•CM
THE ENGLISH BIBLE.
THE ENGLISH BIBLE:
,-LV EXTERNAL AND CRITICAL HISTORY OF THE
VARIOUS ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS
OF SCRIPTURE,
WITH REMARKS ON THE NEED OF REVISING THE ENGLISH NEW TESTAMENT.
JOHN EADIE, D.D., LL.D.,
PROFESSOR OF BIBLICAL LITERATURE AND EXEGESIS, UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. II.
Ifcmbon:
MACMILLAN AND GO. 1876.
All rights reserved.
65
-4 ^
VJ J
CONTENTS.
GENEVAN VERSION.
CHAPTER XXXII.
Marian Refugees — Geneva — Whittingham — His New Testament — Genevan Bible — Those Employed in the Revision — Dedication to Queen Elizabeth — To the Christian Reader — Causes of its Popularity — Breeches Bible, ........ Page 3
CHAPTER XXXIII.
The Genevan a Revision of Tyndale collated with Great Bible — Collation showing this, and also Influence of Beza — A decided Advance on the Great Bible — Excerpts — Changes to the better in the Apocrypha, . 1(>
CHAPTER XXXIV.
Terms with Latin Signification — Felicitous Renderings — Antique Words and Senses — Old Spelling — Unwarrantable Supplementary Clauses — Marginal Notes — Calvinism of Notes — Excellence of Version, . . 23
CHAPTER XXXV.
Bodley's Patent for printing Genevan Bible — Not printed in England during Parker's Life-time — Tomson's Revision — Great Popularity — Vitality— Esme Stuart and Cobham, ......
VOL. IT. a
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
Genevan Bible in Scotland — " Common Band" of Protestant Nobles — Scottish Scholars who might have taken part in Biblical Revision— Publication of Genevan Version and First General Assembly of the Kirk — First Edition printed in Scotland — Measures for increasing its Circulation — English of the South intelligible to Scottish Population — Overture for Revision of Genevan Version, ....... 39
CHAPTER XXXVII.
Genevan the favourite Volume in Scottish Families — Laud's Dislike to it — Attacks upon it by Howson and Martin — Priest Hamilton and his Attack no
THE BISHOPS' BIBLE.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
Early Part of Elizabeth's Reign beset with Difficulties — Agnes Prest and Joan Waste — Elizabeth's R,egard for the Scriptures — Her Eagerness for Uni formity — Different Bibles in Circulation — Parker and the Proposal for another Revision — His Coadjutors — The Various Translators— Bible Finished and Presented to the Queen — Parker on Affectionate Terms with Fellow- Workers, . . . . . . . 59
CHAPTER XXXIX.
Description of First Edition of Bishops' Bible — Parker's Preface — No Royal Confirmation — Rebellion of Northern Earls — Critical Remarks by Law rence — New Testament Revised — Collation of Three Versions in Ezekiel and Matthew — Notes — Burleigh's Portrait — Price, . . 76
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XL.
Specimens of Literal Translations — Supplements — More Stately than Precise — Want of Uniformity — The Great Bible superseded — Three Versions in Circulation — Martin's Attack and Fulke's Defence, . . 95
RHEIMS AND DOUAI VERSION.
CHAPTER XLI.
This Version taken from the Vulgate — Account of the Vulgate — The Church of Rome — Its Reluctance to give Vernacular Versions to the People — Catholic Refugees in Reign of Elizabeth — Seminary at Douai — New Testament Translated at Rheims — Martin and Allen — Preface to New Testament — Motives for Translating — Method of Translation — Close Adherence to Latin Text — -Answers of Fulke and Cart\vright — Reasons for Translating from Vulgate — Polemical Notes — Translated with the Greek Text before them — Latinized English — Good Renderings — Use of the Genevan and the Bishops' — Uniformity — Rheims New Testament appealed to by Mary, Queen of Scots, on the Evening before her Execution, . 107
CHAPTER XLII.
Old Testament published at Douai — Described — Preface sets forth Impedi ments — Gives Reasons for Translating from Latin Text — For Strictness in Translating some Words — Obscure Renderings, especially in Psalter — Idiomatic Renderings — Romish Notes — Controversy between Fulke and Martin — Whitgift and Cartwright — Table of Protestant Errors — Second Edition — Changes in subsequent Versions — Challoner and Lingard— Theological Nomenclature, . . . . . .137
viii CONTENTS.
AUTHORIZED VERSION.
CHAPTER XLIII.
King James — Strange Incidents of Infantine Years — His Character presents a species of Dualism — Belief in Kingly Supremacy — Early Knowledge of Scripture — Fondness for Theological Discussion — Intolerance — Changes of Opinion — Flatteries heaped upon him — The Millenary .Petition — Hampton Court Conference — Dr. Ileynolds — The King and the Genevan Notes — New Translation agreed to — Bancroft's Correspondence with regard to it — Profusion and Poverty of the King — The Board of Revisers — Short Notices — Rules laid down for the Revision — Revision not Translation — Their own Arguments for Revision — Their Commendation of Scripture Study — Com pletion of the Work — Published — Dedication to the King — The Clause, "Appointed to be read in Churches" — Galloway, the Pioyal Chaplain — Fuller's Eulogy of the New Bible, . . . . .159
CHAPTER XLIV.
Constant Use of Hebrew and Greek Originals — Hebrew Text — Greek Text — Stephens and Beza — Marginal Notes — No Historical Notes — Help from various Translations— Other Helps — Selden's Glimpse into their Method of Procedure — Alternative Renderings in Margin — Influence of Bishops' — Of Earlier Versions — Care in Choice of Words — Excellence of English Style — Hebrew Phrases — Ingenious Turns of Diction — The English specially Saxon — Terms occurring only once — License taken in Trans lating the Apocrypha— Simplicity, Clearness, and Harmony — Univer sality of Adaptation — The English of the Beginning of the Seventeenth Century, ...... 208
CHAPTER XLV.
Different Fate of Words in Margin and in Text— Words and Phrases in Con tents of Chapters which have wholly or nearly passed away — Obsolete Words in Text— Words changed in Meaning — Archaisms — Words which
CONTENTS.
IX
have only their Latin Meaning — Peculiar Phrases and Syntax — Varying Forms — Old Use of " His " — Variations in Spelling — Various Pecu liarities, .... 242
CHAPTER XLVL
Hostility to their Version anticipated by Translators — Charges of Broughton, Gell, and Ward — "Witchcraft" — "God Save the King" — Ecclesiastical Predilection — Doctrinal Influence — Anti-Popish Leanings — How far Beza was followed, . 2G4
CHAPTER XLVII.
Supplemental Words — Italics — Supplements often unnecessary — Sometimes unwarranted — Headings of Chapters made by Command — Some Particu lars regarding, ....... 280
CHAPTER XLVIII.
The Barkers and the Printing of Authorized Version — Bibliography — First Editions brought into Correspondence with the Bishops' and the Genevan — Specimens of Inaccuracy in Early Issues — Various Editions — Edition of Buck and Daniel — Kilburne on the Errors in Editions of Hill and Field — Field's Pearl Bible — Assembly's Annotations — Lightfoot on the Apocrypha — Editions of Blayney and Others — American Revised Edition — Punctua tion and Paragraph Marks, ...... 288
CHAPTER XLIX.
Scotland never had any Indigenous Translation — Content to receive its Bible from Abroad and especially from England — Authorized Version gradually made its way in Scotland — Editions Printed in that Country — Anderson's Patent — Numerous and Gross Blunders in Widow Anderson's Bibles — And in those of her Successors — James Watson's Bibles— Row's Proposals for Revision — Bible Monopoly in Scotland — The "Sweet Singers" and their Rejection of Authorized Version — Superstitious L"se of the Bible — Misquotations — Number of Chapters, Verses, Words, and Letters in Bible — Wonderful and Suggestive History of English Bible. . 311
CON TEN Iti.
KEVISION OF NEW TESTAMENT.
CHAPTER L.
The Bible at once Divine and Human — Hostility to Settlement of the Text — Labours of Origen, Jerome, and Robert Stephens — Walton and Owen — Bengel, Mill, and Bentley — Various Scholars on the Desirableness of Revision of Authorized Version — The Long Parliament and Bill for Revision — Changes in the Original Text call for Revision of the Version — Nature of a True Revision — Futility of Objections — Xo Ground for Alarm — Strange Specimens of Revision by Scarlett and Heinfetter — Other Examples of Revision — Works on Revision — Tischendorf and Tregelles. ........ 337
CHAPTER LI.
Defects of Authorized Version — Ambiguities — Inexact Renderings — Claiises Liable to be Misunderstood — Misleading Punctuation — Difficult Idioms and Technical Words. 365
CHAPTER LII.
Want of Uniformity — Variation so far Allowable — Terms Characteristic of a Divine Revelation of Love to a Sinful World — 'Variations which are Unnecessary — Capricious — Prejudicial — Motives Inducing — " Parable," " Love" — " Straightway " in Mark — Connection weakened by Variation — Example in St. Paul's Address at Athens-^-His Repeated Use of the Same Term not brought out — Other Examples of Variation. . . 383
CHAPTER LIU.
One English Term represents several Greek Words — Distinctions thereby Effaced— Several Examples — Crown, People, Godhead, True, Temple, Life — John xxi, 15-17 — New Light — Clusters of Instances — Child, Beasts, Die and Dead, World, Will, Weep, Servant, Judge, Wash, Remission, Repent, Hell — Devil and Demon — Miracle, Sign, Wonder — Anacolouthon and Paronomasia. 416
CONTESTS.
CHAPTER LIY.
The Greek Article— Inconsistencies of Translators in dealing with — Before the Name Christ — Some Point or Specialty lost by its Omission — Wrongly Inserted — Overpressed. .... 437
CHAPTER LV.
The Greek Tenses — Aorist misrendered by Perfect — Perfect by Present — Perfect and Pluperfect — Epistle to Hebrews characterized by use of Perfect — Imperfect not correctly Rendered — Mark and the Use of the Present — Greek Verbs corresponding to "become" and "be" con founded. ........ 443
CHAPTER LVI.
Prepositions — Misrendering of tv — oid — tk — IK and «TTO — v-n-ip and iript — iiri and Trio's — The conjunctions oVcos and 'tva. .... 458
CHAPTER LVII.
Proper Names — Most Familiar Forms employed — Jehovah — Proper Names variously spelled — Official Names — Chaldee Names. . . 466
CHAPTER LVIIL
Topography and Productions of Palestine — The Land illustrates the Book — Terms belonging to Botany and Zoology misrendered — Specific Topo graphical Terms — Measures, Weights, and Coins — Qualifications of a Translator — Hallam and Newman on the English of the Authorized Version — Brief Account of the Revision at present in progress. . 472
INDEX, ......... 485
ERRATA.
Page 39, line 9 from top, for " Bible," read " Bibles." „ 171, headline, for " Millenary Position," read " Millenary Petition. ,, 328, line 8 from top, for " part of fat things," read " feast of fat things." ,, 342, line G from bottom, /or " exposition," read " exposure."
THE ENGLISH BIBLE
THE GENEVAN VERSION.
VOL. II.
" BEZA also, in his Epistle to the prince off condy aiid nobles of France hathe these wordes. Seinge then all theis controuersies muste be discussed by Goddes worde, I suppose that this thinge ought chiefly to be prouided for, that seinge all canot haue the knowledge to vnderstand the worde off God in theis peculiar languages, the Hebrue and the greek (whiche were to be wished) that there shulde be some true and apte translation of the olde and newe testamete made the whiche diuers haue already labored to bringe to passe, but yet no man hathe hitherto sufficiently performed it. For the olde translation (whose so euer it is) although it ought not to be con demned, yet is it founde bothe obscure vnperfect and superfluous and also false in many places, to speake nothinge off an infinite variete off the copies. The whiche texte therfore many lerned and godly men haue laboured to amende, but not with like successe. And yet howe necessary a thinge this is, who so euer shall reade those moste lerned wryters off the gretiaus, and shall compare their interpretations (whiche are manie times farr from the purpos) with the Hebrue veritie, he shall coufesse it with great sorowe.
" And the same euill was not onely hurtef ull aniouge the latten writers, but also the ignorance off the greeke tonge wherwith many off them were troubled, whiles they did depend off the common translation, they oftimes seeke a knott in a rushe (according to the olde prouerbe) and fell into moste fowle errors.
" Here might I touche a thinge parhapp worthe the hearinge yff hope were off redresse, whiche is, that yff the lerned were but one halff so earneste, zelous, and carefull, to se that the holy Scriptures in this Eealme might be faithfully translated and trulye corrected, as they are many tymes abowte matters nothinge so necessarie : I woulde not dowte to saie that they shulde do vnto god an excellent peece off seruice,
" For the moste parte off oure Englishe Bibles are so ill translated (as the lerned report) and so falsely printed (as the simple maie find) that suche had nede to be verie well acquainted with scripture, as in many places shulde get owte the true meaninge and sence."
Troubles begun at Frankfort,
CHAPTER XXXII.
A S the storm did not burst for some time after the accession of Mary Tudor, a crowd of persons, to the number of eight hundred, who saw the clouds gathering, made their immediate escape to the Continent, and found refuge at Emb- den, Wesel, Strasburg, Worms, Berne, Basle, Zurich, and Frankfort. Bishop Gardyner's character and antecedents were well known ; and he told Renard, the Spanish Ambassador, with quiet complacency, that " a few messages asking some of them to visit him at his house had given them wings." Among the refugees were saintly and learned men — five bishops, five deans, fifty eminent divines, and also several persons of high •social distinction — six knights, three ladies of title — one of them the Duchess of Norfolk, the queen's cousin. Many foreigners who had come to England in Edward's reign also fled away. Among them was the uncle of the King of Poland, the well known John a Lasco, who obtained liberty from the Queen to leave the country. Under Edward VI he had the pastoral charge of a congregation of foreigners that met in the church of the Austin Friars. Many states and free cities assisted the exiles, for the spirit of brother-love, rising above terri torial barriers, was fresh, and unwearied in its manifestations.1 Nationality was forgotten, and the sufferings of the poor strangers were pitied, and relieved with unstinted hand. They enjoyed rest and peaceful worship for a brief season ; but what were significantly called the " Troubles " soon sprang up
1 Grafton, the printer of the Great his " Chronicle," and Foxe was at Bible, was among the exiles, and he Basle, engaged on his "Acts and employed his leisure in composing Monuments."
4. THE ENGLISH BIBLE. CHAP.
at Frankfort. The question of clerical vestments and of church service vexed them — some of them being of freer opinions, and others more conservative ; some being disposed to compro mise, and others to hold fast by the Prayer Book of Edward VI. Knox was not hostile to read prayers in themselves, for he helped to compose a " Book of Common Order " ;x but Cox, who had been tutor to the late king, was intolerant of all modification. The controversy might surely have been allowed to sleep among persons who were living by sufferance and charity in a foreign land, and certainly it was not one that necessitated an immediate solution in their circumstances. The thought of so many brethren being burned at home might have saddened them into mutual forbearance, and gratitude for their own escape might have absorbed many minor predi lections. But both parties grew more decided and passionate, and at length "the contention was so sharp between them that they parted asunder one from the other," and the non- conforming section removed to Geneva.
This fair city, at the outlet of Lake Leman, girt with the mighty mountains, was regarded as the citadel of Protestantism, and it held in it the fate of Europe. Keligion was therefore a matter of life and death to its inhabitants, who having fre quently and gallantly defended themselves against surrounding enemies, felt that in fighting for Geneva they were upholding the liberties of humanity ; for they knew that the triumph of the Duke of Savoy would entail civil and ecclesiastical ruin, and yoke all southern lands to ultramontane despotism. Their theology, whatever may now be said of it, exercised a mighty influence in England, had an ennobling ascendancy in Scotland, and has been carried across the ocean to strengthen and sane-
1 Carefully reprinted at Edin- prayer following, or such like " ;
burgh by Blackwood & Sous, 1868, " either in the words following, or
under the editorship of the Rev. W. like in effect"; "the action thus
Sprott and the Eev. Thomas Leish- ended, the people sing the 103rd
man, M.A. One characteristic dif- Psalm, or some other of thanksgiv-
ference between it and the English ing." See also Lorimer's " John
Book is, that the former allows vari- Knox and the Church of England,'''
utions — "using after sermon this London, 1875.
xxxii.] WHITTINGHAM. 5
tify another great republic. A collection was made in England, through the bishops, for the city of Geneva in 1582, and in 1603 the Archbishop of Canterbury issued, with the royal sanc tion, a proclamation to gather another gift.
But the "gospellers" were not idle in their picturesque retreat, and a revision of the New Testament was soon taken in hand. Such a work was in harmony with the literary and Biblical enterprises of that city of refuge under the shadow of the Alps ; and Calvin, Beza, and their colleagues, shed a new lustre on its history. Olivetan, a relative of Calvin, had already translated and published a French Bible, and in the execution of the work Calvin had rendered him considerable assistance. An edition of the New Testament, which, how ever, is not a portion of the Genevan Bible proper, was published in 1557, on the 10th of June — one of the most terrible months in England, for between the 18th and 22nd days of that month twenty-seven martyrs yielded up their lives.
The editor of this New Testament was William Whit- tingham. 1 William Whittingham was born in 1524, in the parish of Lanchester, near Durham. He became a com moner of Brasenose, Oxford, about 1540, and five years after wards a fellow of All Souls. According to Wood, he was, on account of his scholarship, chosen one of the senior students of Christ Church, Henry wishing to fill it with the most promis ing young men, as had also been the desire of Wolsey. Whit tingham had returned home from twelve years' foreign travel and sojourn a few weeks before King Edward's death. But he again left his native land, and, with many others, arrived in Frankfort on the 27th of June, 1554. Having gone to Geneva toward the end of 1555, he married Catherine, the sister of John Calvin. Whittingham came back to England on the accession of Elizabeth, and was promoted in 1563 to the deanery of Durham, which he held for sixteen years. He had been for a period chief engineer and chaplain in the defence of Havre de Grace, the general in command being the Earl of Warwick
1 Whittingham distinctly identi- of the Troubles begun at Frankfort, fies himself as the editor. Discourse p. cxciii, Petheram, London, 1846.
C THE ENGLISH BIBLE. [CHAP.
brother to the Earl of Leicester through whose influence he so speedily obtained promotion,1 though he had not been episco- pally ordained. He dealt roughly with some of the monuments in his cathedral ; but his wife showed what blood was in her, when she took " the blessed banner of St. Cuthbert," which had once waved victorious on Flodden Edge, and " despitefully burned it in her fire, to the open contempt and disgrace of all sacred relics." 2
The New Testament so speedily revised, and published anonymously, is the work of one man, for in the explanatory address to the reader, he speaks uniformly in the first person singular. His words are : " To these therfore which are of the flocke of Christ which knowe their Father's wilr and are affectioned to the trueth, I rendre a reason of nry doing in few lines. First, as touching the perusing of the text, it was diligently reuised by the moste approued Greke examples, and conference of translations in other tonges as the learned may easily iudge, both by the faithful rendering of the sentence, and also by the proprietie of the wordes, and perspicuite of the phrase. Forthermore that the Reader might be by all meanes profited, I haue deuided the text into verses and sections, according to the best editions in other langages, and also, as to this day the ancient Greke copies mencion, it was wont to be vsed. And because the Hebrewe and Greke phrases, which are strange to rendre in other tongues, and also short, shulde not be to harde, I haue sometyme interpreted them without any whit diminishing the grace of the sense, as. our langage doth vse them, and sometime haue put to that worde, which lacking made the sentence obscure, but haue set it in such letters as may easily be discerned from the common text. As concerning the Annotations, wherunto these letters a, b, c, <fcc., leade vs, I haue endeuored so to proffit all therby, that both the learned and others might be holpen : for to my knol-
1 See a short Life of Whittingham 2 Whittingham contributed several
in Lorimer's " John Knox and the Psalms to the collection that went
Church of England," taken from the by the name of Sternhold and Hoj -
papers of Anthony a Wood, Appen- kins. dix, p. 303.
xxxn.] GENEVAN NEW TESTAMENT. 7
lage I haue omitted nothing vnexpoundcd, \vherby he that is any thing exercised in the Scriptures of God, might iustely complayn of hardenes : and also in respect of them that haue more profited in the same, I haue explicat all such places by the best learned interpreters, as ether were falsely expounded by some, or els absurdely applyed by others : so that by this meanes both they which haue not abilitie to by the Com mentaries vpon the New Testament, and they also which haue not opportunitie and leasure to reade them be cause of their prolixitie may vse this book in steade therof ; and some tyme wher the place is not greatly harde, I haue noted with this mark ", that which may serve to the edification of the Reader : adding also such commone places, as may cause him better to take hede to the doctrine. Moreouer, the diverse readings according to diuerse Greke copies, which stand but in one worde, may be known by this note ", and if the bookes do alter in the sentence then it is noted with this starre * as the cotations are. Last of all remayne the arguments aswel they which conteyne the summe of euery chapter as the other which are placed before the bookes and epistles : wherof the commoditie is so great, that they may serue in stede of a Com- mentarie to the Reader." There was also prefixed a stirring and eloquent Epistle, declaring that " Christ is the end of the lawe," by John Calvin.
Many erroneous statements have been made about this New Testament, such as, that it was 'edited or prepared by a com pany of the exiles — the theory of Lewis, Newcome, and of Todd who is in utter uncertainty on the matter, and like many others, does not distinguish the New Testament of 1557 from that published along with the Old Testament in 15GO. Some even have held that this New Testament was the first edition of that reprinted in the Genevan Bible three years afterwards. Lewis and Newcome in their respective histories, D'Oyly and Mant in their preface, C. Rogers,1 Dean Hook,2 and others,
1 Collation of the principal English a collation, but merely the printing
translations of the sacred Scriptures, of some verses of the older transla-
p. 40, by Charles Eogers, Dundee, tions in parallel columns. 1847. This book is in no true sense " Lives of the Archbishops of
8 THE ENGLISH BIBLE. [CHAP.
have fallen into this error. But this New Testament is quite distinct from that of 15 GO — is, in fact, a different version.1 The Genevan exiles regarded the New Testament of their Bible as their own completed and standard work, and never reprinted Whittingham's earlier publication. In fact, the New Testament was published before the translation of the Bible was commenced, being finished at press on the 10th of June, 1557. The Bible was begun by January of the following year, and it occupied the exiles "for the space of two years and more, day and night."
