Chap. ii. 'night.' The striking difference between the translation of the New Testament in this complete edition of the Bible (1560) and the separate New Testament (1557)', is a signal proof of the amount of independent labour bestowed upon the work. The names of those who were engaged upon it are not given, but they were several and perhaps not the same during the whole time. The accession of Elizabeth broke up the society in part, but 'Whittingham with one or two more did tarry at Geneva 'an year and a half after Q. Elizabeth came to the Crown, 'being resolved to go through with the work".' These were probably Gilby and Sampson. Under their care April 1560. the Bible was finished in 1560, and dedicated to Q. Elizabeth in bold and simple language without flattery or Nov. 1558. reserve. 'The eyes of all that fear God in all places behold. 'your countries,' thus they address the Queen, 'as an 'example to all that believe, and the prayers of all the 'godly at all times are directed to God for the preserva'tion of your majesty. For considering God's wonderful 'mercies toward you at all seasons, who hath pulled you 'out of the mouth of lions, and how that from your 'youth you have been brought up in the Holy Scrip'tures, the hope of all men is so increased, that they 'cannot but look that God should bring to pass some 'wonderful work by your grace to the universal comfort 'of his Church. Therefore even above strength you 1 See Chap. III. § 6. The acknowledged importance of this work of revision is further shewn by the fact that the text of the edition of 1557 was never reprinted. It was at once superseded by the more complete work undertaken very shortly after its appearance. Compare Mr F. Fry, Journal of Sacred Literature, July 1864. The separate New Testament of 1560 gives, as Mr Fry has shewn, the text of the translation in the Bible and not that of the New Testament of 1557. 2 Wood's Athena Oxon. S. v. Whittingham. 3 This is well established by Anderson, II. pp. 320 f. 'must shew yourself strong and bold in God's matters... Chap. ii. share in it. The cost of the work was defrayed by members of the congregation at Geneva, 'whose hearts God touched' to encourage the revisers 'not to spare any charge for 'the furtherance of such a benefit and favour of God;' and one of those most actively engaged in this service was John Bodley, the father of the founder of the Bodley's Bodleian Library, who received afterwards from Elizabeth a patent for the exclusive right to print the revision. in England for seven years. A folio edition was published by him in the next year3, but this was printed at April 1561. Geneva, and he does not appear to have availed himself afterwards of the privilege, though the patent may have helped the sale of the work. of the edi The form in which the Bible was published marked Convenience its popular destination. Its size-a moderate quarto―tion. offers a marked contrast to the ponderous folios of Coverdale, Matthew and the Great Bible. With the same view the text was printed for the first time in Roman letter; and the division of the chapters into verses was introduced. A marginal commentary also (Comp. Anderson, II. 356-7.) 1 The aim of the book was indicated by the original title of the address to the reader, which was The first title is dated 1562, but To our beloved in the Lord, the the title of the New Testament is brethren of England, Scotland, dated 1561, and the Preface April 'Ireland, &c.' This superscription 1561. No printer's name is attached was altered in 1578 to 'To the dili- to the book. One other edition was 'gent and Christian reader,' and after- printed at Geneva in 1570, by J. wards to 'To the Christian reader.' Crispin. Chap. ii. The popular Bible. was added, pure and vigorous in style, and, if slightly tinged with Calvinistic doctrine, yet on the whole neither unjust nor illiberal. It was not therefore surprising that from the time of its first appearance the Genevan Bible became the household Bible of the English-speaking nations; and it continued to be so for about three quarters of a century. It was never sanctioned for public use in Churches; but the convenience of its form and the simple clearness of its notes gained it a wide popularity with the mass of the people. And the intrinsic merits of the book justified its popularity; for it was not without cause that the revisers say when reviewing their work: 'we may with good 'conscience protest that we have in every point and 'word, according to the measure of that knowledge 'which it pleased Almighty God to give us faithfully ' rendered the text, and in all hard places most sincerely expounded the same. For God is our witness that we 'have by all means endeavoured to set forth the purity 'of the word and right sense of the Holy Ghost for the 'edifying of the brethren in faith and charity.' Thus it came to pass that the revision found a ready welcome even from those who were not predisposed in its favour. Some time after the Bishops' Bible' was undertaken, Bodley applied to Cecil for an extension of his patent. The secretary consulted Parker before replying to the request. Parker's answer is conceived in a generous spirit. He and the bishop of London judgment.