第2章

[1]Thefourthreadsinhisversion，"Blessedaretheywhichhungerandthirstforrighteousness"；theseventh，"Blessedarethemaintainersofpeace"；theeighth，"Blessedaretheywhichsufferpersecutionforrighteousness"sake。"

[2]HistoryofEngland，endofchap。xii。

WesaidamomentagothatWiclif"stranslationwasthestandardofMiddleEnglish。ItistimetoaddthatTindale"sversion"fixedourstandardEnglishonceforall，andbroughtitfinallyintoeveryEnglishhome。"Therevisersof1881declaredthatwhiletheauthorizedversionwastheworkofmanyhands，thefoundationofitwaslaidbyTindale，andthattheversionsthatfolloweditweresubstantiallyreproductionsofTindale"s，orrevisionsofversionswhichwerethemselvesalmostentirelybasedonit。

Therewaseveryreasonwhyitshouldbeaworthyversion。Foronething，itwasthefirsttranslationintoEnglishfromtheoriginalHebrewandGreek。Wiclif"shadbeenfromtheLatin。ForTindaletherewereavailabletwonewandcriticalGreekTestaments，thatofErasmusandtheso-calledComplutensian，thoughheusedthatofErasmuschiefly。TherewasalsoavailableacarefullypreparedHebrewOldTestament。Foranotherthing，itwasthefirstversionwhichcouldbeprinted，andsobesubjecttoeasyandimmediatecorrectionandrevision。Thenalso，Tindalehimselfwasagreatscholarinthelanguages。Hewas"soskilledinthesevenlanguages，Hebrew，Greek，Latin，Italian，Spanish，English，andFrench，that，whicheverhespoke，youwouldsupposeitwashisnativetongue。"[1]Norwashisspiritintheworkcontroversial。Isayhis"spiritinthework"withcare。Theywerecontroversialtimes，andTindaletookhisshareintheverbalwarfare。When，forexample，therewasobjectiontomakinganyEnglishversionbecause"thelanguagewassorudethattheBiblecouldnotbeintelligentlytranslatedintoit，"Tindalereplied:"Itisnotsorudeastheyarefalseliars。FortheGreektongueagreethmorewiththeEnglishthanwiththeLatin，athousandpartsbettermayitbetranslatedintotheEnglishthanintotheLatin。"[2]AndwhenahighchurchdignitaryprotestedtoTindaleagainstmakingtheBiblesocommon，hereplied:"IfGodsparemylife，eremanyyearsIwillcauseaboythatdrivethaplowshallknowmoreoftheScripturesthanthoudost。"Andwhilethatwasnotsayingmuchfortheplowboy，itwassayingagooddealtothedignitary。Inlanguage，Tindalewascontroversialenough，butinhisspirit，inmakinghisversion，therewasnoelementofcontroversy。Forsuchreasonsasthesewemightexpecttheversiontobevaluable。

[1]HermanBuschius。

[2]ThiswillmeanthemoretouswhenwerealizethattheliterarymenofthedaydespisedtheEnglishtongue。SirThomasMorewrotehisUtopiainLatin，becauseotherwiseeducatedmenwouldnotdeigntoreadit。YearslaterRogerAschamapologizedforwritingoneofhisworksinEnglish。PuttingtheBibleintocurrentEnglishimpressedtheseliterarymenverymuchaswewouldbeimpressedbyputtingtheBibleintocurrentslang。

Allthiswhile，andespeciallybetweenthetimewhenTindalefirstpublishedhisNewTestamentandthetimetheyburnedhimfordoingso，aninterestingchangewasgoingoninEngland。

TheKingwasHenryVIII。，whowasbynomeansawillingProtestant。AsLuther"sworkappeared，itwasthissameHenrywhowrotethepamphletagainsthimduringtheDietofWorms，andonthegroundofthispamphlet，withitsloyalsupportoftheChurchagainstLuther，hereceivedfromtheRomanpontiffthetitle"DefenderoftheFaith，"whichthekingsofEnglandstillwear。Andyetunderthiskingthisstrangesuccessionofdatescanbegiven。Noticethemclosely。In1526Tindale"sNewTestamentwasburnedatSt。Paul"sbytheBishopofLondon；tenyearslater，1536，TindalehimselfwasburnedwiththeknowledgeandconnivanceoftheEnglishgovernment；andyet，oneyearlater，1537，twoversionsoftheBibleinEnglish，three-quartersofwhichweretheworkofTindale，werelicensedforpublicusebytheKingofEngland，andwererequiredtobemadeavailableforthepeople!ElevenyearsaftertheNewTestamentwasburned，oneyearafterTindalewasburned，thatcrownwassetonhiswork!Whatbroughtthisabout?

