done, and the Holy Fathers of the Church thought meet and convenient to put them into the common Peoples Hands, yet at this Time it was not neceffary; and that the King and the Prelates, in not fuffering the Scriptures to be divulged and communicated to the People in the English Tongue, did well; but that the King would cause the New Teftament to be by learned Men faithfully and purely tranflated, to the intent he might have it in his Hands, ready to give to his People, as he might fee their Manners and Behaviour meet, apt, and convenient to receive the fame.

This Year alfo the Bishops had procured of the King a Proclamation to be fet forth for the prohibiting and abolishing of divers Books, amongst which is the New Teftament of Tyndal.

Tyndal having difpofed his Bufinefs at Hamborough, and returned to Antwerp, proceeded in tranflating the Old Teftament, and did as far as Nehemiah inclufively, but tranflated none of the Prophets, fave Jonah, being prevented by Death. Probably he rendred the Old Teftament out of the Latin, having little or no Skill in the Hebrew. None will deny that many Faults needing Amendment are found in his Tranflation, which is no Wonder to those that confider, 1ft, That fuch an Undertaking was not a Task for a Man, but men. 2dly, Tyndal being an Exile, wanted many Accommodations, 3dly, His Skill in Hebrew was not confiderable; yea, generally, Learning in Languages, was then but in its Infancy. 4thly, Our English Tongue was not improved to that Expreffiveness at which it is now arrived, But yet what he undertook, was to be commended as profitable; wherein he failed, to be excufed as pardonable, and to be attributed rather to the Account of that Age, than of the Author himself: His Pains were useful, had his Translation no other Good, but to help towards the making of a better, our last Tranflators having it in exprefs Charge from King James, to confult Tyndal's Tranflation,

When the Teftament of Tyndal's Tranflation came over into England, the Popish Clergy were extreamly incenfed; fome faid, It was not poffible to tranflate the Scriptures into English; Some, That it was not lawful for the Lay People to have them in their Mother Tongue; Some, That it would make them all Hereticks. And to the Intent to induce the Temporal Rulers alfo to their Purpose, they said, That the tranflating thereof would make Men rebel against the King. Moreover they fcanned and examined every Title and Point in the faid Tranflation in fuch fort, and fo narrowly, that there was not one [i] therein, but if it lacked a Tittle over its Head, they did note it, and number it to the ignorant People for an Herefy. But yet fome were not so much angry with the Text, as with Tyndal's Comment, his Preface before, and Notes upon the fame. In fine, they did not only procure his Book to be burnt in St. Paul's Church-Yard, (for Stokefly Bithpo of London caufed all the New Teftaments of Tyndal, and many other Books, which he had bought up, to be openly burnt) but alfo their Malice contrived and affected the ftrangling and burning of Tyndal in Flanders, Anno 1536. So that this Work met with great Difcouragements; which was not frange, cipecially confidering that it happened in fuch a Time, when many printed Pamphlets did difturb the State (and fome of them of Tyndal's

mak

making) which feemed to tend unto Sedition, and the Change of Go

vernment.

The Papal Power being taken out of the Way, and the King's Supremacy fettled in Parliament in November 1534, a Way was opened for Reformation of Errors and Abufes in Religion. Archbishop Cranmer, upon his first Entrance upon his Dignity, had it much in his Mind, to get the Holy Scriptures put into the Vulgar Language, and a Liberty for all to read them; for the accomplishing of which, he let flip no Opportunity; and one was shortly afforded him. The Clergy (as was before obferved) when they procured Tyndal's Tranflation to be condemned and fuppreffed, gave out, that they intended to make a Translation into the Vulgar Tongue; yet. it was afterwards, upon a long Confultation, refolved, that it was free for the Church to give the Bible in a Vulgar Tongue, or not, as they pleafed, and that the King was not obliged to it. Upon which thofe that promoted a Reformation, made great Complaints, and faid, That it was vifible the Clergy knew there was an Oppofition between the Scriptures, and their Doctrines; that they had first condemned Wickliff's Tranflation, and then Tyndal's. And tho they ought to teach Men the Word of God, yet they did all they could to fupprefs it. It was now therefore generally defired, that if there were juft Exceptions against what Tyndal, had done, thefe might be mended in a new Tranflation. These, and the like Arguments, were very plaufible, and wrought much on all that heard them, who plainly concluded that thofe who denied the People the Ufe of the Scriptures in the Vulgar Tongue, muft needs know their Doctrine and Practices to be inconfiftent with them. Upon these Grounds, Cranmer, who was projecting the most effectual Means for promoting a Reformation of Doctrine, moved in Convocation Anno 1535, that they should petition the King for leave to make a Translation of the Bible, by fome learned Men of his Highness's Nomination. Gardiner Bishop of Winchester and all his Party oppofed it, both in Convocation, and in Secret with the King. But Cranmer's Party prevailed in the two Houses of Convocation, and fo they petitioned the King, that he fhould give Order to fome to fet about it. And as this good Motion was made in the Houfe by the Archbishop, fo they agreed upon him to carry their Petition. To this again great Oppofition was made at Court. Some on the one Hand told the King, That a Diversity of Opinions would rife out of it, and that be could no more govern his Subjects, if he gave way to that. But on the other Hand it was reprefented, That nothing would make his Supremacy fo Acceptable to the Nation, and make the Pope more Hateful, than to let them fee, that whereas the Popes had governed them by a blind Obedience, and kept them in Darkness, the King brought them into Light, and gave them the free Ufe of the Word of God; and that nothing would more effectually extirpate the Pope's Authority, and difcover the Impoftures of the Monks, than the Bible in English, in which all People would clearly difcern there was no Foundation for thofe Things. Thefe Arguments, joined with the Power Queen Ann had in his Affections, were fo much confidered by the King, that he gave Orders for fetting about it immediately. The Archbifhop, whofe Mind ran very much upon bringing in the free Ufe of the Scriptures among the People, and by Cromwell's Means having got