The New Testament was in small octavo or duode cimo —
" The Newe Testament of our Lord Jesus Christ, conferred diligently with the Greke and best approved translations. With the arguments as well before the Chapters, as for euery Boke and Epistle, also diuersities of readings, and moste profitable anno tations of all harde places : wherunto is added a copious Table . At Geneva, printed by Conrad Badius, M.D.LVII;" the same words forming the colophon, with the addition, "this x day of June." There is a peculiar engraving on the title-page, represent ing Time, with wings, scythe, and hour glass, helping Truth out of the grave, with this motto on its two sides — " God by Tyme restoreth Truth and maketh her victorious." The greater portion of the marginal notes of this New Testament were transferred to that of 1560. Thus, in the first nine chapters of Matthew, out of one hundred and thirty -four notes, there are only twenty not taken from this earlier New Testament. For the first time the chapters of the New Testament were divided into verses, with the number prefixed to each ; and indeed they had been already marked on the margin of Stephen's Greek Testament of 1551, his fourth edition, printed at Geneva. 2 Supplemented words were
(,'anterbury, vol. IV, new series, p. tion of 1560 differs in twenty-nine 320. It is a thankless task to cor- places from that of 1557. rect inaccuracies, but if any one will l A separate New Testament, pub- only collate a single chapter, such as lished in 1560, is a reprint of that iu the third chapter of Matthew, he the Bible of the same date, will see that in it alone the transla- 2 Robert Stephens introduced the
xxxii.] GENEVAN BIBLE. 9
printed in italics, or in letters that might be easily distin guished from the common text, in imitation of Minister's Old Testament of 1534. There were also clear pointed mar ginal notes that in those days were greedily welcomed, especially such of them as were charged with theology.
This New Testament had been brought over to England before the death of Queen Mary; for we find that when John Living, who had been a priest at Auburn, and was under hiding in London, was informed against, brought before Bonner's chancellor, and carried to the jailor's house in Pater noster Row, he complained of being robbed there of "my purse, my girdle, my psalter, and a New Testament of Geneva."
The Genevan exiles, having resolved to revise the English Bible, braced themselves for their work, and took hold of the best helps in their power. Their revision shows their method of procedure, and what versions, Latin, German, and French, they chiefly followed. A goodly number of scholars has some times been named as engaged in the enterprise — Le Long, Wood,1 Todd, Newcome, Townley,2 and Boothroyd,3 mention John Bodleigh, Miles Coverdale, Thomas Cole, Anthony Gilby, Christopher Goodman, John Knox, John Pullain, Thomas Sampson, and William Whittingham. But all those nine could not have given themselves to the labour, or continued at it till it was concluded. Coverdale was at Geneva only for a brief period after the version had been commenced ; for on the 12th November, 1559, he was preaching in his turn at Paul's Cross, and Cole, Pullain, and Bodleigh came home during the same year. Knox went to Geneva in 1554, and left it in November for Frankfort. He returned to Geneva in 1555,
numbering of the verses in his edition 2nd ed., Cambridge, 1874. Eabbi
of 1551, as one means of facilitating Nathan had set an example in his
the preparation of a concordance Hebrew Bible. The verses in the
which he had planned, and Henry Latin translation of Pagninus are, in
Stephens had printed verse numbers the New Testament, short para-
in his Psalterium Quincuplex, 1509. graphs.
Versus was the Latin form of the 1 Athenae, 2nd ed., p. 194.
Greek "stichoi," there being,according 2 Biblical Literature, vol. II, p.
to Dr. Scrivener, about five stichoi to 286.
two verses. Plain Introduction, p. 65, 3 Introduction, p. 21.
10 THE EX G HSU BIBLE. [CHAP.
and in the winter of that year came over to Scotland. Going back once more to Geneva for a brief period, he bade a final farewell to it in January, 1559.1 Goodman, accompanied by Knox's wife and children, arrived in Edinburgh on the 20th September, 1559. The accession of Elizabeth in November, 1558, left it open for the exiles to come home, after they heard the good news, in the following month. When intelligence came that the persecutor had died — in their own phrase, that " the Lord had showed mercy unto England by the removal of Queen Mary by death e, and placing the queen's majesty that now is, in the seate," the work of revision was not nearly- finished, but Whittingham, Gilby, and Sampson remained to carry it through. Thus Wood says, " Whittingham with one or two more did tarry at Geneva a year and a half after Queen Elizabeth came to the crown, being resolved to go through with the work." 2 The author of the " History of the Troubles " 3 records that "the congregation (after that they had rendred their humble thankes to the magistrates for their great goodnes towards them) prepared themselues to depart sauinge certeine whiche remained behinde the reste, to witt, to finishe the bible, and the psalmes bothe in meeter and prose, whiche were already begon, at the charges off suche as were off most habilitie in that congregation. And with what successe those workes were finished (especially the Bible) I must leaue it to the ludgementes off the godly lerned, who shulde bestludge off the same." But it would seem from the language of their preface that others beyond those three gave assistance and counsel. The writer just quoted proceeds, " There is nothinge more requisite to attaine the right and absolute knowledge oft" the doctrine of saluation, wherby to resist all herisie and falshod, then to haue the texte off the Scriptures faithfully and truly translated, the consideration wheroff moued them with
1 John Knox had two sons born " Annals, vol. I, p. 151.
to him during his residence in 3 Whittingham was very probably
Geneva. At the baptism of the first, the author. Goodman was first Pro-
Whittingham was godfather; and at testant Professor of Divinity at St.
the baptism of the second, Bishop Andrews. Miles Coverdale was godfather.
xxxii.] ITS REVISERS. \\
one assent to requeste 2 off their brethern, to witt, Caluin and Beza, efsonnes to peruse the same notwithstandinge their former trauells."
Gilby on his return became rector of Ashby-de-la-Zouch, the gift of the Earl of Huntington. He wrote a Commen tary on Micah and some others of the Minor Prophets. Sampson, who is said by Wood to have been the means of converting Bradford the martyr, was offered the see of Norwich which he declined ; and in 15G1 he became Dean of Christ's Church, Oxford, but was removed in 15G4, on account of his refusing to wear the vestments. In September, 1570, he was collated to the prebend of St. Pancras in St. Paul's — the stall of Ridley and Rogers in former days. Sampson was noted as a very able man. In a recommenda tion to the queen on his behalf it is said " that it is doubtful whether he is a greater linguist, or a more complete scholar and profound divine." Native scholars were also engaged on the actual work, for they seized the " great opportunity and occasion which God presented unto us in this church by reason of so many godly and learned men, and such diversities of translations in divers tongues." They were urged by many " who put them on this work by their earnest desire and exhortation," and they were told " not to spare any charge for the furtherance of such a benefit and favour of God towards his church." The Bible was finished and published in April, 15GO, with the following title : —
" The Bible and Holy Scriptures conteyned in the Olde and Newe Testament, translated according to the Ebrue and Greeke, and conferred with the best translations in divers language. With most profitable annotations upon all the hard places, and other things of great import, as may appear in the epistle to the reader. At Geneva, printed by Rouland Hall, MDLX.1 The Newe Testament of our Lord Jesus Christ conferred diligently with the Greke and best approved translations in divers languages, &c."
1 The printer was himself a re- press, among others, in 1560 the fngee from England, and after his Scottish Confession of Faith, return many books issued from his
12 THE ENGLISH BIBLE. [CHAP-
The woodcut in botli titles is the passage of the Hebrews through the Red Sea — the motto above and below being Exodus xiii, 13, divided, and that on the sides similarly halved is Ps. xxxiv, 19. There are several "pictures" and maps interspersed through the volume. The Apocrypha has few marginal notes.
The Bible was dedicated to Queen Elizabeth in simple and vigorous language, without adulation or the cant of loyalty, and it thus addresses her Majesty : " The eyes of all that fear God in all places behold your countries, as an example to all that believe, and the prayers of all the godly at all times are directed to God for the preservation of your majesty. For, considering God's wonderful mercies towards you at all seasons, who hath pulled you out of the mouth of lions, and how that from your youth you have been brought up in the Holy Scriptures, the hope of all men is so increased that they cannot but look that God should bring to pass some wonderful work by your grace to the universal comfort of his Church. This Lord of Lords and King of Kings who hath ever defended his, strengthen, comfort, and preserve your majesty, that you may be able to build up the ruins of God's house to His glory, the discharge of your conscience, and ' to the comfort of all them that love the coming of Christ Jesus our Lord. . . ." Yet these men, exiles themselves suffering from Popish persecution, tell the queen to unsheath the sword against the Papists, and " utterly to abolish idolatry ; to root out, cut down, these weeds and impediments. ... in imitation of the noble Josias who destroyed not only their idols and appurtenances, but also burnt the priests' bones upon their altars, and put to death the false prophets and sorcerers . . . yea, and in the days of King Asa, it was enacted that whosoever would not seek the Lord God of Israel should be slain, whether he were small or great, man or woman." Then followed an epistle : " To our beloved in the Lord, the brethren of England, Scotland, and Ireland. Now, for as much as this thing (progress in a holy life) is chiefly attained by the knowledge and practising of the Word of God (which is the light to our paths, the key of the kingdom of heaven, our comfort in affliction, our shield and
xxxu.] CAREFUL AND SCHOLARLY WORK. i:>
sword against Satan, the school of all wisdom, the glass wherein we behold God's face, the testimony of his favour and the only food and nourishment of our souls), we thought we could bestow our labours and study in nothing which could be more acceptable to God, and comfortable to his Church, than in the translating of the Scriptures into our native tongue ; the which thing, albeit that others heretofore have endeavoured to achieve ; yet, considering the infancy of those times, and im perfect knowledge of the tongues, in respect of this ripe age and clear light which God hath now revealed, the translations required greatly to be perused and reformed."
"To the Christian Reader," they describe their work: "Now as we haue chiefly obserued the sense, & laboured always to restore it to all integritie: so haue we most reuerently kept the proprietie of the words, considering that the Apostle who spake & wrote to the Gentiles in the Greeke tongue, rather constrained them to the liuely phrase of the Ebrewe, then enterprised farre by mollifying their language to speake as the Gentiles did. And for this & other causes we haue in many places reserued the Ebrew phrases, notwithstanding that they may seeme some what hard in their eares that are not well practised, & also delight in the sweet sounding phrases of the Holy Scriptures. Yet lest either the simple should be discouraged, or the malicious haue any occasion of iust cauillation, seeing some translations reade after one sort, & some after another, whereas all may serue to good purpose & edification, we haue in the margent noted that diuersitie of speech or reading which may also seeme agreeable to the minde of the Holy Ghost, &: proper for our language with this marke ||. Againe, whereas the Ebrewe speech seemed hardly to agree with ours, we haue noted it in the margent after this sort J, vsing that which was more intelligible. And albeit that many of the Ebrew names be altered from the old text, & restored to the true writing &: first originall, whereof they haue their signification yet in the vsuall names, little is changed for feare of troubling the simple readers. Moreouer, whereas the necessitie of the sentence required any thing to be added (for such is the grace & proprietk' of the Ebrewe & Greeke tongues that it cannot but either 03-
14 THE ENGLISH BIBLE. [CHAP.
circumlocution or by adding the verbe or some word, be vnder- stood of them that are not well practised therein) wee haue put it in the text with another kinde of letter, that it may easily bee discerned from the common letter. As touching the diuision of the verses, we haue folowed the Ebrew examples which haue so euen from the beginning distinguished them. Which thing as it is most profitable for memorie, so doth it agree with the best translations, & is most easie to finde out both by the best Concordances, & also by the quotations which we haue diligently herein perused & set forth by this *. Besides this, the principall matters are noted and distinguished by this marke IT. Yea, & the arguments both for the booke & for the chapters with the number of the verse are added, that by all means the reader might be holpen. For the which cause also we haue set ouer the head of every page some notable worde or sentence which may greatly further as well for memorie as for the chiefe point of the page. And considering how hard a thing it is to understand the Holy Scriptures, & what errors, sects, & heresies grow dayly for lacke of the true knowledge thereof, & how many are discouraged (as they portend) because they cannot attaine to the true & simple meaning of the same, we haue also indeuoured both by the diligent reading of the best commentaries, & also by the con ference with the godly & learned brethren, to gather briefe annotations vpon all the hard places, as well for the vnderstand- ing of such words as are obscure, & for the declaration of the text, as for the application of the same, as may most appertaine to God's glory, & the edification of his Church. Finally, that nothing might lacke which might be bought by labours, for the increase of knowledge & furtherance of God's glory, there are adioyned two most profitable tables, the one seruing for the interpretation of the Ebrewe names : & the other containing all the chiefe & principal matters of the whole Bible : so that nothing (as we trust) that any could iustly desire is omitted."
Many things about this edition gave it immediate, wide, and lasting popularity. It was printed in Roman characters, with division into chapters and verses, as in the previous New Testament. It was not a heavy, unhandy folio like the editions
xxxii.] BREECHES BIBLE. J5
of Coverdale, Rogers, or the Great Bible ; but a moderate and manageable quarto. Its marginal notes were a kind of running comment — vigorous and lucid, dogmatic and prac tical, presenting such aspects of truth and duty as were then all but universally prized, and such political lessons as the History of England so naturally shaped and sug gested. It became at once the people's Book in England and Scotland, and it held its place not only during the time of the Bishops' Bible, but even against the present Authorized Version for at least thirty years. It was the first Bible ever printed in Scotland (1576-79), and it was the cherished volume in all Covenanting and Puritan households. And it was entitled to this pre-eminence as a learned and cautious revision.
The Genevan version is often called the "Breeches Bible," from its rendering of Gen. iii, 7 — " They sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves breeches." The translation " breeches " is not, however, peculiar to the Genevan, for it is the transla tion of "perizomata" in both the Wycliffite versions. The term occurs afterwards in the " Golden Legende " — that is, portions of the historical books of Scripture, translated and printed by Caxton, 1503— "And thenne they toke fygge levys, & sewed them togyder for to cover their membres in the manner of breches." *•
1 Mr. Blunt says, " Sonte editions in tall and unwieldy folio, printed of the Geneva Bible are called the by Basket, Oxford, 1717. The error Vinegar Bible, from a misprint of occurs in the running title at Luke vinegar for vineyard." But the so- xxii, " parable of the vinegar," called Vinegar Bible is only an instead of "parable of the vine- edition of the Authorized Version, yard."
CHAPTER XXXIII.
Genevan New Testament of 1557 is a revision of Tyndale's version collated with the Great Bible. The work was carefully done, but without due leisure. The influence of Beza is perceptible, his Latin version having been published in 1556. It usually follows Tyndale in the basis of the version or in form and phrase, and Tyndale is also the foundation of the New Testament of the Great Bible. It often agrees with him against the Great Bible. Thus, in the first chapter of Galatians : —
GALATIANS I.
Verse.
10. " Preach I now man's doctrine or God's?" after Tyndale — the
Great Bible having, " Do I now persuade men or God?"-
" speak nnto men," ed. 1539. The Genevan, after Tyndale,
omits the " hitherto " of the Great Bible. 19. The Great Bible has, " Other of the apostles saw I none " ; the
Genevan, following Tyndale, has " no nother of the apostles
sawe I." 21. The Great Bible has, "They glorified God in me," the correct
rendering; but the Genevan "for me" is based on Tyndale's
" on my behalfe."
In the same chapter the Genevan follows the Great Bible in the following places as against Tyndale :—
4. " according to the will of God" ; Tvndale, " thorow the will of
O J *•
God."
9. " as we sayde before " ; Tyndale, " as I saidde before." 12. "but by the revelation of Jesus Christe"; Tyndale, "but received it bv."
COLLATION. 17
Though the translation follows Tyndale generally as against the Great Bible, it sometimes differs from both, and is often led by Beza. Thus again, Galatians, chap, i : —
Verse
2. " unto the churches in Galatia"1; "congregations" being the rendering in Tyndale and in the Great Bible.
13. "the Church of God,"2 Tyndale and the Great Bible having
" congregation," as in verse 2. The word " church," which has given rise to so much dispute about its meaning, rights, and powers, was thus brought in by the puritan revisers, and was naturally preserved both in the Bishops' and in the Authorized Version. " extremely " 3 ; Tyndale and Great Bible, " beyond measure."
14. " traditions received of my father"4 — Tyndale and Great Bible,
" traditions of the elders." 16. "to reveal his Son to me"5; Tyndale and the Great Bible,
" for to declare his Son by me." 20. No initial particle in Tyndale and the Great Bible — the "now"
of the Genevan (1560) perhaps representing autem, Beza. 22. " They heard only some say that he " 6 ; Tyndale and the Great
Bible, " they heard only that he."
The same chapter in the Bible of 1560 has other changes, making it yet a better and a more literal translation — many of the changes being suggested by Beza.
Verse
1. " which hath raysed him from the dead " 7 ; Tyndale, the Great
Bible, and Genevan, 1557, " raysed hym from death." 4. " which gave him selfe for oure sinnes, that he might deliver
us"8; Tyndale and Genevan of 1557 having, "to deliver
us." 6. "so soon . . . from him that had called you," Genevan, 1560;
" forsaking him that had called you," Genevan, 1557. 9. " let him be accursed " 9 ; Tyndale, " hold him accursed."
1 Beza, Ecclesiis. 6 Beza, Sed sohim audierant qui
2 Beza, ecclesiam Dei. dicerent.
3 Beza, summe. 7 Beza, ex mortuis.
4 Beza, patribus meis acceperam. 8 Beza, ut eximeret nos. 6 But Beza has, " in me." 9 Beza, anathema sit. VOL. II. B
18 THE ENGLISH BIBLE. [CHAP.
GALATIANS I — Continued.
Verse
11. " not after man " ] ; Tyndale, Great Bible, and the Genevan of 1557, " not after the manner of man."
16. "I communicated not " 2 ; Tyndale, Great Bible, and Genevan,
1557, " I commened not of the matter."
1 7. " turned againe vnto Damascus " 3 ; Tyndale, Great Bible, and
Genevan, 1557, "Came agayne to Damascus," an improve ment on Beza, though not a correct translation. In verses 6 and 15 the pluperfect is wrongly used in both Genevan
versions, " had called you," " had separated me " ; Tyndale and the
Great Bible being more literal.
Tyndale, as we have seen, is very careless about the connect ing particles, and usually omits them as yap in verse 10, 8e in verse 11, yap in verse 12, 3e in verses 19 and 20 ; the Great Bible follows Tyndale in all these places but verse 12 ; the Genevan of 1557 does not translate the small words in verses 11 and 20, but that of 1560 translates the particles in all these instances, and its translations are preserved in the Authorized Version. This rendering of the particles is a characteristic improvement on Tyndale.
The Genevan Old Testament is a decided advance on the Great Bible, as two excerpts, one from the historical books and the other from the prophets, may show. Though the version is brought nearer to the Hebrew, it does not suffer in its English style. Sampson was reputed to be a good Hebrew scholar, and guidance was found in Pagninus, Miinster, and Leo Judse.4
1 Beza, secundum hominem. be the real name. Leo Judse dying
2 Beza, non contuli. before the work was concluded, it
3 Beza, ac denuo reversus sum was finished by Bibliander (Buch- Damascum. mann), Cholin, and Gualter, and
4 The reference is to the Latin published in folio at Zurich in 1543, version of Leo Judce, which is some- Pellicanus being editor. Frosch- times called the Tigurine Bible — over's arms, the tree and the frogs Tigurum being a Latin name of — a punning use of his own name — Zurich ; Turicum is said, however, to adorn the title-page.
xxxin.]
COLL A TION—CONTIN UED.
19
GREAT BIBLE.
NUMBERS XX.
GENEVAN.
Verse
1. And the children of Israeli came with the whole multitude 1 vnto the deserte of Sin, in the fyrst moneth, & the people abode at Cades ; and there dyed Mir lam, & was buryed there. 2 2. But there was no water for the multitude, 4 & they gathered 5 themselves together againste Moyses & Aaron.6
3. And the people chode with Moyses
and spake, saying : woulde God that we hadde perished, when our brethren dyed 9 before the Lord.
4. Why have ye broughte the con
gregation of the Lorde into this wyldernesse : that bothe we & oure cattell should dye in it ? n
5. Wherefore have ye made us to go
out of Egypt, to bring us into this ungracious 13 place, which is no place of seede, nor of fygges, nor vines, nor of pomegranates, neither is there any water to drynke.
Then the children of Israel came with the whole congrega tion 3 to the desert of Ziii in the first moneth, & the people abode at Kadesh, where Miriam dyed & was buryed there.
But there was no water for the congregation,7 & they assembled themselves against Moses and & against Aaron.8
And the people chode with Moses & spake saying. Woulde God we had perished when our breth ren dyed 10 before ye Lord.
Why have ye broght the congrega- cion of the Lord unto this wil derness that both we & our cattel shulde dye there ? 12
Wherefore now have ye made us to come up 14 from Egypt, to bring us into this miserable place •> which is no place of sede, nor figs, nor vines, nor pomgranates ? neither is there anie water to drinke.
3 C umuni versa multitudine, Miin-
ster.
• " Ibi," repeated in Pagninus and in Coverdale, after Luther and the " daselbst " of the Zurich.
3 Omnis congregatio, Pagninus. "The children of Israel even the whole congregation," of the Author ized being according to the Hebrew. Universus scilicet ccetus, Leo Judoe.
4 Multitudini, Miinster.
5 Preserved in the Bishops' and Authorized.
6 Second "against" of the Hebrew not repeated in Coverdale and the ZUrich Bible.
7 Congregationi, Paguinus.
8 Contra . . . contra; ad versus . . . adversus, Paguinus, Leo Judoe, & ac cording to the Hebrew.
9 The same verb is repeated in Tyndale (Matthew), Paguinus, and Leo Judoe, after the Hebrew ; so in Luther and the Zurich version, and in Coverdale.
10 In morte fratrum nostrorum, Miinster.
11 In eo, Miinster.
12 Ibi, Pagninus.
13 Tyndale (Matthew).
14 Fecistis ascendere, Vulgate; ef- fecistis ut ascenderemus, Leo Judse.
20
THE ENGLISH BIBLE.
