taking the Work; neither was any thing done to disparage the former Tranflation, which they moftly followed, and esteemed next to the Original. And as for the Variety of Tranflations, they are to be looked upon as a fpecial Bleffing of Providence, that by this Means the Divine Pleasure is farther communicated, and a fuller Provifion made for general Instruction, and the Perplexity of the Text often difintangled.

The next Year 1569, the Archbishop put out another Impreffion of it in large Onavo, for the Ufe of private Families, which could not purchase the Folio, that fo they might be supplied with the Sacred Bible. And in a Convocation convened 1571, in April, a Book of Canons paffed, wherein it was required, That every Bishop fhould caufe the Holy Bible in the largest Volume, to be fet up in fome convenient Place of bis Hall or Parlor, that as well thofe of his own Family, as all fuch Strangers as refort to him, might have recourfe to it, if they pleased. Which Canon feems to have been made for keeping up the Reputation of the English Bibles, publickly authorized for the Ufe of this Church, the Credit and Authority of which Translation, was much decried by thofe of the Genevean Faction, to advance their own.

This Bible was again reprinted the next Year 1572, with feveral Corrections and Amendments: Before it is a Preface by Archbishop Parker on the Old Teftament, and another to the New, together with Cranmer's Prologue before the Bible. It hath all along many Marginal References and Notes, and many ornamental Cuts, and inftructive Pictures difperfed up and down, and divers useful Tables.

In 1575 there was a Convocation, when on the 17th of March, Archbishop Grindal being prefent, several Articles were read, and afterwards fubfcribed by both Houfes, for the Regulation of the Clery. By the Eleventh the Bishops were to take Care, That all Incumbents and Curates under the Degree of Master of Arts, and not Preachers, should provide themselves the New Testament, both in Latin and English er Welth, read a Chapter every Day, and compare the Tranflations together.

And in 1583 Archbishop Whitgift published his Vifitation Articles, wherein it was ordered, That one Kind of Tranflation of the Bible be only ufed in publick Service, as well in Churches as Chapels, and that to be the fame which is now authorized by the Confent of the Bishops. From whence it is probable the Archbishop might be fenfible, the Geneva Traflation was ufed in fome Parishes.

Wood in his Athena Oxonienfes, Vol. 1. p. 297. tells us one Lawrence Tompfen, an under Secretary to Secretary Walfingham, made a new Verfion of the New Teftament from Beza's Latin Translation, together with a Tranflation of Beza's Notes, but very feldom varied from the Geneva Tranflation.

And now the Proteftants had made Translations of the Bible, into the Languages of their feveral Countries, that the People might read the Holy Scriptures. Hereupon the Romanifts made new Trandations also, into moft Languages of Europe, to oppofe those of the Here ticks (as they called them) and to keep the Faithful (thofe of their

