not exceeded the measure of a preface already. It remaineth that we
commend thee to God, and to the Spirit of his grace, which is able to
build further than we can ask or think. He removeth the scales from our
eyes, the vail from our hearts, opening our wits that we may understand
his word, enlarging our hearts, yea, correcting our affections, that we
may love it above gold and silver, yea, that we may love it to the end.
[Sidenote: Gen. 26. 15.] Ye are brought unto fountains of living water
which ye digged not; do not cast earth into them, with the Philistines,
neither prefer broken pits before them, with the wicked Jews. [Sidenote:
Jer. 2. 13.] Others have laboured, and you may enter into their labours. O
receive not so great things in vain: O despise not so great salvation. Be
not like swine to tread under foot so precious things, neither yet like
dogs to tear and abuse holy things. Say not to our Saviour with the
_Gergesites_, [Sidenote: Matt. 8. 35. Heb. 12. 16.] Depart out of our
coasts; neither with _Esau_ sell your birthright for a mess of pottage. If
light be come into the world, love not darkness more than light: if food,
if clothing, be offered, go not naked, starve not yourselves. [Sidenote:
_Nazianz._ περὶ ἁγ βαπτ. Δεινὸν πανήγυριν παρελφεῖν, καὶ τηνικαῦτα
πραγματείαν ἐπιζητεῖν.] Remember the advice of _Nazianzene_, _It is a
grievous thing_ (or dangerous) _to neglect a great fair, and to seek to
make markets afterwards_: also the encouragement of St. _Chrysostome_, _It
is altogether impossible, that he that is sober_ (and watchful) _should at
any time be neglected_: lastly, the admonition and menancing of St.
_Augustine_, _They that despise God’s will inviting them shall feel God’s
will taking vengeance of them_. [Sidenote: _St. Chrysost. in Epist. ad
Rom. c. 14._] It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living
God; [Sidenote: _orat. 26. in_ ἠθικ. Ἀμήχανον, σφόδρα άμήχανον.] but a
blessed thing it is, and will bring us to everlasting blessedness in the
end, when God speaketh unto us, to hearken; when he setteth his word
before us, to read it; when he stretcheth out his hand and calleth, to
answer, Here am I, here we are to do thy will, O God. [Sidenote: _St.
August, ad artic. sibi falso object. Art. 16._ Heb. 10. 31.] The Lord work
a care and conscience in us to know him and serve him, that we may be
acknowledged of him at the appearing of our Lord JESUS CHRIST, to whom
with the Holy Ghost be all praise and thanksgiving. Amen.
(G.)
_THE REVISERS OF A.D. 1568._
The twelve bishops who are mentioned as taking part with Archbishop Parker
in this revision, are:
William Alley, Bishop of Exeter.
William Barlow, Bishop of Chichester.
Thomas Bentham, Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield.
Nicholas Bullingham, Bishop of Lincoln.
Richard Cox, Bishop of Ely.
Richard Davies, Bishop of St. Davids (Menevensis).
Edmund Grindal, Bishop of London.
Edmund Guest (or Geste), Bishop of Rochester.
Robert Horne, Bishop of Winchester.
John Parkhurst, Bishop of Norwich.
Edwin Sandys, Bishop of Worcester.
Edmund Scambler, Bishop of Peterborough.
The other church dignitaries who are mentioned are:
Andrew Pearson, Canon of Canterbury.
Andrew Perne, Prebendary of Ely.
Thomas Beacon, Prebendary of Canterbury.
Gabriel Goodman, Dean of Westminster.
At the end of sixteen of the books are placed initials, which are
evidently those of the revisers. These, with more or less of certainty,
have been identified with names given in the above list.[147] They are as
follows, and in the following order:
Deuteronomy W. E. Bishop of Exeter.
2 Samuel R. M. Bishop of St. Davids.
2 Chronicles E. W. Bishop of Worcester.
Job A. P. _C_ Andrew Pearson.
Psalms[148] T. B. Thomas Beacon.
Proverbs A. P. _C_ Andrew Pearson.
Canticles A. P. _E_ Andrew Perne.
Lamentations R. W. Bishop of Winchester.
Daniel T. C.L. Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield.
