English title-pages must be noticed. In the former it is said that the book is faithfully and truly translated out 'of Dutch [German] and Latin into English:' in the latter the sources of the version are left unnoticed, and it is said simply to be 'faithfully translated into English.' It is possible that the explanatory words taken in connexion with some further details in the original prologue may have been displeasing to the promoters of the edition, and that a new and less explicit title-page, &c. was substituted for the first. However this may have been, the statement itself, as will be seen afterwards, was literally true, and Coverdale describes clearly enough in the existing prologue the secondary character of his work'. Chap. ii. account of Coverdale indeed disclaims the originality which Coverdale's friends and detractors have alike assigned to him. And his work. it is in this that the true beauty and truth of his nature are seen. He distinctly acknowledges that he could but occupy for a time the place of another; nay he even looks to this as the best fruit of his labours that he should call out a worthier successor to displace himself. Though Scripture,' he writes, 'be not worthily 'ministered to thee [good reader] in this translation 'by reason of my rudeness; yet if thou be fervent in 'thy prayer, GOD shall not only send it thee in a 'better shape by the ministration of other that began 'it afore (Tyndale), but shall also move the hearts 'of them which as yet meddled not withal to take it 1 The supposition that the publication of the work was delayed by the fall of Q. Anne Boleyn is quite baseless. The substitution of the name of Q. Jane without any other alteration in the edition of 1537 is like that of the name of Edward VI. for Henry VIII. in the edition of 1550. The appropriateness of epi- Chap. ii. His motives. The good of many versions. 'in hand and to bestow the gift of their understanding 'thereon'.'... Yet in the meantime he saw that there was something for him to do. It was a noble end if he could secure that Holy Scripture should be 'set forth' (as he was able to obtain) 'with the Kynge's most gracious 'license.' And so plainly disclosing his motives he says...when I considered how great a pity it was that 'we should want it so long and called to my remem'brance the adversity of them which were not only of 'ripe knowledge, but would also with all their hearts 'have performed that they begun if they had not had 'impediment......these and other reasonable causes con'sidered I was more bold to take it in hand. And to 'help me herein I have had sundry translations not only in Latin but also of the Dutch (German) interpreters, 'whom because of their singular gifts and special dili'gence in the Bible I have been the more glad to follow 'for the most part, according as I was required. But to 'say the truth before GOD it was neither my labour nor 'desire to have this work put in my hand; nevertheless 'it grieved me that other nations should be more plen'teously provided for with the Scripture in their mother 'tongue than we therefore when I was instantly re'quired, though I could not do so well as I would, I thought it yet my duty to do my best and that with a good will'.' Some good indeed he did hope might permanently remain from his work. As the faithful and honest interpretation of one man it might serve as a kind of comment to another version. ...' Divers translations,' he writes, 'understand one 1 Coverdale's Remains, p. 30 (ed. 2 Remains, p. 12 (Prologue). Park. Soc.). 'another and that in the head articles and ground of our 'most blessed faith though they use sundry words. 'Therefore methink we have great occasion to give 'thanks unto GOD, that He hath opened unto His Church the gift of interpretation and of printing, and 'that there are now at this time so many which with 'such diligence and faithfulness interpret the Scripture 'to the honour of God and edifying of His people1... For the which cause according as I was desired I took 'the more upon me to set forth this special translation, 'not as a checker, not as a reprover or despiser of 'other men's translations (for among many as yet I 'have found none without occasion of great thanksgiving 'unto GOD) but lowly and faithfully have I followed 'mine interpreters, and that under correction, and though 'I have failed anywhere (as there is no man but he miss'eth in some things) love shall construe all to the best 'without any perverse judgment...If thou [reader] hast 'knowledge therefore to judge where any fault is made, 'I doubt not but thou wilt help to amend it, if love be 'joined with thy knowledge. Howbeit whereinsoever I 'can perceive by myself or by the information of other that I have failed (as it is no wonder) I shall now by 'the help of GOD overlook it better and amend it.' Chap. ii. lation dedicated to Henry VIII. The translation of Tyndale went forth to the world The transwithout any dedication or author's name. All that was personal was sunk in the grandeur of the message opened to Englishmen. But it could not be so with Coverdale's. His object was to bring about the open circulation of the Scriptures, and that could only be by securing the king's favour. To this end the work was dedicated to Henry VIII. in language which to us Chap. ii. A Latin- now is in many parts strangely painful, though it was not out of harmony with the taste and peculiar circumstances of the time'. ...I thought it my duty,' he says, 'and to belong 'to my allegiance when I had translated this Bible, not 'only to dedicate this translation unto your highness, 'but wholly to commit it unto the same; to the intent 'that if anything therein be translated amiss (for in 'many things we fail even when we think to be sure) 'it may stand in your grace's hands to correct it, to ' amend it, to improve it, yea and clean to reject it, if 'your godly wisdom shall think it necessary.' But even so the spirit of the humble and true scholar asserts itself. For he continues, 'And as I do with all humbleness submit mine understanding and my poor transla'tion unto the spirit of truth in your grace, so I make 'this protestation, having GOD to record in my conscience, 'that I have neither wrested nor altered so much as one 'word for the maintenance of any manner of sect, but 'have with a clear conscience purely and faithfully trans'lated this out of five sundry interpreters, having only 'the manifest truth of the Scripture before mine eyes?.... Still acting on the broad principle of 'becoming all Testament. 'things to all men,' Coverdale afterwards (1538) revised his New Testament according to the Latin and published it with the Vulgate in parallel columns. His great 1 The Dedication of the Autho- executed while Coverdale was in rised Version is even more painful Paris and disowned by him on the and less capable of excuse. It seems ground that 'as it was disagreeable strange that this should hold its 'to my former translation in Eng place in our Bibles while the noble 'lish, so was not the true copy of Preface is universally omitted. 'the Latin text observed' (Remains, p. 33). Accordingly he revised it, weeding out the faults that were 'in the Latin and English before' (id.), and printed a new edition in Paris in the same year which was 2 Remains, p. 1. 3 Of this Latin-English Testament there are three editions. The first was printed by Nycolson 1538 and dedicated to Henry VIII. This was object was to interpret the Latin itself to some who used published by Grafton and Whitchurch, and dedicated to Lord Crumwell. Nycolson however put forth another impression of his edition under the name of John Hollybushe (1538). It is probable that Coverdale simply left instructions with the printer as to how the work should be done, not foreseeing the difficulties which would arise, and that the printer engaged Hollybushe to superintend the work which Coverdale when he saw it disavowed. Coverdale's own Testament is an adaptation of his version to the Latin. Hollybushe's is a new version from the Latin on the basis of Coverdale's. Specimens are given in App. VL The titles of the two principal editions are the following: The newe testament both Latine and Englyshe ech correspondent to the other after the vulgare text, commonly called S. Ieroms. Faythfully translated by Myles Couerdale Anno MCCCCCXXXVIII...... Printed in Southwarke by James Nicolson. Set forth wyth the Kynges moost gracious licence. The new testament both in Latin and English after the vulgare texte : which is red in the churche. Translated and corrected by Myles Couerdale: and prynted in Paris by Fraun. ces Regnault. MCCCCCXXXVIII in Nouembre... Cum gratia et privilegio regis. Remains, p. 27. Chap. ii. |