Printer's Colophon at the end.

IMPRINTED AT LONDON.

In Fletestrete, at the Signe of the Sunne, ouer agaynste the Conduite, by Edwarde Whit

churche.,

M.D.LII.

Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum."

IN addition to the Bibles specified and described in the preceding pages, I will now beg to subjoin some account of the Bibles that have been printed in North Britain. As early, indeed, as the 19th of March, 1542-3, an Act was passed during the government of the Regent Arran, for making it lawful to read the Scriptures in the vulgar tongue*, notwithstanding the protest of the Bishop of Glasgow, who was then Chancellor of Scotland. There is, however, reason to believe, that this Act was restricted to "the having of the New Testament, in the vulgar tongue t." Yet at this epoch they had not the Scriptures in Scotland: and the zeal of the Regent induced him to apply to Sir Ralph Sadler, the English ambassador, "to write into England for some Bibles, in English ‡."

Whatever may have been the progress of the Reformation in Scotland, during the infancy of Mary Stuart, more than thirty years elapsed, before any bible was printed, within her Kingdom. There was printed, indeed, at Edinburgh, in 1568, by Thomas Bassandyne, “A Psalme

Crawford's Officers of State, App. N. ix; Keith's History, ch. iv.

+ Keith, p. 37.

‡ Ib. 38.

Buik," in the end whereof was found "ane lewd song, called, Welcome Fortunes." This buik gave great offence to the General Assembly, which met the same year, at that city; and which ordered the Printer to call in those buicks: but there is reason to believe, that the lewd song at the end of this buick, did not give such offence, as what appeared in the beginning of it, "The fall of the Romain's Kirk, naming our King and Soveraigne supreame head of the primitive Kirk.” At length appeared, in 1576, from the reprobated press of Bassandyne, the Scriptures, in the Genevan Translation, comprehending the Olde-Testament, the Apocrypha, and the Newe Testament. There is a Dedication to King James, in the Scotish language. There comes next, A brief Table of the Interpretation of the Propre Names, which are chiefly founde in the Olde Testament.' Then follows

Herbert's Typ. Antiq. v. 3. p. 1491. The Printer was not deterred, however, from printing a Pslme Buik, of a different kind. In 1575 he published "The CL. Psalmes of David, in English metre. With the Forme of Prayers, and Ministration of the Sacraments, &c. used in the Churche of Scotland. Whereunto besydes that was in the former bookes, are also added sundrie other Prayers, with a new and exact Kalender for xvi yeres next to come. Printed at Edinburgh, by Thomas Bassandine, dwelling at the Nether Bow. 1575. Cum Privilegio." This rare book is in Mr. Chalmers's Jibrary.

5

The

The Romane Calendare, compared with The Hebrew Calendare. To these Calendares are subjoined "Rules for understanding this double Calendare," by R[obert] Pont, a scientific Ecclesiastic, who, with the leave of the Kirk, was appointed a Lord of Session, and died on the 8th of May, 1608, aged 81. To the Calendares of Pont are annexed some verses "On the incomparable treasure of the Holy Scripturés:

Here is the spring where waters flowe

to quenche our heat of sinne;
Here is the tree where trueth doth grow,
to lead our lives therein;" &c. &c.

To the verses, and a prayer for the true use of the Holy Scriptures, follows "A description and successe of the Kinges of Juda, and Jerusalem; declaring when, and under what kinges every prophete lyved: and what notable thinges happened in their times, translated out of the Hebrew."

Now begins "The first Boke of Moses, called Genesis *."

From a slight collation of Bassandynes' edition of the Bible, with the Geneva edition of 1561, it is apparent, that they are the same in the text,

"This worde signifieth the beginning and generation

of the creatures.”

in the notes, in the marginal references, and the whole disposition of the several parts. The colophon of the Scotish edition is, "At Edinburgh: Printed by Thomas Bassandyne: M.D.LXXVI. Cum priuilegio." Notwithstanding the late reproof of the Assembly, for considering the Sovereign, as the head of the Kirk, the Printer embellished his titlepage with the royal arms; and cried out, GOD SAVE THE KING. This is a very handsome folio, printed with a sharp Roman letter; the Olde Testament, in 503 double pages; and the New Testament, in 125 double pages. Such, then, is Bassandyne's Bible, from the Geneva Translation and Edition *.

There is said to have been printed, in 1579, by Alexander Arbuthnett, the King's Printer, at the Kirk in the field, Edinburgh, the Bible, for the Use of Scotland, by the Commissioners of the Kirk t

In 1610, appeared Hart's Bible, which is also in folio; and which is praised by Watson, the Printer, as well printed . Here is the title‡.

Bassandyne's Bible is a very rare book; and is very seldom seen in sale catalogues, or found in libraries. It is in Mr. Chalmers's Collection.

+ Herbert's Typ. Antiq. 3 v. p. 1501. For this account Bishop Tanner's MSS. are quoted. It is also in folio, and is a still rarer book than Bassandyne's Bible.

In his curious account of the Scotish Printers.

page.