These examples abundantly illustrate the nature of Taverner's work, and show that though, on the whole, scholarly, it is nevertheless unequal.*

Several extracts from this Version are given in the conspectus of passages at the end of the Volume.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE GREAT BIBLE.

NEITHER Coverdale's Bible nor Matthew's were, for reasons already sufficiently explained, altogether satisfactory to Cromwell, at whose instance and charge Coverdale undertook the production of a new edition of the Bible on more critical principles, and repaired, accompanied by Grafton, about Lent, 1538, to Paris to superintend as editor that undertaking, for the execution of which Paris was chosen on account of its superior paper and typography. Through Cromwell's influence a license was obtained from Francis I., authorizing Coverdale and Grafton to print and export to England the Latin and the English Bible with the important proviso that they should not print private or unlawful opinions (Dummodo quod sic imprimetis et excudetis sincere et pie, quantum in vobis erit, citra ullas privatas aut illegitimas opiniones impressum et excusum fuerit†), which the ecclesiastical authorities would

The Order of the Books in Taverner's version: Genesis ettes.-The Prophets: Isaiah.

The Balet of bal

Malachiah.-The Apocrypha: 3 Esdras. ... 2 Maccabees.-The New Testament: Four Gospels. Acts.-The Epistles: 13 of St. Paul, 1, 2 St. Peter, 1, 2, 3 St. John, Hebrews, St. James, St. Jude, Revelation.

↑ The license may be seen in Stripe's Cranmer, Appendix XXX.

not be slow in discovering. However, matters ran smoothly enough for seven or eight months, and Coverdale, who knew the tender mercies of the Romish fraternity, informed Cromwell in the same letter in which he apprized him of the satisfactory progress of the work (in which Regnault the French printer was associated with them) that "we be daily threatened, and look ever to be spoken withal." * Three months later he, Grafton, and Grey wrote:

Your work going forward, we thought it our most bounden duty to send unto your lordship certain leaves thereof, specially seeing we had so good occasion, by the returning of your beloved servant Sebastian [Cromwell's cook]. And as they are done, so will we send your lordship the residue from time to time.

As touching the manner and order that we keep in the same work, pleaseth your good lordship to be advertised, that the mark in the text signifieth, that upon the same, in the latter end of the book, there is some notable annotation, which we have written without any private opinion, only after the best interpreters of the Hebrews, for the more clearness of the text. This Qbetokeneth, that upon the same text there is a diversity of reading among the Hebrews, Chaldees, and Greeks, and Latinists; as in a table at the end of the book shall be declared. This mark * sheweth that the sentence written in small letters is not in the Hebrew or Chaldee, but in the Latin, and seldom in the Greek; and that we nevertheless would not have it extinct, but highly accept it, for the more explanation of the text. This token † in the Old Testament, giveth to understand, that the same text which followeth it, is also alleged of Christ, or of some Apostle in the New Testament. This, among other our necessary labours, is the way that we take in this work; trusting verily, that as God Almighty moved your lordship to set us unto it, so shall it be to his glory, and right welcome to all them that love to serve Him and their prince in true faithful obedience: as is only known to the Lord of heaven, to whom we most heartily pray for your lordship's preservation. At Paris, the 9th day of August. 1538, by your faithful orators.

On the 12th of September they state that the work of the Bible goeth well forward, and within few months will draw to an end, by the grace of Almighty God."

State Papers, Cromwell Corr., vol. i., No. 109.

Gardiner, bishop of Winchester, had been replaced at this time by Bonner, when still archdeacon of Leicester, as ambassador to France, and as he seems to have been promoted to the episcopate through the influence of Cromwell, it is not difficult to understand why he befriended Coverdale and Grafton, inviting them to dinner and supper, and visiting the "imprinters' house" to partake of "such dinners as the English had, and that to his cost, which, as it seems, he little weighed " (Foxe, ii. 434).