[CHAP.
GREAT BIBLE.
GENEVAN.
NUMBERS XX — Continued.
Verse
6. And Moyses and Aaron went
from the congregation unto the doore of the tabernacle of wyt- nesse? & fell upon theyr faces [& they 2 cryed unto the Lorde & saide : O Lorde God, heare the crye of this people, & open them thy tresure, even a foun- tayne of ly ving water that they maye bee satysfied, & that theyr murmurying maye ceassej & the glory of the Lorde appeared upon them.
7. And the Lord spake unto Moyses,
saying,
8. Take the rodde, and gather thou
& thy brother Aaron the con gregation together, & speake unto the rocke before theyr eyes & it shall give forthe hys water. And thou shalt brynge them water out of the rocke, to give the company 4 drinke & theyr beastes 5 also.
9. And Moyses took the rodde from 7
before the Lorde, as he com manded hym.
10. And Moyses &" Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rocke : & Moyses 9 sayde unto
Then Moses and Aaron went from the assemblie unto the dore of the Tabernacle of the congrega tion 3 & f el upon their faces : & the glorie of the Lord appeared unto them.
And the Lord spake unto Moses saying —
Take the rod, & gather thou & thy brother Aaron the congrega tion together, & speake ye unto the rocke before their eies, & it shall give forthe his water, & thou shalt bring them water out of the rocke : so thou shalt give 6 the congregation & their beastes drinke.
Then Moses toke the rod from before the Lord, as he had commanded him.8
And Moses & Aaron gathered ye congregacion together before the rocke & Moses sayd unto them
1 Septuagint, fiapTvpiov- Vulgate, foederis; similaiiy Minister, Luther, and the Zurich, taking the word from a root similar to the true one.
2 An interpolation from the Vul gate.
3 Ecclesise, Pagninus, and accord ing to the Hebrew.
4 Tyndale (Matthew
5 Tyndale (Matthew).
6 Ut potum pra;stes ccetui, et ju- mentis eorum, Miinster.
7 Authorized goes back to Tyndale, " from before the Lord."
8 Sicut praeceperat, Vulgate ; jus- serat, Munster.
9 A supplemented nominative to the singular verb, "he said,'' Tyndale.
XXXIII.]
COLL A TION— CONTINUED.
21
GREAT BIBLE. GENEVAN. NUMBERS XX — Continued.
Verse
them: heare ye rebsllyons, must1 — Heare now, ye rebels : shal 3
vfefette* you water out of the we bring you water out of this
roche. rock.
11. And Moyses lift up hys hande, & Then Moses lift up his hand &
with hys rodde he smote the rocke two times,* & the water came out aboundantlye, & the multitude 5 drauke & theyr beastes also.
with his rod he smote the rock twice, & the water came out abundantly : so the s congrega- ciou & their beastes dranke.
MALACHI III.
For marck 7 the daye commeth that shall burne as an oven : & all the proude, yea, & all such as do wyckednesse, shal be strawe8 & the daye that is for to come,9 shall burne theym up (saieth the Lorde of hostes, so that 10 it shall leave them nether rote nor braunche.
For beholde 1] the day cometh that shal burne as an oven, & all the proude yea & all that do wick edly, shall be stubble,12 & the day that cometh n shal burne them up saith the Lord of hostes & shall leave them neither roote nor brauche.
2. But unto you that feare my name But unto you that feare my name
shall that Sonne of ryghteous- nesse aryse, and health shal be under hys wynges : ye shal go forth & multifile 14 as the fat calves.15
shal the Sunne of righteousness arise, & health shal be under his wings, and ye shal go forthe, & growe \6 up as fat calves.
1 Must, Tyndale (Matthew).
2 Fette, fetch, kept in the Author ized Version.
3 Coverdale, "Werden wir . . . brin- gen, Zurich and Luther.
4 Duabus vicibus, Pagninus.
5 Multitude, Miinster.
6 Ita ut, Vulgate.
7 Coverdale.
8 Strouw, Ziirich.
9 Dies venturus, Pagniuus.
10 Coverdale, Adeo ut, Leo JudaB.
11 Ecce enim, Pagninus; quoniam ecce, Mtinster.
12 Stipula, Pagninus and Vulgate.
13 Dies veniens, Vulgate.
14 Multiplicabimini, Pagninus.
15 Mastkalber, Luther.
16 Pinguescetis. But the meaning is, " shall leap in wanton joy. ' The verb describes the prancing of horses in Hab. i, 8.
"And," in last clause, omitted in Luther and the Zurich, and after them by Coverdale.
22
THE ENGLISH BIBLE.
GREAT BIBLE.
GENEVAN.
MALACHI III— Continued.
Verse
3. Ye shal tread e downe the ungodly,
for they shalbe lyke the asshes ] under the soles of youre fete in the day* that I shal make, sayeth the Lorde of hoostes.
4. Remembre the lawe of Moses my
servaunt whych I commytted5 uuto him iii Horeb for all Israel wyth the statutes & ordinaunces.6
5. Behold I wyll send you Elias the
prophet : before the commynge of the daye of thegreate 9 & fear- full Lorde.
6. He shal turne the hertes of the
fathers to theyr11 children and the hertes of the chyldren to their fathers, that I come not12 & smyte the earth with cursinge.
And ye shal treade downe the wicked, for they shal be dust 3 under the soles of youre fete in the day that I shal 4 do this saith the Lord of hostes.
Eemember the lawe of Moses my servant, which I commanded 7 unto him in Horeb for all Israel with the statutes and judge ments?
Beholde I will send you Eliah the prophet before the comming of the great and f careful 10 day of the Lord.
And13 he shal turne the heart of the fathers to the children, & the hearte of the children to their fathers, lestu I come & smite the earth with cursing.
Several changes to the better were made in the Apocrypha. The earlier translations rested on the Latin text, but in the Genevan the Greek was rendered, as may be seen in the three first chapters of Tobit, where the third person of the narrative is changed into the first. The Prayer of Manasses, admitted by Rogers and kept in the Great Bible, is excluded. The Genevan translators of these books had a favourite guide in Beza.
1 Ciuis, Vulgate.
2 Tages den ich machen will, Luther.
3 Pulvis, Munster.
4 Die quo ego agam, Leo Judse.
5 Befohlen, Ziirich and Coverdale.
6 Briich und recht, Zurich.
7 Demandavi, Miinster.
8 Prsecepta et judicia, Vulgate ; statuta et judicia, Paguinus.
9 Coverdale after the Zurich.
10 Vulgate, Luther, and the Latin versions.
11 Coverdale.
12 Dass ich nicht komme, Luther.
13 Et, Vulgate and Latin Versions, " and " omitted in Coverdale after Zurich.
14 Ne forte veniam, Vulgate, Pag- ninus and Munster.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
rpHOUGH the English style of the Genevan version is so terse and idiomatic, there are occasionally terms with a Latin signification.
Thus, Psalm Ixxvi, 4, "more bright and puissant than " ; cxxxvi, 23, "our base estate"; "base" in the simple sense of low; cxli, 7, "when thou art beneficial unto me" — doest good unto me.
Mark v, 12, "and incontinently Jesus gave them leave" — immediately or straightway ; viii, 31, " the son of man . . . shulde be reproved of the elders" — reproved in the Latin sense, i.e. rejected ; xii, 42, " two mites which make a quad- rin" — a farthing or a fourth part; xv, 26, "the title of his cause was written " — the process of law against him, the legal meaning of " cause " being still preserved.
Acts xx, 24, " But I passe not at all ; " in our version, "none of these things move me"; xxv, 18, "they brought no crime of such things as I supposed " — " crime " for " accusa tion " ; crimen in its legal meaning yet seen in the verb to criminate.
Rom. xiv, 16, "cause not your commoditie to be evil spoken" —your well-doing, your beneficence to others.
2 Cor. iv, 9, " he hath sparsed abroad " — the compound dis persed being now used instead of the simple verb.
1 Thess. iv, 15, "prevent," the earlier versions having "shall not come ere."
James v, 17, "subject to like passions."
1 John iii, 14, "translated from death unto life."
The Genevan introduced "pastour," in Eph. iv, 11, and in
24 THE ENGLISH BIBLE. [CHAP.
some sections of Jeremiah, instead of "shepherds," the Latin term not occurring in the older versions, and perhaps sug gested by the " pasteur " of the French translation. To the Genevan we are indebted for " synagogues," Ps. Ixxiv, 8, where the term signifies the building ; " houses of God " being the phrase in the Great Bible. In Luke xii, 29, Tyndale, after the Vulgate and Luther, had given the more literal rendering of the verb, "neither clyme up on hye," and it is kept in Coverdale and the Great Bible; and is vindicated also by Meyer ; but the Genevan version gave the better sense, that of 1557 having "neither let your myndes wander about these speculations," and that of 1560 having "neither stand in doute," after Beza. The Genevan version gave the correct rendering in Acts xxvii, 9, " because also the feast was now passed," with an instructive note on the Hebrew Kalendar — the earlier versions having " because also that we had overlong fasted"; and in the same chapter, 13, "loosed nearer and sailed by Candie " ; the Vulgate had regarded "Asson" as a proper name, and it was followed by Luther; while Erasmus took it as the accusative of direction. The Genevan often preserves the article, as in the series of clauses James ii, 14-24. There is also a very literal rendering, Acts x, 15, "the things that God hath purified, pollute thou not."
The Genevan gave our Authorized Version many felicitous renderings — in separate terms, and in the position of words. It brought in " sacrilege," Rom. ii, 22 ; and was followed by the Rheims, but not by the first edition of the Bishops'. Whitgift made what he reckoned a good point out of this Genevan translation. In his letter to the queen, written probably when he was Bishop of Worcester, when he is up holding the inviolable nature of church lands, and showing the sin and danger of laymen setting profane hands on them, he affirms " that there is such a sin as sacrilege, for if there were not it would not have had a name in Holy Writ, especially in the New Testament."
There are many old Saxon forms and words in the Genevan translation, as " hurly-burly " in the marginal note, Acts xxii, 23.
xxxiv. OLDER WORDS. 25
There are such strong modes of the preterite as " stale " for stole, 2 Kings xi, 2; "swomme," Acts xxvii, 42; "wanne," past of win, 1 Maccabees i, 20 ; " holpe " for helped, xviii, 27 — he holpe them much; "tabernacle which the Lord pight" — pitched, Heb. viii, 2 ; "stroke himself with stones," Mark v, 5; and such terms as "giltieship came on all men," Rom. v, 18, in 1557, but in 1560, "the faute came on all men."
Many antique words and senses are used, as "garde," for girdle, Exod. xxviii. 8 ; " backe," for bat, Lev. xi, 19 ; "profit," in the sense of thrive — "the child Samuel profited and grewe," 1 Sam. ii, 2G ; "frailes of raisins," a basket, 2 Sam. xxv, 18; " disdain," in the sense of to be angry with ; " want," in the sense of is wanting — " if he be lost and want," 1 Kings xx, 39 ; "plant" — "with the plant of my feet," 2 Kings xix, 24; " trade," meaning path, or what is trodden ; " train up a child in the trade of his way," Prov. xxii, 6;1 "chapmen," for merchants, Isaiah xxiii, 8, " whose chapmen are the noblest of the world"; "clout," Ezek. xvi, 4, "swadled in cloutes," used in the Great Bible, and adopted by the Bishops'; "term," in the sense of end, Ezek. xxii, 4; "Avoide, Satan, be gone," Matt, iv, 10 ; " scrippe," for bag or wallet, Matt, x, 10 ; " ought," as the past of owe, Matt, xvii, 28 — " which ought him an hundred pence " ; to "disease," to trouble, Mark v, 35; " cratche " — " and laid him in a cratche," Luke ii, 7, manger^ rack, or crib, used often in old English (la saint creche, holy manger); the word occurs also in Wycliffe2; "creeple," for cripple, Acts iii, 2 ; " fardels " — " trussed up our fardels," Acts xxi, 15 — "made up our baggage," the verb occurring also in the note to Acts ix, 14, " make up thy bed," or " truss up thy couche " ; " grieces," for steps — gressus, a grise or step, Acts xxi, 35 ; " pill "—2 Cor. xii, 17, " did I pill you ? "—plunder you ; " endeavoured myself with that which is before," Philip, iii, 13; "fulfil," fill to the full — "My God shall fulfil all
1 Foxe, vol. viii, p. 12, speaks of in the gap and trade of more prefer-
Cranmer's " behaviour and trade of nients."
life toward God and toward the 2 Other examples may be found in
world," and the phrase occurs in a useful little volume — " English
Shakespear's Henry VIIT, " stands Eetracecl," &c., Cambridge, 1865.
26 THE ENGLISH BIBLE. [CHAP.
your necessities," Philip, iv, 19; "to fulfil their sins always," 1 Thess. ii, 16 — fill up their sins to the full measure; " enforced," in the sense of endeavoured — " enforced the more to see your faces," 1 Thess. ii, 7 ; similarly in the Bishops', Horn, xv, 20, " I enforced myself " ; " improve," in the sense of reprove or convince — "improve, rebuke, exhort," 2 Tim. iv, 2; "harber- ous," for hospitable, Titus i, 8.
There are also many old spellings, as brast, for burst ; fet, for fetch ; grenne, for gin ; glain, for glean ; roume, for room ; charet, for chariot; carkess, for carcase; sowre, for sour; banket, for banquet; kowe, for cow; moe, for more; somer, for summer; perfite, for perfect ; renowme, for renown ; slouthful, for sloth ful ; gheste, for guest ; then, for than ; physition ; but it did not take "surgione" in Exodus xv, 26 from Coverdale and Matthew. We have yere, yeere, yeer, and year ; eie and eye ; anie and any ; thei and they ; twise and twice ; mise and mice.
The genitive formed by -'s does not seem to be used at all. The word is simply spelled — as " brothers eye." Yet there are some terms of modern aspect. Ezra vi, 1, " librarie " ; Job ix, 33, " umpire," the word still found in the margin of the Author ized Version; 2 Chron. xiv, "regency" — "Asa deposed Maachah his mother from her regencie " (margin). The prayer " learn me true understanding and knowledge," Psalm cxix, 66, in the Great Bible, becomes in the Genevan "teach me," also in Psalm xxv, 8. Such forms as moe, fet, and charet are found in the Authorized Version of 1611. The Genevan version sometimes does more than translate — it occasionally ventures to interpret, as in James i, 17, "shadowing by turning"; ii, 6, "oppress you by tyrannie " ; 16, warm yourselves, fill your bellies "; v, 11, " what end the Lord made."
Though the Genevan version be so decided an improvement on the Great Bible, it has not wholly escaped some of the faults of that edition — for, like it, it brings in unwarrantable and supplementary clauses, not into the text indeed, but into the "margent," and prints them in italics, especially in the Acts of the Apostles. These supplements in the margin are preceded by this mark || : Acts x, 6, || he shall speake words unto thee whereby thou shalt be saved and all thine house — taken from
XXXIY.] MARGINAL NOTES. 27
xi, 14 ; xi, 17, "who was I that I could let God ?" || Not to give them the Holy Ghost ; xiv, 7, " and there was preaching the gospel," j| insomuch that all the people were moved at the doctrine ; so both Paul and Barnabas remained at Lystra ; 10, " said with a loud voice," || I say to thee in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. These additions are suggested by Beza, in his notes, and by his references to some Greek codices and to the Complutensian Polyglott. One is taken directly from the text of the Great Bible, xiv, 18, "scarce refrained they the people that they had not sacrificed unto them," || but that they should go every man home, and while they tarried and taught, £c., again suggested by Beza's note referring to four MSS. and Bede ; 19, " which when they had persuaded the people," || and disputing boldly persuaded the people to forsake them, for, said they, they say nothing true, but lie in all things — suggested also by Beza's note, the reading being found in some minuscules, xv, 29, "and from fornication," || and whatsoever ye would not that men should do unto you, do not to others — Beza's reference being to the Complutensian and his own MS. D. 34, " Silas thought good to abide there still," || and only Judas went — from the Great Bible and the Vulgate, and commended by Beza. But the whole 34th verse is suspicious, and the argument against its genuineness preponderates. 37, "And Barnabas," || would take John — after the better Greek reading; 35, "and when it was day, the governors," || the governors assembled together in the market, and remembering the earthquake that was, they feared and sent — found in Beza's note after MS. D. ; xix, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus," || from five o'clock unto ten — referred to by Beza ; xxx, 23, " bonds and afflictions abide me," || in Jerusalem — Beza's Latin vei'sion after D. But the Genevan translators follow their guide into positive error — error coined in support of coveted harmony with the other gospels — when they put into their text, Mark xvi, 2, " when the sunne was yet rising," and give in their margin "not risen," Beza having a lengthy note on the subject, and intimating that " not " may have been dropped by accident.
The famous "marginal notes" are very numerous, and no
28 THE ENGLISH BIBLE. [CHAP.
little time and pains must have been spent in the composition of them, for many of them are original, while others are selected from Calvin and Beza. We believe, with George Joye, that a translation of Scripture is better without them, and, with Tyn- dale, that a " bare text," without commentary, is sufficient to make men " wise unto salvation " ; and the text is all that God gave for this blessed purpose. But if notes are admissible, many of the Genevan notes are to be praised for their fitness and honesty. They have been often depreciated and condemned on account of their theology. That theology was, however, the favourite creed of the time, and a mere fraction of the notes is decidedly Calvinistic. The notes on Acts are chiefly historical, geographical, and inferential, as suggested by the narrative. Such notes might be expected especially in the margin of the Epistle to the Romans ; but while there are over two hundred and fifty notes, not more than ten of them are unmistakable Calvinistic utterances.
The longer notes on the sixth chapter of Romans are as follows, there being nothing very distinctive about them : —
Verse
2. He dyeth to sinne in whome the strength of sirme is broken by
the vertue of Christ, and so now liveth to God.
3. Which is, that growing together with him, we might receiue
vertue to kill sinne, and raise vp our new man.
5. The Greke worde meaneth, that we growe vp together with
Christ, as we se naosse, yvie, misteltowe, or suche like growe vp by a tre, and are nourished with the juice thereof. „ If we by his vertue dye to sinne.
6. The flesh wherein sinne sticketh fast.
7. Because that being dead we can not sinne.
11. We may gather that we are dead to sinne, when sinne beginneth
to dye in us : which is by the participation of Christ's death, by whome also being quickened we Hue to God, that is to righteousness.
12. The minde first ministreth euil motiues whereby man's will is
enticed : thence burst forthe the lustes, by them the bodie is prouoked, and the bodie by his actions doeth solicite the minde : therefore we commandeth at the least that we rule our bodies.
xxxiv.] CALVINISM. 29
Verse
16. Shewing that none can be just which doeth not obey God.
18. It is a most vile thing for him that is deliuered from the
slauerie of sinne to returne again to the same.
19. Leaning to speake to heavenlie things, according to your
capacitie, I vse these similitudes of seruitude and fredome, that ye might the better vnderstand.
23. Sinne is compared to a tyrant which reigneth by force, who giueth death as an allowance to them that were preferred by the Lawe.
But the following note has a snpralapsarian flavour about it, Rom. ix, 19 : —
" As the onelie wil and purpose of God is the chief cause of election and reprobacion : so his fre mercie in Christ is an inferior cause of saluacion and the hardening of the heart, an inferior cause of damnacion." And even this note is given nearly word for word in the Bishops' with a change indicative of yet higher doctrine — for it says, " and the withdrawing of his mercy is the cause of damnation."
But their Calvinism now and then shows itself in a cowardly version, as in the note to the last clause of 1 Cor. ix, 27 — " lest I myself should be reproved." "Reproved" might be allowed, for it then often meant rejected, but the note explains it as "reproved of men." Their theology bribed them to shrink from the plain meaning of final rejection. The Bishops' keeps the note, even though it gives the strong rendering, "lest I mee self shoulde be a cast away." Sometimes in textual difficulties the knot is cut, when it could not be loosed, as at Acts vii, 1C — the note is, " It is probable that some writer through negligence put in Abraham in this place instead of Jacob, who bought this field, or by Abraham he meaneth the posterity of Abraham." The word Apocrypha stands alone on the top of the right hand page in the Apocryphal books, which are not thought worthy of being honoured by any distinctive headings. 1 The page in Mark that contains the story of the
1 Other notes will be referred to in the account of the Hampton Court Conference.
30 THE ENGLISH BIBLE. [CHAP.
daughter of Herodias has for its heading, " The inconvenience of dancing."
Referring to the Genevan version, and to "show the animus of the men," Card well selects the note to Rev. ix, 3, but he does not quote it fairly or fully. It says, "Locusts are false teachers, heretics, and worldly subtle prelates, with monks, friars, cardinals, &c."; but he leaves out the words "false teachers" in the first clause, and sup presses the conclusion, "which forsake Christ to maintain false doctrine." 1 AMiat is remarkable, and not to be over looked, these notes were so highly prized by the revisers, whose labours were meant to produce a rival Bible, that they adopted many of them into the margin of their new Bishops' Bible. Thus, in the Epistle to the Galatians, the marginal notes in the Bishops', with the exception of two alternative renderings, are every one of them taken from the Genevan; and the rendering in the Genevan text of the clause " which things are an allegory " becomes the note in the Bishops'.