Threefactshelptoexplainit。First，therecentyearsofBibletranslationwerehavingtheirweight。ThefugitivecopiesoftheBibleweredoingtheirwork。SpiteofthesharpoppositionfiftythousandcopiesofTindale"svariouseditionshadactuallybeenpublishedandcirculated。Menwerereadingthem；theywereapprovingthem。Themoretheyread，thelessreasontheysawforhidingtheBookfromthepeople。Whyshoulditnotbemadecommonandfree?TherewasstrongLutheranopinionintheuniversities。ItwasalreadyacustomforEnglishteacherstogotoGermanyforminutescholarship。TheycamebackwithGermanBiblesinLuther"sversionandwithGreekTestaments，andtheyoungscholarswhowerebeingraisedupfelttheinfluence，consciouslyorunconsciously，ofthefreeuseoftheBiblewhichruledinmanyGermanuniversities。

ThesecondfactthathelpstoexplainthesuddenchangeofattitudetowardtheBibleisthis:

thepeopleofEnglandwereneverwillinglyruledfromwithout，religiouslyorpolitically。

TherehasrecentlybeenaconsiderablecontroversyoverthehistoryoftheEstablishedChurchofEngland，whetherithasalwaysbeenanindependentchurchorwasatonetimeofficiallyapartoftheRomanChurch。Thatisamatterforecclesiasticalhistorytodetermine。

Thefoundationfact，however，isasI

wordeditamomentago:thepeopleofEnglandwereneverwillinglyruledfromwithout，religiouslyorpolitically。Theyweresometimesruledfromwithout；buttheywereeitherindifferenttoitatthetimeorrebelliousagainstit。Thosewhodidthinkclaimedtherighttothinkforthemselves。TheScotchofthenorthwerepeculiarlyso，buttheEnglishofthesouthclaimedthesameright。TherehasalwaysbeenanimmensecontrastbetweenthetwosidesoftheBritishChannel。TheFrenchpeopleduringallthoseyearsweredeeplyloyaltoaforeignreligiousgovernment。TheEnglishpeoplewereneverso，notinthedaysofthefullestRomansupremacy。Theyalwaysdemandedatleastaformofhomegovernment。ThatmadeEnglandacongenialhomefortheProtestantspirit，whichclaimedtherighttoindependentstudyofthesourcesofreligionandindependentjudgmentregardingthem。ItwasonlyacontinuanceofthespiritofWiclifandtheLollards。

Thespiritinanationliveslong，especiallywhenitispasseddownbytradition。Thosewerenotthedaysofnewspapers。Theywereinsteadthedaysofgreatmeetings，moreimportantstillofsmallfamilygatherings，wherethememoryoftheoldermenwascalledintouse，andwhereboysandgirlsdrankineagerlythetraditionsoftheirowncountryasexpressedinthegreateventsoftheirhistory。Newspapersnevercanfullytaketheplaceofthosegatherings，fortheydonotbringmentogethertofeelthethrillofthestorythatistold。ItmustberememberedthattheentirepopulationofEnglandatthattimewasonlyaboutthreemillions。Andthatoldspiritofindependencewasstronglyatworkinthemiddle-classvillagesandamongthemerchants，andtheywerearulinganddominantclass。Thatwassecond，thatinthosetenyearsthereasserteditselftheage-longunwillingnessoftheEnglishpeopletoberuledfromwithout。

ThethirdfactwhichmustbetakenintoaccounttoexplainthisremarkablechangeoffrontofthepublicEnglishlifeisHenryVIII。

himself。Thereismuchabouthimthatnocountrywouldwillinglyclaim。HewasthemosthabitualbridegroominEnglishhistory；

hehadanalmostconfirmedhabitofbeheadinghiswivesorotherwiseriddinghimselfofthem。

YetmanytraitsmadehimatypicaloutstandingEnglishman。Hehadthecharacteristicspiritofindependence，theresentmentofforeigncontrol，satisfactionwithhisownland，thefeelingthatofcourseitisthebestland。TherearenopeopleintheworldsowellsatisfiedwiththeirowncountryasthepeopleofEnglandortheBritishIsles。Theyarecriticalofmanythingsintheirowngovernmentuntiltheybegintocompareitwithothercountries；theymustmaketheirchangesontheirownlines。ThepamphletofHenryVIII。，whichwonhimthetitleofDefenderoftheFaith，praisedthepope；

and，thoughSirThomasMoreurgedhimtochangehisexpressionslestheshouldlivetoregretthem，hewouldnotchangethem。ButthatwaswhilethepopewasservinghiswishesandwhathefeltwasEngland"sgood。

