things, that the
Holy Spirit, author of wisdom and knowledge and truth,
dress him in his work, and suffer him not to err." " By
this manner, with good Hving and great travail, men may
come to true and clear translating and true understanding
of Holy Writ, seem it never so hard at the beginning. God
grant to us grace to ken well and keep well Holy Writ,
and suffer joyfully some pain for it at the last."
The word " Bible " is used, by Purvey to denote the Holy
'Scriptures. He speaks of " a simple creature who hath
translated the Bible out of Latin in EngHsh." Again, as
we have seen, he refers to " the Bible late translated." The
Saxons had employed the word " ge-writ," but not the word
Bible, as a designation of inspired writings. " Bible " is
derived from the Greek Biblion ; and Greek Fathers have
recourse to the plural Biblia as a designation of Holy Writ.
Biblia was employed by the Latins ; and at length the
neuter plural gHded into a feminine singular ; the French
spoke of La Bible, and the Itahans of La Bibbia. Through
French, the appellation found its way into England.
Chaucer has it in his House of Fame, to describe any
* The prologue was printed in 1536, under the title of The Door of Holy Scrip?
ture, and in 1550 as The Pathway to Perfect Knowledge.

46 Our English Bible.
book. "Men might make of them a bible twenty foot
thick." And he teHs us, in the prologue to the Canter
bury Tales, that the study of this doctor of physic "was
but little on the bible." * As title-pages were unknown in
those days, neither the title of " Bible " nor any other title
was prefixed to the new translation.
The following extracts from Purvey's version, as printed
by ForshaH and Madden, are given, that the reader may
compare them with the corresponding passages taken from
Wychffe :i
" Therfor whanne Jhesus was borun in Bethleem of Juda,
in the daies of King Eroude, lo ! astrornyenes camen fro the
eest to Jerusalem, and seiden, Where is he, that is borun
King of Jewis ? for we han seyn his sterre in the eest, and
we comen to worschipe him. But king Eroude herde, and
was trubhd, and al Jerusalen with hym. And he gaderide
to gidre alle the prynces of prestis, and scribis of the puple,
and enqueride of hem, where Crist shulde be borun"
(Matt. H. 1-4).
" Poul, the seruaunt of Jhesu Crist, clepid an a/postle,
departid in to the Gospel of God ; which he hadde bihote
tofore bi his profetis in holi scripturis of his sone, which is
maad to hym of the seed of Dauid hi the flench, and he was
bifor ordeyned the sone of God in vertu, bi the spirit of
halewyng of the a3en-risyng of deed men, of Jhesu Crist
oure Lord, bi whom we han resseyued grace and the office
of apostle, to obeie to the feith in aUe foHds for his name,
among whiche 3e ben also clepid of Jhesu Crist, to aUe that
ben at Eome, derlyngis of God, and clepid hooh, grace to
3ou, and pees of God oure fadir, and of the Lord Jhesu Crist"
(Eom. i. 1-7.) * Chaucer's Works, 477, 5. f See page 37

Translators after Wycliffe. 47
There is a ms. version marked " Nasmith xxxii." con
taining a version of Mark and Luke, with comments, also
the epistles of Paul, preserved in Corpus Christi (or
Bennet) College Library. It is described in the catalogue
as written in the fifteenth century; but Lewis thought it
belonged to ah earlier period. Influenced by him, I once
thought so too, and that after a personal inspection of the
MS. ; but now I am inchned to regard it as of later date.
It has been remarked that the comments contain no
reflections on the Friars, a circumstance which contributed
to raise a suspicion that the comments were written
before Wycliffe's time ; but I think it is more probable that
this work belongs to the fifteenth century, and represents a
version used by a circle distinct from that of Wychffe and
his followers. Lewis remarks, the work seems " not to
have been pubhshed, but made only for the translator's own
use "* — a supposition which, if correct, would strengthen
my inference.
The foHowing is copied from the first of Mark : —
" The bigynnynge of the gospel of ihum crist god son, as it
was wryten in ysaye the sphete, lo y sende myn aungel byfore
thi face, the whylke shal redye thi way byfore the. The
¦voyce of ,the kryande in the deserte, redis the way of god;
ry3te make 3ee the stretys of hym. Ihon was in the deserte
baptysande & prechande the baptyme of penaunce in remys-
syoun of synnes. Ande alle the men of ierusalem wente
forth to hym & alle the kontre of the iewry & were
baptysede of hym in thee flode of Iordane schryifande
theire synnes. Ande Ihone was kladde with heris of
* Lewis, History of Translations, 16. Forshall and Madden (see p. 31 of this
work) refer to the MS. so marked, as containing St. Matthew. This is a mistake ;
the MS. seems to present a version different from the one which they describe. ,

48 Our English Bible.
cameyls & a gerdil of a skyne aboute his lendis ; & he
ete honysokyls, & honye of the wood: & he prechyde
seyande a stalworthar thanne I shal come eftir me, of
whom I am not worthi downfaUande, or knelande to louse
the thonge of his chawceres."
The gloss on the two Gospels is copious, and sometimes
is marked by a strong spirituahzing strain. " The thong of
Christ's shoe" resembles the Incarnation ; " how that
goddis sone was maad flessche, the whylke Ihon seith he is
not worthi to louse, that is, to make inuestygacoun of." As
to John's eating honey, it is remarked, " that his prechynge
was so swete that menn supposyde that he was crist ; bot
sone this opynyoun fei awey, for he tolde opynly that he
was not cryst, but the byfore goar of crist."
From what has been said about the number of mss.
collected for the edition of WTycliffe by ForshaH and
Madden, it follows that the second version must have had a
large circulation ; most Hkely a much larger one than the
first, though it is difficult to come to a conclusion in this
respect, as we cannot tell how many copies of both kinds
have been destroyed. It is interesting to learn something
of the possessors of these mss. ; and we are informed that
one belonged to Humphrey, the good Duke of Gloucester ;
another to Henry vi., who gave it to the Charterhouse ;
another, apparently, to Eichard in. ; another to Henry
vn., and another, perhaps, to Edward vi. ; another was
given to Queen EHzabeth as a birthday present.* This
statement only shows what value must have been attached
to copies of the version, as Hterary curiosities. They came
to be royal treasures — princely gifts. The first three sove
reigns enumerated had no sympathy with the men who pre-
* Westcott's English Bible, 24.

Translators after Wycliffe. 49
pared and circulated such publications, no sympathy with
them in the cause they espoused and promoted ; and therefore
the possession of these books affords no proof of the owners'
Wycliffite tendencies. However, the number altogether
which has survived the storms of persecution, the law enacted
against Bible circulation, presently to be noticed, and the
testimony borne by Knighton to the spread of Wycliffite
opinions, are sufficient to prove the reHgious value set upon
these treasures in many quarters, and how widely the Word
of God must have been disseminated from love to its
sacred contents. With the effects of Bible circulation at that
time the history of Lollardism is closely connected, and
some notice of that vigorous movement is requisite in the
present stage of our narrative.
The name of LoHard is probably derived from the German
lollen, or lullen, whence our English word lull, in allusion to
the low murmuring of the human voice ; and it seems to
have been applied originaUy to those reHgious people who
were addicted to singing psalms. But, whatever its origin,
it received an appHcation much wider than the etymology
would imply. " I smeU a LoHard," says mine host, in the
Canterbury Tales, simply because, when he had uttered- an
oath, one of the merry party gravely said, " Benedicite ! what
ails the man, so sinfully to swear?" whence we may infer
that anybody who seemed more than ordinarily reHgious
incurred the reproach, or rather the honour, of Lollardism,
however it might be esteemed. Certainly those who were
tinctured with Wychffe's principles came to be chief bearers
of fhe title, and they consisted of persons entertaining
different shades of opinion. In looking over documents
relating to these men, we find that disbelief in the papal
doctrine of transubstantiation, in the efficacy of sacraments

jO Our English Bible.
when administered by immoral priests, in the virtue of
pilgrimages and prayers to saints, was a common charge
against people of this class. Some of them declared that the
Pope was Antichrist, and, in connection with this view,
speculated upon unfulfilled prophecy. The matter of tithes
was a question with many, and it was contended that such
contributions were to be freely offered, and not forcibly
exacted — that wicked priests had no right to them. Lan
guage, also, was sometimes used with regard to property,
which, though it might be guarded by after explanations,
had a wild, Fifth Monarchy look. There is, no doubt, a
spiritual sense in which, as Dr. Arnold says, " the good
things of the world are stolen by many ; but they belong, by
God's gift, to those only who are Christ's;" and Wycliffe '
himself, in what he said on that subject, might mean no
more ; but language used in one sense is sometimes caught
up and employed in another, so as to cover designs not
originally dreamt of. It is always the fate of popular move
ments that the foohsh and the bad get hold of the skirts of
the wise and the good ; that, Hke the camp foHowers of an
army, aU manner of vagrants attach themselves to soldiers .
of truth and godhness.
Lollardism is represented by some writers as if it
were, exclusively a reHgious movement, and by others as
mainly a pohtical one, in which reHgion was employed
for other ends. Neither of these extreme opinions can
be supported by facts. That pohtics were mixed up with
some phases and circumstances of LoUardism there can
be no doubt. What is related in history respecting John
of Northampton, a Lord Mayor of London, and John of
Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, is sufficient to show that these
political reformers sought to avail themselves of contem-

Translators after Wycliffe. '51
porary reHgious excitements for the promotion of their
objects. Theories of political economy^which became mixed
up with theological opinions, point in the same direction ; and
what is thus established by particular facts is in accordance
with the natural tendency of the circumstances in which
the LoUards and their opponents were placed. So bound
together were the affairs of Church and State, so comph-
cated were the political entanglements with religious ques
tions, that no attempt could be made at reforming the Church
without its assuming a pohtical character. Heresy and
schism had become so identified with treason and rebellion
in the minds of Churchmen, that they treated dissentients
from the established faith and order as troublers of the
pubhc peace and disaffected subjects of government. Some
reformers were forced, by their circumstances, into a pohti
cal position which they did not desire ; and people into
whose heads no political thoughts entered appeared to be
undermining the constitution. On the other hand, it does
not appear, from the facts of the case, that Lollardism was
mainly a pohtical outbreak, that it aimed at a civil and social
revolution under reHgious pretensions. The genuine reHgious
element seems to have been primary and chief, the political
secondary and subordinate.
Sir John Oldcastle, Lord Cobham, has often been cited
as an example of the pohtical character of Lollardism. His
conduct wore a pohtical aspect; to effect such changes as he
contemplated would require a pohtical revolution ; but of his
piety, and of what we may call his Protestantism, there can
be no doubt ; and to represent him as a traitor, a rebel, and the
leader of an insurrection, is most unjust, because unsupported
by ascertained facts. A story no doubt was told to Henry iv.
about a Lollard plot; that heretics were assembhng in

52 Our English Bible.
St. Gile's to act under Oldcastle ; that they meant to burn
Westminster Abbey and other ecclesiastical buildings ; and
that her Majesty went to the spot at night, and found
these people, who said they were looking for the Lollard
noble. But whether the story told the king was true be
comes another question. Any connection between Cobham
and the plot, if there was one at aH, is by no mean's
plain. The pohtical element, so far as it did exist, and the
reHgious principles which certainly influenced numbers of
the Lollards, must be distinguished from each other. The
former would arise from several causes, one of which has
been just assigned ; but the latter must be ascribed to
something of a different order. Here the distinctive
spiritual teaching of Wychffe and his associates must be
recognised, and with it — to a still larger extent of operation —
the translating of Holy Writ and the reading of it by men
and women of every class. The population was divided, in
the language of the day, into priesthood, knighthood, and
labourers ; and we have evidence that all ranks were imbued
with sentiments of reHgious LoUardism. In convents,
monasteries, cathedrals, and churches, there was abundance
of Lollard talk. Sisters of the veil, brothers of the cowl,
showed sympathy with Wycliffe and his poor priests, and
were suspected, if not denounced. In castles and baronial
haHs, on the battlements of towers and within oriel windows,
and across pleasant gardens, there were whisperings ofthe
LoUard faith, rebukes for LoHard piety, and readings of
LoHard books dearer than gold and silver. In city houses,
in the merchant's stone mansion,in the tradesman's huckster-
Hke shed or humble back-rooms, in the yeoman's cottage
and the peasant's hut, LoUard truths were discussed,

Translators after Wycliffe. 53
LoHard teachers harboured, and LoHard hymns lowly sung
in the ear of God.
But though LoHardism was popular, it was perilous.
"Brother," said one who had been touched by the new spirit
of the age—" brother, I know weU that I am holden by
Christ's law to perform thy asking, but nevertheless we are
now so fallen away from Christ's law, that if I would
answer to thy askings, I must in case undergo the death ;
and thou wottest well that a man is beholden to keep his
life as long as he may."*
It is reported that as early as the year 1390 an attempt
was made to suppress Wycliffe's translations by Act of
Parliament, but that John of Gaunt, Wychffe's old friend,
resisted the biU, declaring, " We wiH not be the dregs of all,
seeing other nations have the law of God, which is the law
of our faith, written in their own language."! Be this,
however, as it may, a convocation at Oxford, in the year
1408, enacted a law, commonly called Arundel's Con
stitution — from the part taken in the measure by the
archbishop of that name — by which aU unauthorized
persons were forbidden to translate any part of the Scripture
into EngHsh, and every one was warned, under pain of
excommunication, against reading any version or treatise,
made either in Wycliffe's time or since, except it should be
approved by the diocesan or a provincial council.
Before this no law existed prohibiting the use of
vernacular versions ; in fact, they had been countenanced
and encouraged by Church authorities ; but now the Lollard
movement had awakened suspicion and excited fear — indeed,
had aroused the utmost terror. The political compHcations
* Forshall and Madden's Wycliffe Bible, p. xv., note.
f Lewis's History of Translations, 28.

54 Our English Bible.
of Lollardism went a long way towards producing this
result. Doctrines about voluntary tithes and property
founded in grace, and the invalid offices of immoral priests,
alarmed the priesthood and the landowners. Movements
in the direction of constitutional and social reforms added
to the excitement, and all of this kind which went on came
to be attributed by indiscriminating people to the circulation
of vernacular Bibles and Testaments./ Moreover, it should
be remembered that such circulation was a direct appeal to
individual consciences, involving a concession of the right of
private judgment ; people were to read and judge for them
selves ; an idea in our day extolled on all sides, and exalted
to the skies, but then looked on as the mother of aU
heresy, the fountain of rebellion, anarchy, and mischief.
The Constitution of ilrundel is a thing unrighteous enough,
but, regarded in the Hght of that age, it is no marvel.
At any rate, here was a weapon put into the hands of the
enemies of LoHardism, which they might wield at pleasure
against any one found possessing one of the Wychffe Bibles.
The ecclesiastical courts were soon occupied with cases of
this description ; and from the register of Alnwick, Bishop
of Norwich, we learn that in 1429, Eichard Fletcher, of
Beccles, had to appear before his lordship, on the charge of
having a book of the new law in English. Nicholas Belward,
too, was arraigned for purchasing a New Testament for four
marks and forty pence, and teaching WilHam Wright and
Margery his wife the study of the same. Others were
accused of belonging to the sect of the Lollards, on the
ground that they could read EngHsh weU, and did read in
the presence of others the Word of God. As one muses
over old entries in the records of persecution, they bring up
illustrations of the state of the times. How revolting to

Early Block Printing, 55
modern feeling, that the study of Scripture should be aUeged
as a crime against a man in the spiritual court ! How
wide-spread must have been ignorance, when ability to read
EngHsh attached to any one a suspicion of heresy ! How
precious must books have been in days when a Testament
was worth £2 16s. 8d., equal to £45 6s. 8d. now, taking
sixteen as the multiple for bringing down money to our
standard.* Among the rehcs of that olden time, there are preserved
Biblical curiosities, which deserve a passing notice. We
remember examining, many years ago, in Corpus Christi
College, Cambridge, a fine specimen of the Biblia Bauperum,
. of which a few copies only are to be found in the present day,
in very rare coUections. It consists of rude plates, repre
senting Scripture figures and incidents, with a few Latin
sentences explanatory of the subject. The work is printed
from wooden blocks, in the way in which playing-cards were
manufactured — a curious art, which was applied to the
production of books of a reHgious character, such as the
Speculum Huriiance Salvationis. These block-books, Mr.
Hallam considers, were executed in the Low Countries ;f
but probably some of them found their way into England at
an early period. They belong to the first half of the fifteenth
century, and were precursors of nobler productions, whose
appearance in the latter half of the same century mark a
memorable era in the history of mankind. Mr. Horne,
in his Introduction describes the Biblia Bauperum as
* In one of the Computi of Robert Trethewy, 1354-55, mention is made of the
redemption of a Bible which had lain as security for repayment of 60s. to
" Langgeton's chest" (a loan fund which had been given some years before to the
University by John Langton, Bishop of Chichester and Lord Chancellor). See
Ausley's Munimenta Acad., p. 133 (Hist. mss. Com. II. 128).
j- Introduction to Literature of Europe, vol. i., p. 207.

'56 Our English Bible.
deriving its name from its being a Catechism of the Bible
for the common people, who were enabled to obtain it at a
low price ; but it could be of Httle use to such persons, who
cannot be supposed to have been able to read Latin, when
so few could read their own language. It seems much more
likely that the volume took its name from the Francis'can
Friars, the chief preachers of the day, who styled themselves
Bauperes ; the volume, probably, being a sort of text-book
to aid them in their ministrations.
These imperfect specimens of printing were soon suc
ceeded by productions which filled the world with wonder.
Let the reader imagine himself in the city of Mentz in the
middle of the fifteenth century. That thoughtful man now
pacing the banks of the Ehine, and then entering his own
habitation in some obscure street, tofls in a secret apartment
where no one, save an assistant at his unknown craft, is
allowed to enter. He perseveres until volumes appear, aU
marvellously alike, displaying gracefully formed letters, such
as rival the fairest specimens of penmanship. The magic
manuscripts increase in number. No scriptorium could
multiply them so fast. Men marvel, and think there must
be witchcraft in this business. The workman is Gutenberg,
and his house is the first printing-office.
The whole or a portion of the Scriptures was certainly
the first book of a considerable size which issued from the
press. The earhest bearing a date is the beautiful Psalter
by Fust and Schoffer, in 1457, of which a sumptuous copy
printed on vellum adorns the Eoyal Library at Windsor.
But a Latin Bible, with the prologue of St. Jerome, printed
probably by Gutenberg at Mentz, between 1450 and 1455,
and commonly called the Mazarin Bible, on the very shght
ground of a copy haying been found in Cardinal Mazarin's

Early Printed Versions. 57
Library, is considered the earhest offspring of the noble
invention ; and we may see, exclaims Mr. Hallam, " this
venerable and splendid volume leading up the crowded
myriads of its followers, and imploring, as it were, a blessing
on the new art, by dedicating its first fruits to the service
of Heaven."* As was natural, early types for printing were formed on
the model of written characters, and hence the earhest
Bibles and Psalters in German presented letters such as had
been used by scribes in missals and other reHgious books;
but when German printers went to reside at the famous
monastery of Subiaco, near Eome, they cut punches in
imitation of the letters used in Italy. Thus printed books
so much resembled manuscripts that they were sometimes
mistaken for them ; and even until very lately a copy of the
Mazarin or Gutenberg Bible, preserved at Lambeth Palace,
passed as the work of a scribe, instead of the work of a
printer.f Eecent researches have shown that many more Bibles in
modern tongues than was once believed were printed before
the end of the fifteenth century. " Prior to the discovery of
America, no less than twelve grand patriarchal editions of
the entire Bible, being of several different translations,
appeared from time to time in the German language ; to
which add the two editions by the Otmars of Augsburg of
1507 and 1518, and we have the total number of no less than
fourteen distinct large foho pre-Eeformation or Ante-
Lutheran Bibles." Two translations in ItaHan appeared at
Venice in 1471 : a French Testament in 1477, and in the
same year a Dutch Old Testament : a Bohemian version was
* Introduction to Literature, i. 211.
¦f Blades' Biography and Typography of W. Capton, 43-45,

58 Our English Bible.
printed at Prague in 1488. " The first Bible in smaU octavo, or
'the poor man's Bible,' was the earhest, or among the earhest
books from the press of Johann Froben of Basle, in 1491."*
Until of late, it was generaUy beheved in this country that
the fathers of our Eeformation took the lead in BibHcal
labours, and were amongst the first to print and pubhsh the
Sacred Scriptures in the vernacular ; but this is a great
mistake ; and I have reason to believe that other versions
were printed abroad in the common languages of Europe,
besides those just now enumerated. Numbers of foreign
Bibles were printed before one in our native tongue issued
from the press.
Printing was introduced into England by William Caxton,
who, in 1477, pubhshed his first book at Westminster,
entitled The Dictes and Notable Wise Sayings of the Philo
sophers. Another pubhcation, without place or date, but
presenting the wrords Caxton me fieri fecit, and entitled,
The Doctrinal of Sapience, was finished May 7th, 1489,
and contains what the priests ought to learn and teach to
their parishes. " Every crysten man and woman,'' it is
said, "ought to bileve fermely the xii artycles of the
Cristen feith.'' It ends with a prayer that God would
grant His grace to us, so to Hve in this short Hfe, that
we may come to His bliss, for to Hve and reign there
without end for ever and ever."f" The Speculum Vita Christi
emprynted by Wyllyam Caxton (without place or date) sets
before the reader " a devout meditation of the Great Council
in Heaven for the restoring of man and his salvation,"
respecting which it is said, " aU the Court of Heaven,
wondering and commending the sovereign wisdom, assented
* Stevens The Bibles in the Caxton Exhibition, pp. 28, 60. (No. 696.)
+ Blades' William Caxton, 321.

Early Printed Versions,

59

weU hereto." Thus step by step the printer at the Almonry
under the shadow of our great National Abbey approached
nearer and nearer to the instruction of his fellow-country
men, by means of printing, knowledge of revealed truth,

CAXTON'S HOUSE IN WESTMINSTER.

mixed, as it might be expected, with what he had learned
from the Eoman CathoHc Church of England, in which he
had been brought up, and of which he remained a member.
But he goes much further in his Golden Legend, dated
1483, a work which has never received the attention which

60 Our English Bible.
it deserves from those who undertake to study the history of
EngHsh translations of Scripture.
It begins with the Advent of our Lord.
After a reference to the moral weakness of man, thus
quaintly expressed, " There lacketh nbn to comande, but
there is none that accomplisheth the commandment," the
book refers to the necessity of the Advent " by reson of the
tyme, of whiche the appostle Paul speketh, ad galatas
the iiii chapitre, At ubi venit plenitudo temporis, when the
plenitude, or ful tyme of the grace of god was ordeyned,
thene he sente his sone yt was god & son of the virgyne,
and wyf, whiche was made subget to the lawe. To that,
they be subget to ye lawe he bought hem agayn & were
receyued sones of god by grace of adopcion." Passing on to
the Nativity of our Lord, we read, " Joseph whiche thene
was of the Hgnage of dauid, and dweUyd in Nazareth, wente
into the cyte of Bethlem and ladde with him the virgyne
marie his wyf. And whan they were comen theder bycause
hostryes were aUe taken up, they were constrayned to be
withoutein a comyn place where aHe peple wente. And ther
was a stable for an asse that he brought with hym and for an
oxe. In that nyght our blessed lady and moder of god was
delyverd of our blessyd sauyour upon the heye that laye in
the racke." Then follow, not only an account ofthe visit of
the "thre Kynges " and of the angeHc appearance to the
Shepherds, but certain mediaeval legends of other wonders
supposed to have occurred at the same time.
The work further contains much of the history given in
Genesis. The following extracts wiU afford a better idea of the
contents than can be conveyed by any general description :
" In the begynnyng god made and created heuen and
erthe. The erthe was ydle & voyde and couerd with

Early Printed Versions. 61
derknes. And the spyrite of god was born on the watres.
And god said, Be made lyght, and anon lyght was made.
And god sawe that lyght was good, and dyuyded the lyght
fro derknes, & caUed the lyght day, and derknes nyght.
And thus was made lyght with heuen and erthe fyrst, and
even and mornyng was made one daye. The seconde day he
made the firmamente, and dyuyded the watres that were
under the firmament fro them that were aboue, and called
the firmament heuen. The thyrde day were made on the
erthe herbes and fruytes in their kynde. The fourthe day
god made the sonne and mone, and sterres, &c. The fyfthe
day he made the fisshes in the water, and byrdes in the
ayer. The sixthe day god made the beestis on the erthe
eueryche in his kynd and gendre. And god sawe that all
thyse werkes were good, and said Faciamus hotninem, dec,
Make we man unto our simihtude and ymage — here spack
the fader to the sone and holy ghoste, or elhs as it were
the comune voys of thre persones, whan it was sayd make
we, & to oure, in plurel nombre. Man was made tp the ymage
of god in his 'sowle : here is to be noted, that he made not
only the sowle without the body, but he made both body
and sowle, as to the body he made male and female. God
gaf to man the lordship and power upon aUe lyuyng beestis.
Whan God had made man it is not wretun Et. vidit quod
esset bonumf quia in proximo sciebat eum lapsurum. For
yet he was not parfyght til the woman was made. And
therfore it is red, it is not good the man to be aUone.
Thus in sixe dayes was heuen and erthe made, and alle the
ornacion of them : and thenne he made the vn day in
. whiche he rested, not for that he was wery, but cessyd of
hys operacion, and shewd the vii day whiche he blessyd." *
* Folios xxxvi. xxxvii.

62 Our English Bible.
In the same style of. abridgment and paraphrase is
couched the story of the fall : " The woman sawe that the
tree was fayr to loke on, and clene and swete of sauour,
toke and ete therof, and gaf unto Adam of the same,
happyly desiryng hym by fayr wordes : but Adam anon
agreed, for Whan he sawe the woman not deed, he supposed
that god hath said, that they shold dye to fere hem with.
And thenne ete of the fruyt forboden. And anon theyr sight
was opened that they sawe theyr nakydnes. And thene
anon they understode that they had trespaced." [What
foUows must be omitted.] " And thus they kneWe then that
they were naked. And they toke figge leuis, and sowed
them to gyder, for to couere theyr membres in maner of
brechis." Then foHow the history of Noah, the life of Abraham, the
life of Isaac and his two sons, the story of Joseph, and the
Hfe of Moses, aU written in a similar way, the use of Scrip
ture phraseology being frequently blended with explanatory
comments. Next come the histories of Saul, of David, of
Solomon, of Tobit, Judith, St. Andrew and St. Nicholas.
These occupy eighty-nine double-paged leaves out of more
than four hundred.
Any one who compares the Golden Legend of Caxton
with the Legende doree in French must be struck with the
immense difference between the two, for, whilst in the
latter we meet at the commencement with a few pages
respecting the Advent, and afterwards with a few Hves of
Scripture characters, the bulk of the volume relates to the
Fathers of the Church and succeeding legendary saints.
There is nothing in the French volume which corresponds
with the large amount of matter which in Caxton we find
to have been extracted from the Five Books of Moses and

Early Printed Versions. 6

o

other parts of Scripture. A sinhlar difference exists between
Caxton's volume and the Legenda Sanctorum of Jacobus
de Voragine, printed at Ulm (1480?). The latter contains
eight and a half pages on The Time of Benovation and
The Advent of our Lord. The remainder consists of
the legends of saints, beginning with St. Andrew the
Apostle. They are one hundred and ninety-two in number,
and cover more than four hundred unpaged leaves printed
on both sides.
A very considerable portion of the lives of Adam and
others described in Scripture, as given in Caxton's Golden
Legend, is drawn immediately from that source ; fragments
of a verbal though free translation of the Book of Genesis
occur again and again on page after page, andT should
think, if these were extracted and carefully put together,
they would form, not, indeed, a fuH and accurate, but a
decidedly approximate version of the first book of Holy
Writ. Upon comparing the renderings in Caxton with the
Wychffe versions, it becomes plain that they are not derived
from the works of early reformers. They seem to have
come from the Vulgate, through the study either of the
London printer, or some one who assisted him in his tohs,
unless indeed he borrowed from some MS. version not at
present identified. Looking a,t the magnitude of the
volume, and at the numerous other works on which Caxton
was engaged, it would seem next to impossible that he
could alone have executed the herculean task of writing
such an immense quantity of matter. It seems to have
been no unusual thing in early days for great workers to
avafl themselves, without acknowledgment, of the industry
of others. As artists were indebted to the pencils of their
pupils, so authors and translators might be indebted to the

64 Our English Bible.
pens of coadjutors1 — we cannot wonder if, in this respect,
Caxtbn anticipated Tintoretto.
About a fourth part of Caxton's Golden Legend being
devoted to matter derived largely from the Bible, the re
mainder, amounting to about three hundred leaves, printed
on both sides in double columns, is occupied with the legen
dary lore so popular in the mediaeval church. There seem to
have been in his time three works which went by the name
of the Golden Legend — the Latin Legenda aurea, com
piled by Jacobus de Voragine, Archbishop of Genoa, in
1298; the French La Legende doree, translated first by
Jean Belet, then by Jehan de Vignay; both in the fourteenth
century, and an EngHsh version weHJgiowii. in Caxton's
time. Some of the stories in these legendary wo^ks/whlch
were transplanted into the Westminster typographer's
large foho, are of a kind to shock the modesty of most
people in the present day ; and these are the portions fixed
upon by certain bibhographers, to the neglect of th|e better
elements which the book includes. j
It is of the legendary part that Caxton speakgfwben he
says : "I have submised myself to translate jmto EngHsh
the Legend of Saints. Against me Igigfe might some
persons say, that this legend hath beeri translated tofore,
and truth it is ; but forasmuch as I hjad by me a legend
in French, another in Latin, and the. third in English,
which varied in many and divers places ; and also many
histories were comprised in the two other) books which were
not in the EngHsh book, therefore I h.s^l ^written one of the
three books, which I have ordered otherwise than the said
EngHsh legend is, which was tofore made."
This is the account which Caxton gives of the origin of
his text, so far as it relates-*© the traditionary tales of the

Early Printed Versions. 65
church ; but he makes no remark respecting the Scripture
portion of his volume, though that is by far the most

PRINTING PKESS 01? 1520.

important and valuable. It places our EngHsh printer under
a new aspect — even as one anxious, so far as the authority
of the church, and his own judgment, as one of her sincere
F

66 Our English Bible.
sons would aUow, to communicate to the EngHsh people
in their own tongue BibHcal instruction on historical, doc
trinal, and practical points. He did not venture, Hke John
Wycliffe, to set forth a complete vernacular version, with
out note or comment, but he walked in the footsteps of
Csedmon, .ZElfric, Ormin, the author of the Soulehele MS., and
Eichard EoHe ; and therefore he claims a place such as he
has never received in the history of EngHsh translators.*
Caxton, as an author, then, was, though imperfectly,
doing a work as pioneer of the Bible, which the LoHards,
with the prejudices roused against them, could not have
accomphshed ; and his services in this form ask for grateful
acknowledgment ; above aU, we should honour Caxton, the
printer, who, by his novel art, was paving the way for what
was afterwards accomphshed by Nicholson, Grafton, and
others, who consecrated the discovery to the printing of
pure Scripture translations. Nothing could be more fitting
than to celebrate the four hundredth anniversary of the
momentous era in the Hfe of our first typographer by a solemn
musical service, and the dehvery of pertinent reHgious lessons
within the waUs of our National Abbey, close to which he
pursued his toils.
" What," asked the preacher on that occasion, " was the
* Mr. Blades has classified the books printed at the Caxton press according to
the different types, which he numbers from 1 to 6. It is remarkable that under
No. 1 there is but one religious book, Meditations sur les sept pseaulmes
penitenciaulx. Under No. 2, containing thirty-four books, we find Infancia Salva-
toris. Under No. 3 there are Directoriwm seu pica Sarwm; Horos ad usum
Sarum ; and a Latin psalter — the only other publication in this class is an adver
tisement. Under No. 4 there are thirty books, of which eight relate to religion,
including two editions of the Golden Legend. Under No. 5, the ten books
included all treat of morality or religion. Under No. 6 are nineteen works, six
of which are of a devotional nature, particularly Ars moWendiandthe Chastising
of God's Children. I have reason to believe that in the books thus indicated
there are many English quotations from Scripture.

Early Printed Versions. 67
year 1477 in England? It was, as has been duly described,
one of those tranquH periods which immediately succeeds
and immediately precedes events of extraordinary moment.
The knell of the Middle Ages had already been sounded.
It was Hardly more than twenty years since the last rehc of
the old Grseco-Eoman world — Byzantium — had passed away
before the conquering Ottomans. It was only five years
before that the last echo of the Crusades had passed away.
It was but six years since the last of the barons had faUen
on the field of Barnet. Old estates, old dominions, and old
superstitions were then fast departing.
" And not only so, for with the exiles from Constantinople
came into Europe a flood of Greek learning, and, at the
same time that the Catholic warriors of Spain were driving
the Ottomans from their country, Columbus discovered a
new world. Just ten years before came into existence the
greatest of scholars, Erasmus, and just four years after was
to be born Luther, the greatest of reformers. The day of
the Eeformation and the reorganization of Western Christ
endom had come. The sun that, came out of the mists on
the morning of the battle of Barnet was but the type of the
new dawn that burst upon England when the feudal system
passed away. ' The night was far spent, and the day was
at hand.' And yet they that Hved in that age knew not
what was in store for them ; they knew not that under the
shelter of Westminster Abbey had struck root in England
an instrument without which, humanly speaking, even the
learning of Erasmus and the genius of Luther would have
failed to produce their world-wide effect. Mechanical and
moral powers, by a marVeUous Providence, leagued together
to preserve aU that was good in the past and to promote
all that was good in the future, at the greatest crisis

68 Our English Bible.
that had arisen in the world since the faU of the Eoman
Empire." *
The earhest printed volume containing an express Eng
Hsh BibHcal translation is one by Wynkyn de Worde; at
London, " in the Fletestrete, at the sygne of ye sonne."
" This treatise," says the title-page, " concernynge the
fruytfuU sayinges of Dauyd the kynge and prophete in
the seven penytencyall psalmes, deuyded in seuen sermons,
was made and compyled by the ryght reuerente fader in
god, Johan fyssher, doctour of dyuynite and bysshop of
Eochester. 1508." The book contains one hundred and
forty-six leaves ; the Latin text of the penitential psalms is
printed in fragments and an EngHsh rendering accompanies
it of a most imperfect, confused, and unsatisfactory de
scription. The foHowing are specimens taken from the discourse on
the sixth psalm, the first of the seven penitential ones :
" Good Lorde, correcte me not in the euerlastinge payne
of heH, neyther punysshe me in the paynes of purgatory.
Have mercy on me, good lord, for I am feble and weyke."
" Go ye cursed people into the eternaH fyre." " That fyre is
prepared for the deuyU and his aungeHes." " Domine, ne
in furore tuo arguas me " (left untranslated). " Correcte me
not good lorde in the paynes of purgatory." " Blessyd
Lord, haue mercy on me, for of mysehe I haue no strengthe."
" Good lorde, make me hole." " The herte of a synfull
persone is lyke unto the troublouse see whiche neuer hathe
reste." " AU ye partes of my body be without reste, and
my soule is sore troubled." " Whan thou, good lorde,
tournest away thy face all thynges shaU be troubled."
" Be ye turned to me, and I shaU be tourned to you."
* Extract from Dean Stanley's sermon, 1877.

Early Printed Versions. 69
"Good lorde, why taryest thou soo longe?" "Therefore,
good lorde, be thou tournedunto me, and delyuer my soule
from this trybulacyon." ." Our lorde is bothe mercyfull
inwarde, and also the doer of mercy outwarde, pacyent,
and alwaye mercyfull." " They that be hole nedeth no phy-
sycyen, but a physycyen is nedefull unto them that be seke."
These extracts, exhibiting now and then piecemeal
versions of texts, and so far resembling those in Caxton's
Golden Legend, follow, often inaccurately, corresponding
passages in the Vulgate. They run into a form of para
phrase, according to the prevalent opinions of the day, and
are embedded in the midst of tedious meditations. It wiU
be observed that other texts are introduced besides those
taken from the psalter.
Before closing this chapter I would direct attention to
one who deserves a passing notice ; not as a Bible trans
lator, for this honour, though ascribed to him, was not his ;
but as one who walked so far in the footsteps of Wycliffe
and his foUowers, as to maintain the sufficiency and to pro
mote the reading of Holy Writ. I refer to Pecock, Bishop of
Chichester, in the middle of the fifteenth century. He seems
to have been no one-sided man ; but whilst supporting the
church of his day, exalting the Pope's supremacy, and de
fending his episcopal brethren, he ventured on the new path
of appeal to Scripture as conclusive in controversy, and as
intelhgible to the apprehension of devout readers. In a
work written by him, entitled A Treatise on Faith, he
says, " Holy Writ is such a ground and foundation of our
Christian general faith, that there is no greater or better, or ¦
more surer ground and foundation to us of our Christian
general faith, than is written in Holy Writ. Very often
Scripture expoundeth itself, inasmuch as by the reading of

yo Our English Bible.
Scripture in one part, a man shaU learn which is the true
understanding of Scripture in all other parts, wherein he
doubted or was ignorant before. Certain it may be, that
one simple person, in fame or in state, is wiser for to. know,
judge, and declare what is the true sense of a certain por
tion of Scripture, and what is the truth of some article, and
that for his long studying, labouring, and advising there
upon, than is a great general council. The writing made
and found by God, and by the apostles, may ground suffi
ciently the same faith in every clerk or layman, notably
reasoned for to understand what he readeth in the New
Testament, though he learn not the same faith by any
general council or any multitude of clerks to be gathered
together."* The life and proceedings of the author of
this passage have given rise to historical controversies
not belonging to our subject, and into which there
fore I shaU not enter; but whatever might be his eccle
siastical opinions, whatever the ground of the accusations
brought against him, and whatever the meaning of his
recantation in the presence of Archbishop Bouchier, he did,
by writing such a passage as that just quoted, place him
self, as it relates to the study of the Bible, in a line with
the rector of Lutterworth; and it is remarkable that the
two names are connected in one of the statutes of King's
CoUege, Cambridge, showing that not only in vulgar esti
mation, but in the judgment of university authorities,
Wychffe and Pecock had sentiments in common, dividing
them from the chief church rulers of their day.f '
* British Beformers, ii. 204.
t " Item statuimus — quod qualibet scholaris in admissione sua — juret quod non
favebit opinionibus damnatis, errdribus aut heresibus Johannis Wiclif, Beginaldi
Pecock," etc. — Le Bas, Life of Wiclif, 429.

£ Hy\PTER IV.

WILLIAM TYNDALE.

the commencement of the sixteenth
century there Hved in the manor-house
of Little Sodbury, in Gloucestershire, a
worthy knight of the name of Sir John
Walsh. His dweUing belonged to that
*£¦'" class of which a few rehcs may still be seen
in quiet country nooks, displaying fantastic
gables and twisted chimneys embosomed
"|j*fe among shrubs and trees.
nv<--~- On visiting a few years ago the pleasant
viUage where this modest mansion stands on
the slope of the Cotswold Hills, I was dehghted with
the prospect it commands of the Severn vaUey, dotted
over with rich green woods, and found a portion of
the residence of the Walshes in existence, consisting of
a good large dining-haU of the Tudor style, somewhat
neglected, but not much out of repair. The old parish
church is swept away, but two noble yews guard the en
trance of the new edifice, showing signs of an age reaching
back beyond the sixteenth century. There was abiding in

72

Our English Bible.

this mansion at the time of which we speak a humble
priest, named William Tyndale, who filled the office of
tutor in the family.
He was a person of quiet and retired habits, devoted to
study, and exemplary in his moral and reHgious character.
But no one could look on him without perceiving at once

HOUSE OE SIR JOHN WALSH.

that he was a man of no common stamp, for his expansive
forehead indicated a comprehensive mind, his eyes betokened
quick and penetrating thought, his whole countenance was
expressive of extraordinary firmness, while round his Hps
there lurked something of quiet humour. He often mingled
with the guests who gathered round the social board in the
dining-hall referred to, including the neighbouring eccle
siastics ; and it happened sometimes that conversation turned

William Tyndale. 7 3
upon theological topics, when this tutor was wont to ex
press his opinions with considerable freedom.
" As he was learned and well practised in God's matters,
so he spared not to show unto them simply and plainly his
judgment ; and when they at any time did vary from his
opinions, he would show them in the book, and lay before
them, the manifest places of Scripture, to confute their
errors, and to confirm his sayings." * When he accom
panied Sir John and his lady to the tables of these digni
taries, he scrupled not to talk with the same boldness,
tiU deep suspicion of his heterodoxy began to be felt by his
ecclesiastical brethren.
Even the knight himself and his fair spouse entertained
some fears on the subject, and thought it right to expostulate
with the tutor respecting his sentiments. But he was not
the man to yield any point which his judgment approved,
and he firmly maintained his opinion. " Well," said Lady
Walsh, " there was such a doctor there as may dispend a
hundred pounds, and another two hundred, and another
three hundred pounds ; and what were it reason, think you,
that we should believe you before them?" Her ladyship's
logic was of a kind to which the tutor knew not how to reply,
and he, therefore, politely held his tongue. But there were
deep thoughts at work under that capacious brow, and
mighty purposes springing up within that dauntless breast.
On another occasion a priest observed to him, " We are
better without God's laws than the Pope's." "I defy the
Pope and all his laws," he replied, and added, " If God spare
my Hfe, ere many years I wiH cause the boy who driveth
the plough to know more of the Scriptures than you do."
This was the echo of a sentiment expressed by Erasmus
* Foxe, v. 115. Religious Tract Society's Edition.

74 Our English Bible.
in his Encomium Morice. " I wish," alluding to the'Gospels
and the Epistles of St. Paul, " that the husbandman may sing
parts of them at his plough, that the weaver may warble them
at his shuttle, that the traveUer may with their narratives
beguile the weariness of the way."
Wilham Tyndale was born in Gloucestershire in 1477,
and studied at Oxford, where " he grew up, and increased as
weU in the knowledge of tongues and other Hberal arts, as
especially in the knowledge of the Scriptures, whereunto his
mind was singularly addicted." *
From Oxford he proceeded to Cambridge, and, in remem
brance of his early studies he remarked long afterwards,
"In the universities they have ordained that no man shall
look at the Scriptures until he be noseUed [or nursed] in
heathen learning eight or nine years," — an allusion indicating
the revival of classical studies at that period, the advantages
of which William Tyndale shared — " and armed with false
principles with which he is clean shut out of the under
standing of Scripture ; " " and when he taketh his first
degree he is sworn that he shaU hold none opinions con
demned by the church." f In another work Tyndale refers to
a large party remaining in the university and in the church
violently prejudiced against the revival of ancient learning ;
" Eemember ye not how within these thirty years and far
less, and yet dureth to this day, the old barking curs, Dun's
disciples and like daft called Scotish, the children of dark
ness, raged in every pulpit against Greek, Latin, and Hebrew,
and what sorrow the schoolmasters that taught the true
Latin had with them ; some beating the pulpit with their
fists for madness, and roaring out, with open and foaming
mouth, that if there were but one Jerome or Virgil in the
* Foxe, v. 115. + Practice of Prelates, Works, ii. 291.

William Tyndale. 75
world, and that same in their sleeves and a fire before them,
they would burn them therein, though it should cost them
their lives; affirming that all good learning decayed and
was utterly lost since men gave themselves unto the.
Latin tongue." *
By the zealous study of classical tongues, Tyndale
acquired that knowledge of Greek which quahfied him for
the task he was destined to execute ; and from the study
of the Scriptures in the original language he imbibed that
spiritual taste which inspired the subsequent "toils of his
industrious life.
In the mansion at Sodbury he continued his sacred
studies, and enlarged his acquaintance with Divine Eevela
tion, 'till the purpose just noticed then ripened into dehberate
action. But he could not find, while he remained among the
Gloucestershire priests, the quietude and liberty necessary
for the prosecution of his design ; and therefore, being " so
turmoiled," as he says, he was glad to make his escape, and
seek elsewhere a place in which to carry out his fixed reso
lution. " As I this thought," he tells us, " the Bishop of
London came to my remembrance, whom Erasmus (whose
tongue maketh of Httle gnats great elephants, and Hfteth up
above the stars whosoever giveth him a Httle exhibition)
praiseth exceedingly, among other in his Annotations on the
New Testament, for his great learning. Then, thought I, if
I might come to this man's service, I were happy. And so
I gat me to London, and, through the acquaintance of my
master, came to Sir Harry Gifford, the king's grace's comp-
troUer, and brought him an oration of Isocrates, which I had
translated out of Greek into EngHsh, and desired him to
speak unto my lord of London for me ; which he also did as
* Answer to Sir Thomas More, Works, iii. 75.

76 Our English Bible.
he showed me, and wiUed me to write an epistle to my lord,
and go to him myself, which I also did, and deHvered rny
epistle to a servant of his own, one WilHam Hebilthwayte,
' a man of mine old acquaintance. But God (which knoweth
what is within hypocrites) saw that I was beguiled, and that
that council was not the next way unto my purpose. And
therefore He got me no favour in my lord's sight. Where
upon my lord answered me his house was fuH, he had more
than he could weU find, and advised me to seek in London,
where he said I could not lack a service. And so in London
I abode almost a year, and marked the course of the world,
and heard our praters — I would say our preachers — how
they boasted themselves and their high authority, and beheld
the pomp of our prelates, and how busy they were, as they
yet are, to set peace and unity in the world (though it be
not possible for them that walk in darkness to continue long
in peace, for they cannot but either stumble, or dash them
selves at one thing or another that shaU clean unquiet aU
altogether,) and saw things whereof I defer to speak at this
time, and understood at the last not only that there was
no room in my lord of London's palace, to translate the
New Testament, but also that there was no place to do it
in aH England, as experience doth now openly declare." *
This was written in 1530, and relates to what took place
in 1524. In vain Tyndale sought the patronage of the
metropolitan bishop — no encouragement from that quarter
could he find for his momentous undertaking. Indeed, he
had hard work to Hve in London, and would have been in
positive destitution but for the friendship of a wealthy
citizen and alderman named Humphry Monmouth. Hear
ing Tyndale preach at St. Dunstan's in the West, he inquired
* Tyndale's Preface to the First Booh of Moses called Genesis.

