[53] The bare fact that the Oxford Revisers met in Rainolds’ lodgings is mentioned by Wood, Historia Univ. Oxon., vol. i. p. 311, and is referred to by Stoughton, Our English Bible, p. 248.
[54] Fuller’s Abel Redivivus, p. 487. In his Church History, book x. p. 48, Fuller says of Rainolds that he was a man deserving of the epitaph. “Incertum est utrum Doctior an Melior.” “We know not which was the greater, his learning or his goodness.”
[55] Peck, Desiderata Curiosa, p. 47.
[56] It is clear, from the words which immediately follow, that the writer uses the word “company” here for the entire number of translators belonging to any one of the three centres. In the written account presented to the Synod of Dort by the English delegates, it is said that twelve persons, selected out of the companies, met together, and reviewed and corrected the entire work. Wood also (Athenæ Oxon., vol. i. p. 490) gives twelve as the number of the “selected,” and amongst them includes Bilson and Miles Smith.
[57] The writer quaintly remarks in a parenthesis, “Though Mr. Downes would not go till he was either fetcht or threatened with the Pursuivant.”
[58] Lewis (History of the English Translations of the Bible, p. 323) by a strange blunder turns these shillings into pounds.
[59] Walker adds, “Whilst they were employed in this last business, he and he only took notes of their proceedings, which notes he kept till his dying day.” If these notes could be recovered they would throw much light upon many points of interest in connection with the Revision of 1611.
[60] Fuller, Church History, book x. p. 57.
[61] See Mr. Henry Stevens, Printed Bibles in the Caxton Exhibition, p. 110. But if Mr. Stevens be right in this contention, the publisher can scarcely be held free from the charge of false suggestion, since the phrase occurs in earlier Bibles in the sense which it most naturally bears. In the edition of the Great Bible dated April, 1540, we have on the title-page: “This is the Byble apoynted to the use of the churches,” and the meaning of this is shown by the fuller form that appears in the title-page of the edition of November, 1540, “auctorysed and apoynted by the commaundement of oure moost redoubted Prynce and soveraygne Lorde Kynge Henrye the VIII. ... to be frequented and used in every churche within this his sayd realme.” An edition of the Bishops’ Bible dated 1585 has the inscription, “Authorized and appointed to be read in Churches;” and King Charles II.’s Declaration to all His Loving Subjects, is “Appointed to to be Read in all Churches and Chapels within this kingdom.”
[62] The latest quarto edition of the Genevan published in England bears the date 1615, the latest folio, 1616.