Therearosepresentlythequestion，ortheseveralquestions，abouthismarriage。ItshedsnogloryonHenryVIII。thattheyaroseastheydid；buthistreatmentofthemmustnotbemistaken。HewasconcernedtohavehismarriagetoAnneBoleynconfirmed，andtherearesomewhothinkhewashonestinbelievingitoughttobeconfirmed，thoughweneednotbelievethat。WhathappenedwasthatforthefirsttimeHenryVIII。foundthatassovereignofEnglandhemusttakecommandsfromaforeignpower，apowerexercisingtemporalsovereigntyexactlyashedid，butaddingtoitaclaimtospiritualpower，aclaimtodeterminehisconductforhimandtoabsolvehispeoplefromloyaltytohimifhewasnotobedient。Itaroseoverthequestionofhisdivorce，butitmighthavearisenoveranythingelse。ItwaslimitationonhissovereigntyinEngland。AndheletitbeseenthatallquestionsthatpertaintoEnglandweretobesettledinEngland，andnotinanotherland。HewouldratherhaveamattersettledwronginEnglandthansettledrightelsewhere。ThatishowheclaimedtobeheadoftheEnglishChurch。Thepeoplebackofhimhadalwaysheldtothebeliefthattheyweregovernedfromwithin，thoughtheywerelinkedtoreligionfromwithout。Heexecutedtheirtheory。ThatassertionofEnglishsovereigntycameduringtheeventfulyearsofwhichwearespeaking。

Here，then，areourgreatfacts。First，thoughtfulopinionwantedtheBiblemadeavailable，andataconventionofbishopsanduniversitymentheKingwasrequestedtosecuretheissuanceofapropertranslation。Secondly，thepeoplewantedit，themorebecauseitwouldgratifytheirEnglishinstinctofindependentjudgmentinmattersofreligion。Thirdly，theKinggranteditwithoutyieldinghispersonalreligiousposition，inassertionofhishumansovereigntywithinhisownrealm。

SoEnglandawokeonemorningin1537todiscoverthatithadatranslationoftheBibletwoofthemactually，opentoitsuse，theverythingthathadbeenforbiddenyesterday!Andthat，oneyearafterTindalehadbeenburnedinloyalFranceforissuinganEnglishtranslation!

Twoversionswerenowauthorizedandmadeavailable。Whatwerethey?ThatofMilesCoverdale，whichhadbeenissuedsecretlytwoyearsbefore，andthatknownasthe"Matthew"

Bible，thoughthenamehasnosignificance，issuedwithinayear。Detailsarenottoourpurpose。Neitherwasanindependentwork，butwasmadelargelyfromtheLatinandtheGerman，andmuchinfluencedbyTindale。

CoverdalewasaYorkshiremanlikeWiclif，feminineinhismentalcastasTindalewasmasculine。

Coverdalemadehistranslationbecausehelovedbooks；Tindalebecausehefeltdriventoit。Butnowthewaywasclear，andothereditionsappeared。Itisnaturaltonameoneortwoofthemorenotableones。

ThereappearedwhatisknownastheGreatBiblein1539。ItwasonlyanotherversionmadebyCoverdaleonthebasisoftheMatthewversion，butcorrectedbymoreaccurateknowledge。

Thereisaninterestingromanceofitspublication。ThepressesofEnglandwerenotadequateforthegreatworkplanned；itwastobeamarveloftypography。SotheconsentofKingFranciswasgainedtohaveitprintedinFrance，andCoverdalewassentasaspecialambassadortooverseeit。HewasindreadoftheInquisition，whichwasinvogueatthetime，andsentoffhisprintedsheetstoEnglandasrapidlyaspossible。SuddenlyonedaytheorderofconfiscationcamefromtheInquisitor-General。