William Tyndale. 7 7
into his circumstances, and. finding he had no means of
support, and being afterwards requested by Tyndale to
render him some assistance, he kindly took him into his
house for hah a year; " and there," says Monmouth, "he
lived Hke a good priest, as me thought. He studied most
part of the day and of the night at his book, and he would
eat but sodden meat by his good will, nor drink but small
single beer. I never saw him wear Hnen about him in the
space he was with me. I did promise him ten pounds
sterling to pray for my father, and mother, their souls, and
aU Christian souls ; I did pay it to him when he made his
exchange at Hamboro'." *
This Humphry Monmouth was one of the earhest pro
fessors of the reformed doctrines in London, and was an
eminently amiable and pious man. Latimer relates a
beautiful anecdote of him in his Seventh Sermon on the
Lord's Prayer. A poor man, a Papist, who was under great
obligations to Monmouth, incensed at his opposition to the
errors and corruptions of Eome, went and accused him be
fore the bishops. The alderman sought to subdue the man's
enmity, but for some time it was in vain. One day he met
his poor but mahgnant neighbour in a narrow street, and
walking up to him, seized him by the hand and inquired,
" Neighbour, what is come into your heart to take such dis
pleasure with me? What have I done against you? Tell
me, and I wiU be ready at aU times to make you amends."
Finally, he spake so gently, so charitably, so lovingly, and
friendly, that it wrought so in the poor man's heart, that
by-and-by he fell down upon his knees and asked him for
giveness. The rich man forgave him, and so took him again
to his favour, and they loved as weU as ever they did afore.
* Strype's Memorials, I. part ii. 363-7.

78 Our English Bible.
Beautiful illustration of the passage, in reference to which
Latimer quoted the circumstance, " We shaU overcome our
enemy with weU-doing, and so heap up hot coals upon his
head."* Both Tyndale and Monmouth were now but in a transition
state from darkness to Hght. They saw clearly some of the
errors of Eome, and some of the truths of the gospel, but old
associations and habits still hung about them, as is evident
from the monkish austerity of the one, the payment for
prayers on behalf of the dead by the other, and the beHef in
purgatory' still cleaving to both. But Providence was pre
paring the way for Tyndale to execute the task upon which
he had set his mind, and which was at once to purify his
own reHgious sentiments, and to prove powerfully instru
mental in dispersing much of this darkness from the face of
his beloved country. Yet, as it often happens in this world,
the reformer had to perform his high behest amidst perse
cution and suffering, and to receive from his feUow-men no
other reward than the crown of martyrdom. Tyndale whilst
tutor in Walsh's family had preached in the adjacent vil-
, lages and to crowds coUected in Bristol on CoUege Green.
But " blind and rude priests," says Foxe, " flocking together
to the alehouse, for that was their preaching-place, raged and
railed against him, affirming that his sayings were heresy,
adding moreover unto his sayings of their own heads more
than ever he spake." Consequently he had been accused to
the ChanceHor of the Diocese, who " rated me," he declares,
" as though I had been a dog, and laid to my charge things
whereof there could be none accuser brought forth." f He
had so defended himseh, however, as to escape that time the
* Latimer's Sermons, vol. i. p. 440. Parker Society.
t Demaus' Life of Tyndale, 56, 57.

William Tyndale. 79
clutch of persecution ; but a different destiny awaited him
abroad, whither he departed, after his residence in London,
not so much through apprehension of danger, as because
on the Continent he could more successfully accomphsh the
completion and printing of his Scripture translations.
Bidding adieu to his native shores — an everlasting adieu,
as it proved in the sequel — Tyndale sailed over to Hamburg
in the year 1524.
Much mystery enshrouds his proceedings after his arrival
at Hamburg ; and his biographers, in the absence of clear
and sufficient information, have indulged in various con
jectures, to which I do not intend to make any addition. It
has been asserted that in the commercial city to which he
directed his way he at once proceeded to print the Gospels
of. St. Matthew and St. Mark, which he had translated
into EngHsh ; but Mr. Maitland has laboured to prove that
for six-and-thirty years no printing-press had existed in the
place;* and other modern authorities, either following him, or
proceeding on grounds of their own, have concluded that
Hamburg as yet did not possess a single printer.f Why he
went there in particular, except that he knew of EngHsh mer
chants in that German city, who sympathized in his under
taking, or because he chose it as a convenient landing-place
to some other spot, is by no means apparent. That he after
wards found friends there who assisted him with money, is a
fact ; but whether he went anywhere else soon after his
arrival, is a critical point with his biographers. Tyndale's
contemporaries, Sir Thomas More, Cochlseus, John Foxe,
and others, say that he went to Wittenberg ; but to that
statement a determined contradiction has been set up by Mr.
Anderson, in his Annals of the Bible,% and others who have
* Beformation in England, 371. t Life °f Tyndale, 92. J Annals, i. 45-47.

8o Our English Bible.
accepted his arguments. Nothing seems more intrinsicaUy
probable than that Tyndale should wish to see the great
leader of the German Eeformation, whose writings he so much
admired, and whose example, as a Scripture . translator, he
determined to foHow. Moreover, abundance of evidence is at
hand to show that he made much use of Luther's work in
his own labours, as wiU presently appear. But chiefly, it would
seem, from jealousy of their countryman's fame, and a
fear lest he should be set down now, after the manner of his
own day, as a copyist of the Wittenberg reformer, several
modern writers have, with excessive zeal, contended that the
Wittenberg expedition was a sheer impossibility. It is con
tended that Tyndale himself denied it, because he wrote in
his answer to Sir Thomas More, " When he saith, ' Tyndale
was confederate with Luther,' that is not truth ;" but to deny
that he was confederate with Luther is by no means tanta
mount to a denial of having visited Luther. Further, it is
aHeged that Luther at that period was so engrossed with
his own business as to have no time to spend with an Eng
Hsh visitor, and so absorbed in his own sacramental
views, as to feel no disposition to notice any one who
differed from him in that respect. But these aUegations are
unreasonable, in face of the fact that Luther was visited by
aU sorts of people — that Wittenberg " was the common
asylum of all apostates " — and that there is nothing known
of Tyndale's sacramental opinions which would make him
objectionable to the great Teutonic divine. On the contrary,
Sir Thomas More asserts that Tyndale actually adopted the
Lutheran view ofthe Lord's Supper.* In short, those who,
for the sake of vindicating Tyndale's independence, deny
that he ever went to Wittenberg, resemble those who, for
* Life of Tyndale, 93, 96.

William Tyndale. 8 1
the purpose of disproving St. Peter's Eoman episcopate,
maintain that he never entered the Eternal City.
i At aU events, in 1525 we find Tyndale at Cologne ; and
decisive evidence is afforded that he had then far advanced
in the prosecution of his purpose. The press had been at
work upon his New Testament. I wish we could minutely
trace all the circumstances connected with his labours in
preparing this version, but, as stated before, considerable ob
scurity rests upon his proceedings. In those times it was
necessary, in order to succeed, that such a man should act
with silence and secrecy ; and the remembrance of his adven
tures in the execution of his work has utterly perished.
Probably, at Hamburg, so long as he remained there, he was
employed on the translation, deriving support from Mon
mouth and other religious merchants who embraced the
new learning; and if he did go to Wittenberg, he might
there avail himself of Luther's Table Talk touching Trans
lations, and of valuable assistance obtained from Melancthon,
and otherlearned professors in the university.
At Cologne, however, we clearly see him so far in advance
with his Testament, as to be superintending the printers in
bringing it through the press. An assistant was with him,
one Eoye, a crafty and selfish person, who helped Tyndale
for what he could get. The latter teHs us that they wrote
and compared the texts together; and imagination can
picture the two men, influenced by far different motives, at
work in the far-famed city on the banks of the Ehine, in
some poor-looking house in an obscure street, — while a priest
or a pilgrim passed under the window, on their way to the
Shrine of the Three Kings, Httle dreaming of the kind of
employment going on there, and of the consequences to
which it would lead.

82 Our English Bible.
But there was an Argus-eyed heresy-hunter, named
Cochlseus, a deacon of the Church of the Blessed Virgin, at
Frankfort, who got a ghmpse of what Tyndale was doing.
Having become intimate and famihar with the Cologne
printers, he sometimes heard them confidently boast, when
in their cups, that whether the king and cardinal of England
would or not, aU England must in a short time be Lutheran.
He heard also that there were two -Englishmen lurking
about, skilful in languages and fluent in speech, whom, how
ever, he could nowhere find. Calling, therefore, certain
printers to his lodgings, after they were heated with wine,
one of them, in private conversation, discovered to Tn'm
the secret by which England was to be drawn over to the
side of Luther, — namely, that three thousand copies of the
Lutheran New Testament, translated into the EngHsh lan
guage were in the press, and already were advanced as far as
the letter K, in ordine quaternionum ; and that the expenses
were wholly suppHed by EngHsh merchants, who were
secretly to convey the work, when printed, and to disperse
it widely through aU England, before the king or the cardinal
could discover or prohibit their doing so.
" Cochlseus, being inwardly affected by fear and wonder,
disguised his grief under the appearance of admiration.
But another day, considering with himself the magnitude
of the grievous danger, he cast in mind by what method he
might expeditiously obstruct these very wicked attempts.
He went, therefore, secretly to Herman Einck, a patrician
of Cologne, and miHtary knight, famihar both with the
Emperor and the King of England, and a councillor, and
disclosed to him the whole affair, as, by means of the wine
he had received it. He, that he might ascertain aU things
more certainly, sent another person into the house where

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FAC-SIMHE FEOM ST. MATTHEW OE TYNDALE'S FIRST NEW TESTAMENT, 1525.
BUT ONE COPT IS NOW IN EXISTENCE.

84 Our English Bible.
the work was printing, according to the discovery of Coch
lseus ; and when he had understood from him that the matter
was even so, and that there was great abundance of paper
there, he went to the senate, and so brought it about that
the printer was interdicted from proceeding farther in that
work. The two English apostates, snatching away with
them the quarto sheets printed, fled by ship going up the
Rhine to Worms, where the people were under the full rage
of Lutheranism, that there, by another printer, they might
complete the work begun." *
Often have vessels laden with stores of merchandise, or
with spoils seized by robber lords, dwelling in castles on the
banks of the Ehine, been seen ghding up that river ; but
never before had a boat freighted with such a treasure as
Tyndale's half-printed Testaments floated upon those swift-
running waters. He hastened to Worms, the city which
had been entered in triumph by Luther not long before, —
when the herald of the emperor preceded him on horseback,
and two thousand persons, including Saxon noblemen,
accompanied him to his inn. No such welcome awaited
our EngHsh exile. In which of the old streets of that
picturesque city Tyndale resided during his stay, and where
the printing press was worked, out of which came the sheets
which created so much excitement, no one can tell ; but we
know that the famous typographer, Peter Schoeffer, son of
Faust's associate at Mentz, had an estabHshment at Worms,
where he successfully plied the new-found art.
The Testament, interrupted in its progress at Cologne,
was in quarto, and it had a prologue, and certain notes. It
could easily be identified as Tyndale's, by those who had
* Com. de Actis et Scriptts Martini Lutheri, translated in Anderson's Annals
of the Bible, vol. i. p. 58.

William Tyndale. 85
discovered what he was doing. "At Worms, he changed
his plan, and commenced an octavo edition of the book,
without prologue or notes. This he speedily finished, and at
once issued it from the press. It was the first New Testa
ment printed in English that ever saw the Hght. " That the
rudeness of the work now at the first time offered, offend
them not," are words of the translator in the postscript to
his book. But, though the quarto edition was for a little
while left incomplete, Tyndale resumed his labours, and
completed them. First in design and partial execution, it
was the last in publication ; and this I take to be the true
explanation of a bibhographical puzzle, upon which a good
deal of antiquarian speculation has at different times been
expended. The whole matter may be seen in Anderson's
Annals, examined at length, and placed in as clear a light
as scanty and conflicting information renders possible.
In the month of December, 1525, whilst Tyndale was
occupied, perhaps in Schoeffer's office, Lee, almoner of Henry
viii., and afterwards Archbishop of York, was staying in the
city of Bordeaux ; and it is remarkable that thus early
rumours reached him of what Tyndale had been doing.
" Please your highness to understand," he writes to his royal
master, " that I am certainly informed, as I passed in this
country, that an Enghshman, your subject, at the solicitation
and instance of Luther, with whom he is, hath translated
the New Testament into EngHsh, and within a few days
intendeth to return with the same imprinted into England.
I need not to advertise your grace what infection and danger
may ensue hereby, if it be not withstanded. This is the
next way to fulfil your realm with Lutherans." " AU our
forefathers, governors of the Qhurch of England, have with
all dihgence forbid and eschewed publication of English

86 Our English Bible.
Bibles, as appeareth in constitutions provincial of the
Church bf England." * The letter illustrates the beHef
at the time that Tyndale visited Luther, and it shows the
wide-spread interest felt in the discovery then recently made
by the busy Cochlseus. The news is further reported by
Spalatin, while attending the Imperial Diet in the city of
Spires. In his diary for Saturday, the morrow of St. Law
rence, being the 11th of August, 1526, he says, " Our prince,
the Elector of Saxony [then at the Diet], having heard a
sermon at the residence of the Landgrave of Hesse [who
favoured the Eeformation], returned to his house." Further,
"At Worms, 6,000 copies of the New Testament were printed
in EngHsh. This work was translated by an Englishman, who
was staying there with two of his countrymen, and who was
so learned in seven languages, Hebrew, Greek, Latin, Itahan,
Spanish, EngHsh, and French, that whichever he spoke you
would think his native tongue. The EngHsh, indeed, have
such a desire for the gospel, although the king opposes and
dislikes it, that they say they would buy a New Testament
even if each copy cost 100,000 of money." In addition to
this the New Testament was printed in French at Wprms.f
The learning of Tyndale must have been magnified by re
peated conversations on the subject; and it is a Httle curious
that, while the most intimate acquaintance with Itahan and
Spanish are attributed to him, nothing is said of German, a
language which we well know he had acquired.
A precious relic of the old quarto Testament was some
years since discovered by Mr. Eodd, containing the prologue,
and the Gospel of Matthew, as far as the twenty-second
* Ellis's Third Series, vol. ii. p. 71.
t Amcenitates Literarim, by Schelliorn, vol. iv. p. 431. Arber's Tyndale's
Test. p. 26.

William Tyndale. 87
chapter. The only complete copy of the octavo edition
known to exist is preserved in the Baptist College Library,
Bristol, but this copy lacks the original title-page. The only
'other copy known — a very imperfect one — is in the Library
of the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's. In the preface to
the Wicked Mammon, pubhshed in May, 1528, Tyndale
says that his New Testament was finished two years pre
viously ; and this statement is in harmony with the report
of Cochlseus, whose story relates to the year 1525. I have
no doubt that it was in the next year that Tyndale pub
lished his Testament — not in 1525, as Mr. Anderson has
endeavoured to prove. After attentively considering all he
has written, I do not see how the thing was possible as
he represents it ; and, in the absence of direct and positive
evidence to the contrary, I adhere to my opinion, that the
Testament was issued in the former part of the year 1526.
Stealthily brought over to England, the books were
soon circulated. Eichard Horman, a merchant of the
EngHsh factory at Antwerp, and Simon Fyshe, the author
of a notable production of that day entitled, The Suppli-
cacyon for the Beggers, appear to have been industrious
agents in conducting this rather difficult enterprise. The re
sults appear in the confession of a man named Eobert Necton,
who had engaged himself, in selling the obnoxious volumes.
He bought ten, twenty, and thirty copies at a time, of Fyshe,
described as " dwelling by the White Friars in London."
He sold five to " Sir WilHam Furboshe, singing man in
Stowmarket," in Suffolk, for seven or eight groats apiece,
equal to £1 15s. or £2 now. He carried several to Lynn,
and would have sold them to a young merchant man, which
young man would not meddle with them because they were
prohibited. About Christmas he acknowledges that he went

88 Our English Bible.
about to buy a great number of New Testaments, when
there came a Dutchman, who offered to sell two or three
hundred copies. As to himself, he frankly stated that he
had read the book through many times, to others as well as
himseh.* This confession seems to have been made about
the year 1528 ; but it refers- to incidents which occurred soon
after the importation of Tyndale's version. As the stock of
copies diminished, either in consequence of sales, or through
forfeiture, fresh importations supplied the demand. This
perplexed the ecclesiastical authorities, who unwisely deter
mined to buy up the edition as fast as possible ; and Archbishop
Warham wrote on the subject to Nix, Bishop of Norwich,
who pronounced the undertaking " a gracious and blessed
deed." Tonstall entered into the scheme, and endeavoured
to promote it by purchasing the books abroad, before they
could be brought over. He happened to be at Antwerp in
1529, and there he employed a person named Augustine
Packington, an Antwerp mercer, to carry out his scheme.
Tyndale had now reached that city. Leaving Worms, he
had visited the pleasant town of Marburg, in the Valley of
Lahn, where the castle of the Landgrave of Hesse, still
retaining much feudal magnificence, overlooked the habi
tations of the industrious burghers. There, from the press
of Hans Luft, he had pubhshed the Wicked Mammon,
and other well-known works ; and he had also prepared for
publication a version of the Pentateuch,- which bears this
colophon, " Emprented at Marlborow, in the land of Hesse,
by me Hans Luft, the yere of oure Lorde M.CCCCC.XXX.,
the XVII. dayes of Januarie." The five books of Moses
thus pubhshed seem to have been intended for separate sale,
as well as for sale in one volume. Before the work appeared,
* Strype's Ecclesiastical Memorials, vol. i. part ii. p. 63. Oxford edition.

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William Tyndale. 91
Tyndale left Marburg, perhaps to return again by the time
it was issued; in any case, however, we find him in the
great seaport of the Netherlands in the course of 1529,
when, if Foxe be correct in his date, he paid a visit to
Hamburg.* As the old story goes, Augustine Packington came to
Tyndale, while in the city, and said, " William, I know thou
art a poor man, and hast a heap of New Testaments and
books by thee, for which thou hast both endangered thy
friends and beggared thyself, and I have now gotten thee a
merchant, which, with ready money, shall dispatch thee of aU
that thou hast, if you think it profitable for yourself." " Who
is the merchant ?" said Tyndale. " The Bishop of London,"
replied Packington. " Oh ! that is because he will burn
them," rejoined Tyndale. " Yes," quoth Packington. " I
am the gladder," rejoined Tyndale ; " for these two benefits
wiU come thereof — I shall get money to bring myself out of
debt, and the whole world will cry out against the burning
of God's Word, and the overplus of the money that shall
remain to me shall make me more studious to correct the
said New Testament, and so newly to imprint the same once
again ; and I trust the second wiU much better Hke [please]
you than ever did the first." " So," remarks the chronicler,
Hall, who preserves this narrative, " forward went the
bargain ; the bishop had the books — Packington had the
thanks— and Tyndale had the money, "t Doubts about some
particulars of the story may fairly be entertained. That
Tyndale should be the man of whom the books were pur
chased seems unhkely, for the editions purchased must
have been those produced by the Antwerp printers, to
* Acts and Mon. vol. v. p. 120.
t Hall's Chronicle, quoted in Demaus's TAfe of Tyndale, pp. 221, 222.

92 Our English Bible.
whom, in aU probability, they belonged. However, they
were obtained in some way, and in the foHowing year were
pubhcly consumed.
There was a great gathering in the churchyard of old
St. Paul's, on the 4th of May, 1530. The spectacle-loving
folks of those days might be seen wending up Ludgate Hill,
and along the side of Chepe, to assemble round St. Paul's
Cross. The promenade in the middle aisle of the old Gothic
cathedral — where London citizens were wont to saunter
and chat, transact business, and while away an idle hour —
was almost emptied by the attractive influence of the scene
to be enacted without the walls.
This, and previous acts of the same order, were performed
by virtue of ecclesiastical authority, which, in those days, by
royal permission, in some respects reigned supreme.
On this occasion Tonstall caused the books obtained at
Antwerp to be committed to the flames. Testament after
Testament was flung on the blazing pyre — the people were
solemnly warned against the sin of reading vernacular
versions. The church was the only teacher. The Bible
was not for the people to read, but for the priest to explain.
The version made in the EngHsh tongue was only fit for the
flames ! The crowds about the old churchyard looked on
the spectacle that day with varied feelings. Some thought
all was right; others, that aU was wrong. "This burning,"
says Burnet, "had such a hateful appearance in it, being
generally called, a burning of the Word of God, that people
from thence concluded there must be a visible contrariety
between that book and the doctrines of those who handled
it ; by which both their prejudice against the clergy, and
their desire of reading the New Testament, was increased."*
* History of the Reformation.

William Tyndale. 95
On the 24th of May, 1530, less than three weeks after
the book-burning in St. Paul's Churchyard, a meeting was
held at Westminster, composed of the King, Archbishop
Warham, and several of the bishops, together with delegates
from the universities. In a document they issued, reference
is made to the translations of Scripture corrupted by
WyUyam TyndaU, as well in the Old Testament as in the
New, among pernicious books, of which said the assembled
ecclesiastics, through his majesty, " Detest them, abhor
them ; keep them not in your hands, dehver them to the
superiors such as call for them." Then he adds, "Thus I move
and exhort you in God to do, this is your duty to do — this
ye ought to do, and being obstinate, or denying and refusing
this to do, the prelates of the church, having the care and
charge of your souls, ought to compel you, and your prince
to punish and correct you, not doing the same, unto whom
St. Paul saith the sword is given by God's ordinance for that
purpose." It is afterwards stated that "it has sometimes
seemed proper for the Word of God to be circulated, while
at other times it has been deemed needful for it to be
restrained, and that the king, taking into consideration all
circumstances, thinketh in his conscience, that the divulging
of the Scripture at this time in the EngHsh tongue to be
committed to the people, should rather be to their further
confusion and destruction than the edification of their souls.
We cannot require or demand Scripture to be divulged in
the EngHsh tongue otherwise than upon the discretion of the
superiors, so as whensoever they think in their consciences
that it may do you good, they may and do weU to give it
unto you." *
* The original MS. is in Lambeth Library. It is printed in Wilkins' Concilia,
vol. iii. p. 727.

96 Our English Bible. ,
Among the names appended is that of Hugh Latimer,
well known as an advocate for Bible circulation. What
ever might be the principle on which he was induced to
sign the document, the views expressed in it were opposed
to his own ; and this he avowed in a letter written to the
king shortly afterwards, where he speaks bf three or four
dissentients to the proclamation, whose opinion was over
borne by a majority.*
The crusade was kept up throughout such parts of the
country as had received the proscribed volumes ; and many
a strict search was made for them, while ingenious con
trivances were adopted for their concealment.
But, in spite of searchings and burnings, proclamations,
and buying up of editions, the Testaments still found their
way from the Continent : sometimes enclosed in packages
artfully covered with flax, sometimes conveyed among the
wares of Jewish merchants. " Sir," said the Bishop of
London to his agent, Packington, "how cometh this, that
there are so many New Testaments abroad ? you promised
me that -you would buy them all?" "I bought aU that
were to be had," rejoined Packington; "but I perceive
they have printed more since ; I see it will never be better
so long as they have letters and stamps ; wherefore you
were best to buy the stamps too, and so you wiU be sure."
The bishop smiled, and so ended the matter.f
It is an important fact, much overlooked, that at this
time, when EngHsh Protestant books were burnt, and people
were persecuted for reading them, no Act of Parliament
stood in the way of importing such books into England
after they had been printed abroad. Indeed, there was an
Act which encouraged the importation. For a prohibitory
* Foxe, vol. vii. p. 509. t Foxe, vol. iv. p. 670.

William Tyndale. 9 7
statute of Eichard in., i., c. 9, in reference to Italians and
other foreigners, expressly provided that it should not ex
tend to any stranger for bringing into this realm, or selHng
by retail, or otherwise, any books written or printed : or to
any printer of such books Swelling in this country for
such purpose. The prohibition of importing English Bibles
printed abroad was for some time a purely ecclesiastical
proceeding, the act of certain bishops. But in 1533 an Act was
passed to repeal the proviso in the statute of Eichard 111.,
and to forbid the importation of foreign printed books ; a new
proviso now being introduced of quite another kind, namely,
one to prevent English printers from raising their prices in
consequence of this barrier against , continental competition.
In this way, Parliament united with the Church in shutting
the door through which the Scriptures had been conveyed
to the people of England.
While Tyndale's enemies on this side of the Channel
were burning his books, he was pursuing his labours on the
other, revising his translation, preparing a version of the
Old Testament, and writing works in defence of principles
drawn from the sacred oracles. As he had proceeded with his
studies, and had marked what was going on in this country
and abroad, his eyes had been opened to the true character
of the Eomish court and of papal claims. He laid bare the
history of the papal see, and the evils which sprang from it.
In the course of the year 1530, whilst at Marburg, he
pubhshed his Bractice of Brelates, one of the bitterest of his
controversial writings : provoked to do so by a misap
prehension of what was at the time going on in his own
country.* From this work I quote the foHowing passage :
" And to see how our holy father came up, mark the
* Demans's Life of Tyndale, p. 248.
H

98 Our English Bible.
ensample of an ivy-tree : first it springeth out of the earth,
and then awhile creepeth along by the ground till it find
a great tree. Then it joineth itself beneath alow unto the
body of the tree, and creepeth up a little and a Httle, fair
and softly. And at the beginning, while it is yet thin and
small, that the burden is not perceived, it seemeth glorious
to garnish the tree in the winter, and to bear off the
tempests of the weather. But in the mean season it
thrusteth roots into the bark of the tree, to hold fast withal ;
and ceaseth not to chmb up, till it be at the top and above
all. And then it sendeth his branches along by the branches
of the tree, and overgroweth aU, and waxeth great, Heavy,
and thick ; and sucketh the moisture so sore out of the tree
and his branches, that it choaketh and stifleth them. And
then the foul stinking ivy waxeth mighty in the stump of
the tree, and becometh a seat and a nest for all unclean
birds, and for blind owls, which hawk in the dark, and dare
not come at the Hght.
" Even so the bishop of Eome, now caUed pope, at the
beginning crope along upon the earth ; and every man trod
upon him in this world. But as soon as there came a
Christian emperor, he joined himself unto his feet and
kissed tHem, and crope up a Httle with begging now this
privilege, now that ; now this city, now that ; to find poor
people withal, and the necessary ministers of God's Word.
And he entitled the emperor with choosing the pope and
other bishops ; and promoted in the spiritualty, not whom
virtue and learning, but whom the favour of great men com
mended; to flatter, to get friends, and defenders withal.
And the alms of the congregation which was the food and
patrimony of the poor and necessary preachers, that he
called St. Peter's patrimony, St. Peter's- rent, St. Peter's

William Tyndale. 99
lands, St. Peter's right; to cast a vain fear and a
heathenish superstitiousness into the hearts of men, that no
man should dare meddle with whatsoever came once into
their hands for fear of St. Peter, though they ministered it
never so evil ; and that they which should think it none
alms to give them any more (because they had too much
already) should yet give St. Peter somewhat (as Nabuchodo-
nesser gave his god Beel) to purchase an advocate and an
intercessor of St. Peter, and that St. Peter should at the
first knock let them in. And thus, with flattering and
feigning, and vain superstition, under the name of St.
Peter, he crept up and fastened his roots in the heart of
the emperor, and with his sword clamb up above aU his
fellow-bishops, and brought them under his feet. And as
he subdued them with the emperor's sword, even so by
subtilty and help of them (after that they were sworn
faithful) he clamb above the emperor, and subdued him
also, and made him stoop unto his feet and kiss them
another while. Yea, Pope Coelestinus crowned the Emperor
Henry the Fifth [Sixth], holding the crown between his
feet : and when he had put the crown on, he smote it off
with his feet again, saying, that he had might to make
emperors and put them down again.
"And he made a constitution, that no layman should
meddle with their matters, nor be in their councils, or wit
what they did ; and that the pope only should call the
council, and the emperor should but defend the pope ; pro
vided alway that the council should be in one of the pope's
towns, and where the pope's power was greater than the
emperor's. Then, under a pretence of condemning some
heresy, he caned a general council, where he made one a
patriarch, another cardinal, another legate, another primate,

ioo Our Enolish Bible.

£>

another archbishop, another bishop, another dean, another
archdeacon, and so forth, as we now see.
"And as the pope played with the emperor, so did his
branches and his members, the bishops, play in every king
dom, dukedom, and lordship ; insomuch that the very heirs of
them by whom they came up, hold now their lands of them,
and take them for their chief lords. And as the emperor
is sworn to the pope, even so every king is sworn to the
bishops and prelates of his realm : and they are the chiefest
in aU parhaments ; yea, they and their money, and they that
be sworn to them, and come up by them, rule altogether.
" And thus the pope, the father of aU hypocrites, hath
with falsehood and guile perverted the order of the world,
and turned the roots of the trees upward, and hath put
down the kingdom of Christ, and set up the kingdom of the
devil, whose vicar he is ; and hath put down the ministers
of Christ, and hath set up the ministers of Satan, disguised
yet in names and garments Hke unto the angels of Hght
and ministers of righteousness. For Christ's kingdom is not
of the world ; and the pope's kingdom is all the world." *
In 1531 Tyndale printed a version of Jonah ; and in
1534 he reissued the Pentateuch, with shght changes in the
text of Genesis, in the prefaces to the several parts of the
volume, and in the explanatory tables appended to the work.
But his most important task this- year was a revised trans
lation of the New Testament. In it he sought to render the
EngHsh more idiomatic, and was not above availing himself
of hints derived from hostile criticisms on the edition of
1526. In his preface, there is a reference to George Joye, a
person who had been employed by the Dutch printers in
speedily bringing out the reprints of Tyndale's Testaments.
* Tyndale's Works, Practice of Prelates, pp. 270-273, Parker Soe. Edit.

William Tyndale. 101
From it we learn that Tyndale was much dissatisfied with
the alterations Joye had ventured to make. And the
criticisms led to an answer on the part of Joye, in which he
endeavoured to vindicate himself against the charges alleged
by Tyndale. But what chiefly claims notice is what Tyn
dale states respecting his own translation :
" Here thou hast, most dear reader, the New Testament
or covenant made with us of God in Christ's blood, which I
have looked over again (now at the last) with all dihgence, and
compared it unto the Greek, and have weeded out of it many
faults which lack of help at the beginning and oversight did
sow therein. If ought seem changed, or not altogether
agreeing with the Greek, let the finder of the fault consider
the Hebrew phrase or manner of speech left in the Greek
words, whose preterperfect tense and present tense is often
both one, and the future tense is the optative mood also,
and the future tense is often the imperative mood in the
active voice, and in the passive ever. Likewise person for
person, number for number, and an interrogation for a
conditional, and such Hke, is with the Hebrews a common
usage. I have also in many places set light in the margin
to understand the text by. If any man find fault either with
the translation or ought beside, which is easier for many to
do than so well to have translated it themselves of their
own pregnant wits at the beginning, without forensample, to
the same it shall be lawful to translate it themselves, and
to put what they lust thereto. If I shall perceive either
by myself or by the information of other, that ought be
escaped me, or might be more plainly translated, I will
shortly after cause it to be mended. Howbeit in many
places methinketh it better to put a declaration in the
margin than to run too far from the text.. And in many

102 Our English Bible,
places when the text seemeth at the first chop hard to
be understood, yet the circumstances before and after,
and often reading together, maketh it plain enough."* An
other and further revised edition was added by Tyndale in
1535. For some time after the invention of typography, printers
imitated copyists by not prefixing a title-page to their
volumes. The first Bible with a separate title-page is a
Latin one from the Venetian press, in 1487. We do not
know what title-page was prefixed to Tyndale's translation
of 1526 ; that of 1534 exhibits this description on the first
leaf : " The Newe Testament dylygently corrected and
compared with the Greke by WiUyam Tyndale," etc. I have
indicated the origin of the word "Bible;" the origin of
the word " Testament" also requires notice. Testament is
a Latin word, used in the Western Church as equivalent
to the Greek Diatheke, which, with the prefix Kaine (new),
about the fourth century became a common appeUation for
the Gospels, and other inspired Christian books, as distin
guished from the old Diatheke or sacred Jewish books.
The first and more proper meaning, covenant, passed out
of sight for the secondary meaning, Testament, as denoting
a will. Wychffe has spoken of Divine Scripture as a Testa
ment, and New Testament, we see, is put on the title-page
of Tyndale's translation of 1534.
It is time to notice the merits of Tyndale's work,
as a Scripture translator. Of his scholarly quahfications
there remains no doubt on the , part of any one who has
studied his history. Bash assertions used to be made that
he translated from the Vulgate; and I am sorry to say
that they have of late been repeated by men from whom
better things might be expected, but who, unfortunately,
* Address to the Christian Reader, prefixed to edition of 1534.

William Tyndale. 103
have not taken the trouble to investigate irresistible evidence
on the other side. Tyndale's Oxford and Cambridge training,
and his translation of the Greek oration of Isocrates, would,
one would think, be sufficient to prove that he must have
made considerable attainments in the language of the New
Testament ; and the critical examination of his version,
recently published by a distinguished BibHcal scholar, estab
lished, beyond all dispute, that he made it, not from any
other translation, but from the original itself.* He wisely
availed himself of existing helps — the Vulgate, Erasmus's
New Testament, and Luther's German renderings — but
these did not diminish the independence of his judgment ;
they only helped him to form his own conclusions.
His knowledge of Hebrew, as well as Greek, has also
been satisfactorily ascertained, and his care in the prepara
tion of his Old Testament translations is equally conspi
cuous with that in the New.
" In his version of the New Testament," says Canon
Westcott, " we have seen that Tyndale willingly faced the
labours of minute correction. The texts of 1525, 1534, and
1535 are specifically distinct, and each later edition offers a
careful revision of that which preceded it. Though the
evidence is less extensive in the case of the Old Testament, it
is evident he expended no less pains upon this. The texts of
' the epistles from the Old Testament,' appended to the New
Testament of 1534 and 1535, differ in small details from
the published Pentateuch of 1531, and, what is still more
interesting, from one another. Thus in these, as in the New
Testaments themselves, there is a double revision ; and there
is nothing to show that Tyndale bestowed less care upon the
lessons from the Apocrypha than on those from the canonical
books. * See Westeott's History ofthe English Bible, pp. 173, 179.

104 Our English Bible.
" This patience of laborious emendation completes the
picture of the great translator. In the conception and style
of his renderings he had nothing to modify or amend.
Throughout all his revisions he preserved intact the
characteristics of his first work. Before he began he had
prepared himself for the task, of which he could apprehend
the full difficulty. He had rightly measured the momentous
issues of a vernacular version of the Holy Scriptures, and
determined once for all the principles on which it must be.
made. His later efforts were directed simply to the nearer
attainment of his ideal. To gain this end he availed himself
of the best help which lay within his reach ; but he used it as
a master, not as a disciple. In this work alone he felt that
substantial independence was essential to success. In expo
sition or exhortation he might borrow freely the language
or the thought which seemed suited to his purpose, but in
rendering the sacred text he remained throughout faithful
to the instincts of a scholar. From first to last his style
and his interpretation are his own ; and in the originahty
of Tyndale is included, in a large measure, the originahty of
our English version. For not only did Tyndale contribute to
it, directly, the substantial basis of hah of the Old Testa-
nient (in all probability), and of the whole of the New, but
he established a standard of Biblical translation, which
others followed. It is even of less moment that by far the
greater part of his translation remains intact in our present
Bibles than that his spirit animates the whole. He tohed
faithfully himself, and where he failed he left, to those who
should come after, the secret of success. The achievement
was not for one, but for many ; but he fixes the type accord
ing to which the later labourers worked. His influence
decided that our Bible should be popular and not Hterary,

William Tyndale. 1 05
speaking in a simple dialect, and that so, by its simpHcity,
it should be endowed with permanence. He felt, by a
happy instinct, the potential affinity between Hebrew and
English idioms, and enriched our language and thought,
for ever, with the characteristics of the Semitic sound."*
How far Tyndale availed himseff of the labours of
Wycliffe and Purvey is a critical question. One so interested
in the work of Bible translation , could scarcely fail to be
somewhat acquainted with its history. He must have known
something about the Lollard version, though I am not aware
of any allusion to it in his writings. Mr. Marsh is so con
fident, that he says, " Tyndale is merely a full-grown Wycliffe.
The recension of the New Testament is just what his great
predecessor would have made it, had he awaked again to see
the dawn of the glorious day, of which his own life and
labours kindled the morning twilight. Not only does Tyn
dale retain the general grammatical structure of the older
version, but most of its felicitous verbal combinations, and,
what is more remarkable, he preserves even the rhythmic
flow of its periods, which is again repeated in the recension
of 1611. "| In all criticism of this kind there is room for the
play of a specious imagination, — fancy takes the place of fact.
We must turn to see what Tyndale himseff says on this
subject. These are his own words : " Them that are learned
Christianly, I beseech that they consider how that I had no
man to counterfeit [or imitate] , neither was holpen with
English of any that had interpreted the same or such Hke
thing in the Scripture beforetime." This looks Hke a
disclaimer of having used any previous vernacular version
in the execution of his own ; yet the words translated,
* Westcott' s History, pp, 208, 211.
t Lectures on the English Language, p, 447.

106 Our English Bible.
"pinnacle of theTemple," "comprehended," "tribulation
and anguish," and " mote " and " beam," point in an opposite
direction ; and, what is very remarkable, in Matt. vii. 6, both
WycHffe and Tyndale adopt a rendering— not suggested
either by the Greek or by the Latin— which refers the
"tramphng" to the "swine," and the "rending" to the
" dogs ; " also in the 14th verse of the same chapter, both
speak of the gate as strait, and the way as narrow.* In
genious surmises may be adopted to reconcile the fact of
certain resemblances between the two translations and the
high probability of Tyndale's having read the work of his
predecessor, with the statement he has so distinctly ex
pressed ; yet, after all, we meet here with another of the
difficult, if not insoluble, problems of Tyndale's Hfe and
labours. Tyndale's rendering's are remarkable in two respects:
they are unconventional and popular ; they are also quaint
and racy. Of the former class we have examples in the words
" congregation,-" not church ; " favour," not grace ; " over
seer," not bishop ; " elder," not priest ; " love," not charity.
Such renderings show that Tyndale wished to employ words
in popular use, words that would explain themselves, rather
than technical terms, however venerable from their eccle
siastical usage. Of the latter class — the quaint and racy — the
following are instances: In Matt. iv. 24, we find "divers
diseases and gripinges ; " vi. 7, "bable not moche'; " x. 9,
"nor brasse yn youre gerdels ; " xiii. 33, "hyd in thre
peckes off meele ; " xiv. 14, " his herte dyde melt uppon
them ; " 20, " gaddered up of the gobbetes ; " xv. 27, " the
whelppes eate of the crommes ; " xvfi. 27, " thou shalt fynd a
piece of twelve pens ; " xxvi. 17, " to eate the ester lambe ; "
* Dr. Moulton, Bible Educator, vol. ii. p. 309.

William Tyndale. 107
Mark vi. 40, " sat doune, here arowe, and there arowe; "
vifi. 19, " how many baskettes of the levinges of broken
meate toke ye up ? " xiv. 66, " won off the wenches off the
hyest preste ; " Luke ii. 3, " his awne shyre toune ; " x. 34,
"brought hym to a common hostry;. " xi. 46, "yourselves
touche not the packes ; " xv. 16, "fiHed his bely with the
coddes that the swyne ate."*
These details might be multiplied by numerous references
to Tyndale's Old Testament. In comparing the quarto of
Tyndale's Testament, 1525, with Luther's, 1522, the resem
blance, in respect of printing, is remarkable. The appear
ance of the page is the same, the arrangement of the text is
the same, and the references in the margin are also the
same, and, what is more important to be noticed, the marginal
notes introduced into the quarto edition are to a large extent
translations from those of Luther.f
No doubt Tyndale made use of Luther in the translation
of the text, as weU as in the compilation of notes, but far
less in the former than the latter. His revisions show his
careful adherence to the original. About a third of the
alterations in the edition of 1534, as compared with that of
1525, show nearer approximations to the Greek, — some in
the most dehcate minutiae of the work. In one passage a
rendering from Luther takes the place of a paraphrase in
the earher edition ; " yet it must be remarked that, even
in this revision, the changes are far more frequently at
variance with Luther's renderings than in accordance with
them."f A man Hke Tyndale, so incessantly and quietly plying
his pen in translating Scripture truths, was not likely to
* See Eadie's English Bible, vol. i. pp. 156, 157,
t Demaus's Life of Tyndale, p. 122. Arber, 67.
t Westeott's Hist. p. 185. He gives the variations in App. iii.

108 Our English Bible.
be unmolested by enemies to a free circulation of the Bible.
Henry viii., though he had broken with Eome, and had com
menced a course which proved subservient to the cause of the
Eeformation, was an inveterate enemy to the use of Tyndale's
version, and published a proclamation against it, for which no
doubt he was the more ready because Tyndale had condemned
the divorce of Catherine. At one period — it was soon after
the monarch's marriage with AnneBoleyn — a rumour obtained
currency that he had become favourably disposed towards
the circulation of a vernacular version. Tyndale, in his last
letter to Frith, 1533, remarks, " George Joye, at Candlemas,
being at Barrow, printed two leaves of Genesis, in a great
form, and sent one copy to the king, and another to the new
queen, with a letter to N. for to dehver them, and to purchase
licence that he might so go aH through the Bible. Out of this
is sprung the noise of the new Bible, and out of that is the
great seeking for EngHsh books at aU printers and book
binders in Antwerp, and for an EngHsh priest that should
print."* Hence it is clear that a notion prevailed of the king
being favourable to an EngHsh translation of the Bible.
Cranmer, too, who was just raised to the primacy, of whom
much wiH be said hereafter, exerted aH his influence to effect
this object.
But, whatever were the real thoughts and purposes of the
capricious sovereign at that moment, no hope remained for
William Tyndale. His work could never be royally welcomed
in England, because the offence committed by his opposing
the divorce could not be forgiven. However, for some reason
which it is difficult to ascertain, measures were employed
fo decoy him over to England. Sir Stephen Vaughan,
Henry's agent in the Netherlands, did his utmost to persuade
* Demaus's Life of Tyndale, p. 377.

William Tyndale.

in

him to return ; but Tyndale, though ready to die in defence
of truth, did not deem it a duty to put his head into the
lion's mouth, and therefore preferred to remain on the
Continent. Yet he sought to vindicate himself to the king's minister.
One . day a stranger informed Sir Stephen that a person
desired to speak with him. Conducted to a field by the
walls of j^ntwerp, close to a running stream, he found the
person in waiting to be Tyndale himself. " Sir," said he, "I
have been exceeding desirous to speak with you.* I am
informed that the king's grace taketh great displeasure with
me for putting forth of certain books which I lately made in
these parts, but especially for the book named the Practice
of Brelates, whereof I have no little marvel, considering
that in it I did but warn his grace of the subtle demeanour
of the clergy of his realm towards his person, and of the
shameful abuses by them practised, not a Httle threatening
the displeasure of his grace and weal of his realm ; in which
doing I showed and declared the heart of a true subject,
which sought the safeguard of his royal person, and weal of
his commons, to the intent that' his grace thereof warned,
might, in due time, prepare his remedies against the subtle
dreams. If for my pains therein taken — if for my poverty —
if for my exile out of my natural country, and being absent
from my friends — if for my hunger, my thirst, my cold, the
great danger wherewith I am everywhere compassed, and
finaUy, if for innumerable other hard and sharp sicknesses
which I endure, not yet feeling their asperity, by reason I
hoped with my labours to do honour to God, true service to
my prince, and pleasure to his commons — how is it that his
grace, this considering, may either by himself think, or by
* Cott. mss., Titus, b..i., 67.

i f 2 Our English Bible.
the persuasions of others be brought to think, that in this
doing I should not show a pure mind, a true and incorrupt
zeal, and affection to his grace ? "
The interview between Tyndale and Vaughan by the gates
of Antwerp, in the meadow near, the stream, while the former
eloquently defended his character, is one of those interesting
incidents in the bypaths of history which are more worthy
of attention than many world-known facts standing out
conspicuously, but insignificantly, on the high road.
Vaughan had another interview with Tyndale, and seemed
deeply touched by the earnestness and pathos with which
he pleaded for Hberty to perform the task on which his heart
was set.
" If it would stand with the king's most gracious pleasure
to grant only a bare text of the Scripture to be put forth
among his people, like it is put forth among the subjects of
the emperor in these parts, and of other Christian princes,
be it of the translation of what person soever shaH please his
majesty, I shall immediately make faithful promise never to
write more, nor abide two days in these parts after the same ;
but immediately to repair unto his realm, and there most
humbly submit myself at the feet of his royal majesty, offer
ing my body to suffer what pain or tortures, yea, what death
his grace will, so that this be obtained."*
There was another exile on the Continent at the time,
one Hke-minded with Tyndale, his affectionate and constant
friend, and probably a convert to Protestant truth through
his instrumentaHty. I refer to the meek, amiable, and pious
John Frith. Vaughan was exhorted by the king to use his
influence with him, and get him also back to England.
* Letter printed in English Translations and Translators, prefixed to Bagster's
Hexapla.

William Tyndale. 113
Whether through such influence or not, Frith certainly did
soon after return, to experience the tender mercies of Henry
and his myrmidons, manifested in his committal to the
Tower and in his speedy martyrdom. Tyndale wrote a letter
to Frith in prison, in which he said, " I caU God to record
against the day we shaU appear before our Lord Jesus to
give a. reckoning of our doings, that I never altered one
syllable of God's Word against my conscience, nor would
this day, if all that is in the earth, whether it be honour,
pleasure, or riches, shall be given me."
Addressing his friend in the prospect of martyrdom,
Tyndale speaks in a tone of deep piety :* " Dearly beloved,
be of good courage, and comfort your soul with the hope of
this high reward, and bear the image of Christ in your mortal
body, that it may, at His coming, be made Hke to His im
mortal ; and foHow the example of aU your other dear brethren
which chose to suffer in hope of a better resurrection. Keep
your conscience pure and undefiled, and say against that
nothing. Stick at necessary things, and remember the
blasphemies of the enemies of Christ, ' They find none but
will abjure rather than suffer the extremity.' Moreover, the
death of them that come again after they have once denied,
though it be accepted with God and aU that believe, yet it
is not glorious ; for the hypocrites say, ' He must needs die ;
denying helpeth not ; but might it have holpen, they would
have denied five hundred times ; but seeing it would not
help them, therefore of pure pride and mere mahce together
they speak with their mouths that their conscience knoweth
false.' If you give yourself, cast yourseff, yield yourself,
commit yourseff whoHy and only to your loving Father ; then
shaU His power be in you and make you strong ; and that so
* Demaus, Life of Tyndale, pp. 362, 375. The letter is dated the 9th of May [1533]
I

ii4

Our English Bible.

strong that you shall feel no pain, which shall be to another
present death, and His Spirit shall speak in you, and teach
you what to answer, according to His promise."
These words of comfort were calculated to strengthen the
sufferer, as in the July of 1533 he was led to Smithfield,
where he perished at the stake.

TOT

i*Jllpp

VILVOEEE CASTLE.

