Chap. ii. His motives. The good of many versions. 'in hand and to bestow the gift of their understanding 'thereon'.... Yet in the meantime he saw that there was something for him to do. It was a noble end if he could secure that Holy Scripture should be 'set forth' (as he was able to obtain) 'with the Kynge's most gracious 'license.' And so plainly disclosing his motives he says...'when I considered how great a pity it was that 'we should want it so long and called to my remem'brance the adversity of them which were not only of 'ripe knowledge, but would also with all their hearts 'have performed that they begun if they had not had 'impediment......these and other reasonable causes con'sidered I was more bold to take it in hand. And to 'help me herein I have had sundry translations not only 'in Latin but also of the Dutch (German) interpreters, 'whom because of their singular gifts and special dili'gence in the Bible I have been the more glad to follow 'for the most part, according as I was required. But to 'say the truth before GOD it was neither my labour nor 'desire to have this work put in my hand; nevertheless 'it grieved me that other nations should be more plenteously provided for with the Scripture in their mother 'tongue than we: therefore when I was instantly re'quired, though I could not do so well as I would, I 'thought it yet my duty to do my best and that with a 'good will".' Some good indeed he did hope might permanently remain from his work. As the faithful and honest interpretation of one man it might serve as a kind of comment to another version. ...Divers translations,' he writes, 'understand one 1 Coverdale's Remains, p. 30 (ed. 2 Remains, p. 12 (Prologue). Park. Soc.). 'another and that in the head articles and ground of our The translation of Tyndale went forth to the world The transwithout any dedication or author's name. All that was personal was sunk in the grandeur of the message opened to Englishmen. But it could not be so with Coverdale's. His object was to bring about the open circulation of the Scriptures, and that could only be by securing the king's favour. To this end the work was dedicated to Henry VIII. in language which to us lation dedicated to Henry VIII. Chap. ii. A Latin- now is in many parts strangely painful, though it was not out of harmony with the taste and peculiar circumstances of the time'. ...I thought it my duty,' he says, 'and to belong 'to my allegiance when I had translated this Bible, not 'only to dedicate this translation unto your highness, 'but wholly to commit it unto the same; to the intent 'that if anything therein be translated amiss (for in 'many things we fail even when we think to be sure) 'it may stand in your grace's hands to correct it, to ' amend it, to improve it, yea and clean to reject it, if 'your godly wisdom shall think it necessary.' But even so the spirit of the humble and true scholar asserts itself. For he continues, 'And as I do with all humble'ness submit mine understanding and my poor transla'tion unto the spirit of truth in your grace, so I make 'this protestation, having GOD to record in my conscience, 'that I have neither wrested nor altered so much as one 'word for the maintenance of any manner of sect, but 'have with a clear conscience purely and faithfully trans'lated this out of five sundry interpreters, having only 'the manifest truth of the Scripture before mine eyes?.... Still acting on the broad principle of 'becoming all 'things to all men,' Coverdale afterwards (1538) revised his New Testament according to the Latin and published it with the Vulgate in parallel columns. His great 1 The Dedication of the Autho- 2 Remains, p. 11. executed while Coverdale was in object was to interpret the Latin itself to some who used published by Grafton and Whitchurch, and dedicated to Lord Crumwell. Nycolson however put forth another impression of his edition under the name of John Hollybushe (1538). It is probable that Coverdale simply left instructions with the printer as to how the work should be done, not foreseeing the difficulties which would arise, and that the printer engaged Hollybushe to superintend the work which Coverdale when he saw it disavowed. Coverdale's own Testament is an adaptation of his version to the Latin. Hollybushe's is a new version from the Latin on the basis of Coverdale's. Specimens are given in App. VI. The titles of the two principal editions are the following: The newe testament both Latine and Englyshe ech correspondent to the other after the vulgare text, commonly called S. Ieroms. Faythfully translated by Myles Couerdale Anno MCCCCCXXXVIII...... Printed in Southwarke by James Nicolson. Set forth wyth the Kynges moost gracious licence. The new testament both in Latin and English after the vulgare texte : which is red in the churche. Translated and corrected by Myles Couerdale: and prynted in Paris by Fraunces Regnault. MCCCCCXXXVIII in Nouembre...Cum gratia et privilegio regis. Remains, p. 27. Chap. ii. Chap. ii. Coverdale's Bible not distinctly sanctioned in 1535. 'open thine eyes and consider well the gift of the Holy 'Ghost therein, thou shalt see that one translation declareth, openeth and illustrateth another, and that in 'many places one is a plain commentary unto another'.' It is very difficult to ascertain the exact relation in which the first edition of Coverdale's Bible stood to the by the King civil authority. There can be no doubt that it was undertaken by the desire of Crumwell, and its appearance may have been hastened by the change of feeling which found expression in the resolutions of Convocation in 1534, though it could not have owed its origin to them. But when it was finished in October 1535 Crumwell appears to have been unable to obtain a definite license from the king, or it may be that he thought it more prudent to await the publication of the book. So much is certain that the first edition went forth without any distinct royal sanction. The book was not suppressed, and this was all. But Convocation was not satisfied; and in 1536 they again petitioned that a new translation might be undertaken. Nothing however was done; but the relation in which the king stood to the Papal See had already given greater importance to the public recognition of the supremacy of Scripture. A council held by Crumwell. So it happened that when a council was held in the next year under the presidency of Crumwell, as vicar general, to determine certain articles of faith, the varieties of opinion about Scripture found vigorous expression. Alexander Ales has left a vivid account of the meeting which has been transcribed by Foxe. 'At the king's 'pleasure all the learned men but especially the bishops 'assembled, to whom this matter seemed to belong...... 1 Remains, p. 36. 2 On the whole it seems best to refer Coverdale's account of the re ference of 'his Bible' by the King to the Bishops to the Great Bible. See p. 76, n. i. |