who, under various pretences, wished to keep it from the multitude, were only actuated by the desire of hiding their own evil practices, which they knew an examination into Scripture would expose.

Concerning this resolution of the convocation, Strype says, without however mentioning the date, that Cranmer was determined that a translation of the Bible should be published, and that the way he managed was this:-He took an old translation of the New Testament (Tyndal's) to begin with. This he divided into nine or ten parts, which he sent to the best learned of the bishops and others, desiring them to make a perfect correction of them, and when they had done so, to restore them to him at Lambeth by a certain time. One of these parts (the Acts of the Apostles) was, it seems, sent to Stokesly, bishop of London. When the day fixed was come, they all sent their portions to the archbishop, except Stokesly, and the archbishop sending to know why he had not sent in his part like the rest, Stokesly returned the following answer:-"I marvel what my lord of

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Canterbury meaneth, that thus abuseth the people, “in giving them liberty to read the Scriptures, which "doth nothing else but infect them with heresy. I "have bestowed never an hour upon my portion, nor

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0

never will; and therefore my lord shall have this “book again, for I will never be guilty of bringing "the common people into error." Mr. Lewis adds, "and here this good design stopped, as far as I can "learn, for the present.'

" P

? Transl. of Bible, p. 91.

It would appear that even some of the bishops, who were opposed to the principle of the Bible being translated, were awed or influenced by interest into a compliance with Cranmer's projects, as in a letter from Gardiner, bishop of Winchester, to Cromwell, of which the date is uncertain,' he says, "Neverthe"less I have as gret cause as any man, to desire rest "and quiet, for the helth of my body: wherunto I thought to have entended, and to absteyne from "bookes and wryting, having finished the transla"tion of Saynt Luke and Saynt John, wherin I have spent a gret labour.""

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Emboldened by the general opinion, which now seemed to be without any doubt, in favour of a translation of Scripture being made, provided it were only correct; and encouraged by a promise that was made to him, that the cost of it would be borne by others, Coverdale was led to give his time to preparing a translation of the whole Bible for the press. He was also no doubt further induced by seeing, on the report having been spread that there was one printing at Antwerp, how many applications had been made for it. He perceived that the people were anxious to search out the truth for themselves; and diffident as he might be of his own powers for the task, he yet undertook it, hoping that it might lead those who were more able, to give their attention to it. He would, however, most probably not have undertaken it at all, had not Tyndal about this time

MS. Chapt. Ho. Westm. Bundle C.

See note F.

fallen into trouble, as he intimates that Tyndal himself had the intention of finishing his translation of the remaining books of the Old Testament, which would then have comprised the whole Bible. He gives no clue as to those who had offered to bear the cost of this work; but it is not unlikely, that Cromwell, as on other occasions, so also on this, was one of his chief supporters, if indeed he were not the sole one.

E

CHAPTER IV.

-

COVERDALE PUBLISHES HIS TRANSLATION OF THE WHOLE BIBLE. DEDICATION 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 EX

CUSES HIS OWN INSUFFICIENCY. -EXPLAINS THE DIFFERENT BOOKS IN THE BIBLE. EXHORTS THE READER TO APPROACH THE SCRIPTURE IN A PROPER MIND. DATE OF THIS BIBLE, APPARENT INCONSISTENCY OF THAT GIVEN AT THE END, WITH THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE DEDICATION.

IN 1535, accordingly, Coverdale published his translation of the Bible in a small folio." This was the first edition of the whole Bible in English ever printed. It has no name of place or printer, but the opinion now generally received is, as has been before mentioned, that it was printed at Zurich, in the house of Christopher Froschover; and this opinion is founded on the resemblance of the types, which are

a

Copies: Brit. Mus.—Bodleian.-—Public Libr. Cambr.-Sion Coll.All Souls Coll.-Lambeth Libr.-Bapt. Mus. Bristol.-Duke of Sussex. -Earl of Jersey.

This volume has been reprinted, verbatim, in Roman type, by the publisher of this work, 1838.

of a peculiar form, to those generally found in the works of that printer."

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This Bible has a dedication to the king, and a prologue or preface to the reader. The dedication is thus headed: "Vnto the most victorious Prynce and oure most gracyous soueraigne Lorde, kynge Henry "the eyght, kynge of Englonde and of Fraunce, lorde "of Irlonde, &c. Defendour of the Fayth, and vnder "God the chefe and suppreme heade of the Church "of Englonde. The ryght & iust administracyon of "the lawes that God gaue vnto Moses and vnto "Josua: the testimonye of faythfulnes that God gaue "of Dauid: the plenteous abundaunce of wysdome "that God gaue vnto Salomon: the lucky and prosperous age with the multiplicacyon of sede whiche "God gaue vnto Abraham and Sara his wyfe, be geue vnto you most gracyous Prynce, with your dearest iust wyfe, and most vertuous Pryncesse, Quene Anne, Amen."

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He begins it, by comparing the Pope to a Jewish bishop, called Caiphas. Caiphas, he says, taking Christ for an impostor, had said it was better to put him to death, than that the people should perish, not knowing that he said true therein, for that the death of Christ was necessary for the salvation of mankind. In like manner, the pope had called his majesty the Defender of the Faith, not thinking that he would in very deed defend "the Fayth, yee euen

< See Note B.

4 Some copies have "Queen Jane." Concerning this difference, see post, page 68.