The Anglo-Genevan Bible is much more correct than any of its predecessors, and ranks in value next to that in common use. It was also the great intermediate step between it and Tyndale's ; both were made in exile ; and, indeed, Coverdale's of 1535, and Matthew's of 1537 were likewise produced abroad. It was the self-imposed work of noble-hearted Englishmen, and they could not have spent their enforced leisure to better purpose. Their good scholarship and idiomatic English are alike apparent in many felicitous renderings which yet survive. Beza was their oracle, and he well merited the honour, for he was a masterly Hellenist, of great accomplishments and of refined tastes. His exegetical insight was clear and profound, unless when it was dimmed by the oblique lights of his theology. The English style of this version, made before the birth of Shakespeare, is clear, crisp, and vigorous — the honest and hearty speech of men who felt that their mother tongue needed not to be helped with elaborate combinations, nor studded with foreign terms, for its power lay in its simplicity, and its grandeur in its more familiar idioms. Beza's first 1 Documentary Annals, vol. II, p. 12.
xxxiv.] THEIR GREEK TEXT. 31
Greek New Testament did not appear till 1565 ; but they had Stephens' famous folio of 1550, and his fourth edition, pub lished in the city of their adoption in 1551, and distinguished by the division of verses. These editions of Stephen were based upon the fourth edition of Erasmus (1527), which differs from his third chiefly in ninety changes or emendations introduced into the Apocalypse from the Complutensian Polyglott. The Genevan translators had, in this way, as good a text as could be supplied to them at the time. Various editions of the Hebrew Bible have been already referred to.1
1 See vol. I, p. 209.
CHAPTER XXXV.
cost of the first edition had been defrayed by the English congregation at Geneva, among whom was John Bodleigh, or Bodley, father of Sir Thomas Bodley, who founded the great library at Oxford that bears his name. John Bodley, on his return to England, received from the Queen a patent giving him the sole right, " and his assigns, for seven years, to print, or cause to be imprinted, the English Bible, with annotations, faithfully translated and finished in this present year of our Lord God, a thousand five hundred and threescore, and dedicated to us." All other printers were for bidden to print the volume; and any offender was to forfeit "to our use forty shillings of lawful money of England for every such Bible at any time so printed." This license was granted even though Cawood & Jugge had been already appointed her majesty's printers, and though she had issued an injunction that no one should print any book without license by herself or six of her Privy Council, and the Company of Stationers are enjoined to be obedient.1 Under Bodley 's care a folio edition printed at Geneva was published, with date 10th April, 1561, but without a printer's name. A New Testament having no printer's name was also published in 1560.
Time went on, and Bodley, wishing to publish another impression, applied for the extension of his patent. Application was made to Sir William Cecil, but as the Bishops' Bible was in hand, he consulted Archbishop Parker and Grindal, Bishop
1 A license was necessary for the New Testament without license, and sale of a book. At this time Har- he was fined eight shillings. Her- rison printed two editions of the bert's Ames, vol. II, p. 883.
BOD LEY'S PA TENT. 33
of London. Parker in a cautious spirit wrote to Secretary Cecil praising the version ; himself and the Bishop of London also wrote on 9th March, 1565, wishing that Bodley might have twelve years longer term "on consideration of the charges sus tained by him and his associates in the first impression," admitting that it might "do much good to have diversity of translations;" ending, however, by declaring that, though the license might so pass well enough, the Secretary had been warned that " no im pression should pass but \yy their direction, consent, and advice." Such conditions, if annexed to the grant, would have seriously impeded the liberty of the press, and they had not been insisted on with reference to other Bibles in former years. The proposal thus miscarried, and Bodley 's patent is heard of no more. It has been held by some that the patent was renewed at the solicitation of the primate against the opinion of the queen and Cecil. But there is no proof on the point. On the other hand, if Bodley got the patent he certainly did not use it ; for no Genevan Bible was printed from this time till after Parker's death. Neal1 states that the request was refused on account of the prefaces and notes.
Three other impressions in 1568, 1569, 1570,2 had been printed in Geneva ; but after the last of these, no other editions issued from this foreign press. As the Bishops' Bible had the favour of those in high place, though Cranmer had shown no such partiality to his own edition, the Genevan Bible was not printed in England for fifteen years after its first publication, or in fact, during Archbishop Parker's lifetime. When com mending to the royal notice his own revision in 1568, he urges the queen's recognition of it, " not only as many churches want their books, as that in certain places be publicly used some translations which have not been laboured in this realm," the allusion being to imported Genevan Bibles. But after his death complaints of the scarcity of those Bibles, and of tar diness in the publication of them began to be heard. "If that Bible were such as no enemy could justly find fault with them, many men marvel, that such a work being so profitable,
1 History of the Puritans, p. 110, vol. I, London, 1837.
2 Printed by John Crespin. VOL. II. C
34. THE ENGLISH BIBLE. [CHAP.
should find so small favour as not to be printed again." l But in 1 575 the Genevan Bible was first printed in England, in quarto and octavo. During the same year also, two editions of the New Testament of 1557 had been already printed, all three books by Vautroullier for Christopher Barkar.2
In 1576 the Genevan New Testament was edited by Laurence Tomson, under-secretary to Sir Francis Walsing- ham. The title was —
" The New Testament of our Lord Jesus Christ, trans lated out of Greek by Theodore Beza. Whereunto are adjoined briefe summaries of doctrine upon the Evangelists and Acts of the Apostles, together with the method of the Epistles of the Apostles, by the said Theodore Beza. And also short expositions on the phrases and hard places taken out of large annotations of the foresaid author, and Joach. Camerarius, by P. Loseler Villerius.3 Englished by L. Tomson. Together with the annotations of Fr. Junius upon the Revelation of St. John. London. Imprinted by Christopher Barkar dwelling in Powles Churchyeard, at the sign of the Tygres head."
There is a dedication to Walsingham and Hastings, with a vignette containing the crest of the former, a tiger's head;4 and there is also a translation into English of Beza's ad dress to Louis of Bourbon, Prince of Conde. There are not many variations in the text, but the marginal notes are different, certainly not so pithy and compact as those of the original Genevan, yet sometimes so numerous as to form a continuous comment, as in the Apocalypse. Tomson's revision has one peculiarity which sometimes apppears in the Author ized Version, that of translating the article in connection
1 History of the Troubles at Frank- Villers. The title-page is vague and fort, p. cxcv. misleading.
2 Barker's royal patent included 4 In a short time after this the prin- the printing of all Bibles and Testa- ter changed his name to Barker, or ments whatsoever in the English about the period that he bought from language of any translation, with Sir Thomas Wilkes a patent for notes or without notes. printing Bibles. The tiger's head, the
3 Loseler Villerius is the Latinized armorial bearing of Walsingham his name of M. L'Oyseleur, seigneur de patron, was set over his shop.
xxxv.] TOMSON'S REVISION. 35
with some proper names or epithets by the demonstrative pronoun "that." Thus, in the first chapter of St. John's Gospel, 1, "In the beginning was that word, and that word was with God, and that word was God"; 4, "and that life " ; 5, " that light " ; 8, twice the Authorized Version follows the same practice ; 9, " that true light " ; 14, " that word became flesh " ; 20, " I am not that Christ," followed by the Bishops' ; 21, " art thou that prophet ? " repeated in the Bishops' and in the Authorized; 25, "that Christ," also in the Bishops', " nor that prophet," similarly in the Authorized ; 29, " behold that Lamb of God " ; 32, "I beheld that Spirit"; 33, "that Spirit"; 34, "that sonne of God " ; 36, " that Lamb of God " ; 41, " that Messias "; 45, " Jesus that sonne of Joseph " ; 49, " that sonne of God, that king of Israel " ; 51, " upon that sonne of man." This New Testament was very often reprinted with the Genevan Bible, and it appears in the Scottish edition printed by Andrew Hart, Edinburgh, 1610.
During 1583, the first year of Wliitgift's primacy, the dedica tion to Elizabeth prefixed to twelve editions, seven of them published in London, was withdrawn in the twenty-fifth year of her reign ; but the withdrawal, whatever might be its motive, did not hinder the sale. The original and catholic title of the epistle : " To our beloved in the Lord, the brethren of England, Scotland, and Ireland," found in ten editions, or down to 1582, was changed first into, " To the diligent and Christian reader," and then curtailed into, " To the Christian reader " ; but such disparaging alterations did not mar the great popularity of the volume. It came at length to enjoy such a pre-eminence as to be read in churches, and to be used in pulpits ; preachers took their texts from it, and quoted it in their discourses. It grew to be in greater demand than the Bishops' or Cranmer's. Ninety editions of it were published in the reign of Elizabeth, as against forty of all the other versions. Of Bibles as distinct from New Testaments there were twenty-five editions of Cranmer's and the Bishops' ; but sixty of the Genevan. Yet Whitgift says in 1587: "Divers, as well parish churches as chapels of ease,
36 THE ENGLISH BIBLE. [CHAP.
are not sufficiently furnished with Bibles, but some have either none at all or such as be torn and defaced, and yet not of the translation authorized by the Synod of Bishops."
The influence of Archbishop Grindal on his translation to- the primacy has been sometimes supposed, as by Cardwell,1 to have suddenly promoted the sale and use of Genevan Bibles ; but the primate was long under the royal frown, and lived in privacy. Nor does Cardwell give any proof; for all that he says is, that though it had not been reprinted for several years previously, five different editions made their appearance within two years after Grindal's removal from York to Canter bury. He does not attempt to point out any actual connection of cause and effect. Parker, indeed, must have been indifferent,, if not hostile, to a translation made in Geneva. He was so profoundly jealous of the returned exiles, and thought their theories so dangerous to Church and State, that he did all in his power to repress the free ventilation of their opinions. Such discussions might have been safe and healthy ; for convictions repressed in utterance gather strength till they culminate in a perilous explosion. The primate's views were so well known that nobody ventured to print the Genevan Bible in his latter years. Not that he formally inhibited the publication of it; but his power, especially as bearing on the press,, was felt to be a force not to be tampered with. Grindal had puritanical proclivities, and suffered for his refusal to obey in all things the self-willed daughter of Henry VIII — " supreme governor of the Church of England." But he did not show any undue partiality for the Genevan version. One of the questions issued by him to the ordinaries was whether each church had a copy of the English Bible in the largest volume ;. and he bequeathed to the church of his native parish of St. Bees his " fairest Bible of the translation appointed to be read in the church." Grindal's successor, Whitgift, who drew up the nine Lambeth articles, could have no objection to the Calvinistic marginal notes of the Genevan version. Another reason for its great popularity may be assigned with some plausibility. The queen did not love " prophesying," or even "preaching"; " it was 1 Documentary Annals, vol. II, p. 12.
xxxv.] POPULARITY OF THE GENEVAN VERSION. 37
good," she said, to have " few preachers — three or four might .suffice for a county, and that the reading of the homilies to the people was sufficient." So that in London only about half the churches had preaching ministers. The people were, there fore, obliged to read the Bible for themselves; the notes of the Genevan version became doubly precious to them, and the circulation was in this way quickened and increased. The Bishops' Bible was not issued beyond 160G, five years before the date of the publication of the Authorized Version, though its New Testament was printed in 1608, 1614, 1615, 1617, 1618. But the Genevan Bible continued to be printed after 1611. Nay, in that very year it was issued in folio by Barker him self, the king's printer. Besides four editions of the New Tes tament, the Bible was reprinted in quarto in 1613 both at London and Edinburgh, again at London in 1614 ; with two editions in 1615, and a last issue in folio in 1616 ; it appeared in quarto, Amsterdam, in 1633, in folio 1640, with two more editions in 1644. In 1649 the Authorized Version was printed in quarto with the Genevan notes,1 as if to promote the circulation. An edition of this nature was published in 1679 in folio, and as late as 1708 2 and 1715 ; but the one of 1679 and the other two tell a falsehood on their title-page, " which notes have never been before set forth with this new translation." 3
Thus the Genevan version continued to be used by many preachers and authors, even after the Authorized Translation was issued in 1611. It commended itself to many who, from •education, position, and circumstances, might have cherished prejudices against it. Not only men of position and learning, but others of a wholly different stamp, were fond of it. Arch bishop Abbot, when Master of University College, Oxford, and Vice-Chancellor, published in 1600 "An Exposition upon the
1 London, printed by the Com- 1679 had not sold, and in 1708 it was pany of Stationers, with the title simply reissued.
placed in the usual heart-shaped 3 In 1578 was published a folio
oval. edition with a double version of the
2 These Bibles of 1679 and 1708 Psalms, the Genevan in Roman char- are the same book with only the acter, and the earlier version of the alteration of date. The edition in prayer book in black letter.
38 THE ENGLISH BIBLE.
Book of Jonah," a series of lectures delivered in St. Mary's Church, and he uses throughout the Genevan version, and not the Bishops'. Dr. Walter Balcan quail, Dean of Rochester, in a sermon preached before the king, and published by his majesty's com mand, in 1632, uses the Genevan Bible. The " ever memor able " John Hales, of Eton, often quotes the same version. Dr. Skinner, in succession bishop of Bristol, Oxford, and Worcester, does the same in two sermons published by royal command in 1634. Dr. Gervase Babington, a pupil of Whitgift, and bishop in turn of Llandaff, Exeter, and Worcester, one of the members of the Hampton Court conference, uses the Genevan version in his sermons preached at court and in his theological works. Dr. Richard Montagu, Bishop of Norwich, and a great favourite of King James, often quotes from the same version in his " Acts and Monuments of the Church," 1642. The same practice is usually followed by Bishop Overall, one of King James' translators, in his " Convocation Book," which when first printed in 1689 carried the license of Sancroft, Archbishop of Canterbury. Dillingham, another of King James' translators, continued to quote the Genevan after 1611.
It may be noted in passing that a vernacular Bible, such as the Genevan, was ever identified with Protestantism. Esme Stuart, Duke of Lennox, one of the " vilest men '' that had ever been "exalted" in Scotland, hypocritically professed, when an exile in Paris in 1583, to be turning a Huguenot, and he asked Cobham, as a proof of his sincerity, "to bestow a Bible on him." And the feeling was similar in France — the French Bible was also associated with Protestantism. When the Huguenot town of Orange was taken by Catholic troops, ladies of good birth were given up to the soldiery, and then left in the streets- without clothing, or their naked bodies were pasted over with leaves torn from " their Genevan Bibles."
CHAPTER XXXVI.
Genevan Bible soon after its publication came into general use in Scotland. Knox follows Tyndale's version in some of his earliest works, but after 1560 he adopts the Genevan, and so do the other divines and polemics, as Bruce, Rollock, and Ferguson — the last giving the words a Scottish form and spelling, as "quhilk" for which, "gif'for if, " behauld " for behold, " tiends " for tithes. Chapman and Millar were established as printers in Edinburgh about 1507 in the reign of James IV, but there w ere then no English Bible to put to press. Lekprevik was specially appointed king's printer, and was licensed to print Bibles in 1564, and the Genevan Bible in 1568; but he never printed a copy of the Scriptures. The people, however, were well supplied by im portation from England and from the Continent. Tyndale's translation was never printed in Scotland, though it was ex tensively used. Lewis indeed says that a quarto edition of Tyndale was "very probably" printed in Scotland in 1536 ;x but the peculiar spelling of the edition to which he apparently refers seems to have led him to the baseless conjecture.2 Some writers apparently translated for themselves, as Chaucer had done, and he is in this respect followed by Lyndsay in the " Complaynt of Scotland," 1548, and by Balnavis, one of the Lords of Session, in his " Confession of Faith," compiled the tame year and printed in 1584.
The leading reformers or Protestant nobles in Scotland held a meeting at Stirling in March, 1557, the year of the publication of the first Genevan Testament, and agreed 1 History, p. 85, 2nd edition. a See vol. I, page 234.
40 THE ENGLISH BIBLE. [CHAP.
to send a letter to Knox, who was then in Geneva. Another consultation was held in Edinburgh, and a " common band was made" on the 3rd of December, 1557 — its central point being " with all diligence continually to apply our whole power, substance, and our very lives to maintain, set forward, and establish the most blessed Word of God." They agreed also on two heads of policy, (1) " That the English Book of Common Prayer should be read publicly in the parish kirks on Sundays and other festivals, with the lessons of the New and Old Testament ; and if the curates of the parishes be qualified, to cause them to read the same, and if they be not, or if they refuse, that the most qualified in the parish use and read them. (2) That doctrine, preaching, and interpretation of Scriptures be had and used privately in quiet houses, without great conventions of the people thereto, till afterward God shall move the prince to grant public preaching by faithful and true ministers." The Primate of St. Andrews longed for vengeance against these evangelical agitators, and summoned before him Argyle's preacher, who, secure in Inverary, and surrounded by Highland claymores and targets, laughed him to scorn. So foiled, he then fell upon a frail old man of eighty-two years of age, who read and preached his Bible, and sentenced him on the 20th April, 1558, to the fire. This doom pronounced on Walter Mill so stirred the city of St. Andrews that not a man would sell or lend a rope to bind him, or a tar-barrel to burn him. His martyrdom made such an impression against his prosecutors that he was the last victim of the Popish period. The nation was roused, images were torn away, and the great idol of St. Giles was first drowned in the Nor' Loch and then burned.
The reformers, well aware where their great strength lay, pre sented a petition to the Regent in 1558, and asked especially for these things — (1) " That as they were already allowed by law to read the Scriptures in their common tongue, it should also be made lawful to them to convene publicly or privately to our common prayers in our vulgar tongue. (2) That it should be lawful, if in their meetings any hard place of Scripture should be read, that any qualified persons in knowledge, being
xxxvi.] SCOTTISH REFORMERS AND SCHOLARS, 41
present, should interpret and open up the said hard places, to God's glory and the profit of the auditory. (3) That the holy sacrament of baptism should be used in the vulgar tongue, and the god-fathers and church then assembled should be instructed in their duties. (4) That the holy sacrament of the Lord's Supper should likewise be ministered in the vulgar tongue, and in both kinds." The Regent-Dowager was French, and she at length replied in broken English, "Me will remem ber," she exclaimed, " what is protested, and me will put good order after this to all things that now be in controversy." 1 Such an answer from a daughter of the House of Guise was only a pretext.2
It seems surprising at first sight that no Scottish scholars or divines of that time or the period succeeding it set themselves to the work of Biblical revision or translation. There were men at that epoch quite qualified for the work. Knox was not without erudition, but his high vocation was one of public activity and national enterprise. His keen spirit was kept in a state of perpetual anxiety and excitement, for he believed his struggle to be with " spiritual wickedness in high places," and he was denied the privacy and leisure, without which the higher regions of scholarship cannot be reached. Andrew Melville was declared on leaving college to be the " best Grecian of any young master in the land," and at the age of twenty-one he was appointed regent in a foreign seminary. He was wont to travel with a Hebrew Bible "slung from his belt"; he studied Syriac at Geneva; and rose to be the learned reformer and principal of two native universities. It is matter of regret that he should have spent his varied and masculine powers in com posing Latin verses 3 to rival those of Buchanan and Beza. George Buchanan translated the Psalms into Latin, and spent
1 Lorimer's Scottish Reformation, James V at St. Andrews in June, pp. 204, &c. Walter Mill had been 1538.
arrested and'condemued in 1538, but 3 His Carmen Mosis and his
escaped to Germany, where he re- Stephaniskion are well known, and
mained twenty years. of the second of these poems Scaliger
2 She was the widow of the Duke said nos talia non possumus. of Lougueville, and was married to
42 THE ENGLISH BIBLE. [CHAP.
many years abroad lingering on the heights of Parnassus rather than on the hill of God. There were others, like Ales, Rollock, Gillespie, and Cameron, who delighted in Biblical study, but did not engage in the production of a vernacular Bible. In apology, however, it may be said that the pastorate in Scotland is an office of constant labour and travel, and that there are no rich benefices, prebendal stalls, or colleges with wealthy clusters of fellowships ; and that in other days ministers had often to seek places of concealment, " rocks, dens, and caves," which were more in request than library or study ; and that edicts and proclamations concerned them more than Greek or Hebrew ; for the hand that might have turned over with busy care the pages of a lexicon or grammar had sometimes to apply itself to pike and musket.
During the reign of James V, and the minority of his daughter, there was a close connection between Scotland and France ; and many Scotchmen, both Catholic and Protestant, studied at foreign universities. The Swiss States came also into friendly intercourse with Caledonian divines and re formers, and the name and fame of Calvin and his compeers were as great in Scotland as in his own country. The French tongue was familiarly spoken at the Scottish court, and was also well known by the better classes through the country. There fore a Bible prepared and published at Geneva was sure to find a ready welcome, especially north of the Tweed, and the re- publication of it formed an epoch in Scottish ecclesiastical history.1
The Genevan version was originally published in the very year in which there met at Edinburgh the first Protestant General Assembly of the Kirk — in 1560. As it was the first
1 The conversations which John quiet ; aumrie, cupboard ; braw,
Kuox had with. Queen Mary at fine ; bein, well-to-do (bien) ; gou,
Holyrood, and which are told by taste ; ashet, meat-dish ; jigot, leg
him in his history in broad Scotch, of mutton ; grozets, gooseberries ;
must have been conducted in French, caraffe, a crystal water-jug ; fashions,
Indeed many French terms are still troublesome ; ghean, a wild cherry;
preserved in the common speech of and haggis (hachisj. Scotland, as dour, obstinate ; douce,
xxxvi.] AEBUTHNOT AND BASSANDYNE. 43
Bible issued in Scotland, the interesting story of the printing of it in the " antient kingdom " may be allowed to occupy a few pages. In March, 1575, Alexander Arbuthnot, merchant burgess of Edinburgh, and Thomas Bassandyne, printer, pre sented a petition to the General Assembly, containing a pro posal to print the English Bible. The Assembly at once assented to the request, and " anent this godly proposition it is agreed betwixt this present Assembly and the said Alexander and Thomas, that every Bible which they shall receive advance ment for shall be sold in albes (sheets) for £4 13s. 4 pennies Scottis,1 keeping the volume and character of the said proofs delivered to the clerk of the Assembly." Application was ordered to be made " to the Lord Regent's 2 grace " that the necessary ratification for printing be given, and that a reason able " gratitude " be appointed to such " as should be employed for correcting of the said Bible, at the cost of the said Alex ander and Thomas " ; " the Kirk promesing to deliver the authentick copy, which they shall follow, to them, betwixt and the last day of April." Cautioners were found and solemnly pledged on behalf of the printers that the work should be "per fected betwixt and the last day of March, 1576." The " perfer- vidum ingenium" soon displayed itself, bishops, superintendents/5 commissioners are "taken bound" at once to "do utter and exact diligence to raise the necessary funds at the hands of the lords, barons, and gentlemen of every parish " ; and it is en joined, " that every person that is provided of old, as well as of new, be compelled to buy a Bible to their parish kirk, and to
1 The old Scottish currency was was only a matter of " temporary only the twelfth in value of sterling expedience" to fill up vacant parishes, money, a pound Scots being only They could not act of their sole one shilling and eightpence, or authority in admitting ministers ; twelve pounds Scots equal to one and if they fell into sin, they were pound sterling. liable to the same sentences as their
2 James Douglas, Earl of Morton, brethren. They were admitted them- was elected Eegent, 24th November, selves as other ministers were, their 1572, on the death of the Earl of jurisdiction was wholly regulated by Mar. the synods, and they were responsible
3 The superintendents are distin- to the General Assembly for all parts guished from bishops, as their office of their conduct.
