and it was enacted by this Statute of Repeal, That after the 20th of December next, there fhould be no other Form of Divine Service, but what bad been used in the last Year of King Henry the VIIIth, leaving all Clergy-men at Liberty in the mean Time, to ufe either the Old or New Service; by which was rooted up all the Reformation, which had been planted for Seven Years before.

At a Convocation held in November 1554, an Address was made by the Lower Houfe, to the Upper, wherein they petitioned for divers Things in Twenty Eight Articles meet to be confidered for the Reformation of the Clergy; one whereof was, That all Books, Latin and English, concerning any heretical, erroneous, or flanderous Doctrines, might be deftroyed throughout the Realm and burnt. Among thefe Books, they fet the fchifmatical Book (as they called it) the Common-Prayer Book, and all fufpected Tranflations of the Old and New Teftament, the Authors whereof are recited in a Statute made in the Reign of Henry the VIIIth. (So that the Common-Prayer Book was burnt with very good Company, the Holy Bible.) And that fuch as bad thefe Books fhould bring the fame to the Ordinary by a certain Day, or otherwife to be taken and reputed as Favourers of thofe Doctrines. And that it might be lawful for all Bifbops to make Enquiry, from Time to Time, for fuch Books, and to take them from the Owners. And for the better fupprefling of fuch peftilent Books, it was defired, that Order may be taken with all Speed, that none fuch fhould be printed, or fold within the Realm, nor brought from beyond Seas upon grievous Penalties. And the next Year 1555, a Proclamation was published againft importing, printing, reading, felling, or keeping heretical Books.

The Gofpellers being perfecuted with much fierceness, by those of the Roman Perfuafion, chiefly headed by two moft cruel natured Men, Bifhop Gardiner, and Bishop Benner; feveral both of the Clergy and Laity, made their Flight from thefe Storms at Home into Foreign Countries, to Strafburgh, Francfort, Bazil, Zurich, Geneva, and other Places, where they were received with much Kindnefs, and had the Liberty of their Religious Worship granted them. In thefe Places fome followed their Studies, fome taught School, fome wrote Books, fome affifted at the Prefs, and grew very dear to the learned Men in thofe Places.

At Geneva a Club of them imployed themfelves, in tranflating the Holy Bible into Englife, intending to do it with more Exactnefs than hitherto had been done, having the Opportunity of confulting with Calvin and Beza in order thereunto. Thefe were Miles Coverdale, Chrif topher Goodman, Anthony Gilby, Thomas Sampfon, William Cole of Corpus Chrifti College Oxon, and William Whitingham, all zealous Calvinifts, both in Doctrine and Difcipline. What they performed may be perceived by the Bible that goes under the Name of the Geneva Bible at this Day. It was in thofe Days, when it firft came forth, better efteemed of, than of later Times; but for a long while was much valued, by the Puritans, chiefly for the Sake of the Calvinistical Annotations, and had several Impressions.

When Queen Elizabeth came to the Crown, fhe applied her first Care to the restoring of the Proteftant Religion, and therefore in De

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cember

cember. Anno 1558, the allowed by Proclamation, the Liberty of reading the Epiftles, Gospels, and Ten Commandments in English, the Lord's Prayer, the Crecd, and the Litany might likewife be faid in the fame Language. As to the rest of the Service, 'twas to go on by the Rubrick of the Miffals and Breviaries, and no Innovations to be made, in any of the Rites and Ceremonies thereunto belonging, 'till 'twas otherwife ordered.

When the Queen paffed through the City from the Tower to her Coronation, in a Pageant erected in Cheapfide, an old Man with a Scythe and Wings, reprefenting Time, appeared, coming out of a hollow Place or Cave, leading another Perfon all clad in white Silk, gracefully apparelled, who reprefented Truth, (the Daughter of Time) which Lady had a Book in her Hand, on which was written Verbu Veritatis, the Word of Truth. It was the Bible in English, which, after a Speech made to the Queen, Truth reached down towards her, which was taken and brought by a Gentleman attending, to her Hands. As foon as the received it, the kiffed it, and with both her Hands held it up, and then laid it upon her Breaft, greatly thanking the City for that Prefent, and faid, he would often read over that Book.

In the Beginning of the next Year 1559, the Queen appointed a Conference about Religion, between the Papifts and Proteftants, when three Points were to be argued. The first was, Whether 'tis against the Word of God, and the Cuftom of the Ancient Church, to officiate and admini, fter the Sacraments in a Language unknown to the People? Dr. Cole Dean of St. Paul's was appointed to deliver the Senfe of the Papifts, who taking the Negative of the Queftion, endeavoured amongst other Are guments, to fortify his Reasoning, with one drawn from the ill Tranflation of the Bible; If we should (fays he) confent to the English Service, we must be obliged to King Edward's Common-Prayer Book; now this Book confifts of Verfions of the Pfalms, and other Parts of the Scripture, in which are feveral plain Miftakes and Deviations from the Original; now this, continues he, is downright depraving the Holy Scriptures, and if the Liturgy must be regulated upon this falfe Tranflation, we may be faid to jerve God with Lyes.

