Senfe and plain Reason made on them, than by any deep Speculation or Study.

Wickliff, commonly called the Apoftle of England, was one of the moft eminent Divines of his Time, fays Knighton, Profeffor of Divinity in Oxford, and preferred to the Wardenship of Canterbury College by the Founder Archbishop Islip, but was afterwards turned out by Archbishop Langham; who alfo got an Order from King Richard the 23. to the Univerfity to banish him, which it complied with. Wickliff being thus perfecuted, and his Doctrines condemned by a Synod at London, went into Bohemia, but afterwards returned into England, and lived the Remainder of his Time, and died undisturbed at his Parish of Lutterworth in Leicestershire, Anno 1384. His Bones were dug up Forty Years after, and ordered to be burnt, by a Decree of the Council of Conftance, and his Afhes caft into the next River Anno 1428, thinking thereby to damn and obliterate his Memory.

Against this Translation (after it had been ordered to be burnt) Butler, a Francifcan, wrote his Treatife Anno 1401, wherein he alledges, that the promifcuous Ufe of the Scriptures hath been a great Occafion of Errors and Herefies, and therefore they ought to be withheld from the People. About the fame time one Sillby preached a Sermon at Paul's Crofs before the Bishop of London on this fubject: He was oppofed by fome, who objected to him the Authority of many learned Men; among the rest of Hampole before mentioned. They alfo applied to him that Saying of St. Paul's to Elymas the Sorcerer, Atts xiii. 10. Ö full of Subtlety and all Mischief, thou Child of the Devil, thou Enemy of all Righteoufnefs, wilt thou not ceafe to pervert the right Ways of the Lord?

Fox, in his Preface before his Édition of the Saxon Golpels, printed Anno 1571, tells us; that in a Parliament in the Reign of Richard the 2d. a Bill was brought in for prohibiting all Bibles in the English Tongue, but was thrown out: John Duke of Lancaster, a Favourer of Wickliff, inveighed fharply against it, faying, We will not be the Dregs (the Tail) of all Mankind, feeing other Nations have the Law of God (which is the Rule of our Faith) in their own Tongues; which (with an Oath) he said he would maintain against thofe that brought in the Bill. Others added, that if the Gospel in the English was the Caufe of Errors and Herefies in the World; let them confider that there were more Hereticks amongst the Latins, than amongst those that used any other Tranflation; for the Popes Decrees reckon up Sixty-Six Hereticks that use the Latin. This Primate Uher places to the Year 1390.

Anno 1394. Ann Sifter to Wenceslaus King of Bohemia, and Queen to Rithard the 2d. King of England, died; at whofe Funeral Thomas Arundel, at that Time Archbishop of York, made her Funeral Oration; in this he especially commended her, for that fhe, tho' a Foreigner (a Bobemian) conftantly ftudied the Four Gofpels, which the read in the English Tongue, with fome learned Comments thereon.

It seems there were then extant, various Tranflations of the Bible, and that several others befides Wickliff had undertaken that Work. So then it is no Innovation to tranflate the Scriptures; and lefs to fuffer thofe Tranflations to be promifcuously read by all Sorts of People. It VOL. III.

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was, we know, feverely imputed to the Scribes and Pharifees by our Saviour, that they took from the People the Key of Knowledge, by their falfe Gloffes and Interpretations, Luke xi. 52; but they never attempted what hath been fince practifed by the Church of Rome, to take away the Ark of the Teftament itfelf, and cut off not only the Efficacy, but the very Poffeffion of the Word of God from the People; as if they were fo afraid they should understand them, that they dare not suffer them fo much as to be acquainted with them. For in the Year 1407, Tays Archbishop Uber, 1406, fays Archbishop Parker, 1408, fays Linwood and Collier, Arundel Archbishop of Canterbury in a Synod held at Oxford to give a Check to the Progrefs of the Lollards, decreed in thefe Words, Can. 7. It is a dangerous Thing, as St. Jerom affures us, to tranflate the Scriptures, it being very difficult in a Verfion to keep clofe to the Senfe of the Infpired Writers; for by the Confeffion of the fame Father, be bad miftaken the Meaning of feveral Texts. We therefore conflitute and ordain, that from hence-forward no un-authorized Person shall tranflate any Part of Holy Scripture into English, or any other Language, under any Form of Book or Treatife; neither shall any fuch Book, Treatile, or Verfion, made either in Wickliff's Time, or fince, or which hereafter fhail be made, be read either in Whole or in Part, Publickly or Privately, under the Penalty of the Greater Excommunication, till the faid Tranflation fhall be approved either by the Bishop of the Diocefe, or a Provincial Council, as Occafion fhall require. And whosoever shall do contrary hereunto, fhall be punished as an Encourager of Herefies and Errors. Whereupon enfued grievous Perfecutions.

The Words feem to intimate, that there were English Translations of the Bible more ancient than that of Wickliff, and that the Ufe of them had never been by any Law prohibited before. Gafcoign in his Dictionary makes this Obfervation on the manner of Arundel's Death; that he was feized with a Diftemper in his Tongue, fo that he could neither fwallow nor fpeak for fome Days before he died, which many looked upon as a Judgment upon him for not fuffering the Scriptures to be read in his Time.