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Communion, they mean) from reading Tranflations made by Protestants; with this Difference, that the Papists have tranflated from the Vulgar Latin, as being not only better than all other Latin Tranflations, but than the Greek of the New Testament itself, in thofe Places where they disagree, as they would make their Adverfaries themselves confefs; whereas the Proteftants have had recourfe to the Hebrew and Greek, which they look upon as true Originals. When they could not altogether fupprefs the Knowledge of the Holy Scriptures, whereby their Errors are discovered, they thought it the next way for their Purpose, by their partial Tranflation, as much as they could, to obfcure them, and by their Heretical Annotations to pervert them, that the one should make them unprofitable, the other also hurtful. Thus Anno 1582, came forth the Rhemifb Tranflation of the New Teflament, neither good Greek, Latin, nor English, being every where befpeckled with hard Words, (pretended not to be rendred into English without Abatement of fome Expreffivenefs) which tranfcended common Capa-cities; befides it is taxed of abominable Errors therein. They tell us in the Preface, They do not publish this Tranflation upon an erroneous Opinion of Neceffity that the Holy Scriptures fhould always be in our Mother Tongue, or that they ought, or were ordained by God, to be read indifferently of all; or could be easily underflood of every one, that readeth or heareth them in a known Language; or that they were not often, through Mens Malice or Infirmity, pernicious and much hurtful to many; or that they generally and abfolutely deemed it more convenient in itfelf, and more agreeable to God's Word and Honour, or Edification of the Faithful, to have them turned into vulgar Tongues, than to be kept and fludied only in the Ecclefiaftical learned Languages; or that every one who underflood the learned Languages wherein the Scriptures were written, or other Languages into which they were tranflated, might, without Reprehenfion, read them; not for thefe or any fuch like Caufes did they tranflate this facred Book; but having Compaffion to fee their beloved Countrymen, with extreme Danger of their Souls (as they would have them believe) to ufe fuch profane Tranflations, and erroneous Mens mere Fancies, for the pure and bleed Word of Truth, they fet forth the New Teftament to begin withal, trufting that it may give Occafion to them, after diligent perufing thereof, to lay away at least fuch impure Verfions (as they termed them) as hitherto they have made use of. They added large Annotations, to fhew (they faid) the ftudious Reader, in most Places pertaining to the Controverfies of thofe Times, both the Heretical Corruptions, and falfe Deductions, and alfo the Apoftolick Tradition, the Expofitions of the Holy Fathers, the Decrees of the Catholick Church, and most ancient Councils. It was printed in large Paper, with a fair Letter and Margin; which fome interpreted to be purpofely done, to enhance the Price, to put it past the Power of common People to purchafe it. But if the Lay Romanifts fhould fecretly purchase one of thefe Rhemifh Teftaments, he durft not own the reading thereof, without the Permiffion of his Superiours licenfing him thereunto.

Secretary Walfingbam, by his Letters, follicited Mr. Thomas Cartwright to undertake the confuting this Rhemish Translation; and the better to enable him to undertake the Work, fent him an Hundred Pounds out of his own Purfe. Walfingham's Letters to Cartwright, are seconded

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by another from the Doctors and Heads of Houfes (and Dr. Fulk amongst the reft) at Cambridge, besides the Importunity of the Minister of London and Suffolk, foliciting him to the fame Purpose. HereuponCartwright fet to the Bufinefs, and was very forward in the Purfuance thereof; of which Archbishop Whitgift had no fooner Notice, but prefently he prohibited his farther Proceeding therein. Many commended his Care, not to intrust the Defence of the Doctrine of the Church of England, to a Pen fo difaffected to the Discipline thereof. Others blamed his Jealoufy, to deprive the Church of fo learned Pains of him whole Judgement would fo folidly, and Affections so zealously confute the publick Adverfary. Difheartened hereat, Cartwright desisted; but fome Years hereafter, encouraged by a Perfon of Quality, he re-affumed the Work, but, prevented by Death, perfected no farther than the 15th Chapter of the Revelations. Many Years lay this Work neglected, and the Copy thereof Moufe-eaten in part, whence the Printer excused fome Defects therein in his Edition, which though late, yet at laft came forth Anno 1618. Mean time whilft Cartright's Refutation of the Rhemish Tranflations was thus retarded, Dr. William Fulk Master of Pembroke Hall in Cambridge, entred the Lift against it, judicioufly and learnedly. performing his Undertaking therein.

