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examined, fifteen of the Old Testament and eighteen of the New belong to the original version. The remainder are of Purvey's revision, which itself has in some very rare cases undergone another partial revision. Of these not one-fifth are of an earlier date than Arundel's condemnation. The greater part appear to have been written between 1420 and 1450; and what is a more interesting fact, nearly half the copies are of a small size, such as could be made the constant daily companions of their owners. Others again are noticeable for the rank of those by whom they were once possessed. One belonged to Humphrey, the 'good' duke of Gloucester: another to Henry VI, who gave it to the Charterhouse: another (apparently) to Richard III; another to Henry VII; another to Edward VI1; and another was presented to Queen Elizabeth as a new-year's gift by her chaplain. There are yet other copies with interest of a different kind. One probably was that of Bp. Bonner: another records in a hand of the 16th century, that 'this 'ancient monument of Holy Scripture doth shew how 'the Lord God in all ages and times would have His 'blessed Word preserved for the comfort of His elect

1 This copy is now in the Univer-made sity at Cambridge (Mm. 11. 15), and R. Crowley printed from it the General Prologue in 1550, 'the Originall 'whereof is founde written in an olde "English Bible,' so he writes on the title-page bitwixt the olde Testa'ment and the Newe. Whych Bible 'remaynith now in y° Kyng hys 'maiesties Chamber.'

The book retains a binding apparently of the age of Edward VI, which bears stamped on one side Verbum Domini and on the other manet in aeternum.

Part of the notice to the reader is worthy of being quoted:

[This Prologue] was at the first

common to few men that
would and were able to obtain it;
but now it is made common to all
'men that be desirous of it. Forget
'not therefore, [gentle reader], to take
'it thankfully, to use it Christianly,
and to esteem it of no less value
than a most precious jewel, first
'framed by the Divine wisdom of
'God's Spirit poured upon the first
author, preserved by God's merciful
Providence, and now offered unto
thee by God Himself, that thou
'hungering the perfect knowledge of
God's word shouldest not be desti-
'tuted of so necessary a mean to at-
'tain to the same.'

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Chap. i.

Chap. i.

Spread of the study of

the Bible at the beginning of 16th

century.

'children and church in all times and ages in despite of 'Satan'.'

Thus the books themselves speak to us and witness of the work which they did. In fact, they help us to understand Foxe's famous testimony that in 1520... 'great multitudes...tasted and followed the sweetness 'of God's holy Word almost in as ample manner, for 'the number of well-disposed hearts, as now... Certes, 'the fervent zeal of those Christian days seemed much superior to these our days and times, as manifestly 'may appear by their sitting up all night in reading and 'hearing; also by their expenses and charges in buying 'books in English, of whom some gave five marks [equal to about £40 in our money] some more, some 'less for a book: some gave a load of hay for a few 'chapters of St James or of St Paul in English...To see 'their travails, their earnest seekings, their burning zeal, 'their readings, their watchings, their sweet assemblies ...may make us now in these days of free profession, to 'blush for shame. So Foxe wrote in 1563, and after three centuries the contrast is still to our sorrow.

1 But it must be observed that in spite of the wide circulation of the English Version the Latin Vulgate remained the Bible of those who could read, just as afterwards in Cranmer's time. One interesting memorial of this remains. The Persones Tale' in Chaucer (c. 1380— 1390) abounds in passages of the Bible in English. The Latin 'catchword' is very rarely given; and in no one case have I observed a real coincidence with either of the Wycliff ite versions. On the contrary, the renderings differ from them more than might have been expected in contemporary versions of the same Latin text; and the same text (e. g.

Acts iv. 12) is turned differently in different places. One or two examples are worth quoting.

Alas! I caitif man who shall deliver me fro the prison of my caitif body? (Rom. vii. 24.)

An avaricious man is the thraldome of idolatrie (Eph. v. 5).

Go, sayd Jesu Crist, and have no more will to do sinne (John viii. 11).

2 The editors of the Versions quote two instances of copies given to churches for ecclesiastical use York (1394) and Bristol (1404): Forsh. and Madd. Introd. p. xxxii. n.

at

3 Foxe, Acts and Monuments, IV. 217 f.

CHAPTER II.

THE PRINTED BIBLE.

This is the doctrine simple, ancient, true;

Such is life's trial, as old earth smiles and knows. If you loved only what were worth your love, Love were clear gain and wholly well for you: Make the low nature better by your throes! Give earth yourself, go up for gain above!

CHAPTER II.

THE PRINTED BIBLE.

Chap. ii.
External
History.

The Circu

lation of

script Bible

and limited.

THE general testimony of Foxe to the circulation of the English Scriptures at the beginning of the 16th century, which has been just quoted, is illustrated by several special incidents, which he records. These, the Manuhowever, shew at the same time that the circulation precarious and study of the manuscripts was both precarious and perilous. 'I did once,' says Lambert in 1538, 'see 'a book of the New Testament, which was not un'written by my estimation this hundred years, and in 'my mind right well translated after the example of 'that which is read in the Church in Latin. But he 'that shewed it me said, he durst not be known to 'have it by him, for many had been punished afore'time for keeping of such as convict of heresy'.' And that this fear was not ungrounded may be seen by the registers of the dioceses of Norwich and Lincoln, which contain several examples of men charged before the bishops with the offence of reading or perusing the New Law' (that is, the New Testament) in English❜.

1 Foxe, Acts and Monuments, V. 213. I have quoted from the text of the edition 1563 (March 20:? 1564), p. 559.

Foxe, ib. IV. 217 ff.

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