Tyndale was betrayed into the hands of his enemies by
an unprincipled Englishman, named Phihps. This man had
professed friendship for the noble-hearted reformer, and had,
on the very morning of the betrayal, borrowed of him forty
shillings. Under the guidance of this second Iscariot the
officers proceeded to Tyndale's place of abode, when Philips

William Tyndale. 1 1 5
entered, and bringing out his unsuspecting victim, " gave the
men a sign," who immediately seized on their prey, and
conveyed him to the castle of VHvorde, near Brussels. The
unresisting meekness, the transparent simphcity of the good
man affected the officers ; and during captivity his pious
conversation was made useful to the gaoler and his famffy.
In September, 1536, he was led forth to execution, and
having been first strangled, his body was thrown into the
flames. His last breath went up to heaven in the well-known
prayer, " Lord, open the eyes of the King of England ! " "If
they burn me," he had said eight years before, " they shall
do no other thing than that I looked for. There is none
other way into the kingdom of Hfe, than through persecution
and suffering of pain, and of very death, after the example
of Christ."* At whose instigation was Tyndale barbarously sacrificed?
Much of obscurity rests on the transaction, but there can be
little doubt that enemies of the reformer in this country, if
not prompters of the act, yet winked at its perpetration.
His only friend in his last, as in his early days, was an
EngHsh merchant. AU honour to the name of Thomas
Poyntz, Tyndale's host, in whose house he was captured,
who pleaded hard to save him, and who even risked his life
in the adventure 1 " Brother," he says, writing to John
Poyntz, a gentleman at the EngHsh court, " the knowledge
that I have of this man causes me to write as my conscience
bids me ; for the king's grace should have of him, at this day,
as high a treasure as of honour : one man Hving there is
not that has been of greater reputation." Poyntz was im
prisoned at Brussels, on account of his intimacy with Tyndale,
and saved himself — probably, from a death of violence—
* Demaus, Life of Tyndale, p. 482.

1 1 6 Our English Bible.
by escaping from prison, and making his way to England.
This friend of the translator now Hes buried in the Httle
church of South Oxenden, Essex. Many graves of far less
interest than his are pointed out and visited with the
highest honour.
Tyndale was eminently a great man — great in mind, and
heart, and enterprise. His inteUectual endowments were of
an order to render him a match in controversy with no less
a personage than the illustrious Sir Thomas More. Logic,
erudition, wit, and eloquence, may aH be found in the pages
of his answer to Sir Thomas; and that his opponent felt
sensible of his intellectual and Hterary qualifications, there
are obvious indications in the portly quartos which he wrote
against him. The qualities of his heart were as remarkable
as those of his head. He combined a calm and steady heroism
with a child-Hke simplicity. No man was ever more free
from duphcity, more full of meekness, and at the same time
more elevated in soul by a manly courage. Ever, " as in his
great Taskmaster's eye," he pursued his labours in obscurity
and exile, reaping no earthly benefit whatever — looking for
no reward but the smHe of his heavenly Father.
He dealt a blow at Eomanism more effectual than any
,other aimed at it by his Protestant contemporaries. Other
reformers have filled the field of vision and engrossed the
attention of historians ; but to Tyndale, of right, belongs a
chief place in the first rank of the noble band.

-:**-

f»H^PTER V.

MILES COVERDALE,

N the district of Coverdale, in the county
of York, there stood, at the close of the
fifteenth century, in all its magnificence,
the weU-known abbey of Coverham.
Amidst the pleasant scenery which bor
dered upon that ecclesiastical edifice,
amidst hills, meadows, and trout-streams,
in all probability, the man first saw the
light who was to be a coadjutor of Tyn
dale, and to go beyond him by being
the first to pubhsh the whole of the Bible,
translated from the original. Miles Coverdale, no doubt,
derived his name from the district in which he was born,
and perhaps in the monastic school at Coverham received
the first elements of instruction. One pictures the sturdy
little feHow running about the hills,' sporting in the
meadows, and fishing in the trout-streams, and then
minghng with other boys, under the tutorship of the cowled
monks, who little thought, as they looked on his counten
ance, the kind of man he was to make.
In his youth he went to the Augustine monastery in

n8

Our English Bible.

Cambridge, and there shared, no doubt, in the advantages
derived from the revival of learning in the university, about
the time of Erasmus's second visit to it in 1511. Dr.
Barnes was among the chief instruments of that revival,
and it was He who presided as prior over the brethren of

MILES COVEBDALE.

the house of the Augustines at Cambridge. The accommo
dation and habits of Cambridge men were then rather
different from what they are now ; and if the reader
would Hke to take a peep at them in the days of Coverdale,
he may form a judgment of what they must have been

Miles Coverdale. 119
then from what they were in the reign of Edward vi., as
thus described in a sermon by Thomas Lever,* 1550 :
" There be divers there which rise daily between four and
five of the clock in the morning, and from fivef until six of
the clock use common prayer, with an exhortation of God's
Word, in a common chapel, and from six until ten of the
clock use ever either private study or common lectures. At
ten of the clock they go to dinner, wHereat they be con
tent with a penny piece of beef amongst four, having a few
pottage made of the broth of the same beef, with salt and
oatmeal, and nothing else. After this slender dinner, they
be either teaching or learning until five of the clock in the
evening, when they have a supper, not much better than
their dinner. Immediately after which they go either to
reasoning in problems, or unto some other study, until it be
nine or ten of the clock, and there being without fire are
fain to walk or run up and down, half an hour, to get a
heat in their feet when they go to bed."
Perhaps there was better cheer in the monastery of the
Augustines before the Eeformation than it would seem,
from Lever's sermon, many of the Cambridge men enjoyed
afterwards ; however that might be, there Coverdale studied
and worked, and laid in such an amount of learning as quali
fied him for the great work which Providence intended him
to perform. Dr. Barnes was brought to the knowledge of
Evangelical truth, and was led to adopt the principles of the
reformers, by Thomas Bilney. Probably, Coverdale soon
imbibed the spirit of his worthy prior, and thus began the
noble career which secured such benefits for his country. In
a letter written from the Augustine monastery, to Thomas
* Antiquarian Repertory (ed. 1809), vol. iv. p. 18.
f Before the Eeformation it would be the hour of prime. The Common Prayer
was introduced by the reformers.

120 Our English Bible.
Cromwell, on May day, 1527, Coverdale remarks : — " Now I
begin to taste of Holy Scriptures ; now, honour be to God, I
am set to the most sweet smell of holy letters, with the godly
savour of holy and ancient doctors, unto whose knowledge I
cannot attain without diversity of books, as is not unknown
to your most excellent wisdom. Nothing in the world I
desire but books, as concerning my learning : they once had,
I do not doubt but Almighty God shall perform that in me
which He of His most plentiful favour and grace hath
begun."* Thomas CromweU, afterwards Earl of Essex, the favour
ite of Henry — one who played so conspicuous a part in the
secular movements connected with the Eeformation — was
Coverdale's early friend and patron ; and the connection
of this great man, and the assistance which he rendered
Coverdale in his undertaking, are obvious in the reformer's
history up to the time of the minister's death. Perhaps it
was the friendship of CromweH which saved Coverdale from
being involved in trouble when he came out as an antagonist
to papal errors. Barnes was accused of heresy, and com
mitted to the Fleet. Coverdale attended him as a friend,
amidst his trials ; and afterwards, in Essex, distinguished
himself as a zealous preacher against transubstantiation, the
worshipping of images, and the practice of confession. Yet we
find him untouched by persecution. But in 1529 he appears
to have left his native country for the Continent, no doubt
induced so to do as the best plan for securing personal safety.
There we lose sight .of him for a while, unless we beHeve
Foxe's unsupported ; statement, that he became connected
with Tyndale at Hamburg in translating the Pentateuch.
Besides CromweU, who took a private interest in Coverdale,
* Quoted in Memorials of Miles Coverdale, p. 7.

Miles Coverdale.

121

there were two other distinguished personages friendly Hke
himself to the circulation of EngHsh Scriptures. Anne
Boleyn had appointed Latimer as one of her chaplains ; in
other ways also she had favoured the Eeformation ; and it

m

m.owmm^

THOMAS CROMWELL.

can easily be conceived how considerable, for a time, would
be the influence exerted by one "who reigned in the king's
heart as absolutely as he did over his subjects."* Cranmer,
whose opinions are well known — and his exertions on behalf
* Burnet's History ofthe Beformation, vol. i. p. 269.

122 Our English Bible.
of Bible translations wiU be presently reviewed — was, just at
this juncture, raised to the primacy on the death of Arch
bishop Warham. AU these circumstances were propitious
in relation to further attempts at translating the Bible by
some one not personaHy obnoxious to the. sovereign.
In the Chapter House of old St. Paul's, in the winter of
1534, four days before Christmas, Cranmer stood up before
Convocation to recommend that something should be done
in reference to BibHcal translation. The members, though
incHned to faU in with his views to some extent, clogged
their concession by an order to the effect, that all persons
having books of suspected doctrine in the vulgar tongue,
imprinted beyond or on this side the sea, should, within
three months, bring them in to officers appointed by his
majesty, under penalties at the royal pleasure. The con
cession itself ran in the following form: that the bishops,
abbdts, and priors of the Upper house, "unanimously did
consent, that the most reverend father the archbishop should
make instance in their names to the king that . . . his majesty
would vouchsafe to decree that the Scriptures should be
translated into the vulgar tongue, by some honest and learned
men, to be nominated by the king, and to be deHvered unto
the people according to their learning."* The reference to a
royal decree, as an authority for what was to be done, shows
the effect of the recent Act of Supremacy, which had trans
ferred so large a share of spiritual power into his majesty's
hands. Previously, according to the Arundel Constitution
of 1408, Convocation, independently of any other sanction,
might have made such . a decree, indeed, a single bishop
might have done so in his own diocese. f
* Strype, Mem. of Cranmer (Oxford edit.), vol. i. p. 34.
t See Collier's Eccl. Hist., vol. iii. p. 280.

Miles Coverdale. 123
What followed will be noticed hereafter : in the mean
while, we must foUow Coverdale, who had for years been " set
to the sweet smeU of holy letters." Possibly he felt encou
raged by tidings of what went on in England, to hasten
his preparations for a version of the whole Bible. Foxe
says that Coverdale met Tyndale at Hamburg in 1529,
and he helped him in translating the Pentateuch — a
statement which, though sometimes questioned, contains
in it nothing improbable ; but where Coverdale was, and
what exactly he did until 1534, is not apparent. At that time,
however, it is certain that he was fuUy absorbed in the
accomphshment of his great design; and in the preface to his
Bible he says, " Considering how exceUent knowledge and '
learning an interpreter of Scripture ought to have in the
tongues, and pondering also mine own insufficiency therein,
and how weak I am to perform the office of a translator, I
was the more loath to meddle with this work. Notwith
standing, when I considered what great pity it was that we
should want it so long, and called to my remembrance the
adversity of them who were not only of ripe knowledge, but
would also, with aU then hearts, have performed that they
begun, if they had not had impediment ;" (here, probably, he
alludes to Tyndale, then in prison ;) " considering, I say, that
by reason of, their adversity it could not so soon have been
brought to an end as our most prosperous nation would fain
have had it ; these and other reasonable causes considered,
I was the more bold to take it in hand."
In the edition of his Bible published in 1550, he further
states, " For which cause, according as I was desired
anno 1534, I took the same upon me to set forth the
special translation, not as a checker, not as a reprover or
despiser of other men's translations." And in the dedica-

124 ' Our English Bible.
tion of his work he also remarks, " The Holy Ghost moved
other men to do the cost thereof." From these hints, it
may be gathered that Coverdale was stimulated to his
work by other persons ; that other persons bore the cost of
the publication ; and that he was careful not to cast any
reflection on the eminent man who had preceded him in his
toils. Additional Hght has lately been thrown upon the history
of Coverdale's Bible by the discovery of a passage in a brief
biographical notice of Emanuel van Meteren, author of the
History of Belgium, pubhshed in Flemish, 1614, and in
French in 1618. Both editions issued from the Hague ; and
the notice, long overlooked, is appended to the history. It
appears from this sketch, that • one Cornehus van Meteren,
towards the close ofthe fifteenth century, removed from
Breda to Antwerp, and afterwards became connected, by
the marriage of his son, with a famUy named Ortehus.
Another marriage linked the two famUies to John Eogers,
a famous bibHcal translator, to be noticed hereafter.
Cornehus van Meteren married Ottilia OrteHus, and they
had a son named Jacob. Jacob is represented in the
biography as zealously engaged in producing a translation
of the Bible "for the advancement of the kingdom of
Christ in England ;" " and for this purpose he employed a
certain learned scholar named MUes Coverdale."*
I subjoin the whole passage as it appears in the French
work. The last sentence is all that I can find relating
to Miles Coverdale. Speaking of Jacob van Meteren, the
writer says : " Luy avoit faict apprendre sa jeunesse l'art
d'imprimerie, & estoit do'iie- de la cognoissance de plusieurs
langues, & autres bones scieces tellement que des lors il
* The Bibles in the Caxton Exhibition, p. 88.

Miles Coverdale. 125
sceust si bien distinguer la lumiere des tenebres, qu'il em-
ployasa peine, & monstra son zele en Anvers a la traduction
de la Bible Angloise, & employ a a cela vn certain docte
EscoHer nomme Miles Coverdal ce qu'H fit a l'avancement
du Eoyaume de Iesus Christ en Angleterre."*
This very important passage has been brought into notice
through the indefatigable researches of Mr. Stevens ; and it
estabhshes beyond question a fact previously unknown — that
Coverdale and Jacob van Meteren were connected with each
other in bringing out an EngHsh Bible. Nor can there be
any reasonable doubt that the Bible referred to is that
which is so well known as Coverdale's. Such being the
case, it seems to follow that Coverdale's Bible was printed
at Antwerp ; and this serves to set at rest a long agitated
question amongst bibhographers. Wanley and Fry have
supposed the work was executed at Zurich ; and play has
been given to the fancy, that Coverdale, when bringing the
book through the press, was sojourning in the weU-known
cheerful city, embosomed among vine-clad knoUs, meadows,
and orchards, and surmounted by forests, above and beyond
which appear the loftier summits of the Alps. The poetical
dream is dispelled by a sentence in the old Dutch book just
cited ; and we are summoned to the busy commercial city
of Antwerp, to watch the advancement of the work so
interesting to every Enghshman. But there is nothing
whatever in this valuable discovery to lead us to suppose
that Jacob van Meteren did anything more than in some
way " employ" Coverdale in this work— whether by money
or by mechanical toil as printer, does not appear — though,
* La Vie et la Mort de I' honorable et Renomme Historien Emanuel de
Meteren, printed at the end of L'Histoire des Pays-bas d'Emanuel de Meteren,
La Haye, 1618.

126 Our English Bible.
indeed, as Meteren was a scholar, learned in languages,
it is possible he may have assisted Coverdale by some
suggestions. The word " employa," used by the biographer of Van
Meteren, who naturally looked at the transaction from the
Antwerp point of view, would seem to refer to some
arrangement arising out of pecuniary responsibility, and
falls in with Coverdale's statement, just now quoted, " The
Holy Ghost moved other men to do the cost thereof." But,
in connection with the acknowledgment of Meteren's part,
it must not be forgotten that Coverdale was an agent of
CromweU, and enjoyed his patronage; perhaps, also, he
had some pecuniary assistance from him in the matter.
Coverdale's words suggest that more than one provided
the cost.
A curious incident is related in reference to the Meteren
family, in 1535. Jacob was for a while absent in England.
The London bookseUers and stationers, finding the market
filled with foreign books, especially Testaments, made com
plaint in 1533, and petitioned for rehef ; in consequence
of which the proviso in the Act of Eichard in., already
referred to, was repealed, and foreigners were compeUed to
sell their editions entire to some London stationer in sheets,
so that the binders might not suffer. Business arising out
of this circumstance probably took the printer from his
home ; and during his absence his house was searched,
" ostensibly for the person of Leonard Ortehus, the father
of Abraham, and the uncle of Ottiha, to arrest him as a
Lutheran, but reaUy to search for forbidden books." Ottilia
was at the time expecting the birth of a child ; and, praying
to the Almighty for the safety of her family as well as her
self, she resolved that she would give the new-comer a name

Miles Coverdale.

127

commemorative of the Divine mercy. On the 9th of July,
1535, a boy was born, whom she named Emanuel, " God
with us ;" and this boy is, by the bibliographer who makes
known to us the fact, further named, " twin brother of the
Coverdale Bible."
It is truly affecting to learn that towards the end of the
reign of Edward vi., finding Antwerp unsafe for them, on
account of then religion, they resolved to remove, with all
their effects and females, to London, and Hve under the
young king, who had offered them an asylum. On their
passage from Antwerp, the ship which carried them was
attacked by a French cruiser, burnt and sunk : and so
perished Jacob and Ottilia van Meteren.*
Much difficulty has been felt in determining the time
occupied by the execution of Coverdale's work. His reference
to Tyndale seems to fix the commencement of the under
taking to about the year 1534; and in the preface to a
subsequent edition, just noticed, the author gives that year
as the date of taking upon him " to set forth this special
translation." I cannot agree with those who suppose that
" to set forth '' means superintendence of the printing and
correction of the sheets. Giving copy to the workmen,
and receiving and examining proofs, surely could not be the
business he was induced to undertake through the adversity
of others— could not be the act he was speciaUy desired by
friends to perform !
In aH probability, when he commenced, he had materials
by him, besides earlier translations, which would help him
in the performance of his task. He is Hkely to have made
versions of certain parts for his own use : but, allowing for
* Stevens, Catalogue ofthe Caxton Exhibition pp. 87-91.

128 Our English Bible.
such Helps, what he accomplished must have been done in a
short time, and was certainly a herculean achievement.
Mr. Stevens, to whom we are indebted for information
respecting Van Meteren, has also done much to unravel a
mystery connected with the title-page to Coverdale's Bible.
Different titles, and different preHminary leaves, are found
in different copies, and they have occasioned much per
plexity. There is a Coverdale of 1535, in Sion CoUege
Library, with a title-page probably taken from some other
copy, as weU as a fac-simUe of the same page, made up
by some ingenious imitator so skilfully that — as the librarian
who showed it to me many years ago remarked — "it would
deceive the very elect." A genuine title-page is prefixed to
the copy belonging to the Earl of Leicester, which I had the
privilege of examining at Holkham HaU, soon after it was
brought to Hght, having been long concealed', so I was
informed, within the bottom of an old chair.
The title-page is bordered by woodcuts representing
events in sacred history, King Henry viii. being depicted
at the foot as receiving the Bible from the bishops and
nobles kneeling before him. The letterpress of the page
is as follows : " Biblia. The Bible, that is, the Holy
Scripture of the Olde and New Testament faithfully and
truly translated out of Douche and Latyn in to Enghshe.
mdxxxv. S. Paul, H Tessa hi. Praie for us, that the
worde of God maie have fre passage, and be glorified, &c.
S. Paul Col. iii. Let the worde of Christ dweU in you
plenteously in aU wysdome, &c. Josue L, Let not the
boke of this lawe de'parte out of thy mouth, but exercyse
thyself e therin daye and nighte, &c." Mr. Fry, in his smaU
volume, The Bible by Coverdale, remarks, " In the Bible
of 1535, belonging to the Earl of Leicester, at Holkham

Miles Coverdale. 129
HaU, having the title before described, is one leaf printed in
the same type as the title, and as the volume itself. It is
the only one known to exist printed in this type, and is most
interesting, as proving that some introductory matter was
printed in the same type as the work. It also affords strong
evidence that the title, with the list of books on the reverse
of it, was not intended to accompany the dedication, etc.,
which was printed in the EngHsh black-letter."
The Holkham Bible is considered by Mr. Stevens to be a
perfect copy of the original book, as it came from an Antwerp
press, in 1535 (the press which he claims to have been Van
Meteren's), and he, as weU as Mr. Fry, makes it appear
probable that this Bible contained no royal dedication.
Besides the perfect Holkham Coverdale, there is another
Coverdale at Castle Ashby, the property of the Marquis of
Northampton, printed in black-letter, and dated 1536. The
title-page runs as follows: " Bibha, the Byble, that is the
Holy Scrypture of the Olde and New Testament, faythfuUy
translated into Englysche, mdxxxvi. S. Paul, ii Tessal iii.
praye for us that the Worde of God may have free passage
and be glorified. S. Paul, CoHoss. iii., Let the Worde of
Christ dwell in you plenteously, in aU wysdome, &c. Josue i.
Let not the boke of this lawe depart out of thy mouth, but
exercyse thyseffe therin daye and nighte, that thou mayest
kepe and do everye thynge accordynge to it that is wrytten
therein." The difference between this title-page and the other is
obvious at a glance. The words " out of Douche and
Latyn " are dropped in the Northampton Bible, and the
last text quoted as a motto, instead of being mutUated, as in
the Holkham copy, is given complete. There is another and
important difference between the two Bibles ; whereas the

130 Our English Bible.
Leicester Bible lacks a royal dedication, the Northampton
copy contains one addressed to the most victorious prince
King Henry the Eighth. Allusion is made in the first
sentence to his " dearest first wife and most virtuous princess
Queen Anne."
Mr. Fry says, in his volume on Coverdale, just referred
to, that if his " views are correct, the copy of the Sacred
Scriptures in the Hbrary at Castle Ashby is of the highest
interest, since it must be regarded as the only example that
is known to us of the first Bible in the EngHsh language
surviving (except the map), exactly in the state in which it
was issued in this country, and in the same year in which
the printing of the text was finished."
Another Coverdale is in the possession of the Earl of
Jersey, and was included in the Caxton Exhibition. We
find on the title-page, " BibHa. The Byble, that is the
Holy Scrypture of the olde and newe Testament faythfuUy
translated into Englyshe, mdxxxvi." , Then foHow the
Scripture mottoes as they appear in the Northampton copy ;
and the colophon is the same as in the Leicester Bible,
" Prynted in the yeare of our Lord mdxxxv., and fynished
the fourth day of October." The dedication has the name
of Queen Jane, who was married to Henry viii., May
20, 1536. " It is, we beHeve," says Mr. Stevens, " the only
copy known perfect as it came from the hands of the
pubhsher, Nicolson, that is, with the title, reverse, blank,
and the seven other prehminary leaves, together with the
map, as added by Nicolson, while the rest of the volume is
as it came from Van Meteren " — whom this authority, as
we have seen> supposes, but without sufficient reason,
to have had a main hand in the translation as weU as
the printing. At aU events, the book as a whole issued

Miles Coverdale. 1 3 1
in this form from the warehouse of the well-known
London printer who figured so early in the sale of EngHsh
Bibles. It is worth noticing that as Coverdale's work is the first
instance of the entire coUection of sacred writings, printed
in EngHsh, being, published as a single volume, the title
prefixed is that of Biblia. It is a rehc of Latin usage, not
after the manner of Tyndale, who eschewed such words,
and preferred the vernacular speech of his countrymen.
" Bible " was a word used so early as the time of Purvey.*
Taken from Norman French, it had become thoroughly
Anghcised ; and it is curious to find it in Coverdale's title-
page, in a secondary position, as an explanation of Biblia,
the more ecclesiastical term, because a Latin one. It
may be mentioned here that in Coverdale's Bible Hebrew
letters are introduced, forming the name Jehovah; and
that Hebrew characters also are prefixed to divisions in
the Book of Lamentations.
Coverdale embraces the Apocrypha in his translation,
and places the Epistle to the Hebrews between the Third
Epistle of John and the Epistle of James, James being
foUowed by Jude and the Apocalypse. Though we find
summaries at the beginning of books, there are no headings
to each chapter, nor are chapters separated into verses ;
explanatory notes are also absent.
The blocks used in the title and in the body of the
book at Antwerp, it is beheved by Mr. Stevens, aU passed
into the possession of Nicolson, and can be traced in many
books for many years in England. "Nicolson not only
sold off this original edition in 1535 and 1536, but he
immediately printed two other editions in EngHsh type,
* See page 45.

132 Our English Bible.
the one in foho and the" other in quarto, both bearing the
date of 1537, though probably printed mostly in 1536."*
The advertisement in the title-page of the first edition,
" translated out of Douche and Latyn," expressed a fact.
His Bible is a secondary translation, based on the Swiss
Zurich version of Zwingle and Leo Juda, 1524, 1529.
He also made use of the Vulgate and of Luther. " The
Pentateuch," says Professor Westcott, " unless a partial
examination has misled me, may be fairly described as the
Zurich translation rendered into EngHsh by the help of
Tyndale, with constant reference to Luther, Paginus, and
the Vulgate."
Some of the renderings in this Bible are curious ; for
example, Gen. viii. 11, " She bare it [an ohve leaf] in hir
nebb," a Scotch expression. Judg. ix. 53, " Cast a pece of
a mylstone upon Abimelechs heade and brake his brahe
panne ; " xv. 19, " Then God opened a gome tothe in the
cheke-bone, so that water wente out;" xvii. 5, "An over-
body cote " for ephod. 1 Sam. xxi. 13, " His slauerynges
ranne downe his beerd." 1 Kings xxfi. 34, "And shott the
kynge of Israel betwene the mawe and the longes." Psa.
xci. 5, " Thou shalt not nede to be afrayed for eny bugges
by night." Jer. viii. 22, " There is no triacle in Galaad."
It is also a noteworthy fact that, although Coverdale fol
lows Tyndale, he does not adhere to Tyndale's method of
excluding old scholastic ecclesiastical terms. He has not
only the word " repentance," but the word " penance "
also; not only "elder," but "priest;" not only "love,"
but " charity."t Amidst this inconsistency, however, he
cleaves to the word " congregation," instead of " church."
* Catalogue of Caxton Exhibition, p. 118.
t In Coverdale's version, Bom. xiv. 15, we find "charity." In other places
" love " except Jude 12, when he has " your kindness."

Miles Coverdale. 133
What was the fate awaiting the volume ?
The flattering dedication to the king, introduced into
the book after its arrival in England, did not secure the
royal favour. No Hcence was given for its circulation. Nor
was it sanctioned by the spiritual, any more than the
pohtical authority of the realm. It lay open, notwith
standing the new title-page, to the censure expressed by
Convocation in 1534 of all books of suspected doctrine, in
the vulgar tongue, imprinted beyond the water. It came
as much within the scope of ecclesiastical prohibition as
did the translations of Tyndale. Moreover, about 1535,
Cranmer was doing what he could to prepare for a new and
authorized version, implying that such a one, at that time,
did not exist. Instead of adopting Coverdale's, he arranged
for executing one in England ; and connected with this
intention is the following amusing story.*
" He began with the translation of the New Testament,
taking an old English translation thereof [whose was this ?
Tyndale's or Wychffe's ?] , which he divided into nine or ten
parts, causing each part to be written at large in a paper
book, and then to be sent to the best learned bishops and
others, to the intent that they should make a perfect
correction thereof. And when they had done, he required
them to send back their parts, so corrected, unto him at
Lambeth, by a day limited for that purpose : and the same
course, no question, he took with the Old Testament. It
chanced that the Acts of the Apostles were sent to Bishop
Stpkesley to oversee and correct. When the day came, every
man had sent to Lambeth their parts corrected; only
Stokesley's portion was wanting. My lord of Canterbury
wrote to the bishop a letter for his part, requiring him to
* Strype's Life of Cranmer, vol. i. p. 48, Oxford edit.

134 Our English Bible.
dehver them unto the bringer his secretary. He received
the archbishop's letter at Fulham, unto which he made this
answer : ' I marvel what my lord of Canterbury meaneth,
that thus abuseth the people in giving them liberty to read
the Scriptures, which doth nothing else but infect them with
heresy. I have bestowed never an hour on my portion, nor
never wiU. And therefore my lord shall have this book
again ; for I will never be guilty of leading the simple people
into error.' My lord of Canterbury's servant took the book,
and brought the same to Lambeth unto my lord, declaring
my lord of London's answer. When the archbishop had
perceived that the bishop had done nothing therein, 'I
marvel,' said he, ' that my lord of London is so froward
that he wiU not do as other men do.' One Mr. Thomas
Lawney stood by, and hearing my lord speak so much of the
bishop's untowardness, said, ' I can teU your grace why my
lord of London will not bestow any labour or pains this
way. Your grace knoweth well that his portion is a piece of
the New Testament. But he being persuaded that Christ
had bequeathed him nothing in His Testament, thought it
mere madness to bestow any labour or pain, where no gain
was to be gotten. And besides this, it is the Acts of the
Apostles, which were simple poor feUows, and therefore my
lord of London disdained to have to do with any of them.'
Whereat my lord of Canterbury, and others who stood by,
could not forbear from laughter."
A different treatment from that of the first edition of
Coverdale was vouchsafed to one afterwards. In 1536
Cromwell held a council ; " the bishops and prelates
attending — as he was come in, rose up and did obeisance
unto him as their Vicar-General, and he again saluted every
one in their degree, and sat down in the highest place at

Miles Coverdale. \ 3 5
the table." After a discussion on the subject of Christian
peace, by the great minister of State in the king's name,
they took up the question of sacraments, when Fox, Bishop
of Hereford, remarked that they were commanded by his
majesty " that these controversies should be determined
only by the rule and judgment of the Scripture." " The lay
people," he went on to observe, " the lay people do now know
the Holy Scripture better than many of us ; and the Germans
have made the text of the Bible so plain and easy, by the
Hebrew and Greek tongues, that now many things may be
better understood without any glosses at all, than by all the
commentaries of the Doctors. And, moreover, they have
so opened these controversies by their writings, that women
and children may wonder at the blindness' and falsehood
that have been hitherto." Then rising into a strain of real
eloquence, the bishop added, " Truth is the daughter of time,
and time is the mother of truth ; and whatsoever is besieged
of truth cannot long continue ; and upon whose side truth
doth stand, that ought not to be thought transitory, or that
it wiU ever faU. All things consist not in painted eloquence,
and strength, or authority : for the truth is of so great
, power, strength, and efficacy, that it can neither be defended
with words, nor be overcome with any strength ; but after
she hath hidden herself -long, at length she putteth up her
head and appeareth, as it is written in Esdras, ' A king is
strong ; man is stronger ; yet women be more strong : but
truth excelleth aU.' "* This was an unanswerable argument
for the circulation of the Scriptures ; but, like other wise and
weighty words uttered at the time, it would seem to have
made very Httle impression ; but CromweU and Cranmer, and
others present, felt its force, and used such influence in the
* Foxe, vol. v. p. 382,

136 Our English Bible.
highest quarters that an edition of Coverdale's Bible, printed
by Nicolson of Southwarkin 1537, " overseen and corrected,"
hot, however, to an important extent, came but with these
words, — " Set forth with the king's most gracious licence."
A wonderful step was this in the way of promoting the study
of the .Scriptures amongst all ranks, and involved, for
the instant at least, a change in the royal ecclesiastical
pohcy more momentous than historians generally seem to
apprehend. It must have been to the sanction of this later publica
tion, not the edition of 1535, that Coverdale referred, when
he said in a sermon at Paul's Cross, according to the
testimony of Fulke, " Mter it was finished, and presented
to King Henry viii. of famous memory, and by him com
mitted to divers bishops of that time to peruse, of which I
remember Stephen Gardiner was one, after they had kept it
long in then hands, and the king was divers times sued unto
for the publication thereof, at the last, being caUedfor by the
king himself, they re-delivered the book, and being demanded
by the king what they thought of the translation, they
answered that there were many faults therein. ' WeH,' said
the king, ' but are there any heresies maintained thereby ? '
They answered that ' there were no heresies that they could
find.' 'If there be no heresies,' said the king, 'then, in
God's name, let it go abroad among our people.' "*
If we are to trust this statement, it seems as if the first
edition was submitted to the bishops, and that after their
perusal of it the royal sanction was given to the second.
• Though from an EngHsh press there issued this new
edition of Coverdale — foUowed by another in 1538, and in the
same year by the EngHsh New Testament, and editions of a
* Fulke's Defence of Bible Translations, p. 4.

Miles Coverdale.

137

Diglott Testament, exhibiting the Vulgate and EngHsh
in paraUel columns* — the main work of preparing and
printing vernacular Scriptures for this country went on
abroad; and what was done there at this time wiU appear
in the next chapter.
* In an edition of Coverdale's Bible, by Grafton and Whitchurch, 1538, is a
dedication to Cromwell, in which he laments the numerous errors which had crept
into Nicolson's editions, printed in London during Coverdale's absence. A New
Testament, both in Latin and English, " after the Vulgate texte, commonly called
St. Jerome's, faythfully translated by Johan Hollybushe, " printed in Southwark
by Nicolson, appeared the same year. The English is really Coverdale's, and it
answers to the first edition bf Coverdale's, page for page. Like the first edition, it
contains many blunders. What is meant by the name of Johan Hollybushe no one
knows, that I am aware. I suspect that Coverdale had fallen out with Nicolson,
aud that the printer issued this book on his own account.

Phaftef^ YI.

MATTHEW'S BIBLE.

he Bible, which is all the
Holy Scriptures, in which
are contayned the ,olde and
p newe Testaments truely and
"_ purely translated into Eng-
lysh by Thomas Matthew.
Essaye 1. Hearken to ye
Heavens, and thou earthgeave
eare : for the Lorde speaketh,
mdXxxvii." This was the
title-page of a foho volume
which appeared at the date specified;
and at the bottom we read in large red
letters, " Set forth with the Kinges
most gracyous lycence." At the end
are these words — " To thehonoure and
prayse of God was this Byble prynted and fynesshed, in
the year of our Lorde God mdxxxvii." The book had been
printed abroad, where and by whom we do not know ; but

Matthews Bible. 139
it was a publication of great consequence ; its results were
important, and connected with its history are some difficul
ties, which after much exaggeration vare partially cleared
up : certain particulars, however, continue unexplained.
The volume demands attentive consideration.
1. On opening it, one of the first things which strikes an
observer, is the collection of notes appended to the text.
Wychffe has sent forth his translation without notes.
Tyndale had done the same, as respects his 8vo Testament,
though he had given some in the 4to edition, and had
written expositions of the Pentateuch and Jonah. Cover-
dale's Bible contained no comment, no gloss whatever.
This new Bible, bearing the name of Matthew, in this
respect exhibits a new feature. The Psalms are more fully
explained than other books : and in the Apocrypha, this
passage arrests attention: 2 Mace, xii., "Judge upon this
place whether the opinion hath been to pray for the dead,
as to be baptized for them " (1 Cor. xv.), which thing was only
done to confirm the hope of the resurrection of the dead, not
to deliver them from any pain. . St. Paul did not aUow the
ceremony of christening for the dead; no more doth any
place of the canonical scripture allow the ceremony of offer
ing for the dead. Furthermore, this whole book of the
Maccabees, and specially this second, is not of sufficient
authority to make an article of our faith, as it is before
sufficiently proved by the authority of St. Jerome in the
prologue of the books caUed Apocrypha.
The controversial bearing of this note is sufficiently
obvious ; and it appears surprising when we refer- to the
announcement of " the Kinges most gracyous lycence."
2. For a long time, no accurate knowledge was possessed
by historians as to the nature of the text. It was not care-

140 Our English Bible.
fully examined ; all sorts of surmises were thrown out and
repeated, some originating in vague and contradictory state
ments, made by early writers, now utterly unworthy of
criticism, because set aside by coUations and comparisons
of the text, — especially those of which we possess results in
the scholarly works of Canon Westcott and Dr. Eadie.
It appears that the translation of the Pentateuch corre
sponds with that pubhshed by Tyndale. The translation
from the book of Joshua to the Second Book of Chronicles
inclusive, differs from any found in previously pubhshed
versions. From Ezra to Malachi we have Coverdale's text,
with shght alterations : this is also the case with the
Apocrypha. The New Testament is taken from Tyndale's
edition of 1535.* The Bible appearing under the name
of Matthew may then be roughly described as consisting of
two-thirds belonging to Tyndale, and one-third belonging to
Coverdale. It is by no means original, and is weU denomi
nated a " composite " production.
3. Looking into the foho again, we notice the name
Thomas Matthew, standing at full length, at the close of the
dedication to Henry viii. An exhortation to the study of
the Scriptures, following this, is signed " J. E." in large
capitals adorned with flourishes. At the end of the Old
Testament appear, in similiarly decorated capitals, W. T.
These initials occasion much perplexity. No doubt J. E.
means John Eogers, and W. T., WiUiam . Tyndale. But
what is WUHam Tyndale's connection with that part of the
volume to which his initials are attached, seeing that very
part is the work of Miles Coverdale? One might have
expected to find M. C. in that place, and W. T. at the end
of the Pentateuch. And how are we to dispose of the
* Westcott's Hist. p. 221, et seq. ; Eadie's English Bible, vol. i. p. 322.

Matthews Bible. 141
remaining difficulty as to who is " Thomas Matthew," and
in what relation does his name stand to the initials, T. E.,
at the end of the exhortation ? We know who John'Eogers
was ; but the question as to what person is intended by
Thomas Matthew has created much perplexity in the minds
of bibhographers., The appearance of the name of Matthew
at the end of the dedication, and of the initials J. E. at the
end of the exhortation, naturally conveys the idea that they
point to two persons. If one individual be the author of
both compositions, it seems odd that he should sign the first
in one way, and the second in another. So far, then, the
conclusion seems inevitable, two persons, and not one, had
to do with this Bible. Thomas Matthew is in some way
responsible for the dedication; and John Eogers is the
writer of the exhortation. But, at this point, it must be
remembered, that in the sentence pronounced on the latter
before his death, he is four times called " Johannes Eogers
alias Matthew ; " and in the CouncU Eegister of Mary's
reign, it is written, "John Eogers alias Matthew, is ordered
to keep his house at Paul's." * From this circumstance it
would seem as if Eogers went by the name of Matthew ;t and
* Eadie's English Bible, vol. i. p. 313.
t There is in the British Museum a small "volume entitled The Newe Testa
ment, anno mdxxxhi. ; underneath appears this monogram, G — H. It is well
known that William Tyndale was sometimes called William Hytchins ; and this
circumstance, combined with the discovery of Van Meteren's connection with Bible
printing, has led Mr. Stevens to adopt the following conjecture: "Mr. Francis
Fry," he says, "under his No. 4, calls this edition Gt. H., but has hitherto been
unable to explain the monogram. Our suggestion is, that the G. H. means the
translator, Gnillaume Hytchins, the assumed name of William Tyndale; the
other letters being the initials of the printer (P) and proprietor I. v M., that is,
Jacob van Meteren." The latter part of the conjecture is not so plausible as the
beginning. Mr. Stevens notices that this New Testament " has recently been
proved by Mr. Francis Fry, of Bristol, to be a reprint of Tyndale's last revision,
the edition of 1535."

i42 Our English Bible.
it might be inferred, looking at this alone, that Eogers and
Matthew must be the same person. Moreover, the Bible
that bears Matthew's name, and came to be so caUed, was
also known as Eogers'. Looking at the contents of the
volume alone, one would say Matthew and Eogers are
different men ; looking at the proceedings in Queen Mary's
reign against the martyr, we should say the names Matthew
and Eogers meant one and the same person. So the matter
stands ; and sweeping statements on the one side or the
other, with these conflicting facts in sight, are unwar
rantable. The most that I feel warranted to say is, that
the alias can be better reconciled with the idea of Matthew
being one person, and J. E. another, than the fact of the
two signatures in the Bible can be reconciled with the idea
of Matthew and Eogers being one and the same person.
It is possible that Eogers, having had to do with a Bible
bearing Matthew's name, came to be known by that appeUa-
tion ; not that he adopted it for any purpose of concealment
or evasion ; -but it seems impossible that one and the same
person should, in the same volume, assume two entirely
different designations. As to who Thomas Matthew was,
on the hypothesis of his being another man than Eogers,
nobody knows. That a name should appear on the title-
page of a Bible, that a Bible should pass current under that
name, and that no vestige should be found of his life and
history, is certainly a very strange fact ; but many strange
things meet us in the history of our EngHsh Bible.
4. Another peculiarity of the book is that a blank page,
and the commencement of a new numbering, are found
before the Book of Isaiah, and on the opposite side of the
page are the initials E. G. and E. W. : about what they
mean, however, there can be no dispute. They evidently

Matthews Bible. 143
refer to Eichard Grafton and Edward Whitchurch, already
printers of Coverdale's Diglotts, the first of them, as we
shall presently see, employed in Bible printing afterwards.
Here it is easy to say that Grafton and Whitchurch inter
posed, when the printing of the Bible abroad, no one knows
where, had advanced as far as Solomon's Song ; that they
purchased what had been struck off, and made arrange
ments for the completion of the work, wbether abroad
or at home ; * but such a statement rests entirely on the
occurrence of certain initials in the middle of the Bible.
That these printers, in some way or other, at that point
became connected with the undertaking is, however, a
reasonable conclusion. '
5. We turn now to the contents of the volume. The part
between the end of the Pentateuch and the beginning of
Ezra is found in no previous translation, and is by both
Canon Westcott and Dr. Eadie identified in substance as
the work of William Tyndale. t Foxe relates that a packet
of papers was sent by the martyr on the morning of his
execution to his faithful friend Poyntz ; and it is supposed
they included mss. of a translation of the Old Testament,
carried on beyond the Pentateuch. These, it is further
supposed, came into the hands of Eogers, and that he
employed them in that part of the version which has not
been taken from the printed works of either Tyndale or
Coverdale. With fragmentary translations of Jonah, and
other parts of the Old Testament, which appear in Tyndale's
works, Matthew's version does not correspond; but such
a knowledge of Hebrew as was possessed by Tyndale is
apparent in the production, and Dr. Eadie thinks no one
else could have accompHshed it. % This is not a satisfactory
* Eadie's English Bible,i. 315. + Westcott's Hist, 223 ; Eadie, i. 321. % Eadie, i. 322.

144 Our English Bible.
argument ; for Eogers himself was a learned man, and, if he
had the mss. of Tyndale, might have added something of his
own to that which had been prepared by his Ulustrious
predecessor. At all events, it is not unlikely that Tyndale's
work in this particular part was in some way incorporated
by Eogers in his edition of the Bible. The New Testament
in Matthew's Bible is taken from Tyndale's revised edition
of 1535, not from the edition of 1534.*
One word with respect to Eogers himself. He was
chaplain to an EngHsh congregation at Antwerp, and
became acquainted with Tyndale during his residence in
that city. His mind had been dissatisfied with the prin
ciples of Eoman Cathohcism, in which he had been .
brought up, and to which he had once been devotedly
attached ; but his friendship with the exile, though it must
have been brief, ripened his incipient Protestantism, and
made him a zealous reformer. Having been educated at
Cambridge, and possessing the reputation of being a " very
able linguist and general scholar," he was fitted to foUow
his friend in his own special path of usefulness. We
shall meet with him hereafter in most distressing circum
stances. As soon as the Bible bearing the name of Matthewf was
complete, Grafton and Whitchurch forwarded it to Cranmer,
who expressed his delightful surprise at the sight of the
* Westcott, Hist. p. 233.
+ Let me introduce here the words of Mr. Stevens, " The enterprising
foreign citizen of Antwerp, Jacob van Meteren, who printed Coverdale's Bible,
and sold the edition to Nicolson, with outs, map, and probably the type (lost), got
up and printed this Bible also, and sold the whole edition to Grafton and Whit
church, together with the special plant thereto belonging. Rogers and Van Meteren
were relatives by marriage." (Catalogue of the Caxton Exhibition^ p. 123.) I give
this simply on the authority of Mr. Stevens ; I should not say more myself than
that it is a plausible conjecture.

Matthew's Bible. 145
volume, and, forwarded it to Cromwell. "I understand,"
says the archbishop afterwards, in a letter addressed to the
powerful minister of state, "that your lordship, at my
request, hath not only exhibited the Bible which I sent
unto you to the king's majesty, but also hath obtained of
his grace that the same shaU be allowed, by his authority,
to be bought and read within this realm." * Probably
Cromwell's influence with Henry at that time had much to
do with the obtaining of a royal sanction for the work, in the
much-coveted words, " Set forth with the Kinges most
gracyous lycence."
As so large a part of the new Bible consisted of
Tyndale's translation, and as Henry could scarcely fail to be
ignorant of that fact, it is the more surprising that, after
condemning Tyndale's version, the king should now be
found openly giving to it the sanction of his gracious
licence. The Brologue to the Bomans had been condemned
separately, and was not to be easily overlooked ; and the
most superficial inspection would have shown the boldness
of the notes with which the text was, copiously furnished.
He may have been glad to act independently of the bishops.
But however this might be, by Cranmer's petition, by
CromweU's influence, and by Henry's authority, without
any formal ecclesiastical decision, the book was given to the
English people which is the foundation of the text of the
present Bible. From Matthew's Bible — itself a combination
of the labours of Tyndale and Coverdale — all later revisions
have been successively formed.t
Just about the time when Matthew's Bible appeared, in
the year 1537, there occurred, according to documents in the
* Cranmer's Works, Parker Society, Letter 197.
t Westcott, History ofthe English Bible, p. 94.
L

146 Our English Bible.
State Paper Office, some curious incidents in connection with
our history. " A circle of Protestants at Wincanton, in
Somersetshire, wrote to CromweU, complaining of the
curate, who would not teach them, or preach to them, but
' gave his time and attention to dicing, carding, bowling,
and cross waster.' In their desire for spiritual food they
applied to the rector of the next parish, who had come
occasionaUy and given them a sermon, and had taught them
to read the New Testament ; when suddenly, on Good
Friday, the unthrifty curate entered the pulpit, where he had
set no foot for years, and admonished his parishioners to give
no credence to the new-fangled feUows which read the new
books. 'They be Hke knaves and Pharisees,' he said; ' they
be Hke a dog that gnaweth a marry-bone, and never cometh
to the pith ; therefore avoid their company ; and if any man
will preach the New Testament, if I may hear him, I am
ready to fight with him incontinent;' and, 'indeed,' the
petitioners said, ' he applyeth in such wise his school of fence
so sore continuaUy, that he feareth aU his parishioners.'
So the parish clerk at Hastings made a speech to the
congregation on the faults of the' translation. ' It taught
heresy,' he said ; ' it taught that a priest might have a wife
according to God's law. He trusted to see the day that the
book caUed the Bible, and aU its maintainers and upholders,
should be brent.' "*
These circumstances indicate the welcome given to the
Scriptures on the one hand, and the opposition made to
them on the other ; whUst aU this was going on,
demands for copies of the EngHsh version increased.
In the year 1538 a. New Testament in Latin and
EngHsh appeared under the name of John Hollybush,
•* Froude's History of England, vol. iii. p. 237.