The Rhemists profefs in their Preface to the New Taftament, That the Old Teftament alfo lieth by them, for lack of good Means to publish the whole in fuch fort, as a Work of fo great Charge and Importance requireth. Out of Fear it arifeth, that they which hitherto could not endure the Holy Scriptures to be read of the People in their Mother Tongue, now left they should utterly fall from the Hope of their Gain, through a vehement Sufpicion of Jugling and playing under-board with the People, are constrained to profefs a Readiness to print that, which they fometimes burned, and pretend an Allowance of that, which in Times past they condemned. They were wont to boast of the Zeal of Popes, Cardinals, and other great Prelates of the Romish Sect, for the Converfion of our Nation, and reducing it unto their Obedience: Were they all fo ftrait-laced, that none of them could find wherewith to bear the Charges of printing a Work so neceffary, or at least-wife profitable, as they pretend the Tranflations of the Scriptures to be for the Mainte-mance of the Catholick Religion? But about fome Twenty Years after, that long looked for Work crept forth into the World, little Notice being taken thereof by the Proteftants, partly because there was no great Eminency therein to intitle it to their Perufal; and partly because that Part of the Bible is of leaft Concernment in the Controversy betwixt us and the Church of Rome.

In the latter end of Queen Elizabeth's Reign, Ambrofe Uber Brother to Dr. James Ufher, Primate of Ardmagb, having attained to great Skill and Perfection in the Oriental Tongues, rendred much of the Old Teftament from the original Hebrew into English, but it was never made publick.

King James the First being come to the Crown Anno 1603, the Prefbyterian Party made their Application fpeedily to him, in Hopes to have their Government fet up. And the King having received a Petition from certain Persons of over zealous Spirits, against the Establish

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ed Government and Liturgy in the Church, appointed a Conference to be held at Hampton Court, the 14th of January 1604 for the fettling the Peace of the Church, and the quieting the Complaints of its Ad÷ verfaries. Here Dr. Reynolds, one of the Oppofers of Conformity, moved that the Bible might be anew tranflated, alledging that fuch Tranflations as were then extant, answered not the Original, and he inftanced in three Particulars; Galat. iv. 25. in the Original oveTÒXIT, ill-tranflated, bordereth, Pf. cv. 28, in the Original, They were not difobe dient, ill-tranflated, They were not obedient. Pf. cv. 30. in the Original, Phineas executed Judgment, ill-tranflated, Phineas prayed. To which the King replyed, That he could riever yet fee a Bible well tranflated in English, but thought that of all, that of Geneva was the worft; adding, s wish fome Special Pains was taken for an uniform Tranflation, which should be done by the best learned in both Universities, then reviewed by the Bishops, prefented to the Privy-Council, and lafly ratified by Royal Authority, to be read in the whole Church, and no other. Here Bancroft Bishop of London interpofed, faying, It was fit no Marginal Notes fhould be added thereunto To which the King replyed, That Caveat is well put in, for in the Geneva Tranflation fome Notes are partial, untrue, feditious, and favouring of traiterous Conceits. As when from Exod. i. 19. Difobedience to Kings is allowed in Marginal Note, and 2d Chron. xv. 16. King Afa is taxed in the Note for only depofing his Mother for Idolatry, and not killing her. To these Exceptions may be added two more; the first is their Comment upon the 12th Verse of the 2d of St. Matthew; here they tell us, That Promife ought not to be kept where God's Honour and preaching of his Truth is hindred; or elle it ought not to be broken. What Joofe Cafuiftry is this? What a defperate Expedient is this to justify the Breach of Promises and Oaths; of Contracts between Man and Man? What Infurrections and Confufions have been raised upon this Pretence? The other extraordinary Comment is on Revel. ix. 3. where the Locusts that come out of the Smoke are said to be falfe Teachers, Hereticks, and worldly fubtle Prelates, with Monks, Fryars, Cardinals, Patriarchs, Archbishops, Bishops, Doctors, Batchelors, and Masters; a ftrong Compofition of Ignorance and Ill-will. What broad Inuendo's are here upon the English Clergy, and all thofe diftinguithed with Degrees in the Universities? Thele, it feerns, according to the Skill and Charity of the Genevean Annotators, are Part of the Locufts that came fmoaking out of the bottomlefs Pit.

