[14] Mr. Blunt, in his article “English Bible,” in the Encyclopædia Britannica, maintains that Coverdale translated directly from the Hebrew and Greek. But in order to this he has, first, forcibly to set aside the statement on the title-page as “placed there by mistake,” and then to represent Coverdale as including the Hebrew and Greek originals in the same category as Latin, German, and English translations, and as describing them all as “five interpreters” from which he had translated.
[15] This license seems to have been obtained from the king by Cromwell at Cranmer’s suggestion. (See Cranmer’s Letter to Cromwell, August 4th, 1537. Remains and Letters, p. 344. Parker Society.) In this letter Cranmer thus expresses his opinion of the book: “And as for the translation, as far as I have read thereof I like it better than any other translation heretofore made; yet not doubting but that there may be and will be found some fault therein, as you know no man ever did or can do so well, but it may be from time to time amended. And forasmuch as the book is dedicated unto the king’s grace, and also great pains and labour taken in setting forth of the same: I pray you, my lord, that you will exhibit the book unto the king’s highness, and to obtain of his grace, if you can, a license that the same may be sold and read of every person, without danger of any act, proclamation, or ordinance, heretofore granted to the contrary, until such time as we bishops shall set forth a better translation, which I think will not be till a day after doomsday.”
[16] The full title is, “The Byble in Englyshe, that is to saye the content of all the holy scrypture, bothe of the olde and newe testament, truly translated after the veryte of the Hebrue and Greke textes by ye dylygent studye of dyuerse excellent learned men, expert in the forsayde tongues. Prynted by Rychard Grafton and Edward Whitchurch. Cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum. 1539.”
[17] This was more than compensated by the remarkable and interesting engraving, said to be designed by Hans Holbein, which formed the title-page. Herein the king is flattered to his heart’s content. On the top of the engraving the king on his knees and uncrowned is addressed by our Lord in the words, “I have found a man after mine own heart, who shall fulfil all my will.” Below this the king on his throne distributes books labelled “Verbum Dei,” the Word of God, to the clergy with his right hand, to Cromwell and others with the left. Lower down on the right of the page is the figure of Cromwell distributing the books to the laity, and on the left that of Cranmer distributing it to the clergy. At the bottom of the page is a crowd of people of all sorts and conditions, some crying out in Latin, “Vivat Rex” others in English, “God save the king.”
[18] With the title, “The Most Sacred Bible, which is the Holy Scripture, conteyning the old & new testament translated into English, & newly recognised with great diligence after most faythful exemplars, by Rychard Taverner. Harken thou heuen, & thou earth gyve eare: for the Lorde speaketh. Esaie i. Printed at London in Fletestrete at the sygne of the sonne by John Byddell, for Thomas Barthlet. Cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum M.D. XXXIX.”
[19] In Fox, Acts and Monuments, v. 428, amongst the names of “godly brethren at Oxford” suspected of heresy, and compelled to do public penance, mention is made of “Taverner the musician,” of “Friswide College” (Frideswede, now Christ Church); and again, v. 423, Anthony Dalaber says, “I stode at the quier door and heard Master Taverner play.” Dr. Eadie, The English Bible, i. 343, assumes that the reference in this last passage is to Richard Taverner; but far more probably the reference is to John Taverner, who, according to Wood, Athenæ Oxoniensis, i. 124, was “sometime organist of Cardinal College.” I find no other foundation than these doubtful passages for the statement made by Westcott, History of the English Bible, ed. 2, p. 85, and by Eadie, loc. cit., that Richard Taverner was one of those who suffered persecution upon the first circulation of Tyndale’s New Testament.
[20] See Cotton, Editions of the English Bible, p. 21.
[21] From this circumstance the Great Bible is often, but improperly, called Cranmer’s Bible. “The Prologue or Preface made by Thomas Cranmer sometime Archbishop of Canterbury,” is prefixed to many Bibles, to some editions of the Genevan, and to the Bishops.
[22] The dates of these editions, as given in the colophons, are, July, 1540; November, 1540 (1541 on title-page); May, 1541; November, 1541; December, 1541.
[23] He married Catherine, sister of John Calvin. An interesting account of “The Life and Death of Mr. William Whittingham, Deane of Durham, who departed this life A.D. 1579, June 10,” found amongst the papers of Anthony à Wood, preserved in the Bodleian Library, is given by Dr. Lorimer, John Knox and the Church of England, pp. 303-317.