The Papifts would not be kept to the Conditions of the Conference, but broke the Method agreed upon, and fell to wrangling and fhifting, fo the Afiembly was difmiffed. The Popish Difputants thought it their wifeft Courfe to prevent any farther Proceeding, left they might have been too clofely pinched in their Caufe, and the Weakness of their Arguments too openly appear to all. However it occafioned two Things to be done, 1ft. To fet out the Doctrine of the Church, in feveral Articles; and 2dly, To review the Tranflation of the Bible.

For the Tranflation of the Bible, the Sees being all filled, the moft learned Bifhops were by the Queen's Commillion appointed thereunto, whence it took the Name of the Bishops' Bible. To each his Part and Portion was afligned, with Orders to add fome Marginal Notes, for the Illuftration of the Text, where they found it cbfcure or difficult. The Pentateuch was committed to William Alley Bifhop of Exeter ; Joshua, Judges, Ruth, and the two Books of Samuel were given to

Richard

Richard Davis, who was afterwards made Bishop of St. David, when Young was tranflated to York; all from Samuel to the fecond Book of Chronicles, was affigned to Edwyn Sandys, then Bishop of Worcester; from thence to the End of Job, to one whofe Name is marked A. P. C. which Collier fays, might probably stand far Andrew Perfon Cantuarienfis, one of the Archbishop's Chaplains, and Prebendary of Canterbury; the Pfalms were given to Thomas Bentham Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield; Collier thinks this was more probably Thomas Beacon Prebendary of Canterbury; the Proverbs to one that is marked A. P. here is a Ć ftanding at fome Distance, probably (fays Collier) to diftinguifh the Perfon from the former A. P. C; the Song of Solomon, to one marked A. P. E. thefe Collier fays, ftand for Andrew Pern Elienfis, he being at that Time Prebendary of Ely; all from thence to the Lamentation, was given to Robert Horn Bishop of Winchefter; Ezekiel and Daniel, to Bentham; from thence to Malachi, to Edmund Grindal Bishop of London; the Apocrypha, to the Book of Wisdom, to Barlow Bishop of Chichester; and the reft of it to John Parkburt Bishop of Norwich; the Gospels, Acts, and the Epiftle to the Romans, to Richard Cox Bishop of Ely; the Epiftles to the Corinthians, to one marked G. G. which Collier fays, probably may ftand for Gabriel Goodman, then Dean of Westminster: To whom the reft of the New Teftament was affigned is not known, there being no Capital Letters fubjoined. All these Allotments may be gathered from the Bible itself, as it was afterwards fet out by Archbishop Parker; for at the End of every Section or Portion, the initial Letters of his Name or Title that had tranflated it, were printed.

Upon the Death of Queen Mary the English Exiles at Geneva returned home, except fome few, Wittingham, and one or two more, who ftaid behind to finish their Tranflation of the Bible, wherein they had proceeded a good Way already. They congratulated the Queen's Acceffion to the Crown, by prefenting her with the Book of Pfalms in English, which they had printed at Geneva in a little Volume, with Notes in the Margent, (being Part of the Work they were about) and dedicated to the Queen; the Dedication dated from Geneva, February the 10th, 1559, (Anno ineunte) exhorts her now in her Entrance on her. Government, to go on with Refolution in reforming Religion, from the Corruptions of Papiftry. That in the mean Seafon, they, according to the Talents God had given them, thought it their Duty, with the most convenient Speed, to further, even with the utmost of their Power, her godly Proceedings. And albeit they had begun more than a Year ago, to perufe the English Translation of the Bible, and to bring it to the pure Simplicity and true Meaning of the Spirit of God; yet when they heard that Almighty God had miraculously preferved her to that most excellent Dignity, with moft joyful Minds and great Diligence, they endeavoured themselves to fet forth this most excellent Book of the Pfalms, unto her Grace, as a fpecial Token of their Service and good Will, 'till the reft of the Bible, which was in good Readinefs, fhould be accomplished and prefented.

And now Care was taken by thofe in Commiffion for Religion, to fupply vacant Churches, and that fit Men might be provided to officiate in them. For that purpose those that were admitted to Curacies, were bound

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bound to fubfcribe certain Articles of Doctrine, and other Articles or Injunctions for their Behaviour and Obedience, in the Discharge of their Miniftry. By thefe laft, all Minifters were obliged to read every Day, one Chapter of the Bible at leaft; and all that were admitted Readers in the Church, were daily to read one Chapter at least of the Old Teftament, and another of the New, with good Advisement, to the Increafe of their Knowledge.

As the Bishops, and the learned fober Divines, preached much themfelves, fo they did what they could to promote it every where: But feveral People, inftructed and directed fecretly by Papifts, defpifed preaching, and abfented themselves as much as they could from Sermons. The Priests were defperately afraid the People fhould have too much Knowledge; they would have them in Blindness ftill. And as thefe Men would fpeak their Mind againft Preaching, fo would they do alfo against the common Ufe of the Scriptures. It was never a good World (would they fay) fince the Word of God came abroad; and that it was not meet for the People to have it, or read it; but they must receive it at the Priest's Mouth; they were the Nurfes (fay they) that must chew the Meat, before the Children eat it: But to thefe it was replied, It is fo poyfoned in their filthy Mouths, and flinking Breaths, that it poyfoneth, but feedeth not the Hearer.