Matthew's Bible. 147
though the English version is Coverdale's, printed page
for page from Nicolson's second edition ; and in the same
year an edition in Latin and EngHsh was pubhshed by
Grafton and Whitchurch, containing corrections by Cover-
dale, of an edition published by Nicolson during Coverdale's
absence from London. It contains a dedication to Crom
weU, in which Coverdale deplores that so many errors
existed in that edition.
In the year 1539 another edition of Matthew's Bible
came forth, from the press of Byddell and Bartlett, at the sign
of the " Sun," in Fleet Street, edited by Eichard Taverner,
who dedicated the volume to the king, remarking that his
grace never" did anything more acceptable to God than the
act of licensing the most sacred Bible, containing the "un
spotted and holy word of God." He informs us, in his preface,
that as the printers were desirous to have the Bible come
forth as faultless as the shortness of the time for the recog
nising of the same would permit, they desired him to overlook
and peruse the whole copy, and amend the same according to
the true examplers, which, according to his talent, he had
gladly done. He introduces a running commentaryin the text,
thus departing from a course previously pursued : this is the
more remarkable as he was a layman ; and it affords an
instance of an unordained member of the Church of England
undertaking not only to translate the Scriptures, but to give
an interpretation of then meaning. Taverner was a strange
genius. He was of the Inner Temple, where he loved to
display his pedantry by citing the law in Greek. In the
reign of Edward he became a preacher by royal hcence, and
sometimes appeared in the pulpit dressed in a damask gown,
velvet bonnet, and gold chain, in which uncanonical attire
he deHvered a discourse before the youthful sovereign ! In

148 Our English Bible.
the reign of EHzabeth he resumed his pulpit exercises, and
when High Sheriff of Oxfordshire he preached before the
university, wearing, in addition to his other unclerical dress,
a sword by his side. "Surely," says Fuller, "preaching
now ran very low, if it be true what I read, that Mr.
Tavernour, of Water Eaton, in Oxfordshire, High Sheriff bf
the county, gave the scholars a sermon in St. Mary's, with
his gold chain about his neck, and his sword by his side,
beginning with these words, ' Arriving at the Mount of
St. Mary's, in the stony stage where I now stand, I have
brought you some fine biscuits, baked in the oven of charity,
and carefully conserved for the chickens of the church, the
sparrows of the Spirit, and the sweet swaUows of salva
tion.'"* The vanity and eccentricity of the editor might have been
thought to disqualify him for the office he undertook, but
the dedication is worthy of a wise and prudent and honest
man, and favourably contrasts with that which proceeded
from the pen of Coverdale. He truly said, " This one thing
I dare fuU weU affirm, that amongst aU your majesty's dis-
coverings, your highness never did ahything more acceptable
unto God, more profitable to the advancement of true
Christianity, more unpleasant tb the enemies of the same
and also your grace's enemies, than when your majesty
Hcensed and wiUed the most sacred Bible, containing the
unspotted and lovely word of God, to be in the EngHsh
tongue set forth to your highness's subjects."
* Fuller's Church History, vol. ii. p. 459.

Chapter^ vii.
the great bible.
._ ^^g, /S£\ bomwell, Earl of Essex, for some time the
i^Httil If * chief minister and favourite of Henry, — with
p^W||MMk all his ambition and pride, his unprincipled

-was

conduct, and his reckless obstinacy ,-
a man who professed, and perhaps felt,
veneration for the Scriptures. It is said
that in his youth, as he was travelling from
Eome to England, he made Erasmus's
Testament his constant companion, rehev-
ing the tediousness of his journey by
committing to memory the whole of the
translation. It might be that impressions
of the beauty and worth of the Scriptures, derived from his
studies on that journey, led to the favour which this dis
tinguished statesman manifested towards then translation
in the days of his palmy power. Certainly, to Cromwell
is to be attributed the patronage, the pecuniary assistance,
and the obtaining of a royal sanction, which enabled
Coverdale to execute the task of, bringing through the press
the Great Bible in the years 1538, and 1539. Coverdale

150 Our English Bible.
seems to have been an agent of CromweU in many ways —
to have transacted a good deal of business for him abroad,
and in the BibHcal undertaking now to be described, acted
under his. control and direction.
Paris was the place chosen for printing the work, because
the best paper and presswork might be secured there. Grafton
went over to Paris to superintend the mechanical part of the
business, while Coverdale acted as editor and corrector. On
the 23rd June, 1538, they wrote to Cromwell, in terms indi
cating that the enterprise in which they were embarked was
reaUy that of Henry's influential minister. " We be entered
into your work of the Bible, wThereof (according to our most
bounden duty) we have here sent unto your lordship two
ensamples, one in parchment, wherein we intend to print one
for the king's grace, and another for your lordship, and the
second in paper, whereof aU the rest shaU be made."* Hence
we see that the workmen were, in the midsummer of 1538,
engaged on the printing of the Bible in the city of Paris,
under the superintendence of Coverdale, with CromweU as
responsible author of the undertaking. Coverdale and Grafton"
in the same communication sought " favourable letters " from
Henry's prime minister to the EngHsh ambassador in Paris,
securing his protection — a request which was speedily granted.
The Bishop of Winchester was then the representative of the
EngHsh court in France, but he was shortly after succeeded
by Bonner, Archdeacon of Leicester, who figures in the
sanguinary annals of Mary's reign. CromweU wrote to
Bonner, and directed him to aid Coverdale in his work ; and
it is but little in keeping with the subsequent history of the
unhappy man to find him most attentive to Cromwell's sug-
*This letter is printed in the appendix to Memorials of Coverdale, p. 195
also in the State Papers, vol, i. p. 575.

The Great Bible. 151
gestions, and most assiduous in his friendship towards the
printers, even going so far as to invite them to his table, and
condescending to visit them in return. With the coun
tenance of the EngHsh ambassador, and the express Hcence
of the King of France, obtained by a letter from Henry, no
doubt, at the sohcitation of CromweU, the translator and his
printers proceeded rapidly with then work, and were anti
cipating the successful completion of their toils, when indi
cations of peril made their appearance ; and in the month of
December the Inquisition issued an order, prohibiting them,
under canonical pains, to print the said Bible.
At first it might seem as if the hand of ecclesiastical
despotism snatched away the permission ceded by the civil
power ; inasmuch as, the history of Eoman Cathohc countries
testifies to its having often been the case, that the royal pre
rogative grew pale before the assumptions of the Church of
Eome ; but the fact is that in the present instance, a proviso
was added to the Hcence, forbidding the publication of any
private and unauthorized opinions, and such a clause would
invite, rather than otherwise, the interference of the Inqui
sition.* The parties engaged upon the Great Bible were
summoned to appear before the inquisitors, but very naturaUy
they sought to escape from the power of that court. Having
before the outburst of the storm perceived the gathering
clouds, they had forwarded to England aU the sheets of the
book as far as they had gone, and now they would gladly
have saved the remainder worked off since ; but this they
found impossible ; therefore, seeking their own safety, they
hastily decamped from Paris, leaving the residue of the
printed sheets to be seized by the harpies ofthe Inquisition.
Some of these were burned, but " four great dry fats full " of
* The licence is in Strype's Crammer, p. 756, Oxford edit.

1 5 2 Our English Bible.
the obnoxious bales were sold to a haberdasher " to lap his
caps in." The Enghshmen afterwards, by the encourage
ment of CromweU, returned to Paris, and happUy succeeded
in recovering the presses, types, and workmen they had
employed there. Grafton, thus weU furnished, set up business
in London. In the next year, 1539, he proceeded to complete some
copies which had been sent over to CromweU ; and at length
the Bible appeared with the colophon, " Fynisshed Apryle,
anno m.cccccxxxix." Grafton also tried to recover the
four fats fuU which had been sold to the haberdasher. He
earnestly sohcited Bonner to use his influence in the matter ;
but with no success. Bonner was on the point of leaving
France. From the archdeaconry of Leicester he had been
promoted to the see of Hereford, and now he was translated
to London. " Master Grafton," said he to the EngHsh
printer when they parted at Paris, " so it is that the king's
most exceUent majesty hath by his gracious gift presented
me to the bishopric of London ; for the which I am sorry,
for if it would have pleased his grace, I could have been weU
content to have kept mine old bishopric of Hereford."
Grafton rephed, " I am right glad to hear of it, and so I am
sure wiU be a great number of the city of London, for though
they yet know you not, yet they have heard so much good
ness of you from hence, as no doubt they wUl heartUy rejoice
of your placing." " I pray God," rejoined the bishop elect,
" I may do that may content them. And to teU you, Master
Grafton, before God, the greatest fault that ever I found in
Stokesley was for vexing and troubling of poor men, as
Lobley the bookbinder and other, for having the Scripture
in EngHsh ; and, God willing, he did not so much hinder it,
but I will as much further it ; and I will have of your Bibles

The Great Bible. j 5 3
set up in the church of Paul's, at the least, in sundry
places six of them, and I will pay you honestly for them,
and give hearty thanks."* One would hope that Bonner
was sincere in what he said ; and if so, how would it
have startled him to have been told that the time was
coming when he would far surpass Stokesley in the per
secution of Bible readers I After Bonner had left Paris,
Grafton obtained the remaining sheets in the .haberdasher's
possession, returned to London with them, and forthwith
completed more copies.
This Bible consists of a revision of Matthew's version.
Several variations from it occur. Cranmer certainly had
nothing to ¦ do with the book. His name is not mentioned
in the correspondence between Cromwell and Coverdale on
the subject. The latter must have been the person who
revised the translation.
The editor speaks of foUowing " the standing text of the
Hebrew, with the interpretation of the Chaldaic and Greek "
— an expression which points to the Chaldaic paraphrase and
the Septuagint as having been consulted in the work. But,
whatever use might be made of the original in this new
revision, it is stated by one who has carefuUy examined the
subject,t that Miinster's Latin version of the Old Testament
with the Hebrew text was largely employed in the course of
the work.
The New Testament was also revised, Erasmus being
employed here as Munster was for the Old Testament ; and
an apparatus was constructed for indicating diversity of
readings, " with such annotations in another table, as shaU
doubtless elucidate and clear the same, as weU without any
singularity of opinions as all checkings and reproofs." The
* Foxe, vol. v. p. 412. + Westcott, History, p. 236.

154 Our English Bible.
distinctive marks were introduced into the Bible as it came
from the press; but the annotations themselves were deferred,
and never made their appearance.
The book is a goodly foho, with this title, " The Byble in
Englyshe, that is to saye the content pf aU the Holy Scryp-
ture, bothe of ye olde and newe testament, truly translated
after the veryte of the Hebrue and Greke textes, by ye
dylygent studye of dyuerse exceUent learned men, expert in
the forsayde tonges. Prynted by Eychard Grafton and
Edward Whitchurch. Cum priuUegio ad imprimendum
solum. 1539."
The designs surrounding this title form a choice specimen
of the wood engravings of the day. Above sits Henry,
enthroned in state, with bishops on the right hand and tem
poral peers on the left, to both of whom he gives a volume
labeUed " Verbum Dei." Over him, in the midst of clouds,
appears the Lord Jesus, with the monarch kneeling, his
crown laid in the dust. On one side, below the title, appears
the Primate Cranmer, and on the other the Lord Secretary
CromweU, employed in distributing the Scriptures. In one
corner, at the foot of the page, is a sketch of a preacher, who
is supposed to be delivering a discourse from 1 Tim. n., on
the duty of praying for kings, while the congregation shout
" Vivat Bex," or " God save the king," indicated by labels
flowing from their Hps ; in the other corner is a prison, with
culprits peeping through the barred windows, and a concourse
of people outside saluting them with the same cries as those
of the neighbouring congregation. The motto of the order
of the Garter is inscribed above. It is a fact too im
portant to be overlooked, that in the Great Bible we find
there are not any notes, although some were intended to
appear. Coverdale, in. fact, as general editor, now, as he

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COPT OF THE HOLBEIN BORDEB IN THE GBBAT BIBLE OF 1539.

The Great Bible. 1 5 7
had done before, presented to his countrymen the volume
of inspired truth to speak for itself.
The master of the undertaking took measures for securing
the extensive sale and use of the volume as soon as it was
published. Certain injunctions to the clergy are preserved,
requiring them before the next Christmas to provide " one
boke of the whole Bible of the largest volume in English to
be set up in the churches." *
From its size it came to be caUed the Great Bible, the
name by which it is generaUy known, and to which it is seen
to have an indisputable title, when the large goodly folio
is compared with copies of earher editions.
The date of the injunctions is 1538 ; but as the year did
not end till March (1539, New Style), the next Christmas might
be in this last year, leaving ample time, after the completion
of the book in April, for the clergy to procure copies of it
before the ensuing Christmas. A royal declaration was also
issued about the same date, stating his majesty's zeal for the
Setting forth of God's Word, and his pleasure that the trans
lation of the Scriptures into the mother tongue should be
taught and declared by the clergy, t i But, strangely enough,
the people were warned against forming a judgment for them
selves of the meaning of the Divine oracles — they were to
have recourse to learned men, authorized to preach and
declare the same. A singular inconsistency, — to give the
Bible to a man, and yet forbid his using his own faculties
for ascertaining what were the truths it contained — to tan-
talize inquisitive mortals by placing before them the means
of gratifying their curiosity, and then to forbid their employ*
ing such means ! The inconsistency in the royal declaration,
* The injunctions are given in Burnet's Hist, ofthe Ref, Vol. ii. p, 260.
t Strype's Life of Cranmer, p. 65.

158 Oitr English Bible.
however, may be accounted for by supposing that it was
by Cromwell's sohcitation that Henry granted the use of the
Bible, while the monarch was still himseh disposed to keep
the people under the yoke of human authority in matters of
' reHgion. He would not comply with his favourite's request
without putting into the declaration the caveat just noticed.
StiU it was a great thing to permit the use of the Scriptures
at aU. It was the first time that such a measure of Hberty
had been granted since the love of Scripture study had been
awakened in the souls of the EngHsh people. This sheathing
of the sword of persecution would have dehghted Tyndale,
and did dehght Coverdale. Grateful must the latter have
been to his old patron, CromweU, for his efforts in this
matter ; and surely he must have lamented that a man who
showed such sincere zeal for the circulation of the Bible
should be so practicaUy unmindful of its righteous and
merciful precepts !
What Strype says of the Bible in 1538 may be apphed ,
here. With what joy it was received, not only among the
learned, and those noted for loving the Eeformation, " but
generaUy all England over, by the vulgar and common people,
and with what greediness God's Word was read, and what
resort to places where the reading of it was. Everybody
that could, bought the book or busily read it, 01; got others to
read it to them, if they could not themselves; and divers more
elderly people learned to read on purpose, and even httle
boys flocked among the rest to hear portions of the Holy
Scriptures read," when Scripture reading was allowed in
1538. Several poor men in the town of Chelmsford bought the
New Testament, and read it on Sundays to their neighbours
gathered round them " at the lower end of the church." A

The Great Bible. 16 1
lad named William Maldon joined the Hsteners, much to his
father's displeasure ; whereupon he obtained a copy for him-
seh, and to " conceal it, laid it under the bed straw, to read
it at convenient times." One night he and his mother had a
conversation on the subject of kneehng before a crucifix. ,He
pronounced it to be a breach of the commandment, " Thou
shalt not make any graven image, nor bow down to it, nor
worship it ; " and when his father heard of this, he went
into his chamber, and took him out of bed by his hah, and
whipped him unmercifully. ' ' And when the young man bore
this beating, as he related, with a kind of joy, considering it
was for Christ's sake, and shed not a tear, his father, seeing
that, was more enraged, and ran down and fetched a halter,
and put it about his neck, saying he would hang him." *
In the month of April, 1540, another edition of the Bible
was issued from the press of Edward Whitchurch, with a
colophon, " Fynisshed in Apryl." This Bible had a preface
by Cranmer ; and an examination of the volume shows that
the version had been revised, though it is substantiaUy the
same as in the Great Bible. I have noticed several variations
in the Book of Isaiah, and am surprised that it should have
been so commonly confounded with the Great Bible of 1539.
Canon Westcott has pointed out this strange confusion, and
the distinction between the two editions is now an established
fact. Another edition came out in July, 1540 ; and yet another
in the November of the same year. Three more were issued
in 1541. " These six editions aU have Cranmer's prologue,
but the third and fifth bear the names of TunstaU and Heath
upon the title-page, who are said to have ' overseen and
perused ' the translation at the commandment of the King's
Highness." " The edition of November, 1540, goes back from
* Strype's Life of Cranmer, p. 91, Oxford edit.
M

1 62 Our English Bible.
the text of April, 1540, to that of 1539, so that the edition of
April, 1540, exhibits the greatest approximation to Munster." *
The revision in the new edition of Cranmer's Bible indicates
a fresh use of Erasmus and the Vulgate ; and, grouping these
Bibles together, a distinction is to be carefully made between
them and the Great Bible of 1539. Those of 1540 and the
foUowing year are the true Cranmer Bibles.
With reference to Cuthbert, Bishop of Durham, whose
name appears, with that of Nicholas, Bishop of Eochester,
on the title-pages of 1541, it should be remembered that he
was no other than Tunstall, once Bishop of London, who
had shown himseh such a stern enemy to Tyndale and his
Testament. It is remarkable what an effect the royal will
had on some of the bishops, who would one day very obse
quiously persecute people for reading the Bible, and another,
when a gust of royal favour blew in the opposite direction,
would encourage them to peruse the previously proscribed
volume. The Bishop of Durham could not be ignorant
whose version substantiaUy he was sanctioning with his
own name. Moreover, it is affirmed in The Supplication
of Boor Commons, that he and his coUeague Nicholas, of
Eochester, "when they saw the world somewhat Hke to
swing on the other side," denied that they had ever
meddled with the book, and called upon the printers to leave
out their names on the title-page !
That title-page, by the way, bears a significant token of
the changed fate and fortune of the man who had employed
his great power in promoting the translation and spread of
the Scriptures. Cromwell's arms were emblazoned on a
ghield in the title-page of the Great Bible, but in the edition
of 1541 that shield is blank. The star of the favourite of
• Westcott, Hist. Eng. Bible, pp. 101, 254.

The Great Bible. 163
Henry, so long in the pohtical ascendant, had faUen. His
own nefarious deeds, and his master's caprice, had brought
him down from his proud elevation to the dust and the block.
On the 28th July he was beheaded on Tower Hill.
Among the many glaring inconsistencies and strange
mutations of those exciting times is the example of Bonner,
who now performed his old promise to Grafton, and set up
the Bibles in St. Paul's, though he was then beginning his
career as a persecutor. But stiU the Bible reading in
St. Paul's — not the cathedral of Sh Christopher Wren, but a
mediaeval Gothic edifice, with pointed arches and mulhoned
windows — not a building preserved from profane intrusion,
but one used as a pubhc walk, where people passed to and fro
all the day long — the group gathering round the book chained
to a desk by one of the pillars, while some professor of the
new learning read its contents to a large listening throng —
is a beautiful fact in the story of the day ; and, whatever
might be Bonner's motive, let thanks be given him for ful
filling his promise. Grafton, if he walked through the aisles,
would stop, with no Httle interest, to look at his own printed
book, fastened in a corner, and to listen to, not only the
reader, but also to the comments made by the auditors.
Augustine, in his comment on the passage, " Thy youth
shaU be renewed Hke the eagle's," fancies that the eagle,
when grown old, has an incrustation on its beak, which pre
vents it from taking ahment tiU it chafes itself against a rock,
and rubs off the excrescence, when returning to its food and
eating with avidity, it restores its vigour and renews its
plumage ; then spreading out its wings, it soars upwards in its
congenial element as one risen from the dead. This strange
notion supplies no unapt iHustration of the staie of the
Church of Christ in the sixteenth century, as indicated by the

164 Our English Bible.
Bible reading in St. Paul's. Long debarred of its spiritual
food, because its mouth had been sealed up by spiritual des
potism, the true Church now Hberated itself from bondage
— once more tasted the good Word of God, and renewing
its strength Hke an eagle, rose toward heaven with shining
plumage and a steady wing.
What is very remarkable, the proclamation of May,
1541, in reference to Bible reading, actually complained
that many EngHsh towns had neglected then duty, and
had not provided copies, in consequence of which the
command to furnish them is repeated, and the curate and
inhabitants remaining disobedient were threatened with a
penalty of forty shulings for every month during which the
book should be wanting. The proclamation fixed the price
of the Great Bible at a snm not exceeding ten shillings
unbound, and twelve shiUings " weU and sufficiently bound,
trimmed, and clasped." *
If in some places the Scriptures were neglected, in
others, people having tasted of them, and their relish for
the contents being thereby increased, they craved more
and more the perusal of existing translations ; and therefore
some of the old Church party, with a view to neutralize
the effect of a royal permission, as far as it went, con
demned existing translations, and sought to supply one
of their own, better suited to then purpose.
A meeting of Convocation was held in February, 1542,
when we find Archbishop Cranmer landing in his barge at
St. Paul's Wharf, and thence proceeding on foot, with the
cross carried before him, into the choir of St. Paul's. To the
assembled clergy Gardiner, the same man who was ambas
sador at Paris before Bonner, and at CromweU's request
* Burnet's Reformation Records, c. iii., No, 24.

The Great Bible. 165
favoured Coverdale — a remarkable instance of these men
changing sides in the course of their history — proposed that
the New Testament should be revised, and that certain majes
tic words in the Latin Vulgate should be transferred to the
new version. Fuller gives a Hst of high-sounding terms, and
adds, " Gardiner's design plainly appeared in stickling forthe
preserving of so many Latin words to obscure the Scripture ;
who, though wanting power to keep the Hght of the Word
from shining, sought out of policy to put it into a dark lantern ;
contrary to the constant practice of God in Scripture, level-
Hng high, hard expressions to the capacity of the meanest."*
Cranmer, however, defeated the project, and no further
revision was made in Henry's reign.
But the tide was turning. CromweU was gone, Cranmer
had not the firmness of character and the power over Henry
which the former possessed, and the monarch soon relapsed
into his enmity against the general use of the Bible. His
submissive Parliament, in the year 1543, passed an Act pro
hibiting the use of Tyndale's translation, and commanding
that the annotations and preambles in all other Bibles should
be destroyed ; nor was any one belonging to the class of
apprentices, artificers, journeymen, servants, husbandmen,
and labourers, to be permitted to read the Old or New
Testament at aU, either in pubhc or private.
Bibles not of Tyndale's translation, provided all annota
tions and preambles were canceUed, would seem, according to
the letter of the Act, to have been allowed ; but as the case
stood with regard to printed versions, they all, more or less,
contained the work of the deceased exhe, so that it is difficult
to say what construction was to be put upon the new statute.
Perhaps the Act did not interfere with the order made
* Church History, vol. ii. p. 108.

1 66 Our English Bible.
by Convocation in 1542, that, " every Sunday and holyday
throughout the year, the curate of every parish church, after
the Te Deum and the Magnificat, should openly read to the
people one chapter of the New Testament in EngHsh, with
out exposition," and when the course was ended, that he
was to commence another course of reading in the Old
Testament.* No doubt the privilege of reading the Bible was often
abused. Ignorant people misunderstood it, conceited people
misinterpreted it, controversial people made it a subject of
contention, and profane people turned it into ridicule. Henry
complained that the book was " disputed, rhymed, sung,
and jangled in every alehouse and tavern, contrary to the true
meaning and doctrine of the same." AU this, of course,
would be turned to account by those who had from the
beginning opposed the circulation of EngHsh versions ; and
Henry, after having given his gracious Hcence to Coverdale's
as well as Matthew's and the Great Bible, in his last days
put a fresh restriction on the reHgious Hberty of his subjects.
In 1546 he issued a new proclamation, prohibiting expressly
the version of Coverdale as weU as that of Tyndale, and also
"any other " than was "permitted " by the Act of 1543 ; but,
with the obscurity of meaning which marked" that strange
page of our statute book, whatever favourable construction
might be put upon it by a .reader of any version not ex
pressly that of Tyndale or Coverdale, it is obvious that such
a reader exposed himself to the peril of a far different inter
pretation of the ambiguous law. Nobody could safely read
any English Bible whatever, with that proclamation hanging
over his head.
The Act and the proclamation together were engines of
* Strype, Ecclesiastical Memorials, vol. i. p. 581, Oxford edit.

Mar beck's Concordance. 167
persecution capable of being extensively applied by inimical
lawyers ; but the monarch was not long spared to witness
the effect of his proceedings, for on the 25th of January, 1547 ,
the Great Disposer of life and death summoned him to
another world.
An episode in Henry's reign connected, not with the
translation, but with the use of the Scriptures, is too inte
resting to be passed over.
John Marbeck was organist of the royal chapel, Windsor,
then in all the freshness of its beautiful Tudor architecture.
The groined roof and the perpendicular arches often rung
with the music of his chants and responses — then echoes still
linger in our cathedral services. The Book of Common
Prayer noted by him was printed in 1550 by Eichard Grafton ;
but his most noticeable employment here consisted in lead
ing the way towards an humble but useful walk of Biblical
Hterature, _the compilation of an English concordance. His
story, as related by Foxe, also throws Hght on two points —
first, the jealousy felt with respect to Bible reading, and
secondly, the habit of concluding that any Bible reader was
a heretic. Commissioners appointed to look after forbidden books
came to Windsor the Thursday before Palm Sunday, 1543,
and began their work just before midnight. Marbeck was a
suspected person, and he was one of those who were appre
hended. Arraigned before Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester,
he was asked, "Dost thou know wherefore thou art sent for ? "
" No," said the accused. His attention was directed to
some quires of paper lying on the table, containing part of
a concordance translated out of Latin into EngHsh ; and the
bishop proceeded to say that a concordance was for the help
of a preacher, and that " if such a book should go forth in

1 68 Our English Bible.
EngHsh it would destroy the Latin tongue." Marbeck,
according to Foxe, was sent to the Marshalsea, as it would
appear from the story, not because he was an accused heretic,
but in order that the Church authorities might gather from
him evidence relative to certain Windsor people who were
strongly suspected of heresy. But the organist dechned to
say anything, and his silence was construed into a proof of
sympathy with heretical neighbours . Gardiner is represented
as using violent language, and urging the improbability of
Marbeck's preparing a concordance without the help of
others. " Truly, my lord," said Marbeck, " I cannot teU in
what part your lordship doth take it, but howsoever it be, I
will not deny but I did it without the help of any man, save
God alone." " Say what thou wilt," rejoined the prelate ;
" except God Himself would come down from heaven and tell
me so, I would not believe it ! " And so, going forth to a
window where two great Bibles lay upon a cushion, the one
in Latin, the other in EngHsh, he called Marbeck to him,
and pointing his finger to a place in the Latin Bible, said,
" Canst thou EngHsh this sentence ? " " Nay, my lord, thow
I be not so cunning to give it a perfect EngHsh, but I can
fetch out the EngHsh thereof in the EngHsh Bible." The
story is oddly told, and much of it is unintelligible.
Eenewed endeavours to obtain from Marbeck evidence
against his friends were in vain, and his refusal greatly ex
asperated his persecutors. The Bishop of Winchester now
plainly accused him as a great heretic, because he had
read more Scripture than any man in the realm. Five
examinations of the Windsor organist are recorded, and in
one of them, before the Bishop of Salisbury, he thus describes
how he worked at his concordance. " When Thomas
Matthew's Bible came first in print, I was much desirous

MarbecMs Concordance. 1 69
to have one of them ; and being a poor man, not able to buy
one of them, I determined with myself to borrow one amongst
my friends, and to write it forth. And when I had written
out the five books of Moses in fan great paper, and was
entered into the Book of Joshua, my friend Master Turner
(of Magdalen CoUege, Oxford, and afterwards of Windsor)
chanced to steal upon me unawares, and seeing me writing
out the Bible, asked me what I meant thereby ; and when I
had told him the cause, ' Tush!' quoth he, ' thou goest about
a vain and tedious labour. But this were a profitable work
for thee, to set out a concordance in EngHsh.' ' A concord
ance,' said I, ' what is that ? ' Then he told me it was a
book to find out any word in the whole Bible by the letter,
and that there was such an one in Latin already. Then I
told him I had no learning to go about such a thing.
' Enough,' said he, ' for that matter, for it requireth not
so much learning as diligence ; and seeing thou art so
painful a man, and one that cannot be unoccupied, it were
a good exercise for thee.' And this, my lord, is aU the
instruction that ever I had, before or after, of any man." At
last Marbeck came to be indicted as a heretic, on the ground
that he had spoken against the mass, and being found guilty
was condemned to be burnt ; but he escaped the flames
through the intercession of a friend.* Three Windsor men,
however, Pearson, Testwood, andFelmer, accused with him,
were consumed to ashes in that part of the park which Hes
under the North Terrace of the Castle, near the spot where
stands the South- Western Eailway Station.
•Foxe, v. pp. 474-491.

Phapter^ viii.
f '
EDWARD THE SIXTH'S REIGN.

eney viii. was buried on 16th February, 1547,
in St. George's Chapel, Windsor, with aU the
pomp characteristic of that pageant-loving
age, and with many of the rites and cere
monies of Popery ; on the Sunday after,
young Edward was crowned in the Abbey of
Westminster. It has often been said that
when the royal insignia were presented to
the boyish monarch, and he saw the three
swords borne in state on such occasions, he
asked for a fourth. Some one, not catching
the idea, inquired what his majesty meant; when he repHed,
" The Bible ; that book is the sword of the Spirit, and to be
preferred before these swords. That ought, in all right, to
govern us, who use them for the people's safety by God's
appointment. Without that sword we are nothing, we can
do nothing, we have no power ; from that we are what we
are this day ; from that we receive whatsoever it is that we

Edward the Sixth's Reign. 171
at this present do assume. He that rules without it is not
to be caUed God's minister or a king. Under that we ought
to Hve, to fight, to govern the people, and to perform all our
affairs. From that alone we obtain all power and virtue,
grace and salvation, and whatsoever we have of Divine
strength."* During the short reign of this young prince —
embracing only six years and a half — men could read their
Bibles without molestation ; and no less than about fifty
editions of the Scriptures issued from the press during that
brief space.
Thirty-one out of fifty-seven EngHsh printers who phed
their trade in the cities of London, Canterbury, and
Worcester, and in the town of Ipswich — so greatly had the
use of typography become extended — employed then presses
in executing copies of the Scriptures, each selecting what
ever version he chose ; and it is curious to find that of
Coverdale's Bible, in Edward's reign, three editions were
pubhshed ; of Cranmer's, seven of the whole Bible and eight
of the New Testament ; of Matthew's, five ; of Taverner's,
two; of the New Testament of Tyndale, or Matthew,
there were twenty-four, fifteen of them bearing Tyndale's
name. In each year there were eight issues of the Bible.
That came to pass which is written, " The plowman shaU
• I give these words as found in Strype's Ecclesiastical Memorials, vol. ii.
p. 22. The author connects these words with the coronation, on the authority
of one "who wrote about those times," and who relates " that he heard it from
credible hands." Strype gives a minute account of the coronation of Edward in
his Life of Cranmer, book. ii. c. 1, but says nothing there of the presentation of
a Bible. Camden's Remains have been cited as an authority for the anecdote. It
is related there as follows : King Edward the Sixth, when three swords were
delivered at his coronation unto him as King of England, France, and Ireland, said
there was yet another sword to be delivered unto him. Whereat, when the Lords
marvelled, he said, I mean the sacred Bible, which is the sword of the Spirit,
without which we are nothing, neither can do anything." Neither Strype nor
Camden says that a Bible was presented to him.

172 Our English Bible.
overtake the reapers, and the treader of grapes him that,
soweth seed."* Of all versions, Tyndale's was the most
popular. Yet there were no editions of the Scriptures pubhshed at
the royal charge or by the royal command ; people were left
to themselves, to moral influence, and the guidance of God's
providence and Spirit ; and such was the result. Upon
Tuesday, the 15th of November, in the House of Lords,
a bill was introduced, by whom is not stated, though
Cranmer was present, for the reading of the Scriptures ; but
it never reached a second reading, nor was any such measure
even hinted at throughout the reign.t
No new translation was pubhshed in the reign of Edward,
except a translation of the paraphrase by Erasmus. The
preparation of this book had been commenced in Henry's
reign, at the request of Queen Catherine Parr. Nicholas
Udal, a distinguished scholar, and Master of Eton College,
translated the Gospel of Luke. Mark was translated by
Thomas Key, Eegistrar of Oxford. The translators of
the Gospel of Matthew and the Book of Acts are unknown ;
but the most remarkable circumstance connected with the
volume was, that the Lady Mary — the future persecuting
Queen of England — was employed on the translation of
John ; " but when she had with overpainful study and labour
of writing cast her weak body into a grievous and long sick
ness, .... she committed the same work to Mr. Francis
MaUet." J The courtly Master of Eton, Dr. Udal, takes
care in the preface, which is the production of his pen, to
comphment Queen Catherine and the Princess Mary on their
connection with the work, by remarking, " It was now no
* Eadie, Hist. Eng. Bible, vol. i. p. 423.
t Lords' Journals, Anderson, vol. ii. p. 247. J Lewis, p. 165.

Edward the Sixth's Reign. 173
news at aU to see queens and ladies, of most high estate and
progeny, instead of courtly daUiance, to embrace virtuous
exercises of reading- and writing, and with most earnest
study, both early and late, to apply themselves to the
acquiring of knowledge as weU in other liberal arts and
disciphne, as also most especially of God and His most holy
Word."* The first volume was pubhshed in 1548 ; the
second, containing the Epistles and the Eevelation, in the
foHowing year. Dr. Old, Leonard Cox, and Edmund Allen
were engaged in the production of the work ; Coverdale also
took a paft in it, for he wrote the dedication to Edward vi. ;
and perhaps he also translated the four Gospels, the Acts,
and the Epistles to the end of Galatians.
Coverdale's connection with the book no doubt arose
from his position in Queen Catherine's household as almoner,
which would bring him into frequent contact with that
illustrious lady, and would be the means of commending
him to her as peculiarly fitted to take part in such a work.
It appears that the archbishop contemplated a new
translation of the Scriptures. Two very learned foreigners,
Bucer and Fagius, were staying, in the year 1549, at
Lambeth, and were informed, " as it had been a great while
his pious and most earnest desire, that the Holy Bible should
come abroad in the greatest exactness and true agreement
with the original text, so he laid this work upon these two
learned men. First, that they should give a clear, plain, and
succinct interpretation of the Scripture, according to the
propriety of the language. And secondly, illustrate difficult
and obscure places, and reconche those that seemed repugnant
to one another. And it was his wUl and advice that to this
end and purpose their public readings should tend. This
* Lewis, p. 164.

174 Our English Bible.
pious and good work by the archbishop assigned to them,
they most gladly and readily undertook. For their more
regularly carrying on this business they allotted to each
other, by consent, then distinct tasks ; Fagius, because his
talent lay in the Hebrew learning, was to undertake the Old
Testament, and Bucer the New." * But the scheme was
frustrated, for Fagius died in the November of the year
1549 ; and the spirit of his friend, the amiable Bucer,
foUowed him, in Httle more than a year, to the regions of
perfect intelligence and undying friendship.
Coverdale's relation to Catherine Parr, as almoner in her
royal household, brought phim to court, and thus made the
indefatigable Bible worker known to the youthful king, and
placed his feet in paths of earthly honour. In 1551 he
was appointed to preach in Westminster Abbey a funeral
sermon for the Lord Chamberlain ; and soon afterwards he
rose to the bishopric of Exeter, a circumstance noticed by
Peter Martyr, then at Cambridge, who wrote to Bulhnger,
saying that he thought nothing could tend more to promote
true reHgion than to trust such men with the administration
of Church affairs. t Coverdale was nominated by Edward
on the 14th of August, 1551, and on the next day royal
letters authorizing his consecration were sent to Cranmer.
The poverty, however, of the bishop designate occasioned
delay, as he had no means of paying the firstfruits ; and it
is further stated that difficulties were thrown in the way of
his doing homage. Yet after all there could not have been
much time lost, for on the 30th of August Coverdale was
consecrated, with Scory, the elect for Eochester, ahd
John, suffragan of Bedford, " aU with their surpHces and
* Strype's Life of Cranmer, vol. i. p. 281.
t Memorials of Coverdale, p. 146.

Coverdale. 175
copes, and Coverdale so habited also."* A window is opened
into the domestic scenes of the good man's life, through
which it is pleasant to catch the following ghmpses :
" He most worthily did perform the office committed
unto him, he preached continuaUy upon every holy day, and
did read most commonly twice in the week in some one
church or other within this city. He was, after the rate of
his living, a great keeper of hospitahty, very sober in diet,
godly in life, friendly to the godly, liberal to the poor, and
courteous to aU men, void of pride, fuU of hospitality,
abhorring covetousness, and an enemy to aU wickedness and
wicked men, whose company he shunned, and whom he would
in no wise shroud or have in his house or company. His
wife, a. most sober, chaste, and godly matron, his house and
household another church, in which was exercised all
godhness and virtue, no one person being in his house
which did not from time to time give an account of his faith
and reHgion, and also did Hve accordingly ; and as he had a
care for the good success in reHgion, so had he also for the
direction of the government in, ecclesiastical causes ; and
because he was most skilful therein, neither would he be
hindered from his godly studies, and be encumbered with
such worldly matters, which nevertheless he would have
done in aU uprightness, justice, and equity, he sent to Oxford
for a learned man to be his chanceUor." +
As in the days of Henry viii., so in the days of Edward vi.
complaints were made of the diversity of opinion connected
with a free circulation of the vernacular Scriptures ; and
once for all it may be observed that this is a fact to be
expected, without implying any censure on the principle of
• Strype' s Cranmer, vol. i. p. 389.
t Hoker's Catalogue of Bishops of Exeter.

176 Our English Bible.
private judgment ; nor is it at all surprising, neither does it
vitiate the value of freedom, that some, in the frantic joy of a
new-found liberty, adopted opinions extravagant and absurd.
The agitation of the human inteHect by breezes of Hberty
could not but throw up foam on the surface of the waters ;
yet who but must regard this as preferable to the dead calm
which existed before ? The wildness of some of the sectaries
alarmed the sober-minded; and Protestant rulers, because
of these abuses, adopted measures in imitation of Eoman
Cathohcs. The effect of the recent change, however de
plorable, was only a natural reaction against the long-
estabhshed tyranny over the realms of thought. In
England as weU as Germany, people propounded Anti-
nomian tenets, and affirmed that the elect have a right to
the things of this world, according to then necessities. The
King's council considered that such an opinion came within
then jurisdiction; but, going beyond the suppression of
anti-social principles, they also directed Cranmer and others
to search after and examine Anabaptists, heretics, and con
temners of the Common Prayer. A commission to that
effect appeared in April, 1549, and again in January, 1551,
when Coverdale was included amongst the commissioners.*
Whether he was imphcated in proceedings against certain
Arians who were put to death as heretics, it is difficult to
determine ; but there is no reason to beheve that he was
more enlightened than many others of his day on the subject
of toleration. The prevalent sentiment was that to burn
men for false opinions was to do God service.
In Corpus Christi CoUege, Cambridge, there is a manu
script, written by Sir John Cheke, in the reign of Edward vi.,
containing a new translation of the Gospel of Matthew,
* Burnet's Hist, ofthe Reformation, vol. iii. p. 186.

Cheke s Version. 1 77
which shows that there was more than one attempt made at
the time to produce a new version ; but it remained incom
plete and unpublished. Sir John Cheke was a distinguished
Greek scholar, and was preceptor to the king. I have seen
the manuscript and examined part of it. It appears to be
an original version ; and the following is a specimen of the
style, and of the spelling, when there was no fixed standard
for the latter, and writers in that respect adopted all kinds
of variation :
" When Jesus was boom in beethleem, a citi of Juri in
king herod's dais, lo then ye wisards came from th 'est parties
to Jerusalem, and asked wheer the King of Jewes was y'
was new boom. For we saw his sterr in the 'eest, and we
cam to worschip him. When K. Herod herd this, he was
trobled, and al Jerusale with him and he gatherd togither
al ye hed priests, and scribes of ye people and asked of them
wheer Christ schold be born. And thei answerd in Bethleem
of Juda, for so it is writen bi ye propheet : And thow Beth
leem of Juda, thow art no wais ye lest among the Princes of
Juda, for out of y6 schal come a ruler ye shaU feed Jsrl mi
people." *
On the death of Edward vi., in 1553, a great change came
over England in reference to the Bible. A proclamation in
August, 1553, prohibited the open reading of the Scriptures.
When Philip and Mary, in 1554, passed in procession through
the metropoHs, and the citizens, in their wonted manner,
adorned the streets with emblematic representations, they
exhibited a picture of Henry viii., with a sword in one hand
and a Bible in the other, giving the volume to his young
son Edward. Brought before the Chancellor, who was Bishop
* This version has been printed under the editorship of James Goodwin, b.d.
London, 1843.

i 78 Our English Bible.
Gardiner, the unlucky artist received a violent reprimand,
was called " villain and traitor," and had to daub over the
book and paint a glove in its room — in doing which, as the
story goes, he spoiled the king's hand, for he " wiped away
a portion of the fingers withal."* Scripture texts had been
painted on the waUs of churches, but in October, 1554, a
mandate came from Bonner, now Bishop of London, for
bidding the practice, and commanding churchwardens and
parishioners to " abohsh and extinguish such manner of
Scriptures, so that by no means they be either read or seen.
If after monition this was neglected to be done, parish
priests were to cause the aforesaid Scriptures to be razed,
abohshed, and extinguished forthwith."
In 1555 a London apprentice, found reading his Bible in
Brentwood Church, was told by a priest that " it was never
merry world, since the Bible came forth in EngHsh." After
this he was accused of heretical opinions relative to the
Lord's Supper ; and on that account, not as the penalty of
his Bible reading, he was condemned to the stake, and
suffered death accordingly, in the village of Brentwood.
" In my little pain which I shaU suffer," said the
youth, "which is but a short braid, Christ hath promised
me, mother, a crown of joy; may you not be glad of
that, mother?" She knelt down and cried, "I pray God
strengthen thee, my son, to the end. Yea, I think thee as
weU bestowed as any child that I ever bare." t
The press now ceased to be employed in Bible printing.
No new editions appeared whhst Mary occupied the throne ;
and in June, 1555, a proclamation appeared, forbidding the
importation of works by Tyndale, Coverdale, Cranmer, Fryth,
Latimer, Hooper, and others.
* Eadie, vol. i. p. 427. t Eoxe, vol. vi. pp. 723, 727.

Martyrdom of Rogers. 1 79
Amongst the martyrs of Queen Mary's reign were two
men who have come before us in these pages, both zealous in
promoting the printing and circulation of the EngHsh Bible.
The first is John Eogers, who took the lead in suffering, and
" bravely brake the ice." After editing Matthew's Bible, he
had charge of a congregation at Wittemberg, being sufficiently
acquainted with the German language for that purpose.* It
is interesting to think of this Enghshman residing at the
head-quarters of the Saxon Eeformation, walking up and
down these quaint streets, and dropping in at Luther's
lodgings in the Augustinian convent, or at Melancthon's
house in the Main Strasse. He returned to England under
Edward vi., and became Canon of St. Paul's and a lecturer
on divinity, holding at the same time the vicarage of
St. Sepulchre. Tried and condemned as an obstinate heretic
in January, 1553, he suffered from the revival of Henry rv.'s
Act, '' de heretico, comburendo ; " and in connexion with his
martyrdom one of those touching scenes occurred, which at
the time, as witnessed by immense crowds, and afterwards
as related in the chimney-nooks of England, did more than
anything else, save the circulation of the Bible, to strengthen
the Protestantism of our fathers. Eogers asked Gardiner
that his wife, being a foreigner, might be allowed to visit
him, " for," said he, " she hath ten children, which are hers
and mine, and somewhat I would counsel her what were
best for her to do." " No," replied the chancellor; " she is
not thy wife. She shaU not come to thee." " Then I have
tired out aU your charity," was the good man's meek reply.
On February 4th he was led forth to execution from the
waUs of Newgate ; on the way, probably by the corner of
St. Sepulchre's Church, where the martyr had been vicar,
* Foxq, vol. vi. p. 591.

180 Our English Bible.
and which is just opposite the prison, stood the poor
German stranger, with her children, one a babe at the
mother's breast. The sheriffs led the victim to Smithfield,
priests and others chanting the Miserere, and " aU the
people," no doubt including many of his old parishioners, •
"wonderfully rejoicing at his constancy, with great praises
and thanks to God for the same." " The fire was put under
him, and when it had taken hold both upon his legs and
shoulders, he, as one feehng no smart, waved his hand in
the flame, as though it had been cold water. And after
Hfting up his hands unto heaven, not removing the same
until such time as the devouring fire had consumed them,
most mildly this happy martyr yielded up his spirit into
the hands of his heavenly Father." *
The death of Cranmer at Oxford need not be described.
Community in suffering, as well as in labour, Hnks his name
to those of Tyndale and Eogers, who had preceded him, as
in Bible work, so also in pains and penalties along the fiery
way. And if the infirmity of the man triumphed over the
heroism of the Christian, there was not wanting in the case
of the faltering archbishop, at last, a strength of faith
which made him more than conqueror, and iUumined his
exit from the world with radiance, Hke a broad flash
bursting from the smoke which enveloped and darkened
the pyre.
Coverdale narrowly escaped. Through soHcitation on
his behalf addressed by his brother-in-law to the King of
Denmark, that monarch wrote to Queen Mary for his
liberation and pardon, supposing he was in prison. She
wrote back that he was not under restraint for his reHgion,
but because of debts he owed the Crown. She again wrote
* Foxe, vol. vi. p. 611.

THE MARTYRS' MEMORIAL, OXFORD.

Princess Elizabeth. 183
to her royal brother of Denmark, informing him that
although Coverdale was bound to pay certain sums of money,
she much more valued the gratification of his majesty's
desire, and would therefore cancel the obligation. Coverdale
received a passport in February, and soon reached the shores
of Denmark.* To use the words of Canon Westcott, " Tyndale, who
gave us our first New Testament from the Greek, was
strangled for his work at Vilvorde : Coverdale, who gave us
our first printed Bible, narrowly escaped the stake by exUe :
Eogers, to whom we owe the newly formed basis of our present
version, was the first victim of the Marian persecution :
Cranmer, who has left us our Psalter, was at last blessed
with a death of triumphant agony. The . work was crowned
by martyrdom, and the workmen laboured at it in the faith
and with the love of martyrs." \
The Princess EHzabeth, in those dark days, lived at
Woodstock, where she was kept in restraint, and whilst
there, surrounded by sylvan scenes, she wrote in her New
Testament the following quaint passage : " I walk many
times into the pleasant fields of Holy Scriptures, where I
pluck up goodly sentences by pruning, eat them by reading,
chew them by musing, and lay them up at length in the high
seat of memory ; that, having tasted their sweetness, I may
the less perceive the bitterness of this miserable life." \
And in ranks of society far below that of this royal lady,
many there were who loved then Bibles, and, in spite of
persecution, studied the sacred volume. Individuals in
secret would pore over Tyndale's Testament, and imbibe
the martyr's spirit from the same source whence that
* Foxe, vol. vi. p. 706. t Bistory of English Bible,'\>. 371.
J Weston's Life of Sir T. Pope, p. 71.

184 Our English Bible.
heroic man drank in his. The book was prized, concealed,
and preserved for posterity.
" Fierce whiskered guards that volume sought in vain,
Enjoyed by stealth, and hid with anxious pain ;
While all around was misery and gloom,
This showed the boundless bliss beyond the tomb.
Freed from the venal priest — the feudal rod,
It led the weary sufferer's steps to God ;
And when his painful course on earth was run,
This, his chief wealth, descended to his son."
Nor were Httle congregations wanting, who here and there,
in houses and fields, secretly gathered together to hear the
reading of the Word. One, at Ishngton, is speciaUy noticed
by Foxe ; and on the graphic pages of the Protestant
chronicler we have a vivid picture of a pious band on the
borders of St. John's Wood, on the morning of May-day,
when, as then neighbours were busy with rural games, and
were dancing round the pole on the viUage green, they were
employed in Hstening to the Scriptures read by one of then
number, and worshipping with primitive simpHcity the
Father of spirits ; tiU the constables, with . their bills,
approached the circle sitting under the trees, and commanded
them to follow, upon which they were led to the magistrate's
house, and most of them committed to prison. Soon after,
thirteen of the number were consigned to the flames on
charges of heresy.* On reading the examinations of these
confessors and martyrs, one is forcibly struck with their
intelligent views of reHgion, their extensive acquaintance
with theology derived from the study of the Bible, then
remembrance of Scripture texts, and then sagacity in
meeting the objections of persecutors. Often were the
learned doctors of Eome overcome in controversy with
* Foxe, vol, viii. p. 468.

