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and his Truth, they refolved to print it again, which they intended fhould be of a larger, Volume than before; and therefore it was called, when it came forth, The Bible in the large or great Volume. They intended alfo, in order to this Edition, to have the former Tranflation revised, and to omit feveral Prologues and Annotations. Miles Coverdale was the Man now that compared the Tranflation with the Hebrew, mended it in divers Places, and was the chief Overfeer of the Work: But though they left out Matthews, that is, Rogers's Notes, yet they refolved to make Hands and Marks on the Sides of the Book, which meant, that they would have particular Notice to be taken of those Texts, being fuch as did more especially ftrike at the Errors and Abuses of the Romish Church.

Grafton refolved to print this Bible in Paris, if he could obtain Leave, there being better Paper, and cheaper, to be had in France, and more dextrous and good Workmen, for the ready Difpatch of the fame. For this Purpose the Lord Cromwell, who ftood by him in this Enterprize, procured Letters of the King to the French King, to permit a Subject of his to imprint the Bible in English, within the University of Paris, becaufe of the Goodness of his Paper and Workmen. The King at the fame Time wrote unto his Ambaffador, who was then Edmund Bonner, Bishop of Hereford, lying in Paris, That he should aid and affift the Undertakers of this good Work, in all their reasonable Suits. Bonner did not only prefent this Letter to the French King, and obtain with good Words the Licence defired, and had the French King's Letters Patents for the printing this Bible, and being finished, to bring the Impreffion fafely over; but fhewed great Friendship to the Merchants and Printers, and fo encouraged them, that the Work went on apace, and with good Succefs. And to fhew how well affected he was to the Holy Bible, he caused the English there in Paris, to print the New Teftament in English and Latin, and took off a great many of them, and diftributed them amongst his Friends. But the Principle that moved Bonner in all this was, that he might the better curry Favour with Cromwell, and recommend himself to him; who being the great Favourite now with the King, was the fitteft Inftrument for his Rife. Cromwell loved him very well, and had a marvellous good Opinion of him; and fo long as Cromwell remained in Authority, fo long was Bonner at his Beck, a Friend to his Friends, and an Enemy to his Enemies. But as foon as Cromwell fell, no good Word could Bonner speak of him, but the lewdeft, vileft, and bittereft that he could, calling him the rankest Heretick that ever lived: And then fuch as he knew to be in good Favour with Cromwell, he could never abide their Sight.

But notwithstanding the French King's Licence, fuch was the overfwaying Authority of the Inquifition in Paris, that by an Inftrument dated September the 17th, 1538, the Printers were had up into the faid Inquifition, and charged with certain Articles of Herefy. The Englishmen likewife that were at the Coft and Charges thereof, and the Corrector Coverdale, were fent for. And then great Trouble arose. But before this happened, they were gone through, even to the laft Part of the Work. The Englishmen having fome Warning what would

follow,

follow, and finding it not fafe to tarry any longer, fled away as faft as they could to fave themfelves, leaving behind them all their Bibles, the Impreffion confifting of 2500 in Number, which were feized, and the Lieutenant Criminal caufed them to be burnt, as heretical Books'; only a few efcaped, the Lieutenant for Covetoufnefs felling them for wafte Paper to a Haberdafher, to lap Caps in, being about four dry Fats full, and thefe were bought again.

However, not long after, the English that were concerned in this Work, by the Encouragement of Cromwell, went back to Paris again, and got the Preffes, Letters, and Printing Servants, and brought them over to London, and fo became Printers themselves, which before they never intended, and printed out the faid Bible in London, When it was finifhed, it was prefented to the King, and by him committed to divers Bifhops of that Time to perufe, of which Stephen Gardiner was one. After they had kept it long in their Hands, and the King was divers Times fued unto for the Publication thereof; at the laft being called for by the King himfelf, they delivered the Book; and being demanded by the King, What was their Judgment of the Tranflation, they answered, That there were many Faults therein: Well, faid the King, but are there any Hereftes maintained thereby? They anfwered, There were no Hereftes that they could find maintained thereby. If there be no Herefies, faid the King, then, in God's Name, let it go abroad among our People. According to this Judgment of the King and the Bishops, -Coverdale in a Sermon at Paul's Crofs, defended his Tranflation, upon occafion of fome flanderous Reports, that then were raifed against it, confeffing, That he did now himself efpy fome Faults, which if he might review once over again, as he had twice before, he doubted not but ta amend, but for any Herefy, he was fure there was none maintained by his Tranflation.

This was published Anno 1539, and is that which is called the Great Bible. Strype, in his Memorials of Archbishop Cranmer, p. 444. fays, it was published in the Year 1538, or 1539, but as if this was a Miftake of the Prefs, in the Errata it is 1537, or 1538; whereas I have one that bears Date 1539, and in it the Table for Eafler for 19 Years, begins with that Year. And at the End of all it fays, it was finished in April 1539. This has the Frontispiece before it, which Strype fays was before Cranmer's Bible of 1540, and explains it at large; but hath neither Coverdale's nor Cranmer's Preface, only a Defcription of the Succeffion of the Kings of Judah and Jerufalem; and a Direction with what Judgment the Books of the Old Testament are to be read: In the Title Page, Cum Privilegio ad imprimendum folum.