OnlyCoverdale"sofficialpositionasrepresentingtheKingsavedhisownlife。Asfortheprintedsheetsonwhichsomuchdepended，theyseemeddoomed。Butinthenickoftimeadealerappearedattheprinting-houseandpurchasedfourgreatvatsfullofwastepaperwhichheshippedtoEngland——whenitwasfoundthatthewastepaperwasthoseprintedsheets。ThepressesandtheprinterswereallloyaltoEngland，andtheeditionwasfinallycompleted。TheGreatBiblewasissuedtomeetadecreethateachchurchshouldmakeavailableinsomeconvenientplacethelargestpossiblecopyofthewholeBible，wherealltheparishionerscouldhaveaccesstoitandreaditattheirwill。Theversiongetsitsnamesolelyfromthesizeofthevolume。Thatdecreedates1538，twelveyearsafterTindale"sbookswereburned，andtwoyearsafterhewasburned!Theinstallationofthesegreatbookscausedtremendousexcitement——crowdsgatheredeverywhere。BishopBonnercausedsixcopiesofthegreatvolumetobelocatedwiselythroughoutSt。Paul"s。Hefounditdifficulttomakepeopleleavethemduringthesermons。Hewassoofteninterruptedbyvoicesreadingtoagroup，andbythediscussionsthatensued，thathethreatenedtohavethemtakenoutduringtheserviceifpeoplewouldnotbequiet。TheGreatBibleappearedinseveneditionsintwoyears，andcontinuedinrecognizedpowerforthirtyyears。

MuchofthepresentEnglishprayer-bookistakenfromit。

Butthislibertywassosuddenthatthepeoplenaturallyabusedit。Henrybecamevexedbecausethesacredwords"weredisputed，rimed，sung，andjangledineveryale-house。"Therehadgrownupaseriesofwildballadsandribaldsongsincontemptof"theoldfaith，"

whileitwasnotreallytheoldfaithwhichwasindispute，butonlyforeigncontrolofEnglishfaith。TheyhadmistakenHenry"smeaning。

SoHenrybegantoputrestrictionsontheuseoftheBible。Thereweretobenonotesorannotationsinanyversions，andthosethatexistedweretobeblackedout。OnlytheupperclassesweretobeallowedtopossessaBible。

Finally，theyearbeforehisdeath，allversionswereprohibitedexcepttheGreatBible，whosecostandsizeprecludedsecretuse。ThedecreeledtoanothergreatburningofBiblesin1546——

Tindale，Coverdale，Matthew——allbuttheGreatBible。TheleadingreligiousreformerstookflightandfledtoEuropeanProtestanttownslikeFrankfortandStrassburg。ButtheBibleremained。HenryVIII。died。TheBiblelivedon。

UnderEdwardVI。，theboyking，comingtothethroneatnineanddyingatfifteen，theregencywithCrammeratitsheadearneditsbadname。ButwhileitsmemberswereshamelesslydespoilingchurchesandenrichingthemselvestheydidonegreatservicefortheBible。

Theycastoffallrestrictionsonitstranslationandpublication。TheorderforaGreatBibleineverychurchwasrenewed，andtherewastobeaddedtoitacopyofErasmus"sparaphraseofthefourgospels。NearlyfiftyeditionsoftheBible，inwholeorinpart，appearedinthosesixyears。

Andthatwasfortunate，forthencameMary——andthedeluge。Ofcourse，sheagaingaveinthenominalallegianceofEnglandtotheRomancontrol。Butsheutterlymissedthespiritofthepeople。TheywerewearywiththeexcessesofrabidProtestantism；buttheywerebynomeansreadytoadmittheprincipleofforeigncontrolinreligiousmatters。Theymighthavebeenwilling，manyofthem，thattheuseoftheBibleshouldberestricted，ifitweredonebytheirownsovereign。Theywerenotwillingthatanothersovereignshouldrestrictthem。

SothesecretuseoftheBibleincreased。Martyrfireswerekindled，butbythelightofthemthepeoplereadtheirBiblesmoreeagerly。AndthisverypersecutionledtooneofthebestoftheearlyversionsoftheBible，indirectlyeventotheKingJamesversion。

TheflowerofEnglishProtestantscholarshipwasdrivenintoexile，andfounditswaytoFrankfortandGenevaagain。Therethespiritofscholarshipwasuntrammeled；theretheyfoundmaterialforscholarlystudyoftheBible，andtheretheymadeandpublishedanewversionoftheBibleinEnglish，byallmeansthebestthathadbeenmade。Inlateryears，underElizabeth，itdrovetheGreatBibleoffthefieldbysheerpowerofexcellence。Duringherreignsixtyeditionsofitappeared。ThiswastheversioncalledtheGenevanBible。Itmadeseveralchangesthatarefamiliartous。Foronething，intheGenevaneditionof1560firstappearedourfamiliardivisionintoverses。Thechapterdivisionwasmadethreecenturiesearlier；buttheversesbelongtotheGenevanversion，andaredividedtomaketheBooksuitableforresponsiveuseandforreadierreference。ItwastakeninlargepartfromtheworkofRobertStephens，whohaddividedtheGreekTestamentintoverses，tenyearsearlier，duringajourneywhichhewascompelledtomakebetweenParisandLyons。TheGenevanversionalsoabandonedtheoldblackletter，andusedtheRomantypewithwhichwearefamiliar。Ithadfullnotesonhardpassages，whichnotes，asweshallsee，helpedtoproducetheKingJamesversion。