Bible Readers.

185

these simple-hearted persons, who had no learning but
what they had derived from the oracles of insphed wisdom.
It was shown that a sound and thorough knowledge of the
Bible is more than a match for sophistries on the side of
error. And the patience, constancy, and joy of these Bible-
taught martyrs demonstrated the soul-sustaining power of
Bible truths, and read a lesson for aU generations, directing
us to the study of Scripture as the secret of spiritual
strength, hope, and consolation.

Chapter ix.
the geneva versicjn.
eneva is a name symbohcal of the Eeforma-
tion. It stands opposed to Eome, which
embodies the idea of papal despotism.-
The far-famed city on the shores of Lake
Leman was the home of Calvin and Beza.
There they studied, preached, and sent .
forth their writings, rendering the city a
source of light, whose rays, scattered far
and wide, pierced the darkness of Europe.
Many eyes were turned to that spot in the
middle of the sixteenth century ; many
bought instruction from the master spirits there.
Intimately is Geneva connected with the history of our
EngHsh Bible. To exiles there located was England
indebted for the most popular translation in the sixteenth
century, next to the work of Tyndale. A band of men, first
driven from then own country by persecution, which led
them to Frankfort, and then, differing from brethren
there, settled in Geneva, to worship God with Puritan
simplicity, according to the dictates of their conscience.

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Genevan Exiles. 189
The Bible was their beloved book, and in its pages they
sought a rule of faith, and a spring of consolation amidst
years of exile. The more imaginative among them, as they
paced the shore of the beautiful waters, which, as the sun
poured down his beams, resembled a sea of glass mingled
with fire, might count it no unapt emblem of Divine
Eevelation. As the charming scenery soothed their spirits,
they might weU regard it as the image of that book which,
contrasted — " With the world we dwell in, is a thing
That warns us with its stillness to forsake
Earth's troubled waters for a purer spring."
Amongst the exUes were Miles Coverdale, WilHam
Whittingham, Thomas Sampson, Anthony Gilby, Thomas
Bodley, and Thomas Bentham. They were hospitably treated
by the Genevese, and were admitted to the privileges of
citizenship. On the 10th of June, 1555, the city council
were occupied on the subject of receiving the strangers, for
in the register of that body it is reported that "the
Eev. Jean Calvin has' represented that certain EngHshmen
are desirous to repair hither for the sake of the Word of God,
and asked that it may please the magistrates to open for
them a church, to enable them to preach and administer
the sacraments. Therefore decreed that we advise the select
ing of a proper place of worship for said EngHsh, and that
the parties confer thereupon with Monsieur Calvin." The
Church of Marie la Neuve was finally granted for the
purpose.* WilHam Whittingham was chosen minister of the con
gregation. He had been educated at Brazenose, Oxford, had
been a student at Christ Church, had traveUed in France,
* Begistres du Conseil, vol. i. de 1555, fol. 102 ; vol. ii. fol. 17, 3c.

190 Our English Bible.
and had spent some years at Orleans. There he married
Catherine, daughter of Lewis Jaquemayne, and' sister to the
wife of John Calvin.* Afterwards he is found at Frankfort,
taking part in the unhappy controversies there ; and as he
adhered to the Puritan side of the question, he accompanied
those with whom he agreed to the city of Geneva.
In the year 1557 there was pubhshed " The Newe
Testament of our Lord Jesus Christ, conferred diligently
with the Greke and best approved translations — with the
arguments as wel before the chapters, as for every boke and
epistle, also diuersities of readings, and moste profitable
annotations of all harde places : wherunto is added a copious
table. At Geneva, printed by Conrad Badius mdlvii."
Whittingham was the man who prepared this work. It is
plain from the address to the reader that it is the work of
one man, though it has been strangely confounded with the
whole Bible which followed, and which was the united
production of several persons. Whittingham has been
generaUy mentioned as one of the authors of the work ; and
as there certainly was not more than one, and he was an
excellent scholar, fitted for the undertaking, and certainly
a leading man in preparing the Genevan Bible, I think it
most Hkely that he was the person who rendered this
valuable service to the Church of God. HJb pastoral
character would weU account for his UndemaMng the
labour, and would .agree with what is said in me preface,
of the translation being " designed for the simple lambs in
the fold of Christ at Geneva, the place where God had
appointed them to dwell."
* Brown Willis quotes from Whittingham' s tomb the inscription : " Mariti
Catherine Sororis Johannis Calvin theologi." "This monument," says a corre
spondent, Mr. Edwards, of the British and Foreign Bible Society, "however no
longer exists, having been destroyed by the Scots in one of their incursions

Genevan Testament. 191
The Genevan Testament was pubhshed in the year
1557. An eloquent preface to it was written by John Calvin.
The following is a specimen of the style in which the
Genevese Eeformer introduced the volume to EngHsh
readers : " For this is life everlasting, to know our only
true God, and Him whom He hath sent, Jesus Christ, in
whom He hath appointed the beginning, midst, and end of
our salvation. This is Isaac, the well-beloved Son of the
Father, which was offered in sacrifice, and yet gave not
place to death. This is the vigilant Shepherd, Jacob,
which had so great care over the sheep which he had in
keeping. This is the good and merciful Brother, Joseph,
who, in his glory, was <not ashamed to acknowledge His
brethren, were they never so base and abject. This is the
great High Priest and Bishop, Melchisedec, who made an
everlasting sacrifice once for all. This is the exceUent Law
maker, Moses, who writeth His law in the tables of our
hearts by His Spirit. This is the faithful Captain and
Guide, Joshua, to conduct us into the land of promise.
This is, the noble and victorious King David, smiting down
with His hand all rebellious power. This is the magnificent
and triumphing King Solomon, governing His kingdom in
peace and prosperity. This is the strong and valiant Sam
son, who by His- death overthrew aU His enemies. And last
of all, every good thing which heart can think or desire is

when the cathedral at Durham suffered. But when I was in Geneva, at the end of
1866, 1 spoke to Dr. D'Aubigne' on the subject, and with his aid I was enabled to
inspect the archives of the English exiles, which are preserved in the public
library there, and I found this entry, ' William Whittingham of Chester in
England, and Catherine Jaquemayne of Orleans in France, were married Nov. 15,
1556 ; presented a son for baptism 17th August, 1557.' His having married the
sister of Calvin's wife accounts for the report commonly repeated and counte
nanced by the inscription on the old monument."

I92 Our English Bible.
found in this only Jesus Christ. For He humbled Himself
to exalt us ; He became servant to make us free ; He was
impoverished to enrich us ; He was sold to ransom us ;
He became prisoner to bail us ; He was condemned to
deliver us ; He was made the curse for our blessing, an offer
ing for sin for our righteousness ; He was disfigured to
fashion us ; He died for our hfe. Insomuch that by Him
roughness is smoothed, anger appeased, darkness Hghtened,
unrighteousness justified, weakness strengthened, discomfort
comforted, sin bridled, despite contemned, fear boldened,
debt paid, labour eased, sadness made glad, mishap good-
hap, hardness easiness, disorder ordered, division united,
ignominy made noble, rebellion subdued, menacing men
aced, ambush discovered, assaults assailed, violence
oppressed, battle beaten, war foughten, vengeance punished,
torment tormented, damnation damned, depth drowned,
hell chained, death dead, mortahty immortal, and, to be
short, mercy hath swaUowed aU misery, and bounty hath
overcome aU evil." Thus did the writer, in the style of his
age, exhaust the power of language in expressing his love
for the Saviour, and his conceptions of Divine redemption.
This many-coloured imagery was fitted to dehght the
Genevan exiles, and many more like-minded in our own
country. It was a quaintly adorned gate, displaying the
characteristic workmanship of the day, and opening its
leaves to admit the student into the temple of revelation.
Tyndale's Testament is the basis of the Genevan, but
Beza's translation is much used in the revision, and there
are signs of the exercise of an independent judgment formed
from a study of the original. Explanatory notes are
introduced in the margin ; and, as might be inferred from the
quarter whence they emanated, the doctrinal sentiments

Genevan Testament. 193
expressed in them are of the Calvinistic school. The
Apocrypha is omitted, and certain features in the typo
graphical arrangement of an EngHsh version appear for
in the first time — the use of Eoman type, the insertion
italics ,of words to develop the meaning of the original,
which itahcs have there no corresponding terms, and
the division of chapters into verses. In this respect the
Genevan follows Stephens' Greek Testament; but it ex
hibits them in distinct paragraphs, which is quite a new
feature. The book is a very beautiful specimen of typo
graphy upon good paper.
It issued from the press while the fires were blazing in
Smithfield, and found its way to England not long after
wards. A case connected with the volume, after it reached
this country, is thus reported on the authority of Foxe :
" There was a priest of some learning at Auburn, near
Lincoln, who had been appointed to the place by old Long-
land, the bishop, Henry's confessor, in the days of Wolsey.
This man, named WilHam Living, had married, and with
his wife had taken up his abode in London, where he seems
to have tried to support himself, in the time of Mary, by
the sale of buttons. One Cox, a spy — or, as they phrased it,
a promoter — having lodged information against him, the
constable and his assistants soon came, and upon examin
ing his books, they made sure that he could not be a safe
man. This happened to be in August or September, 1558,
when the queen was far from being weU. Among the
books, Dean, the constable, had fastened his eye on one
that was bound and ght, which happened to be a work
on astronomy, the De Sphmra of ManiHus. On observing
the figures, round, triangular, and quadrilateral — this was
enough. Carrying this book open with him in the street,

194 Our English Bible.
along with its owner and his wife — ' I have found him at
length,' said the constable ; ' and it is no marvel the queen
be sick, seeing there be such conjurers in privy corners ;
but now, I trust, he shall conjure no more ! ' Dehvering up
both parties to Tho. Darbyshire, Bonner's relative, and the
chancellor of London diocese, after ascertaining who Living
was, and charging him with being a schismatic, he imme
diately ordered the husband to the bishop's coalhouse, and
the wife afterwards to the Lollards' Tower. In conveying
the former to his prison, however, the gaoler carried him
first to his own house in Paternoster Eow, and ' there,' says
Living himself, ' he robbed me of my purse, my girdle, my
Psalter, and a New Testament of Geneva.'
" Bringing his victim to the nauseous coalhouse and to
the stocks, ' Put in both your legs and your hands also,'
said the cruel and avaricious man, ' and except you fine
with me, I wiU put a collar about your neck.' ' What is
the fine ? ' it was asked. ' Forty shilhngs,' said the gaoler ;
a sum equal in value to at least twenty pounds of the
present day. ' I am never able to pay it,' said Living.
' You have friends that be able,' was the reply ; for weU they
knew how to take advantage of the generosity and sym
pathy of the lovers of truth. He then ordered both Hmbs
into the stocks tiU supper-time, or six o'clock, when a
cousin of the prisoner's wife actuaUy paid forty pence
(equal to about two pounds) to this monster in waiting for
one hour's ease to partake of food ! Then from seven that
evening to two the next day he lay thus confined without
any intermission ; the man waiting, no doubt, for another
fee. After this he also was carried to the LoUards' Tower,
' having the favour,' says the prisoner himseh, ' to put my
leg in that hole which Master John Philpot's leg was in ;

Genevan Bible. 195
and so lay aU that night, nobody coming to me with either
meat or drink.' Next day, however, Living was deHvered on
the payment of fifteen shilhngs for his fees. Thus, on the
most moderate calculation, the imprisonment had cost a sum
equal to about eleven pounds of our present money ; but
had this happened one year earlier, or had the queen, even
now, been as Hvely as the man himself, he certainly would
not have escaped with his Hfe ! The ' Testament,' of
course, which he most of aH valued, was gone.
"His partner in Hfe had been separately handled; and
one of her rephes was sufficiently expressive. 'You be not
ashamed,' said Dale, a promoter, ' to tell wherefore you
come hither.' ' No,' replied the good woman ; ' that I am
not, for it is for Christ's Testament.' " *
The Genevan New Testament was in 1560 foUowed by
a Genevan Bible. Lelong states that the chief persons
employed on this work were Coverdale, Whittingham, and
Gilby. He mentions also Goodman, Sampson, Cole, " and
certain others," as sharing in it ; and some have supposed
that John Knox, who was then in Geneva, took part in the
task. But a smaUer number must have been employed, at
least during the latter part of the work, if we are to beHeve
what Wood says : " Whittingham with one or two more did
tarry at Geneva a year and a half after Queen Elizabeth
came to the throne, being resolved to go through with the
work." According to their own statement, the translators
were occupied " two years and more, day and night." It was
completed April, 1560, so that we may conclude, however
many there might be employed at first, the number was
reduced to two or three at last. They appear very clearly to
have been Whittingham, GUby, and Sampson.
* Foxe, vol. viii. p. 528, abridged by Anderson, Annals, vol. ii. p. 306.

196 Our English Bible.
Thomas Sampson was educated at Oxford, and had
studied in one of the inns of court. He went to Strasburg
on Mary's accession ; but strongly sympathizing with the
Puritan party, he removed to Geneva, and united himself to
the cqngregation there. Anthony GUby was a Cambridge
man, and fled to the Continent at the commencement of
Mary's reign. He was prominent in the Frankfort disputes,
which led to his removal to Geneva ; and both these divines
were distinguished by their learning, and their ardent zeal
for the reformed faith. Coverdale, as already noticed, is
sometimes mentioned as connected with them in then
undertaking ; but it does not appear that he was at
Geneva tiU the end of the year 1558, which was after the
translation began ; and he left it again in 1559, before it was
finished. Hence it is unhkely that he was one of the trans
lators ; stUl I cannot think it improbable that, whUe he
tarried in the city, he would be consulted about the work,
being so distinguished a veteran in this field of enterprise.
There was another person connected with the Genevan
Bible, bearing a name that has long been honoured, because
of the deeds of the son, though individually the father has
been but Httle noticed. This was John Bodley, the father
of the celebrated Sh Thomas, who founded at Oxford the
noble Hbrary which bears his name. " In the time of Queen
Mary," observes the latter, " after being crueUy threatened,
and narrowly observed by those that mahced his reHgion, for
the safety of himseK and my mother (formerly Miss Joan
Hone, an heiress in the hundred of Ottery St. Mary), who
was whoUy affected as my father, knew no way so secure, as to
fly into Germany ; where, after a Httle while, he found means
to caU over my mother, with all his children and family,
whom he settled for a while at Wesel, in Cleveland ; and

Genevan Version. 197
from thence we removed to the town of Frankfort. Howbeit
we made no long tarriance in either of these towns, for that
my father had resolved to fix his abode in the city of Geneva,
where, as far as I remember, the EngHsh church consisted of
some hundred members."* Thus among that band of exiles,
and under Whittingham's ministry, young Bodley, the future
benefactor of Oxford, and one of the noblest patrons of
Hterature, had his early training; there too, probably, he
imbibed that taste for books by which he was eminently
distinguished. The expense of preparing the Genevan
Bible was borne by "such as were of most abihty" in
Whittingham's congregation, and Bodley was one of the
principal, probably by far the chief contributor ; for he
evidently possessed an interest in the pubhcation of the
Genevan Bible under EHzabeth, who granted a patent to
him, for the term of seven years, to print it solely, or
cause it to be imprinted.
Castaho, Beza, Calvin, and L. Bude, had aU been working
at the same mine shortly before ; and the Genevan trans
lators would be likely to avah themselves of what then
brethren had accomphshed. " They started indeed with a
far better foundation than the French revisers, and their
labours show no impatient desire for change. In the
historical books they preserved in the main the old rendering,
altering here and there an antiquated word or a long
periphrasis. In the Hagiographa, the Prophets, and the
poetic books of the Apocrypha, the changes were necessarily
far more numerous. The spelling and accentuation of the
Hebrew names in the edition of 1560, as Jaak'ob, Izhak,
Eebek'ah, Josh'ua, Zebulun, Abim'elech, are shght but
significant indications of a scholarly instinct. "t
* Wood's Athen. Ox. t Westcott, p. 275.

198 Our English Bible.
The version of the New Testament in the Bible of 1560
does not exactly agree with the separate Testament of 1557 :
plainly it was to some degree revised ; and the Old Testament
has a much better claim to be regarded as a thoroughly new
revision than any other since Coverdale's. The men who
prepared it were scholars, acquainted with the original ; and
though they derived assistance from other versions, did not
follow any of them with servility. " In all parts," says
Canon Westcott, " they took the Great Bible as then basis,
and corrected its text without ever substituting for it a new
translation. Even where the changes are greatest the
original foundation can still be traced, and the new work
fairly harmonizes with the old. One chief aim of the revisers
seems to have been to make the translation as nearly verbal
as possible, and consequently in a great number of passages
they replace the renderings of the Zurich scholars (Cover-
dale or Munster) by those of Pagninus. At the same time
there is abundant evidence to shew that they were perfectly
competent to deal independently with points of Hebrew
scholarship ; and minute expressions shew that they were
not indifferent to style." The Genevan Bible has been
nicknamed " the Breeches Bible," from the occurrence of
that word in Gen. hi. 7; but it is curious to recoUect that
the word breeches in the same verse had been used by
Caxton, in the fragmentary versions he introduced into his
" Golden Legend." With the knowledge of that fact, only
just brought to Hght, the Genevan Bible, loses its old
appellation. The work is dedicated to EHzabeth, who had ascended
the EngHsh throne before the pubhcation of the version ; and
one regrets to find in it traces of that intolerant spirit which
was so characteristic of the age. These worthy but mis-

Genevan Version. 199
taken men, exiles themselves through religious intolerance,
caUed upon her majesty to take out of the way such impedi
ments as might hurt or deform the work of reformation,
animating her by an appeal to the example of Josias, "who
burned in sign of detestation the idolatrous priests' bones
upon their altars, and put to death the false prophets and
sorcerers, to perform the words of the law of God." Strange
that those who had suffered so severely from the inflictions
of intolerance, and who were still in the land of exile, to
which that intolerance had driven them, should have learned
so httle wisdom in this matter from that which they had
endured ! But the duty of one man conceding to another
the Hberty in reHgious profession and worship which he
claims for himself is a lesson which few indeed, if any, in
those days, fuUy understood. They confounded the Jewish
theocracy with mere human governments. They thought it
a duty to support what they conceived to be truth by the
employment of temporal punishments ; and here was then
grand error, not understanding the import of our Lord's
words and those of His apostles, " My kingdom is not of
this world ;" " The weapons of our warfare are not carnal."
But the Epistle to the Eeader in the Genevan Bible is
written in a different spirit, and breathes sentiments of
universal good- will.
Amongst the comments is one on the observance of the
Sabbath — aU the more remarkable from being written in
a city where, under the sway of Calvin, no strict Sabbath
observance was maintained. Exod. xxxi. 14 : " God re-
peateth this point, because the whole keeping of the law
standeth in the true use of the Sabbath, which is to cease
from our works, and to obey the will of God." It would
seem from this statement that the Genevan Puritans were

200 Our English Bible.
imbued with the spirit which was so strongly manifested in
England during the next century. The Calvinism of the
translators comes out strongly in their comment on Bom.
ix. 15 : "As the only will and purpose of God is the chief
cause of election and reprobation, so His free mercy in
Christ is an inferior cause of salvation, and the hardening
of the heart an inferior cause of condemnation." Nor can
one help noticing the burst of feeling against popery and
prelacy in a note on Eev. ix. 3 : " Locusts are false
teachers, heretics, and worldly subtle prelates, with monks,
friars, cardinals, patriarchs, archbishops, bishops, doctors,
bachelors, and masters, which forsake Christ to maintain
false doctrine."
The Church Book of the Puritans of Geneva, preserved
in the Genevan archives, sheds interesting Hght upon their
proceedings whUe these translations were being prepared.*
By the aid of this record we are enabled to trace the
arrivals and departures of the strangers, the marriages that
took place and the children who were born amongst them.
The registers of the city council add to the information;
and there is something very touching in the notices taken
of the removal of the hospitably entertained refugees, after
the accession of Queen EHzabeth.
On the 24th of January, 1559, several of the exiles, with
then ministers, presented a formal request to the city
authorities for a dismissal, on the ground of then being now
able to return in peace to the home of then fathers. At the
same time they thanked then hosts for the cordial entertain
ment they had vouchsafed to them. On the 24th of August
* This book is in English, but it bears a French title, Livre des Anglais. An
account of its contents may be found in the Memoirs and Documents of the
SociiU d'Histoire et d' Archiologie de Geneve, 1853. There is a good article on
the subject in the Bibliotheca Sacra., July, 1862

Genevan Version. 201
the same year a person described as a bishop from England
— no doubt Coverdale — made a similar application.*
The last departure was at the end of May, 1560, and is
thus noticed in the city archives: "English citizens and
residents, — Wm. Whittingham, citizen, in his own name
and that of his companions, came to thank messieurs for
the good treatment which they have had in this city, and
signified that to serve the Church in their own country it
is necessary that they should remove thither, praying us
to retain them as humble servants of the State, and declar
ing that at all times, and in every way in which they may
be able to render service to the State and to individuals of
the city, they wiU exert themselves to do so to the utmost
of their power ; and requesting us to give them an attes
tation of then life and conversation while they have been in
this city." Then foUows a reference to the Church records
which the EngHsh exiles left behind them, and which are
stiU preserved in the Town HaU. " They have presented
the book of those of then nation who came to sojourn in the
city, as a perpetual memorial. Decreed that an honourable
dismission be granted to them, and an attestation of the
contentment- we have had with them; and that they be
exhorted to pray for us, and to do to strangers among
themselves as others have done to them : and let them
always be ready to bear good affection to this city. And it
is agreed that we retain those that are citizens and subjects
as such in future." f
* Begistre du Conseil, ii. vol. de 1559, fol. 81.
Ib. de 1560, fol. 44.

Chapter x.

THE BISHOPS' BIBLE.

1 he accession of Elizabeth created the
deepest joy in the hearts of EngHsh
Protestants, and in that pageant-loving
age expression was given to the pre
dominant feeling in a congenial. fashion-
By the Little Conduit at the upper end
of Cheapside, an old man appeared with
scythe and wings, representing Father
Time coming out of a cave, leading a second
person clad in white silk, his own daughter,
bearing the name of Truth. She had a
book in her hand on which was written
Verbum Veritatis. It was the Bible in EngHsh, and this,
after a short speech, Truth handed to her Majesty. " As
soon as she received it she kissed it, and with both her
hands held it up, and then laid it upon her breast, greatly
thanking the city for that present, and said she would often

Elizabeth's Accession. 205
read over that book. Which passage shows as well how
the citizens stood affected to reHgion (notwithstanding the
persecution that had raged among them for some years
before) as what hopes the kingdom might entertain of the
queen's favour towards it."* This pageant met with a
different fate from that in Queen Mary's time, when
Gardiner made the painter daub out from his picture the
Bible in Henry's hand.
Queen EHzabeth, just before her coronation, it being the
custom to release prisoners at the inauguration of a prince,
went to the chapel, and in the great chamber one of her
courtiers, who was weU known to her, either out of his
own notion, or by the instigation of a wiser man, presented
her with a petition, and before a number of courtiers
besought her with a loud voice, " That there were four or
five prisoners unjustly detained in prison." It was inquired
who they were, when he replied, " Those were the four
evangeHsts and the apostle St. Paul, who had been long
shut up, in an unknown tongue, as it were in prison; so
as that they could not converse with the common people."
The queen answered very gravely, ' That it was first best
_to inquire of them whether they would be set at Hberty
or no."f Her majesty, probably, had Httle doubt as to
the answer which would be obtained from an examination
of these extraordinary captives ; but by this clever evasion
she sought to get rid of difficulties which might attend her
avowing thus early the Protestant principle of the free
circulation of the Bible. There were Papists in the councU
of the queen, men who were influential in the former reign;
and, with her wonted prudence and pohcy, she endeavoured
* Nicholls' Progresses of Queen Elizabeth, vol. i. p. 35.
t Felicities of Queen Elizabeth, Lord Bacon's Works, vol. iii. p. 476.

206 Our English Bible.
to avoid exciting any opposition on then part. But it
may be added that EHzabeth's zeal for the diffusion of the
Scriptures was not so great as to render it necessary for
her to put any powerful restraint upon her feelings when
she uttered her cool reply to the Protestant courtier.
At aU events, the Word of God was not bound after
EHzabeth's accession. There was certainly no revival or
enforcement whatever of the old prohibitory laws against
EngHsh translations from that time ; and in 1559 injunc
tions, substantiaUy the same as those by Edward vi., were
issued by the new queen's authority, directing that every
parish church should be provided with a copy of the whole
Bible of the largest volume, and of the paraphrases of
Erasmus in EngHsh ; and that aU parsons under the degree
of a.m. should buy for their own use the New Testament, in
Latin and EngHsh, with paraphrases.*
The Bible " of the largest volume," or the Great Bible,
was the book specified in the injunctions ; but very soon
after the pubhcation of the Genevan Bible, we find her
majesty granting a patent to John Bodley for seven years to
print the same, which was virtually giving her sanction to
this new version, which soon became a great favourite with
the EngHsh people. The Great Bible was placed on the
church desk; but the Genevan translation was the book
preferred by the private reader in the family and the closet.
Yet Bodley's patent seems to have been of Httle avaU, for no
edition of the Genevan Testament or Bible was pubhshed in
England till the year 1575. This, perhaps, was owing to
Archbishop Parker. He and Grindal, bishop of London,
in a letter to Secretary Cecil, in 1565, spoke favourably of
the version by the exiles, and recommended that the patent
* Cardwell's Documentary Annals, vol. i. pp.!214, 218,

An Authorized Translation.

207

to Bodley might be extended for twelve years longer ; but
they told the secretary that "they would take such order
with the party in writing, under his hand, that no im
pression should pass but by then direction, consent, and

MATTHEW PABKEK.

advice."* It is probable that Bodley would not consent
to the exercise of a control of this sort, and that the
archbishop objected to some things in the annotations,
which Bodley was not willing to alter or suppress. The
archbishop's interference, however, seems to have stood
* Strype's Life of Parker, p. 207.

2o8 Our English Bible.
in the way of the reprint of the book in England.
What confirms this notion is that on the archbishop's
death, in 1576, the version was immediately pubhshed in
this country for the first time. Afterwards the Genevan
version became an increasing favourite with the EngHsh
people, and was frequently reprinted.
From papers preserved in the House of Lords, it ap
pears that at an early period of EHzabeth's reign a bhl was
drafted, "for reducing of diversities of Bibles now extant
in the EngHsh tongue to one settled vulgar, translated from
the original." Errors arose, and papistry and atheism
increased, it was thought, from varieties of translations,
while many desired " an authorized translation," which the
lords sphitual could complete, had they power to compel
assistance from students of the universities. The lords
sphitual, or any six of them, the Archbishop of Canter
bury being one, were, according to this biU, to assemble,
treat, and deal touching the accomphshment of the work ;
also to caU for the assistance of students of either
university, and to pay them out of moneys levied on such
cathedral churches and coUeges as should be thought
requisite. " Any temporal person," it is added, " may give
gift or legacy for furtherance of the work."* It has been
sometimes asked, when did the expression " authorized "
version originate? Here we find the word "authorized"
used long before the date of King James's Bible, and it
would seem to have been a current phrase for such a
Bible as would secure general adoption, through being
sanctioned by the chief authorities of the realm. Again,
* Hist. mss. Com. Report, iii. 4. The bill is not dated, and in the report it is
assigned to " 1558 or after." Elizabeth succeeded her sister November 17,1558
(Nicholas's Chron. of Hist. p. 319).

The Bishops' Bible. 209
as to men who should execute so desirable a work, we see
that at this early period they were naturaUy looked for
in Oxford and Cambridge.
Parker certainly was bent on the production of a new
version, or at least on a complete revision of the ,old
one, and for that purpose obtained the assistance of his
episcopal brethren. " The archbishop took upon him the
labour to contrive and set the whole work agoing in a
proper method, by sorting out the whole Bible into
parcels, and distributing those parcels to able bishops and
other learned men, to peruse and collate each of the
book or books allotted them ; sending withal his instruc
tions for the order they should observe ; and they to
add some short marginal notes for the iUustration or
correction of the text. And aU these portions being
finished and sent back to the archbishop, he was to add
the last hand to them, and so to take care for printing
and publishing the whole."* When the bishops had com
pleted their task, they sent back their portions of the
version to the archbishop as arranged, upon which his
grace, and certain learned divines in his household, re-
perused and, examined the whole work. The final accom
plishment of his undertaking filled the archbishop's heart
with so much joy that it is said he broke forth into
Simeon's rapturous exclamation, ' Lord, now lettest Thou
Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word : for
mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast pre
pared before the face of all people ; a light to Hghten the
Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel.' " t The
Bible was published in 1568.
The parties who assisted Archbishop Parker in the
* Strype's Parker, fol. 208. t Ibid., fol. ?72.
P

210 Our English Bible.
preparation of this volume are indicated by their initials
subscribed to the portions executed by them respectively.
W. E., at the end of the Pentateuch, point to WilHam
Exoniensis, or WilHam Alley, Bishop of Exeter, who
succeeded Coverdale. He was an Oxford man of great
learning, and in consequence of his Protestantism had
been obhged to conceal himself during the reign of Mary.
Practising medicine and teaching the young in the north
of England — where he led a wandering kind of life tHl
EHzabeth's accession — were his employments and means of
support till the establishment of the Protestant Church
in England released him from his fears, and opened a
pathway to promotion.
E. M., at the close of the Second Book of Samuel,
indicate Eicardus Menevensis, or Eichard Davies, Bishop of
St. David's, an exile in the reign of Mary,, and afterwards
Bishop of St. Asaph, whence he was translated to St.
David's. He laboured zealously for the spiritual good of
Wales, of which country he was a native.
E. W., at the end of the Second of Chronicles, are
the initials of Edwin Wigornensis, the famous Edwin
Sandys, Bishop of Worcester. He was Vice-ChanceHor of
Cambridge at the time of Edward the Sixth's death, and
supported the title of poor Lady Jane Grey to the
crown. For this he was stripped of all but his Bible,
and was confined in prison in company with the noble-
hearted John Bradford. Like Paul and Silas at Philippi,
these honoured captives for the sake of Christ were
instrumental in the conversion of their gaoler, and in
their dreary cell they were wont to commemorate with
lnm the feast of redeeming mercy. Preserved from
martyrdom, Sandys escaped to the Continent, but as he

The Bishops' Bible. 2 1 1
was going on board the ship that was to convey him to
a land of exile, he is said to have gathered round him a
number of sailors on the beach, and to have preached to
them the word of Hfe. On EHzabeth's accession he was
raised to the see of Worcester, afterwards to London,
and finaUy to York.
By A. P. C, at the conclusion of Job, probably we are to
understand Andrew Pearson, Canon of Canterbury, an
esteemed friend of Parker, to whom he was chaplain and
almoner. T. B., at the end of the Psalms, have been by Burnet and
others supposed to refer to Thomas Bentham ; but he was
Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, and would have taken
the name of his see. It is much more Hkely that
Thomas Becon, the well-known author of many valued
publications, is intended. This portion of the work was
originally aUotted to Guest, who returned it to the arch
bishop after making some slight alterations in the ver
sion taken from the Great Bible. Probably Becon was
the final reviser.*
A. P. C, at the end of Proverbs, most Hkely represent
Andrew Pearson, Canon of Canterbury, as at the con
clusion of Job, and A. P. E., at the close of the Canticles,
Andrew Perne, Canon of Ely.
E. W., at the conclusion of the Lamentations, are the
initials of Eobert Horne, Bishop of Winchester, an exile in
Mary's reign, and a zealous Protestant, one more lenient
than some others to his brethren who differed from him
as to the use of certain canonical habits.
* In a letter by Becon to Parker he mentions a present "worthy to be pre
served and embraced for the antiquity's sake, namely, an Exposition upon
the Gospels of St. Mark and St. Luke, and all the Epistles of St. Paul, both in
Latin and English."

212 Our English Bible.
T. C. L., at the end of Daniel, evidently denote Thomas
Bentham, Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield. He was a
man of distinguished learning, but still 'more eminent for
his deep piety. He was pastor of that remarkable con
gregation which met in secret places about London during
Queen Mary's reign, and it was he who accompanied to the
stake the Islington martyrs, who died in Smithfield in June,
1558. The queen had forbidden that any one should speak
to them at the stake. Profound silence was enjoined, but
the heroic Bentham turned to the people, and exclaimed in
a loud voice, " We know that they are the people of God, '
and therefore we cannot choose but wish weH to them, and
say, God strengthen them." The queen's proclamation
avaUed not— the murmur, Hke the sound of many waters,
rolled from lip to Up, " Amen ! amen ! " Bentham was a
refugee in the reign of Mary, going first to Zurich, then to
Basle, lastly to Geneva, where he was received as resident
citizen on the 29th of November, 1537. After the acces
sion of Elizabeth he was appointed Bishop of Lichfield
and Coventry.
E. L. are the initials of Edmund Grindal, then Bishop
of London, an exile under Mary, and finaUy Archbishop of
Canterbury. He was very lenient to the Puritan party
in the Church ; and because he would not comply with
the mandate of the queen, to put down certain meetings for
exposition and prayer, conducted by clergymen, and com
monly called prophesying, he was suspended from his
archiepiscopal office. He undertook the Minor Prophets.
The letters J. N. appear at the end of the Apocrypha,
meaning John Parkhurst, Bishop of Norwich, a pious and
learned divine, and very moderate in his views of the
ecclesiastical questions of the day.

Coverdale. 213
E. E., at the end of Acts, denote Eichard Cox, Bishop
of Ely. He had been early persecuted for circulating
Tyndale's Testament, and in Mary's reign rendered himself
notorious by the part he took in the troubles of Frankfort.
He was very zealous in enforcing the use of the English
Prayer Book, and on his return to his native country
was appointed by Elizabeth Bishop of Ely. The same
initials appear at the end of Eomans, and probably mean
the same person. It is altogether improbable, as supposed
by Strype, that they denote Edmund Guest, Bishop of Eo
chester, whose signature would be E. E., not E. E. Cox
wrote to Parker in May, 1566, saying, " I trust your grace
is well forward with the Bible by this time. I perceive the
greatest burden wUl lie upon your neck touching care and
travail. I would wish that such usual words as the English
people be acquainted with might still remain in their form
and sound so far forth as the Hebrew wiU bear : inkhorn
terms to be avoided."*
G. G. are written at the end of the First Epistle to
the Corinthians ; they designate Gabriel Goodman, once
an exile at Geneva, now Dean of Westminster. No other
initials are given, and it cannot be determined who prepared
the remainder.
The name of Coverdale does not appear. He returned
to England after Elizabeth's accession, but never resumed
his bishopric, though he officiated episcopally at Parker's
consecration. The reason of his not being restored to the
bench probably was that he had Puritan scruples about
vestments and other things in the Church of England.
However, he was appointed rector of St. Magnus, after
having suffered much from neglect and poverty — the too
* Strype's Parker, fol. 209.

214 Our English Bible.
common fate of the world's benefactors. He loved to
preach the gospel, though loaded with a burden of years
and infirmities ; but he was not long permitted to do it
without molestation ; for when the Act of Uniformity was
passed, at the beginning of Elizabeth's reign, Coverdale,
who could not fully conform, was deprived of his benefice.
Still he continued occasionaUy to preach. " Many of the
people," says Strype, " ran after Father Coverdale, who took
that occasion to preach the more constantly, but yet
with much fear, so that he would not be known where
he preached, though many came to his house to ask
where he would preach the next Lord's day."* He
died in the year 1569, at the age of eighty-one. As the
Bishops' Bible was pubhshed in 1568, Coverdale was then
eighty, and this circumstance of itself would be sufficient
to account for his not taking part in the work. His
name Hves with honour in the memories of posterity ;
and well deserved was the tribute of gratitude paid to
his memory on the occasion of the tercentenary of the
EngHsh Bible, in the year 1835. " The righteous shaU be
had in everlasting remembrance." " Since thou wast
precious in My sight, thou hast been honourable, and I
have loved thee."
In 1568 this magnificent volume made its pubhc
appearance, printed by B. Jugge, " cum privilegio regise
Majestatis." It has no dedication, which is a great wonder.
But the queen's portrait is introduced on the engraved
title-page, and portraits of Leicester and Burleigh are found
in the Book of Joshua and the Book of Psalms. There is
the device of a pelican feeding her young, and under it the
* Life of Parker, 242. When the church of St. Bartholomew was pulled down,
the remains of Coverdale were removed to the church of St. Magnus.

The Bishops' Bible. 215
words, " Matris ut hsec proprio stirps est satiata cruore,
Pascis item proprio, Christe, cruore tuos." There are two
prefaces in the volume — one forthe Old and the other for the
New Testament, both from the pen of Parker, and each con
tains admirable sentiments. " While this eternal Word of
God be our rock and anchor to stick unto, we will have
patience with aU the vain inventions of men, who labour so
highly to magnify then tongues, to exalt themselves above
all that is God. We wUl take comfort by the Holy Scrip
tures against the maledictions of the adversaries, and doubt
not to nourish our hope continually therewith, so to Hve
and die in this comfortable hope, and doubt not to per
tain to the elect number of Christ's Church, how far soever
we be excommunicated out of the synagogue of such who
suppose themselves to be the universal lords of all the
world — lords of our faith and conscience at pleasure."
Again, in his preface to the New' Testament, Parker
remarks, " Here we may behold the eternal legacies of the
New Testament bequeathed from God the Father in
Christ His Son to all His elect, I say, the legacies lively
renewed unto us, not of dehverance from Pharaoh his
servitude, but from the bondage and thraldom of that
perpetual adversary of ours, the devil. - Here we may
behold our inheritance — not of the temporal land of Canaan
or of the translation of us to the place of worldly paradise,
— but here may we see the fuU restitution of us both in
body and soul to the celestial paradise, the heavenly
city of Jerusalem above, there to reign with God the
Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost for ever.
Which legacies of His Testament promised and bequeathed
were notwithstanding recorded in the books of the Old
Testament to our ancient fathers, which in hope believed in

216 Our English Bible.
Christ to come, who was painted before them in figures and
shadows, and signified in then old sacraments ordained for
that time, but now more evidently renewed and exhibited
unto us— not in figure, but in deed ; not in promise, but
in open sight ; in feehng, and handling, and touching of
this eternal life, most manifestly confirmed unto us in
Christ His blood, in this His New Testament continued and
revived, yet in new sacraments, the better to bear in our
remembrance this His eternal testament of all joyful
felicities." Parker endeavoured by the help of Cecil to obtain some
special sanction of this volume from her majesty, the result
of which does not appear.* He wished to secure uniformity
in Bible reading, as in other things, for in some churches the
Genevan revision was used, whUst the Great Bible could not
be honestly maintained. Convocation, on the 3rd of April,
1571, took up the matter, and ordered that every archbishop
and bishop should have at his house a copy of the Holy Bible
of the largest volume, as lately printed at London ; and
that it should be placed in the hall or large dining-room, that
it might be useful to servants and strangers. \ Each cathe
dral, too, it was enjoined, should have a copy ; and, as far as
could be conveniently done, such a provision was to be
extended to parish churches.
This is one of those old ordinances which have a pictorial
effect on the mind of a modern reader ; and I never think of
it without picturing to myself the entrance and dining halls
* The letter from Parker to Cecil on this subject is printed in BibUoth. Sussex,
vol. i. p. 311.
t Foxe's Book of Martyrs also was to be provided. " Locentur autem isti libri
vel in aula vel in grandi csenaculo ut et ipsorum famulis et advenis usui esse pos-
sint." — Synodalia, vol. i. p. 115,

The Bishops' Bible. 217
of the old episcopal palaces of Lambeth, Norwich, Peter
borough, and other dioceses, with arched roofs or paneUed
waUs, and all the rude array of episcopal splendour, — so
different from the more modest domestic Hfe of bishops
now-a-days, — and placing before such a background, figures
of men-servants and women-servants, of guests and visitors,
looking at the ample page with curiosity, devotion, or
irreverence. The injunctions were so neglected, that six
teen years afterwards Archbishop Whitgift had to take the
matter anew into his hands. In truth, this Bible was never
popular. It was chiefly used in churches, but the Genevan
version was the pubhc favourite, and retained its place in
the family and the closet. From the year 1560 to 1603 there
were one hundred and thirty distinct issues of Bibles and
Testaments of different revisions, ninety of which were of
the Genevan text.
As might be expected from the separate allocation of the
work to different hands, the execution of the Bishops' Bible
is diversified. On the whole, the Greek scholarship of the
New Testament revisers appears superior to the Hebrew
scholarship of those employed on the Old Testament.
" The historical books of the Old Testament," says
Canon Westcott, "foUowthe text of the Great Bible very
closely. The Hagiographa, as far as I have examined them,
are corrected with considerable freedom. The prophets are
altered very frequently, but in those the new renderings can
generaUy be traced to some other source. The influence of
the Genevan revision is perceptible throughout, but it is
more obvious in the prophets than elsewhere. Castaho was
certainly consulted, and had some influence with the
revisers ; but, with the exception of the Genevan version
itself, no fresh sources were open to them in addition to

218 Our English Bible.
those which the Genevan exUes had used."* The revision
ofthe New Testament is more important than that ,of the
Old. As a general rule, the original renderings in the latter
appear to be arbitrary, and at variance with the exact sense of
the Hebrew text.t This Bible has obtained the nickname
of the "Treacle Bible," from Jeremiah viii. 22, where we
read, "Is there no tryacle in Gilead?" But here again,
as in the case of the Genevan Bible, the odd rendering is
not without parallel. The word triacle occurs at the same
place in Coverdale's Bible of 1535.
A new edition, pubhshed in 1572, presents little or no
alteration in the Old Testament ; but numerous differences,
more or less important, are discovered on comparing the
volume of 1572 with that of 1568.
It is interesting to read the notes in the Bishops' Bible
in connection with those in the Genevan version, and to
recognise the character of Church theology at that period as
reflected from the doctrinal remarks. It was really very
much the same as that of the Genevan school. The foUow-
ing are extracts :
" The mystery of man's redemption and salvation is
perfected by the only sacrifice of Christ, the promises to the
fathers fulfilled, the ceremonies of the law altered." —
John xix. 30.
" The will and purpose of God is the cause of the election
and reprobation : for His mercy and calling through Christ
are the means of salvation, and the withdrawing of His
mercy is the cause of damnation." — Eom. ix. 11.
" Our health hangeth not on our works ; and yet are they
said to work out their health who do run in the race of
justice ; for although we be saved freely in Christ by faith,
* Westcott, p. 301. t Ibid., p. 310.

Bible Patent. 219
yet must we walk by, the way of justice unto our health." —
Phil. ii. 12.
" They that stick to the ceremonies of the law cannot
eat, that is, cannot be partakers of our altar, which is thanks
giving and HberaHty, which two sacrifices or offerings are
now only left to the Christians." — Heb. xiii. 10.
There were other scholars in EHzabeth's reign who devoted
themselves to BibHcal translations. Lawrence Tomson, an
under-secretary to Sh Francis Walsingham, prepared a new
edition of the Genevan Testament. He entitled it, " The
New Testament, translated from the Greek by Theodore
Beza ;" but though he might avail himself of Beza's Latin
version, it is quite certain he did not follow it entirely, but
took the Genevan as his standard, altering it here and
there. The book contains short expositions selected from
distinguished authors. Hugh Broughton, a very learned
man and eminent Hebraist, also devoted his time to a
revision of translations. He was much dissatisfied with the
Bishops' Bible, and was anxious for a new version by
" some six of the longest students in the tongues." But
though a learned man, he seems to have been one of those
impracticable spirits with whom it is impossible to co-ope
rate, and therefore his proposal fell to the ground. He
then undertook to publish himseh a new translation of the
books of " Daniel, Ecclesiastes, Lamentations, and Job."
The pubhsher of the first edition of the Bishops' Bible in
1568 was Eichard Jugge, who printed on the title-page,
" Cum privUegio Eegiae Majestatis." A patent was necessary
for the purpose, and this had to be obtained from a person
named Wilkes, who enjoyed a monopoly of printing in the
EngHsh language, and. who granted royal Hcences upon
receiving a pecuniary consideration. John Jugge, the son

220

Our English Bible.

of Eichard Jugge, secured a portion of his father's patent ;
but in 1579, Wilkes, for " a great sum," sold a more exten
sive patent to Christopher Barker. In 1579 Christopher
included his son Eobert in a new patent, embracing " all
Bibles and Testaments whatever in the EngHsh tongue,
with notes or without notes, printed before then or after
wards." This Eobert obtained, in 1612, a patent for his
son Christopher, upon whose death it was transferred to a
brother. The Barkers assigned their rights for a while to
other parties ; but in 1635 they were re-secured by the
family, who remained royal printers of the EngHsh Bible
down to the year 1709.* * Eadie, vol. ii. p. 288.

A M
W3r>- to

• * iMji ky Mat
[' BSBslBgTSariir

F

HAPTER XI.

THE RHEMISH VERSION.