When our Liturgy was first compiled, and afterwards revifed and altered, in the Reign of Edward the 6th, the Epiftles, Gofpels, Pfalms, and Hymns put into thofe Liturgies, were all according to this Trantlation; and to continued till King Charles the 2d's Reftoration, when the Old Tranflation being found Fault with by fome Men, the Epiftles and Gospels were inferted after the laft Tranflation, but the old Pfalter was ftill continued. The Bishops and Clergy did, i feems, prefer this Tranflation, before any other in the English Tongue.

Injunctions were given out in the King's Name by Cromwell, to all Incumbents to provide one of thefe Bibles, and fet it up publickly in the Church, in fome convenient Place where the Parishioners might refort? to the fame, and read it. None were to be difcouraged from reading or hearing of it; but, on the contrary, exhorted to perufe it, as being the true lively Word of God, which every Chriftian ought to believe,” embrace, and follow, if he expected to be faved.

The fame Year a Parliament was fummoned, which made the terri-> ble Act of the Six bloody Articles: Great Triumphing there was on the Papifts Side, for how they hoped to be revenged on all thofe who had hitherto fet forward a Reformation.

There was nothing could fo much fupport the Spirits of the Party which now was clouded, as the free Ufe of the Scriptures; and though these were set up in Churches, yet Cranmer preffed, and how this Year: procured Leave for private Perfons to buy Bibles, and to keep them in their Houses. So this was granted by Letters Patents November the' 13th, directed to Cromwell, the Subftance of which was, That the King was defirous to have his Subjects attain the Knowledge of God's Word, which could not be effected by any Means fo well, as by granting them the free and liberal Ufe of the Bible in the English Tongue, which, to avoid Diffention, be intended fhould pafs among them only by one Tranflation. Therefore Cromwell was charged to take Care, that for the Space of Five Years, there fhould be no Impreffion of the Bible, or of any Part of it, but only by fuch as fhould be affigned by him; Gardiner Bishop of Winchester oppofed this all he could.

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With this Bible the Enemies of the Reformation were offended and as God of his Goodnefs had raifed up the Archbishop and the Lord' Cromwell to be Friends and Patrons to the Gofpel; fo, on the other Side, Satan, (who is an Adverfary and Enemy to all Goodnets) had his Inftruments, by all Wiles and fubtle Means, to impeach and put' back the fame. Upon Cromwell's Fall, Gardiner, and thole that followed him, made no Doubt but they fhould quickly recover what they had loft of late Years: So their greatest Attempt was upon the Tranflation" of the Scriptures. Accordingly the next Year, 1540, there was a Convocation, wherein one of the Matters before them, was concerning, the procuring a true Tranflation of the New Testament, which was indeed intended not fo much to do to good a Work, as to hinder it. For having decried the prefent Tranflation on purpofe to make it unlawful for any to ufe it, they pretended to fet themfelves about a new. one, but it was merely to delay and put off the People from the common Ufe of the Scriptures, as appeared plainly enough, in that the Bishops themselves undertook it, and fo having it in their own Hands, they' might make what Delays they pleafed. For in the third Seffion a' Propofition was made for the Tranflation, and the feveral Books were divided among the Bifhops, viz. Archbishop Cranmer had Matthew; Langland Bishop of Lincoln, Mark; Gardiner Bishop of Winchester, Luke; Goodrick Bishop of Ely, John; Heath Bishop of Rochester, Acts Sampfon Bishop of Chichester, Romans; Capon Bishop of Saum, ift and 2d Corinthians; Barlow Bishop of St. David's, Galatians, Epheft.ns, Cos' loans; Bell Bishop of Worcester, 1 and 2d Theffalonians; Parfew BiMc d hop

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fhop of St. Asaph, ift and 2d Timothy, Titus, Philemon; Holdgate Bishop. of Landaff, ft and 2d Peter; Skip Bishop of Hereford, Hebrews Thirlby Bishop of Westminster, James, 1st, 2d, 3d John, Jude; Wakeman Bishop of Gloucester, and Chambers Bishop of Peterborough, Revela

tions.