[Grindal] thought so well of the first impression of the Bible and the review of those who had since travailed 'therein, that they wished it would please him [Cecil] 'to be a means that twelve years' longer term might be 'by special privilege granted to Bodley, in consideration Archip 'of the charges sustained by him and his associates in 'the first impression, and the review since: that though 'another special Bible for the Churches were meant by 'them to be set forth, as convenient time and leisure 'hereafter should permit, yet should it nothing hinder 'but rather do much good to have diversity of trans'lations and readings..............”. 1 § 8. THE BISHOPS' BIBLE. Chap. ii. The Genevan revision was, as has been seen, the work of exiles whose action was unfettered by considerations of national policy. A work was comparatively easy for them which was not possible in the English Church. The commencement of Queen Elizabeth's reign was beset by many of the same difficulties which had occupied the great reformers on the accession of Edward VI. In the face of these it was not likely that measures would be taken for the revision of the English Bible. It was enough at first to restore what had been already once established. The injunctions which were 0. Elisaissued by the Queen (1559) were closely moulded on junctions. those which had been put forth by Edward VI., and contained the same charge for the provision of a copy 'of the whole Bible of the largest volume' to be set up in some convenient place in each Church. No limita on 1 Strype's Parker, I. 412. One Tomson repeats the promise of other revision of the New Testament must be classed with the Genevan versions, that by Lawrence Tomson, which was professedly based Beza, and contained a new Commentary, translated in the main from his. This was published in 1576, and dedicated to F. Walsingham and F. Hastings; and became so popular that it was frequently substituted for the Genevan revision in the editions of the Genevan Bible. the Genevan editor with regard to H beth's In Chap. ii. Popular feeling at her acces sion. tion however was now added to the general encouragement to read the Scriptures; but it was said significantly that all should 'read the same with great humility and ' reverence, as the very lively word of God' The concessions thus made fell in with the general desire of the people. This was shewn in a characteristic manner during the progress of the Queen from the Tower to Westminster on her accession to the throne. Various symbolic greetings were devised to welcome her on the way; and one above all seems to have attracted popular interest. At the Little 'Conduit in Cheape' a pageant was prepared 'and it was 'told her Grace that there was placed Time. "Time?" 'quoth she, "and Time hath brought me hither." And 'with Time also was 'Truth the daughter of Time,' 'who held a book in her hand upon the which was 'written Verbum veritatis, the word of Truth'-the Bible in English 'which she delivered to the Queen. 'But she, as soon as she had received the book kissed 'it, and with both her hands held up the same and so 'laid it upon her breast with great thanks to the city 'therefor to the great comfort,' it is added afterwards, 'of the lookers-on".' It is likely indeed that in this respect the zeal of the Queen was suspected to be cooler than that of many about her. On the morrow of her coronation,' so Bacon writes, 'it being the custom to release prisoners 'at the inauguration of a prince...one of her courtiers... 'besought her with a loud voice, That now this good 1 Cardwell, Doc. Ann. I. 214. In the Injunctions of 1547 it is said, "They [the parsons, vicars, &c.] 'shall discourage no man, authorized 'and licensed thereto, from the read'ing of any part of the Bible either 'in Latin or in English...' In the Injunctions of 1559 the words in italics are omitted. Cardwell, Doc. Ann. I. pp. 9, 214. On the other hand, the words in italics in the text are not contained in the Injunctions of 1547. 2 Nichols' Progresses, 1. pp. 13 ff. |