' n the year 1582 a volume printed at a foreign
press reached England with the foHowing
title-page : " The New Testament of
Jesus Christ, translated faithfully into
EngHsh out of the Authentical Latin, ac
cording to the best corrected copies of the
same, diligently conferred with the Greek,
and other editions in diuers languages,
with Aegvments of bookes and chapters,
Annotations, and other necessarie helpes,
for the better vnderstanding of the text, and specially for
the discouerie of the Corruptions of diuers late translations,
and for cleering the controuersies in reHgion of these daies ;
in the English College of Ehemes. Ps. cxviii. : ' Da
mihi intellectum et scrutabor legem tuam, et custodiam Mam in
toto corde meo ;' that is, ' Giue me vnderstanding, and I wil
searche Thy law, and wil keepe it with my whole hart.'
S. Aug., tract ii. in Epist. Joan : ' Omnia qua in Scrip-

222 Our English Bible.
turis Sanctis ad instructionem et salutem nostram, intente
oportet audire : maxime memories commendanda sunt, quae
aduersus Hcereticos valent plurimum ; quorurn insidice,
infirmiores quosque et negligentiores circumuenire non,
cessant ;' that is, al things that are readde in Holy Scrip
tures we must hear with great attention to our instruction
vand saluation; but those things speciaUy must be com
mended to memorie which make most against heretickes,
whose deceites cease not to chcumuent and beguhe al
the waaker sort and the more neghgent persons. Printed
at Ehemes, by John Fogny. 1582. Cum privilegio."
This title-page speaks for itself, and with the title-page
the preface is in perfect harmony. The translators begin
by guarding against the idea that the Scriptures should
always be printed in the mother tongue, and be freely read
by all sorts of persons. Not on that principle did they
publish this book, but for special reasons connected with
passing times and the condition of England. They eulogize
the wisdom and moderation of the Eoman Cathohc Church,
in neither forbidding nor commanding vernacular versions ;
and after reciting the names of iUustrious translators,
alluding to the Constitution of Arundel, and noticing what
had been done since Luther's time by learned Eomanists,
they insist upon the decree of the Tridentine CouneU that
the Scriptures " may not be indifferently read of all men, nor
of any other than of such as have express Hcence thereunto
of then lawful ordinaries." Tney lament that, owing to the
state of the times, this rule cannot in England be precisely
observed, yet they trust wise and godly persons will use the
matter in the meanwhile with moderation, meekness, and
subjection of heart. They deny that then forefathers
suffered every sciohst to translate, or every husbandman,

The Rhemish Version. 223
artificer, prentice, maid, and man to read the Bible, making
it the subject of table-talk for " ale-benches, boats, and
barges." The Scriptures had been kept in monasteries, but
"the poor ploughmen could then in labouring the ground
sing the hymns and psalms in known or unknown languages
as they heard them in the holy church, though they could
neither read, nor know the sense, meaning, and mysteries of
the same." They repudiate the idea that it is from envy
that the priests keep the holy book from the people. The
Church would have " the unwdrthy repelled, the curious
repressed, the simple measured, the learned humbled, and
all sorts so to use them, or to abstain from them, as is most
convenient for every one's salvation." They explain away
St. Chrysostom's sanction of popular Bible reading, alleging
that people are fonder of mysteries than morals, and that
every heretic quotes Scripture. They charge Protestants
with false renderings, and state that in this new volume
large annotations are set forth, to correct false deductions,
and to enforce patristic expositions. They prefer the Vul
gate because corrected by Jerome, commended by Augustine,
used by the Fathers, and defined as exclusively authentic
by the Council of Trent ; and, on principles of criticism
convenient to themselves, prove to then own satisfaction
that the Vulgate is as good, if not better, than the Greek
original. Numbers of words are left untranslated in the
text, rendering the book " a translation," as Thomas Fuller
says, " needing to be translated)/' Basche, azymes, neophyte,
are amongst the mysterious terms — majestic words, as Bishop
Gardiner would have called them. Odible, coinquination,
acception, correption, exprobate, obsecration, scenopegia, are
further examples of words sprinkled over this strange book.
"The spirituals of wickedness among the celestials" (Eph.

224 Our English Bible.
vi. 12) ; " What to me and thee, woman?" (John ii. 4), are
specimens of the appHcation of a rule they laid down, " not
to mollify the speech, but to keep to it word for word."
The idiom of our native language and the dictates of com
mon sense are set at nought by such a version as this. " Do
I mind according to the flesh, that there be with me It is
and It is not ? But God is faithful, because our preaching
which was to you, there is not in it It is and It is not ; for
the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who by us was preached
among you, by me and Sylvanus and Timothy was not It is
and It is not, but It is, was in Him ; for all the promises of
God that are in Him It is, therefore also by Him amen to
God, unto our glory" (2 Cor. i. 17-20). The similarly
ludicrous exactness of John Wychffe in the same passage
would, one might think, redeem his character in the esti
mation of these Ehemish translators. Of course, Eoman
theology frequently appears. " Being justified therefore by
faith, let us have peace toward God by our Lord Jesus
Christ " (Eom. v. 1). " By faith Jacob dying blessed every
one of the sons of Joseph, and adored the top of his rod"
(Heb. xi. 21). " If you have not penance, you shaU aU
likewise perish" (Luke xiii. 5). "Not willing that any
perish, but that aU return to penance" (2 Pet. ih. 9).
" Eemember your prelates which have spoken the word of
God to you " (Heb. xiii. 7). " By Him therefore let us offer
the host of praise " {ibid., 15). " Neglect not the grace that
is in thee, whieh is given thee by prophecy with imposition
ofthe hands of priesthood " (1 Tim. iv. 14).
But in justice it must be said there are many correct
and judicious renderings : " Holiness of the truth " (Eph. iv.
24) ; " our lamps are going out " (Matt. xxv. 8) ; " you are
not come to a palpable mountain " (Heb. xii. 18), are good

The Rhemish Version. 225
examples. And it has been well noticed that our version
in common use has obtained from the Ehemish, "adjure"
(Matt. xxvi. 63); " upbraideth not" (Jas. i. 5); "nothing
wavering " (6) ; " the engrafted word" (21) ; " bridleth not "
(26). "Every other English version," it is remarked, "is
to be- preferred to this, if it must be taken as a whole ; no
other English version will prove more instructive to the
student, who wiU take the pains to separate what is good
and useful from what is iU-advised and wrong." *
One point of interest and importance connected with this
translation arises from the esteem in which it is held by our
Eoman Catholic feUow-countrymen ; and it maybe remarked
that, disguised as are many of its renderings, and notwith
standing the array of annotations, which, sentinel-Hke, are
stationed at the door of the temple, there remain what is
sufficient to prove the inconsistency of the papal system
with the teachings of the New Testament, and to furnish a
thoughtful reader with weapons to fight his way out of the
strongholds of error.
The notes in the margin are chiefly controversial, and are
intended to guard the reader against the adoption of any
view inconsistent with the authoritative teaching of the
Church. In fact, the translators set forth Scripture as ex
plained by tradition, treating it as an oracle of dubious
meaning, of which the utterances must pass through
an interpreting priesthood. Unfortunately for the boasted,
and almost immaculate purity of the Vulgate, so strenuously
maintained by the Ehemish translators, within eight years
after they had finished the New Testament a fresh edition
appeared, under the sanction of Sixtus v., who, on account
of the errors in existing copies, found such an undertaking to
* Prof. Moulton, Bible Educator, vol. iv. p. 363.

226 Our English Bible.
be necessary. But this corrected edition was pronounced by
the next Pope to be incorrect ; and another edition, differing
more than any other from the Sistine, was published in
1592, under the auspices of Clement viii. Two Latin texts
varying in numerous particulars were thus placed before
the Church by two pontiffs ; an awkward circumstance
for advocates of the Ehemish version, and of papal infalli
bility, which has not escaped the attention of controversial
Protestants.* Three scholars are mentioned as employed upon the
Ehemish Testament, WilHam Allen, Gregory Martin, and
Eichard Bristow. The first was a distinguished Eoman
Cathohc priest, Principal of St. Mary's Hall, Oxford, and
Canon of York, in Queen Mary's reign. On the accession of
Elizabeth he fled to Douay, where he was made Doctor of
Divinity, after which he was promoted to a canonry at Cam-
bray, and then to a canonry at Eheims. There he established
a seminary, and exerted himself in opposing Protestantism,
for which he was rewarded with a cardinal's hat, and the
archiepiscopal see of Mechhn. He is said to have been the
designated Primate of England and the Legate of Eome, had
the Spanish Armada succeeded. Certainly he did what he
could to foment troubles in this country during the reign of
EHzabeth, whom he branded as a caitiff under God's and
holy Church's curse, given up to a reprobate mind ; therefore
her open enormities and her secret sins must be great and
not numerable.
Gregory Martin had been a scholar of St. John's, Oxford.
In 1570 he went over to Douay, and then became divinity
reader at Eheims. Wood speaks of him as " an exceUent
linguist, exactly read and versed in the Sacred Scriptures,
# See Dr, James's Treatise of the Corruptions of Scripture Councils and Fathers.

The Rhemish Version. 227
and went beyond all of his time in humane Hterature."*
Eespecting Eichard Bristow, or Briston, or Bristol, I can
glean no particulars.
A sort of appendix to the version was written by Gregory
Martin, entitled "A Discovery ofthe Manifold Corruptions
of the Holy Scriptures by the Heretics of our Days ; " he
attempted to overturn all Protestant versions, and thus to
clear the ground for a wide chculation of the Ehemish volume.
An answer to such an attack was felt to be needful, and it is
reported that Queen Elizabeth sent for Beza to undertake the
task, which he modestly declined, recommending Thomas
Cartwright, as far abler than himself. Cartwright was dis
liked by Archbishop Whitgift ; and when the former began to
work upon the subject, whether in consequence of anything
said by Beza to EHzabeth I cannot decide, he was forbidden
by the primate to proceed any further.t Dr. William Fulke,
Master of Pembroke Hall, Cambridge, published, in 1583, a
" defence of the sincere and true translation of the Holy
Scriptures into the English tongue, against the manifold
cavils, frivolous, quarrels, and impudent slanders of Gregory
Martin." Martin republished the Ehemish version in 1589,
with " a confutation " of what Fulke had written ; and this
brought Cartwright again into the field, who left behind him
a " counter confutation," published after his death in 1618.
" No EngHsh champion in that age did with more valour
or success charge and rout the Ehemish enemy in matters
of doctrine."J A remarkable anecdote is related by Dr. Eadie. " The
Eheims Testament was once appealed to and rejected in
* Wood, Athen. Ox. vol. i. p. 487 (ed. Bliss).
t See preface to the Confutation of the Bhemish Translation.
% See Life of Cartwright, prefixed to Hanbury's edit, of Hooker's Eccl. Polity.

228 Our English Bible.
tragic circumstances. On the evening before her' execu
tion, in Fotheringay Castle, the unfortunate Queen of Scots,
lalying her hand solemnly on a copy that happened to be on
her work-table, took a solemn oath of innocence, when the
Earl of Kent at once interposed that the book on which she
had sworn was false, and that her oath, therefore, was of no
value. Her answer was prompt and decided : 'Does your
lordship suppose that my oath would be better if I swore on
your translation, in which I do not beHeve ?'"*
The Ehemish translators made a version of the Old
Testament as weU as the New. It issued from the press at
Douay in 1609 , forming two volumes. The editors, who were
not the translators, state that this work, executed thirty
years before, had remained unpubhshed so long, " owing to
their poor estate in banishment." After rehearsing the
reasons given in the preface to the New Testament for
adopting the Vulgate, they remark, in reference to the
Clementine revision, to which they had confined then
version : " By the way, we must give the vulgar reader to
understand that very few or none of the former varieties
touched controversies of this time, so that this recognition is
no way suspicious of partiality, but is merely done for the
more secure conservation of the pure text, and more ease
and satisfaction of such as otherwise should have remained
doubtful." In conclusion, the writers express then sym
pathy with then suffering brother CathoHcs in England;
and they remind them, that the honours of martyrdom sur
pass description, that patience is necessary, and persecution
profitable, and they exhort those who are in Christ's fold to
remain there, and persevere to the end.
* La Mort de la Beyne d'Escosse Douairiere de France, reprinted in Jebb's
collection, vol. ii. p. 616. Eadie, vol. ii. p. 136.

Chapter^ xii.
the "authorized version," 1611.
N the death of EHzabeth, James i.
ascended the throne of England. His
progress from Scotland to the capital of
his new dominions was one scene of ex
travagant display and royal amusement.
Making knights was his majesty's chief
business ; hunting in the parks of the nobi
lity and gentry, and in the wild forests
which stUl spread over so many acres of
the Old England of that day, was his
chief recreation. The same employments were continued
after he arrived at his metropohs and his coronation.
had taken place ; and it was during a sojourn at Wilton.
while enjoying his favourite field sports, that he issued.
a proclamation which introduces us to a new chapter
in the history of our English Bible. On the 24th of
October, 1604, James appointed a meeting to be held
for the. hearing and the determining " things pretended
to be amiss in the Church." The meeting arose out of the
complaints of the Puritans, who early saluted their new

230

Our English Bible.

sovereign with a Hst of ecclesiastical grievances, which they
besought him to remove. The time fixed for this important
conference was the 14th, 16th, and 18th of January, and the-
place appointed for holding it was Hampton Court.

HAMPTON COUET PALACE.

That noble building had then stood nearly a hundred
years, one of the monuments of Wolsey's wealth, pride, and
greatness. The fine quadrangle of Tudor architecture, and
the magnificent hall, with gome other apartments, still
remain indicative of the state of the edifice as reared by
the cardinal. The comparatively modern erections by
WUHam in. have quite altered the character of a consider
able portion of Hampton Court Palace ; but if the reader's
imagination picture to him the whole of the building in

Hampton Court. 231
the style of the Tudor portion of it just referred to, he wiU
have an idea of the appearance of the place when the
famous conference was held out of which arose the
translation of the Bible, now commonly used in this
country. Of the multitudes who visit that specimen of our
architectural antiquities, many more, it is probable, think of
Wolsey's revels, or of Charles's misfortunes, in connexion
with the bunding, than of the circumstance of its having
been the bhthplace of a design for furnishing the country
with a new version of the Bible ; yet certainly no other
event, however romantic and affecting, associated with the
place, can be compared with this in point of real interest
and importance.
On Monday, the 16th of January — the only day of the
conference which concerns us in the present work — there
might be seen assembling in the withdrawing-room of the
palace, in the presence of his majesty, who had no smaU
taste for theological debate, certain prelates of the EngHsh
Church, and a few of the Puritan party, with the well-
known Dr. Eainolds at their head. The learning and moral
exceUence of this remarkable man were so great as to
inspire the admiration of his contemporaries generaUy, and
Anthony Wood, in recording his merits, waxes into rapture
which he finds it difficult to express. " The truth is,"
observes that historian, " he was most prodigiously seen in
all kind of learning, and had turned over aU writers, pro
fane, ecclesiastical, and divine, aU the councils, fathers, and
histories of the Church. He was also most excellent in aU
tongues, of a sharp and nimble wit, of mature judgment,
indefatigable industry, exceeding therein Origen, surnamed
Adamantius, and so weU seen in all arts and sciences as
if he had spent his whole time in each of them. The

232 Our English Bible.
learned Cracanthorp tells us also that for virtue, probity,
integrity, and, which is above all, piety and sanctity of life,
he was so eminent and conspicuous, that, as Nazianzen
speaketh of Athanasius, it might be said of him, to name
Eainolds is to commend virtue itself. In a word, nothing
can be spoken against him, only that he, with Thomas
Sparke, were the pillars of Puritanism, and grand favourers
of Nonconformity, as the general part of writers say ; yet
one of late date reports that Eainolds professed himself a
Conformist, and died so."* Whatever the latter part of the
statement may be, of the truth of which there is no good
evidence, the former, by general consent, is indisputable ;
and hence, in point of condition and piety, this iUustrious
Puritan was well quahfied to express an opinion on the
merits of Biblical translations.f Eainolds objected to
certain renderings in the extant versions, and he proposed
to his majesty that there should be a new translation.
Bancroft, the Bishop of London, no friend to the Puritans,
and therefore no favourer of Eainolds, abruptly observed
that " if every man's humour .should be foUowed, there
would be no end of translating." But James, in this one
instance, sided with the Puritans, and professed himseh
friendly to a new translation. He objected, however, to
any notes being appended, and railed against those in the
Genevan version as untrue and seditious, though the cases
he cited gave small countenance to the charge.? And
* Wood's Athen. vol. ii. p. 14 (ed. Bliss.)
t Dr. Eainolds' brother William was at first a Protestant, and afterwards a
Papist. The doctor himself was first a Papist, and afterwards a Protestant. It is
said a conference between the brothers led to this remarkable change of sentiment
(Neal, vol. ii. 37).
% The Genevan translation said of the Hebrew midwives, " Their disobe
dience herein was lawful, but their dissembling evil " (Exod. i. 19.) The trans-

The Conference. 233
Eainolds concurred with him in this view, for his proposi
tion was to the following effect : " That a translation be
made of the whole Bible as consonant as can be to the
original Hebrew and Greek, and this to be set out and
printed without any marginal notes, and only to be used in
aU churches of England in time of Divine service."*
The Hampton Court Conference, so far as an adjustment
between the two parties in the Church was concerned, came
to nothing ; but the suggestion of Dr. Eainolds led to a
most important result, in the benefits of which England has
long participated. To him we are indebted for the origin
of our " Authorized Version," as it is commonly termed.
Measures seem to have been taken soon after the confer
ence for securing suitable persons for the important task
of preparing the new translation ; for in the month of June,
in the same year, Bancroft wrote to Cambridge, stating that
"his majesty being made acquainted with the choice of aU
them to be employed in the translating of the Bible in such
sort as Mr. Lively can inform you, doth greatly approve of
the said choice. And forasmuch as his highness is
very deshous that the same so religious a work should
admit no delay, he has commanded me to signify unto you
in his name that his pleasure is you should, with all
possible speed, meet together in your university and begin
the same." " I am persuaded his royal mind rejoiceth
more in the good hope which he hath for the happy success
of that work than of his peace concluded with Spain."
lators remark respecting Asa and Maachah (2 Chron. xv. 16), " Herein he showed
that he lacked zeal, for she ought to have died, both by the covenant (as verse 13)
and by the law of God ; but he gave place to foolish pity, and would also seem
after a sort to satisfy the law-" This latter perhaps displeased James, because it
justified the severe punishment of a royal personage.
* Anderson's Annals, vol. ii. p. 371.

234 Our English Bible.
Very different were these subjects of joy which the prelate
thus couples together ; and certainly the manner in which
King James celebrated the ratification of the peace with
Spain was Httle in accordance with his professed regard for
the Bible. Sunday, of aU days, was chosen for the ratifica
tion, and the nature of the rejoicings was such as to exhibit
a profanation of that day, illustrative of the habits of the
times, and forming a fit prelude to the introduction of the
Book of Sports. "A most imposing pageant was exhibited
by the procession in coaches and on horseback, aU the
parties clothed in the most gorgeous attire. In the royal
chapel various pieces of church music were performed,
after which the peace was ratified by the king's oath, on a
copy of Jerome's Latin Bible, before the Duke de Frias,
Constable of Spain, the ambassador : the ah was rent by
the general acclamation. Then came the grand banquet
and drinking, which lasted about three hours. MeanwhUe
dancing had commenced in the drawing-room, to which aU
repaired. The Prince of Wales opened the baU with a
Spanish gallarda, and after various other dances it closed
with a correnta danced by the Queen and Lord Southamp
ton. Upon this, from a window they had a view of an
amphitheatre filled with people, where bears, the property
of the king, were, baited by greyhounds ; a buU running
about, tossing and goring mastiffs let loose upon him, fol
lowed next ; the whole scene concluding with rope-dancing
and feats of horsemanship."*
On the 22nd of July, 1604, the king wrote to the Arch
bishop of Canterbury. He stated that he had appointed
fifty-four learned men for the translating of the Bible, divers
of whom had no ecclesiastical preferment ; and the main
* Ellis's Letters, vol. iii. p. 207 ; Anderson's Annals, vol. ii. p. 372.

The New Version.

l3o

object of the letter was to enjoin upon his grace and the
bishops that whenever a Hving of twenty pounds per
annum was vacant they should inform his majesty of it,
that he might commend to the patron one of the said
translators as a fitting person to hold it, as his reward for his
service in the translation. He further required that the
bishops should inform themselves of such learned men in
then dioceses, and charged them to assist in the work by
sending their observations to Mr. Lively, Dr. Harding, or
Dr. Andrewes.* Here ended all the trouble — so far as
history records — that James i. ever took respecting the
translation which bears bis name. The letter just noticed
shows that his majesty was intending to reward the trans
lators by means of the liberahty of others, not his own ;
and it further appears, as will be presently noticed, that the
expenses of preparing the work were borne by certain
parties quite independently of any help from the sovereign.
The Earl of SaHsbury, ChanceUor of the University of
Cambridge, wrote the same day (July 22) to the Vice-
ChanceUor and heads of houses, conveying to them the
expression of his majesty's pleasure that they should join in
the undertaking by recommending fit persons to assist, and
by entertaining the translators at the coUeges without any
charge, — only the poor coUeges were to look to the Bishop of
London to defray any expenses in which they might be
involved. \ It is most amusing to see how careful the king
was to shift all the expense on others ; and it is mortifying
to think that the credit and honour of the undertaking have
too commonly been transferred from those to whom they are
due to the mean-spirited monarch, whose chief care in the
matter was to rid his own shoulders of the pecuniary
* Lewis's History of Translations, p. 312. f Ibid. p. 313.

236 Our English Bible.
responsibihty. Nor were the letters just noticed the only
ones written for the purpose of inducing other persons
to bear the burden of the expense ; for we find Archbishop
Bancroft writing to the Bishop of Norwich, on the 31st of
July, telhng him to acquaint the dean and chapter with the
subject, and ascertain what they would contribute. "I do
not think," he says, " that a thousand marks wiU finish the
work."* Other bishops were appealed to in the same way.
How much was contributed does not appear ; and it is now
made pretty certain that the money expended in the trans
lation was largely suppHed by Mr. Barker, the printer and
patentee. " I conceive," says a writer in the year 1657,
"that the sole printing of the Bible and Testament, with
power of restraint in others, to be of right the property of
one Matthew Barker, citizen and stationer of London,
in regard that his father paid for the amended or corrected
translation of the Bible £3,500, by reason whereof the trans
lated copy did of right belong to him and his assignees. "f
Out of this sum, paid by the patentee, some at least of the
expenses most likely were defrayed. On the 31st of July,
Bancroft sen# a copy of the king's letter to Cambridge, for
the persons tvho had been selected by the university as trans
lators, expressing his majesty's approbation of the choice,
and his desire that they should meet as early as possible.
He adds an expression of his own wish, that as soon as they
were prepared for the business they would communicate
with him.$
The foUowing instructions accompanied the letters :
* Lewis, p. 321.
t " A Brief Treatise concerning the Begulating of Printing. Humbly submitted
to the Parliament of England by William Ball, Esq., London. Printed in
the year 1651." Anderson's Annals, vol. ii. p. 384.
J Lewis, p. 315.

Rules. 237
"1. The ordinary Bible read in the Church, commonly
caUed the Bishops' Bible, to be foUowed, and as Httle altered
as the original will permit.
" 2. The names of the prophets and the holy writers,
with the other names in the text, to be retained, as near as
may be, accordingly as they are vulgarly used.
" 3. The old ecclesiastical words to be kept, as the word
' church,' not to be translated congregation.
"4. When any word hath divers significations, that to
be kept which hath been most commonly used by the most
eminent fathers, being agreeable to the propriety of the place
and the analogy of faith.
" 5. The division of the chapters to be altered, either
not at aU, or as Httle as may be if necessity so require.
" 6. No marginal notes at aU to be affixed, but only for the
explanation of the Hebrew or Greek words which cannot,
without some circumlocution, so briefly and fitly be expressed
in the text.
" 7. Such quotations of places to be marginally set down
as shaU serve for the fit references of one scripture to
another. " 8. Every particular man of each company to take the
same chapter or chapters ; and, having translated or amended
them severaUy, by himself, where he thinks good, aU to meet
together, to confer what they have done, and agree for then
part what shall stand.
" 9. As any one company hath despatched any one book
in this manner, they shaU send it to the rest, to be considered
of seriously and judiciously ; for his majesty is very careful
in this point.
" 10. If any company, upon the review ofthe book so
sent, shall doubt or differ upon any places, to send them

238 Our English Bible.
word thereof, to note the places, and therewithal to
send their reasons ; to which if they consent not, the
difference to be compounded at the general meeting, which
is to be of the chief persons of each company, at the end of
the work.
" 11. When any place of special obscurity is doubted of,
letters to be directed, by authority, to send to any learned in
the land for his judgment in such a place.
"12. Letters to be sent from every bishop to the rest of
his clergy, admonishing them of this translation in hand,
and to move and charge as many as, being skilful in the
tongues, have taken pains in that kind to send then parti
cular observations to the company, either at Westminster,
Cambridge, or Oxford, according as it was directed before in
the king's letter to the archbishop.
"13. The directors in each company to be the deans of
Westminster and Chester for Westminster, and the king's
professors in Hebrew and Greek in the two universities.
" 14. These translations to be used when they agree better
with the text than the Bishops' Bible — Tyndale's, Coverdale's,
Matthew's, Whitchurch's, Geneva."
Doubts having arisen in the minds of some of the Cam
bridge men as to the manner of observing the third and fourth
rules, Bancroft wrote to them again, stating that it was the
royal wish there should be three or four divines of the uni
versity appointed as overseers of the translation, especiaUy
with a view to carry out the third and fourth rules ; probably
a similar plan, from the beginning, was contemplated with
regard to Oxford ; certainly an instruction to that effect was
sent to Dr. Eavis, one of the company who assembled at that
university* * Lewis, p. 319. Burnet, History ofthe Beformation, pt. ii. b. iii. No. 10.

Westminster Company. 239
The list of the individuals to whom the preparation of
the new version was entrusted has been carefully preserved
and often pubhshed. It includes the names of some of the
most distinguished divines of the day ; and as . to others
among them, of whom history has preserved scarcely any
memorial, no reasonable doubt can be entertained of then
competency to discharge then momentous trust.
There is in the library at Lambeth a curious MS. (No:
933, art. 41), which seems to be part of a letter written by
some one who had been requested to supply information
respecting the translators. Neither the writer nor the person
addressed can be ascertained, but he was evidently a contem
porary student with some of those employed in the version.
He speaks of Dr. Stoughton as his tutor — probably Dr. John
Stoughton, FeUow of Emmanuel, and author of numerous
quaint sermons. The letter must have been written long
after the pubhcation of King James's Bible, as the writer
refers to a conversation which passed in 1622.*
They were forty-seven in number, and were divided into
six parties, two of which met at Westminster, two at Cam
bridge, and two at Oxford.
The first company met at Westminster, and to them was
committed the Pentateuch, with the other historical books,
as far as the Second Book of Kings. Dr. Launcelot Andrewes,
whose erudition called forth the praise of Europe, presided
over this division. He was Dean of Westminster, and then
promoted to the sees of Chichester, Ely, and Winchester.
C.asaubon, Grotius, and Vossius have eulogized his attain
ments; and Buckeridge, Bishop of Eochester, who preached
* I cannot but mention the learning and courtesy manifested by the late
Mr. Maitland, the archbishop's librarian, when, nearly forty years ago, I inspected
this MS.

240 Our English Bible.
his funeral sermon, in 1626, stated that he understood fifteen
languages. MUton, in one of his early elegies, embalmed his
name, and bewailed his loss in terms expressive of the
prelate's wide and brilliant fame.
As a hard student he has been rarely equalled, and his
learning is said to have overflowed in his conversation,
as it certainly does in his writings. His skiU in repartee,
and his prudent evasion of difficulties, are also recorded, of
which the following anecdote presents an example: "WaHer
having one day gone to see James 1. at dinner, saw the Bishop
of Winchester and Dr. Neale, Bishop of Durham, standing
behind the king's chair, and overheard the foUowing con
versation. His majesty asked the bishops, ' My lords, cannot
I take my subjects' money when I want it, without aH this
formahty in Parhament ? ' The Bishop of Durham readily
answered, ' God forbid, sir, but you should ; you are the
breath of our nostrils.' Whereupon the king turned and
said to the Bishop of Winchester, ' WeU, my lord, what say
you ? ' ' Sir,' replied the bishop, ' I have no skiU to judge of
parhamentary cases ! ' The king answered, ' No put-offs,
my lord ; answer me presently.' ' Then, sh,' said he, ' I
think it lawful for you to take my brother Neale's money, for
he offers it.' No doubt, in connection with the West
minster meetings, for, as Andrewes conversed with his coad
jutors, many a stream of learning would flow sparkling with
the Hght of innocent pleasantry." *
Amongst Andrewes' coadjutors was Dr. John OveraU,
FeUow of Trinity, Cambridge, and in 1596 raised to the
Begius professorship of Divinity in that university. In 1604
he became Dean of St. Paul's, and was afterwards made
Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, whence he was trans-
* Life of Waller prefixed to his Works.

Westminster Company. 241
lated to Norwich. To the same company belonged Dr.
Adrian de Saravia, the only foreigner engaged in the work.
A Frenchman, and invited to Leyden as Professor of Divinity,
he came over to England, became acquainted with Eichard
Hooker, and was installed first Prebendary of Canterbury,
and next Canon of Westminster, in 1601. He entered into
controversy respecting episcopacy and sacrilege with the
celebrated Beza, and in this way pleased Archbishop Whit-
gift, and displeased his early friends. He died at Canter
bury, in 1612, at the advanced age of eighty-two, and was
buried in the cathedral. Wood speaks of him as " educated
in aU kinds of Hterature in his younger days, especially in
several languages."
Dr. Eichard Clarke, one ofthe six preachers at Canter
bury, and vicar of Mynstre and Monkton, in the Isle of
Thanet, author of a volume of sermons full of erudition ; Dr.
John Layfield, " skilled in architecture," whose judgment
was much rehed on for the fabric of the tabernacle and
temple ; Dr. Teigh, Archdeacon of Middlesex, and vicar of
Allhallows, Barking, an excellent textuary and a profound
Hnguist, were among Andrewes' coadjutors.* The rest, of
whom fame reports nothing save then learned education and
connection with the universities, were Mr. Burgley, or Bur
leigh, Mr. Geoffry King, Mr. Eichard Thomson, and Mr.
WilHam Bedwell. Of the last, however, it is said that he
was tutor to the great Orientalist, Dr. Pocock, and greatly
exceUed in the knowledge of Eastern languages and lore. He
spent many years in compiling an Arabic lexicon and a Per
sian dictionary. An Arabic translation of St. John's epistles
by this same scholar is preserved in the Bodleian Library.
* The author of the Lambeth MS. supposes that Dr. Teigh might be tho same
person as William Tye, who wrote a catechism, which he dedicated to Prince
Henry, 1612.

242 Our English Bible.
The second company, consisting of eight persons, met
at Cambridge ; and they prepared the translation from the
beginning of Chronicles to the end of Canticles. Edward
Lively, Eegius Professor at Cambridge, and a man of great
attainments, presided over the department ; with whom
were associated John Eichardson, Fellow of Emanuel, and
Dr. Laurence Chaderton, a man well skilled in Eabbinical
literature. He was Master of Emanuel, Cambridge; and as
indication of his theological bias it may be stated that for
fear of an jArminian being appointed as his successor; he
resigned his mastership in favour of a Calvinist. This person
he survived, and then lived long enough to witness two other
successors. Thomas Harrison, a Hebraist, Vice-master of
Trinity ; Eoger Andrewes, brother to the bishop ; Eobert
Spalding, Fellow of St. John's, and Lively's successor in the
Hebrew chair ; and Dr. Andrew Byng, who subsequently
occupied the same professorship, completed the number.
The third company assembled at Oxford, and consisted
of seven members, who undertook the rest of the Old Testa
ment from Isaiah to Malachi. Dr. John Harding, Eegius
Professor of Hebrew, was chosen to preside over this party,
which consisted besides of Dr. John Eainolds, the Puritan,
who suggested the new version ; Dr. Thomas HoUand, a
very Apollos, "mighty in the Scriptures ;"* Dr. Eichard
Kilbie, a great Hebraist ; Dr. Miles Smith, " who had
Hebrew at his fingers' ends," says Anthony Wood ; Dr. Brett,
a good Grecian and Orientahst ; and Mr. Fairclough. t Izaak
Walton tells a story of Dr. Kilbie, in connection with the
* He was no man for episcopacy, says the Lambeth MS.
t Dr. Daniel Peatley was called Fairclough ; but the writer of the Lambeth MS.
thinks he was too young to be the person included in the list. He also mentions a
Mr. Fairclough, minister of Ketton (Kedington), near Haverill, Suffolk.

Oxford Company. 243
new Bible, worth repeating. " The doctor was to ride a
journey into Derbyshire, and took Mr. Sanderson (afterwards
Bishop of Lincoln) to bear him company ; and they going
together on a Sunday with the doctor's friend to that parish
church where they then were, found a young preacher to
have no more discretion than to waste a great part of the
hour allotted for his sermon in exceptions against the late
translation of several words, not expecting such a hearer as
Dr. KUbie, and showed three reasons why a particular word
should have been otherwise translated. When evening
prayer was ended, the preacher was invited to the doctor's
friend's house, where, after some other conference, the
doctor told him he might have preached more useful
doctrine, and not have filled his auditors' ears with needless
exceptions against the late translation : and for that word,
for which he offered to that poor congregation three reasons
why it ought to have been translated as he said, he and
others had considered aU them, and found thirteen more
considerable reasons why it was translated as now printed,
and told him, ' If his friend then attending him should
prove guilty of such indiscretion he should forfeit his favour ; '
to which Mr. Sanderson- said, he hoped he should not : and
the preacher was so ingenuous as to say he would not justify
himseH."* The fourth company was convened at Oxford, consisting
of eight members, who received for then portion of labour
the four Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, and the Eevela
tion of John. Dr. Eavis, Dean of Christ Church, and after
wards Bishop of Gloucester, subsequently of London,f was
'Walton's Lives, p. 360.
t " He took all academical degrees, and enjoyed all collegiate dignity. He was
a great man against the ministers who followed King James."— Lambeth MS.

244 Our English Bible.
president ; the famous George Abbott, Dean of Winchester,
and afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury ; Dr. Eedes, Dean
of Worcester ; Dr. Giles Tomson, Dean of Windsor, who
Hes buried in the royal chapel ; Sh Henry Saville, Provost
of Eton ; Dr. Perrin, Greek professor ; Dr. Eavens ; and Mr.
John Harman, were the members of this division.
The fifth company met at Westminster, and translated
the Epistles. It consisted of Dr. Barlowe, Dean of Chester,
afterwards successively Bishop of Eochester and Lincoln ;
Dr. Hutchinson, Dr. Spencer,* Mr. Fenton, Mr. Babbett,
Mr. Sanderson, and Mr. Dakins.
The sixth company held their sittings at Cambridge, and
undertook the translation of the Apocrypha. They were as
follows : Dr. John Duport, Prebendary of Ely, and after
wards Master of Jesus College, Cambridge ;t Dr. Bran-
thwaite, Fellow of Emanuel ; Dr. Jeremiah Eadcliffe, FeUow
of Trinity; Dr. Samuel Ward, of Emanuel, afterwards Master
of Sidney, and Margaret Professor ; j Andrew Downes, Greek
Professor ; the celebrated Mr. Bois ; and Mr. Ward, Fellow
of King's. Mr. Bois was most indefatigable in execut
ing his trust, for his biographer informs us that " all the
time he was about his own part his diet was given him at
St. John's, where he abode aU the week till Saturday night,
and then went home to discharge his cure, and returned
thence on Monday morning ; and that when he had finished
his own part, at the earnest request of him to whom it was
* " There was a Dr. Spencer who succeeded Dr. Eeynolds in his presidentship
of Corpus Christi College, who had some public place in the university — Lady
Margaret Professor, I suppose," — Lambeth MS.
t " He died a little before I came to Cambridge." — Lambeth MS.
X Dr. Ward seems to have been well known to the person addressed in the
Lambeth MS. "To speak of him to yon is needless ; yet one thing I will add —
that is, that he made the dial over the great gate in Emanuel College."

Cambridge Company. 245
assigned, he undertook a second, and then was at commons
air another college." " Four years he spent in this service,
at the end whereof (the whole work being finished, and
three copies of the whole Bible being sent to London, one
from Cambridge, a second from Oxford, and a third from
Westminster) a new choice was to be made of six in all, two
out of each company, to review the whole work, and extract
one out of all three to be committed to the press. For the
despatch of this business, Mr. Downes and he (Mr. Bois)
out of the Cambridge company were sent for up to London,
where, meeting then four feUow-labourers, they went daily to
Stationers' HaU, and in three quarters of a year fulfiUed
their task. All which time they received duly thirty shil
lings each of them by the week from the Company of
Stationers, though before they had nothing." *
Though but forty-seven are mentioned in the Hst, fifty-
four are spoken of in the king's letter — a discrepancy which
some have explained by supposing that the original number
was, from chcumstances, reduced to forty-seven. t
* Lewis, p. 322. Memoir of Bois, or Boys, MS. Harl. 7,053, printed in Peck's Des
Curiosa, extracts, are given by Anderson, Annals, ii. 381. Mr. Anderson discredits
part of the narrative. That only six revisers were appointed is obviously a mistake,
as there were six companies, and two from each would make twelve, the number
stated by Dr. Samuel Ward (Anderson, ii. 382). But Mr. A.'s argument against
the idea of the Stationers' Company paying anything is, like many of his arguments,
unsatisfactory. + Wood, in his Annals, mentions two persons as engaged on the revision not
included in the foregoing list, John Aglionby, of Queen's Coll., Oxford, and Leonard
Hutton, of Christ Church. Todd, in his Vindication of the English Translations,
observes that " as Wood omits the name of Eedes (whom he has elsewhere men
tioned as one of the translators), and of Eavens, occurring in the original list, we
may conclude that their places, vacated soon after the translation was resolved
upon, by the death, as we know, of the former, and by some other circumstances
now forgotten regarding the latter, were supplied by these learned persons ''
— App. to Vindication, No. vi.

246 Our English Bible.
The mode in which the translators were to proceed in
their undertaking is described in the regulations ; to which
they, no doubt, carefuUy attended. Every member of a
company was to take the same portion, and having trans
lated or amended it by himself, all were to meet together
to compare what they had done, and to form one revised
copy of the whole, in which they could agree. The oft-
quoted anecdote relative to the translators, given in the
learned Selden's Table Talk, most likely refers to this stage
of the proceedings : " They met together, and one read the
translation, the rest holding in then hands some Bible,
.either of the learned tongues, or French, Spanish, Italian,
etc. If they found any fault, they spoke ; if not, he read
on." When a portion had thus been finished by any com
pany, it was to be sent to the rest for their examination ;
and they were required, if they felt a doubt about any of
the renderings, or could suggest an improvement, to state
such doubt or improvement, and the reasons on which it
was founded, to the company who had executed the portion.
If the alteration were approved, it was to be adopted at
once ; if not approved, it was to be referred to a committee
of final revisers. While the labour was great, correctness
was likely to be secured by this plan ; for every portion
Would first be translated by each member of the party to
whom it was assigned ; then considered by them all ; then
examined by the other companies ; and then finally revised
by the select committee appointed to complete the work :
thus, after its first translation, passing through a number of
ordeals varying from thirteen to sixteen, according to the
number of persons in the company to which it belonged.
The final revision of the whole work, as we have seen,
was conducted in London. Delegates from Cambridge,

The Final Revision. 247
from Oxford, and from Westminster devoted themselves to
this important business. They met in the old hall of the
Stationers' Company, and there spent three quarters of a
year in completing their task.
BUson, Bishop of Winchester, is particularly mentioned
in the manuscript of Bois as engaged upon this final
revision, though he was not one of the originally appointed
translators. From the preface written by Dr. Miles Smith, who, for
his services, was rewarded with the bishopric of Gloucester,
we learn that the translators were occupied for about three
years in preparing the version. " The work," he says, " has
not been huddled up in seventy-two days " (referring to
the haste with which the Septuagint was supposed to have
been executed), " but hath cost the workmen, as Hght as it
seemeth, the pains of twice seven times seventy-two days,
and more." It has been supposed that the work was not
begun till the year 1607 ; and that the delay was occasioned
by the death of Mr. Lively, president of one of the Cam
bridge companies, who died in the year 1605. But no
positive evidence has been afforded in proof of the late
commencement of the translation ; and it must be apparent
to all that Mr. Lively's death would be no hindrance to
the commencement or progress of the other companies,
though it might be to the commencement and progress of
his own. It would appear that Fuller considered the work
was begun before Lively's, death, for he says, " The un
timely death of Mr. Lively, much weight in the work lying
in his skill in the Oriental tongues, happening about this
time — (happy is that servant whom his Master when he
cometh findeth so doing) — not a little retarded then pro
ceedings. However, the rest vigorously, though slowly,

248 Our English Bible.
proceeded in this hard, heavy, and holy task ; nothing
offended with the censures of impatient people condemning
then delays, though indeed but due deliberation, for lazi
ness." * Moreover from Wood's Annals of the Oxford
University it appears that the party who met there had
closed then work by the year 1607 ; for he informs us that
the party met at Dr. Eainolds's lodgings, and there " per
fected the work, notwithstanding the said doctor, who had
the chief hand in it, was all the whUe sorely afflicted with
the gout." Now as Dr. Eainolds died in 1607, the portion
undertaken by his company must have been finished in that
year, and was most Hkely begun soon after the preliminary
arrangements, in 1604, were complete. Probably there was
some delay with the other companies ; and this, in con
nexion with the repeated revisions, and the care that would
be taken in printing the book, would account for the whole
work being spread over so long a space as from 1604 to
1611, when King James's Bible issued as a portly foho
from the press.
The title-page of the volume exhibits certain features
in comparison with those of other versions. First, it is
stated that this Bible was newly translated out of the
original tongues, and with the former translation dihgently
compared and revised by his Majesty's special commandment,
in this respect agreeing with the Great Bible of 1541. The
Bishops' Bible of 1568 has cum privilegio Begice Majestatis.
Secondly, we find the words appointed to be read in
churches, resembling on this point the Bible of 1540 and
1541, where it is printed, this is the Bible appointed to the
use of churches, a note which does not appear in the Bishops'
* Fuller's Church Hist. vol. iii. p. 230.

The Version. 249
Bible of 1568. But in the Bishops' Bible of 1602 the word
"authorized" is used as well as the word " appointed."
The object of such words was, if possible, to secure uni
formity in the use of versions at public worship; the
Genevan Bible having divided popular attention, and
rivalled the editions pubhshed by royal sanction. But
whether the editors were in any way authorized to insert
these words, or whether the printers followed the title-page
of 1540 and 1541, I do not know. Certainly the version
was not issued or sanctioned by royal proclamation, or by
order of council, or by Act of Parliament, or by vote of
Convocation. An episcopal mandate indeed appears en
forcing its use, for copies of the whole Bible of the largest
volume and latest edition are requhed to be in churches by
the visitation articles of Laud, 1622, St. David's, 1628,
London. In the Scotch Canons of 1636 it is said dis
tinctly, " The Bible shall be of the translation of King
James." Thirdly — and the fact is important' — there are no
annotations announced on the title-page. In this respect,
the Bible resembles several succeeding ones ; but it exhibits
a marked contrast to the two conflicting translations which
represented the Puritans on the one hand and the Eoman
Cathohcs on the other. The first wished to point out in
Scripture the great doctrines which they fervently beheved ;
and the second would not trust a vernacular version to go
out alone. The Bible of 1611 left the Divine contents to
speak for themselves. Whether this was a Puritan sugges
tion at the Hampton Conference, or one made by the king
himself, is a disputed question.*
The translation is considered to follow mainly the
Bishops' Bible; and here it is interesting to refer to what
Cardwell's History of Conferences, pp. 213, 214, and Anderson, vol. ii. p. 371.

Our English Bible.

"&

has been said already respecting the sources from which
that revision was derived. The Great Bible was a standard
text, from which, however, the prelates frequently deviated,
making large use of the Genevan version. The editor of
the Great Bible, whilst employing Munster and Beza,
worked mainly upon what he found in the Bible which
went by the name of Matthew's. To that Tyndale and
Coverdale are discovered to be principal contributors ; and
when we reach the first of these names we come to the
fountain-head of Protestant English versions, as the
Wychffe Bibles seem to have had little or no influence. The
Vulgate, however, which Wycliffe and his foUowers rendered
into the vernacular, had a decidedly appreciable effect in
these successive volumes. The Bishops' Bible, the Genevan
Bible, the Great Bible, and Matthew's Bible, with Tyndale's
Testaments, then, were, together with the original learning
of successive editors, the chief elements which entered into
the composition of the version of 1611. But there must
be added other influences. First, it appears that, besides
the stream of Genevan influence flowing through the Bishops'
Bible, it came also over the minds of the new translators
with a dhect and immediate force. They must have had the
Bible and Testament of the exiles before them, and they must
have largely consulted it. But, what is more remarkable,
the effect of the Ehemish version is manifest. The com
panies must have had the Eoman Catholic Testament, as
well as the whole volume of Puritan Scripture, by their
side as they slowly accomplished their task.
There were probably other learned works lying on the
table, around which gathered the different groups of
scholars. New Latin versions of the Old Testament had
been published by Arias Montanus and by Tremelhus.