TheworkitselfwascompletedaftertheaccessionofElizabeth，whenmostofthereligiousleadershadreturnedtoEnglandfromtheirexileunderMary。

ElizabethherselfwasnotanardentProtestant，notardentatallreligiously，butanardentEnglishwoman。Sheunderstoodherpeople，andwhileshepridedherselfonbeingthe"GuardianoftheMiddleWay，"shedidnotmakethemistakeofsubmittinghersovereigntytoforeignsupervision。ProbablyElizabethalwayscountedherselfpersonallyaCatholic，butnotpoliticallysubjecttotheRomanpontiff。ShehadnowishtooffendotherCatholicpowers；

butshewasdeterminedtodevelopastrongnationalspiritandtoallowreligiousdifferencestoexistiftheywouldbepeaceful。Thedramaticscenewhichwasenactedatthetimeofhercoronationprocessionwastypicalofherspirit。AstheprocessionpasseddownCheapside，avenerableoldman，representingTime，withalittlechildbesidehimrepresentingTruth——Timealwaysold，Truthalwaysyoung——

presentedtheQueenwithacopyoftheScriptures，whichsheaccepted，promisingtoreadthemdiligently。

PresentlyitwasfoundthattwoversionsoftheBibleweretakingthefield，theoldGreatBibleandthenewGenevanBible。OnallaccountstheGenevanwasthebetterandwasdrivingoutitsrival。YettherecouldbenohopeofgainingtheapprovalofElizabethfortheGenevanBible。Foronething，JohnKnoxhadbeenapartytoitspreparation；sohadCalvin。Elizabethdetestedthemboth，especiallyKnox。Foranotherthing，itsnoteswerenotfavorabletoroyalsovereignty，butsmackedsomuchofpopulargovernmentastobeoffensive。Foranotherthing，thoughithadbeenmademostlybyherownpeople，ithadbeenmadeinaforeignland，andwasundersuspiciononthataccount。TheresultwasthatElizabeth"sarchbishop，Parker，setouttohaveanauthorizedversionmade，selectedarevisioncommittee，withinstructionstofollowwhereverpossibletheGreatBible，toavoidbitternotes，andtomakesuchaversionthatitmightbefreely，easily，andnaturallyread。TheresultisknownastheBishops"Bible。ItwasissuedinElizabeth"stenthyear(1568)，butthereisnorecordthatsheevernoticedit，thoughParkersentheracopyfromhissick-bed。TheBishops"

BibleshowstheinfluenceoftheGenevanBibleinmanyways，thoughitgivesnocreditforthat。Itisnotofequalmerit；itwasexpensive，toocumbersome，andoftenunscholarly。

Onlyitsofficialstandinggaveitlife，andafterfortyyears，innineteeneditions，itwasnolongerpublished。

NamingoneotherEnglishversionwillcompletetheseriesoffactsnecessaryfortheconsiderationoftheformingoftheKingJamesversion。ItwillberememberedthatalltheEnglishversionsoftheBiblethusfarmentionedweretheworkofmeneitheralreadyoutoffavorwiththeRomanpontiff，orspeedilyputoutoffavoronthataccount。Thirtyyearsafterhisdeath；Wiclif"sbonesweretakenupandburned；

Tindalewasburned。Coverdale"sversionandtheGreatBibleweretheproductoftheperiodwhenHenryVIII。wasundertheban。TheGenevanBiblewastheworkofrefugees，andtheBishops"BiblewaspreparedwhenElizabethhadbeenexcommunicated。ThatfactseemedtomanyloyalRomanchurchmentoputtheChurchinafalselight。ItmustbemadeclearthatitsoppositionwasnottotheBible，noteventopopularuseandpossessionoftheBible，butonlytounauthorized，evenincorrect，versions。SotherecameabouttheDouaiversion，instigatedbyGregoryMartin，andpreparedinsomesenseasananswertotheGenevanversionanditsstronglyanti-papalnotes。ItwastheworkofEnglishscholarsconnectedwiththeUniversityofDouai。TheNewTestamentwasissuedatRheimsin1582，andthewholeBiblein1609，justbeforeourKingJamesversion。Itismade，notfromtheHebrewandtheGreek，thoughitreferstoboth，butfromtheVulgate。TheresultisthattheOldTestamentoftheDouaiversionisatranslationintoEnglishfromtheLatin，whichinlargepartisatranslationintoLatinfromtheGreekSeptuagint，whichinturnisatranslationintoGreekfromtheHebrew。Yetscholarsarescholars，anditshowsmarkedinfluenceoftheGenevanversion，and，indeed，ofotherEnglishversions。Itsnoteswerestronglyanti-Protestant，andinitsprefaceitexplainsitsexistencebysayingthatProtestantshavebeenguiltyof"castingtheholytodogsandpearlstohogs。"