The reading of Wickliff's Tranflation was prohibited, as appears by this Canon, not fimply as a Verfion in the Vulgar Tongue, but as difapproved by the Church, because the Tranflator was not thought to have rendered the Original faithfully; and according to the full Import and true Meaning of the Text, or at leaft because it was not a Work of Authority, it being not thought convenient to allow every private Perfon the Liberty of tranflating the Scriptures. Archbishop Arundel, one would think, could not be of Opinion, that it was fimply unlawful to render, or to read the Holy Scriptures in the Vulgar Tongue; because he had juftly applauded Queen Ann for reading them (as was before obferv'd) and in thofe very Conftitutions which prohibit the reading of Wickliff's Books, or any other Verfion by Perfons unauthorized, it is declared, this Prohibition fhould only continue in Force, 'till fuch Tranflation fhould be approved by a Provincial Council, or the Bishop of the Diocese; which fuppofes in the Judgment of that Prelate, there might be Reason why fuch Tranflation fhould be approved, when faithfully done, and by Perfons duly authorized to that end.

About this Time Pope Alexander the 5th condemned all Tranflations

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of the Scriptures in the Vulgar Tongue, of whom it was prophefied, that in the Year 1409 one fhould arife, that should perfecute the Gofpel, Epiftles, and Faith of Chrift.

Stow records, that Reginald Peacock, Bishop of Chichester, spent many Years in tranflating the Scriptures into English, for which (amongst other Heretical Opinions) he was profecuted by the Bishops, and deprived of his See Anno 1457. But Mr. Wharton in his Auttarium, p. 444. fays, this is a manifeft Miftake, whereas there is no Mention of any thing of this in the Catalogue of his Writings, published by himfelf a little before his Death. Neither doth any thing of this appear in the Articles exhibited against him, which would not have been omitted, it being a Crime condemned in the Synod at Oxford, in the Beginning of this Century by Archbishop Arundel. Nevertheless he thought they ought to be tranflated for the Ufe of all, as appears from feveral Places in his Writings; that they are a Privilege and Right of every Member of the Chriftian Church, which cannot, without Impiety to God, and Injustice to it and them, be taken away and impeach'd, tho' fome fhould make a wrong Ufe of them; and exhorts all to the diligent Reading of them.

Men and Women were now frequently delated (amongst other Articles) for reading the New Testament in English, condemned by the Church, and delivered over to the Secular Magiftrate to be punished. But this did not produce the defigned Effect. This Cruelty was looked on as an Evidence of a weak Čaufe; this Method wrought only on Peoples Fears, and made them more cautious and reserved, but did not at all work on their Reasons or Affections. The Corruptions of the Church of Rome in her Worship and Doctrine were fuch, that a very fmall Proportion of common Senfe, but with a tranfient Look on the New Teftament, difcovered them, and laid open the Impoftures with which the World had been abused.

On the spreading of Luther's Doctrine in the Reign of King Henry the 8th, William Tyndal alias Hickins, bred firft in Oxford, then in Cambridge, being molefted and vexed by the Romish Priests upon the Account of Religion, was forced to leave the Realm, and travelled into the farther Parts of Germany, where he converfed with Luther and other learned Men of those Parts. After fome Time he came down into the Netherlands, and fixed at Antwerp; where, confidering with himself how to reduce his Brethren and Country-men of England to the fame State and Understanding of God's Holy Word and Truth, which the Lord had endued him withal, thought no Way or Means more likely to conduce thereunto, than if the Scriptures were tranflated into the Vulgar Tongue, that the poor People might alfo read and fee the plain Word of God. Whereupon he began with the New Teftament, and, with the Help of one John Fryth, tranflated it out of the Greek Original, Finished, Printed, and Publifhed it; to which he added fome short Gloffes. Fryth was bred at Cambridge, where he made a confiderable Proficiency in the Latin and Greek Languages. His Parts and Improvements made him taken Notice of by Cardinal Wolfey, who defigned him, with some other Perfons of Eminence, for his new Foundation of Christ's-Church in Oxford; but in July 1552, he was burnt in Smith

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field for an Heretick. This is the firft Time the Holy Scriptures were printed in English, (and that was only the New Teftament) but written Copies thereof, of Wickliff's Tranflation, there were long before, and many: This was printed in fome Foreign Parts, perhaps at Hamborough or Antwerp, about the Year 1526; for in this Year Cardinal Wolfey and the Bishops confulted together for the prohibiting the New Teftament of Tyndal's Tranflation to be read, and published a Prohibition against it in all their Diocefes; alledging, that fome of Luther's Followers had erroneously tranflated the New Teftament, and had corrupted the Word of God, by a falfe Tranflation and Heretical Gloffes: therefore they required all Incumbents to charge all within their Parishes, that had any of thefe, to bring them in to the Vicar General, within Thirty Days after that Premonition, under the Pains of Excommunication, and incurring the Sufpicion of Herefy. This Year alfo Tonftal Bishop of London, and Sir Tho. More bought up almoft the whole Impreffion, and burnt them at Paul's Crofs. This firft Tranflation of Tyndal's, Garrat (alias Garrard) Curate of Hony-Lane (afterwards burnt for Herefy) difperfed in London and Oxford among the Scholars.