Malachi E. L. Bishop of London.
Wisdom W. C. Bishop of Chichester.
2 Maccabees J. N. Bishop of Norwich.
Acts R. E. Bishop of Ely.
Romans R. E. Bishop of Ely.
1 Corinthians G. G. Gabriel Goodman.
From a list of the revisers, enclosed in a letter from Parker to Cecil,
dated October 5th, 1568, and now in the State Paper Office, we may further
gather that the Catholic Epistles and the Apocalypse were revised by
Bishop Bullingham, the Gospels of Luke and John by Bishop Scambler, and
that the portions undertaken by Parker himself were Genesis, Exodus,
Matthew, Mark, and the Epistles from 2 Corinthians to Hebrews
inclusive.[149]
(H.)
_THE REVISERS OF 1611._
In the collection of Records appended to the Second Part of Bishop
Burnet’s _History of the Reformation of the Church of England_, there is
given a list of the Revisers of 1611, copied, as the writer tells us,[150]
from the paper of Bishop Ravis himself, one of the number. The list is
thus given:[151]
WESTMINSTER (1). Mr. Dean of Westminster, Mr. Dean of Pauls, Mr.
Doctor Saravia, Mr. Doctor Clark, Mr. Doctor Leifield, Mr. Doctor
Teigh, Mr. Burleigh, Mr. King, Mr. Tompson, Mr. Beadwell.
CAMBRIDGE (1). Mr. Livelye, Mr. Richardson, Mr. Chatterton, Mr.
Dillingham, Mr. Harrison, Mr. Andrews, Mr. Spalding, Mr. Burge.
OXFORD (1). Doctor Harding, Dr. Reynolds, Dr. Holland, Dr. Kilbye, Mr.
Smith, Mr. Brett, Mr. Fairclough.
CAMBRIDGE (2). Doctor Dewport, Dr. Branthwait, Dr. Radclife, Mr. Ward
(Eman.), Mr. Downes, Mr. Boyes, Mr. Warde (Reg.).
OXFORD (2). Mr. Dean of Christchurch, Mr. Dean of Winchester, Mr. Dean
of Worcester, Mr. Dean of Windsor, Mr. Sairle, Dr. Perne, Dr. Ravens,
Mr. Haviner.[152]
WESTMINSTER (2). Dean of Chester, Dr. Hutchinson, Dr. Spencer, Mr.
Fenton, Mr. Rabbet, Mr. Sanderson, Mr. Dakins.
Some difference of opinion has existed in reference to the date of this
document. Its date is determined within comparatively narrow limits by
internal evidence.
The writer, Dr. Ravis, describes himself as Dean of Christ Church; it must
therefore have been written _before_ March 19, 1605, when he was
consecrated Bishop of Gloucester. He also refers to the Dean of Worcester
(Dr. Eedes), who died November, 1604, and hence he may be assumed to have
written before that date also. The difficulty is that he describes Dr.
Barlow, who is known to have taken part in the work, as Dean of Chester,
and it must therefore have been written _after_ Barlow’s appointment of
this office. This appointment, as stated by Cardwell, took place in
December, 1604;[153] but the correctness of that date is open to some
doubt.[154]
The names contained in the above given list have, with some few
exceptions, been satisfactorily identified; namely, as follows:
FIRST WESTMINSTER COMPANY.
Dr. Launcelot Andrews, Dean of Westminster.[155]
Dr. John Overall, Dean of St. Paul’s.[156]
Dr. Adrian de Saravia.
Dr. Richard Clark, Fellow of Christ’s College, Cambridge.
Dr. John Layfield, Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge.
Dr. Robert Tighe, Vicar of All Hallows, Barking.
[Dr. Francis Burley, Fellow of King James’s College, Chelsea.]
Mr. Geoffry King, Fellow of King’s College, Cambridge.[157]
Mr. Richard Thomson, Clare Hall, Cambridge.
Mr. William Bedwell, Vicar of Tottenham.
FIRST CAMBRIDGE COMPANY.
Mr. Edward Lively,[158] Regius Professor of Hebrew, Cambridge.
Mr. John Richardson,[159] Fellow of Emmanuel College, Cambridge.