The Version. 251
New vernacular editions in French, Italian, and Spanish had
also appeared ; but Httle or nothing had been accomphshed
in the way of collating Greek and Hebrew mss., and correct
ing the' text generally adopted.
Canon Westcott has instituted a careful comparison of
the last version with former ones. In the fifty-third chapter
of Isaiah he finds that, "as, far as the variations admit of
being reduced to a numerical form, about seven-eighths are
due to the Genevan version, either alone, or in agreement
with one or both of the Latin versions ' of Tremellius and
Pagninus.' " Professor Moulton says of another passage, in
the fifty-fourth chapter, from the eleventh to the seven
teenth verse, that in more than sixty out of ninety-six words
varying in different versions, our version agrees with the
Genevan, whereas its agreement with the Bishops' Bible
does not extend to more than twelve out of that number.
" Hence, though the Bishops' Bible furnished the basis for
the new translation, it is clear that the Genevan exercised a
much more powerful influence. Indeed, a glance wiU show
that the five translations divide themselves into two classes,
the Bibles of Coverdale, Cranmer, and the bishops, standing
on the one side ; the Genevan and Authorized Version on
the other." Tyndale and Whittingham, then, must be
regarded as most important factors in the work 'wrought
out by the six companies, showing that an honest endeavour
to adopt the best translation of words must have guided them,
apart from ecclesiastical prejudices, which might have been
supposed to have turned them away from the Puritan exiles
in Germany and Geneva. A further proof of their impar-
tiahty is seen in the use they made of the Ehemish
Testament. The repeated eulogiums pronounced by the first scholars

252 Our English Bible.
of this country upon the general accuracy of our Autho
rized Version render it unnecessary, and even presumptuous,
for me to add anything to what they have said. Upon all
the more important points of religious faith and practice, it
is undoubtedly a safe and sufficient guide to those who are
unable to examine the original Scriptures for themselves.
AVhile in this well-merited commendation there are few who
will not agree, there are perhaps equally few who wiU not
admit that there are minor inaccuracies which need correc
tion. The obscurity of some passages, especiaUy in the Old
Testament ; the infelicity and almost ludicrous effect of
certain modes of expression employed, and the striking
indehcacy of others ; the arbitrary rendering of certain
terms ; and the unnecessary introduction in some instances
of words distinguished by italics, are blemishes so fre
quently pointed out as to require no further notice. It
should, however, be observed that the objections to some
passages have undoubtedly arisen from a scrupulous adher
ence to the original, and from an attempt to transfer some of
its idioms into our own language. It had been strange indeed
if, in an age when BibHcal criticism was in its infancy, a work
had been produced in which the keen eye of modern scholar
ship could detect no imperfections or mistakes, and which
could receive no improvement from rich treasures of learn
ing amassed during the last two centuries. It is sufficient
praise and a monument of fame glorious enough for any band
of scholars to. envy, that in a volume of such extent more
alterations are not requisite to render it a perfect expression
of the original. As a specimen of EngHsh style this Bible
has received enthusiastic praise ; and here, perhaps, admira
tion for its sacred contents, and the dehghtful associations
with its very phraseology, which piety and devotion cannot

Address to the Reader, 253
fail to form, may warp our judgment on the question of its
literary merits ; yet, after all that can be said against it in
this point of view (and that it has Hterary defects as well as
excellences it were uncandid to deny), we must surely be
struck with the fact that while our Bible possesses number
less specimens of English diction, fuU of rhythm, beauty, and
grandeur, there are to be found in it so few words and modes
of expression which the lapse of between two and three
centuries has rendered obsolete or dubious.
The dedication to King James is, in its way, somewhat
of a Hterary curiosity, but it is unworthy of the prominent
place it retains in our Bibles, especially as the introduction,
quite of another character, is frequently omitted. The king
is styled Most High and Mighty Prince, and is described as
succeeding the " bright occidental star," Queen Ehzabeth, as
"the sun in his strength dispelling supposed and surmised
mists ;" and then aUusion is made to his majesty's " writing
in defence of the truth, which hath given such a blow unto
that man of sin as wiU not be healed." Possibly some
readers may not understand the reference. It is to two
treatises, one entitled " Triplici nodo, triplus cuneus, or an
apology for the Oath of Allegiance, against the two Breves of
Pope Paulus Quintus, and the late letter of Cardinal
BeUarmine to G. Blackwel, the arch-priest; " the other " A
Premonition to aU most mighty monarchs, kings, free
princes, and states of Christendom."
If, on the one hand, the dedication to the king is
strongly marked by the fulsome adulation of the age ; on the
other hand, the address to the reader is a most valuable
composition, abounding with much that is quaint and cha
racteristic, and also containing a great deal of useful
information, blended with pious sentiment. It is to be

254 Our English Bible.
regretted that, while the dedication appears in all the
editions, the address to the reader is inserted in very few.
It would be a good alteration entirely to cancel the former,
and universaUy introduce the latter.
It commences with a reference to the opposition which
had been made to the undertaking, and then proceeds in a
strain of characteristic iUustration to unfold the excellences
of the sacred volume. It vindicates the making and circu
lating of vernacular translations, and supplies a succinct
account of ancient versions. The Eomanists are attacked
for their unwillingness to place the Scriptures in the hands
of the people, and the motives which induced the trans
lators to engage in the work are stated and justified. The
need of a new version is proved, and the imputations of
Popish opponents repeUed. The writer shows how labo
rious had been the task of preparing this amended trans
lation, and he explains the reason for introducing marginal
readings, for translating the same original expressions by
different EngHsh terms, and for the retention of old
ecclesiastical words.
The following is an extract from this composition, and it
shows how thoroughly the writer was convinced of the
great principle of Protestantism — that is, the sufficiency of
the Scriptures — and how highly he valued, and how deeply
he venerated the holy volume : " ' I adore the fulness of the
Scripture,' saith Tertulhan against Hermogenes. And
again, to Apelles, an heretic of the Hke stamp, he saith, ' I
do not admit that which thou bringest in (or concludest) of
thine own (head or store, de tuo) without Scripture.' So,
St. Justin Martyr before him, ' We must know by all
means ' (saith he), ' that it is not lawful (or possible) to
learn (anything) of God, or of right piety, save only out of

Address to the Reader. 255
the prophets, who teach us by Divine inspiration.' So St.
Bash, after Tertullian, 'It is a manifest falling away from the
faith, and a fault of presumption, either to reject any of
those things that are written, or to bring in (upon the head
of them, t7rsiaayaiv) any of those things that are not written.'
We omit to cite to the same effect St. Cyril, Bishop of
Jerusalem', in his Fourth Catechism, St. Hierome against
Helvidius, St. Augustine, in his Third Book against the
Letters of Petilian, and in very many other places of his
works. Also we forbear to descend to later Fathers, be
cause we will not weary the reader. The Scriptures then
being acknowledged to be so full and so perfect, how can we
excuse ourselves of neghgence if we do not study them? of
curiosity, if we be not content with them ? Men talk much
of dptauwvri* how many sweet and goodly things it had
hanging on it ; of the philosopher's stone, that it turneth
copper into gold ; of Cornu-copice, that it had all things
necessary for food in it ; of Panaces the herb, that it was
good for aU diseases ; of Catholicon the drug, that it is
instead of all purges ; of Vulcan's armour, that it was an
armour of proof against all thrusts and aU blows, etc. Well',
that which they falsely or vainly attributed to these things
for bodily good, we may justly, and with fuU measure,
ascribe unto the Scripture for spiritual. It is not only an
armour, but also a whole armoury of weapons, both offen
sive and defensive ; whereby we may save ourselves, and put
the enemy to flight. It is not an herb, but a tree, or rather
a whole paradise of trees of Hfe, which bring forth fruit
every month, and the fruit thereof is for meat, and the
leaves for medicine. It is not a pot of manna, or a cruse
of oil, which were for memory only, or for a meal's
* An olive bough wrapped about with wool, whereon did hang figs, etc.

256 Our English Bible.
meat or two ; but, as it were, a shower of heavenly
bread sufficient for a whole host, be it never so great ;
and, as it were, a whole cellar fuH of oil-vessels ;
whereby all our necessities may be provided for, and our
debts discharged. In a word, it is a panary of wholesome
food against fenowed* traditions ; a physician's shop (St.
Basil caUeth it) of preservatives against poisoned heresies ;
a pandect of profitable laws against rebelhous spirits ; a
treasury of most costly jewels against beggarly rudiments ;
finally, a fountain of most pure water springing up unto
everlasting life. And what marvel? the original thereof
being from heaven, not from earth ; the Author being God,
not man ; the inditer, the Holy Sphit, not the wit of the
apostles or prophets ; the penmen, such as were sanctified
from the womb, and endued with a principal portion of
God's Spirit ; the matter, verity, piety, purity, uprightness ;
the form, God's word, God's testimony, God's oracles, the
word of truth, the word of salvation, etc. ; the effects, light
of understanding, stableness of persuasion, repentance from
dead works, newness of Hfe, hohness, peace, joy in the Holy
Ghost ; lastly, the end and reward of the study thereof, fel
lowship with the saints, participation of the heavenly nature,
fruition of an inheritance immortal, undefiled, and that
never shall fade away. Happy is the man that dehghteth in
the Scripture, and thrice happy that meditateth in it day
and night."
A work of such magnitude and extent, and one calcu
lated to awaken prejudice in certain minds, was not likely
to escape adverse criticism. Hugh Broughton is reported
to have been the greatest Hebraist and the first Babbinical
scholar of his age. He had inveighed against the Bishops'
- Mouldy.

Broughtons Criticisms. 257
Bible, and proposed a new translation "by some six in the
longest students in the tongues." Being a'man of immense
conceit, he numbered himself amongst the six, and in 1596,
1605, and 1606, published parts of a new translation of the
Old Testament. He attacked Bancroft, and punningly
branded him " as the bane of the banned croft," and con
signed him to Gehenna, whence he said King James, whom
he flattered, would "behold him from Abraham's bosom."
When the version of 1611 came out, Broughton said, " It
was sent me to censure, which bred in me a sadness which
will grieve me while I breathe ; it is so iU done. TeU his
majesty that I had rather be rent in pieces with wild
horses than any such translation, by my consent, should be
urged on poor churches." * It is curious to notice the
lengths to which prejudice has carried some men on this
subject. The translators were charged with introducing such
words as "famihar spirit," "witch," and "wizard," to please
King James ; whereas the Bishops', the Genevan, and the
Great Bible had used " famihar sphit " and " witch " as well
as simUar renderings. In later days the version has been
condemned for flattering James by the rendering, " God save
the king ; " and the monarch • himself has been represented
as the final reviser : " those royal hands, dripping with the
blood of hundreds of innocent human beings, gave the
final touches to it." Notwithstanding attacks made at
the time on the work in some quarters, it met, on the
whole, with a favourable reception, and soon, in a great
measure, superseded the use of earlier versions : in the
attainment of this pre-eminence, perhaps it was aided by
the royal authority expressed on the title-page. But the
Genevan version continued in use a good whUe.
* Eadie, Hist., vol ii. p. 265.

258 Our English Bible.
In closing this chapter I cannot refrain from remarking
how great is the debt which Enghshmen owe to the men,
who laboured through many a month and year of hard and
prayerful study, to produce the translations described. Few
who read cheap Bibles and Testaments ever think of the
toil and expense, the patience and prayer, devoted to the
preparation of the Book which has now happily become so
easUy procurable. The business of these early translators
was a heavy task. It was hard work to roU back the gates
of the temple of truth — so long closed ; to remove from the
mouth of the weU of Hving water the stones that covered
it — so old and moss-grown. AU honour to them for then
pious toils ! Let them have a place among our country's
best benefactors. We wiU inscribe, even above the names of
poets, patriots, soldiers, and statesmen, those of Wychffe,
Tyndale, Coverdale, and the rest; yet with no feeling of
idolatry, but in a spirit akin to that of St. Paul, who, when
speaking of those who rejoiced in his labours and success,
devoutly acknowledged, " They glorified God in me."
The persons engaged in the eariier period were not the
great, the noble, the dignified in the world's estimation, but
men for the most part poor, persecuted, and despised.
Prouder names follow in the wake of these. " God hath
chosen the foohsh things of the world to confound the wise ;
and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to con
found the things which are mighty ; and base things of the
world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea,
and things which are not, to bring to nought things that
are : that no flesh should glory in His presence."
There can be no reasonable doubt that the pre-eminence
which distinguishes the history of England among thestates
of Europe for the last three hundred years is to be attributed

Results of the Translation.

259

largely to the wide circulation of this volume, and the Bible-
reading habits ofthe people. It has proved a pUlar of strength,
bearing up and giving stability to pubhc and private virtue —
to patriotism, loyalty, obedience, and domestic affection.
It is a fountain of Hght and love, illuminating the intellect
and purifying the heart — the true palladium of our liberties,
our peace, and our prosperity.

Chapter xiii.

THE BIBLE IN THE SEVENTEENTH AND
EIGHTEENTH CENTURIES.

^Jtpogeaphv and bookbinding were matters
regarded with much interest in the sixteenth
and seventeenth centuries. The perfection of
the art of printing as soon as it was invented
has been noticed in a former chapter ; and some
early Bibles exhibit charming specimens of old
EngHsh letters, sharply cut and carefuUy impressed
upon thick, handsome paper. The binding was often
worthy of the contents, embossed and gilded morocco being
employed for the purpose. Black letter gave place to Eoman
before the end of the sixteenth century. The quarto Geneva
Bibles and Testaments, printed upon thin paper and exhibit
ing rude woodcuts, did by no means equal in beauty their
folio predecessors of the Coverdale and Great Bible class.
In the seventeenth century we meet with notices of
handsome volumes, bound and ornamented for special pur
poses — for royal use, for service in parish churches, and for
commemorating private friendship. IUustrations are at hand
on aU three points ; and as they are presented they suggest

Bookbinding. 261
pictures, not only of persons and incidents with which
they are immediately connected, but of family groups in
episcopal palaces, baronial haUs and chambers, of rich citizens
gathered round taU fohos in rich covers, lying on window-
seats, beneath the light of sun-rays beaming through many-
coloured panes.
Notes are preserved of costly charges expended on
royal copies. In a bookbinder's biU for his majesty King
James's Chapel there are the foUowing items : " 1619, three
large church Bibles, gilded, with silk strings, £9. Two
Bibles for his majesty's use, fair gilded, with silk strings, £8."
Considering the value of money at that time, we have
evidence of the ornate description of these royal volumes.*
Another account shows that less was expended on books
intended for the royal family. The charge for binding a
large Bible in foho, for the Lady EHzabeth — afterwards the
iU-fated Palatine Electress and Bohemian Queen — was only
the modest amount of thirty shiUings.f
Bishop Laud, on a Eochester visitation, 1634, inquired
into the state of church furniture in his diocese, and one of
the answers is to this effect : " For our church books we
conceive that no church in England hath newer or fairer ;
for our great church Bible, and all our service books being
bought not above one year since, or Httle more, and all our
prick song-books have been pricked out new and true, and
fahly bound, within the same time, to the great charge of
the Church." %
A splendid edition was issued in 1638 by the famous
printers Buck and Daniel. Sh Matthew Hale left Eichard
Baxter forty shillings in token of his love. With the forty
shilhngs, he says, " I purchased the largest Cambridge Bible,
* Report of Hist. mss. Com. vol. iv. p. 3H. t Ibid., p. 282. J Ibid., p. 146,

262 Our English Bible.
and put his picture before it, as a monument to my house.
But waiting for my own death, 1 gave it to Sir WiUiam Elhs,
who laid out about ten pounds to put it into a more curious
cover and keep it for a monument in his honour." " A shrewd'
observer of manners and habits teUs of a lady in Edinburgh,
who had fallen into poorer circumstances, and Hved in a
room on the highest stair of Covenant Close, that she never
read a chapter, except out of a Cambridge Bible printed by
Daniel, and bound in embroidered velvet."*
These are trifles not without interest ; and there may be
added to them another notice of the fact already mentioned
that the printing of the Bible was a monopoly — a circum
stance which repressed private enterprise, but which some
adventurous people sought to evade by getting the Scriptures
printed abroad, and then importing them for home circula
tion. An entry in the calendar df the House of Lords
brings to light a case of this kind, and the consequent trouble
in which the invader of the patent involved himself
" 1640. January 15, petition of Thomas Cowper. Some
years since petitioner imported 850 Bibles, 2,000 prayer-books,
and 750 psalm-books, of the orthodox translation, which
were seized at the Custom House and placed in the custody
of the registrar of the High Commission Court. Petitioner
has taken steps to recover possession — prays that in order
the books may not be lost they may be removed to a room
which he has hhed, near the parhament-house, of which he
shaU have one key, and some officer of the House another."!
A more important matter is brought to Hght in the Eeport
of the Historical mss. Commission. The Hbrary of Trinity
CoUege, Dubhn, contains an EngHsh version of the Bible by
* Baxter's Works, vol. i. p. 337. Scott's Bedgauntlet. Eadie, vol. ii. p. 296.
t House of Lords Calendar; Eeport of Hist. MSS. Com., vol. iv. p. 40-

Ussher's Version. 263
Ambrose Ussher, brother to the archbishop of that name, in
three volumes, belonging to about the year 1620. The author
must have been a somewhat eccentric person, if we may
judge of him from the " epistle dedicatorie" to James 1. He
considered his work would be acceptable to one who had
promoted the execution of the so-caUed Authorized Version,
and who must be considered as desiring the perfection of
such work. " Though your majesty," he says, " being pre
sently deshous of your dinner, have dined aforehand, yet if,
after dinner, come in some dainty dish unto you, and well
prepared, you assuredly wiU take the taste of it." The writer
had evidently a good opinion of what he offered. " Your
majesty at your first coming were sharp set, and content
with any, and the cook hasted you out a reasonable sudden
meal ; in the whiles you have been dining on that, I have
leisurely and seasonably dressed and served out this other
dish." Then he goes on to say that there are two things
essential to a new version, a change of matter and a change
of words. He had attempted both, and had amended " a
thousand chief places," and " the worth of one place found
out is weU understood of them who in the Scriptures think
to have eternal life— every place is a new Virginia to dwell
in." As to matter, he said, he opposed to the new transla
tion not old renderings already weighed and rejected, but
fresh ones " that yield new consideration, and that fight not
only with our English Bible, but Hkely witn aU translated
Bibles, in what language soever." This brother of the
archbishop was no conservative, but a determined advocate
for what is new. As to words, what he did, said he, was this,
to find and set down "due and just English phrase in aU
congruity, squared to the original, and flatly incident." The
prophets were perfect orators, and the translator, therefore,

264 Our English Bible.
sought out words, " that Hke as in water, face answereth to
face, as Solomon speaketh, so they answer in appearance
form to form." This, he says, was carefuUy observed by
some ofthe translators ofthe " authorized Bible ; " but "other
some, and therein deserving blame, in the body itself of their
translations strangely keep the very original 'specialities and
properties, and so clap them into the text." Yet he observes :
" The Hebrew tongue, as wanting cases, doth resemble our
common languages, and seldom doth admit any more dislo
cation than do they."
Whether this dedication ever met the eyes of King James
does not appear : at aU events, judging from extracts in the
report, one would not highly estimate Ambrose Ussher's
labour, though after all he said, the changes made by him
are not so new and startling as might be expected. A few
verses taken from the first chapter of Genesis run thus :
"And the earth was disordered and without shape (voyd
and disordered), and darkness was upon ye face of ye deepe,
and the Spirite of God overspread [the words "moved in" are
substituted above] ye' face of ye waters." "And God sayd,
Lett there be a firmament in the middes of ye waters, and
lett it distinguish between waters and waters. So God made
ye firmament, and it distinguished between ye waters yt
were beneath the firmament, and betweene the waters that
were above the firmament, and it was so." " Then God
.sayd, Lett the earth bud forth ye bud of herbe, seeding seed,
ye fruitefull tree bearing fruite after his kinde which hath his
seed in it, upon ye earth, and it was so." " Then God sayd,
Lett the waters spawne forth ye spawne of living creature [the
words "bring forth in abundance every creeping thing yt hath
life " are interlined], and lett ye foule flie upon ye earth, upon
ye face of ye firmament [" ye open firmament " interhned] of

"Souldier's Pocket Bible" 26^
heaven. And God created the great whales, and euery Hving
thing yt' creepeth ["yt liueth and moveth" interlined] which
ye waters brought forth, in then kinde, and every, winged
[feathered] foule, according to his kinde. And God saw yt it
was good [well]." "And God blessed them, saying, Fructifie
and increase." "And God sayd, Lett ye earth bring forth ye
Hving creature [thing] after, his kinde, ye cattle and every
creaping thing ["yt which creapeth," inserted above], and
the beast of the earth [animal terrestrie] after his kind, and
it was so."*
These specimens suffice to show that the author marred
rather than mended what had been done by the six com
panies ; and a comparison of his renderings with those
they were intended to rival serves to increase our wonder,
how, in an age when so many oddities entered men's minds,
our translators completely escaped them.
Twenty-three years after the Archbishop of Armagh's
brother had completed his BibHcal toils, a very different
method of Biblical instruction was adopted. As soon as the
civil war broke out, the Parliamentarians determined to pro
vide the army with portions of Scripture. It is often supposed
that Cromwell's Ironsides had each a complete Bible put into
his possession ; the supposition no doubt has arisen from
the fact that a publication was issued at an early period of
the great strife with the following title : " The Souldier's
Pocket Bible : printed at London by G. B. and E. W. for
G. C, 1643, containing the most (if not aU) those places
contained in Holy Scripture which doe shew the quahfications
of his inner man, that is a fit souldier to fight the Lord's
battels, both before the fight, in the fight, and after the
* Hist. mss. Com. vol. iv. pp. 589-9.

266 Our English Bible.
fight, which Scriptures are reduced to severall heads, and
fuUy appiyed to the souldier's several occasions, and so may
supply the want of the whole Bible, which a souldier cannot
conveniently carry about him : and may be also usefuU for
any Christian to meditate upon, now in this miserable time
- of warre. Imprimatur, Edm. Calamy . " The texts are almost
aU taken from the Genevan version. The title fuUy explains
the nature and object of the work.
Not complete Bibles, but tracts of sixteen pages, were dis
tributed through the army ; and of them no original copy is
known to exist, except that which may be found in the
British Museum ; but, of course, the fact of such slender
provision of BibHcal instruction being made for the invin
cible troopers does not preclude the beHef that many a man
carried in the pocket of his buff leathern coat an entire, Bible
or Testament, which he would devoutly read at his " tent
door in the heat of the day."*
In reference to the printing of Bibles at that period and
at a stiU earlier period, it should be noticed that patents did
not secure correctness, and complaints were made relative to
inaccuracies. In the first and second issues of our present
version many errors are found — some very gross. " Judas"
stands for " Jesus ;"" Christ " is spelt " Chkist ;" we find " Let
* There is also in the British Museum another Scripture tract, entitled " The
Christian Soldier's Penny Bible, shewing from the Holy Scriptures the soldier's
duty and encouragement. A brief collection of pertinent Scriptures under xx.
heads, for the soldier's or seaman's pocket when he is not furnished with or cannot
well carry a larger volume in time of war. London, printed by E. Smith for Sam.
Wade, 1693." It is a reprint of " The Souldier's Pocket Bible," a little altered.
In reference to this publication the following American extract is given: "Not
less than five distinct editions have been issued here since the slaveholders' rebel
lion broke out in this country. The first American issue for our army consisted
of 20,000 copies, and, I presume, 50,000 or more have already been circulated. —
Boston, Massachusetts, October 23, 1861."

Errors in Printing. 267
my people go that they may serve thee" for " serve me." The
edition of 1613 is worse, and there may be found " the fast of
the beast" for " the fat of the beast ; " " shall glean " for
" shaU not glean ; " " in the throne of David " for " in the
room of David ; " " shined through darkness" for "walked
through darkness ; " " delighted herseh " f or " defiled herself ; ' '
and " I praise you " for "I praise you not." The Hst
could eashy be enlarged.* Nor did the invasion of the
patent promote accuracy. In 1644 some members of the
Westminster Assembly complained to the House of
Commons "that there were errors and corruptions in divers
Bibles of an impression from beyond the seas," and they
prayed the House to suppress the chculation of them. It was
resolved, in consequence, that foreign Bibles should not
be sold until they had been "passed and allowed." It was
stated in 1646, at Amsterdam, that an English printer there
had sent out in five years 40,000 copies ; that his last edition
consisted of 12,000 copies, and that altogether in that Dutch
city 150,000 EngHsh Bibles had been printed.f
But whatever the state of printing might be, the seven
teenth century in England may be fitly described as a Bible
age. From the beginning to the end of that period attention
was paid to the study and criticism of the EngHsh version.
Large editions were published and circulated; everywhere
the book might be found, and it acquired more than ever a
character of national importance. In this respect a com
parison between the seventeenth century and the preceding
one is curious and instructive. Until about the middle of
the sixteenth century, not an EngHsh Bible or Testament
was printed within the corners of the kingdom ; other books
* See Eadie, vol. ii. p. 291-294. + Ibid., p. 297.

268 Our English Bible.
issued from the press, but not the Book of Life. Now
printing offices in London tetemed with copies in various
forms, to slake the thirst of an ever-increasing demand.
Down to the death of Henry vin., and indeed to the end of
EHzabeth's reign, the universities, as such, had taken no
leading part in the work of translation. None of the repre
sentative scholars of Oxford or Cambridge are found among
the earlier editors ; but now the flower of those schools of
learning appear in connection with the Authorized Version,
which owed much mpre to the great national seminaries
than to any rulers in Church or State. For fifty years in the
preceding century the vernacular Scriptures, save within a
short interval, had been forbidden to the common people ; and
when a Bible or Testament was in anybody's possession it
had to be ingeniously secreted and read by stealth ; now
copies were to be seen everywhere, not only in the bishop's
hall or the nobleman's mansion, but in the citizen's tene
ment and the peasant's cottage. The Bible — which before
the Eeformation was established, and whilst Eomanist services
were more or less strictly observed, formed no conspicuous
object in the cathedral and parish church — was now, through
out a hundred years, to be seen on the reading-desk where
Episcopalian worship was celebrated, and in the pulpit of the
Presbyterian and the Congregationahst also ; amidst the con
troversies and battles of the age, the EngHsh Bible did really
serve as a bond of union between church and church, class
and class, man and man. The Anglo-Cathohc and Puritan,
the Prelatist and the Presbyterian, the Independent and the
Baptist, for the most part adopted the Authorized Version,
though amongst Nonconformists of different shades a pre
ference for the translation by the Genevan exiles continued
to linger. In many cases the Eoundhead used the same

A Bible Age. 269
edition as the Cavalier. It might be found in the camps
of two hostile armies, striking, amidst the clang of war,
a note of union, " On earth peace, good will toward
men." And it is worth observing that at the installation
of OHver CromweU as Lord High Protector of England
a copy of the English version, " ornamented with bosses
and clasps richly gUt," was presented to his highness
by the Speaker of the Commons, with these remarkable
words : " The Bible is a book that contains the Holy
Scriptures, in which you have the happiness to be well versed.
This Book of Life consists of two Testaments, the Old and
the New. The first shows Christum velatum,. the second
Christum revelatum, Christ veiled and revealed. It is the
Book of books, and doth contain both precepts and examples
for good government." *
It does not appear that any Bible had been presented
to an EngHsh sovereign at his coronation. The story
respecting Edward vi. related in this volume, whatever its
claims may be on our beHef, does not indicate that any
Bible was used on that occasion. In records of the
crowning of EHzabeth, James, and Charles 1., no mention
is made of the sacred volume as given to them at the time,
nor is there any account of such a ceremony in connexion
with Charles 11. and James 11. But what had been done
under the Commonwealth was renewed at the Eevolution ;
and ever since the coronation of WilHam in.f the EngHsh
Bible has been laid on the altar of Westminster Abbey amidst
the regaha, and placed in the sovereign's hands, as the
hohest of offerings. The Puritan precedent has been
* Eorster's Statesmen of the Commonwealth, vol. v. App. D. p. 423.
t " This part ofthe ceremony was introduced (I believe for the first time) at the
coronation of King William and Queen Mary." — Maskell, vol. iii. p. 199.

270 Our English Bible.
adopted by the Church of England ; and thus the EngHsh
Bible binds together successive Governments, and hallows
the Une of modern princes on the EngHsh throne.
Although these pleasant generalizations are based
on sufficient facts, it remains to be noticed that in some
quarters there existed discontent in reference to the state of
EngHsh Bibles. It has even been aUeged that in some
editions the text was tampered with by sectaries, who
sought by certain alterations to give a Divine sanction to
then own views. It is said, as reported by Isaac DTsraeH,
that Field received a present of £1,500 from the Independ
ents to corrupt a text in Acts vi. 3, the corruption being
the easiest possible, the putting a " ye " instead of a " we."
But Field had nothing whatever to do with the error, for it
had appeared fifteen years before, and is first found in
the Cambridge foho of 1638, revised by Church divines.
The story bears on it the stamp of party prejudice.*
Yet the Puritans ofthe middle of the seventeenth century,
Hke then predecessors in the middle of the sixteenth, were fond
of annotations, and wished to foUoW the Genevan fashion.
' ' Divers of the printers and stationers of London were induced

* Curiosities of Lit. vol. iii. p. 427 ; Eadie, vol. ii. p. 299.
In 1653 a little pearl Bible was issued, and in some of the copies there are
these errors, — " Know ye not that the unrighteous shall inherit the kingdom of
God?" 1 Cor. vi. 9. — "Te cannot serve and mammon'' (God left out), Matt.
vi. 24.
An edition of 1631, described in the Catalogue of the Caxton Exhibition, p. 162, is
called the " Wicked Bible," from the fact of the negative being left out in the
seventh commandment. Land fined the printer ,£300, with which he is said to
have purchased a fount of Greek type for Oxford. A German Bible just a century
later contains the same error. In reference to this Mr. Stevens quotes from
Cotton Mather, that " a blundering typographer made him exclaim, in a Bible
printed before 1702, ' Printers have persecuted me without a cause ' " (Psa. cxix.
161.)

Annotations. 271
to petition the House of Commons for hcence to print them
after some revision fitting to the present volume." The
request was granted in 1644, and letters were directed to
certain divines to undertake the task ; and hence arose
the weU-known work improperly styled the Assembly's
Annotations ; others besides members were employed upon
it, and it was never formaUy sanctioned by the Westminster
divines.* StiU more characteristic was the Puritan dis-
Hke to the Apocrypha, in which even Dr. Lightfoot shared.
Preaching before the House of Commons in 1643, from
the last verse in Malachi, he said, " Thus sweetly and
nearly should the two Testaments join together, but that
the wretched Apocrypha doth thrust in between, Hke the
two cherubim in the temple oracle, as with their outer
wings they touch the two sides of the house, from ' In
the beginning ' to ' Come, Lord Jesus ; ' so with their
inner, they would touch each other, the end of the law
with the beginning of the gospel, did not this patchery
of human invention divorce them asunder." The aver
sion had so prevailed that the Apocrypha began to be
dropped at a stiU earlier period ; indeed, as early as 1633,
such Bibles were becoming fashionable, for Chief Justice
Eichardson interposed, on behalf of the Eecorder of Salisbury,
suspected of Puritanism, saying, " I have been long ac
quainted with him ; he sitteth by me sometimes at church ;
he brought a Bible to the church with him (I have seen it)
with the Apocrypha and Common Brayer Book in it, not ofthe
new cut." And here it may be added, that Lightfoot, with
his dishke to the Apocrypha, coupled a desire for a new
revision of the canonical books, and urged in another
* Calamy's Abridg. vol. i. p. 86.

272 Our English Bible.
sermon before the House of Commons, deHvered in 1645, " a
review and survey of the translation of the Bible, that the
three nations might come to understand the proper and
genuine study of the Scriptures by an exact, vigorous, and
Hvely translation."
The matter came before the House of Commons in 1657.
On the 16th of January the Grand Committee for Eehgion
ordered a sub-committee to confer with Dr. Walton, Dr.
Cudworth, and others, respecting translations and impres
sions. They met at Whitelock's house in Chelsea the next
month. He says, " They had the most learned men in the
Oriental tongues to consult with in this great business, and
divers excellent and learned observations of some mistakes
in the translations of the Bible in EngHsh, which yet was
agreed to be the best of any translation in the world."*
This statement, perhaps, includes what foUowed at a later
date. Mr. Bampfield made a report on the 11th of June
from the Grand Committee of Behgion, in consequence of
which a sub-committee was empowered to send for godly
and learned ministers and laymen, to consult respecting a
better version of the Psalms. At the same time they noticed
that the Scriptures had been grossly misprinted. " Know
ye not, that the unrighteous shall inherit the kingdom of
God?" instead of " not inherit;" "Neither yield ye your
members as instruments of righteousness unto sin," instead
of " unrighteousness" are aUeged by the committee as
instances. The committee further noticed the entire omis
sion of the words in John ix. 21, "Or who hath opened his
eyes, we know not."
Some years ago a friend pointed out to me a document
* Whitelock's Memorials, p. 654.

Proposed New Version. 273
in the State Paper Office, which proved to be a draft bUl for
revising the EngHsh translation. It recites that Dr. Hill
charged the translators of the Authorized Version with
making the New Testament speak a prelatical language ;
and it states that the most learned translators have found it
necessary again and again to revise their work. Notice is
taken of Ainsworth's Pentateuch, the Psalms, and Solo
mon's Song, " greatly commended by many of the learned."
Then follows a Bill "for the reforming, rectifying, and
repairing of the former injury to the new translation, and
for preventing of so great inconveniences of such dangerous
consequence, and for the furtherance (what in us lieth) and
the benefit and education of many. Be it (enacted) that no
person or persons whatsoever, within the dominions of
England, Scotland, and Ireland, without the approbation of
persons hereafter named, or to be named by authority, shaU
presume to print or publish any such translation of the
Bible or New Testament."
Dr. Owen,* Dr. Cudworth, Mr. Jenkins, Mr. WilHam
GreenhUl, Mr. Samuel Slater, Mr. Wilhani Cowper, Mr.
Henry Jeffrey, Mr. Ealph Venninge, and Mr. John Eow,
were authorized to search and observe wherein the last
translation "appears -to be wronged by the prelates, or
printers, or others ;" that such places might be rectified,
and the most material defects removed ; and that these
persons should examine Ainsworth's translations, and those
made by themselves or others, seeking the best assistance
for the general good, and should also consider "the mar
ginal readings in Bibles, whether any of them should
rather be in the line." Dr. Goodwin, Dr. Tuckney, and
* The name of Goodwin is altered into that of John Owen. Caryl's name is
struck out. T

274 Our English Bible.
Mr. Joseph Caryl, were appointed supervisors, with this
large power entrusted to them, " that what these persons
shaU so approve of shaU accordingly be printed and
published for the general edification and benefit of the
whole nation, to be read both privately and in the pubhc
congregation." That party feeling entered into the spirit of the enter
prise is manifest from this document, and that the bill came
to nothing is also clear.*
Nothing was done by authority in the work of revision
at the end of the Commonwealth. Bibles and Testaments
remained the same as before, save as printers paid more or
less attention to the typography. But the Book of Common
Prayer, in the translation of Scripture, exhibits some changes,
only in the way of conformity to King James's Bible.
The Psalter, indeed, remained as before in Coverdale's
version. " When the last changes in the Prayer Book were
made, it was found, it is said, smoother to sing ; but this is
not a fuU account of the matter, and it cannot be mere
famiharity which gives to the Prayer Book Psalter, with aU
its errors and imperfections, an incomparable tenderness
and sweetness. Eather we may believe that in it we can
yet find the spirit of him whose work it mainly is, full of
humility and love, not heroic or creative, but patient to
accomphsh, by God's help, the task which had been set
him to do, and therefore best in harmony with the tenor of
our daily Hves."t The introductory sentences to Morning
* The document belongs to Domestic Interreg., Bundle 662, f. 12. I have
printed the whole in the appendix to my Church of the Commonwealth, p. 543.
Part is given in Dr. Eadie's English Bible, vol. ii. p. 344, without any clue as
to where it may be found. He omits the opening paragraph, which is important.
t Westcott, Hist. p. 368.

Preaching Bibles. 275
and Evening Prayer, and the Epistles and Gospels for the
Sundays of the year, were now taken from the Authorized
Version. In the latter part of the seventeenth century a number
of thin square volumes were printed for the convenience of
divines, who used them in the pulpit ; hence they came to be
caUed Preaching Bibles. The paper was thin, the type
distinct, and a few notes were sprinkled over the margin.
These were often incorrectly executed, and indeed succes
sive editions of the Bible in different forms exhibit various
readings, attributable to carelessness or to the universal
law of human imperfection.
In 1683 the text was corrected, and many references to
parallel passages were added by Dr. Scattergood; in 1700
a fine edition was pubhshed in large foho, under the
direction of Dr. Tenison, Archbishop of Canterbury, with
chronological dates and index by Bishop Lloyd, and
accurate tables, of Scripture weights and measures by
Bishop Cumberland ; this edition, however, is said to
abound in typographical errors. A more complete revision
was made by Dr. Blayney, under the direction of the vice-
chanceUor and delegates of the Clarendon Press at Oxford.
In his edition, printed both in quarto and foho in 1769, the
punctuation was thoroughly revised ; the words printed in
itahcs were compared with the Hebrew and Greek originals ;
proper names, to the etymology of which aUusions are made
in the text, were translated and entered in the margin ;
summaries of chapters, and running titles at the top of
each page, are corrected ; material errors in the chronology
are rectified; and the marginal references rC-examined and
corrected, with 30,495 new ones added. From the pains*

2 76 Our English Bible.
bestowed on this edition it came to be the standard from
which subsequent impressions were executed.
Another attempt in the same line seems to have been
still more successful. The booksellers of the metropolis,
having apphed to his majesty's printers to undertake a
new and handsome edition, confided its execution to Mr.
George WoodfaH in 1804. The copy selected for the pur
pose was the current Cambridge edition, with which the
new edition agrees page for page. The proofs were read
twice, and compared with the Oxford impression then in
use, and were then transmitted to the Bev. Launcelot
Sharpe, by whom they were read again, and compared
with Dr. Blayney's 4to. edition of 1769. After the proofs
returned for press had been corrected, the formes were
placed upon the press at which they were to be worked,
and another proof was taken. This was read by Mr.
WoodfaU's superintendent, and afterwards compared by
Mr. W. himself with Dr. Blayney's edition, and any errors
previously overlooked were corrected, the formes not having
been removed from the press after the last proofs had been
taken off. By this precaution was avoided a danger of fre
quent occurrence and considerable magnitude, arising from
a removal of the formes from a proof-press to those on
which the sheets were to be finally worked off. Of this
edition, which was ready for publication in 1806, five
hundred copies were printed on imperial 4to., two thousand
on royal, and three thousand on medium quarto size. In
the course of printing from the Cambridge copy a large
number of gross errors were discovered in the latter ; while
the errors in the common Oxford editions were not so few
as twelve hundred. The London edition of 1806 being
exhausted, a new impression was put to press in 1810,

Circulation of the Scriptures. 277
which was completed with equal beauty and accuracy in
1812, and published in 1813.*
The chculation of the Bible is intimately connected with
the subject of this history. Before the end of the seventeenth
century efforts were made to supply the poor with copies
of the EngHsh Scriptures. Lord Wharton, a benevolent
Puritan nobleman, who Hved at Wooburn House, in the
county of Bucks, directed by. instructions, dated April 24,
1693, that 1,050 Bibles, with the singing psalms, should be
provided for distribution in Yorkshire, Westmoreland, Cum
berland, and Buckinghamshire. t The Assembly's Catechism
was to be distributed in hke manner. The Christian
Knowledge Society, instituted in 1698, and the Society for
the Propagation of the Gospel, instituted in 1701, promoted
the dissemination of Bibles and Testaments. One private
trust at least,! in the course of the same century, took up
the same object, and a Hke purpose no doubt animated
many Christian minds ; but it was not until the commence
ment of the present century, that any large combined
c'athohc effort was made for the universal diffusion of the
Word of God, without note or comment. The Eev. Thomas
Charles, of Bala, in December, 1802, entertained " the idea
of having a Bible Society established in London on a
similar basis to that of the Eehgious Tract Society, — i. e., the
union of different denominations in a common work." It was
soon resolved " that it would be highly deshable to stir up
the public mind to the dispersion of Bibles generaUy, and
that a paper in a magazine to that effect might be singu-
* This account is taken from Home's Introduction to the Bible, 5th Edit.,
vol. ii. p. 253. I cannot find it in the last edition.
t Hist, of Crendon Lane Meeting House, Wycombe.
X Coward's Trust, of which I am an administrator.

278 Our English Bible,
larly useful." At length a committee met, when the object
of the intended Society was maturely considered, and it
was unanimously determined " to promote the circulation
of the Holy Scriptures in foreign countries, and in those
parts of the British dominions for which adequate pro
vision is not yet made, it being understood that no EngHsh
translation of the Scriptures will be gratuitously chculated
by the Society in Great Britain ; " and on the 1st February,
1803, an important minute appears, — " That the transla
tion of the Scriptures established by public authority be
the only one in the EngHsh language to be adopted by this
Society."* * Minutes of the Committee of the Religious Tract Society.

p

,HAPTER XIV,
REVISION OF THE ENGLISH VERSION.

he idea of a Eevision of our EngHsh
Bible at the period of the Commonwealth
we have seen came to nothing; and in
the eighteenth century it attracted no
large measure of attention. There were,
however, learned men who saw the
desirableness of attempting the object,
and expressed an opinion to that effect.
They felt that Biblical criticism had
made such strides, that so many MSS. had been collected
for the rectification of the original text, that the Hebrew of
the Old Testament and the Greek of the New were being
more carefully examined than they had ever been ; that
the learned labours of much more than a hundred years
had thrown additional Hght on the meaning of revelation,
and that therefore these advantages ought to be made
avahable for the improvement of our vernacular Scriptures.
They appreciated the exceUency of what is caUed the
Authorized Version ; but as there are spots even in the sun,

280 Our English Bible.
they did not think it presumptuous, nor any just cause of
offence to the most enthusiastic admirers of what was
finished in 1611, to assert that it contained obvious im
perfections, which ought to be removed. Amongst those
who took this view were Waterland, Blayney, Lowth, and
Kennicott, not to mention others. But it was a long time
before public opinion was ripe for a due consideration of
the question.
In the meanwhile distinguished scholars issued versions
of particular books, accompanied by explanatory notes, and
more or less of critical discussion. Lowth's translation of
Isaiah, Blayney's of Jeremiah, Newcome's of the Minor
Prophets, and (in the present century Henderson's version of
aU these books) also Campbell's work on the Gospels, and
Macknight's on the Epistles, may be regarded as produc
tions of a tentative character preparing for a larger and a
united effort. Boothroyd's Bible, Alford's Testament, and
other books might be added to the Hst. The perusal of
these volumes, though on some they produced the impres
sion, and not without reason, of the superiority of the
common version as a whole, on many they left the convic
tion that it was a great pity so noble a version as that
universaUy used should not be made still more admirable,
through a judicious use of modem scholarship for the
purpose. More and more it came to be seen that objec
tions to a revision of King James's Bible were no more
vahd than had been objections to a revision of the Great
Bible, or of Matthew's Bible, or of any other ancient
one. Every merely human work — and translation is
necessarily such a work — it was felt must admit of
improvement, and that a careful distinction should ever
be made between the perfect writings of men inspired,

New Revision. 281
and the rendering of them into a modern tongue by men
uninspired. In 1857 appeared a Eevision of the Gospel of St. John
by five clergymen — Dr. Barrow, Dr. Moberly, Henry Afford,
B.D., WilHam G. Humphry, b.d., and Charles J. Elhcott,
M.A. In the preface to this pubhcation they remark, " The
subject of the revision of the Authorized Version of Holy
Scripture has been for some time past brought before the
minds of men in various ways. It has been urged in Con
vocation and in Parliament, and has been extensively
debated in public journals, in pamphlets, and other pub-
Hcations, and at the meetings of religious societies. In
America the same subject has attracted great notice ; and
the design of revision has been pursued with considerable
labour by the American Bible Union. In Holland a
revision of the Dutch Bible has been set on foot, and is
now in progress, under the authority and supervision of
the Synod of the Eeformed Church." " The two objects of
this tentative revision of one Gospel," the editors stated to
be, " the one to exhibit in the fullest, most honest, and most
loyal manner the actual meaning of the inspired Word of
God, allowing no subjective preferences or preconceived
views to interfere with the simple and faithful exposition
in EngHsh of the original text of Holy Scripture; the
other to show, as far as is compatible with this first and
chiefest object, that the Authorized Version is indeed a
precious and holy possession, and that the errors of it are
very slight and few in comparison of its many and great
excellences." In the year 1858 the then Dean of Westminster,
Dr. Trench, now Archbishop of Dublin, boldly caUed
pubhc attention to the subject. " It is clear," he remarks,

282 Our English Bible.
" that the question, Are we, or are we not, to have a new
translation of Scripture ? or rather — some few would
propose this who did not wish to loosen from its anchors
the whole religious Hfe of the EngHsh people, — shaU we,
or shaU we not, have a new revision of the Authorized
Version ? is one which is presenting itseh more and more
familiarly to the minds of men. This, indeed, is not by
any means the first time that this question has been
earnestly discussed ; but that which differences the present
agitation of the matter from preceding ones is, that on aU
former occasions the subject was only debated among
scholars and divines, and awoke no interest in circles beyond
them. The present is apparently the first occasion on
which it has taken the shghtest hold of the popular mind.
But now indications of the interest which it is awakening
reach us from every side. America is sending us the instal
ments ... of a new version as fast as she can. The wish
for a revision has for a considerable time been working among
Dissenters here ; by the voice of one of these it has lately
made itself heard in Parhament, and by the mouth of a
Eegius Professor in Convocation. Our reviews, and not
those only which are speciaHy dedicated to reHgious
subjects, begin to deal with the question of revision. There
are, or a little while since there were, frequent letters in the
newspapers, urging or remonstrating against such a step —
few of them, it is true, of much value, yet at the same
.time showing how many minds are now occupied with
the subject.
" On the whole I am persuaded that a revision ought to
come ; I am convinced that it will come. Not, however,
I would trust, as yet, for we are not as yet in any respect
prepared for it ; the Greek and the English which should

Discussion. 283
enable us to bring this to a successful end might, it is feared,
be wanting alike."*
Difficulties are discussed, and the writer seems to grow
more hopeful as he proceeds, recommending that the work
of revision, when attempted, should be' a united one, con
ducted by Churchmen and Dissenters together. Then he
faces the question as to how such a work would be received.
"Just as our ancestors," he replied, "grew gradually in
love with our present translation, Churchmen weaning them
selves from the Bishops' Bible, and Puritans from the Geneva,
just as one and the other of these versions fell quite out of use,
though Hving on, the latter especially, for some time after
they had been formally superseded by the present version,
Churchmen and Puritans finally agreeing in the decision,
not that the old was better, but the new, so wiU it be here.
What amount of difficulty those who lived in the reign of
James 1. found in reconcihng themselves to the change, it is
hard to say. We have curiously Httle on the subject in the
contemporary reHgious literature, the very absence of such
notices seeming to verify that the difficulty was not very
great ; but in one respect it ought to be much less, now,
inasmuch as, careful as our then translators were not to
change wantonly for mere change's sake, still the alterations
which they made were considerable, many times more than
would be necessary or desirable now."f
This cautious treatment of a difficult subject scarcely
augured that within a little more than ten years the matter
w;ould be effectuaUy taken in hand. Yet so it was. In 1870
the work timidly deshed by some, decidedly opposed by
others, began in earnest.
* On the Authorized Version of the New Testament, by E. C-. Trench, d.d.,
pp. 1-3. t Ito-d- V- 140.