Theversionisnotinthedirectlineoftheascentofthefamiliarversion，andneedsnoelaboratedescription。Itspurposewascontroversial；

itdidnotgotoavailablesources；

itsEnglishwasnotcolloquial，butecclesiastical。

Forexample，intheLord"sPrayerweread:

"Giveusthisdayoursupersubstantialbread，"

insteadof"ourdailybread。"InHebrewsxiii:

17，theversionreads，"Obeyyourprelatesandbesubjectuntothem。"InLukeiii:3，Johncame"preachingthebaptismofpenance。"InPsalmxxiii:5，whereweread，"Mycuprunnethover，"theDouaiversionreads，"Mychalicewhichinebriatethme，howgoodlyitis。"

Thereisacarefulretentionofecclesiasticalterms，andanexplanationofthepassagesonwhichProtestantshadcometodifferrathersharplyfromtheirRomanbrethren，asinthematterofthetakingofthecupbythepeople，andelsewhere。

Yetitisonlyfairtorememberthatthismuchanswerwasmadetotheversionswhichwerepreparingthewayforthegreatestversionofthemall，andwhenthetimecameforthemakingofthatversion，andthehelpsweregatheredtogether，theDouaiwasfranklyplacedamongthem。ItisapeculiarironyoffatethatwhilethepurposeofGregoryMartinwastocheckthetranslationoftheBiblebytheProtestants，theonlyeffectofhisworkwastoadvanceandimprovethattranslation。

Atlast，asweshallseeinournextstudy，thewaywasclearedforafreeandopensettingoftheBibleintoEnglish。Thewayhadbeenbesetwithstruggle，markedwithblood，lightedbymartyrfires。WiclifandPurvey，TindaleandCoverdale，therefugeesatGenevaandtheBishopsatLondon，allhadtrodthatway。

Kingshadfoughtthemorhadfavoredthem；

itwasallone；theyhadgoneon。LoyalzestfortheirBookandlovingzealforthecommonpeoplehadheldthemtothepath。Nowithadbecomeahighwayopentoallmen。Andrightworthywerethefeetwhichweresoontreadingit。

LECTUREII

THEMAKINGOFTHEKINGJAMESVERSION；ITS

CHARACTERISTICS

EARLYinJanuary，1604，menweremakingtheirwayalongthepoorEnglishhighways，bycoachandcarrier，totheHamptonCourtPalaceofthenewEnglishking。Theywerecomingfromthecathedraltowns，fromtheuniversities，fromthelargercities。ManywereChurchdignitaries，manywerescholars，somewerePuritans，allwereloyalEnglishmen，andtheyweregatheringinresponsetoacallforaconferencewiththeking，JamesI。Theyweredividedinsentiment，thesemen，andthosewhohopedmostfromtheconferenceweredoomedtocompletedisappointment。Notoneamongthem，nottheKing，hadtheslightestpurposethattheconferenceshoulddowhatprovedtobeitsonlyrealservice。Someofthemen，graveandearnest，werecomingtopresenttheirpetitionstotheKing，otherswerecomingtoopposetheirpetitions；theKingmeanttodenythemandtoharrythepetitioners。Andeverythingcameoutasithadbeenplanned。Yetthelargestserviceoftheconference，theonlyrealservice，wasinnoone"smind，foritwasatHamptonCourt，onthelastdayoftheconferencebetweenJamesandthechurchmen，January18，1604，thatthefirstformalstepwastakentowardthemakingoftheso-calledAuthorizedVersionoftheEnglishBible。Iftherearesuchthingsasaccidents，thisgreatenterprisebeganinanaccident。Buttheoutcomeoftheaccident，thevolumethatresulted，is"allowedbyallcompetentauthoritiestobethefirst，[thatis，thechief]Englishclassic，"ifourProfessorCook，ofYale，mayspeak；"isuniversallyacceptedasaliterarymasterpiece，asthenoblestandmostbeautifulBookintheworld，whichhasexercisedanincalculableinfluenceuponreligion，uponmanners，uponliterature，anduponcharacter，"iftheBalliolCollegescholarHoarecanbetrusted；andhas"madetheEnglishlanguage，"ifProfessorMarchisright。Thepurposeofthisstudyistoshowhowthataccidentoccurred，andwhatimmediatelycamefromit。