44 THE ENGLISH BIBLE. [CHAP.
advance therefor the price foresaid, and the said prices to be collected and inbrought by the said bishops, superintendents, and visitors within each bounds and shire, within their juris diction, betwixt and the last day of June." At the next Assembly, in August, 1575, the work of printing and correcting was spoken of, the printers' statement being, "Anent the supplication given in to the General Assembly by Alexander Arbuthnot, making mention that whereas it is not unknown to your wisdoms, what great work and charge I have enterprised, concerning the imprinting of the Bible, for accomplishing whereof your wisdoms understood that the office of a corrector, his diligence and attendance therein, is most necessary : and therefore I humbly desire your wisdoms to request my Lord Abbot of Dunfermline to licentiate Mr. George Young, his servant, whom I think most fit to attend upon the said work of correctorie, to concur and assist me during the time of my travell, to the effect that the notable work begun and enter- prised may be consummat and perfected in all points. The charges and expenses of his travels I shall reasonably deburse conforme to your wisdoms' discretion, so that the work may pass forward and be decent, as the honesty of the same re- -quires." Letters of privilege or a license from the Privy Council were obtained June 30, authorizing Arbuthnot and Bassandyne "to prent or cause be imprentit, set furth and sauld within this realm, or outwith the samen, Bibles in the vulgar Inglis toung, in haill or in partes, with ane calendar for ten years, and discharging all his hienes lieges, that nane of them tak upon hand, to prent or cause be imprentit in ony carrecture or letter, translation or volume quhatsumever, sell or cause be sauld, brocht hame, or distribute to ony person or persones (except with consent of the said, &c.), providing they sell every bibill according to the prices appointed " (viz., £4, 13s. 4d.) Bassandyne1 had died before the publication; and Arbuthnot, whose name alone appears on the title-page of the Old Testament, got power to print during his lifetime ordinary books, but special license to print and sell Bibles " in the
1 His name alone stands on the title-page of the New Testament •which was finished in 1576.
xxxvi.] PRINTED IN EDINBURGH. 45
vulgar Inglis, Scottes, and Latine tounges." Thus the publica tion of this folio Bible was wholly an enterprise of the Church; for though the Regent Morton who issued the license, advanced some money to the printers, that money was only the sums collected in the various parishes according to the agreement " allowed and authorized by the Regent's grace."
The New Testament was ready in 1576, and the whole Bible in 1579 :
" The Bible & Holy Scriptures conteined in the Olde & Newe Testament, translated according to the Ebru & Greeke, & conferred with the beste translations in divers languages.
O O
With moste profitable annotations upon all the hard places of the Holy Scriptures & other things of great importance, mete for the godly reader. Printed in Edinburgh, Be Alexander Arbuthnot, Printer to the Kingis Majestic, dwelling at ye Kirk of Field, 1579. Cum gratia & privilegio regise majestatis."
The title-page has the royal arms of Scotland in the centre. The Bible was dedicated to the "Richt Excellent, Richt heich & michtie Prince James the Saxt, King of Scottis . . . &c. ; " " From Edinburgh at our General Assemblie, the tent day of Julie, 1579." The Dedication, which was approved by the Assembly, speaks with honest plainness to the king — who was then about fourteen years of age, and there is a ring of glad ness in the words addressed to him : " Certainlie we have great occasion baith to glorifie the gudenes of God toward this countrie, & also heichlie to extol your heines most godlie purpose & enterprise. O quhat difference may be seen between thir dayes of light when almaist in every private house the buike of God's law is red & understand in our vulgarie lan guage, & that age of darknes when skarcelie in ane haill citie (without the clostres of monks & freires) culd the buke of God anes be founde, & that in ane strange tongue of Latin not gud, but mixed with barbaritie, used & red be fewe & almaist understand or exponit be nane ; & quhen the false namit clergie of this realme, abusing the gentle nature of your hienes maist noble gudshir l of worthie memorie, made it an capital crime to be punished with the fyre to have or read the New Testament 1 Grandfather-
46 THE ENGLISH BIBLE. [CHAP.
in the vulgar language; & to make them to all men more odious, as if it had been the detestable name of a pernicious sect, they were called New Testamenters." The impression now published was intended chiefly " to the end, that in every paroch kirk there suld be at least ane thereof kepit, to be called the common buke of the kirke, as a maist meet orna ment for sik a place, & a perpetual register of the Word of God, the fountaine of all true doctrine, to be made patent to all the people of everie congregation as the only richt rule to direct & govern them in matters of religion, as also to confirm thame in the trueth receavit, & to reform and redress corrup tions whensoever they may crepe in." Due honour is also given to the learned and laborious translators.
Matters were not done by halves ; for an Act of Parlia ment was passed enacting that every householder worth 300 merks of yearly rent, and every yeoman or burgess worth £500 stock, was to have a Bible and Psalm Book in the vulgar language, under the penalty of ten pounds. This enactment was no dead letter, for " searchers " were ap pointed to visit all dwellings, and report as to their want or pos session of a Bible. In 1580 " the magistrates and town council of Edinburgh issued a proclamation commanding all the house holders to have Bibles," under the pains contained in the Act of Parliament, and advertising them that the Bibles are to be "sauld in the merchant buith of Andrew Williamson, on the north syde of this burgh, besyde the Meill Mercatt." On the llth of November, 1580, "Alexander Clerk, of Balbery, provost, &c., ordanis the haill neighbours of this burgh to be callit in before the bailies by their quarters for not keeping of the said Act to be adjugeit in the unlaw therein contenit, & for eschewing of all fraude, ordanis sic as sail bring their bybills & psalm buiks to hafe their names writtin & subscryvit be the clerk : & therefter the buiks deliverit to them." On the 16th of November, there was an order to pursue all persons "that lias incurrit the payne of the Act for not having ane bybill or psalme buik." The printer had been slow in delivering copies, and the patience of the General Assembly was exhausted, so that, in July, 1580, they "propone to his majesty & council
xxxvi.] SOME ACCOUNT OF IT. ^j
that order be taken with Alexander Arbuthnot that the Bibles may be dely vevit according to his receipt of money from every paroch, & to that effect that he &; his severties (sureties) may be commandit be letters of horning for delyverance thereof, & na suspensioun to be grantit without the samyn be dely verit. " l
The Bible thus published in Scotland with all this array of civil and ecclesiastical prerogative, is the Genevan edition of 1561 ; the second folio edition being " the authentic copy" sup plied by the General Assembly. The Scottish printer had not sufficient Greek types,2 and under Kev. xii, 18, he notes, " These Greke characters chi, xi, st [that is, x £ r] signifie 6G6." Wod- row, the well known historian, vaguely and doubtfully says of this Bible : " I believe the Genevan translation was what they kept nearest to." But it was not an approximation at all — it was an exact reprint of the second edition, with all the notes and facsimiles of the cuts and maps, and the French terms attached to them, as Aquilon, midi, orient, Occident. In the first edition of 1560 the supplementary words were printed in italics, but in the second edition they were put within brackets. This plan is followed in the Edinburgh reprint, but the printer had not apparently procured a sufficient number of bracket marks in time, for none are used in the Gospels ; they appeal- first in the Acts of the Apostles. The proper names are furnished with accents, after Pagninus, as Heuah, laakob,
1 "Letters of homing "are, in Scot- - In 1524, when Wyukyu de
tish law, a formal charge signed with AVorde printed a small book by
the " Signet," and delivered to a Wakefield, on the study of Arabic
debtor, commanding him to pay and Hebrew, he was obliged to
within a limited period ; and if, at omit the third part, as he had ex-
the expiry of such a term, he has not hausted his Hebrew types. Hebrew
paid, an officer goes to the market types were not used in Scotland till
cross of the burgh, and after three about 1599. Lekprevik the printer,
peals of a "horn " or trumpet, pro- in a book published by him in 1563,
claims him a rebel, and then he may says of certain Greek words, "I had
be put in prison not formally for no characters to express them," and
debt, but for disloyalty. The process, therefore he employed some " scol-
changed by 1 and 2 Victoria, c. 114, lers" to write them with a pen on
is not wholly obsolete. the sheets.
48 THE ENGLISH BIBLE. [CHAP.
Izhak, Habel, Kain, as in the first edition. The calendar and chronological notes were prepared and subscribed by Robert Pont, one of the ministers of the West Kirk, who was also one of the Lords of Session. One serious misprint of the "copy" was corrected — " Blessed are the place makers " for " peace makers," Matt, v, 3. There was also another error of the press in the contents of Luke xxi, " Christ condemneth the poor widow," for " commendeth."
The publication of the Genevan version at Edinburgh without any change in orthography, or any assimilation of its style to Scottish usage, shows that at this period, as at earlier times, the English of the south was quite intelligible to all the educated population of Scotland ; and the fact is the more remarkable from the contrast between the text of the Bible and the distinctly Scottish dialect and spelling of the dedica tion to the young king. When the Earl of Murray appeared before Queen Elizabeth, in 1565, he spoke in Scottish, which her majesty interpreted to the French ambassador. No other edition of the Bible was published in Scotland for the next thirty years, or till 1610. In 1589 John Gibson purchased from Gilbert Masterton a patent which had been held by Archdeacon Young, of St. Andrews, giving liberty for printing within the realm, or causing to be printed within or without the realm, "the Bible in our own vulgar tongue, with the Psalm book, the double and single Catechise, with the Prog nostications." l This patentee had " ane new psalme buik " " on his awin grit charges, and be his privat mean and devyse," printed at Middleburgh, in Flanders; and he received "free and only license and liberty to bring hame and sell the said im pression at convenient prices, for seven years." Bibles from abroad were by enactment at this time freely imported into
1 The name given to the tongue of this first Edinburgh reprint a Bible
the Island was English, and the in the Scotch language, a proof that
First Book of Discipline, 1560, says, he had never inspected it. Edwards
under the Nynte Heade, "We think in his "Libraries/' p. 438, complains
it a thing most expedient and neces- of Dibdin's carelessness, and quotes a
sariethat everyechurche have a Bibill similar censure by Mr. Panizzi, lately
in Englische." Yet even Dibdin calls of the British Museum.
xxxvi.] PROPOSED REVISION. 49
Scotland, and were not to "pay the ordinary customs charge." These foreign editions were prized as being of good print and paper. In 1601, through Andro Hart and his partners, an edition was printed at Dort ; and Hart printed in folio another Bible at Edinburgh in 1610 — the Genevan version of the Old Testament, and Laurence Tomson's edition of the New. The edition of Hart was highly prized ; and other and subse quent editions, to command a ready sale, inserted in their title- page, "Conform to the edition printed by Andro Hart." Two handsome folios, printed at Amsterdam in 1640 and in 1644, make this assertion — "According to the copy printed in Edin burgh by Mr. Andrew Hart, in 1610."
There had even been at one time some sort of overture made for a revision of the Genevan version. The records of the General Assembly which met at Burntisland, in May, 1601, contain the following minute : — " It being meinit be sundrie of the breth ren, that thair was sundrie errors that meritit to be correctit in the vulgar translation of the Bible, the Assemblie hes con- cludit as follows : first, anent the translatione of the Bible, that every ane of the brethrene quha hes best knawledge in the languages, employ their travells in sundrie pairts of the vulgar translatioune of the Bible that neides to be mendit, and to conferre the same together at the nixt Assemblie." But the proposal never took effect.
VOL. II. 1)
CHAPTER XXXVII.
Genevan version printed in England, or imported from the Continent, was the favourite volume in Scottish families, and kept its place for many years after the publica tion of the Authorized Version. Its very name endeared it to them, for the divines of Geneva ranked next to the " Twelve," in the loyal and loving esteem of Scottish Protestants. Knox had ministered in that city, Calvin and Beza had taught and preached in it. It was only natural that, as late as 1629, Zacharie Boyd should use the Genevan version in his "Last Battle of the Soul." Even those who were willing to conform to Episcopacy at the king's bidding, and to vindicate his high-handed procedure, were not disposed to accept his Bible ; for its long use had hallowed the Genevan version to them. The diocesan synod of St. Andrews enacted, in 1611, the very year of our Authorized Version, "Forasmeikle as it was thought expedient that there be in every kirk ane commoune Bible, it was concludit that every brother sail urge his parochiners to buy ane of the Bybles laitlie printed be Andro Hart ; and the brother failying either to cause buy ane of the Bybles as said is, or ellis to gif in his exact diligens, sail pay at the next synod, 6 lib money," i. e., 10s. shillings sterling. This decision is the more remarkable, as at this very period Episcopacy was established, and the spiritual supremacy of the king was acknowledged; yet the older translation was formally preferred, when it must have been known that another was on the eve of publication, under royal patronage, for the sister community in England.
Sir James Sempill, of Beltrees, in a book dedicated to the
VITALITY OF THE VERSION. 51
king, significantly called " Sacrilege Sacredly Handled," meant "for the Churches of North Britaine, 1619," uses the Genevan version. Dr. Guild, chaplain to Charles I, in his earliest works, published at London and Aberdeen, 1615, quotes from the Genevan version. Bishop Lindsay, of Brechin, inserts into the title-page of his "True Narration," published in 1621, as its motto, Prov. xxiv, 31, in the Genevan translation; and this narration is an apology for the Assembly which met at Perth, in 1618, and enacted the notorious "five articles," contain ing many characteristic elements of the Episcopalian ritual. Bishop Cowper, of Galloway, whose collected works were printed in London, 1629, uses the Genevan version. James Baillie, A.M., preached at Westminster a sermon on " Spiritual Marriage," and dedicated it to no less than nine Scottish peers, and seven other courtiers, and he uses the Genevan version. So does Struthers, a minister of Edinburgh, and one noted for his servility, in treatises published by him in 1628. Wischart, of Restalrig, in his " Exposition of the Lord's Prayer," follows the same practice ; as also does Bishop Abernethy, of Caithness, in his "Physike for the Soule," London, 1638.1 It is scarcely to be wondered at that the Alexander Henderson who pre sided at the General Assembly which met at Glasgow in 1638, and, by a sweeping act, declared Episcopacy overthrown in Scotland, should have used the Genevan version. So late as 1640, an edition of the Genevan Prose Psalms was printed at Edinburgh.
The vitality of the Genevan Bible was wonderful. It had commended itself to general acceptance, for it had been made by earnest and scholarly men, driven by persecution out of England ; made in a city revered as the home and metropolis of the popular theology; and it was also a better translation than any of its rivals. It did not die under episcopal frown, nor was its circulation promoted to any extent by episcopal patronage. The people loved it for itself and its history. It was a contemporary of the Great Bible for nine years, and outlived it; and of the Bishops' for nigh forty years, and
1 Memorial from the Bible Societies of Scotland, by Principal Lee, p. 90. &c. Edinburgh, 1824.
.52 THE ENGLISH BIBLE. [CHAP.
outlived it too for more than a quarter of a century. The Great Bible was not issued beyond 1569, nor the Bishops' after 1G06 ; but the Genevan survived all these changes. Sometime in the reign of Charles I, the Genevan version, of which about one hundred and sixty editions had been published, sank gradually into disuse throughout the whole country. The king's printer issued impressions only of the Authorized Version which was now deservedly growing into favour, and Genevan Bibles had to be imported. Archbishop Laud, who had from his youth a great dislike of this version, and had shown it strongly when president of St. John College, for bad the importation of copies. This prohibition was one of the special charges brought against him on the trial which ended in his execution. His reply was that by the importation of books it was feared that " printing would be carried out of the kingdom, for those books were better print, better bound, better paper, and for all the charges of bringing sold better cheap." l Though King James had scornfully depreciated the Genevan notes at the Hampton Court Conference, the people relished them greatly, and, according to Fuller, when the version was disappearing, they complained that they "could not see into the sense of Scripture for lack of the spectacles of those Genevan annotations." The Genevan Bible having done its work at length passed away, making room for another version in so many respects its superior.
The Genevan version was attacked about the year 1611 by a Dr. Howson in a sermon preached at St. Mary's, Oxford, his charge being that it contained misinterpretations leading to the denial of the Divinity and Messiahship of Jesus Christ, and thus favouring Arianism and Judaism. The accusation is utterly groundless, and must have been the result of strange misconception and prejudice. Dr. Abbot suspended the preacher for the publication of such a libel. During the trial a letter from Thomas Bodley " in defence and praise " of the translators was read "from St. Marie's pulpit." This most popular of the
1 The phrase occurs in the Author- after the Bishops', the Genevan, the ized Version, 2 Esdras xvi, 21, Great Bible, and Coverdale. u victuals shall be good cheape,"
xxxvir.] GREGORY MARTIN'S ATTACK. 53
older versions was assaulted by Gregory Martin, in his " Dis- coverie of the Manifold Corruptions of the Holy Scriptures by heretickes of our daies, especially the English sectaries, in their English Bibles, used and authorized since the time of the Schism." 1 He affirmed that it was professedly trans lated from Beza, and thus gave the lie to its title-page, which has "translated according to the Ebrue and Greke." His own admission that in many places they dare not fol low Beza is a proof that his charge cannot be sustained, for it is, as Fulke calls it, "an impudent slander." He asserts of the English heretics that Beza is their "chief trans lator and a captain among them, whom they profess to follow in the title of their New Testament, anno 1580, and by the very name of their Geneva Bibles." 2 The accusation is base less, for the English refugees revised Tyndale and the Great Bible with all the helps in their power, and all the assistance which they could procure by consultation and correspondence. Again, this Bible is accused by Martin of concealing the truth when it says only " The Epistle to the Hebrews," omitting the name of Paul ; but the prefatory note gives the reason, the want of uniform evidence, both of Greek writers and Latin, that Paul was the writer ; and they are bold and learned enough to say that if it be Paul's, " it is not like " — " yea, seeing the Spirit of God is the author thereof, it diminisheth nothing of the autorite, although we know not with what penne he wrote it." The opinion of Geddes is similar to that of Martin, and he adds " that it was accompanied with notes by Beza, and hence obtained his name." But who ever heard of the Genevan being called Beza's Bible ? though certainly Gregory Martin again and again stigmatizes the English Protestants by the name of Bezites.3 The opinion of Father Simon 4 need scarcely
1 Rhemes, 1582. printed twice, and many times
" The allusion is to Tomson's afterwards.
revision of 1576, the title-page 3 Prospectus. Mason Good's Me-
of which somewhat strangely an- moirs of Dr. Geddes, p. 125, London,
nounces that it is " translated 1803.
out of Greeke by Theod. Beza." 4 Critical Enquiries (English trana-
In 1580, Tomson's version was lation), p. 231, London, 1684.
54 THE ENGLISH BIBLE. [CHAT.
be noticed, that the Genevan is the French Bible printed at Geneva, " the which was made English." The influence of Oli- vetan's version is now and then apparent, but it is not specially frequent or prominent.
Lastly, a peculiar criticism on the Genevan translation came from a very unexpected quarter, the author being John Hamil ton, a relation or close friend of him of Bothwellhaugh, who, after being formally pardoned by the Begent Murray on the field of Langside, killed him within a brief period by a cowardly shot from a window in Linlithgow, the house being owned by one Hamilton, the Archbishop of St. Andrews,1 and the musket borrowed from another, the Abbot of Arbroath. Mary Stewart, the royal sister of the murdered man, conferred a pension on the assassin.2 Hamilton was a secular priest, and from his per petual wanderings, intrigues, and conspiracies, he got the name of the " Skirmisher." He was one of the familiars of the Duke of Alva in his deeds of treachery and blood. He had been em ployed in the murder of Coligny ; and Philip II for some time thought of him as one quite fitted in temperament and expe rience to " look after " the Prince of Orange ; but his character was so notorious that his presence would have aroused sus picions. As the cure of St. Cosme in Paris, he was a pro minent member of the League, and was heart and hand., too, in the sudden and illegal arrest of the president and jurist Barnabe Brisson, and his two fellow-judges Larcher and Tardif ; in their execution, in the Petit Chatelet, two hours after their seizure ; and in the exposure, after the tragedy, of their dead bodies in the Place de Greve. He became rector of the Uni versity of Paris in 1584, and published several treatises in defence of " halie kirk," in which are found some superstitions of the lowest and most ludicrous kind about the arts and wiles and common disguises of the Evil One. Bothwellhaugh, three years after, was willing to undertake the assassination of the
1!John Hamilton, archbishop, sup- Stirling, April, 1571. "Assassina-
posed to have planned the assassina- tion," as Mr. Froude says, "was au
tion of Darnley and of the Eegent accomplishment in the family."
Murray, was seized at the capture of 2 Labanoff, vol. Ill, p. 341. Dumbarton Castle, and hanged at
xxxvii.] PRIEST HAMILTON'S ATTACK. 55
Prince of Orange,, and he suggested two persons for the purpose. If there be no mistake about the name, the Skirmisher, when he felt the cause of Mary to be failing, sunk so low at length, that he sent from Brussels to the Eegent Morton, " offering to do service either there with the Duke of Alva or with the Queen of Scots." l He had managed for some years the secret correspondence between Mary Stewart and Alva. A little volume of his compositions was published at Louvain in 1600, and a copy is in the Advocate's Library in Edinburgh.2 Among them are some remarkably beautiful prayers, and some hymns above mediocrity. In the same volume, the work of one of the most daring of " bloody and deceitful men," is a series of remarks on the Genevan version, suggested by its popularity in his Protestant fatherland. His censure is headed, "Cor ruption of twenty-three passages of the Scriptures be the ministers' adulterous translations thereof in their Scottis Bible, and the causes why they have corruptit ye same." The places objected to are either in translations or notes connected with Popish dogma or ritual; the notes "obscuring or denying Christ's pretious bodie and bluid ; maintaining heresie agains prayers for the daid and purgatorie; denying tradition, and affirming that Christ teacheth by his verie voce al thing-is necessaires for treu religion." The critic has special objection to the Genevan note on Luke i, 28 and 42, for it defames the immaculat mother of God " whom they blaspheme as a sinner lyk uther wemen, and denies that the halie virgin e Marie was blissit in hir self, and be the halines of hir a win godlie lyf." Notes against virginity, the sacrament of marriage, and the power of the priesthood, are also keenly reprobated, as also the rendering of "elders" for priests in James v, 14, "secret" for sacrament in Ephesians v, 32. Zechariah ix, 11, 12 is selected for strong censure, because neither in translation nor
1 Fronde's History, vol. IX, p. 577, Verteu, and Effects of the Sacra- fee, ments: togidder with certain Prayers
2 " A Facile Treatise, conteuand, of Devotion, &c., dedicat to his Sove- rirst, ane infalible rule to discern rain Prince King James the Saxt. Treu from False Religion : nixt, a Louvain, 1600."