284 Our English Bible.
On the 10th of February the then Bishop of Winchester,
Dr. Wilberforce, brought the subject before the Upper House
of Convocation for the Province of Canterbury, and moved
" that a committee of both Houses be appointed to confer
with any committee appointed by the Convocation of the
Northern Province, to report upon the desirableness of a
revision of the New Testament, whether by marginal notes
or otherwise, in aU those passages where plain and clear
errors, whether in the Hebrew or Greek text, originaUy
adopted by the translators, or in the translation made from
the same, shall, on due investigation, be found to exist."
After advocating a revision, he expressed this opinion :
" Without for a moment doubting that among the reHgious
bodies outside ourselves there are men of great learning
and abihty, weU able to help in a movement of this kind, or
who might most profitably be consulted by those to whom
it was entrusted, I think it would not be weU to join them
in a great authoritative or official action, which in this
way would revise the translation which we put forth to
the people of England, as being the translation of the New
Testament." The Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol, in advocating a
revision, adverted to circumstances which had led his right
reverend brother and himself to deem it necessary now to
take action in regard to this most weighty subject, and
proceeded to refer to the growing desire for as correct a text
as possible of Holy Scripture, dwelling upon the important
results of the late discovery of the Sinaitic MS. of the New
Testament. The Bishop of St. David's (Dr. Thirlwall)
thought that an addition to the resolution of the Bishop of
Winchester would be very desirable, that the Old Testament,
as well as the New, should be revised, and did not see why

Sermon by the Dean of Canterbury . 285
it would not be perfectly practicable to call in the aid of
some of the more eminent and distinguished among the
Dissenters, as this would have the effect of reconciling the
minds of different reHgious bodies to this great undertaking.
In Ulustrating the importance of what was contemplated, he
entered into some details, which excited considerable con
troversy, not needing to. be described here. There was
further discussion carried on by the Bishop of Llandaff,
who pointed out passages in the Old Testament needing
revision ; and by the Bishop of Lichfield (Dr. Selwyn), who
stated that the Wesleyan missionaries had successfully aided
in the revision of the version for the natives of New Zealand.
The Bishop of Lincoln (Dr. Wordsworth) stated that he
was not prepared for any alteration of the text ; and he
dwelt at some length upon the value of the Authorized
Version. The Bishops of Sahsbury (Dr. Moberly) and
Exeter (Dr. Temple) supported the motion, and it was at
last unanimously agreed to adopt the Bishop of Winchester's
resolution, adding the revision of the Old Testament to that
of the New.
The resolution was presented to the Lower House on the
10th of February, and members were immediately appointed
to' confer on the matter with those selected for the same
purpose by the Upper House.
On the 13th of the same month Dr. Afford, Dean of
Canterbury, brought the subject under public notice in a
sermon from the pulpit of St. Paul's Cathedral. "We in
this land," he said, " possess a version of Holy Scriptures
which may challenge comparison for faithfulness, for sim
plicity, and. for majesty with any that the world has ever
seen. Perhaps its chief defect is that it admits of being too
highly praised. Its pure use of our native tongue, the

286 Our English Bible.
exquisite balance and music of its sentences, the stately
march of its periods, the hold on the memory taken by the
very alliterations and antitheses, which were the manner of
writing when it was made, — these and a hundred other
charms which invest almost every verse, make us love
it even to excess ; and when we intensify aU these claims to
our affection by the fact that it has been for centuries," and
is now, the vehicle to this great EngHsh race of aU that is
pure, and holy, and lovely, and of good report, — the first
lesson of infancy, the guide of mature life, the comforter of
sickness and death, — we can hardly be surprised that many
and some of the best among us refuse to see its faults, and
are unable to contemplate with any content the prospect of
then being corrected. It is a spirit for which we ought to
be deeply thankful, this earnest and affectionate cleaving to
the EngHsh version of the Scriptures.
" The character and spirit of our version are aU that we
can desire. But it is utterly impossible for any one capable
of judging to deny that it is disfigured by numerous blemishes,
far too important to be put by or condoned. The gravest of
these are due to manifest errors in rendering, — errors about
which there could be but one opinion among BibHcal scholars
of aU reHgious views. Others have arisen from principles
adopted and avowed by the translators themselves, as, for
instance, from the unfortunate one of aUowing a number of
apparently equivalent EngHsh words an equal right to
represent one and the same word in the original, whereby
very important passages have been disguised and confused.
Others, again, owe their source to causes which have come
into operation since the version was made. Certain words
have, as time has gone on, passed into new meanings.
Others, which could formerly be read without offence, have

* Report of Convocation. 287
now by their very occurrence become stumbling-blocks, and
tend to remove all solemnity, and even all chance of fan
audience, from the passages where they occur. Some few
blemishes may also be due (and it is hardly possible alto
gether to put by this source) to doctrinal or ecclesiastical
bias on the part of the translator."
Taking up the question, How shall the revision be accom
phshed? he replies : " Such a work should no more be done
by one' section of the Christian Church than by one man.
The same concurrence and conflict of thought, the same
variety of experience, the same differing shades of feehng
and apprehension which render many men requisite for the
work, render also many churches requisite."
On May 3, a report from the committee appointed by the
two Houses was read in the Upper House, embodying these
resolutions :
" That it is desirable that a revision of the Authorized
Version of the Holy Scriptures be undertaken.
" That the revision be so conducted as to comprise both
marginal renderings and such emendations as it may be found
necessary to insert in the text of the Authorized Version.
" That in the above resolutions we do not contemplate
any new translation of the Bible, or any alteration of the
language, except when, in the judgment of the most
competent scholars, such change is necessary.
" That in such necessary changes the style of the language
employed in the existing version be closely foUowed.
" That it is desirable that Convocation should nominate
a body of its own members to undertake the work of revision,
who shaU be at Hberty to invite the co-operation of any
eminent for scholarship, to whatever nation or reHgious body
they may belong."

288 Our English Bible.
Eespecting these resolutions much discussion arose.
The Bishop of Ely, Dr. Harold Browne, advocated caution,
and said he was favourable to marginal readings rather than
changes in the body of the translation : the Bishop of
Lincoln protested against altering what had been caUed
"favourite texts :" the Bishop of Bath and Wells was in
•favour of revision, and the Bishops of Llandaff and Sahsbury
commended the undertaking.
The report of the committee came under consideration
in the Lower House on the 3rd of May, when Canon Selwyn
moved, and Archdeacon Allen seconded its adoption. Verbal
alterations in the resolution were suggested by ChanceUor
Massingberd ; and Dr. Jebb thought it " a fatal thing that
a version, of which we have been now in possession for more
than 250 years, should be subject to the criticism of this very
hasty and not very orthodox age." The Dean of St. Paul's,
Dr. Mansell, maintained that, under existing circumstances,
a revision was deshable ; Dr. Fraser urged caution ; Arch
deacon Denison regarded the whole business with great
suspicion, and lamented that so few members were present
to discuss the question ; Archdeacon Eose conceived there
was no ground to fear any rash innovations ; and another
member was surprised that any opposition should be made
to the resolutions of the committee. Dr. Kay believed there
was unnecessary alarm at the proposal, and that the correc
tions made would be but few. Canon Woodgate, Canon
Blakesley, Canon Gregory, Canon Hopkins, Archdeacon
Clark, Lord A. Compton, and others shared in the dis
cussion. The Dean of Canterbury took an active part in the
debate, and advocated the employment of any suitable
assistance which could be obtained from learned Jews on

Speech by the Dean of Canterbury. 289
the revision of the Old Testament — an idea which was
favoured by some, but opposed by others. At a later hour
of the day, when the number of members present had
diminished, the dean, in his scarlet robe as Doctor of
Divinity, rose at the upper end of the Jerusalem Chamber,
and standing near the prolocutor, delivered a speech which
will not soon be forgotten by those who heard it. AUuding
to the Jews, whose assistance had been a subject of .debate,
he said, " I regard that people, as we all do, as a wonderful
phenomenon ; but there is no part of that phenomenon
which I regard as more wonderful than the ban that
Providence seems to have placed upon every attempt to
convert them to Christianity. I regard that people as
wonderfully folded up by God's Providence for some purpose,
and I regard them (whatever ridicule may hang about the
expression) as a race in many respects superior to our own
It has been weU remarked by a very distinguished person
that in most of the greatest acts of modern times that nation
has had a part. I look forward into the dim distance of
prophecy, and amid the mist which hangs over the end of
the world, Hghted by the setting rays of mundane glory, and
by the rising luminary of a world to come, I see that form,
despised and degraded as it may now be, rising into grandeur
and magnificence, seven men taking hold of the skirt of one
that is a Jew, and saying, ' Let us go with you, for we have
heard that God is with you ; ' and when a work is under
taken involving the paUadium of that race, it is out of all
question that we should treat with scorn the idea of asking
some of their learned men to come and teU us the meaning
of phrases in their own language with which we beHeve
them to be famihar." I was present in the Jerusalem
Chamber when my lamented friend deHvered this speech,
v

290 Our English Bible.
and I felt it was impossible -for any one who heard him to
resist the force of his vigorous eloquence. It should be
mentioned that the Dean of Westminster, Dr. Stanley, who
had taken a great interest in the object from the begin
ning, in the course of his advocacy on this occasion also
earnestly enforced the foHowing points — which, indeed, had
been urged by Dean Afford : i.e., that there should be
absolute impartiahty in the selection of scholars to be em
ployed ; that the results of the labours of the committee of
revision should be final; and that the question should not
be brought back to the House for discussion. When the
debate was concluded, the reported resolutions were carried
by 23 against 7.*
Whilst these discussions proceeded in the Houses of Con
vocation, various opinions were expressed on the subject in
the newspapers of the day, some adverse, but most of them
favourable. The Nonconformists could not but take a deep '
interest in so vital a question, and generaHy they supported
the idea of a careful and cautious revision.
At the annual meeting of the Congregational Union in
the month of May, 1870, expression was given to the prevalent
feeling of the Independent body in two papers, one read
by Professor New*h, of New CoUege, St. John's Wood;
and another by Professor Simon, of Spring Hill College,
Birmingham. Professor Newth dwelt upon the immense amount of
research which since the revision of 1611 had been given to
the revision of the original texts. Also he pointed out the
process of growth attaching to Hving language, and the
consequent change which has taken place in the meaning
of words since the time of the Tudors and Stuarts ; he
* Chronicle of Convocation for 1870, p. 368.

Congregational Union. 291
Hkewise referred to the unfortunate fondness of the trans
lators for variety, leading them to render by different English
terms words that are identical in the original. As regards
the method of procedure in a new revision, he insisted
upon two points : first, that in the selection of translators
means should be adopted to secure the most approved
BibHcal scholars in England and America, without regard
to the denomination to which they might belong; and
secondly, that each denomination should be invited to
choose from amongst its own members a committee of
correspondence, to which the revised translation should be
submitted. Professor Simon read another paper, in which he advanced
further considerations in favour of revision ; that it was
expedient, because not to accomplish it was to be out of
harmony with the spirit of the times ; because it was
requisite for the sake of the faith ; because we owe it to the
Bible itself; and then, in reference particularly to the
audience he addressed, because it was in harmony with
Congregational principles.
The committee appointed by Convocation held their
first meeting on the 25th of May, when certain resolutions
and rules were agreed to as fundamental principles on
which the revision -was to proceed.
The committee divided itself into two companies, — the
one for the revision of the authorized version of the Old
Testament, the other for the revision of the authorized
version of the New Testament.
The company for the revision of the authorized version of
the Old Testament was to consist of the Bishops of St. David's
(Dr. ThirlwaU), Llandaff (Dr. Ollivant), Ely (Dr. Harold
Browne), Lincoln (Dr. Wordsworth), and Bath and Wells

292 Our English Bible.
(Lord Arthur C. Hervey, d.d.) ; and of the foHowing members
of the Lower House : Archdeacon- Eose, Canon Selwyn,
Dr. Jebb, and Dr. Kay.
The company for the revision of the authorized version
of the New Testament was to comprise the Bishops of
Winchester (Dr. Wilberforce), Gloucester and Bristol (Dr.
EUicott), Sahsbury (Dr. Moberly) ; and the foHowing
members from the Lower House : the Prolocutor, the Deans
of Canterbury (Dr. Afford) and Westminster (Dr. Stanley),
and Canon Blakesley.
The first portion of the work to be undertaken by the
Old Testament company was the revision of the authorized
version of the Pentateuch.
The first portion of the work to be undertaken by the
New Testament company was the revision of the authorized
version of the synoptical Gospels.
The foUowing scholars and divines were then invited to
join the Old Testament company : Dr. W. L. Alexander,
pastor of St. Augustine's Church, Edinburgh, and Professor
in the Theological Hall of the Congregational Churches of
Scotland ; T. Chenery, Professor of Arabic in the University
of Oxford ; the Eev. Canon Cook,, of Exeter ; Dr. David-
, son, Professor of Theology in the Free Church HaU,
Edinburgh ; Dr. B. Davies, Professor in the Baptist CoUege,
Begent's Park, London; Dr. Fairbaim, Professor in the
United Presbyterian CoUege, Glasgow ; the Eev. J. Field,
Eector of Heigham, Norwich; Dr. Ginsburg ; Dr. Gotch,
Principal of the Baptist CoUege, Bristol ; Archdeacon
Harrison, Canon of Canterbury ; Professor Leathes, of
King's CoUege, London; Professor McGiU; Dr. Payne Smith,
Canon of Christ Church, Oxford; Professor Perowne, of
Cambridge ; Canon Plumptre, Professor in King's CoUege,

Committees of Revision. 293
London; Canon Pusey, of Oxford; Dr. Wright, of the
British Museum ; and W. Aldis Wright, of Trinity College,
Cambridge. The following scholars and divines were invited to join
the New Testament company : Archbishop of Dublin, Dr.
Trench; Dr. Angus, Principal of Baptist CoUege, Eegent's
Park ; Dr. Eadie, Professor in United Presbyterian CoUege,
Glasgow; the Eev. F. G. Hort, Vicar of Great Wymondley,
Herts; Canon Humphreys ; Canon Kennedy, Eegius Professor
of Greek, Cambridge ; Archdeacon Lee ; Canon Lightfoot,
Professor at Cambridge ; Dr. MUligan, Professor of Biblical
Criticism, Aberdeen ; Professor Moulton, Wesleyan CoUege,
Eichmond ; Dr. J. H Newman, Oscott, Birmingham ; Pro
fessor Newth, New CoUege, St. John's Wood; Dr. Eoberts,
Professor, St. Andrew's University ; Eev. G. Vance Smith,
English Presbyterian CoUege, York; Dr. Scott, Balhol
College, Oxford ; Eev. F. Scrivener, Eector of Gerrans, Corn
wall ; Dr. Vaughan, Master of the Temple ; and Professor
Westcott, Cambridge.
The resolutions adopted by both companies were, —
to introduce as few alterations as possible into the text of
the Authorized Version consistently with faithfulness ; to
Hmit as far as possible the expressions of such alterations to
the language of the authorized and earlier versions ; to go
twice over the portion to be revised, once provisionally, the
second time finally ; to adopt the Text for which the evidence
decidedly preponderates, and where it differs from that in
the Authorized Version to indicate the fact in the margin ;
to make or retain no change in the Text, on the second or final
revision by each company, except by the approval of two-
thirds of those present, but on the first revision to decide by
simple majorities; in every case of proposed alteration which

294 Our English Bible.
may give rise to discussion, to defer voting until the next
'meeting, whenever the same is required by one-third of those
present, the intended vote being announced in the notice;
to revise the headings of chapters and pages, the paragraphs,
itahcs and punctuation ; and to refer on the part of each com
pany, when considered desirable, to divines, scholars, and
Hterary men, whether at home or abroad, for then opinions.
It was further resolved, that the work of each company be
communicated to the other as it is completed, in order that
there may be as Httle deviation from uniformity in language
as possible : and that the bye-rules of each company be — to
make aU corrections in writing previously to the meeting ; to
place all the corrections due to textual considerations on the
left-hand margin, and all other corrections on the right-
hand margin ; and to transmit to the chairman, in case of
being unable to attend, the corrections proposed in the
portion agreed upon for consideration.
Of those members of Convocation who were originaUy
appointed on the committee, Dr. Wordsworth, Bishop of
Lincoln, and Dr. Jebb, declined to serve ; and amongst the
scholars invited, Canon Pusey and Dr. J. H. Newman did
not accept the invitation.
On the 2nd of June there was a celebration of the Holy
Communion in Henry vn.'s Chapel, Westminster Abbey,
attended by members of the two companies.
A pubhc notice early appeared from the pen of Dean
Afford in reference to the proceedings of the companies, m
which he said that what had passed taught a double
lesson, of which, however, both the branches tend one way,
and ultimately unite. " The first rather to leave the -onward
steps of our work to the unfolding of God's Providence, than
to be restlessly and anxiously desiring them for ourselves.

New Members of Revision Committee. 295
Like those who have had to deal with another well-known
' reHgious difficulty,' we encounter our greatest trouble, not
in the matter of deeds, but of words." And the second
lesson is the great fact that the Spirit of truth is opening the
way before us both rapidly and surely. " Never was there
a time in the course of history, never in the Hfetime of the
Church, when the intelhgent Christian, when the faithful
and loyal citizen, had more reason to thank God and to take
courage." The health of this warm advocate for revision and this
earnest labourer in the earliest stages of the enterprise
broke down at the close of the year, and on the 12th of
January, 1871, he departed to his rest. Others have followed
him. Dr. Wilberforce, Bishop of Winchester, died in 1873.;
Dr. Thiriwall, Bishop of St. David's, died in 1875, also
Canon Selwyn about the same year, and Professor Eadie
in 1876 ; Dr. Scott, of Balhol, Oxford, afterwards Dean of
Eochester, -Dr. TregeUes, who was named after the first Hst
of revisers had been completed, died at an early period. A
few resignations have occurred ; and now, in addition to the
original revisers who remain, there are the following names :
E. L. Bensley, of the University Library, Cambridge ; Pro
fessor BhreU, St. Andrew's ; the Eev. T. K. Cheyne, Oxford ;
Principal Douglas, Glasgow ; S. E. Driver, New College,
Oxford ; the Eev. C. J. Elhot, Winkfield Vicarage, Windsor ;
the Eev. J. D. Geden, Wesleyan College, Didsbury; the
Eev. J. E. Lumby, Cambridge; the Bev. A. H. Sayce, Oxford;
Professor W. B. Smith, Aberdeen ; and Professor Weir,
Glasgow. These scholars are members of the Old Testament
Company ; and it should be noticed that Dr. Harold Browne,
who succeeded Dr. WUberforce in the see of Winchester,
acts as chairman of this division, and Mr. Aldis Wright as

296 . Our English Bible.
secretary. To the New Testament company have been
added Dr. Wordsworth, Bishop of St. Andrew's, Professor
David Brown, of Aberdeen, and Professor Palmer, Oxford.
Dr. EUicott, Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol, acts as chair
man, the Eev. J. Troutbeck as secretary.
At an early period it was thought desirable by BibHcal
scholars on both sides of the Atlantic, that Englishmen and
Americans should Combine in this great work for the benefit
of the Anglo-Saxon race throughout the world. The steps
taken for this purpose are described by the Eev. Dr. Philip '
Schaff, of New York, who from the commencement has
taken a Hvely interest in the enterprise.
" The British committee is fuHy competent, without
foreign aid, to do justice to the work committed to its care.
Yet, in view of its practical aim to furnish a revision not
for scholars, but for the Churches, it is of great importance
to secure at the outset the sympathy and co-operation of
BibHcal scholars in the United States, where the Authorized
Version is as widely used and as highly respected as in
Great Britain. Bival revisions would only add new; fuel to
sectarian divisions already too numerous among Protestants.
Let us hold fast by aU means to the strongest bond of
interdenominational and international union which we have
in a common Bible. The new revision, when completed,
should appear with the imprimatur of the united BibHcal
scholarship of Enghsh-speaking Christendom. In August,
1870, Dr. Joseph Angus, President of Begent's Park
CoUege, London, and one of the British revisers, arrived in
New York with a letter from Bishop EUicott, chairman of
the New Testament Company, authorizing him to open
negotiations for the formation of an American Committee
of Eevision. At his request I prepared a draft of rules for

American Co-operation. 297
co-operation, and a Hst of names of BibHcal scholars who
would probably best represent the different denominations
and literary institutions in this movement. The suggestions
were submitted to the British committee and substantiaUy
approved. Then followed an interesting official corre
spondence, conducted, on behalf of the British committee,
by the Bishop of Winchester, the Dean of Westminster, the
Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol, and Dr. Angus. I was
empowered by the British committee to select and invite
scholars from non-episcopal churches ; the nomination of
members from the American Episcopal Church was, for
obvious reasons, placed in the hands of some of its
bishops ; but, as they declined to take action, I was re
quested to fiU out the list. It is not necessary, in this
place, to enter into detaUs ; I wiU only state the result of
the negotiations. List oe Ameeican Eevisees.
The Old Testament Company.
Prof. Thomas J. Conant, d.d. . . Brooklyn, N.Y.
George E. Day, d.d. . . . New Haven, Conn.
John De Witt, d.d. . . . New Brunswick, N.J.
WilHam Henry Green, d.d. . Princeton, N.J.
George Genten Hare, d.d. . Philadelphia, Pa.
Charles P. Kranth, d.d. . . Philadelphia, Pa.
Joseph Packard, d.d. . . Fairfax, Va.
Calvin E. Stowe, d.d. . . Cambridge, Mass.
James Strong, s.t.d. . . Madison, N.J.
C. V. A. Van Dyck, m.d. . Beyrut, Syria.
Tayler Lewis, ll.d. . . Schenectady, N.Y.

298 Our English Bible.
The New Testament Company.
Eight Eev. Alfred Lee, d.d. . . . Wilington, Delaware.
Prof. Ezra Abbot, d.d., ll.d. . . Cambridge, Mass.
Eev. G. E. Crooks, d.d  New York.
Prof. H. B. Hackett, d.d., ll.d. . Eochester, N.Y.
,, James Hadley, ll.d., . . . New Haven, Conn.
,, Charles Hodge, d.d., ll.d. . Princeton, N.J.
,, A. C. Kendrick, d.d. . . . Eochester, N.Y.
,, Matthew B. Eiddle, d.d. . . Hartford, Conn.
,, Charles Short, ll.d. . . . New York.
,, Henry B.Smith, d.d., LL.D. . New York.
,, J. Henry Thayer, d.d. . . ' . Andover, Mass.
,, W. F. Warren, d.d. . . . Boston, Mass.
Eev. Edward A. Washburn, d.d. . New York.
,, -Theo. D. Woolsey, d.d., ll.d. New Haven, Conn.
Prof. Philip Schaff, d.d  New York.
" In the delicate task of selection, reference was had, first
of all, to abihty, experience, and reputation in BibHcal
learning and criticism ; next, to denominational connection
and standing, so as to have a fan representation of the
leading churches and theological institutions ; and last, to
local convenience, in order to secure regular attendance ;
some distinguished scholars were necessarily omitted, but
may be added hereafter by the committee itself."
On the 7th of December, 1871, a number of American
revisers assembled in New York " for the purpose of
effecting a temporary organization to co-operate with the
British committee in the revision of the Authorized EngHsh
Version of the Scriptures." The Eev. Dr. Howson, Dean of
Chester, at the time on a visit to America, attended this

American Co-operation. 299
meeting, at which was presented the following resolution
from England, dated October 23, 1871 :
"'That the Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol be requested
to communicate with Dr. Schaff to the effect that the work
of the New Testament revisers is at present only tentative
and provisional, and that it may be considerably altered at
the second revision ; but that, upon the assurance .of Dr.
Schaff that the work, so far as it is at present advanced, will
be considered as strictly confidential, the company will send
a sufficient number of copies for Dr. Schaff and his brother
revisers, for then own private use, the copies to be in no
way made public beyond themselves. For this purpose
that Dr. Schaff be requested to send the names and
addresses of the scholars associated with him in this matter,
so soon as the company is completely formed."
The names were forwarded, and on the 17th of July, 1872,
the New Testament company at Westminster resolved
"that so many copies of the revised version of the first
three Gospels be entrusted to Dr. Schaff for the use of the
above-named, with the request that they be regarded as
private and confidential, and with the intimation that the
work itself is provisional and tentative, and Hkely to undergo
considerable modification." On the receipt of these copies
the American committee, on the 4th of October, 1872, met
together and commenced then labours, which have been
continued down to the present time.
We have seen that during the Middle Ages a few men
devoted themselves to the translation of Scripture, and the
series of versions thus produced formed a living rill trickling •
along the desert waste. The age of Wychffe showed noble
and unprecedented attempts to put our countrymen in

300 Our English Bible.
possession of the Divine treasure ; and the version which he
executed, and which his followers revised, must ever remain
a monument of honour to his name. At the commencement
of the English Eeformation opened the grand era of Biblical
translation, which extended to the commencement of the
seventeenth century. The revival of literature, leading to
a knowledge of the original languages of the two Testaments,
lent its aid to the sacred cause ; whilst Christianity exerted
a reflex influence, and gaye a new and deeper impulse to the
study of the Greek and Hebrew tongues.
The translation of the Word of God formed a principal
object in the view of our Eeformers ; the wide circula
tion of Bibles and Testaments tended more than anything
else to secure for Protestantism the firm footing it soon
obtained ; and then wider circulation since has mainly con
tributed to the permanent ascendency of the Eeformation.
There is Httle fear of inimical antagonism so long as that
circulation continues accompanied by the devout study of
the Divine oracles ; for the relapse of a nation, where the
Bible has become a household book, into superstition and
spiritual ignorance is an event unknown in the history of
mankind, and seems to be a miracle not Hkely to occur.
Multitudes of Christians, in both hemispheres, anxious
that the inhabitants of foreign lands should enjoy the
blessing of vernacular translations, are supplying means
for the achievement of the object ; and it is a pleasant
exercise of imagination to anticipate the time when aU the
world over, nations shaU look back on the history of then
own Bible version, as we do on ours, and join in saying,
Other men laboured, and we have entered into their labours.
The translation into English of the Book of books is
connected with another history still more sacred than that of

Conclusion. 301
the production of the original volume. We are not left in
ignorance respecting the origin of the Greek and Hebrew
documents of which it is composed. Learned investigation
has pointed out their source and established their authen
ticity. They are in this respect, as in others, unlike the
sacred books of pagan nations. They have not been brought
out from caverns of mystery and darkness ; but they
rise on our view Hke the stars of heaven, and we can
point to the part of the horizon and teU the time when
they rose upon the night of the world's ignorance. It
is most satisfactory to take up an old English Bible and
trace back its history, beyond the origin of printing and
the period of its first Saxon translation, to the times of
the early church, when the original was received in the
form of Greek and Hebrew manuscripts, and thence fur
ther backward to the first century, to apostles and others
who wrote the New Testament, and to the yet more remote
origin of the Old Testament in the Jewish Church. The
examination of the Hterary history of the Bible, of its trans
mission from ancient to modern times, and of its original
production, inspires the student with an inteUigent con
fidence in this collection of books, which no insinuation or
attacks can shake. From this point an advance to the belief
of the credibility of the Bible narrative is but natural and
reasonable ; for it is contrary to all probability that persons
should forge accounts of things that never took place, and
successfully palm them upon persons who were contempo
raneous or nearly so with the times when those events were
said to have occurred. Knowing as we do so much about
the books of Scripture, we are compelled to admit that they
are as credible as they are genuine — as true as they are
authentic. A crowning fact is evolved at the conclusion of

302 Our English Bible.
this literary inquiry ; Christ promised inspiration to His
apostles ; it was claimed by them ; the claim was confirmed
by the reception which their writings met with from the
early church ; and nothing appears in the New Testament
to contradict the claim asserted and acknowledged. The
inspiration of the Old Testament is recognised in the New,
and thus the chain of evidence is complete. Sophistical
arguments and wild speculation have in vain attempted
to overthrow the truth and authority of Scripture. The
volume asserts its Divine character in its invincibflity
under opposition, and in the saving effect it produces. Nor
shaU time destroy it. This book alone is immortal. Sir
Thomas Brown has justly said of the sacred volume, " Men's
works have an age like themselves ; and though they'outlive
their authors, yet have they a stint and a period to then
• duration. This only is a work too hard for the teeth of
time, and cannot perish but in the general flames, when aU
things shall confess their ashes."
A devout and obedient temper, a willingness to Walk by
its practical rules, is the best preparation for an insight into
its mysteries, and for receiving an indubitable conviction of
its truth and authority. " If any man wUl do His wiU, he
shaU know of the doctrine, whether it be of God." Espe-
ciaUy let the student of the Bible remember the necessity of
the Holy Sphit's influence for the appreciation of Scripture
truth. " The natural man receiveth not the things of the
Spirit of God : for they are foolishness unto him : neither
can he know them, because they are sphituaUy discerned."
That passage is receiving a daily verification. Multitudes,
with the Bible in then hands, are blind to its truths. Any
one who fervently offers the prayer of the Psalmist, " Open
Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of

Conclusion. 303
Thy law," shall firid the study to be its own reward. The
Bible wiU be to him amidst the scenes of life a treasure of
matchless worth. " Bind it continuaUy upon thine heart,
and tie it about thy neck. When thou goest, it shall lead
thee ; when thou sleepest, it shaU keep thee ; and when thou
awakest, it shall talk with thee. For the commandment is
a lamp, and the law is Hght ; and reproofs of instruction are
the way of life." In youth it will form the character,
stimulate the intellect, purify the taste, and yield richer
pleasures than the world — so lavish in its promises, so poor
in its performances — can supply; and in age it will strengthen
under infirmities, and fill the soul with hopes of that state
of being in which life shall never ebb, and health shall
never languish ! In prosperity it will tinge with brightest
colours all our joys, while it leads to fehcity in the favour
of Almighty God, and is ever teaching the beautiful song :
" To Thee we owe our wealth and friends,
And health and safe abode :
Thanks to Thy name for meaner things ;
But these are not my God."
In adversity, in sickness, in mental depression — when even
friendship loses its soothing power, and Hterature can no
longer afford solace, — this volume will shine Hke a beauti
ful star amidst beclouded skies.
Dr. Johnson relates in his Lives of the Boets that he
visited Collins — a genius of no mean name — in his latter
days, when he was broken down by physical debility and
mental solicitude. He had withdrawn from study, and he
traveUed with no other book than a New Testament, such as
children carry to school. When his friend took it in his
hand, out of curiosity to see what companion a man of
letters had chosen, "I have but one book," said CoUins ;
"but that is the best ! "

304 Our English Bible.
There is no other book which associates itself in the
same way and to the same extent with the joys and sorrows
of human Hfe, with births, marriages, and burials, with our
journeys, our country walks, our conversation round the
family hearth, our sUence by the sick-bed side — no other
which Hke this would bear to be read over the coffin of the
dead, at the mouth ofthe sepulchre. Why is it that people
in then troubles cleave to what is written here as they do to
nothing else in this wide world? " The fairest flowers of
human wit, after a few perusals, Hke gathered flowers, wither
in our hands and lose then fragrancy ; but these unfading
plants of paradise become, as we are accustomed to them,
more and more beautiful, their bloom appears to be daffy
heightened, fresh odours are emitted and new sweets ex
tracted from them. He who has tasted then exceUences
wiU desire to taste them yet again, and he who tastes them
oftenest will relish them the most." *
* Preface to Home's Commentary on the Psalms.

INDEX.

Abbot, Dr., 298
Abbott, George, 244
Abraham, 8, 9, 62
Adam, 62, 63
iElfrio, 11, 66
Aldred, 14
Alford, Dean of Canterbury, 285, 290,
292, 295
Alfred, 14
Alfred's dooms, 10
Alexander, Dr., 292
Allen, Edmund, 173
Alleyn, Bishop of Exeter, 210
Alnwick, Bishop of Norwich, 54
Anderson, 79
Andrew, St., 62
Andrewes, Dr. (or Andrews), 239, 240,
241
Andrews, Eoger, 242
Anglo-Saxon sacred books, 8 ei seq.
Angus, Dr., 293, 297
Anne Boleyn, 108, 121, 130
Apocrypha, 103, 131, 139, 271
Arnold, Dr., 50
Arundel's Constitution, 53, 54, 122
Asssembly's Annotations, 271
Assembly's Catechism, 277
Augustine, St., 29, 163
Babei & Offor; 43
Bampfield, 272
Bancroft, 233, 236, 238, 257
Barker, Christopher, 220
Barker, Robert, 220
Barker, Matthew 236,
Barlowe, Dr., 244
Barnes, Df., 118—120
Barrow, Dr., 281
Baxter, Richard, 261

Becon, Thomas, 211
Bede, 19, 20
Bedwell, William 241
Belet, Jean, 64
Belward, Nicholas, 54
Bensley, R. L., 295
Bentham, Tnomas, 189, 211 212
Beza, Theodore, 186, 197, 219, 227,
250
Bible, translations of, 3, MS copies,
6 ; Anglo-Saxon version, 7, 16 — 24 ;
Wyclifie's translation, 31, 33—42
54 ; later versions, 43 — 48 ; deriva
tion of the word, 45 ; early printed
versions, 56 — 58, 68 ; Tyndale's
translation, 81, 100 — 107 ; copies
burnt, 92 ; revision of Tyndale's
translation, 97 ; Title pages,
102 ; translations mentioned by
Cranmer before Convocation, 122 ;
Coverdale's version, 123 — 127 ; title
pages, 128 ; Cranmer's attempt to
prepare an authorized version, 133 ;
Coverdale's, published by King's
licence, 136 ; Matthew's Bible,
138—148 ; the- Great Bible, 149—
161 ; prohibited, 166 ; editions pub
lished in Edward vi.'s reign, 171 —
174 ; Cheke's version, 176 ; public
reading forbidden, i77 ; Geneva
version, 186 — 200 ; reading sanc
tioned by Elizabeth, 206 ; an
authorized translation, 208 et seq.
Rhenish version, 221 — 228 ; autho
rized version, 233 — 259 ; printing
and binding, 260 ; Ussher's version,
263—265; Soldier's pocket Bible,
265 ; errors in printing, 266 : in
Cromwell's time, 269 ; presented

306

INDEX.

to Sovereigns at coronation, 269 ;
proposed new version, 273 ; for
preaching, 275 ; revision of English
version, 279 et seq.
, Biblia pauperum, 55
Bilney, Thomas, 119
Bilson, Bishop of Winchester, 247
Blakesley, Canon, 288, 292
Blayney, Dr., 275, 276
Block books, 55
Bodleian Library, 15, 33, 196, 241
Bodley, John, 196, 197, 206, 207
Bodley, Thomas, 189
Bois, or Boys, 244, 245
Bonner, 150, 152, 153, 163, 178
Boothroyd, 280
Bouchier, Archbishop, 70
Bradford, John, 210
Bradwardine, 39
Branthwaite, Dr., 244
Breeches Bible, 198
Brett, Dr., 242
Bristow, Richard, 226, 227
Broughton, Hugh, 219, 256
Brown, Professor David, 296
Browne, Dr. Harold, 288, 292, 296
Bruges, 27, 41
Bucer, 173, 174
Buck and Daniel, 261
Bude, L.,197
Bullinger, 174
Burgley, 241
Burnet, 92
ByddeU and Bartlett, 147
Byng, Dr. Andrew, 242
Csedmon, 8, 14, 66
Csesar, 4
- Calvin, 186, 189 ; his preface to New
Testament, 191 g
Cambridge, meetings of translators
' at, 242', 244
Castalio, 197, 217
Cartwright, Thomas, 227
Caryl, Joseph, 274
Catherine Parr, 172, 174
Caxton, William, 58 ; his Golden
' Legend, 59—66, 69, 198
Cecil, Lord Burleigh,, 206, 216
Chadertpri, Dr. Laurence, 242
Charles, Rev. Thomas, 277

Chaucer, 45 "
Chenery, T., 292
Cheke, Sir John, 176
Cheyne, Rev. J. K., 295
Chichele, Archbishop, 44
Chrysostom, St., 223
Clarendon press, 275
Clark, 288
Clarke, Dr. Richard, 241
Clement vm., 226
Cochlseus, 79, 82, 84, 86, 87
Cole, 195
Columba of Iona, 6
Columbus, 67
Commission, Historical MSS., 262
Committee appointed for revision of
Scriptures, 291 et seq.
Common Prayer, Book of, 274
Compton, Lord A., 288
Conant, Dr., 297
Conference at Hampton Court, 230 —
233, 249
Convocation, 122, 133, 164, 216, 284—
290
Conybeare, 8
Cook, Rev. Canon, 292
Cotton, Sir Robert, 15, 180
Coverdale, Miles, 165, 176, 180, his
childhood and youth, li7; patro-
onized by Thos. Cromwell, i20; his
possible meetingwith Tyndale, 123 ;
his Bible, 123 — 137 ; his great
Bible, 149—161 ; Bishop of Exeter
174 ; hisexile, 183, 189 ; returns to
England,213, his death, 214
Cowper, Thomas, 262
Cox, Leonard, 173 i
Cox, Richard, 213
Cranmer, 108, 121, 122, 133, 135, 144,
161, 164, 165, 180, 183
CromweU, Thomas, 120, 134, 135, 145,
146; his efforts to circulate the
Bible, 150—158, 162, 165
Crooks, Dr. 298
Cudworth, Dr. 272, 273
Cuthbert, Bishop of Durham, 162
Cuthbert, St. 13—15,.
Dakins, 244
David, 62
Davidson, Dr. 292

INDEX.

307

Davies, Richard, 210
Davies, Dr. B. 292
Day, Dr. 297
Denison, 288
Diatheke, 102
Douglas, Principal, 295
Downes, Andrew, 244, 245
Driver, L. K;, 295
Duport, Dr. John, 244
Durham book, 13—16, 23
Dyck, Dr. Van, 298
Eadfrith, 13, 14
Eadie, Dr., 140, 143, 227, 293
Edward hi. 27
Edward vi. 48, 118, 127, 170, 174, 269
Eedes, Dr., 244
Elizabeth, Queen, 48, 183, 198, 200,
202, 226, 227, 269
Ellicott, Dr., 292, 296, 297
Elliott, Rev. C. J. 295
Ellis, Sir William, 262
Erasmus, 67, 73, 75, 103, 118, 153
Ethelwald, St., 14
Fagius, 173, 174
Pairbairn, Dr. 292
Fairclough, 242
Felmer, 169
Fenton, 244
Field, Rev J., 292
Fletcher, Richard, 54
Forshall and Madden, 31, 37, 43, 48
Fox, Bishop of Hereford, 135
Foxe, John, 20, 27, 78, 79, 91, 120,
123
Fraser, Dr., 288
Frias, Duke de, 234
Frith, John, 101, 112, 113
Froben, Johann, 58
Fry, 125, 128, 129, 130
Fulke, Dr. William, 227
Fuller, Thomas, 148, 223
Furboshe, Sir William, 87
Fust & Schofier, 56
Fyshe, 87
Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester, 167
Gaunt, John of, 27, 50, 53
Geden, Rev. J. D. 296
Gilby, Anthony, 189, 195, 196

Gilford, Sir Harry, 75
Ginsburg, Dr., 292
Golden Legend of Caxton, 59—66, 69
Goodman, Gabriel, 195, 213
Goodwin, Dr., 274
Gospels, commentary on the, 30
Gotch, Dr., 292
Grafton, 66, 147, 150, 152, 154, 163,
167.
Green, Dr., 297
Greenhill, 273
Gregory, Canon, 288,
Grey, Lady Jane, 210
Grindal, Bishop of London, 206, 212
Guest, 211, 213
Gutenberg, 56, 57
Hackett, Dr. 298
Hadley, Dr., 298
Hale, Sir Matthew, 261
Hampton Court conference, 230 — 233,
249
Harding, Dr. John, 235, 242
Hare, Dr., 298
HarleianMSS., 31
Harman, John, 244
Harrison, Archdeacon, 293
Hebilthwayte, William, 76
Henderson, 280
Henry n., i2
Henry rv., 51
Henry vi., 48
Henry, vu., 48
Henry viii. 108, 130, 136, 145, 149,
165, 166, 177
Hereford, Nicolas de, 32, 33
Hill, Dr., 273
Hodge, Dr., 298
Holkham Hall, 128
HoUand, Dr. Thomas, 242
Hollybush, John, 146
Hopkins, Canon, 288
Horman, Richard, 87
Horne, Robert, Bishop of Winchester,
211
Hort, Rev. F. G., 293
Howson, Dr., Dean of Chester, 299
Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, 48
Humphreys, Canon, 293
Hutchinson, Dr., 244.
Hyde, John, 22.

308

INDEX.

Jacquemayne, Lewis, 190
James I., 229, 231, 232, 234, 235, 253
Jebb, Dr., 288, 292, 294
Jenkins, 273
Jerome, St., 56
Joseph, 62
Joseph of ArimathEea, 4
Joye, George, 100, 101, 108
Jugge, John, 219
Jugge, Richard, 214, 219, 220
Kay, Dr., 288
Kendrick, Dr., 298
Kennedy, Canon, 293
Kennicott, 280
Key, Thomas, 172
Kilbie, Dr. Richard, 242, 243
King, Geoffry, 241
Kirkby, Dame Margaret, 23
Knighton, 35, 40
Knox, John, 195
Kranth, Dr., 298
Lathbvuy, Johannes de, 23
Latimer, Hugh, 77, 96, 121
Laud, Archbishop, 261
Lawney, Thomas, 134
Layfield, Dr. John, 241
Leathes, Professor, 293
Lee, Dr., 298
Lee, Archdeacon, 293
Lelong, 195,
Lever, Thomas, 119
Lewis, Dr., 298
Lightfoot, Dr,. 271
Lindisfarne, i3, 14, 15
Lively, Edward, 233, 235, 242, 247
Living, William, 193, 195
Lloyd, Bishop, 275
Lollards, the, 23, 49—55, 66
Lowth, 280
Luft, Hans, 88
Lixmby, Rev. J. R. 296
Luther, Martin, 67, 80—81, 82, 84, 85,
103, 107
Lutterworth Rectory, 27, 32
McGill, Professor, 293
Macknight, 280
Madden, Sir Frederick, 21

Madden, Forshal and, 31, 37, 43,
Maitland, 79
Maldon, William, 161
Mallet, Francis, 172
Mansell, Dr., 288
Marbeck, John, his concordance,
—169
Marburg, 88, 97
Martin, Gregory, 226, 227
Martyr, Peter, 174
Mary, Queen, 177, 179, 180
Mary, Queen of Scots, 228
Matthew's Bible, 138—148
Mazarin, Cardinal, 56, 57
Melancthon, 81
Meteren, Cornelius van, 124
Meteren, Emanuel van, 124
Meteren, Jacob van, 124 — 127
Milligan, Dr., 293
Milton, John, 240
Moberly, Dr. 281, 285
Monmouth, Humphry, 76, 77, 78, 81
Montanus, 250
More, Sir Thomas, 33, 79, 80, 116
Morris, Richard, 13
Moses, 8, 10, 62
Moulton, Professor, 293
Munster, 250
Neale, Dr. Bishop of Durham, 240
Nebuchadnezzar, 8
Necton, Robert, 87
Newcome, 280
Newman, Dr., 293. 294
Newth, Dr., 290, 29b
Nicholas, St., 62
Nicholson, 130, 131
Nix, Bishop of Norwich, 88
Old, Dr., 173
Oldcastle, Sir John, 51, 52
Ollivant, Dr., 292
Orm or Ornim, 12, 66
Ortelius, 124, 126, 127
Otmars of Augsburg, 57
Overall, Dr. John, 240
Owen, Dr., 273
Oxford, meetings of translators at, 242,
243
Packard, Dr., 298

INDEX.

309

Packington, Augustine, 88, 91, 96
Palmer, Professor, 296
Parker, Archbishop, 20, 206, 209, 215,
216
Parkhurst, John, Bishop of Norwich,
212
Paul, St., 4
Paulinus, 5, 6
Pearson, 169
Pecock, Bishop of Chichester, 69, 70
Peerson, Andrew, 211'
Perowne, Professor, 293
Perrin, Dr., 244
Peter, St., 81, 98, 99
Phillips, 114
Plumptre, Canon, 293
Pocock, Dr., 241
Poyntz, Thomas, 115
Practice of Prelates, 97—100, 111
Prick of Conscience, 22
Purvey, or Purnay, his version of the
Bible, 44—48, 131
Pusey, Canon, 293, 294
Rabbett, 244
Radcliffe, Dr. Jeremiah, 244
Rainolds, Dr., 231—233, 242, 248
Rask, 11
Ravens, Dr., 244
Ravis, Dr., 238, 243
Richard in., 48
Richardson, Chief Justice, 271
Riddle, Dr., 298
Rinck, Herman, 82
Roberts, Dr., 293
Rogers, John, 141, 144 ; his martyr
dom, 179, 180, 183
Rolle, Richard, 22, 23, 66
Rose, Archdeacon, 288
Rushworth gloss, 15
Salisbury, Earl of, 235
Salus Animi, 12
Sampson, Thomas, 189, 195, 196
Sanderson, 243
Sandys, Bishop of Worcester, 210
Saravia, Andrian de, 241
Sautre, 44
Saville, Sir Henry, 244
Saxon Chronicle, il

Sayce, Rev. A. H., 296
Scattergood, Dr., 275
Schoeffer, 84, 85
Schorham, William de, 21, 22
Scott, Dr., 293, 295
Scrivener, Rev. F., 293
Selwyn, Dr., 285, 288, 292, 295
Sharpe, Rev. Launcelot, 276
Short, Dr., 298
Sixtus v ., 225
Slater, Samuel, 273
Smith, Dr. Payne, 293
Smith, Professor, 296
Smith, Dr. H. B., 298
Smith, Dr. Miles, 242, 247
Soulehele MS., 66
Sparke, Thomas, 232
Spalding, Robert, 242
Spenser, Dr., 244
Schafi, Dr. Philip, 296, 298, 299
Simon, Professor, 290, 291
Sports, Book of, 234
Stanley, Dr., Dean of Westminster,
290, 292
Stevens, 130, 131
Stokesley, Bishop, 133
Stoughton, Dr., 239
Stowe, Dr., 298
Strong, Dr., 298
Surtees Society, 21
Taverner, or Tavernour, Richard,
147, 148
Teigh, Dr., 241
Temple, Dr., 285
Tenison, Dr., 275
Testwood, 169
Thayer, Dr., 298
Thorpe, 8, 10
Thirlwall, Dr., 284, 292, 295
Thomson, Richard, 241
Tintoretto, 64
Tomson, Dr. Giles, 244
Tomson, Lawrence, 219
Tonstall, 162
TregeUes, Dr., 295
Tremellius, 250, 251
Trench, Dr., 281, 293
Troutbeck, Rev. J., 296
Tuckney, Dr., 274
Tunstall and Heath, 161

310

INDEX.

Tyndale, William, 33, 72, 131, 133
139, 140, 143, 145 ; his studies, 74
Monmouth's friendship for, 76
visits Hamburg, 79 ; his probable
visit to Wittenberg, 79 ; visit to
Cologne, 81 ; his translation of Testa
ment, 81 ; his flight to Worms, 84 ;
publishes Testament, 85—87;" at
Marburg, 88; story of his selling
Testaments to be burnt, 91 ; revises
translation, 97, 100 ; his practice of
prelates,97 — 100, 111 ; his merits as
translator, 102 — 107 ; his interviews
with Vaughan, 112 ; his letter to
Frith, 113; betrayed by Philips,
114 ; taken prisoner, 115 ; his exe
cution, 115, 183 ; his character, 116
Udal, Nicholas, 172
Ussher, Ambrose, 263, 264
Vaughan, Sir Stephen, 108, 111, 112
Vaughan, Dr., 293
Vetus Itala, 6
Venninge, Ralph, 273
Vignay, Jehan de, 64
Voragine, Jacobus de, 63, 64
Waller, 240
Walsh, Sir John, 71, 73
Walton, Dr., 272
Wanley, 125
Ward, Dr. Samuel, 244
Warham, Archbishop, 88, 95, 122
Warren, Dr., 298
Warton, 22
Washburn, Dr., 298

Waterland, 280
Weir, Professor, 296
Westcott, Canon, 103, 140, 161, 217,
251
Westminster Assembly, 267
Westminster, meetings of translators
at, 239—241, 244
Wharton, Lord, 277
Whitelock, 272
Whitchurch, 144, 147, 154, 161
Whitgift, Archbishop, 217, 227
Whittingham, William, 189, 190, 195,
201
Wilberforce, Dr., 284, 292, 295, 296
William, i., 11
William in., 269
Witt, Dr. de, 297
Wilkes, 219
Wittenberg, 80; 81
Woodfall, George, 276
Woodgate, Canon, 288
Woolsey, Dr., 298
Wolsey, 230, 231
Worde, Wynkyn de, 68
Wordsworth, Dr., 285, 292, 294
Wright, Dr., 293
Wright, William, 54
Wrigtit, Dr., W. A., 293
Wyclifie, John, 23, 43, 44, 50, 52, 53,
63, 70, 102, 105; at Lutterworth,
25; visits Bruges, 27, 41; his
writings, 28 ; appears before a
synod, 29 ; his commentary, 30 ;
his translation of the Bible, 31,
33—42; his death, 32.
Zwingle, 132

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