Of this, the most popular edition of the Scriptures
in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, we meet
continually with erroneous opinions of its rarity,
and also of its value, which the following brief
statement may tend in a degree to correct.
The translation was undertaken by certain reformers
who fled to Geneva during the reign of
Queen Mary; and is attributed to W. Whittingham,
Anthony Gilby, Miles Coverdale, Thomas
Sampson, Christopher Goodman, Thomas Cole,
John Knox, John Bodleigh, and John Pullain;
but Mr. Anderson, in his _History of the English
Bible_, says that the translators were Whittingham,
Gilby, and Sampson: and from the facts stated, he
is, no doubt, correct.
It is called the "Breeches Bible" from the
rendering of Genesis, iii. 7.:
"Then the eyes of them bothe were opened, and they
knewe that they were naked, and they sewed fig tree
leaves together, and made themselves breeches."
The first edition of the Geneva Bible was printed
at Geneva in 1562, folio, preceded by a dedication
to Queen Elizabeth, and an address "To our beloved
in the lord the brethren of England, Scotland,
Ireland," &c.; dated from Geneva, 10th
April, 1561. This edition contains two remarkable
errors: Matt. v. 9. "Blessed are the _place_
makers." Luke xxi. "Chris _condemneth_ the poor
widow." This is the first Bible divided into verses.
Second edit. 4to., printed at Geneva, 1569. To
this edition is added "Certeine Tables, A Calendar,
and Fairs in Fraunce and elsewhere."
The first edition printed in London is a small
folio. Imprinted by Christopher Barker, 1576.
The first edition of the Scriptures printed in
Scotland is the Geneva version, folio, began 1576,
by Thomas Bassandyne; and finished in 1579 by
Alexander Arbuthnot.
Other editions, 1577, London, sm. fol.; 1578,
sm. fol.; 4to., 1579; two editions 4to., 1580, 1581;
sm. fol.; 1582; 4to., 1583; lar. fol., 1583; 4to.,
1585; 4to., 1586; 8vo., 1586; 4to., 1587; 4to.,
1588; 4to., 1589; 8vo., Cambridge, 1591, supposed
to be first printed at the university; fol.,
1592; 4to., 1594; 4to., 1595; fol., 1595; 4to.,
1597; sm. fol., 1597; 4to., 1598; 4to., 1599. Of this
last date, said to be "Imprinted at London by the
deputies of Chr. Barker," but probably printed at
Dort, and other places in Holland, there were at
least seven editions; and, before 1611, there were
at least twenty other editions.
Between the years 1562 and 1611, there were
printed at least 130 editions of the Geneva Bible,
in folio, 4to., and 8vo.; each edition probably consisted
of 1000 copies.
Persons who know but little of the numbers
which are extant of this volume, have asked 100l.,
{18}
30l., and other like sums, for a copy; whereas, as
many shillings is about the value of the later
editions.
The notes by the Reformers from the margin
of the Geneva version, have been reprinted with
what is usually called King James' version, the one
now in use, in the editions printed at Amsterdam,
at the beginning of the seventeenth century.
[Curly-pi].
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