Mr. Laurence Chaderton, Master of Emmanuel College, Cambridge.
Mr. F. Dillingham, Fellow of Christ’s College, Cambridge.
Mr. Thomas Harrison, Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge.
Mr. Roger Andrews.[160]
Mr. Robert Spalding,[161] Fellow of St. John’s College, Cambridge.
Mr. Andrew Byng, Fellow of Peter House.
FIRST OXFORD COMPANY.
Dr. John Harding, Regius Professor of Hebrew, and President of
Magdalen.
Dr. John Rainolds, President of Corpus Christi College.
Dr. Thomas Holland,[162] Regius Professor of Divinity.
Dr. Richard Kilbye, Rector of Lincoln College, Oxford.
Dr. Miles Smith,[163] Brasenose College, Oxford.
Dr. Richard Brett, Fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford.
Mr. Richard Fairclough, Fellow of New College, Oxford.
THE SECOND CAMBRIDGE COMPANY.
Dr. John Duport, Master of Jesus College.
Dr. William Branthwaite, Master of Caius College.
Dr. Jeremiah Radcliffe, Fellow of Trinity College.
Mr. Samuel Ward, Fellow of Emmanuel College.[164]
Mr. Andrew Downes, Regius Professor of Greek.
Mr. John Bois, Fellow of St. John’s, and Rector of Boxworth.
Mr. Ward, Fellow of King’s College.[165]
THE SECOND OXFORD COMPANY.
Dr. Thomas Ravis, Dean of Christ Church.[166]
Dr. George Abbot, Dean of Winchester.[167]
Dr. Richard Eedes, Dean of Worcester.[168]
Dr. Giles Thomson, Dean of Windsor.
Mr. Henry Saville,[169] Warden of Merton and Provost of Eton.
Dr. John Perin, Fellow of St. John’s College.
[Dr. Ralph Ravens, Fellow of St. John’s College.]
Dr. John Harmer, Regius Professor of Greek.
To these, Wood, who does not mention the names of either Eedes or Ravens,
in the list given in his _History of the University of Oxford_, adds the
following two; they were probably appointed to take the places of some
removed by death:
Dr. John Aglionby,[170] Principal of Edmunds Hall.
Dr. Leonard Hutten,[171] Canon of Christ Church.
THE SECOND WESTMINSTER COMPANY.
Dr. William Barlow, Dean of Chester.
Dr. Hutchinson. (?)
Dr. John Spenser, Chaplain to King James.[172]
Mr. Roger Fenton, Pembroke Hall, Oxford.
[Mr. Michael Rabbett, Rector of St. Vedast, Foster Lane.]
[Mr. Thomas Sanderson, Rector of All Hallows.]
Mr. William Dakins, Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge.
NOTE TO PAGE 117.
DEAN STANLEY (_Historical Memorials of Westminster Abbey_, p. 440) states
generally that the Assembly of Divines removed from Henry VII.’s Chapel to
the Jerusalem Chamber at the end of September. The exact date is, as
stated in the text, October 2nd. In the Minutes of the Sessions of the
Assembly, preserved in Dr. Williams’s Library, there occurs at the close
of the sixty-fifth session the entry, “Adjourned to the Hierusalem Chamber
on Monday, at ten o’clock,” and the following session, the sixty-sixth, is
dated Monday, October 2nd. The permission to adjourn to the Jerusalem
Chamber from Henry VII.’s Chapel, “on account of the coldness of the said
chapel,” was granted by Parliament on September 21st, 1643.
INDEX.
A.
Abbot, Dr. Ezra, 115
Ælfric’s Heptateuch, 12, 13
Aiken, Dr. C. A., 115
Ainsworth, H., his Commentaries, 101
Aldhelm, Bishop of Sherborne, 11
Alexander, Dr. W. L., 109
Alexandrine Manuscript, 83
Alford, Dean, 104, 107, 110, 112, 125
Alfred, King, 12
Allen, Archdeacon, 107
Andrews, Dr. Launcelot, 41
Anglo-Saxon Gospel, 12
Angus, Dr. Jos., 110, 125
Authorized Version, first suggestion of, 40
---- ordered by King James, 41
---- a revision, not a translation, 45
---- rules followed by the revisers, 42-44
---- misprints in, 54
---- obsolete words in, 57-59
---- imperfect renderings of, 62
---- preface to, 199
---- list of its revisors, 237
B.
