"The monks asserted that all heresies arose from those two languages [Greek and Hebrew], and particularly from the Greek. 'The New Testament,' said one of them, 'is a book full of serpents and thorns. Greek,' continued he, 'is a new and recently-invented language, and we must be upon our guard against it. As for Hebrew, my dear brethren, it is certain that all who learn it immediately become Jews.' Heresbach, a friend of Erasmus and a respectable author, reports these expressions."
Had there been more authority, probably D'Aubigné would have quoted it.
B. H. C.
In Lewis's History of the English Translation of the Bible, edit. London, 1818, pp. 54, 55., the following passage occurs:
"These proceedings for the advancement of learning and knowledge, especially in divine matters, alarmed the ignorant and illiterate monks, insomuch that they declaimed from the pulpits, that 'there was now a new language discovered called Greek, of which people should beware, since it was that which produced all the heresies; that in this language was come forth a book called the New Testament, which was now in everybody's hands, and was full of thorns and briers: that there was also another language now started up which they called Hebrew, and that they who learnt it were termed Hebrews.'"
The authority quoted for this statement is Hody, De Bibliorum Textibus, p. 465.
See also the rebuke administered by Henry VIII. to a preacher who had "launched forth against Greek and its new interpreters," in Erasmus, Epp., p. 347., quoted in D'Aubigné's Reformation, book XVIII. 1.
C. W. Bingham.
Caldecott's Translation of the New Testament (Vol. viii., p. 410.).—J. M. Caldecott, the translator of the New Testament, referred to by your correspondent S. A. S., is the son of the late —— Caldecott, Esq., of Rugby Lodge, and was educated at Rugby School, where I believe he obtained one or more prizes as a first-class Greek and Hebrew scholar. After completing his studies at this school, his father purchased for him a commission in the East India Company's service; but soon after his arrival in India, conceiving a dislike to the army, he sold his commission and returned to England. Being somewhat singular in his notions, and altogether eccentric both in manner and appearance, he estranged himself from his family and friends, and, as I have been informed, took up his temporary abode in this city about the year 1828. Although his income was at that time little short of 300l. per annum, he had neither house nor servant of his own; but boarded in the house of a respectable tradesman, living on the plainest fare (so as he was wont to say), to enable him to give the more to feed the hungry and clothe the naked. In this way, and by being frequently imposed upon by worthless characters, he gave away, in a few years, nearly all his property, leaving himself almost destitute: and, indeed, would have been entirely so, but for a weekly allowance made to him by his mother (sometime since deceased), on which he is at the present time living in great obscurity in one of our large seaport towns; but may be occasionally seen in the streets with a long beard, and a broad-brimmed hat, addressing a group of idlers and half-naked children. I could furnish your correspondent S. A. S. with more information if needful.
T. J.