When in December (1538) Coverdale and his associates heard it muttered that an inimical movement was preparing against them, they availed themselves of Bonner's aid to send another portion of the printed sheets to Cromwell "to the intent that if these men proceed in their cruelness against us, and confiscate the rest, yet this at least may be safe by the means of your lordship" (Letters iii., iv., v., vi., vii. to Cromwell, printed in Parker's Society's ed. of Coverdale's Remains, pp. 492-97). The dreaded thunderbolt was launched four days later (Dec. 17th) in the shape of an edict of the inquisitor general, issued through Le Tellier, the scribe of the Holy Office, stopping the progress of the work, ordering the printed sheets on hand to be seized, and requiring the printers to appear before his court. Coverdale and his associates thereupon sought safety in flight, and left behind them the printed copies, presses, type, etc. The former were condemned to be

"burned in the place Maubert," but as the officers of the inquisition were not loath to condone the offence, for a pe1 cuniary consideration, a convenient haberdasher was found who purchased them as waste paper "to lay caps in," and in that way "four great dry-vats full" were bought up and saved, and along with the presses, types, and workmen removed to England, where the work was speedily resumed and completed; and in April, 1539, this Bible, on account of its large size called the Great Bible, was published. A copy of this

first edition, a large folio, printed in black letter, on vellum, is now in the library of St. John's College, Cambridge. It bears this title: The Byble in Englyshe, that is to saye the content of all the holy Scripture bothe of ye olde and newe testament, truly translated after the veryte of the Hebrue and Greke textes, by ye dylygent studye of dyuerse excellent learned men, expert in the forsayde tongues.-Prynted by Rychard Grafton & Edward Whitchurch-Cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum.—1539.

A very elaborate border, alleged to have been designed by Hans Holbein, encloses this title. From a fullsize copperplate engraving made in 1818, and two fac-simile cuts reduced, before me, is furnished this description: Its actual dimensions of engraved space are 13"X9". In the highest central space appears in clouds the Saviour with outstretched arms and hands pointing to ecclesiastical groups of descending tableaux on his right, and to a similar series of secular groups on his left; two labels proceed from his mouth, that on his right inscribed with: Verbum quod egredietur de me non revertetur ad me vacuum, sed faciet quæcumque volui, Esa. lv.;1 and that on his left, with: Inveni virum juxta cor meum qui faciet omnes voluntates meas, Acts xiii. This label extends to the king kneeling, bareheaded, his crown on the ground, and his hands extended, with a label proceeding from his mouth inscribed: Lucerna pedibus meis verbum tuum, Psal. cxviij. In the centre, immediately under the Saviour, the king appears again, on his throne, crowned, and the insignia of the garter at his feet. On his right are six clerics, two of them bishops (Cranmer being one of them), their mitres on the ground; on his left six laics (Cromwell

3

2

1 Is. lv. 18, "My word that goeth forth from my mouth, shall not return unto me void, but shall accomplish that which I please."

2 Acts xiii. 22, "I have found a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will."

3 Ps. cix. 105, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet."

being one of them), several lords temporal; the king hands to the front personage in each group a clasped volume, inscribed Verbum Dei, which is received by both with bended knee. Three scrolls proceed from his mouth, the largest inscribed: A me constitutum est decretum, ut in universo imperio el regno meo homines tremiscant et paveant Deum viventem, Danie. vi.; the one going to the clerics: Hæc præcipe et doce, Tim. iiij.; and that to the laics: Quod justum est judicate.-Ita parvum audietis ut magnum, Deut. i. Underneath the receiving group of clerics, stands Cranmer, attended by a chaplain, in pontificals, with his coat of arms at his feet, handing the clasped volume inscribed Verbum Dei, to a cleric kneeling, the scroll proceeding from the archbishop reading: Pascite, qui in vobis est, gregem Christi. Prima Pe. v.; while in the corresponding compartment on the secular side, appears Cromwell in state attire, with his cap on and his coat of arms at his feet, holding in his right hand a roll of paper, and delivering with his left the clasped volume, inscribed Verbum Dei, to a nobleman, while a scroll over his head has the legend: Diuerte a malo et fac bonum, inquire pacem et persequere eam, Psalmo. xxxiij.8 The lowest tableau, filling the entire breadth of the page, is occupied by a preacher in his pulpit at the left end of the page, addressing a large congregation of both sexes, and all estates, ages, and conditions of men extending to the right side, exhibiting prisoners looking through the grated windows, all depicted with gestures of grateful joy. The scroll, issuing from the preacher's mouth, is inscribed: Obsecro igitur primum omnium fieri ob

4 Dan. vi. 26, "I have made a decree that throughout my realm and kingdom men tremble and fear before the living God."

5 1 Tim. iv. 11, "These things enjoin and teach."

6 Deut. i. 16, 17, "Judge righteous judgment.-Ye shall hear the small as well as the great."

7 1 Pet. v. 2, "Feed the flock of Christ which is among you."

8 Psalm xxxiv. 14, "Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace and ensue it."