3 Of the Translation of the Scriptures, and permitting them to be read in the English Tongue.

THE second step towards the Work of Reformation (and indeed one of the most especial parts thereof) was the Translation of the Bible into the English Tongue, and the permitting all sorts of people to peruse the same, as that which visibly did tend to the discovery of the errours and corruptions in the Church of Rome; and the intollerable pride and tyranny of the Romane Prelates, upon which grounds it had been formerly translated into English by the hand of Wikliff, and after on the spreading of Luthers Doctrine, by the paines of Tindal, a stout and active man in King Henries dayes, but not so well befriended as the work deserved: especially considering that it hapned in such a time when many printed Pamphlets did disturb the State (and some of them of Tindals making) which seemed to tend unto sedition, and the change of Government. Which being remonstrated to the King, he caused divers of his Bishops, together with sundry of the learn d'st and most eminent Divines of all the Kingdom to come before him: Whom he required freely and plainly to declare, as wel what their opinion was of the foresaid Pamphlet, as what they did think fit to be done concerning the Translation of the Bible into the English Tongue; And they upon mature advise and deliberation unanimously condenmed the aforesaid Books of Heresie and Blasphemy (no smaler crime:) then for translating of the Scriptures into the English Tongue, they agreed all with one assent, that it depended wholly on the will and pleasure of the Soveraign Prince, who might do therein as he conceived to be most agreeable to his occasions but that with reference to the present estate of things, it was more expedient to explain the Scripture to the people by the way of Sermons, then to permit it to be read promiscuously by all sorts of men: yet so that hopes were to be given unto the Laity, that if they did renounce their errours, and presently deliver to the hands of his Majesties Officers all such Bookes and Bibles (which they conceived to be translated with great fraud and falshood) as any of them had in keeping; his Majesty would cause a true and catholike Translation of it to be published in convenient time, for the use of his Subjects.

This was the sum and substance of the present Conference, which you shal finde laid down at large in the Registers of Arch-Bishop Warham.

And according to this advice the King sets out a Proclamation, not onely prohibiting the buying, reading, or translating of any the aforesaid Bookes, but straitly charging all his Subjects which had any of the Bookes of Scripture, either of the Old Testament, or of the New, in the English Tongue, to bring them in without delay. But for the other part of giving hopes unto the people of a true Translation, if they delivered in the false (or that at least which was pretended to be false) I finde no word at all in the Proclamation. That was a work reserved unto better times, or left to be solicited by the Bishops themselves, and other Learned men who had given the counsel; by whom (indeed) the people were kept up in hope that all should be accomplished unto their desires.

And so indeed it proved at last. For in the Convocation of the year 1536 the authority of the Pope being abrogated, and Cranmer fully setled in the See of Canterbury, the Clergy did agree upon a form of Petition to be presented to the King, That he would graciously indulge unto his subjects of the Laity the reading of the Bible in the English Tongue, and that a new Translation of it might be forthwith made for that end and purpose.

According to which godly motion, his Majesty did not onely give Order for a new Translation, which afterwards He authorized to be read both in publique and private; but in the interim he permitted CROMWEL, his Vicar-General, to set out an Injunction for providing the whole Bible both in Latine and English, after the Translation then in use, (which was called commonly by the name of Matthewes Bible, but was no other then that of Tindal somewhat altered) to be kept in every Parish Church throughout the Kingdom, for every one that would repair unto, and caused this mark or character of Authority to be set upon them in red Letters, Set forth with the Kings most gracious Licence; which you may see in Fox his Acts and Monum. p. 1248. and 1363.

Afterwards when the new Translation so often promised, and so long expected, was compleat and finished; printed at London by the Kings Authority, and countenanced by a grave and pious Preface of Arch Bishop Cranmer; the King sets out a Proclamation dated May 6. Anno 1541. Commanding all the Curates and Parishioners throughout the Kingdom, who were not already furnished with Bibles so authorized and translated, as is before said, to provide themselves before Al. hallowtide next following, and to cause the Bibles, so provided, to be placed conveniently in their several and respective Churches, straitly requiring all his Bishops, and other Ordinaries, to take special care to see his said commands put in execution.

And therewithal came out Instructions from the King to be published by the Clergy in their several Parishes, the better to possesse the people with the Kings good affection towards them in suffering them to have the benefit of such Heavenly Treasure; and to direct hem in a course by which they might enjoy the same to their greater comfort, the reformation of their lives, and the peace and quiet of the Church. Which Proclamation and Instructions are stil preserved in that most admirable Treasury of Sr Robert Cotten.

And unto these Commands of so great a Prince, both Bishops, Priests, and People, did apply themselves with such cheerful reverence, that Bonner (even that bloudy Butcher as he after proved) caused six of them to be chained in several places of St Pauls Church in London, for all that were so wel inclined to resort unto, for their edification and instruction in the Book being very chargable, because very large, and therefore called commonly (for distinctions sake) The Bible of the greater Volume.

