One important use, I conceive, of the "NOTES AND QUERIES" is, the
opportunity it presents of ascertaining the existence of rare editions
of early printed books. Can any of your readers state where a copy or
copies of the following may be found?
"The Christian Manuell, or the life and maners of true
Christians. A Treatise, wherein is plentifully declared how
needeful it is for the servaunts of God to manifest and declare
to the world: their faith by their deedes, their words by their
work, and their profession by their conversation. Written by
Jhon Woolton, Minister of the Gospel, in the cathedral church of
Exetor. Imprinted at London by J.C. for Tho. Sturruppe, in
Paules Church yarde, at the George, 1576. Dedicated to Sir
William Cordell knight, Maister of the Rolles.--At Whymple 20
Nouember 1676. N 7, in eights."--Copy formerly in the possession
of Herbert. (Herbert, _Typographical Antiquities_, vol. ii. p.
1094.)
There is an imperfect copy, I understand, in the Bodleian. Access to
another copy has been needed for an important public object, in order to
transcribe the leaf or leaves wanting in the Bodleian copy; and the
book, so far as I am aware, does not occur in any other public
libraries.
Woolton was nephew to Nowell, author of the _Catechisms_. He wrote
several other pieces, and was Bishop of Exeter 1579-1593. (Wood,
_Athen. Oxon._ ed. Bliss, vol. i. pp. 600, 601.)
T.
Bath, April 9. 1850.
* * * * *
LUTHER'S TRANSLATION OF THE NEW TESTAMENT:--1 JOHN, v. 7.
In an article of the _Quarterly Review_ (vol. xxxiii. p. 78.) on this
controverted passage of St. John's Epistles, generally attributed to the
present learned Bishop of Ely, the following statement is made
respecting Luther:--
"Let it also be recollected, to the honour of Luther,
Bugenhagius, and other leaders of the Reformation, that in this
contest they magnanimously stood by the decision of Erasmus.
Luther, in his translation of the New Testament, omitted the
passage; and, in the preface to the last edition (in 1546)
revised by himself, he solemnly requested that his translation
should on no account be altered."
Since such was the injunction of Luther, how does it happen that this
verse appears in the later editions of his Testament? I have looked into
five or six editions, and have not found the verse in the two earliest.
These bear the following titles:--
"Biblia dat ys. de gantze hillige Schrifft verdüdeschet dorch
Doct. Mart. Luth. Wittemberch. Hans Lufft. 1579." (in folio.)
"Dat Neu Testamente verdüdeschet dörch D. Mart. Luth. mit den
korten Summarien L. Leonharti Hutteri. Gosslar. In Iahre 1619."
The verse appears in an edition of his Bible printed at Halle in 1719;
in his New Testament, Tubingen, 1793; in one printed at Basel in 1821;
and is also to be found in that printed by the Christian Knowledge
Society. In the Basel edition the verse is thus given;--
"Denn Drey sind, die de zeugen im Himmel; der Vater, das Wort,
und der beilige Geist; und diese Drey sind Eins."
Perhaps some of your learned readers can explain when, and by whose
authority, the verse was inserted in Luther's Testament.