Chap. ii. and furnished with a dedication to Henry and Queen History. Jane, drawn up in terms exactly similar in tenor to those which have been already quoted; 'for unto whom,' Matthew asks, 'or unto whose protection should the 'defence of such a work be sooner committed (where'in are contained the infallible promises of mercy... 'with the whole sum of Christianity) than unto his 'Majesty, which not only by name and title but most 'evidently and openly, most christianly and with most 'godly policy doth profess the defence thereof.' And as men's thoughts were now anxiously turned to the future-it was shortly before the birth of Edward VI. -he concludes 'the everliving Lord...bless you at this 'present with a son by your most gracious wife Queen 'Jane, which may prosperously and fortunately reign 'and follow the godly steps of his father...' Cranmer's joy at receiving it. Aug. 4, 1537 Whether Cranmer was privy to the preparation of this edition or not is uncertain', but it is evident that the authors of it had good reason to be assured that he would welcome its appearance. The first tidings of its arrival in England is contained in a letter which he addressed to Crumwell. My especial good lord...', he writes, 'these shall be to signify unto the same that you shall receive by the bringer thereof a bible in English, 'both of a new translation and of a new print, dedicated 'unto the king's majesty, as further appeareth by a pistle 'unto his grace in the beginning of the book, which in 'mine opinion is very well done, and therefore I pray 1 An impression is an intangible argument, but to me Cranmer's letter appears to be that of a man who was not taken by surprise by the New Bible. It is further to be remarked that Grafton (who joined in the publication) was acquainted with the contents of Cranmer's letter to Crumwell of Aug. 13th, and wrote to Crumwell with a present of six Bibles on the same day that Cranmer wrote the second letter of thanks. Cranmer's Works, p. 346 n. (Ed. Park. Soc.). 2 Letter 194 (ed. Park. Soc.). your lordship to read the same. And as for the transla Chap. ii. tion, so far as I have read thereof, I like it better than any other translation heretofore made; yet not doubting but that there may and will be found some fault therein, as you know no man ever did or can do so well, but it may be from time to time amended. And forasmuch as the book is dedicated unto the king's grace, and also 'great pains and labour taken in setting forth of the same; I pray you, my Lord, that you will exhibit the 'book unto the king's highness, and to obtain of his ' grace, if you can, a license that the same may be sold and read of every person, without danger of any act, 'proclamation, or ordinance, heretofore granted to the 'contrary, until such time that we bishops shall set forth 'a better translation, which I think will not be till a day ' after doomsday1. And if you continue to take such 'pains for the setting forth of God's word as you do, 'although in the mean season you suffer some snubs ' and many slanders, lies, and reproaches for the same, 'yet one day He will requite altogether...' He was not long in waiting for the news of Crumwell's success. little more than a week he thanks him for that he hath 'not only exhibited the bible...to the king's majesty, 'but also hath obtained of his grace that the same shall 'be allowed by his authority to be bought and read 'within this realm...";' and he continues, 'you have 'shewed me more pleasure herein than if you had given 'me a thousand pound...". Nor was he satisfied with this first acknowledgment. A fortnight afterwards he writes again: 'These shall be to give you most hearty Aug. 28. 'thanks that any heart can think, and that in the name 1 See p. 57, n. 2. It may have been at this time that Crumwell obtained the license for Coverdale's Bible also: p. 67. 8 Letter 197. In Aug. 13. Allowed by the king to be sold publicly. Chap. ii. overcome in obtaining the king's license for it. of them all which favour God's word, for your diligence 'at this time in procuring the king's highness to set 'forth the said God's word and His gospel by his grace's For the which act not only the king's majesty but also you shall have a perpetual laud and 'memory of all them that be now, or hereafter shall be, God's faithful people and the favourers of His Word'.' 