Thus have we seen the Scriptures faithfully translated into the English Tongue, the Bible publickly set up in all Parish Churches, that every one which would, might peruse the same, and leave permitted to all people to buy them for their private use, and reade them to themselves, or before their Families; and all the brought about by no other meanes then by the Kings Authority onely, grounded on the advice and judgment of the Convocation.

But long it was not (I confess) before the Parliament put in for a share, and claimed some interest in the Work; but whether for the better, or he worse, I leave you to iudge. For in the year 1542. the King being then in agitation of a League with Charles the Emperour, He caused a complaint to be made unto him in this Court of Parliament, That the Liberty granted to the people in having in their hands the Bookes of the Old and New Testament, had been much abused by many false glosses and interpretations which were made upon them, tending to the seducing of the people especially of the younger sort, and the raising of sedition within the Realm.

And thereupon it was enacted by the Authority of the Parliament (on whom He was content to cast the envy of an Act so contrary to His former gracious Proclamations) That all manner of Bookes of the Old and New Testament, of the crafty, false and untrue Translation of Tindal, be forthwith abolished, and forbidden to be used and kept. As also, that all other Bibles not being of Tindals Translation, in which were sound any Preambles or Annotations, other then the Quotations or Summaries of of the Chapters should be purged of the said Preambles and Annotatious, either by cutting them out, or blotting them in such wise, that they might not be perceived or read. And finally, That the Bible be not read openly in any Church, but by the leave of the King, or of the Ordinary of the place; nor privately by any Women, Artificers, Apprentices, Iourney-men, Husband-men, Laborers, or by any of the Servants of Yeomen, or under, with several pains to those who should do the contrary.

This is the substance of the statute of the 34 and 35 Hen. 8. c. 1. Which though it shewes that there was somewhat done in Parliament, in a matter which concern'd Religion, (which howsoever if you mark it, was rather the adding of the penalties, than giving any resolution or decision of the points in question) yet I presume the Papists wil not use this for an Argument, that we have either a Parliament Religion, or a Parliament Gospel; or that we stand indebted to the Parliament for the use of the Scriptures in the English Tongue, which is so principal a part of the Reformation. Nor did the Parliament speed so prosperously in the undertaking (which the wise King permitted them to have a hand in, for the foresaid ends,) or found so general an obedience in it from the common people, as would have been expected in these Times, on the like occasion; but that the King was fain to quicken and give life to the Acts thereof, by his Proclamation, Anno 1546. which you shal finde in Fox his book, fo. 1437.

To drive this Nail a little further: The terrour of this statute dying with H. 8. or being repealed by that of K. Ed. 6. c. 22. the Bible was again made publique; and not onely suffered to be read by particular persons, either privatly, or in the Church; but ordered to be read over yearly in the Congregation, as a part of the Liturgie, or Divine Service: Which how far it relates to the Court of Parliament we shal see anon; But for the publishing thereof in Print for the use of the people, for the comfort and edification of private persons, that was done onely by the King, at least in his Name, and by His Authority. And so it also stood in Q. Elizabeths time, the translation of the Bible being again reviewed by some of the most learned Bishops, appointed thereunto by the Queens Commission (from whence is had the name of the Bishops Bible) and upon that review, re-printed by her sole Commandement, and by her sole Authority left free and open to the use of her wel-affected and religious subjects. Nor did the Parliament do any thing in all Her Reign with reference to the Scriptures in the English Tongue, otherwise then at the reading of them in that Tongue, in the Congregation, is to be reckoned for a part of the English Liturgy, whereof more hereafter.

In the translation of them into Welch, or British, somwhat indeed was done which doth look this way. It being ordered in the Parliament, 5. Eliz. c. 28. That the B. B. of Hereford, St Davids, Bangor, Landaff, and St Asaph, should take care amongst them for translating the whole Bible, with the book of Common Prayer, into the Welch or Brittish Tongue, on pain of forseiting 40 l. a piece in default hereof. And to incourage them thereunto, it was enacted that one book of either sort being so translated and imprinted should be provided and bought for every Cathedral Church, as also for all Parish Churches and Chappels of Ease, where the said tongue is commonly used; the Ministers to pay the one half of the price, and the Parishioners the other.

But then you must observe withal, that it had been before determined in the Convocation of the self-same year, Anno 1562. That the Common-Prayer of the Church ought to be celebrated in a tongue which was under stood by the people (as you may see in the book of Articles of Religion, Art. 24. which came out that year) and consequently, aswel in the Welch or Brittish, as in any other. Which care, had it been taken for Ireland also as it was for Wales, no question but that people had been more generally civiliz'd, and made conformable in all points to the English Government long before this time. And for the new Translation of K. Iames his time, to shew that the Translation of Scripture is no work of Parliament, as it was principally occasioned by some passages in the Conference at Hampton Court, without recourse unto the Parliament, so was it done onely by such men as the King appointed, and by His Authority alone imprinted, published and imposed, care being taken by the Canon of the year, 1603. That one of them should be provided for each several at Church, at the charge of the Parish. No flying in this case to an Act of Parliament, either to authorize the doing of it, or to impose it being done.

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