the English Brownists, of Amsterdam, whither he had been driven at the time of the restoration. He had afterwards a congregation in his native country, at Bristol. He published an edition of King James's Bible, in 1647, or earlier, and another in 1664, in 8vo., printed at Amsterdam, with the omission of the Apocrypha, in which he placed in the margin, the most complete collection of Parallel Passages that had ever been compiled. The best edition of his Bible is said to be that of Edinburgh, 1727, 8vo. In the preface he defended the most literal translation possible of the Scriptures, "for it is necessary," said he, "to preserve the letter entire, how inconvenient, yea, how absurd soever, and harsh, it may seem to men's carnal reason; because the foolishness of GOD is wiser than men." He also laid down some other rules for translation; and promised a fair edition of such a translation, with annotations. But though he spoke of it as ready for the press, it does not appear to have been printed.59

Between the publication of Tyndall's version, and the translation of James I., 175 editions of the Bible and New Testament were published; but of the present authorized version, it is impossible to say how many have been printed, though there can be no doubt, considering the various forms in which it has been disseminated, that some millions of copies of it have been circulated through the British empire.

Since the publication of this version, no essential change has been made in the translation of the Bible by authority. It is true, that in 1652-3, a little before the long parliament was dissolved by Oliver Cromwell, an order was made, Tuesday, January 11th, that a bill should be brought in for a new translation of the Bible

(59) Lewis, pp. 341–344.

Brook's Lives of the Puritans, III. pp. 332-341. (60) Thomson and Orme's Historical Sketch, &c. p. 63.

out of the original tongues; but as the house only sat about two months, being dismissed April 20th, 1653, little or no progress was made in the design. It was, however, revived during the protectorate of Cromwell, when "Grand committees" were chosen by the parliament, for special purposes, one of which was for "Religion." This committee, which met January 16th, 1656, "ordered, that it be referred to a sub-committee to send for and advise with Dr. Walton, Mr. Hughes, Mr. Castle, Mr. Clerk, Mr. Poulk, Dr. Cudworth, and such others as they shall think fit, and to consider of the translations and impressions of the Bible, and to offer their opinions therein to this committee; and that it be especially commended to the lord-commissioner, Whitelocke, to take care of this business."

This committee met frequently at Whitelocke's house, at Chelsea, and "had the most learned men in the Öriental tongues, to consult with in this great business, and divers excellent and learned observations of some mistakes in the translations of the Bible in English: which yet was agreed to be the best of any translation in the world great pains was taken in it, but it became fruitless by the parliament's dissolution."

But although no new English translation has been made by royal command, since the time of James I. several circumstances have occurred, which prove the care taken to preserve the version from being corrupted or becoming obsolete. In 1632, Barker and Lucas, the king's printers, printed an edition of the Bible of 1000 copies, in which a serious mistake was made by leaving out the word not in the Seventh Commandment, causing it to be read "Thou shalt commit adultery." His Majesty King Charles I. being made

(61) Lewis, pp. 354, 355.

Whitelocke's Memorials of the English Affairs, p 645. Lond. 1682, fol.

acquainted with it by Dr. William Laud, bishop of London, order was given for calling the printers into the high-commission, where, upon the fact being proved, the whole impression was called in, and the printers heavily fined. With this fine, or a part of it, a fount of fair Greek types and matrices were provided, for publishing such MSS. as might be prepared, and should be judged worthy of publication; of this kind were the Catena and Theophylact, edited by Lyndsell. The following is a copy of King Charles's letter to Bishop Laud:

"Most reverend father in God, right trusty, and right entirely beloved counsellor, We greet you well. Whereas Our servant Patrick Young, keeper of Our library, hath lately with great industry and care, published in print an Epistle of Clemens Romanus in Greek and Latin, which was never printed before, and has done this to the benefit of the church, and Our great honour; the manuscript by which he printed it being in our library. And whereas We further understand, that the right reverend father in God, Augustin Lyndsell, now bishop of Peterborough, and Our said servant Patrick Young, are resolved to make ready for the press, one or more Greek copies every year, by such manuscripts as are either in our Library, or in the libraries of Our universities of Oxford and Cambridge, or elsewhere, if there were Greek letters, matrices, and money ready for the work, which pains of theirs will tend to the great honour of our self, this church, and nation: We have thought good to give them all possible encouragement herein. And do therefore first require you, that the fine, lately imposed by our High Commissioners upon Robert Barker, and Martin Lucas, for base and corrupt printing of the Bible, being the sum of three hundred pounds, be converted to the present buying of such and so many Greek letters and matrices, as shall be by you thought fit for this great and honourable work. And Our further will

and pleasure is, that the said Robert Barker, and Martin Lucas, Our pattentees for printing, or those which either now are, or shall hereafter succeed them, being great gainers by that Patent, which they hold under Us, shall at their own proper costes and charges of ink, paper, and workmanship, print, or cause to be printed, in Greek, or Greek and Latin, one such volume in a year, be it bigger or less, as the right reverend father aforesaid, or Our servant Patrick Young, or any other of Our learned subjects shall provide and make ready for the press."

"Given under Our signet, at Our palace of Westminster, the 13th day of January, in the ixth. year of Our reign.”

This letter was followed by one addressed to the Turkey merchants, designed to promote the interests of Oriental, as well as Greek literature; and is thus given by Collier :

"Trusty and well-beloved, We greet you well."

"We have of late taken into Our princely care, how to furnish the Greek press within our kingdom, that such of Our subjects as are learned in that language might be able to set forth some of those divers MSS. in Greek with which Our library, and the libraries in Our universities, are well furnished. Which course, if it be well followed, (as we doubt not but it will,) must needs bring a great deal of profit and honour both to church and state. With the consideration of this concerning the Greek, We took into our care also, a great difficulty, which yet We conceive may be well master'd, if it be prudently looked into. There is a great deal of learning, and that very fit and necessary to be known, that is written in Arabick; and there is a great defect in both Our universities, very few spending their time to attain that, or any other of the Eastern languages; which We impute

(62) Selden's Table-Talk, p. 29. Lond. 1797.

Collier's Eccles. Hist. II. Collection of Records, Num cx, p. 111.
Heylyn's Cyprianus Anglicus, p. 215. Lond, 1671, fol.

not so much to the fault of the students there, as partly to the great scarcity and want of Arabick and Persian books, on which they might spend their pains, and partly to their lack both of opportunity and means to provide and furnish themselves with such books. While we

took this into Our royal consideration, and withal how useful and necessary the knowledge of these languages would be for Our subjects, We could not but think and advise which way some better store of Arabick and Persian books might be gotten, and brought unto Us. After long deliberation, we could not find any way so good, and likely to be successful, as the employing your service which trade thereabouts. And because We would do it with little or no burden at all unto you, We have thought of this course, which we pray and command you to follow carefully, and with effect; namely, That every ship of yours, at every voyage that it makes, should bring home one Arabick or Persian manuscript book, to be delivered presently to the master of the Company, and by him sent or carried to the lord archbishop of Canterbury, for the time being, who shall dispose of them as We in Our wisdom shall think fit. And We doubt not but you will be careful at all times readily to perform this service, which so much tends to Our own honour, the advancement of learning, and the good of Our people; the value of one book being not a considerable thing. And always provided that they bring any other books besides the Alcorans, because we have choice of them already. "Given under Our signet, at Our palace of Westminster, the day of February, in the ninth year of

Our reign."6

In 1638, another error, of less moment, indeed, than that for which the fine was imposed, but rendered important by the disputes between the independents and episcopalians, appeared in an edition of the Bible print(63) Collier's Eccles. Hist. II. p. 761.