E 4

leave

leave (as we have heard) from the King, that it might be done and printed, put on vigorously the Tranflation. And that it might not be prohibited, as it had been before, upon Pretence of the Ignorance or Unfaithfulness of the Tranflators, he proceeded in this Manner. First he began with the Translation of the New Testament, taking an old English Translation thereof, which he divided into Nine or Ten Parts, causing each Part to be written at large in a Paper Book, and then to be fent to the beft learned Bishops and others, to the Intent that they fhould make a perfect correction thereof: And when they had done, he required them to fend back their Parts, fo corrected, to him to Lambeth, by a Day limited for that Purpose. And the fame Course, it is probable, he took with the Old Teftament. The Alts of the Apostles was fent to Stokely Bishop of London, to overfee and correct. When the Day came, every Man fent to Lambeth their Parts corrected, only Stokely's Portion was wanting. My Lord of Canterbury wrote to the Bishop a Letter for his Part, requiring him to deliver it unto the Meffenger his Secretary. He received the Archbishop's Letter at Fulham, unto which he made this Answer, I marvel what my Lord of Canterbury meaneth, that thus abufeth the People, in giving them Liberty to read the Scriptures, which doth nothing else but infect them with Herefy. I have bestowed never an Hour upon my Portion, nor ever will, and therefore my Lord fhall have this Book again, for I will never be guilty of bringing the fimple Folk into Error. My Lord of Canterbury's Servant took the Book, and brought the fame to Lambeth unto my Lord, declaring my Lord of London's Anfwer. When the Archbishop perceived that Stokely had done nothing therein, I marvel, faith he, that my Lord of London is fo froward, that he will not do as other Men do, Mr. Thomas Lawney Chaplain to the Old Duke of Norfolk standing by, and hearing the Archbishop speak of Stokely's Untowardliness, faid, I can tell your Grace, why my Lord of London will not beftow any Labour or Pains this Way; your Grace knoweth well, that his Portion is a Piece of the New Teltament: But he being perfuaded that Christ had not bequeathed him any Thing in his Teftament, thought it mere Madness to beflow any Labour or Pains, where no Gain was to be gotten. And befides this, it is the A&s of the Apoftles, which were fimple poor Fellows, and therefore my Lord of London difdained to have to do with any of them. The Archbishop could not fee his Defire effected by thofe Men, 'till it was happily done by other Hands.

of

Anno 1537, the Bible, containing the Old and New Teftament, called Matthews's Bible, of Tyndal's and Rogers's Tranflation, came forth. It was printed by Grafton and Whitchurch at Hamborough, to the Number 1500 Copies, amounting to 5co Pounds, a great Sum in thofe Days. The Corrector of the Prefs was John Rogers, a learned Divine; he had his Education in Cambridge; was afterwards Chaplain to the English Factory at Antwerp; flourished a great while in Germany, and was Superintendant of a Church there: he was afterwards Prebendary of St. Paul's in King Edward the 6th's Time, but being tinctured with a Foreign Leaven, was unconformable to the Liturgy, and Ceremonies of our Church; however he became the first Martyr in the next Reign, Willium Tyndal, with the Help of Miles Coverdale, had tranflated Part of