Bancroft, Archbishop, 41, 45
Barrow, Dr. John, 104
Bede, 11
Bensley, Mr. R. N., 111
Bentley, Dr. Richard, his proposals for revised texts of the Greek New
Testament and of the Vulgate, 100
Beza’s Codex, 83
Beza, Theodore, his edition of the Greek New Testament, 84, 86
Biber, Dr. G. F., 103
Bible, earliest form of, 4
---- Authorized Version of, 39
---- Bishops’, 30, 37, 39
---- Coverdale’s, 18, 36
---- Douai, 33, 38
---- Genevan, 26, 37, 39
---- Great, 21, 36
---- Matthew’s, 20
---- Purvey’s, 15, 36
---- Taverner’s, 22
---- Wycliffe’s, 13, 14, 35
Bickersteth, Dean, 107, 110, 125
Bilson, Bishop, 49
Birrell, Rev. J., 111
Bishops’ Bible, 30, 37, 39
Bishops’ Bible, preface thereto, 177
---- translators of, 235
Blakesley, Dean, 106_n_, 107, 110, 125
Bodley, John, bears the expenses of the Genevan Bible, 30_n_
Bois, John, 46, 49
Broughton, Hugh, 92
Brown, Dr. David, 112, 125
Browne, Dr. E. H. (Bishop of Winchester), 106_n_, 107, 109
C.
Chambers, Dr. T. W., 115
Chance, Dr. F., 111
Chenery, Professor, 109
Cheyne, Rev. T. K., 111
Claromontane Manuscript, 83
Clergymen, Five, their revision of the Gospel of John, 104
Collation of Manuscripts, 82
Complutensian Polyglot, 84
Conant, Dr. T. J., 114
Coverdale, first edition of his Bible, 18
---- his Prologue thereto, 160
---- prepares the Great Bible, 21
---- issues a second and other editions of the Great Bible, 23
---- a refugee at Geneva, 27
Cranmer, his opinion of Matthew’s Bible, 20_n_
---- his Prologue to the second edition of the Great Bible, 23
Cromwell, Thomas, patron of Coverdale, 18
---- promotes the preparation of the Great Bible, 23
Crooks, Dr. G. R., 115, 116
D.
Davidson, Dr. A. B., 109
Davies, Dr. B., 109
Day, Dr. G. E., 114
De Witt, Dr. J., 114
Dort, Synod of, 44, 49
Douglas, Dr. G., 111
Downes, A., 49
Driver, Mr. S. R., 111
E.
Eadie, Dr. J., 110, 112
Ellicott, Bishop, 104, 105, 110, 125
Elliott, Rev. C. J., 112
Ephraem Codex, 83
Erasmus, his editions of the Greek New Testament, 85
F.
Fairbairn, Dr. P., 109
Field, Dr. F., 109
G.
Geddes, Dr. A., his projected translation of the Bible, 98
Geden, Professor, 112
Gell, R., his essay upon the amendment of the Authorized Version, 93
Genevan Bible, 26-30, 37
---- popularity of, 32, 52
---- preface to, 172
Genevan Psalter, 27
Genevan New Testament, 28, 29
Ginsburg, Dr., 109
Gotch, Dr. F. W., 109
Green, Dr. W. H., 114
Gutenberg Bible, 17_n_
Guthlac of Croyland, 11, 12
H.
Hackett, Dr. H. B., 115, 116
Hadley, Dr. J., 115, 116
Hampton Court Conference, 40
Harding, Dr. J., 41
Hare, Dr. G. E., 114
Harrison, Archdeacon, 109
Harwood, E., his translation of the New Testament, 97_n_
Hereford, Nicholas de, 14
Hervey, Bishop, 107
Heywood, James, his motion in the House of Commons for a new revision,
103
Hodge, Dr. C., 115, 116
Holbein, his design for title-page of Great Bible, 22_n_
Hort, Dr. F. J. A., 110, 120, 125
Humphry, Prebendary, 104, 110, 125
I.