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After this Tyndal took in hand to tranflate the Old Teftament, and finishing the Five Books of Mofes, with Prologues prefixed before every one, and minding to print the fame at Hamborough, failed thitherward; but, by the Way, on the Coaft of Holland fuffered Shipwreck, where he loft all his Books, Writings, and Copies, which doubled his Pains. He came in another Ship to Hamborough, where he lighted on the Help of Miles Coverdale, a Yorkshire Man born, who had fome time been Fryer of the Order of St. Auftin, but being convinced of the Errors and Superftition of that Church and Fraternity, went into Germany, and for the most Part lived at Tubing, an Univerfity belonging to the Duke of Saxony, where he received the Degree of Doctor; but returning into England the first Year of King Edward the 6th, and growing into great Esteem for Piety and diligent Preaching, he was made Bishop of Exeter Anno 1551. In Queen Mary's Time he was taken into Cuftody, and there remained a confiderable Time; but at the Interceffion of the King of Denmark, he was fet at Liberty, and permitted to go beyond Sea Settling at Geneva, he there became fo fond of Calvin, and his Opinions, that upon his Return under Queen Elizabeth, tho' he affifted at the Confecration of Archbishop Parker, yet he refused to conform to the Liturgy and Ceremonies, and not returning to his Bishoprick, fettled himself in London, and there leading a private Life, died a very old Man, and was buried in St. Magnus Church near London Bridge. This man affifted Tyndal in tranflating the whole Five Books of Mofes, from Eafter, 'till December, about the Year 1529, and they went safely through their Work.

Tyndal's Tranflation of the New Testament had great Authority and Influence; of which the Bishops made great Complaints, and said it was full of Errors. And Tonftal being at Antwerp in the Year 1529, as he returned from his Embaffy at the Treaty of Cambray, fent for one Auflin Packington, an English Merchant there, and defired him to see how many New Teftaments of Tyndal's Tranflation he might have for Money. Packington, who was a fecret Favourer of Tyndal, told him what the

Bishop

Bishop proposed. Tyndal was very glad of it, for being fenfible of fome Faults in his Work, he was defigning a new and more correct Edition; but wanting Money, and the former Impreffion being not fold off, he could not go about it. So he gave Packington all the Copies that lay in his Hands, for which the Bithop paid the Price, brought them over, and burnt them publickly in Cheapfide. This Collier calls an odd Story,. and makes this Reflection on it: Thus Packington cheated Bishop Tonftal of his Money, and Tyndal received it. Coll. Ecclef. Hift. Vol. 2. p. 22.

The Burning of thefe Books had fuch an hateful Appearance in it, being generally called the Burning of the Word of God, that People concluded from thence, that there must be a visible Contrariety between this Book, and the Doctrines of thofe who fo ufed it; by which both their Prejudice against the Clergy, and their Defire of reading the New Teftament were increased.

Upon this, Tyndal revised his Tranflation of the New Teftament, corrected it, and caused it again to be printed, Anno 1530. The Books, finished, were privately fent over to Tyndal's Brother, John Tyndal and Thomas Patmore Merchants, and another young Man, and were received and dispersed by them; for which having been taken up by the Bishop of London, they were adjudged in the Star-Chamber, Sir Thomas More being then Lord Chancellor, to ride with their Faces to the Horse Tail, having Papers on their Heads, and the New Teftaments and other Books, which they had difperfed, to be hanged about them, and at the Standard in Cheapfide, themselves to throw them into a Fire made for that purpose, and then to be fined at the King's Pleasure, which Penance they obferved; the Fine fet upon them was heavy enough, 18840 Pounds and 10 Pence.

At the fame Time Conftantine, one of Tyndal's Affociates, being taken in England, the Lord Chancellor More, in a private Examination, promised that no Hurt should be done him, if he would reveal who encouraged and fupported them at Antwerp; which he accepted of, and told him, that the greatest Encouragement they had, was from the Bishop of London, who had bought up half the Impreffion.

When the Clergy condemned Tyndal's Tranflation of the New Teftament, they declared, they intended to fet out a new Tranflation of it, which many thought was truly never defigned, but only pretended, that they might reftrain the Curiofity of feeing Tyndal's Works, with the Hopes of one that thould be authorized. For on the 24th of May 1530, there was a Form of a Writing drawn and agreed to by Archbifhop Worbam, Chancellor More, Bishop Tonftal, and many Canonifts and Divines, which every Incumbent was commanded to read to his Parish, as a Warning to prevent the Contagion of Herefy; the Contents of which were, (as far as concerns this Bufinefs) That the King having called together many of the Prelates, with other learned Men out of both Universities, to examine fome Books lately set out in the Englifb Tongue, they had agreed to condemn them, as containing feveral Points of Herefy in them; and it being propofed to them, whether it was neceffary to fet forth the Scriptures in the Vulgar Tongue, they were of Opinion, that tho' it had been fometimes

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