(Vol. vii., p. 382.)
In answer to some of the questions proposed by O. W. J. respecting the
Prayer Book translated into French, I am able to give this information.
A copy of a French Prayer Book is to be found in the Bodleian Library
(Douce Coll.), which is very probably the first edition of the translation.
A general account of this book may be gained from Strype's _Mem. Eccl. K.
Ed. VI._ (vol. iii. p. 208. ed. 1816); also Strype's _Mem. Abp. Cranmer_
(b. ii. c. 22. sub fin. and c. 33., and App. 54. and 261.); also Collier's
_Eccl. Hist._, vol. ii. p. 321.
From these sources we may conclude that a translation of the first book of
_K. Ed. VI._ was begun very soon after its publication in England, at the
instigation of Pawlet (at that time governor of Calais), with the sanction
of the king and the archbishop "for the use of the islands of Guernsey and
Jersey, and of the town and dependencies of Calais;" but it does not seem
to have been completed before the publication of the second book took
place, and so the alterations were incorporated into this edition.
The translator was "Francoys Philippe, a servant of the Lord Chancellor"
(Thos. Goodrick, Bishop of Ely), as he styles himself. The printer's name
is Gaultier. It was put forth in 1553.
There is still extant an "Order in Council" for the island of Jersey, dated
April 15, 1550, commanding to "observe and use the service, and other
orders appertaining to the same, and to the ministration of the sacraments,
set forth in the booke sent to you presentlye." It is uncertain what the
book here referred to was, whether a translation or a copy of the English
liturgy.
There are copies extant of another liturgy put forth in 1616, purporting to
be "newly translated at the command of the king." The printer's name is
Jehan Bill, of London. The name of John Bill appears also as king's printer
in the English authorised edition of 1662.
Another was published in 1667, by Jean Dunmore and Octavien Pulleyn.
The edition of 1695, published by _Erringham_ (Everingham) and R. Bentley,
has the sanction of K. Charles II. appended to it.
Numerous editions have since been published, varying in many important
points (even of doctrine) from one another, and from their English
original. There is now no authorised edition fit for general use; the older
translations having become too antiquated by the variations in the French
language to be read in the churches.