less than eighty editions, some of the whole Bible, were printed between 1558 and 1611. It was the version specially adopted by the great Puritan party through the whole reign of Elizabeth, and far into that of James. It was based on Tyndal's Version. Some peculiarities are worthy of special notice: (1) It professes a desire to restore the "true writing" of many Hebrew names, and we meet accordingly with such forms as Izhak (Isaac), Jaacob, and the like. (2) It omits the name of St. Paul from the title of the Epistle to the Hebrews, and, in a short preface, leaves the authorship an open question. (3) It avows the principle of putting all words not in the original in italics. (4) It presents, in a Calendar prefixed to the Bible, something like a declaration of war against the established order of the church's lessons commemorating Scripture facts, and the deaths of the great Reformers, but ignoring saints' days altogether. (5) It was the first English Bible which entirely omitted the Apocrypha.

VIII. The Bishop's Bible.-The facts just stated will account for the wish of Archbishop Parker to bring out another version. Great preparations were made. Eight bishops, together with some deans and professors, brought out the fruit of their labors in a magnificent folio (1568 and 1572). It was avowedly based on Cranmer's; but of all the English versions it had probably the least success. It did not command the respect of scholars, and its size and cost were too great.

IX. Rheims and Douay Versions.-The successive changes in the Protestant versions of the Scriptures were, as might be expected, a matter of triumph to the controversialists of the Latin Church. They saw in it an argument against any translation of Scripture into the spoken language of the people, and pointed derisively to the want of unity which these changes displayed. There were some, however, who did not object to the principle of an English translation. They only charged all the versions with being false, corrupt, heretical. But it was felt to be necessary that they should take some steps which might enable them to turn the edge of this reproach. The English Catholic refugees who were settled at Rheims undertook a new English version.

The New Testament was published at Rheims

in 1582, based on "the authentic text of the Vulgate."

Notes were added, as strongly dogmatic as those of the Geneva Bible, and keenly controversial. The work of translation was completed somewhat later by the publication of the Old Testament at Douay in 1609.

CHAPTER II.

HISTORY OF OUR PRESENT VERSION.

The position of the English Church in relation to the versions in use at the commencement of the reign of James was hardly satisfactory. The Bishops' Bible was sanctioned by authority. That of Geneva had the strongest hold on the affections of the people. Scholars found grave fault with both. Among the demands of the Puritan representatives at the Hampton Court Conference in 1604, was one for a revision. The work of organizing and superintending the arrangements for a new translation was one specially congenial to James, and in 1606 the task was accordingly commenced. It was intrusted to 54 scholars. The following were the instructions given to the translators:

(1.) The Bishops' Bible was to be followed, and as little altered as the original would permit.

(2.) The names of prophets and others were to be retained, as nearly as may be, as they are vulgarly used.

(3.) The old ecclesiastical words to be kept.

(4.) When any word hath divers significations, that to be kept which hath been most commonly used by the most eminent fathers, being agreeable to the propriety of the place and the analogy of faith.

(5.) The division of the chapters to be altered either not at all or as little as possible.

(6.) No marginal notes to be affixed, but only for the explanation of Hebrew and Greek words.

(7.) Such quotations of places to be marginally set down as may serve for fit reference of one Scripture to another.

(8 and 9.) State plan of translation. Each company of translators is to take its own books; each person to bring his own corrections. The company to discuss them, and having finished their work, to send it on to another company, and so on.

(10.) Provides for differences of opinion between two companies by referring them to a general meeting.

(11.) Gives power, in cases of difficulty, to consult any scholars.

(12.) Invites suggestions from any quarter.

(13.) Names the directors of the work: Andrews, Dean of Westminster; Barlow, Dean of Chester; and the Regius Professors of Hebrew and Greek at both Universities.

(14.) Names translations to be followed when they agree more with the original than the Bishops' Bible, sc. Tyndal's, Coverdale's, Matthew's, Whitchurch's (Cranmer's), and Geneva.

(15.) Authorizes Universities to appoint three or four overseers of the work.

It is not known that any of the correspondence connected with this work, or any minute of the meetings for conference, is still extant. Nothing is more striking than the silence with which the version that was to be the inheritance of the English people for at least two centuries and a half was ushered into the world. For three years the work went on, the separate companies comparing notes, as directed. When the work drew towards its completion, it was necessary to place it under the care of a select few. Two from each of the three groups were accordingly selected, and the six met in London, to superintend the publication. The final cor rection, and the task of writing the arguments of the several books, were given to Bilson, Bishop of Winchester, and Dr. Miles Smith, the latter of whom also wrote the Dedication and Preface. The version thus published did not all at once supersede those already in possession. The fact that five editions were published in three years, shows that there was a good demand. But the Bishops' Bible probably remained in many churches, and the popularity of the Geneva Version is shown by not less than thirteen reprints, in whole or in part, between 1611 and 1617. It is not easy to ascertain the impression which King James' version made at the time of its appearance. Selden says it is "the best of all translations, as giving the true sense of the original." The principal men among King James' translators were:

Dr. LAUNCELOT ANDREWES, Dean of Westminster, who presided over the Westminster Company. It was said of him: "The world wanted learning to know how learned this man was, so skilled in all (especially Oriental) languages, that some conceive he might, if then living, almost have served as an interpreter-general at the

HISTORY OF OUR PRESENT VERSION.

43

confusion of tongues." He became successively Bishop of Chichester, Ely and Winchester. Born 1555, died 1626.

Dr. EDWARD LIVELY, Regius Professor of Hebrew at Cambridge, and thus at the head of the Cambridge Company, was eminent for his knowledge of Oriental languages, especially of Hebrew. He died in 1605, having been Professor of Hebrew for twenty-five years. His death was a great loss to the work which be had helped to begin, but not to complete.

Dr. JOHN OVERALL was Professor of Divinity at Cambridge from 1596 until 1604, when he was made Dean of St. Paul's, London. He was considered by some the most scholarly divine in England. In 1614 he was made Bishop of Litchfield and Coventry. He was transferred to the See of Norwich in 1618. Born 1559, died 1619.

Dr. ADRIAN DE SARAVIA was the only foreigner employed on the work. He was born in Artois, France; his father was a Spaniard, and his mother a Belgian. In 1582 he was Professor of Divinity at Leyden; in 1587 he came to England. He became Prebend of Canterbury, and afterward Canon of Westminster. He was noted for his knowledge of Hebrew. Born 1531, died 1612.

WILLIAM BEDWELL, or BEADWELL, was one of the greatest Arabic scholars of his day. At his death he left unfinished MSS. of an Arabic Lexicon, and also of a Persian Dictionary.

Dr. LAURENCE CHADDERTON was for thirty-eight years Master of Emanuel College, Cambridge, and well versed in Rabbinical learning. He was one of the few Puritan divines among the translators. Born 1537, died 1640, at the advanced age of one hundred and three.

Dr. JOHN REYNOLDS, who first suggested the work, was a man of great attainments in Hebrew and Greek. He died before the revision was completed, but worked at it during his last sickness as long as his strength permitted. Born 1549, died 1607.

Dr. RICHARD KILBYE, Oxford Professor of Hebrew, was reckoned among the first Hebraists of his day. Died 1620.

Dr. MILES SMITH was a student of classic authors from his youth, was well acquainted with Rabbinical learning, and well