BIBLES, ETC.-continued. COVERDALE, 1535–continued. shulde be more plenteously provyded for with the scriptures in theyr mother tongue than we,-therefore when I was instantly requyred though I coulde not do so well as I wolde I thought it yet my dewtyr to do my best For the which cause . I toke the more upon me to set forth this speciall translacyon, not as a despyser of other mens translacyons." And further on, explaining why he sometimes uses different synonyms for one word, he says this maner have I used in my translacyon." Nothing definite is known as to the place of printing. Fleming Meteren was the person who urged Coverdale to the work, and probably it was he who paid the cost of the printing. The wood blocks may have been cut in Antwerp after designs of Beham and others, but the printing was undoubtedly done in Switzerland, most likely by Froschauer at Zurich. It is in this, the Editio Princeps of the English Bible, that the two curious renderings are first found, which lent popular names to later Editions of the English Bible, viz., Bug and Treacle": "So yt thou shalt not nede to be afrayed for any bugges by night." (Ps. XCI. 5.) And " 'There is no more Triacle at Galaad." (Jer. VIII. 22.) The name of Coverdale will always be revered as that of the man who first made a complete translation of the Bible into English. He was somewhat weak and timorous, and all through his life leaned on a more powerful nature. Barnes, Cromwell, Cranmer, and Grindal were successively his patrons. In the hour of trouble he was content to remain in obscurity, and left the crown of martyrdom to be earned by men of tougher fibre. But he was pious, conscientious, laborious, generous, and a thoroughly honest and good man. He knew German and Latin well, some Greek and Hebrew, and a little French. As a translator he was faithful and harmonious. He was fairly read in theology, and became more inclined to puritan ideas as his life wore on. All accounts agree in his remarkable popularity as a preacher. He was a leading figure during the progress of the reformed opinions, and had a considerable share in the introduction of German spiritual culture to English readers in the second quarter of the sixteenth century." (H. R. TEDDER, 1887, D.N.B.) "I myself, and so did many hundreds beside me, hear the reverend father, M. Doctor Coverdale, of holy and learned memory, in a sermon at Paul's Cross, upon occasion of some slanderous reports that then were raised against his translation, declare his faithful purpose in doing the same; which after it was finished and presented to King Henry VIII, of famous memory, and by him committed to divers bishops of that time to peruse, of which (as I remember) Stephen Gardiner was one; after they had kept it long in their hands, and the king was divers times sued unto for the publication thereof, at the last being called for by the king himself, they redelivered the book, and being demanded by the king what was their judgement of the translation, they answered that there were many faults therein. Well,' said the king, but are there any heresies maintained thereby?' They answered, There were no heresies that they could find maintained thereby. If there be no heresies,' said the king, then, in God's name, let it go abroad among our people.' According to this judgment of the king, and the bishops, M. Coverdale defended his translation, confessing that he did now himself espy some faults, which if he might review it once over again, as he had done twice before, he doubted not but to amend, but for any heresy, he was sure there was none maintained by his translation."-(WILLIAM FULKE, 1580-9, Defence of the Translation of the Bible.) THE ACTES and life of the most rour, Robert Bruce King John Jameson Eden WHEREIN alfo are contained the Martiall deeds of the valiant Princes, Edward Brace, Syr Lames Douglas, Erle Thomas Randel, Walter Stewart, and fundrie others. Newly corrected and conferred with the best 157 MATTHEW'S (Tyndale's, revised by Becke). 1549. THE BYBLE, that is to say, all the holy Scripture in whych are cōtayned the Olde and New Testamente, truly and purely traslated into English, and nowe lately with greate industry and diligece recognised. Imprynted by Jhon Daye, dwelling at Aldersgate, and William Seres, dwelling in Peter Colledge. Cum gratia et Priuilegio ad Imprimendum silum, XVII day of August, M.D.XLIX. (1549.) FOLIO, Black Letter, double columns. Woodcut titles in compartments, and numerous cuts in the text. Original calf binding (rebacked) £45 This copy, which belonged successively to Lea Wilson and to John Dunn Gardner, is in the MOST PERFECT CONDITION, and with the original stamped leather sides (rebacked.) It is Matthew's Version, with the Notes, etc., revised and edited by Edmund Becke. Tyndale's prologue to Jonah is reprinted for the first time in this edition. The General Title is enclosed within a border composed of 14 cuts; the borders to the other titles are each composed of 6 blocks. The illustrations in the text include:-Two large half-page engravings before the Psalms and Isaiah; many cuts in parts 1 to 4, cuts of each Evangelist, and 20 small figures in Revelation, with rhyming couplets, printed either below or at the sides of each cut (e.g., "By the Starres in hys had we may wel se, What maner of me our preachers should be "). This Bible contains the curious note at the end of 1st Peter III. on the words :— To dwell w a wyfe accordinge to knowledge," in which occurs the sentence : And yf she be not obedient and healpfull unto hym, endevoureth to beate the feare of God into her heade, that therby she maye be compelled to learne her duitie and do it." It is often called the "Bug Bible," having the rendering, "Bugges by Night" in Ps. XCI. 5. 158 COVERDALE. 1550. THE WHOLE BYBLE faythfully translated into Englyshe by Myles Couerdale, and newly ouersene and correcte. M.D.L. Prynted for Andrewe Hester, dwellinge in Paules churchyard at the synge of the whyte horse, and are there to be solde. Set forth with the kynges moost gracious licence. 4to, Black Letter (foreign type), double columns, woodcut title A PERFECT COPY OF THIS MOST RARE EDITION. From the Collections of That the volume was printed at Zurich by Christopher Froschover is incontestably proved by the existence of a copy in the public library of that town with his name on the title. The title and preliminary leaves in this copy are of English execution, having been added by Hester when the impression reached this country. This is the last Issue of Coverdale's Bible published during the Translator's life-time and contains an additional paragraph at the end of the Dedication. BIBLES, ETC.-continued. 159 THE HOLY BIBLE. Containing the OLD TESTAMENT and the NEW. Newly Translated out of the Originall Tongues, and with the former Translations diligently compared and revised by his Maiesties speciall Commandment. Lond., B. Norton and John Bill, 1628. THE BOOKE OF COMMON PRAYER and Administration of the Sacraments and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England. Lond., Bonham Norton & Bill, 1628. 2 vols in 1. Woodcut borders round titles, ruled throughout with red lines. Sm. thk. 4to, full contemporary English blue morocco, gilt back, the sides nearly covered with gold tooling, large centre ornament and wide gold border, gilt leaves. £2 10s CROMWELLIAN BIBLE. 160 AUTHORISED VERSION. The Holy Bible, containing the Old and New Testaments. 12mo. Woodcut title, with the four Evangelists below. VERY HANDSOME COPY in full citron morocco extra, line tooled, DOUBLE with the same rich ornamental borders, joints, gilt and gauffred edges (arms of Rev. Th. Williams on side), by C. Lewis, with his ticket. Printed by John Field, printer to the Parliament, 1653. £8 158 The Genuine Edition of this celebrated Cromwellian Bible. It contains "In a pearl Bible printed by John Field at London in 1653, in Volume "I Cor. 6. 9. 'The unrighteous shall inherit' for shall not. Matt. 6. 24. 'Ye cannot serve and mammon' ('God' omitted). John 2. 10. And when they have,' for when men have. " John 3. 21. 'Might be manifest' for may be made manifest. And very many others." 161 NEW TESTAMENT. Newly translated out of the original Greek. 16mo, full contemporary red morocco, the back and sides covered with gold tooling, centre design, circles, dots, etc., gilt leaves. Lond., J. Field, 1658. £2 108 |