'The Geneva Bible being finifhed, was printed in Quarto Anno 1560, with an Epistle to the Queen, and another to the Reader: Thefe Addreffes charged the Englih Reformation with the Remains of Popery, and endeavoured to prevail with the Queen to strike off feveral Ceremonies; this giving Offence, might be the Reafon why they were heft out in the after Editions, Brief Annotations were fet upon all the hard Places, as well for the understanding obfcure Words, as for Declaration of the Text, that is, they made a Calviniflical Comment on the Bible, and endeavoured to lead the Reader into the Opinions of the Geneva Brethren. Figures were inferted in certain Places in the Books of Mofes, Kings, and of Ezekiel, which feemed fo dark, that by no other Defcription they could be made eafy to the Reader. There were joined two Tables, the one of Interpretations of Hebrew Names, and the other containing the principal Matters of the whole Bible. There was a Defign afterwards, Anno 1565. for reprinting it, and fome Time had been spent in reviewing and correcting it, and Application was made to the Secretary Cecil by the Undertakers, who refuted to aflift them, 'till he had confulted with Archbishop Parker. The Archbishop wrote to the Secretary in their Behalf, but with this Condition, that he should bring them under an Engagement, that the Impreffion fhould pass under the Archbishop's Regulation, and not be published without his Confent and Advice. This Caution Collier thinks was thrown in, that the Bishops might have it in their Power to alter fome mif-tranflated Paffages, and expunge fome exceptionable Annotations, relating to Civil Government. The Undertakers not being willing to come under these Restraints, deferred the Impreffion untill after Parker's Death: This was taken ill, and the Author of the Troubles at Franckfort maketh this Complaint, p. 164. If that Bible were fuch as no Enemy of God could justly find fault with, then may Men marvel, that fuch a Work, being fo profitable, bould find so small

Favour,

Favour, as not to be printed again; if it be not faithfully tranflated, then let it fill find as little Favour as it doth, because of the Inconveniencies that a falfe Tranflation brings with it.

The Great Bible, was Anno 1562, reprinted, viz. that of Coverdale's Tranflation, that had been printed in the Time of King Henry the VIII, and also in the Time of King Edward, for the Ufe of the Church; and now again under Queen Elizabeth, having undergone the Archbifhop's Review. This was to ferve till the Bifhops, who were afligned their particular Portions of the Holy Scriptures (as before related) had finished their Review, in order to the fetting it forth more correctly. This likewife was taken ill by the Favourers of the Church of Geneva, who wanted an Order to have their Tranflation fet up, and used in all Churches, instead of the old Bible. They alledged that the old Tranflation (whofe-ever it is) although it ought not to be condemned, yet it is found both obfcure, unperfect, and fuperfluous, and alfo falfe in many Places.

In a Convocation Anno 1563, it was determined that the common Service of the Church, ought to be celebrated in a Tongue which was understood by the People, as may be feen in the Book of Articles which came out this Year, Art. 24. And whereas in Wales the People were very Popifhly inclined, and very ignorant, it was ordered in Parliament, 5 Eliz. c. 28. that the whole Bible, both Old and New Teftaiment, with the Book of Common-Prayer, be tranflated into the Welf or British Tongue. The Act puts the Direction of this Work into the Hands of the Bishops of Hereford, St. David, Bangor, Landaff, and St. Afaph, who were to infpect the Tranflation, and take care for the printing of fuch a Number, that every Cathedral, Collegiate, and ParishChurch and Chapel of Eafe, within their refpective Diocefes, where Welb was commonly spoken, might be furnished with one.

In 1568, the Tranflation of the Bible mentioned in 1759, which Archbishop Parker had the Care of, and who added the last Hand to it, being finished, was printed in a large Folio, and published, and called the Bishops' Bible, because several of that Order were concerned in, the Version, as was faid before. The Archbishop's Province was not fo much to tranflate, as to overfee, direct, examine, prepare, and finish all, which he performed with great Care and Exactnefs. He employed feveral Criticks, in the Hebrew and Greek Languages, to review the old Tranflation, and compare it with the Original. One Law rence an eminent Grecian was made ufe of to examine the Version of the Greek Teftament: He made feveral Animadverfions upon the Performances of Beza and Erafmus this way. This Bible hath divers Alte rations in the Tranflation, from the former English ones, which thewsit to have been all revised anew; and there are divers Notes fet in the Margin by the Archbishop, very fignificant and inftructive, but dif ferent from the Notes of Tyndal and Coverdale. At the head of this Bible is a Preface of the Archbishop's, in which he recommends the Work, but takes care to preferve a Refpect to the Verfion published by Archbishop Cranmer: He obferves the Impreffion was in a great measure spent, and that many Churches were unfurnished with convenient Bibles, The Scarcity of Copies, was one Reafon for the under

taking