Declaration of the Nature, Number,
56 THE ENGLISH BIBLE.
notes is the old idea of Jerome and Cyril brought out, that the pit or lake is the lirtibus patrum, or, as Hamilton puts it, "it is meant to hyd the deliuerance of the patriarchies and uthers, just men in the auld law, out of the lymbe of the fathers, callit in the Euangile Abraham's bosume, be Christ's descension into hel." The same objection is made to Acts ii, 27. Exodus v, 1 is selected for blame, because the translation " offer a sacrifice " has not been adopted "for God chienie requires sacrifice of his treu worschipers." The note on Isaiah xix, 19. in reference to the altar of the Lord in the land of Egypt, is condemned as hiding the "external sacrifice of the Messe, whilk thay cal ane idole." Acts xiii, 23 is said to be corrupted "be their fals marginal note " — referring to popular election of ministers ; as also the note to Malachi i, 11, where incense is explained by spiritual service. The " Skirmisher" x chose an unfamiliar beat when he laid aside cord, dagger, and disguise, and resorted to criticism, for it is utterly irrelevant ; and he should have shown not the Protestant prepossessions, but the unscholarly failures of the Genevan versionists. He concludes his diatribe with a fierce warning : " Therefore, I beseek you, dissaivet people, to burn your corrupt Scots Bible in the fire, that your sauls be not tormentit with the intolerable pains of the fires of hell. This was the only cause why our Catholic bishops forbade the reading of the English Bible, that the corruptions thereof should not infect their sauls to eternal perdition." 2 It may be added that Hamilton returned to Scotland, and after finding " lurking holes " for some time, he was, in 1G09, seized, and sent up to the Tower in London, where he died.
1 Bannatyne, Knox's secretary, 2 Burton's History of Scotland,
notes in his "Memorials," p. 51, "In vol. V, p. 267; vol. VI, p. 271.
the meantime there came from Flan- Life of John Hamilton, a secular
ders a little pink, and in it two gen- priest, by Dalrymple, Lord Hailee.
tlemen, with Mr. John Hamilton, Annals of Scotland, vol. Ill, p. 447-
called the Skirmisher, fra Duke Edinburgh, 1819. d'Alva."
THE BISHOPS' BIBLE.
" LORD, Thy word abideth, And our footsteps guideth ; "Who its truth believeth Light and joy receiveth.
" When our foes are near us, Then thy word doth cheer us, Word of consolation, Message of salvation.
" When the storms are o'er us, And dark clouds before us, Then its light directeth, And our way protecteth.
" Who can tell the pleasure, Who recount the treasure, By Thy word imparted To the simple-hearted ?
" Word of mercy, giving Succour to the living ; Word of life, supplying Comfort to the dying !
" Oh that we, discerning Its most holy learning, Lord, may love and fear Thee, Evermore be near Thee ! "
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
QUEEN MARY died on the 17th of November, 1558, and was succeeded by her sister Elizabeth. The earlier part of Elizabeth's reign was beset with many difficulties. Old things were passing away, and it required delicate handling to settle the new order amidst doubts and distractions, deepened by political complications between Spain and France. The population was divided at the same time into hostile forces ; excesses of conservatism arrayed in self-defence on the one hand, and excesses of innovation battling to realize themselves on the other. The re-organization of the Church had been wondrously helped by the unusual number of vacancies on the episcopal bench. Only five of Edward's bishops, English and Irish, had survived the dark and disastrous reign of his sister ; and Cardinal Pole, who died on the same day with his royal mistress arid kinswoman, had left several sees unfilled, so that at the opening of Elizabeth's first parliament only ten spiritual peers were present. There were a dozen dioceses without mitred heads, and according to De Feria, the Spanish ambassador, the Queen set over them ministros de Lucifer. Canterbury was filled by the consecration, at Lambeth, on the 17th December, of Matthew Parker, who had been one of Queen Anne Boleyn's chaplains and Dean of Lincoln, and he quietly succeeded Cardinal Pole, as if nothing had happened out of the usual course. His opinions on ecclesiastical matters suited Elizabeth and Cecil, and though he was a married dig nitary, he had been so colourless a reformer that he easily escaped under the reign of Mary. When he was Master of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, he enacted that all students
60 THE ENGLISH BIBLE. [CHAP.
taking the benefit of " Billingford's hutch " should offer prayer for the benefit of Billingford's soul ; and he provided that the Duchess of Norfolk should be similarly remembered. He became, in course of time, as bitter against the "prophesy ings"1 as his royal mistress. He was a calm and erudite man of moderate opinions, and he regulated with no little skill the affairs of the church of which he was the ecclesiastical head ; his motto being, " I take some heed not to extend my sleeve beyond mine arm." The choice of Parker was not only what is called a safe one, but it was also one of necessity; for among the able men around the throne, Jewel had in a moment of weakness abjured, Sandys had espoused the cause of Lady Jane Grey, Grindal was deficient in tact and firmness in the management of men and measures, Nowell was disliked by the queen, Lever, her favourite preacher, was a pronounced puritan, and Cox had been identified with the "Troubles" at Frankfort.2
The English Bible had slipped out of public view in the time of Mary, and though in her reign no edition of it was printed, many copies must have been secreted, for spies were prowling about, and the open possession and study of it in volved individuals and households in immediate suspicion and jeopardy.3 The people were forbidden to read in their mother tongue the book which opened up salvation to them, and re vealed those promises and hopes on which they rested their eternal well-being. Such things they might hear from the lips of a priest, but they were not to read for themselves the words of Evangelists or Apostles. They might listen to the sermon, but they durst not gaze upon the text. They might kneel before the crucifix, but were on no account to pause and pray over the story of the Gospels, and be in this way brought into living sympathy with Him that died for them. Sir Thomas More had admitted that "four-tenths of the people could never read English," yet though many persons had no educa-
1 Yet Lord Bacon highly eulogizes 2 See page 4.
the prophesyings, and describes their 3 Thus a Bible of 1550 has on the
nature and benefit. Works, vol. fly-leaf, " Found in the hay-loft at
VII, p. 86, ed. B. Montague. Canterbury, October 10th, 1718."
xxxviii.] AGNES PREST AND JOAN WASTE. (jl
tion at all, not a few of the uneducated class were well in structed in the truths of Scripture. It is told of Sir Walter Raleigh's mother, that in the perilous reign of Mary she went to visit a poor woman, named Agnes Prest, lying in Exeter jail, and soon to be martyred at Southernhay, and that the prisoner spoke to her so touchingly and ably against transubstantiation that she was confounded, saying, in her own record of the interview, " I was not able to answer her — I who can read, and she cannot." According to report, also though the woman was "of such simplicity, and without learn ing, you could declare no place of Scripture but she could tell you the chapter."1 Want of common schooling kept this woman from reading Scripture ; but Foxe 2 tells of another woman who, in the midst of poverty and darkness, felt the light, life, and riches of the divine Word. Joan Waste had been born blind, but had learned to support herself by knit ting " hosen and sleeves," and occasionally helping her father to "twine ropes." Having gathered a little money, and bought a Bible, she got some friends to read it to her, and at various times she gave a penny to others to induce them to gratify her. Her great knowledge of Scripture became at length so notorious that she was " convented " before the bishop, and on being examined at length, she was condemned, and burned at Derby in 1556, being about twenty-two years of age.
But on the elevation of Elizabeth to the throne, the book which had been under ban for five years and four months started again into prominence. As the Princess Elizabeth, and when she was a virtual prisoner at Woodstock, in danger of her life, she was a pious student of the blessed book. Her own peculiar words, inscribed by herself on a MS. copy of the Epistles used by her are given thus : " August. I walke many times into the pleasant fieldes of the Holy Scriptures, where I plucke up the goodliesome herbes of sentences by pruning : eate them by reading : chawe them by musing : and laie them up at length in the hie seate of memorie by gathering them together : that so having tasted theire sweeteness I may the
1 Life of Sir Walter Ealeigh, by Edward Edwards, vol. I, p. 19. London, 1868. 2 Foxe, vol. VIII, p. 247.
(52 THE ENGLISH BIBLE. [CHAP.
lesse perceave the bitterness of this miserable life." In the sixteenth year of her reign we find, too, she was in possession of " Gone Gospell booke covered with tissue, and garnished on th' onside with the crucifix, and the queene's badges of silver guilt, poiz with wodde, leaves, and all, cxii. oz." x
At length, when her sister had died, and she was leaving the Tower, on the day before her coronation, she looked up to heaven, and offered the following thanksgiving : " Oh Lord, Almighty and Everlasting God, I give thee most humble thanks that thou hast been so merciful unto me as to spare me to behold this joyful day ; and I acknowledge that thou hast dealt wonderfully and mercifully with me. As thou didst with thy servant Daniel the prophet, whom thou deliveredst out of the den, from the cruelty of the raging lions, even so was I overwhelmed, and only by Thee delivered. To Thee, therefore, only be thanks, honour, and praise for ever. Amen."
According to traditional story, when, after offering this prayer, she went through London in procession, and was pass ing the " Little Conduit in Cheape," a pageant was prepared to salute her, for " Time " was placed there, and " Truth, the daughter of Time," holding in her hand the verbum veritatis — an English Bible — which she delivered to the Queen. Her Majesty received the gift with royal graciousness and kissed it. Then " thanking the city for their goodly gift," and pressing it to her bosom, she said that she would "diligently read therein." A person in the crowd, as if suddenly recollecting who it was that first gave the English Bible to the nation, lustily cried out, " Remember old King Harry the Eighth ! " and " a gleam of light passed over Elizabeth's face " at the mention of her father's name in this connection. Lord Bacon also records that hints were given to her to release certain prisoners, as the four Evangelists and the Apostle Paul, long shut up, and that she " answered very gravely, that it was best first to inquire of themselves whether they would be released or no." In a short time, however, she issued a proclamation containing these injunctions : " To provide, within three months after this visitation, at the charges of the parish, one book of the 1 Archoeologia, vol. XIII, p. 221.
XXXVIIL] QUEEN ELIZABETH. 33
whole Bible of the largest volume in English, and within one twelve months the paraphrases of Erasmus, also in Eng lish; and the same to be set up in some convenient place within the said church, where the parishioners may most con veniently resort and read the same. All persons under the degree of A.M. shall buy for their own use the New Testament in Latin and English, with paraphrases, within three months. Inquiry was to be made whether any parsons, vicars, or curates, did discourage any person from reading any part of the Bible, either in Latin or English."
She took the Great Seal from Heath, but retained him in her Privy Council, along with twelve others who had served her sister, and to them she added eight new members, her Lord Keeper being Sir Nicholas Bacon. Her sister's bishops had resolved not to crown her; but Oglethorpe, of Carlisle, broke the compact, and went through the ceremony of corona tion and anointing, other bishops being also present, to one of whom Bonner had lent his episcopal robes.
Though no direct encouragement might thus be drawn by non-catholics from the queen's demeanour, the more intelligent and enterprising of her subjects hoped for an open and uncon trolled circulation of the Scriptures, and they were not dis appointed. Elizabeth's conduct, however, must have greatly perplexed many observers, for in religion she was, and continued to be, somewhat of an enigma ; and what her relation to the English Bible might ultimately be was vailed in uncertainty. There were omens both of promise and of discouragement. On Wotton's refusal, the chair of Canterbury was said, at the time, to have been offered to Feckenham, Abbot of Westminster, who had been chaplain to Bishop Bonner. Mass was sung by the queen's desire, not only at the funeral of her sister and that of Cardinal Pole, but Convocation was opened with high mass, in 1559, and it was said in the churches from November, 1558, to June, 1559. Negotiations for an alliance between her and Rome were in progress, but they were frowned upon by Pope Paul IV, who formally excommunicated her in April, 1570. She attended mass herself, but forbade the elevation of the host. She would not admit a papal nuncio, for she detested
64 THE ENGLISH BIBLE. [CHAP.
the Romish domination, though she had little or no sympathy with the theology of Protestantism. In the royal chapel a crucifix stood for a considerable period on the altar, with lights burning before it.1 Jewel denounced " the idol," and Parkhurst sent to Bullinger the good news of its demolition. Her father had taken the title of Supreme Head of the Church, but she was content with that of Supreme Governor. In 1560 she assured De Quadra that she was as good a catholic as he was, and that she had been compelled to do as she did ; and yet, dur ing the course of the same year, she resolved to take Scotland under her protection, as "a Christian realm in the profession of Christ's true religion." She talked to Mendoza of reconsider ing her ecclesiastical position ; but she still held on her way, and took no penitent step toward reconciliation with the Holy Father. While she was coquetting with Spain and France, she enjoined on Randolph to certify to the Lords of the Congrega tion north of the Tweed, that, in her view, " no basis of amity between nations is so sure as that grounded on unity and consent in religion," though she had been greatly displeased with the Scottish Confession on its first publication in 1560. Professing at one time a desire to settle the succession to the crown of England in favour of the Queen of Scots, she made it a condition that Mary must accept the Reformation, and yet the ritual which she admired herself was more than semi- catholic, while she was using every effort to bind her own clergy to celibacy.2 Her eagerness for uniformity led to its enforcement in London, and to the exclusion, in consequence, of thirty-seven of its ministers. Other recusants were cruelly punished, and men like Penry, Thacker, Greenwood, and Bar row were executed. When Catholic Europe combined against
1 Jewel was so displeased that he thanking the primate, turned round said, "As Christ was (in Mary's time) to his wife — the wife of the first peer thrown out by his enemies, so he is of the realm — and said, " And you now kept out by his friends." — madam I may not call you, and
2 The story was current at the mistress I am ashamed to call you time that, after being sumptuously —but yet do I thank you." — Har- entertained by Archbishop Parker, riugton, Nugse Antiquse, vol. ii, p. the queen, at her departure, after 16.
xxxvni.] HER REGARD FOR SCRIPTURE. 65
her she rose to the occasion, as when the Armada filled the Channel in 1588; but when Protestants stood sadly in need of men and money, she sternly refused them. She treated her clergy with queenly scorn, silenced one bishop, and threatened to unfrock another. She haughtily interrupted Dean Nowell's discourse in St. Paul's, for she disliked his iconoclasm, and she detested the pulpit from her inability to control its utterances. But in spite of her Laodicean position toward the church of Cranmer which had been founded under her father, and under him had experienced many oscillations, she never imitated Henry in his treatment of the English Bible. The various versions in use were neither impeded nor patronized by her. She thought that the nation might flourish with few sermons and fewer presses; but she never attempted to limit the supply of Bibles ; nay, she commanded by proclamation the reading of the Gos pel, the Epistle for the day, and the Ten Commandments in the vulgar tongue. Though she kept several of the sees long vacant, and appropriated the revenues, she never meddled with the circulation and reading of the Divine volume in any diocese. The Court of High Commission and the Star Chamber were crowded with ecclesiastical causes, but the printers and pub lishers of the Scriptures were in no way molested. Imperious enactments were issued, mulcting those who would not attend church; but no such commands were twined round the English Bible. She often interfered with debates in Parliament, and used uncourteous language in her rebukes; and her royal assent was refused in one year to no less than forty-eight bills which had passed both houses ; but she kept aloof from the Bibles in circulation, and, in her own words, spoken on another point, she would not consent that they should be either " abled or disabled."
Grafton reprinted a tract, first published on the accession of Edward in 1547, "A Godly Invective in the defence of the gospel against such as murmur and do what they can that the Bible should not have free passage ; very necessary to be read of every faithful Christian. By Philip Gerrard, yeoman of King Edward's Chamber." Such a publication must have stirred up not a few to covet copies of the English Scriptures, and to be
VOL. II. E
66 THE ENGLISH BIBLE. [CHAP.
thankful for them if already they possessed them. The queen's proclamation had restored the Great Bible to its. rank of the authorized version. Tyndale's, Coverdale's, the Great Bible, and the Genevan were also in circulation, and if we reason from the number of impressions, Tyndale and the Genevan were by far the most popular. The Cranmer folio was first published in her majesty's reign in 1562, by Harrison; a quarto edition, printed by Cawood, having come out during the previous year. Jugge had also sent abroad two editions of the New Testament. " A very fine and pompous " edition of the Great Bible was also printed by Hamillon, at Rouen, in 1566, "at the cost and charges of Richard Carmarden, of the Customs." Grafton, who had been engaged in printing the Scriptures for nigh thirty years, issued an edition in one volume octavo — the first of that handy size. l These editions supplied the nation for six or seven years, so that there was little lack of choice ; but the Great Bible and the Genevan were brought into direct competition.
These translations differed on many minor points, but they contained the same disclosure of essential truths ; and they had all a close genetic relationship, the one arising out of the other, the version of Tyndale being the primal source, especially recog nizable after several revisions. Bishop Hooper, writing in 1554, from his prison, an " Appellatio ad Parliamentum," asserts the desirableness of a revision, and that he had discussed and urged the matter with pious and learned brethren, affirming, however, his ability to prove that the English Bible is nearer the Hebrew than the translation usually ascribed to Jerome.2 It was natural in such circumstances that there should be a desire for another version, which from its superiority might supersede all rivals. Parker had at the same time a passion for uniformity, and insisted on it without reserve or modification, being, as Fuller calls him, " a Parker indeed, careful to keep the fences."
1 The greater portion of this edi- that not a single copy is known to
tion, to the extent of 7,000 copies, is be in existence,
said to have been sent over to Ire- 2 Later "Writings, p. 393, Parker
land, and such was the good or bad Soc. ed. usage that these books met with,
xxxvin.] ARCHBISHOP PARKER. 67
He did not like men that were not, to use his own epithet, " disciplinable " men. But it was both right and natural in him to try and publish a Bible which might be accepted as the one Bible of the English people. The bishops and clergy could not but feel, if they were at all interested in critical study, that the Great Bible needed revision, and they could scarcely be expected to acquiesce in the Genevan version, though it had been made by Englishmen ; for in its origin they had no hand, and over its renderings and notes they had possessed no control. It was also becoming identified more and more with the freer and bolder party in the Church, who were not only Calvinists in theology, but were struggling against rigid and universal conformity. In fact, the Genevan was greatly the better translation of the two in use, and Cranmer's must have suffered from the contrast.
The originator of the proposal for another revision or trans lation is not mentioned — probably there had been various suggestions growing in number and importunity. Matthew Parker, seventieth Archbishop of Canterbury, was himself an excellent scholar, far in advance of his episcopal compeers and fond of Biblical studies. Born at Norwich in 1504, he was educated at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, of which he was elected a fellow, and then master in 1543; becoming vice- chancellor two years afterwards. He had declined a place in Wolsey's new college at Oxford, and was made Dean of Lincoln in 1552. He spent many academical years of earnest study, so that he possessed no small portion of patristic and antiquarian learning, as may foe seen in many of his works. The primate must have been well aware of the inferiority of the Great Bible, for it had been a work of haste, though it was the result of two revisions by one editor. Sandys, Bishop of Worcester, was also fully alive to the importance of the measure, and quite competent to advise upon it. In a letter to the Archbishop he declares, "Your grace should much benefit the Church in hasten ing forward the Bible which you have in hand : those that we have be not only false printed, but also give great offence to many by reason of the depravity in reading." But neither the queen, nor Convocation, nor Parliament uttered a voice in
68 THE ENGLISH BIBLE. [CHAP.
the matter. The Queen had so little to do with the enterprise that the Archbishop was in some hesitation about writing her as to the completion of the Bible ; and having composed a letter to her, he sent it to Cecil, and asked him to use his "opportunity of delivery." About 1563, the primate set about the new enterprise. Strype describes his method of procedure : l
"Among the noble designs of this archbishop must be reckoned his resolution to have the Holy Bible set forth, well translated into the vulgar tongue for private use as well as for the use of churches ; and to perform that which his predecessor, Arch bishop Cranmer, endeavoured so much to bring to pass, but could not (the bishops in his days being most of them utterly averse to any such thing), that is, that the bishops should join together and take their parts and portions in reviewing, amending, and setting forth the English translation of those holy books. This our present archbishop's thoughts ran much upon. And he had about this time distributed the Bible, divided into parts, to divers learned fellow-bishops, and to some other divines that were about him, who cheerfully undertook the work. As for the Bible commonly used, it was not only very ill printed, but the translation in many places bad, and such as gave offence ; and the translator had followed Munster, who was very negligent, and mistook sometimes the Hebrew, as Bishop Sandys observed. The archbishop took upon him the labour to contrive and set the whole work a-going in a proper method, by sorting out the whole Bible into parcels to able bishops and other learned men to peruse, and collate each the book or books allotted them. Sending withal his instructions for the method they should observe ; and they to add some short marginal notes for the illustration or cor rection of the text. And all these portions of the Bible 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 pub lishing the whole." 2
1 Strype's Life of Parker, p. 208, London, 1711.
2 Life of Parker, p. 207.
xxxvin.] HIS COADJUTORS. (59
The coadjutors of the archbishop were not all equally competent, for Guest (Gheast), the Bishop of Rochester, con fesses to some very peculiar convictions, which, if acted on, would have marred the integrity of the version. In reference to the Psalms, he says : l " I have not altered the translation, but where it gave occasion of an error. As at the first Psalrn at the beginning I turn the prseter-perfect tense into the present tense, because the sense is too harsh in the prseter- perfect tense. Where in the New Testament one piece of a Psalm is reported, I translate it in the Psalms according to the translation thereof in the New Testament, for the avoiding of the offence that may rise to the people upon divers translations." Sandys, in another letter, Feb. 6th, writes more precisely: "Ac cording to your grace's letter of instruction, I have perused the book you sent me, and with good diligence ; having also in conference with some other, considered of the same in such sort, I trust, as your grace will not mislike of. ... I have sent it up with my clerk, whose hand I used in writing forth the corrections and marginal notes. When it shall please your grace to set over the book to be reviewed by some one of your chaplains, my clerk shall attend a day or two, to make it plain unto him how my notes are to be placed. In mine opinion your grace shall do well to make the whole Bible to be diligently surveyed by some well learned before it be put to print, and also to have skilful and diligent correctors at the printing of it, ... which thing will require a time. Sed sat cito si sat bene." Bishop Cox, of Ely, who had no love for the men that made the Genevan version, expresses his deep interest in the project in a letter of May 3, 1566 : " I trust your grace is well forward with the Bible by this time. I perceive the greatest burden will lie upon your neck, touching care and travail. I would wish that such usual words as we English people be acquainted with might still remain in their form and sound, so far forth as the Hebrew will well bear ; ink-horn terms to be avoided. The translation of the verbs in the Psalms to be used uniformly in one tense."
