PUBLIC LIBRARY100452 ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS. 1898. LONDON: J. RIDER, PRINTER, 14. Bartholomew Close. PREFACE. THE life of one of our early Reformers, a man, celebrated as being the first who translated the whole Bible into our mother tongue, and who is not less to be admired for his piety and learning, than for his many excellent qualities of heart and mind, cannot, it is conceived, prove altogether uninteresting; particularly as the incidents of his eventful career are intimately connected with that remarkable period of our history, the æra of the Reformation. A reprint of this important translation of the Bible, which was brought out in the year 1535, is now in the press, and will be published on the day of the Queen's Coronation. The valuable copy of the first edition used by the printer, was from the rich and extensive library at Kensington Palace. The loan was granted to the Publisher by the royal owner in the same liberal and gracious manner in which every request is met that has for its object the diffusion of knowledge, and the advancement of literature. This Bible of CoVERDALE and the reprinted Testament of TYNDAL are two of the most valuable and curious works, that modern enterprise has ever ventured to offer to the notice of the public. It was on searching for particulars of Coverdale's life, that the total absence of any thing like a satisfactory or consistent account of him, first suggested to the author the idea of the present work; and he was the more confirmed in this design, when he found how erroneous were the views generally entertained, respecting the measures adopted by King Henry the Eighth, with regard to the promulgation of the Scriptures in English. He has therefore tried to supply these wants by as complete a memoir of Coverdale, and as correct an account of the measures taken by the government of that period, to suppress or put forth the Bible, as the materials that existed would enable him to do. With regard to the list that he has given of Coverdale's works, contained in the Appendix, it is to be observed that, as must ever be the case with old and rare books, little opportunity has offered of verifying the existence of many of them; but the precaution has been adopted of citing the authority for each book, and the reader may therefore judge for himself, as to the degree of credit to be attached to each statement. Inner Temple, May, 1838. CONTENTS. The Birth-place of Coverdale not known.-Is educated at Cam- bridge, in the Monastery of the Augustins.-State of Learning at the University.-Commencement of Reformed Doctrines.- Cromwell, afterwards Earl of Essex, an early Patron of Cover- dale.-Dr. Barnes, the Master of the Augustin Priory, his Arrest.-Coverdale professes the New Tenets.-Recantation of one Topley, in which he states that Coverdale was the means of leading him into Heresy.-Coverdale therefore, for fear of Tyndal's New Testament published.--Prohibition of it by the Bishop of London.-Writings of Sir Thos. More against it. Halle's Account of the Burning of this Translation.-Cover- dale goes to Antwerp, and assists Tyndal in translating the Pentateuch.-Proceedings in England against Tyndal's New Testament and the Writings of the Reformers.-Severe Pro- PAGE PAGE Decision of the King in Council against the New Doctrines.-His Intention to have the Scripture translated, to give to his people, when he should see that they were fit to receive the same.- Latimer's Letter to the King, persuading him to grant the free use of the Bible to his Subjects.-Progress of the Reformation.— Resolution of the Convocation of the Clergy with regard to pro- Coverdale publishes his Translation of the whole Bible.- Dedica- tion to the King.-Uses topics most likely to have weight with Henry.-Finds fault with the ambition of the Pope.-Extols the Scripture.-Gives his reason for dedicating this Translation to the King. In judging of the Language and Topics of this Dedication, difference to be borne in mind, between the kingly office in those days and the present.-Prologue to the Reader.-Coverdale excuses his own insufficiency.-Explains the different Books in the Bible.-Exhorts the Reader to ap- proach the Scripture in a proper mind.-Date of this Bible, apparent inconsistency of that given at the end, with the com- Coverdale's Bible.-Whether put forth by the King's Authority or not.-Arguments for and against.-Apparently at one time had Matthew's Bible published.-Grafton's Letters to Lord Cromwel! |