WiththedeathofElizabeththeTudorlineofsovereignsdiedout。ThecollateralStuartline，descendingdirectlyfromHenryVII。，naturallysucceededtothethrone，andJamesVI。ofScotlandmadehisroyalprogresstotheEnglishcapitalandbecameJamesI。ofEngland。

InhimappearsthefirstofthatStuartlineduringwhosereigngreatchangesweretooccur。Everyoneinthelineheldstronglytothedogmaofthedivinerightofkings，yetunderthatlinetheEnglishpeopletransferredsovereigntyfromthekingtoParliament。[1]Fortunatelyforhistory，andfortheprogressofpopulargovernment，theStuartlinehadnoforcefulfiguresinit。MacaulaythinksitwouldhavebeenfataltoEnglishlibertyiftheyhadbeenablekings。Itwaseasiertotakesodangerousaweaponasthedivinerightofkingsfromweakhandsthanfromstrongones。SoitwasthatthoughJamescameoutofScotlandtoasserthisdivineandarbitraryrightassovereign，bythetimeQueenAnnedied，closingtheStuartlineandgivingwaytotheHanoverian，therealsovereigntyhadpassedintothehandsofParliament。

[1]Trevelyan，EnglandUndertheStuarts。

Buttheroyaltraveler，comingfromEdinburghtoLondon，isinterestingonhisownaccount——interestingatthisdistance。Heisthirty-sevenyearsold，andoughttobeinthebeginningofhisprime。Heisalittleovermiddleheight；lovesagoodhorse，thoughheisanungainlyrider，andhasfallenoffhishorsethreeorfourtimesduringhisroyalprogress；

isaheavydrinkeroftheliquorsoftheperiod，withhorriblycoarse，evengrossmanners。Macaulayisveryseverewithhim。Hesaysthat"hiscowardice，hischildishness，hispedantry，hisungainlypersonandmanners，hisprovincialaccent，madehimanobjectofderision。Eveninhisvirtuesandaccomplishmentstherewassomethingeminentlyunkingly。"[1]Itseemedtoobadthat"royaltyshouldbeexhibitedtotheworldstammering，slobbering，sheddingunmanlytears，tremblingatthedrawnsword，andtalkinginthestylealternatelyofabuffoonandofapedagogue。"Thatistrulynotanattractivepicture。Butthereissomethingontheotherside。JohnRichardGreenputsbothsides:"Hisbighead，hisslobberingtongue，hisquiltedclothes，hisricketylegsstoodoutinasgrotesqueacontrastwithallthatmenrecalledofHenryandElizabethashisgabbleandrhodomontade，hiswantofpersonaldignity，hisbuffoonery，hiscoarsenessofspeech，hispedantry，hiscontemptiblecowardice。Underthisridiculousexterior，however，layamanofmuchnaturalability，aripescholarwithaconsiderablefundofshrewdness，ofmotherwitandreadyrepartee。"[2]

[1]HistoryofEngland，chap。i。

[2]ShortHistoryoftheEnglishPeople，chap。viii，sec。ii。

Somegoodtraitshemusthavehad。Hedidwinsomementohim。Assomeonehassaid，"Youcouldlovehim；youcoulddespisehim；

youcouldnothatehim。"Hecouldsaysomewittyandstrikingthings。Forexample，whenhewasurgingtheformalunionofScotlandandEngland，anditwasopposed，hesaid:"ButI

amthehusband，andthewholeislandismywife。IhopenoonewillbesounreasonableastosupposethatI，thatamaChristiankingundertheGospel，shouldbeapolygamistandhusbandtotwowives。"[2]Aftertheconferenceofwhichwehavebeenspeaking，hewrotetoafriendinScotland:"IhavehadarevelwiththePuritansandhavepepperedthemsoundly。"

Asindeedhehad。Then，insomesenseatleast，"Jameswasaborntheologian。"HehadstudiedtheBibleinsomeformfromchildhood；oneofthefirstthingswehearofhisdoingisthewritingofaparaphraseonthebookoftheRevelation。

InhistalkhemadeeasyandfreeuseofScripturequotations。Tobesure，hisknowledge，onwhichhepridedhimselfunconscionably，wasshallowandpedantic。HenryIV。ofFrance，oneofhiscontemporaries，saidthathewas"thewisestfoolinChristendom。"

