BIBLE, THE.
The first English translation was made by John Wycliffe in 1383.
The first Protestant translation of the whole Bible is considered as the joint production of Tyndale and Coverdale.
E.g. BIBLIA. The Bible, that is, the holy Testament of the Olde and Newe Testament, faithfully and truly translated out of the Douche and Latyn into English, 1535.
[Ordered by Henry VIII to be laid in the choir of every church 'for every man that will to look and read therein'.]
BIBLE. [MATTHEW]. The Byble, which is all the holy Scripture: in which are contayned the Olde and Newe Testament truely and purely translated into Englyssh by Thomas Matthew, 1537.
BIBLE. [THE BISHOP'S]. The Holie Bible conteyning the Olde Testament and the newe. 1568.
BIBLE. [AUTHORISED VERSION]. The holy Bible, conteyning the old Testament and the new: newly translated out of the originall Tongues, and with the former translations diligently compared and revised by his maiesties speciall commandment. 1611.
'If we were to take our greatest authors and read them through, pencil in hand; if we were to mark those words and images and turns of expression which we feel to be derived consciously or unconsciously from the English version of the Hebrew Bible, we should be amazed to find how much of purely literary strength and dignity that one book has added to our tongue'.—T. G. Tucker.
A TABULAR VIEW OF THE EVOLUTION OF THE ENGLISH BIBLE.