306 Conant

PREFACE.

THIS volume was undertaken from the wish to meet a widely extended and increasing desire for information, in a popular form and within moderate limits, respecting the history of our English Bible. How came we by this Bible? What were its antecedents? In what religious, social, political condition of England had it its birth? What influences determined its primitive character and form? To what modifying agencies has it been subjected in the progress of its history? These and similar questions are now, in the present awakened state of public interest on the subject of Bible-translation, asked by multitudes of intelligent and thoughtful persons, who have neither the time nor the means for searching out the answers for themselves. The valuable works on the subject, already before the public, are not adapted to the wants of general readers; being chiefly useful as works of reference for bibliographical students. That of Anderson, (Annals of the

English Bible,) though rich in valuable and interesting information for certain portions of the history, is deficient in others; and it is moreover too voluminous, as well as too immethodical, to attract such as do not enjoy a superfluity of leisure and of patience. It has been my object in this volume, simply to furnish such an account of the early English versions and revisions, as may give a clear idea of their origin and leading characteristics, and of the general influence of each in moulding the religious history of the English race. This design admitted of greater conciseness, without abridging those historical and personal details, which best exhibit the subject in its connection with actual human life.*

Brief as the work is, however, the labor bestowed on its preparation has not been trifling. Indeed its very brevity is the result of no little labor. The length of time embraced in the history, and the variety of subjects and of characters necessarily introduced for its illustration, required not only much diligent investigation for the collection of materials, but much labor in sifting them, in order to keep the work within limits suited to common readers. the task, though toilsome, has been full of pleasantness; and I shall count myself happy, if it shall be

But

* From these remarks it will be seen, that a critical description of editions and copies does not come within the design of this volume. Such a work, I am happy to know, may be expected from a gentleman, whose intimate acquaintance with the subject warrants the belief that it will be one of great interest and value.

come the means of communicating to other minds a more lively and more intelligent interest in the subject of which it treats. No other Christian people can show a vernacular Bible with such a history as ours ; so consecrated by high purpose and noble sacrifice, so baptized in the tears and blood of faithful souls, so linked with the inmost life and history of the people. At what cost the Divine Word has been placed in the possession of the English race, and what it has done for that race, are matters which every Christian and every lover of his country has an interest in knowing. Without such knowledge, we can neither rightly estimate its value, nor labor intelligently for the perpetuation of its influence.

The friends, who have kindly aided me by the loan of valuable books, will please to accept my grateful acknowledgments for the favor. My thanks are especially due to George Livermore, Esq., of Cambridge, Mass., for loans from his private library,* as well as for other friendly services; and to Wm. H. Wyckoff, Esq., Cor. Sec. of the Am. Bible Union, through whose courtesy I have had the use of important works from the library of that Society. The volumes referred to as belonging to Harvard University Library, were examined for me by a literary friend.

*It is a noteworthy and interesting fact, that this library, collected by a layman engaged in active business, contains the greatest variety of rare old versions and editions of the English Scriptures to be found in this country. Some interesting particulars respecting it, are given in Mr. Farnham's recent acount of Private Libraries in the vicinity of Boston.

The principal works consulted in the preparation of this volume are the following:

LIFE AND OPINIONS OF JOHN DE WYCLIFFE; by Robert Vaughan, D. D. 2 vols. 8vo. London, 1828.

JOHN DE WYCLIFFE, A MONOGRAPH; by Robert Vaughan, D. D. 1853.

The first of these works is not superseded by the second, which omits many interesting details of the earlier memoir. To the two I am chiefly indebted for the facts of Wickliffe's history, and for the extracts from his writings.

THE HISTORY OF THE LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OF THE RevEREND AND LEARNED JOHN WICLIFFE, D. D. By John Lewis. London, 1720.

PREFACE TO WICLIFFE'S BIBLE; edited by Forshall & Madden, Oxford, 1850.

HENRY'S HISTORY OF GREAT BRITAIN; 4th ed. London, 1805.

Of this writer the Halle Encyclopædia (Ersch u. Gruber's) says:-" The affairs of the church, the inner history of the people, government, manners, commerce, the arts and sciences, engaged his attention to a greater degree than they did that of Hume; and all these he combines in a series of graphic and instructive delineations, the result of his own careful and impartial researches." For the character of the Romish priesthood, and the condition of England under their sway, this author has been chiefly relied on in the present work.

HENR. KNYGHTON, CHRONICA ANGLIE, (in Twysden's Scriptores decem, Vol. II.)

HALLAM'S MIDDLE AGES.

ANNALS OF THE ENGLISH BIBLE; by Christopher Anderson, 8vo. London, 1845. 2 vols.

The materials for the personal history of Tyndale and Frith have been chiefly furnished by this work.

MEMOIR OF WILLIAM TYNDALE, by George Offor; (prefixed to Bagster's reprint of Tyndale's New Testament, London, 1836.)

INTRODUCTION TO BAGSTER'S HEXAPLAR NEW TESTAMENT.

WRITINGS OF TYNDALE AND FRITH; (Works of the Eng. Reformers, ed. by Thomas Russel, London, 1831.)

RUDHART'S THOMAS MORUS, aus den Quellen bearbeitet; 2te Ausg. Augsburg, 1852.

Fox's ACTS AND MONUMENTS; folio, London, 1641.

BURNET'S HISTORY OF THE REFORMATION; 2 vols, 4to., London, 1850.

THE WORKS OF SIR THOMAS MORE, KNYGHTE, sometime Lorde Chancellour of England, wrytten by him in the Englysh tonge; 4to., pp. 1458. London, 1557.

The only edition of his English writings. It was published by Rastell in the last year of Queen Mary's reign; and was dedicated to her majesty, as an important aid to her efforts for the re-establishinent of Romanism.

ARCHBISHOP PARKER, DE ANTIQUIT. BRIT. ECCLESIÆ; London, 1729.

MEMORIALS OF MILES COVERDALE; London, Samuel Bagster,

1838.

MEMOIR OF MILES COVERDALE; prefixed to Bagster's reprint of Coverdale's translation of the Bible.

LEWIS' HISTORY OF THE TRANSLATIONS OF THE HOLY BIBLE INTO ENGLISH; London, 1818.

PREFACE TO THE GENEVAN NEW TESTAMENT, 1557; Bagster's fac-simile reprint, London.

PREFACE TO THE GENEVAN BIBLE, AND DEDICATION TO QUEEN ELIZABETH, 1560; (from the Edition of 1583).

STRYPE'S MEMORIALS OF ARCHBISHOP CRANMER; 2 vols., 8vo. Oxford, 1840.

STRYPE'S LIFE AND ACTS OF ARCHBISHOP PARKER, 1 vol. fol. London, 1740.

STRYPE'S HISTORY OF THE LIFE AND ACTS OF ARCHBISHOP GRINDAL; 1 vol. fol. London, 1710.