1

In this Convocation Gardiner read a large Catalogue of Latin Words. of his own Collection out of the New Teftament, and defired, that for their genuine and native Meaning, and for the Majefty of the Matter therein contained, thofe Words might be retained in their own Nature, as much as might be; or be very fitly Englished with the leaft Alteration. Among thofe, fome few could not be tranflated without Lofs of Life or Luftre, and thefe are continued in our English Teftament entire ; it being conceived better, that Minifters fhould expound these Words in their Sermons, than alter them in their Texts. The reft were not emphatical in themselves, but that they may be rendered in English without Prejudice of Truth. Wherefore Gardiner's Defign plainly appeared in ftickling for preferving fo many Latin Words to obfcure the Scriptures; who, though wanting Power to keep the Light of the Word from hining, fought, out of Policy, to put it in a dark Lanthorn: Befides the Popish Bithops multiplied the Mixture of Latin Words in the Teftament, to teach the Laity their Distance, who, though admitted into the outward Court of common Matter, were yet debarred Entrance into the Holy of Holies of thefe myfterious Expreffions, referved only for the Understanding of the High Prieft to pierce into them. Moreover this made Gardiner not only tender, but fond to have thefe Words continued in Kind, without Alteration, because the Profits of the Romijh Church were deeply in fome of them concerned. Witness the Word Penance, which (according to the vulgar Sound, contrary to the original Senfe thereof) was a Magazine of Will-worship, and brought in much Gain to the Priefts, who were therefore defirous to keep that and fuch like Words. What Entertainment Gardiner's Motion met with, I find not; it feems fo fufpended in Succefs, as to be neither generally received, nor rejected.

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The Archbishop faw through all this, and therefore in a following Seffion, told the Houfe from the King (to whom he had discovered this Intrigue) That it was the King's Will and Pleafure, that the Tranflation both of the Old and New Teftament fhould be examined by both Univerfities. This was a Surprize to the Bishops, and met with much Oppofition in the Houfe, all the Bishops (Goodrick Bishop of Ely, and Barlow Bishop of St. David's, excepted) making their Protefts to the contrary. Thefe affirmed the Universities were much decayed of late, wherein all Things were carried by young Men, whofe Judgments were not to be relied on; fo that the Learning of the Land was chiefly in the Convocation. But the Archbishop faid, He would flick close to the Will and Pleasure of the King his Master, and that the Universities fhould examine the Tranflation. And here, for any Thing that can be found to the contrary, the Matter ceafed, and the Convocation foon after was diffolved.

In the latter End of 1541, came forth a new Impreffion of the Bible, which was nothing but that of Matthews corrected. To this the Arch

bishop

bishop had added the laft Hand, mending it in divers Places with his own Pen, and fixing a very excellent Preface before it, for which Reafon it is called Cranmer's Bible. Durel, in his Vindic. Ecclef. Ang. c. 27, fays, this was published by Tonfal Bishop of Durham, and Heath Bishop of Rochester, to whom the King had committed that Work. To this Impreffion the King gave Countenance, commanding the buying and fetting it up in Churches, by his Proclamation in May 1541: For as yet, notwithstanding the former Injunctions, many Parishes were deftitute of Bibles; whether it were by reafon of the Unwillingness of the Priefts to have the English Bible, or the People to be any ways acquainted with it, for fear it fhould make them Hereticks, as their Curates told them. He limited alfo the Time that it fhould be every where provided before All-Saints Day next coming, and that upon the Penalty of Forty Shillings a Month, after the faid Feaft, that they should be without it: The faid Proclamation alfo fet the Price at Ten Shillings a Book unbound, and well bound and clafped not above Twelve. And charged all his Bifhops and other Ordinaries to take Care for the feeing this Command the better executed. The King feconded this Proclamation with a Declaration to be read openly by the Clergy in their feveral Parishes, upon the publishing of this Bible, the better to poffefs the People with the King's good Affection towards them, in fuffering them to have the Benefit of fuch heavenly Treafure; and to direct them in a Courfe by which they might enjoy the fame to their greater Comfort, the Reformation of their Lives, and the Peace and Quiet of the Church; namely, to ufe it with Reverence and great Devotion, to conform their Lives unto it, and to encourage thofe that were under them, Wives, Children, and Servants, to live according tä the Rules thereof; that in doubtful Places they fhould confer with the learned for the Senfe, who fhould be appointed to preach and explain the fame, and not to contend and difpute about them in Ale-Houfes and Taverns.

Unto thefe Commands of fo great a Prince, both Bifhops, Priests, and People did apply themfelves with fuch chearful Reverence, that Bonner, now Bifhop of London, caufed Six of them to be chained in certain convenient Places in St. Paul's Church, for all that were fo well inclined, to refort unto; together with a certain Admonition to the Readers, faftened upon the Pillars to which the Bibles were chained, to this Tenor, That whosoever came there to read, fhould prepare himself to be edified and made the better thereby; that he should join thereunto his Readiness to obey the King's Injunctions, made in that Behalf, that he bring with him Difcretion, honeft Intent, Charity, Reverence, and quiet Behaviour; that there should no fuch Number meet together there, as to make a Multitude; that no Expofition be made thereupon, but what is declared in the Book itself; that it be not read with Noife in Time of Divine Service, or that any Difputation or Contention be used about it: That in cafe they continued their former Misbehaviour, and refused to comply with thefe Directions, he fhould be forced, against his Will, to remove the Occafion, and take the Bible out of the Church.

But the People could not be hindered from entring into Difputes about fome Places, fo that the King had many Complaints brought him of

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