Itala, The, 9
J.
Jebb, Dr. J., 106_n_, 107, 109
Jerome, revises the old Latin version, 9
---- translates Old Testament, 9
Jerusalem Chamber, 117, 127, 242
Jessey, Henry, his attempted revision of Authorized Version, 95
Johnson, Anthony, his Historical Account, 27_n_
K.
Kay, Dr. W., 106_n_, 107, 109
Kendrick, Dr. A. C., 115
Kennedy, Canon, 110, 125
Kennicott, Dr. B., 100
Kilbie, Dr. R., 47
Krauth, Dr. C. P., 115
L.
Latin Versions, 8, 9
Lawrence, T., his notes of errors in the Bishops’ Bible, 32
Leathes, Dr. S., 109
Lee, Archdeacon, 110, 125
Lee, Dr. A., 115
Lewis, Dr. T., 115
Lewis, John, his History of the English Bible, 41, 49_n_
Lightfoot, Dr. J., urges upon Parliament the revision of the English
Bible, 92
Lightfoot, Dr. J. B. (Bishop of Durham), 101, 110, 125
Lindisfarne Gospels, 12_n_
Lively, Ed., 41
Lumby, Rev. J. R., 112
Lyra, Nicholas de, 17
M.
Mace, W., his Greek and English New Testament, 96
Marsh, Bishop, on the Authorized Version, 102
Manuscripts of the New Testament, 80
Mazarin Bible, 17_n_
McGill, Professor, 109
Mead, Dr. C. M., 115
Merivale, Dean, 112, 125
Mill, Dr. J., 99
Milligan, Dr. W., 110, 125
Moberly, Bishop, 104, 110, 125
Moulton, Dr. W. F., 111, 125
Münster, Sebastian, 22, 31
N.
Newcome, Archbishop, his revised New Testament, 98
Newth, Dr., 111, 125
O.
Ollivant, Bishop, 105, 106_n_, 107, 109
Ormulum, The, 13
Osgood, Dr. H., 115
P.
Packard, Dr. J., 115
Pagninus, his Latin translation, 19, 31_n_
Palmer, Archdeacon, 112, 125
Parker, Archbishop, superintends the preparation of the Bishops’ Bible,
30-32
---- his letter to Cecil, 30_n_
Payne Smith, Dean, 110
Penn, Grenville, his revised text and translation of New Testament, 99
Perowne, Dean, 110
Plumptre, Dr. E. H., 110
Printed Bible, the first, 17
Printing, invention of, 17
Psalter, Genevan, 27
---- Guthlac’s, 11_n_
---- Prayer Book, 9_n_, 39
---- Rolle’s, 13
---- Schorham’s, 13
Purver, A., his translation of the Bible, 97
Purvey, John, Wycliffe’s friend and fellow-labourer, 15
Q.
Quotations in early Christian Writings, 87-89
R.
Rainolds, Dr. J., moves for a new revision, 40
Rainolds, Dr. J., appointed one of King James’s revisers, 47
---- works at the revision on his death-bed, 47
Revisers, the American, 114, 116
---- of 1568, 235
---- of 1611, 237
---- of 1881, 109-112
Riddle, Dr. M. B., 115
Roberts, Dr. A., 111
Rogers, John, the probable editor of Matthew’s Bible, 20
Rolle, Richard, 13
Rose, Archdeacon, 106_n_, 107, 110
Rossi, J. B. de, 100
S.
Sayce, Rev. A. H., 112
Schaff, Dr. Philip, 114, 115
Scholefield, Professor, on an improved translation of the New Testament,
102
Schorham, W. de, 13
Scott, Dean, 111, 125
Scribes, primary function of, 3
Scrivener, Dr. F. H., 56, 100, 111, 120, 125
Selwyn, Canon, 103, 107, 110
Septuagint Version, 6
Short, Dr. C., 115
Sinaitic Manuscript, 82
Smith, Dr. G. Vance, 111, 125
Smith, Dr. H. B., 115, 116
Smith, Dr. J. Pye, his testimony in favour of revision, 101
Smith, Dr. Miles, 47, 49
Smith, Professor, W. R., 112
Stanley, Dean, 107, 111, 125
Stephen, Robert, his editions of the Greek New Testament, 85
Stephen, Henry, 86_n_
Stowe, Dr. C. E., 115
Strong, Dr. J., 115
Syriac Version, 8, 87
T.