'authority. The work which Crumwell had achieved was certainly one which required great address. The Preface to the Bible, to which Cranmer specially called his Difficulties attention, may have smoothed his way; but the king could not have been ignorant that the translation was in part the very work of Tyndale, which he had by the advice of his council condemned more than once. The Prologue to the Romans had been condemned separately and was not to be easily overlooked, and the most superficial inspection would have shewn the boldness of the notes with which the text was copiously furnished. It is impossible to tell what considerations 1 Letter 198. 2 The notes in Matthew are dis- 'more doth any place of the canoni- Óne or two other notes may be availed with Henry. He may have been glad to act independently of the bishops. But however this may have been, by Cranmer's petition, by Crumwell's influence, and by Henry's authority, without any formal ecclesiastical decision, the book was given to the English people, which is the foundation of the text of our present Bible. From Matthew's Bible - itself a combination of the labours of Tyndale and Coverdale—all later revisions have been successively formed. In that the general character and mould of our whole version was definitely fixed. The labours of the next seventy-five years were devoted to improving it in detail. Chap. ii. reprinting Matthew's Bible must have been eagerly welcomed. Scheme for In the same year in which it was imported a scheme. was made for reprinting it in England in a smaller form by 'Douche men dwelling within this realm,' 'for covetousness'.' Grafton, who had ventured a large sum upon the original edition, which consisted of fifteen hundred copies, begged Crumwell for protection, and suggested that he might command in the king's name that every curate have one of them...yea and that 'every Abbey should have six...yea,' he adds, 'I would 'none other but they of the Papistical sort should be 'compelled to have them.' It does not appear what answer Crumwell gave. His action at least was effectual; for there is no reason to think that the reprint was ever executed". Grafton and Whitchurch were reim 'Otherwise may not this sentence be it might be supposed that this 'small- 1 Grafton's Letter to Crumwell, Strype, Cranmer, Ap. xx. Grafton speaks in undue disparagement of 'the former [Coverdale's] Bibles, 'which have neither good paper, 'letter, ink, nor correction.' 2 Taverner's Bible does not answer fully to the description; otherwise On the other hand Mr F. Fry informs me that 'Mr Lenox has the centre of a first title and last leaf of a Matthew which he considers to belong to the pirated edition,' and that he himself has two leaves 'which may be of it.' Chap. ii. Crumwell provides Bible. bursed for their expenditure; and in the next year they were ready to embark in a new enterprise, which was designed to supplant their first, and undertaken under the direct patronage of Crumwell1. § 4. THE GREAT BIBLE (CRUMWELL, CRANMER, TUNSTALL AND HEATH). It is indeed evident that Crumwell's zeal for the for the pre- circulation of the vernacular Scriptures could not be paration of the Great satisfied with the license which he had obtained for the Bibles of Coverdale and Matthew. The first was imperfect in its conception: the second was burdened with notes and additions which could not fail sooner or later to call out bitter antagonism. Under these circumstances he appears to have applied to Coverdale, who was in England in the early part of 1538, to undertake the charge of a new edition on the basis of Matthew's, but with a more complete critical collation of the Hebrew and Latin texts than had been hitherto attempted. Grafton and Whitchurch had earned by their former work the privilege of undertaking the conduct of this, but the resources of the English press were not adequate to carry it out as Crumwell wished. And so about Lent Coverdale proceeded with Grafton to Paris to superintend the printing there. A license was obtained from Francis for the execution of the work, 1 Matthew's Bible was reprinted in 1549 (Raynalde and Hyll), and again in 1551 for several publishers (Cotton, p. 27 n.). It was also revised by E. Beck, and his altered text was published in 1549 by Day and Seres (both folio and 12mo). I have not however examined the texts of these editions at any length, but a cursory collation shews con siderable differences in the reproductions both of Matthew and of Beck's revision, which extend alike to text and notes. An edition by Daye, 1551 (with 3 Macc.), gives the Old Testament text of Taverner, though it is called 'Matthew's.' 2 The license granted by Francis is given by Strype, Cranmer, p. 756, App. xxx. After the permis |