1 Life of Parker, p. 208.
70 THE ENGLISH BIBLE. [CHAP.
The meaning of this last clause is not easily comprehended. Bishop Parkhurst, of Norwich, pledged himself " to travel therein with such diligence and expedition as he might." Davis, Bishop of St. David's, promised " to finish his part with as much speed as he could, bestowing upon the performance of the same all such time as he could spare." l On the 26th November, Parker also intimated the design to Cecil in the following terms : " I have distributed the Bible to divers men. I am desirous, if you could spare so much leisure either in morning or evening, we had one Epistle of St. Paul, St. Peter, or St. James perused by you, that ye may be one of the builders of this good work in Christ's Church." Another letter of the primate to Cecil, of date October 5th, 1568, encloses the short rules which the archbishop had laid down for the revisers — or, as he phrases it, "Observations respected of the translators." £ " First, to follow the common English translation used in the churches, and not to recede from it, but where it varieth manifestly from the Hebrew or Greek original." " Item — To use sections and divisions in the text as Pagnine in his translation useth, and for the verity of the Hebrew to follow the said Pagnine and Miinster specially, and generally others learned in the tongues." " Item — To make no bitter notes upon any text, or yet to set down any determination in places of controversy." " Item — To note such chapters and places as contain matter of genealogies, or other such places not edifying with some strike or note, that the reader may eschew them in his public reading." " Item — That all such words as sound in the old translation, to any offence of lightness or obscenity, be ex pressed with more convenient terms and phrases." Of the primate's coadjutors many were bishops, and this circum stance first gave its familiar name to the revision — the Bishops' Bible.
The actual workers cannot now be definitely named. The following is the list of the revisers of the several books inclosed
o
1 Strype's Life of Parker, p. 208.
2 Correspondence of Matthew Parker, D.D., p. 336, Parker Soc. ed.
xxxviii.] THE VARIOUS TRANSLATORS. 71
in a letter to Cecil, of 5th October, 1568, and still remaining with it in the State Paper office : —
The sum of the Scripture . N
The Tables of Christ's line . . . . /
The Argument of the Scriptures . x M. Cant. [Archbishop
The first Preface into the whole Bible ' Parker.]
The Preface into the Psalter
The Preface into the New Testament
-p , > M. Cant. [Archbishop Parker.]
i, 1, 2.)
Leviticus 1 Cantuarise. [Andrew Pierson, prebend of Canter-
Numerus j bury T\
Deuteronomium \ W. Exon. [Bishop Alley.]
Josuse . . \
Judicum . • ( -n TIT I-T->- i T^ • -i
>R. Meneven. Bishop Davies. Ruth '
Regum,
Regum, 3, 4. ")
•n v 10 r Ed. Wigorn. [Bishop Sandys.]
Parahpomenon, 1, 2. J J
Job . . "i Cantuarise. [Andrew Pierson, prebend of Canter-
Proverbia f bury 1]
Ecclesiastes ) Cantabrigia?. [Andrew Perne, Master of Peter-
Cantica . J House, and Dean of Ely.]
Ecclesiasticus \
Susanna . ( T T . r
• VJ. JNorwic. Bishop Parkhurst. Baruc ... I
Maccabeorum ' Esdras . . \
}-~W. Cicestren. [Bishop Barlow.] Tobias . . |
Sapientia . '
Esaias . . . ~\
Hieremias . . > R. Winton. [Bishop Home.]
Lamentationes 3
> J. Lich. and Covent. [Bishop Bentham.] Daniel J
Propheta? ) -TIT
f Ed. London. [Bishop Grindal. minores J
72 THE ENGLISH BIBLE. [CHAP.
Matthseus )
Marcus J Cant
Johannes } Ed> Peterb' CBish°P Scambler-]
Acta Apostolorum ") .
A i -r» /- Jti. Eliensis. Bishop Cox.]
Ad Romanos . . J
1 Epistola Corin. } D. Westmon. [Dr. Gabriel Goodman.]
2 Epistola Corin. -, Ad Galatas .
Ad Ephesios . Ad Phillippenses
Ad Collossenses . i T mi , }- M. Cant. [Archbishop Parker.]
Ad Timotheum . Ad Tituin . . Ad Philemon . Ad Hebrseos .
Epistolse Canonize ) XT T • n rT>. -, -& 1V •, -, I N. Lincoln. [Bishop Bullmgham.]
Apocalipsis j
But these names do not agree with the initials put at the end of some of the books, this notation being a suggestion of the archbishop, that the several revisers " might be the more diligent as answerable for their doings." But Lawrence, if he was a formal reviser, has no place marked by his initials, and the same initials stand at the end of Job and at the end of Proverbs. Still, as the archbishop suggested, "the letters of their names be partly affixed to their books." Some of the revisers may be made out by their initials as follows : —
The Pentateuch has W. E. (William Exoniensis), William Alley, Bishop of Exeter.
The next portion, up to the second book of Samuel, has R. M. (Ricardus Menevensis), Richard Davis, Bishop of St. Davids.
The third part, as far as second book of Chronicles, has E. W. (Edwin Wigornensis), Edwin Sandys.
The fourth portion, ending with Job, has A. P. C., Andrew Peerson, Prebendary of Canterbury.
XXXVIIT.] THE VERSION FINISHED. 73
The Psalms have T. B., probably Thomas Becon. This portion was first sent to Guest, Bishop of Rochester.
The Book of Proverbs is signed again A. P. C., supposed to be Andrew Peerson, Prebendary of Canterbury, the translator of the fourth portion.
The seventh portion, containing Ecclesiastes and Canticles, has A. P. E., Andrew Perne, Prebendary of Ely.
The eighth portion, ending with Lamentations, has R. W., Robert Home, Bishop of Winchester.
The ninth part, Ezekiel and Daniel, has T. C. L., Thomas Cole, Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry.
The tenth part, or minor prophets, has E. L., Edmund Grin- dal, Bishop of London.
The Apocrypha, or eleventh portion, has J. N., John Park- hurst, Bishop of Norwich.
The Gospels and Acts have R. E., Richard Cox, Bishop of Ely.
The Epistle to the Romans has R. E., which, according to Strype, should be E. R., Edmund Guest, Bishop of Rochester.
The First Epistle to the Corinthians has G. G., Gabriel Good man, Dean of Westminster.
The remaining books of the New Testament have no ap pended initials.1
After a period of preparation extending to about four years, the archbishop, on 5th October, tells Cecil that the Bible is finished, and that he had thought of offering in person to the queen's highness "the first fruits of our labours in the re cognizing the Bible," but, as his health would not allow him to " adventure," he asked the Secretary to present a copy to the queen, "bound as ye see." In a letter to her majesty of the same date his grace says — "Pleaseth it your highness to accept in good part the endeavour and diligence of some of us your chaplains, my brethren the bishops, with other certain learned men, in this new edition of the Bible. I trust by com parison of divers translations put forth in your realm, will
1 Parker Correspondence, Parker Soc. ed., p. 334.
74 THE ENGLISH BIBLE. [CHAP.
appear as well the workmanship of the printer, as the circum spection of all such as have travailed in the recognition. Among divers observations which have been regarded in this recognition, one was, not to make it vary much from that translation which was commonly used by public order, except where either the verity of the Hebrew and Greek moved alteration, or where the text was, by some negligence, mutilated from the original. So that I trust your loving sub jects shall see good cause in your majesty's days to thank God and to rejoice, to see this high treasure of His holy word so set out as may be proved (so far forth as man's mortal knowledge can attain to, or as far forth as God hath hitherto revealed) to be faithfully handled in the vulgar tongue; beseeching your highness that it may have your gracious favour, licence, and protection, to be communicated abroad, as well for that in many churches they want their books, and have long time looked for this, as for that in certain places be publicly used some translations which have not been laboured in your realm, having inspersed diverse prejudicial notes, which might have been also well spared. I have been bold in the furniture with few words to express the incomparable value of this treasure."
The Bible so disparaged is the Genevan version and its famous notes ; and the queen is earnestly appealed to that she might authorize the revision. In the same letter to Cecil, already referred to, the primate speaks on some technical points and matters of business : —
"It may be that in so long a work things have scaped, which may be lawful to every man, cum bona venia, to amend when they find them; non omnia possumus omnes. The printer hath honestly done his diligence; if your honour would obtain of the Queen's Highness that this edition might be licensed and only commended in public reading in churches, to draw to one uniformity, it were no great cost to the most parishes, and a relief to him for his great charges sustained.1 The psalters might remain in quires, as
1 In a "note" he adds, " The printer hath bestowed his thickest paper on the New Testament, because it shall be most occupied."
xxxviri.] PARKER EDITOR AND JUGGE PRINTER. 75
they be much multiplied, but where of their own accord they would use this translation. Sir, I pray your honour be a mean that Jugge only may have the preferment of this edition ; for if any other should lurch him to steal from him these copies, he were a great loser in this first thing. And, sir, without doubt he hath well deserved to be pre ferred ; a man would not think that he had devoured so much pain as he hath sustained."
It is pleasant to note that Parker was to his death on affectionate terms with his fellow-workers, and that he re membered some of them in his will. He bequeathed to Edmund Grindal, Archbishop of York, a gold ring with a round sapphire ; to Edwin Sandys, Bishop of London, his staff of Indian cane, with silver gilt at the end; to Robert Home, Bishop of Winchester, a gold ring with a turquoise ; to Richard Cox, Bishop of Ely, his staff of Indian cane, with a horologe on the top ; to Nicholas Bullingham, Bishop of Worcester, his white horse, called Hackengton, with the saddle, and bridle, and a new footcloth of velvet ; to Andrew Pearson, B.D., a silver cup with a cover gilt, given to him by the queen on the feast of the circumcision.1
1 Coopers' Athense Cantabrigieu- January, 1561-2, proposed a new ses, vol. I, p. 332. In the same translation of the Bible, and re- volume it is stated that Bishop Cox, peated the proposal in another in writing to Cecil on the 10th of letterof 3rd May, 1564. Do., p. 440.
CHAPTER XXXIX.
Bible was published in folio with the simple title : " The Holie Bible, containing the Old Testament and the New: The New Testament of our Saviour Jesus Christ. 1568. Richard Jugge. Cum Privilegio Regiee Majestatis."
Jugge presents his " mark " — the pelican feeding her young with her own blood, with a Latin couplet explaining the symbol. The archbishop's own copy is in the Library of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. On the title-page, in an oval, is a half- length portrait of the queen, with the ball and sceptre in her hand; above her the arms of France and England quartered within the garter, and over them the helmet and crest. On the one side is the symbol of Ireland, and on the other that of Wales, while Charity and Faith are delineated on the margin of the picture. At the bottom of the page, on a scroll guarded by the lion and dragon, are the words, "Non me pudet Evangelii Christi. Virtus enim Dei est ad salutem omni credenti. Rom. i." At the beginning of Joshua is an engraving, in an oval, of the Earl of Leicester in armour, and his coat of arms is in the initial A of the word " AFTER." On the front of the Psalms is a plate of Lord Burleigh, holding in his left hand an open Hebrew book; and the initial D (David) of the Preface has in it his coat of arms, and also the B of the word " Blessed " in the first psalm. Parker's preface is in Roman, and Cranmer's prologue is in Gothic letters, the initial letter C of his name containing his coat of arms. There is also at Leviticus xviii -a double table of degrees of " kinred, affinitie, or aliaunce which let matrimonise." The archbishop's paternal arms are found impaled with those of Christ Church Canterbury, in a
THE ARCHBISHOP'S PREFACE. 77
large initial T at the genealogical table in the Old Testament and at the preface to the New. There are many engravings. Otherwise the volume is marked by a severe simplicity, and there is no dedication.1 Parker's preface inculcates the duty and privilege of reading the Scriptures, which are meant for all. The need of the present revision is also dwelt on. " And for that the copies thereof be so wasted, that very many churches do want their convenient Bybles, it was thought good to some well-disposed men, to recognize 2 the same Byble againe into this fourme as it is no we come out, with some further diligence in the printing, and with more light added, partly in the translation, and partly in the order of the text ; not as condemning the former translation, whiche was folowed mostly of any other translation, excepting the original! text, from whiche as litle variaunce was made as was thought meete to such as take paynes therin : desiring thee, good reader, if ought be escaped, eyther by such as had the expending of the bookes, or by the oversight of the printer, to correct the same in the spirite of Charitie, calling to remembrance what diver- sitie hath been scene in men's judgementes in the translation of these bookes before these dayes, though all directed their labours to the glory of God, to the edification of the Church, to the comfort of their Christian brethren, and always as God dyd further open unto them, so ever more desirous they were to refourme their former humane oversightes, rather then in a stubborne wylfuhiesse to resist the gyft of the holy Ghost, who from tyme to tyme is resident as that heavenly teacher and leader into all truth, by whose direction the Church is ruled and governed." The misinterpretations of some Catholic writers are exposed, especially one which, in Rom. vi, 13, changed " sanctification " into " satisfaction." The saying of St. Augustine is quoted, " that divers translations many times have made the harder and darker sentences the more open and plain ;" and Fisher, "once Bishop of Rochester," is also adduced as affirming that "many things have been more diligently
1 Jewel wrote to Bullinger, "The which I certainly am not displeased." queen will not endure the title of 2 It was the usual term then for Head of the Church of England, at " revise."
78 THE ENGLISH BIBLE. [CHAP.
discussed, and more clearly understanded by the writers of these latter days than in old times they were."
The division of verses adopted in the Genevan version is followed ; and, after its example too, some care was taken of the spelling of proper names. But there is really no proof of Offer's1 statement, that the New Testament of the Bishops' Bible is taken from a revision of Cheke's New Testament, published by Jugge in 1561. The Testament referred to by him is apparently an edition of Tyndale.2
One cannot surmise why the Queen should not have publicly acknowledged the appeal made to her by the Primate — why she should not have acted as her father had done to three transla tions, and given the version special recognition and sanction. Not even Parker's name graces the title-page, as Cranmer's had done in his Bible of 1540. Perhaps she had some regard for the Bible so often printed in her father's and brother's time, and for the memory of the primate who had at length died at the stake. At all events, no royal confirmation was given to the volume, and no license was issued, like that to John Bodleigh for the Genevan version. An edition of Cran mer's Bible was printed the same year as the first edition of the Bishops', and it bore upon it as usual, " according to the translation appointed to be read in churches"; but Parker's Bible never carried such a mandate during his lifetime. In the royal patents for printing the Bible, no version was singled out for preference, even though such patents were sanctioned by Archbishop Whitgift. Not till 1577 was an edition printed " set forth by authoritie " — that is, not royal, only episcopal authority ; but, as if to offer a counterpoise, a copy of the Genevan of the same year was presented to the "throned vestal," and the covers were embroidered by her own hand.
But Convocation naturally made special enactments in favour of the Bishops' version. In the " Constitutions and Canons " of 1571, it was ordered "that every archbishop and bishop should have at his house a copy of the Holy Bible of the largest volume, as lately printed in London, and that it should be placed in the
1 Offor MSS., II, British Museum, in his own collection, pp. 185-187.
2 Lea "Wilson's Catalogue of Bibles Cotton's Editions, &c., p. 32.
xxxix.] CRITICAL REMARKS BY LAWRENCE. 79
hall or large dining room, that it might be useful to their ser vants or to strangers" — the order applying also to each cathedral, and " so far as could be conveniently done, to all the churches." The English service was still very unwelcome to many of the conservative clergy and nobility, who regarded it as the life of the religious revolution by which so many intolerable changes were wrought round about them. The rebellion of the northern Earls in 15G9 had, according to their proclamation, for its object "to restore all ancient customs and liberties to God and this noble realm." The insurgents, filled with this spirit, entered Durham Cathedral with the old banner of the Pilgrimage borne before them, blazoned with the cross, the streamers, and the five wounds, and at once destroyed "the English Bibles," l — copies, in all probability, of the Great Bible.
In the Old Testament the Great Bible was chiefly followed ; many chapters exhibit few important variations, and numerous better renderings introduced by the Genevan version are ig nored, though not a few emendations are at the same time adopted from it. Canon Westcott says, " It is possible that I may have been unfortunate in the parts which I have exam ined (of the Old Testament), for what I saw did not encourage me to compare very much of the Bishops' text with the other versions." 2 Editions of the Aversion appeared in 1569, 1570, and 1571.
Strype has preserved some critical remarks on twenty-nine places of the New Testament of the Bishops' Bible, by Law rence — " a man, in those days, of great fame for his knowledge of the Greek," and probably one of the revisers of the Bishops' version, or suggesters of the second edition.3 Lawrence was probably the head-master of Shrewsbury School, and the in structor in Greek of Lady Cecil, who became a wonderful pro ficient in that language. The criticisms are certainly made on eome places in the New Testament of the first edition of the Bishops' Bible, for it alone of all the versions contains several of the clauses on which critical comments are given, though the majority of them are found also in the Great Bible, on
1 Froude's History, vol. IX, p. 315. 3 Life of Parker. Appendix, No.
2 History, p. 247, 2nd ed. Ixxxv, p. 139.
80 THE ENGLISH BIBLE. [CHAP.
which the Bishops' was principally based. In some instances the rendering of the Great Bible is simply restored. The verses selected for emendation are, with one exception, taken from the Synoptical Gospels, and his corrections were accepted in the revised edition of the Bishops', published in 1572 ; pro bably, therefore, the work of Lawrence was done with a view to this edition, and was intended to present a brief specimen of the necessity and nature of a good revision.
Lawrence's first section is headed "Wordes not aptlye trans lated in the New Testament." His proposed emendations are — Matt, xvii, 27, instead of "of the children," B. 1, "their children," G. B., " of their own children," adopted in the B. 2 and A. ; 2 but the best Greek reading will not warrant it. 27, instead of " cast an angle," G. B., B 1, " cast an hook," adopted in B 2. and A. xxi, 33, instead of " made a vineyard," B. 1 and G. B., " planted a vineyard," " amended " in the Genevan, adopted in B. 2 and A. 38, instead of " let us enjoy it," B 1, G. B., " let us take possession or seizyn," adopted virtually in B. 2 and A. ; " keep," however, would be more literal, xxii, 7, instead of " sente foorth his men of war," B. 1, G. B., " sent forth his armies," adopted in B. 2 and A. xxv, 20, instead of "five talents more," B. 1, G. B., "five talents besides," B. 2 and A. xxvi, 38, instead of " is heavy," B. 1, G. B., " is exceedinge heavie," adopted in B. 2 and A, as the adjective is a strong compound ; the Genevan having " very heavie." 42, instead of " he went awaie once again," B. 1, G. B., " he went away the second time," noting that " this is amended in the Genevan Bible," adopted in B. 2 and A. xxvii, 14, instead of " harm less," B. 1, G. B., "careless"; "this is not considered in the Genevan Bible " ; adopted in B. 2 and A. as " secure you," make you secure — that is, free from care, if judicial investiga tion should take place.
Mark i, 24, " let us alone," the clause not being in B. 1 and G. B., adopted in B. 2 and A. ; but the Greek reading that would warrant such a translation can scarcely be sustained. 45, instead of " to tell many things," B. 1, G. B. " openly to declare,"
2 B. 1, Bishops' first edition ; B. 2, Bishops' revised edition of 1572 ; G. B., Great Bible ; A., Authorized.
xxxix.] LA W&JSNCE'S CRITICISMS ON BISHOPS' BIBLE. 81
virtually B. 2 and A. ; but it is " not considered in the Genevan Bible." x, 19, instead of " thou shalte not kyll," B. 1, " kyll not," G. B., " doe not kyll," B. 2 and A., Beza being correct in those places, but the Genevan wrong; and the "Vulgate" being right in this verse, but wrong in rendering the same language in Luke xviii, 20. xii, 15, instead of "seeing," B. 1, "having understood their dissimulation," G. B., " he knowinge theire
7 3 O
hypocrisie," B. 2, but not A.
In Luke i, 3, 4, the translation of the Great Bible is really better than that which Lawrence suggests, and which is found in the Bishops', and virtually in the Authorized, " having per fect understanding of all things from the beginning," the Great Bible having "as soon as I had searched out diligently all things "- — the correct rendering being " having traced the course of all things accurately from the first " ; Lawrence is right in the last clause, " whereof thou hast been taught by mouth," adopted in the B. 2, but refused in A. vi, 44, in stead of " nor of bushes," B. 1, G. B., " nor of a bramble-bush," B. 2 and A. All those corrections suggested by Lawrence have been adopted in the Bishops', and, with one exception, are found also in the Authorized.
Lawrence's second section is headed " Worcles and pieces of sentences omytted." Some of the instances imply a different Greek reading, and in others the omission is the fault of the translator. He notices " yet " omitted in Matt, xv, 16, B. 1 and G. B., amended in the Genevan, found in B. 2 and A. xxii, 13, "take him up" "take" omitted in B. 1, not in G. B., but inserted in B. 2 and A. xxvi, 13, " whole," in the phrase " whole world," omitted in G. B., B 1 having " al the world," but given in B. 2 and A.
