to St. Andrews, for the express purpose of multiplying a sufficient number of copies, by means of the typographic art, for the common use of the Scotish Clergy.

This work appeared in the subsequent year, in 205 folios, or 410 close printed pages, in a handsome quarto, with the following title: "THE CATECHISME: that is to say, ane Comōne & Catholick instructioun of the Christin people in materis of our Catholick faith and religioun quilk na gud Christin man or woman suld misknaw set furth be ye maist reverend father in God Johne, Archbishop of Sanct Androus Legatnait and Primat of the Kirk of Scotland in his provincial Counsale haldin at Edinburgh, the xxvi day of Januarie the yeir of our Lord 1551; with the advise and counsale of the Bischoippis and uthir prelatis, with Doctours of Theologie and Canon Law of the said realme of Scotland, present for the tyme.

S. Aug. libro 4 de trinitate cap. 6, Contra rationem nemo sobrius, contra Scripturam nemo Christianus, contra ecclesiam nemo pacificus Senserit.

Agane reasone na sober man, agane Scripture. na Christin man, agane the Kirk na peaceabil or quiet man will judge, or hald opinioun."

On the back of this title page there are some Latin verses, "Ad pium Lectorem." Then follows the Archbishop's " Admonition to the Vicars

& Curattis of his Diocye, to have yis Catechisme usit and reid to their parishionours insteid of preching, quihil God of his gudnes provide ane sufficient nowmer of Catholyk and abil precheouris, quilk sall be within few yeiris as we traist in God."

Now follows this Catechisme: and at the end, there is the following Colophon: "Prentit at Sanct Androus, be the Command and expēsis of the maist reuerend father in God Johne, Archbischop of Sanct Androus, and Primat of the hail Kirk of Scotland, the xxix day of August, the yeir of our Lord, M.D. lii."

"No divine at this day need be ashamed of such a work," says honest bishop Keith, in his History of the Church and State of Scotland, p. 63. "It is," continues he, "a judicious Commentary upon the Commands, Belief, Lord's Prayer, Magnificat, and Ave Maria: and the author shews both his wisdom and moderation, in avoiding to enter upon the controverted points."

The late Lord Hailes did not, however, concur with bishop Keith, in his character of this elaborate Catechism. His Lordship insists, in opposition to the Colophon, that this Treatise was not printed "be the command and expensis" of Archbishop Hamilton. Neither can his Lordship be persuaded, whatever bishop Keith may say, that this Catechism is the Two

penny

penny Faith, which was derided by Knox, and the other reformers of those times. Hist. Mem. of the Provincial Councils of the Scot Clergy, 35-6..

Of this worthy Prelate there is an account in Keith's Catalogue of the Scotish Bishops, p. 24. He was a natural brother of the Regent Arran. He was translated from the See of Dunkeld to the Primacy of St. Andrews, after the murder of Beaton. He adhered to his Sovereign, in opposition to the regent Murray, who dethroned her. He attended her to the Solway, after all was lost, at the battle of Langside: and wading into the river, and seizing the bridle of her horse, the Archbishop conjured Mary Stuart not to trust her person in England. This affecting scene has been deemed a fit subject for the pencil, by the English painters. He now fled, for security, to the strong castle of Dunbarton, wherein he was found, when this fortress was surprized by his enemies. By them," says Keith, "he was hanged publickly on a gibbet, in the town of Stirling, on the first day of April, 1570." This act is one of those blots in the reformers of that country, which, according to Dryden, "Nor death itself can wholly wash their stains!"

BIBLIA.

DR. COMBE, to whom Literature is consi derably indebted in more than one of its branches, had made a Collection of English Bibles, many of which are of unexampled rarity and value.

He condescended to dispose of them to the British Museum, for the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds; which must be considered as a great instance of generosity, as they are certainly worth very much more.

The following is a description of them, in the order of their respective dates. I give their titles at full length.

COVERDALE'S BIBLE.

"THE BIBLE that is the Holy Scripture of the Olde and New Testament, faithfully and truly translated out of Douche and Latyn into Englishe. By Myles Coverdale.

Printed in the yeare of oure Lorde, MDXXXV." Folio.

MATHEW'S BIBLE.

"THE BYBLE, which is all the Holy Scripture in which are contained the Olde and Newe Testament, truly and purely translated into Englysh, by Thomas Matthew. fynesshed in the yere of oure MDXXXVII." Folio.

Prynted and

Lorde God,

TAVERNER'S BIBLE.

"THE MOST SACRED BYBLE, which is the Holy Scripture, conteyning the Old and New Testament, translated into English, and newly recognised with great diligence after moost faythful exemplars, by Rycharde Taverner. Prynted at London, in Fleetstrete, at the Syne of the Sonne, by John Byddell, for Thomas Barthlett, M. DXXXIX." Folio.

HENRY THE VIIIth's BIBLE.

"THE BYBLE IN ENGLYSHE, that is to saye, the Content of all the Holy Scrypture, bothe of ye Olde and Newe Testament, truly translated after the veryte of the Hebrue and Greke Textes, by the dylygent studye of dyverse, excellent learned men, expert in the forsayde tonges. Prynted by Rychard Grafton and Edward Whitechurch. M. D. XXXIX." Folio.

The above is the first edition of what is commonly designated by the appellation of Henry the Eighth's Bible. It has the arms of Cardinal Wolsey engraved in the title page.

HENRY THE EIGHTH'S BIBLE.

SECOND EDITION.

"THE BYBLE IN ENGLY SHE, of the largest and greatest Volume, auctorised and apoynted by

the