This produced a Refolution in his Majefty for a new Tranflation, who appointed certain learned Men to the Number of Fifty-four for that Purpose; and to encourage this Work, the King made fome preparatory Advances, as appears by his Letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury of July 22d 1604, wherein he tells him, He had already appointed certain learned Men for the Work, divers of which having either no Ecclefiaftical Preferment at all, or else so very small, that the fame was far unmeet for Men of their Deferts, he gives Directions for the Remedy of it, by taking Care for their Preferment. He alfo requireth all Bifhops, to inform themselves of all fuch learned Men within their feveral Diocefes, as having efpecial Skill in the Hebrew and Greek Tongues, have taken Pains in their private Studies of the Scriptures, for the clearing of any

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Obfcurities either in the Hebrew or in the Greek, or touching any Difficulties or Mistakes in the former English Translation, and to charge them to fend fuch their Obfervations in, to be imparted to the fe veral Companies imployed, that fo the intended Tranflation might have the Help and Furtherance of all the principal learned Men in the Kingdom.

Before this Work was begun, Seven of the Perfons nominated for it, were either Dead, or declined the Tafk; for the Lift of the Tranflators, as given us by Fuller, amounts to but Forty-Seven. This Number was ranged under Six Divifions, and several Parcels of the Bible affigned them, according to the feveral Places, where they were to meet, confer, and confult together. Every one of the Company was to translate the whole Parcel; then they were to compare these together; and when any Company had finished their Part, they were to communicate it to the other Companies, fo that nothing fhould pafs without a general Confent. The Names of the Perfons and Places where they met, together with the Portions of Scripture affigned each Company, were as follow.

Ift, Dr. Lancelot Andrews, firft Fellow, then Mafter of Pembroke Hall in Cambridge, at this Time Dean of Westminster, afterwards Bishop of Ely, then of Winchester. 2dly, Dr. John Overall, Fellow of Trinity College, Mafter of Catherine Hall in Cambridge, at this Time Dean of St. Paul's, afterwards Bifhop, first of Coventry and Litchfield, then of Norwich. 3dly, Dr. Adrian Saravia, a Native of Artois, bred at the University of Leyden, but a ftrong Affertor of Epifcopacy. This Doctrine being difcouraged in his own Country, where the Parity of Minifters was an Article of their publick Confeffion, he caft himfelf upon the Protection of the Church of England, in which he was preferred to be a Prébendary of Canterbury and Westminster, and confidered in other respects to his Satisfaction. 4thly, Dr. Layfield, Fellow of Trinity College in Cambridge, Parfon of St. Clement-Danes; being skilled in Architecture, his Judgment was much relied upon for the Fabrick of the Tabernacle and Temple. 5thly, Dr. Clerk, Fellow of Chrift College in the Cambridge, Preacher in Canterbury; not in the Lift of thofe that met. 6thly, Dr. Leigh, Archdeacon of Middlefex, Parfon of Allhallows Barking. 7thly, Dr. Burgley. 8thly, Mr. King. 9thly, Mr. Thompson. 10thly, Mr. Bedwell, fometime of St. John's College in Cambridge, and Vicar of Tottenham, near London.

These Ten met at Westminster, and to them were affigned the Pentateuch, the Hiftory from Joshua to the First Book of Chronicles exclufively.

2dly, To meet at Cambridge Eight; viz. 1ft, Mr. Lively the King's Hebrew Reader in Cambridge. 2dly, Mr. John Richardfon, Fellow of Emanuel College, afterwards Doctor of Divinity, Master first of PeterHoufe, then of Trinity College. 3dly, Mr. Chadderton, after Doctor in Divinity, Fellow firft of Chrift College, then Mafter of Emanuel. 4thly, Mr. Dillingham, Fellow of Chrift College, beneficed in Bedfordshire, where he died. 5thly, Mr. Andrews, after Doctor in Divinity and Mafter of Jefus College, Brother to the Bishop of Winchester. 6thly, Mr. Harrison Vice-Master of Trinity College. 7thly, Mr. Spalding, Fellow

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