Mark xv, 3, " but he answered nothing," B. 1, G. B. ; the omission also in Beza, and therefore in the Genevan ; but in serted in B. 2 and A. after the margin of Stephens. The clause, however, has no authority, being taken from Matt, xxvii, 12, or Luke xxiii, 9.
Luke viii, 23, " of wind," in G. B.,not B. 1; inserted in B. 2 and A. In x, 22, Lawrence commends the insertion of " and turning to his disciples he said," G. B., not B. 1, but the clause was not
VOL. II. F
82 THE ENGLISH BIBLE. [CHAP.
adopted by B. 2 ; the Genevan admitted it, though it is not in the text of Beza ; but Stephens had adopted it. It had been rejected by Erasmus ; Tyndale and Coverdale also omit it ; and it is placed in the margin of the Authorized Version, with a note, xxii, 12, "great" is omitted, B. 1, the clause ought to be " a great upper chamber," the reading of Stephens and Beza, and the Genevan accepted in B. 2 and A. " A great parlour paved " is the rendering of Tyndale and Coverdale, and of the Great Bible of 1539 and 1540; the Genevan having "a great hie chamber trimmed." The last example is xxiv, 27, "he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures which were written of him/' B. 1, G. B., the rendering being liable to misinterpreta tion, and the sense being he "interpreted to them in all the Scriptures those things which were written of him," "well amended in the Genevan translation " ; accepted by B. 2, but more compact in A. — " he expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself."
Lawrence's third head is "Wordes superfluous," and his examples are, Mark xiii, 16, "Let hym that is in the fielde not turne backe againe unto the thinges whiche he lefte behinde him," B. 1, G. B., the proper rendering being briefer, " let him not turne backe," adopted by B. 2 and A. Luke xii, 24, "feathered fowles," B. 1, G. B. within brackets. Law rence asks " what needethe feathered ? " the epithet perhaps suggested by the "volucribus" of Erasmus; omitted in B. 2 and A.
The fourth section refers to " Sentences changed and error in doctrine." Luke ix, 45, "it was hidde from them, that they understoode it not," B. 1, G. B., should be " it was hidde from them that they should not understand it," rightly adopted in B. 2, but vailed in A., and it had been refused by the Genevan, though it quadrated with Genevan theology. Colos. ii, 13, "dead to synne, and to the uncircumcision of your flesh," B. 1, G. B. having " through . . . through " ; it should be " dead in synne " ; the necessary change was adopted in the subsequent versions.
The last section is " Modes and tenses changed, and places not well considered by Theodoras Beza and Erasmus, as I
xxxi x.] ERRORS IN THE GREAT BIBLE. 83
thynke." Matt, xxi, 3, "say ye," B. 1, G. B., should be "ye shall say," — Beza having "dicite," but Ipen-e is never of the imperative mood and Beza has "dicetis" in other places; the correction is adopted by B. 2 and A. Luke xvii, 8, for " eate thou and drynke thou," B. 1, G. B., "thou shalt eate and drynke," "for the sense it maketh no great matter, but in grammar it is an evident error." The future is in Coverdale's own version, but the imperative " eat thou " was put into the Great Bible after Tyndale, and it was taken also by the Gene van. This correction is followed by a long grammatical argu ment against Erasmus and Beza, who, misled by the form of the verbs, took them for first aorist imperatives. B. 2 and A. rightly adopt the future, though Beza had edito tu et bibito. These remarks are not all of primary importance, but they indicate scholarship, and have influenced our present Bibles. The modest critic adds: "It is more lyke that I should be deceived than either Erasmus or Beza. I wolde gladlye they were defended that I might see rnyhe own error. I take them to be decey ved, because I see reason and aucthoritie for me, and as yet none for them, but because they saye so, and yet brynge no proofe for them." Had Lawrence extended his remarks to the Great Bible, he might have corrected many blunders ; for in the Great Bible sometimes the translation does not bring out the full meaning of the original, sometimes it goes beyond it, and occasionally it is erroneous : as Luke ii, 13, "a multitude of heavenly soudyers"; xvi, 8, the word lord is spelled " Lord " with an initial capital, as if it re ferred to Jesus, and the clause were his eulogy of dishonesty; and " in their nation " of the same verse is a misrendering, as is xix, 23, "with vauntage"; John i, 1, "and God was the Word"; 3, "all things were made by it"; Acts viii, 23, "full of bitter gall"; 26, "which is in the desert"; xxvii, 9, "because also that they had overlong fasted"; 13, "loosed into Asson," making the adverb a proper name ; Bom. ix, 5, " which is God in all things to be praised"; xii, 11, "apply yourselves to the time." Many of those instances occur also in the earlier ver sions.1
1 See vol. I, pp. 142, 381, &c.
84 THE ENGLISH BIBLE. [CHAP.
The special edition of 1572 was revised in the New Tes tament, and in many places corrected and improved. It is printed on thick paper, and is a heavy and handsome folio. Of titles, portraits, and maps, it has only thirty engravings, and the initial letter of Jeremiah has in it a coat of arms. But it was disfigured by several peculiar ornaments, or ornamental initial letters, taken from Ovid's "Metamorphoses," such as Leda and the Swan at the Epistle to the Hebrews, with many others of a similar incongruous character. It has a double copy of the Psalms — one column in the page preserves the version of the Great Bible in black letter, and the other, or parallel column, the new version in Roman letter. The nature of the revision in the New Testament may be seen in the following collation of the Epistle to the Galatians. The revision is careful, and shows a decided desire and effort towards an exacter and more literal version. The New Testament of Tyndale is imbedded in the Great Bible, and shows itself in the first edition of the Bishops' ; but the revised edition of the Bishops', in its independent course, occasionally differs from it. Expletive words are placed in brackets; and honest scholarship is everywhere apparent.
FIRST EDITION, 1568. EEVISED EDITIOX, 1372.
CHAPTER I.
Verse 1 raised him up from death ; Great from the dead ; Genevan.
Bible, Tyndale. 9 than that ye have received. [that ye have].
10 If I should yet please men ; If I yet pleased men.
Genevan.
11 was not after men ; Genevan. is not after men. 13 howe that ; Genevan, Tyndale. [how] that.
15 called me. called [me].
17 neither returned ; Tyudale. went I up. which were apostles. which [were].
18 I returned to Jerusalem. I went up. 23 in time past ; Genevan, Great Bible, in times past.
Tyndale.
xxxjx.] COLLATION OF FIRST AND SECOND EDITIONS.
85
FIRST EDITION, 1568. EEVISED EDITION, 1572.
CHAPTER II.
Verse
2 I went up also ; Great Bible. I went up ; Genevan.
which were the chiefe ; Genevan. which were esteemed the chief.
6 in time passed ; Genevan, Great in times past.
Bible, Tyndale.
9 then James ; Great Bible, Tyndale. [then] James.
12 which were. [which were].
14 why causest thou ? Great Bible, why compellest thou ?
Tyndale.
16 and we have believed ; Great Bible, we have believed.
21 comme of the law ; Great Bible, [come]. Tyndale.
CHAPTER III.
1 described before the eyes ; Great was before described before the
Bible, Tyndale. eyes.
19 till the seed came ; Great Bible. should come.
CHAPTER IV.
12 be ye as I [am]. for I [am] as ye are.
25 which is nowe [called] Jerusalem. which [is] now [called]. 30 shall not be heir ; Great Bible, shall in no wise be heyre. Tyndale.
CHAPTER V.
8 not the perfection of hym that called this persuasion cometh not of him
you.
9 a little leaven doth leaven.
14 which is this ; Genevan, Great Bible.
20 zeal.
21 that they.
24 they truly that are ; Great Bible.
25 let us walk ; Great Bible, Tyndale.
that called you. leaveueth. [which is this].
emulations ; Genevan, that [even] Christes. that [are] have.
let us also walk in the Spirit ; Genevan.
CHAPTER VI. 1 be taken in any fault ; Great Bible, be prevented in any fault.
considering thyself, lest. 3 in his own faiisie. 8 into his flesh.
13 rejoice in your flesh ; Genevan,
Great Bible, Tyndale.
14 should rejoice, but in ; Great Bible,
Genevan, Tyndale.
considering thee selfe, lest.
in his own fantasy.
in his fleashe; Great Bible;Tyndale.
glory in your flesh.
should glory, but in the cross.
8G
THE ENGLISH BIBLE.
[CHAP.
The Historical Books of the Old Testament are not much changed, the revision is slight and superficial, and the words and phrases of the Great Bible are so continuously employed as almost to take independent character from the version. Thus in the first twenty verses of Genesis xxxvii, there are some twelve changes, none of any great importance, but nearly all of them bringing the English into closer uniformity with the Hebrew. The revisers were enjoined to follow Pagninus and Munster,* though the last was depreciated unjustly by Sandys, and they obeyed the injunction.
GREAT BIBLE. Verse 2 an euyll sayiuge of them.
7 and youres stode.
8 be our kynge in dede.
10 come to fall on the gronude before
thee.
1 1 hated him.5
1 2 kepe their fathers shepe.7
14 he went to. 19 this dreamer.10
20 a wycked beast.
BISHOPS'.
their evil report.1
and behold* your sheaves.
a king indeed on us* (over us, 1 572).
indeed come to bow to thee.*
envied6 him, Genevan.
his fathers cattel;8 and so in verses
14 and 16. came to.9 this notable dreamer ; marginal
note — Hebrew, maister of
dreames. some naughtie beast e.11
1 Malam famam eorum, Pagninus, Munster, Leo Judte.
2 Et ecce, Pagniuus.
3 Super nos, Paguinus, Munster, Leo Judas.
4 Und dich anbeten, Luther.
5 Virtually Leo Judas.
6 Invidebant, Vulgate.
7 Coverdale ("their fathers" of the Great Bible being correct) ; oves, Munster.
8 Grex, Leo Judse ; pecudes, Pagninus.
9 Veuit, Paguinus.
10 Somuiator ille, Pagniuus. 31 Bestia mala, Munster.
* It is one of the signs of those published in 1527 a Hebrew
changing times that Sebastian Dictionary, to which he prefixed
Minister, whose Latin translation an elaborate dedication to Fisher,,
is so cordially recommended by Bishop of Eochester, whom King
Archbishop Parker to his coadjutors, Henry VIII beheaded in 1535.
xxxix.]
COLLATION OF THREE VERSIONS.
Or take the Great Bible, the Genevan, and the Bishops' : —
GREAT BIBLE.
1 The hand of the Lord came1 vpon me, and caried me out in the sprete of the Lorde, and let me2 downe in a playne field that, lay fall of bones. 3
2 And he led me rounde about by them,
and beholde7 the botiess
EZEKIEL XXXVII. GENEVAN.
The hand of the Lord was 4 vpon me, and caried me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me downe in the middess of a fielde which was ful of bones.
And he led me round about by them, and be holde there were very
that lay vpon the fielde manie in the open 10 field,
were very many, and and, lo, they were verie
maruelous 9 drye also. drye.
3 Then12 sayde he vnto And 16 he said vnto me,
me: Thou™ sonneof man: thinkestu thou that these bones may Hue again, 13 I answered, 0 Lord God, thou knowest.
4 And he sayd vnto me: Propheciethou vpon19 these bones : and speake vnto them. Ye drye bones, heare the worde of the Lorde.
Sonne of man, can these bones liue ? And17 I answered, 0 Lord God, thou knowest.
Again he said vnto me, Prophecie vpon "° these bones, and say vnto them, 0 ye drye bones, hear the worde of the Lorde.
BISHOPS'.
The hande of the Lorde was vpon me, and caried nie out in the spirite of the Lorde, and set me downe in the midst of as plaine Jielde that was full of bones.
And he led me rounde about by them, and be holde, there were very many in the open fielde, and lo u (they were) very drye.
Then18 saide he vnto me : Thou sonne of man, thinkest thou these bones may liue againe : I answered, 0 Lorde God, thou knowest.
And he said vnto me, Prophecie thou vpon these bones, and speake vnto them : Ye drye bones, heare the worde of the Lorde. 2l
1 Kam, Luther, Ziirich.
2 Liess, Zurich.
3 Das lag vollergebeins, Ziirich.
4 Fuit, Pagninus.
s In medio, Vulgate.
6 In medio planiciei, Minister.
7 Sehe, Luther.
8 Des gebeynes, Ziirich.
9 Vast diirr, Zurich.
10 In superficie agri, Pagninus.
11 Ecce, Pagninus, Minister. This inter jection is expressed in the Hebrew twice.
12 Do, rendered then by Coverdale.
13 Du, Luther. 14Putasne, Vulgate. 15Wieder, Ziirich.
16 Et, Vulgate and Latin versions.
17 Et, Munster, Pag ninus.
18 Turn, Leo Judte — the verse corresponds with the Great Bible.
1!) liber, Ziirich, Cov erdale.
20 Super, Pagninus and Miinster, after the Heb rew.
21 After the Great Bible.
THE ENGLISH BIBLE.
[CHAP.
EZEK1EL XXXVII— CONTINUED.
GREAT BIBLE.
5 Thus sayth the Lord God vnto these bones, Behold 1 will put breath into you, that1 ye may lyue:
6 I will geue you sin- owes, 4 and make fleshe to growevponyou,5 andcouer you ouer with skynne ; and so geue you breath, that 6 ye may lyue, and knowe that I am the Lord God.
7. So 10 1 prophecied, as lie commanded11 me, and as I was prophecying ther came a noyse and a great mocion so that the bones came euerye one to an other. 12
8 Now when I had loked, behold19 they had sinowes, and fleshe grewe vpon theym : and aboue 20 they were couered with skynne, but there was no breath in theym.
GENEVAN.
Thus saith the Lord God vnto these bones, Beholde / wil cause 2 breath to entre into you and ye shal Hue.
And I wil lay sinewes vpon7 you, and make flesh growe vpon you, and couer you with skin, and put breath in you, that ye may liue, and ye shal 8 knowe that I am the Lord.
So I prophecied as I was 13 commanded: and as I prophecied, there was a noise 14 and beholde there was15 a shaking and the bones came 16 together, bone to his bone.17
And when I behelde, lo, the sinewes, and the fleshe grewe vpon them, and aboue the skin couered them, but there was no breath in them.
BISHOPS'.
Thus saith the Lorde God vnto these bones : Beholde, I wyll cause breath to enter into you that ye may lyue. 3
I wyll geue you si nowes, and make fleshe growe vpon you, and couer you ouer with skinne, and so geue you breath, that ye may liue, and knowe that I am the Lorde. 9
So I prophecied as J was18 commanded: and as I was prophecying there was a noyse, and also a great motion so that the bones came neare together, bone to his bone.
Now when I had loked, behold they had sinowes, and fleshe grewe vpon them, and above they were couered with skin, but there was no breath in them. 21
1 Das, Luther, Zurich, Coverdale.
2 Introire facio — Pag- ninus ; the Hebrew verb being in the Hiphil con jugation.
3 After the Great Bible and the Genevan.
4 Nervos, Vulgate.
5 Increscere faciam car- nes, Vulgate.
6 Das, Luther and Zu rich.
7 Super vos, Vulgate, Miinster.
8 Und sollt erfahren, Luther.
9 After the Great Bible.
10 Do, Zurich.
11 Sicutprseceperatmihi, Vulgate.
12 Zu dem andern, Zil- rich.
13 Jussus fui, Pagninus, M iinster,
14 Sonus, Leo Judse.
15 Et ecce strepitus, Miinster ; et ecce com- motio, Pagninus.
16 Accesserunt.
17 Os scilicet ad os suum, Miinster.
18 After the Genevan.
19 Ecce, Pagninus.
20 Desuper, do.
21 After the Great Bible.
xxxix.] COLLATION CONTINUED— OLD TESTAMENT.
89
EZEKIEL XXXVII— CONTINUED.
GREAT BIBLE.
9 Then sayd hee vnto mee, Thou sonne of man, prophesye thus towarde i the wynde : prophesye and speake to the wynde : Thus saith the Lord God, Come (0 thou ayre) from the foure wyudes, and blowe vpon these slayne that they may be restored to lyfe.'2
10 So I prophecied as he had commaunded me: then6 came the breth vnto theym, and they receaued lyfe, and stode op vpon their fete, a mar- udous great7 sorte.
GENEVAN.
Then said he vnto me, Prophecie vnto the winde : prophecie, sonne of man, and say to the winde, Thus saith the Lord God, 3 Come from the foure windes, O breath, and breathe vpon these slaine, that 4 they may liue.
So I pgophecied as he had commanded me : and the breath came into them, and they liued, and stode op vpon their fete, an exccding 8 great armie.
BISHOPS'.
Then said he vnto me : Thou sonne of man, pro phecie thou towarde the winde, prophecie and speake to the winde, thus saith the Lord God : Come, 0 thou ayre,5 from the foure windes, and blowe vpon these slaine that they may lyue.
So I prophecied as he had commaunded me : then came the breath into them ; and they re ceaued lyfe, and stoode vp vpon their feete, a marueilous great armie. 9
The Apocrypha is scarcely revised at all, and neglecting the Genevan, it reverts mainly to the Great Bible which is usually followed, and which rests on the Latin text. The prayer of Manasses is restored to the place which it occupied between the story of Bel and the Dragon and the First Book of Maccabees.
GREAT BIBLE. 1. In those dayes came John ye Baptist, preach ing 10 in the wilderness of Jewrie, saying,11
MATTHEW III. GENEVAN.
A HcZ12 in those dayes John the Baptiste came and 2)reached13 in the wilder ness of Judea.
BISHOPS'.
In those dayes came 14 John the Baptist preach ing in the wyldernesse of Jurie.
1 Gegen, Ziirich, Cover- dale.
2 Reviviscant, Vulgate; wieder lebendig, Luther, Coverdale.
3 Order as in the Vul gate.
4 Das, Luther ; ut, Minister and Leo Judas.
5 Lufft, Luther, and Coverdale.
6 Do, Ziirich.
7 Traffentliche grosse Menge, Ziirich.
8 Exercitus grandis valde valde — Pagninus ; an attempt to reproduce the Hebrew duplication of the adverb.
9 After the Great Bible.
10 Predicans, Vulgate.
11 Dicens, Vulgate and Erasmus.
12 Autem, Vulgate, Beza.
13 Tyndale, Coverdale; und predigte, Luther and the Zurich.
14 All the versions mis- render the present — " came " instead of " cometh."
90
THE ENGLISH BIBLE.
[CHAP.
MATTHEW III— CONTINUED.
GREAT BIBLE.
2 Repent of the life1 that is past, for the king- dome of Heaven is at hand.
3 For this is he of whom4 the prophet Esaie spake, which saith,5 The voice of a cryer6 in the wilderness, prepare ye the waye of the Lorde : and make his patlies straight.
4 This11 John had his raiment of cammels hetire. And a girdell of a skinne about hys loynes. His meate was locustes and wilde hony.
GENEVAN.
And said, Repent? for the kingdome of heaven is at hand.
For7 this is he of whome it is spoken 8 by the Pro phet Esaias, saying,9 The voyce of him that cryeth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord : make his paths straight.
And12 this John had his garment of camels heere, and a girdle of a skin about hys loynes : his meat was also 13 locustes and wilde home.
BISHOPS'.
And saying, Eepent ye,3 for the kingdome of heaven is at hand.
For this is he that was spoken of by the prophete Esaias, saying, the voyce of one crying in the wyl- dernesse, Prepare ye the way of the Lorde, make ye his patlies straight. 10
This John had his ray- ment of camels heare, and a letherne girdle1* about his loines,15 his meate was locustes and wild honey.
5 Then went out to Then went out to him Then went out to him him Jerusalem and all Jerusalem and allJudea, 17 Hierusalem, and all Jewrie, and all the region and all the region rouude Jurie, and al the region rounde about Jordan. 1(J about Jordan. rounde about Jordane.
6 And were baptized And they were baptized And were baptised of of him in Jordane, con- of him in Jordan, confess- him in Jordane, con fessing their shines.18 ing their sinnes. fessing their sinnes.
7 But19 when he saw many of the Pharises and Saduces come to his bap-
No w when he sawe many of the Pharises and of the Sadduces come to his bap-
But when he sawe many of the Pharisees and Saducees comme to
1 Vitse prioris, Erasmus.
2 Resipiscite, Beza.
3 The pronoun " ye " not in the two previous versions, but inserted in the Authorized Ver sion.
4 De quo dixit, Eras mus.
5 Qui ait, Erasmus.
6 Tyndale, Coverdale.
7 Nam, Beza.
8 De quo dictum, Beza, Leo Judse. » Dicentem, Vulgate.
10 Repeated verbatim in the Authorized Version — the variation from the previous versions being an improvement.
11 Ipse vero, Erasmus. 12Ipse vero, Beza.
is Alimentum autem ejus, Beza.
14 Luther and Zurich; kept in the Authorized Version.
15 All these versions omit the connecting par ticle " and " (Si).
16 Tyndale throughout.
17 Tota Judaea, Beza.
18 Tyndale.
19 Autem, Vulgate; als nun, Luther and Zu rich.
xxxix.] COLLATION CONTINUED— NEW TESTAMENT.
91
MATTHEW III— CONTINUED.
GREAT BIBLE. tisme, hee said unto them. O generacion of vipers, who hath taught1 you to flee from the vengeance to come.
8 Bring forthe there fore the fruites that be long to repentance.
9 And be 7 not of such minde that ye would say within your selves : we have Abraham to our father. For I say unto you that God is able to bring3 to passe, that of these stones there shall 9 rise up children unto Abraham.
10 Even 13 now is the axe also put unto the roote of the trees: so that14 every tre which bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewen downe and cast into the fyre.
11 I baptize you with water unto repentance :
GENEVAN*.
tisme, he said unto them, 0 generations 2 of vipers, who hathe foreivarned3 you to flee from the angre to come.
Bring forthe therefore fruites worthy amend ment4 of life.5
And10 thinke not to say ivith11 your selves, We have Abraham to our father : for I say unto you that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
And now also15 is the axe put to the roote of the trees: therefore15 everie tre which bringeth not forthe goodfruite is hewen downe and cast into the fyre.
Indeede 17 1 baptize you with water to amendment
BISHOPS'.
his baptisme, he said unto them, 0 generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the anger to comrue.
Bring foorth therefore fruites meete6 for repent ance.