Taverner, John, 22_n_
Taverner, Richard, 22
Testament, New, Genevan, 28
---- Rheims, 33
---- Tyndale’s, 18
---- Whittingham’s, 25
---- See “Bible”
Thayer, Dr. J. H., 115
Thirlwall, Bishop, 105, 106, 110
Tischendorf, Dr. C., 100
Transcription, errors of, 3
Tregelles, Dr. S. P., 100, 109_n_
Trench, Archbishop, 111, 125
Tyndale, W., his translations, 18
---- his Prologue to New Testament, 137
---- his Epistle to the Reader, 152
---- his Preface to the Pentateuch, 154
U.
Ussher, A., his revised version, 94_n_
V.
Vatican Manuscript, 83
Van Dyke, Dr. C. V. A., 115
Vaughan, Dean, 111, 125
Version, Æthiopic, 87
---- Armenian, 87
---- Gothic, 87
---- Italic, 8
---- Memphitic, 87
---- Old Latin, 8
---- Septuagint, 6
---- Syriac, 8
---- Thebaic, 87
Vulgate, 9
W.
Wakefield, G., his translation of the New Testament, 98
Walker, Anthony, his Life of Bois, 46_n_, 49_n_
Walton’s Polyglot, 99
Ward, Dr. S., 44_n_
Ward, T., his Errata to the Protestant Bible, 33_n_, 93
Warren, Dr. W. F., 115, 116
Weir, Dr. D. H., 112
Wemyss, T., his Reasons in favour of a new translation, 102
Westcott, Canon, 22_n_, 41_n_, 111, 125
Whittingham’s New Testament, 25
---- his version and the Genevan compared, 28, 29
Wicked Bible, 54_n_
Wilberforce, Bishop, 105, 106, 111, 125
Woolsey, Dr. T. D., 115
Wordsworth, Dr. Christopher (Bishop of Lincoln), 107, 110
Wordsworth, Dr. Charles (Bishop of St. Andrews), 112, 125
Worsley, J., his translation of the New Testament, 97
Wright, Dr. W., 109_n_, 112
Wright, Mr. W. A., 110, 113
Wycliffe, John, 13, 14
---- his Bible, 16, 35
---- preface to his Bible, 129
Z.
Zurich Bible, 19
_W. Brendon and Son, Plymouth._
FOOTNOTES:
[1] From the Latin for seventy, this being the supposed number of the
translators. It is referred to as the translation of the Seventy Elders so
early as the middle of the second century. See Justin Martyr, _Dialogue
with Trypho_, c. 68.
[2] See Philo Judæus, _Life of Moses_, book ii. Josephus, _Antiquities_,
xii. ii. 5, 11, 12, 14. Eusebius, _Eccl. Hist._, v. 8. Josephus states
that the translation was made by seventy-two elders in seventy-two days.
The story as given in Eusebius is, that the seventy elders were placed
apart in seventy different cells, that each translated the entire
Scriptures, and that the seventy translations when compared were found to
agree to a word.
[3] And this he gave, not by any formal enactment, but by using Jerome’s
translation as the basis of his own _Exposition of the Book of Job_. (See
Gregory’s _Letter to Leander_, forming the preface to that work.) The old
version of the Psalms retained its ground apparently from its close
connection with the music of the Church. From a like cause the old version
of the English Psalms, which in fact was made from the Latin of the
Vulgate, retains its place in the Psalter of the Prayer Book. It should
however be noted that it is but the translation of the translation of a
translation.
[4] _Anglo-Saxon Chronicle_, A.D. 709.
[5] “I have seen a book at Crowland Abbey, which is kept there for a
relic. The book is called _Saint Guthlake’s Psalter_, and I weene verily
that it is a copy of the same that the king did translate; for it is
neither English, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, nor Dutch, but something sounding
to our English; and as I have perceived since the time I was last there,
being at Antwerp, the Saxon tongue doth sound likewise, and it is to ours
partly agreeable.” The answer of John Lambert to the twenty-sixth of the
Articles laid against him. (FOXE, _Acts and Monuments_, vol. v. p. 213.)