it (as I before noted) and what they did had been printed Anno 1532. The Whole was finished and printed Anno 1535, with a Dedication to King Henry the 8th by Miles Coverdale (Tyndal being then in Prison), and was called Coverdale's Bible. The Year following, viz, 1536. Cromwell, the King's Vicegerent, published his Injunctions to the Cegy; the Subftance of the Seventh was, That every Parfon or Proprietary of a Church, bould provide a Bible in Latin and English to be laid in the Choir, for every one to read at their Pleasure. But here they were to precaution the People against falling into Controverfy about difficult Paffages. They were to exhort them to Modefty and Sobriety in ̧ the Ufe of this Liberty; and where they found themfelves intangled, to apply to Perfons of Learning and Character. After this, a fecond Impreffion was defigned, but before it could be finished, Tyndal, was put to Death in Flanders for his Religion; and his Name then growing into, Ignominy, as one burnt for an Heretick, they thought it might prejudice the Book, if he should be named for the Tranflator thereof, and fo they used a feigned Name, calling it Thomas Matthews's Bible, tho' Tyndal, before his Death, fome fay, had finished all but the Apocrypha, which was tranflated by Rogers, but others fay, he had gone no farther than the End of Nehemiah. Bale fays, Rogers tranflated the Bible into English, from Genefis to the End of the Revelations, making Use of the Hebrew, Greek, Latin, German, and English (i. e. Tyndal's) Copies. He added Prefaces and Marginal Notes out of Luther, and dedi-, cated the whole Book to King Henry the 8th, under the Name of Tho. Matthews, by an Epiftle prefixed, minding to conceal his own Name. In this Edition there was a fpecial Table collected of the Common Places in the Bible, and Texts of Scripture for proving the fame; and chiefly the common Places of the Lord's Supper, the Marriage of Priests, and the Maís, of which it was there faid, that it was not to be found in Scripture.

When Grafton had finished this Work, he prefented it to the Lord Cromwell and the Archbishop, who liked very well of it. Cromwell at the Archbishop's Requeft, prefented it to the King, and obtained that the fame might be both bought and used by all indifferently; for which the Archbishop was full of Gladnefs and Gratitude, and wrote two Letters to him foon after one another, affuring him, That, for his Part, it was fuch a Content to his Mind, that he could not have done him a greater Pleafure, if he had given him a Thousand Pounds. Grafton alfo writ his Letter of Thanks for the Countenance and Affiftance he gave to this pious Work all along, and thofe that were concerned and imployed in the doing of it; and for procuring the King's gracious Licence, which was thought fit to be fignified in the Title Page in Red Letters, thus, Set forth with the King's most gracious License: But several would not believe that the King had licenced it, and therefore he defired further of Cromwell, that he would get it licenced under the Privy-Seal, which would be a Defence for the prefent, and for the future. And as the Printer had addreffed to Cromwell for the Privy-Seal, fo he apprehended now a farther Need of the Corroboration of Authority, upon another Account; For fome obferving how exceedingly acceptable the English Bible was to the common People, were defigning to print it in a lefs

Volume,

Volume, and a finaller Letter, whereby it would come to pafs that Grafton would be under-fold, and fo he and his Creditors would be undone: And befides, it was like to prove a very ill Edition, and very erroneous, because the Printers here were generally Dutchmen, that could neither fpeak nor write tolerable English; nor, for Covétousness, would they allow any learned Man any thing at all to overfee and correct what they printed. Therefore he defired one Favour more of the Lord Cromwell, viz. to obtain for him of the King, that none should print the Bible for three Years but himself. And for the better and quicker Sale of his Books, he defired alfo, that by his Command, in the King's Name, every Curate might be obliged to have one, that they might learn to know God, and inftruct their Parishioners; and that every Abby fhould have Six, to be laid in feveral Places of the Convent.

The Holy Bible was now published, and appointed to be had in every Parish Church, by Cromwell's Injunctions published Anno 1538. The fame Year the Church of Hereford being vacant by the Death of Fox, Cranmer held a Vifitation in it, where he left fome Injunctions to all Parfons, Vicars, and other Curates, by which they were enjoined to have, by the first of August, a whole Bible in Latin and English, or at the least a New Teftament in the fame Languages: That they thould every Day ftudy one Chapter of the faid Bible or New Testament, conferring the Latin and English together; to begin at the Beginning of the Book, and fo continue to the End. That they fhould not discourage any Lay-men from reading the Book, but encourage them to it, and to read it for the Reformation of their Lives, and Knowledge of their Duty.

But herein the Waywardness of the Priests was obfervable; they read confufedly the Word of God, and the Injunctions fet forth, and commanded by them to be read; humming and hawing, and hauking thereat, that scarce any could understand them. They bad their Parifhioners, notwithstanding what they read, being compelled fo to do, That they should do as they did in Times paft; to live as their Fathers; and that the old Fashion is the best; and other crafty and feditious Sayings they gave our among them.

Notwithstanding this, it was wonderful to fee with what Joy this Book of God was received, not only among the learneder Sort, and those that were noted for Lovers of the Reformation, but generally all England over, among all the vulgar and common People; and with what Greediness God's Word was read, and what Refort to Places where the reading of it was. Every body, that could, bought the Book, or busily read it, or got others to read it to them, if they could not themselves, and divers more elderly People learned to read on purpose.

After this fecond Edition, Grafton, and the rest of the Merchants concerned in the Work, thinking they had not Stock enough to supply all the Nation, and this being of a Volume not large enough; and confidering the Prologues, and Marginal Notes gave Offence to fome; and being put on by thofe that favoured the Golpel, that as many as could be, might be printed, for difperfing the Knowledge of Chrift,

and