CHAP time in procuring the King's highness to set forth X English use in pri vate A.D. 1537 the said God's Word, and His gospel by his Grace's authority." Thus the royal license was obtained for placing the first complete edition of the English Bible in churches (for general reading by lay people) in 1536: and a similar license for allowing the second edition to be used without hindrance by every one at their own homes, in 1537. For a time the result was what had been anticipated by the great assembly of learned men whom the King had consulted on the subject. So irreverent and factious an use was made of the Bible, that a proclamation was shortly issued declaring how much the King was disappointed at the way in which many were abusing the privilege. It appears that over-zealous Bible readers were accustomed to interrupt divine service and the celeMisuse of bration of the Holy Eucharist by shouting out by Puri- chapters of the Bible in "loud and high voices," instead of "praying with peace and silence as good Christian men ought to do ;" and the King enjoins those who wish to read it in the English tongue to read the Bible "quietly and reverently by themselves secretly at all times and places convenient, for their own instruction and edification to increase thereby godliness and virtuous living." Cromwell's Injunctions of 1536 show that those most favourable to the dissemination of Holy Scripture could not blind themselves to this exhibition of lawless zeal, for while the third Injunction forbids any one to discourage Bible reading, it also exhorts strongly to the avoidance of contention and altercation;1 so con the Bible tans 1 ! Jenkyns' Cranmer, i. 200. "Wilkins' Concil., iii. 811. Ibid., 815. See also a letter from Cranmer to Lord Lisle on the same subject in Jenkyns' Cranmer, i. 284. troversial and irreverent was the spirit of the CHAP times. X number of ments in The facts recorded will show that the experiment A.D. 1537 was now being made of allowing the Holy Scriptures, as translated by private men, to be issued under the sanction of the Crown. About twenty-five Great editions of printed English New Testaments were English already in circulation, and to these were added the New TesOld Testament, as translated by Coverdale and circulation others. But it was specially enjoined that none should print or circulate any of these, whether produced abroad or in England, "unless the same be first viewed, examined, and admitted by the King's highness, or one of his privy council, or one bishop within the realm, whose names shall be therein expressed." "2 Such precautions, however, were soon found to be transla trust worthy printed New Testaments and Old Testaments were hasty translations made from secondary sources, instead of the original Hebrew and Greek, and were Private by no means such as would be likely to command the tions not confidence of scholars. Coverdale states on his titlepage that his Bible was "translated out of Douche and Latyn," that is from Luther's version and the Vulgate and in his letters he adds the information. that his critical scrupulousness had secured the use of five editions of German and Latin Bibles "to help 2 Wilkins' Concilia, iii. 847. Among several editions of Tyndale's New Testament which were printed in 1536, there is one small folio which was undoubtedly printed by Berthelet the King's printer. It is printed with the X CHAP him therein." It is quite clear that such an infinitesimal collection of authorities, and those of no A.D. 1538 more weight than the Vulgate and Luther's translation, would not produce an English version that could be approved of by learned and critical men.3 So much discussion, indeed, arose on the subject, not only among learned and critical men, but among Cranmer's others also, that Cranmer was obliged to indite a warning cautionary declaration respecting it, which was issued ignorant as a Royal Proclamation in 1538, and accompanied by an order that it should be read publicly by all the parochial clergy respecting contro versy "If at any time," this declaration said, "by reading, any doubt shall come to any of you touching the sense and meaning of any part thereof; that then, not giving too much to your own minds, fantasies, and opinions, nor having thereof any open reasoning in your open taverns or ale-houses, ye shall have recourse to such learned men as be or shall be authorized to preach and declare the same."4 It appears to have become more and more evident for these and similar reasons that a properly authorized version must be set forth, which should command the respect of the learned, and offer itself as a trustworthy guide to the ignorant. In April 1539, therefore, a new translation was printed, of which the following is the title : 3 In some editions of Tyndale's New Testament there is what must be regarded as a wilful omission of the gravest possible character, for it appears in several editions, and has no shadow of justification in the Greek or Latin of the passage. It is, in the printing of 1 Peter ii. 13, 14, “Submit yourselves unto all manner of ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether it be unto rulers as unto them that are sent of him. . . ." Here the words "whether it be unto the king, as chief head," which appear in other editions, are altogether left out. Such an error was quite enough justification for the suppression of Tyndale's translation. [See edd. of 1531 and 1534, Douce B. 226, 237, Bodl. Lib., the first an extremely rare copy.] Jenkyns' Cranmer, iv. 272. X “The Bible in English, that is to say, the content of all the CHAP Holy Scripture, both of the Old and New Testament, truly translated after the verity of the Hebrew and Greek texts, by the diligent study of divers excellent learned men, expert in rized Verthe foresaid tongues. Printed by Richard Grafton and Edward sion of Whitchurch. Cum Privilegio ad imprimendum solum." It cannot be reasonably doubted that the "divers excellent learned men" who made this translation from the Hebrew and Greek texts, were those who had "sent to Lambeth their parts corrected" in 1535. The long interval between then and 1539 was probably occupied in revision of their work; though, of course, many months must be allowed for that of the printer. Autho A.D. 1539 in A. D. Cranmer This Bible was reprinted by Edward Whitchurch Reprinted in April 1540, with a "prologue" or preface by 1540, with Archbishop Cranmer." In this preface Cranmer preface by warns the people against the "inordinate reading, indiscreet speaking, contentious disputing," and "licentious living," by which some did "slander and hinder the Word of God most of all other, whereof they would seem to be greatest furtherers."7 It is thus again made evident that there was much which might make good men shrink and hesitate before they sowed the vernacular scriptures broadcast among the people. It was determined, however, for use in fully to supply the parish churches, and several churches 5 St John's College, Cambridge, possesses a fine copy of this Bible, printed on vellum, illuminated, and having Cromwell's arms on the frontispiece. 6 A magnificent copy of this, also printed on vellum and illuminated, is in the British Museum. It is bound in three volumes, and has on the fly-leaf the following 7 Jenkyns' Cranmer, ii. 104. parish CHAP printers were employed for the purpose of quick multiplication of copies. X printed in In the very same month, April 1540, another Editions edition was printed "by Thomas Petyt and Robert A.D. 1540 Redman, for Thomas Berthelet, printer unto the King's Grace;" and towards the end of 1539 another edited by Richard Taverner, a student or canon of Cardinal College. and 1541 In July of the same year appeared another printed by Richard Grafton, and also having on the title-page "This is the Bible appointed to the use of the Churches." In November of the same year there was printed by Whitchurch (but not published for some months) another edition "Overseen and perused at the commandment of the King's Highness, by the Right Reverend Fathers in God, Cuthbert, Bishop of Duresme, and Nicolas, Bishop of Rochester;" that is, Tunstal and Heath. The title-page of this calls it "The Bible in English of the largest and greatest volume authorized and appointed by the commandment of our most redoubted Prince and Sovereign Lord King Henry the VIII., supreme head of this his Church and realm of England: to be frequented and used in every church in this his said realm, according to the tenor of his former injunctions given in that behalf." In May 1541 there was another edition of Cranmer's volume printed by Whitchurch; in November of the same year a second edition by Grafton of that "overseen" by Bishops Tunstal and Heath and in December another edition, also printed by Grafton, of Cranmer's. This large supply of nine editions of "Great," or folio, Bibles (some being nearly identical with others) |