[6] _The Chronicle of Florence of Worcester_, A.D. 699, and A.D. 714.
[7] Many of the clergy were probably at this time unable to interpret the
Latin Bibles used in the Church services. Several MSS. exist which have an
English translation (gloss) inserted between the lines by writers of the
ninth or tenth centuries. One of these, the “Lindisfarne Gospels,” now in
the British Museum, is a most richly-adorned MS. It was written by one
bishop of Lindisfarne, and ornamented by another, and was encased in
jewelled covers. Over each Latin word is written its equivalent in English
(Anglo-Saxon). This, as is explained by a note at the end, was done by one
“Aldred, the priest,” and, as his handwriting shows, in the tenth century.
It cannot be supposed that this was done for the benefit of ordinary
readers. So valued a MS. would not be likely to come into any other hands
than those of the clergy or the monks.
[8] There is no direct evidence for the existence at an earlier date of
any translation of the entire Scriptures into any form of English. In an
interesting tract (commonly assigned to the earlier part of the fifteenth
century, and printed by Foxe in the first edition of his _Acts and
Monuments_, 1563), entitled, “A Compendious Old Treatise, showing how that
we ought to have the Scripture in English.” It is stated, “Also a man of
London, whose name was Wyring, had a Bible in English, of northern speech,
which was seen of many men, and it seemed to be two hundred years old.”
(FOXE, _Acts and Monuments_, vol. iv. p. 674.) It cannot, however, be
inferred from this statement that the volume referred to was a complete
Bible.
[9] See Appendix A.
[10] As many as one hundred and fifty manuscripts, containing the whole or
parts of Purvey’s Bible, are still in existence, and the majority of these
were written within forty years from the time of its completion.--FORSHALL
and MADDEN, _Wycliffite Versions of the Holy Bible_, Preface, p. xxxiii.
[11] No portion of the Wycliffe Bible was printed until 1731, when the New
Testament, in the later of its forms, was published by the Rev. John
Lewis, of Margate. This was reprinted in 1810, under the editorship of the
Rev. Henry Baber. The complete Bible was not printed till so recently as
1850, in the splendid volumes issued from the University press of Oxford,
and edited by the Rev. J. Forshall and Rev. F. Madden.
[12] The first work known to have been printed with moveable metal type is
the Latin Bible, issued from the press of John Gutenberg at Maintz,
1450-55. This Bible is sometimes referred to as the Mazarin Bible, from
the accidental circumstance that a copy of it was found about the middle
of last century in Cardinal Mazarin’s library at Paris. (HALLAM,
_Literature of Europe_, vol. i. p. 210.) With more propriety it may be
called the Gutenberg Bible.
[13] See Appendix C.
[14] Mr. Blunt, in his article “English Bible,” in the _Encyclopædia
Britannica_, maintains that Coverdale translated directly from the Hebrew
and Greek. But in order to this he has, first, forcibly to set aside the
statement on the title-page as “placed there by mistake,” and then to
represent Coverdale as including the Hebrew and Greek originals in the
same category as Latin, German, and English translations, and as
describing them all as “five interpreters” from which he had translated.
[15] This license seems to have been obtained from the king by Cromwell at
Cranmer’s suggestion. (See Cranmer’s Letter to Cromwell, August 4th, 1537.
_Remains and Letters_, p. 344. Parker Society.) In this letter Cranmer
thus expresses his opinion of the book: “And as for the translation, as
far as I have read thereof I like it better than any other translation
heretofore made; yet not doubting but that there may be and will be found
some fault therein, as you know no man ever did or can do so well, but it
may be from time to time amended. And forasmuch as the book is dedicated
unto the king’s grace, and also great pains and labour taken in setting
forth of the same: I pray you, my lord, that you will exhibit the book
unto the king’s highness, and to obtain of his grace, if you can, a
license that the same may be sold and read of every person, without danger
of any act, proclamation, or ordinance, heretofore granted to the
contrary, until such time as we bishops shall set forth a better
translation, which I think will not be till a day after doomsday.”