[2]Trevelyan，EnglandUndertheStuarts，p。107。

Now，itwasthismanwhowasmakinghisroyalprogressfromEdinburghtoLondoninMarch，1603，nearlyayearbeforethegatheringofmenwhichwewereobservingattheopeningofthisstudy。Manythingshappenedonthejourneybesideshisfallingoffhishorseseveraltimes；butoneofthemostsignificantwasthehaltingoftheprogresstoreceivewhatwascalledtheMiliaryPetition，whosenameimpliesthatitwassignedbyathousandmen——actuallysomewhatlessthanthatnumber——mostlyministersoftheChurch。ThePetitionmadenomentionofanyBibleversion，yetitwasthebeginningoftheeventswhichledtoit。BackofitwasthePuritaninfluence。ItaskedforreformsintheEnglishChurch，forthecorrectionofabuseswhichhadgrownunderElizabeth"sincreasingfavorofritualandceremony。

Itaskedforabetter-trainedministry，forbetterdisciplineintheChurch，fortheomissionofsomanydetailedrequirementsofritesandceremonies，andforthatperenniallydesiredreform，shorterchurchservices!

VerynaturallythenewKingrepliedthathewouldtakeituplater，andpromisedtocallaconferencetoconsiderit。Andthishedid。

TheconferencemetatHamptonCourtinJanuary，1604，anditwasforthisthatthemenwerecomingfrommanypartsofEngland。Thegatheringwasheldonthe14th，16th，and18thofthemonth。ItssolepurposewastoconsiderthatMiliaryPetition；buttheKingcalledtoitnotonlythosewhohadsignedthePetition，butthosewhohadopposedit。Hehadnonotionofgrantinganyfavortoit，andfromthefirsthegavethePuritansroughtreatment。Hetoldthemhewouldhavenoneoftheirnon-

conformity，hewould"makethemconformorharrythemoutoftheland。"SomeonesuggestedthatsincethiswasaChurchmattertherebecalledaSynod，orsomegeneralgatheringfittedtodiscussanddeterminesuchthings，ratherthanleaveittoafewChurchdignitaries。Forthepurposesofthepetitionersitwasamostunfortunateexpression。JameshadjustcomefromScotland，wherethePresbyterianswerewiththeirSynod，andwhereCalvinismwasinfullswing。HewasmuchinfavorofsomeelementsofCalvinism；buthecouldnotseehowalltheelementsheldtogether。Predestination，forexample，whichoffendssomanypeopleto-day，wasapreciousdoctrinetoKingJames，andheinsistedthathissubjectsoughttoseehowclearlyGodhadpredestinedhimtoruleoverthem!

ButhecouldnottoleratethenecessarylogicalinferenceofCalvinismthatallmenmustbeequalbeforeGod，andsomencanmakeandunmakekingsastheyneedtodoso，thematterofkingorsubjectbeingpurelyanincidentalone。HerememberedthetimewhenAndrewMelville，oneoftheScotchministers，hadpluckedhimbyhisroyalsleeveandcalledhim"God"ssillyvassal"righttohisface。So，whensomeonesaid"Synod"itbroughttheKingupstanding。Heburstout:"Ifthatiswhatyoumean，ifyouwantwhattheScotchmeanbytheirSynodandtheirPresbytery，thenItellyouatoncethatIwillhavenoneofit。

PresbyteryagreeswithmonarchyverymuchasGodagreeswiththedevil。Ifyouhavenobishop，youwillsoonhavenoking。"Hewasperfectlyright，withreferencetothekindofkinghemeant。Thesethingsweretobesettled，hemeant，byauthority，andnotbyconference。

ThatisthepointtowhichGardinerreferswhenhesaysthat"intwominutesJamessealedhisownfateandthatofEnglandforever。"[1]

[1]HistoryofEngland，1603-42。

Afterthattherewasonlyalosingfightforthepetitioners。TheyhadtouchedasorespotinJames"shistory。ButitwaswhentheytouchedthatsorespotagainthattheystartedthemovementforanewversionoftheBible。

Itwasontheseconddayoftheconference，January16th，thatDr。Reynolds，presidentofCorpusChristiCollege，Oxford，whorepresentedthemoderatePuritanposition，and，likemanymoderatemen，wasrathersuspectedbybothextremewings，instancedasoneofthehardshipsofthePuritansthattheywerecompelledtousetheprayer-bookofthetime，andthatitcontainedmanymistranslationsofScripture，someofwhichhequoted。Now，itsohappensthattheerrorstowhichhereferredoccurintheBishops"andtheGreatBible，whichwerethetwoauthorizedversionsofthetime，butareallcorrectedintheGenevanversion。Wedonotknowwhatpointhewastryingtomake，whetherhewasurgingthattheGenevanversionshouldsupplanttheseothers，orwhetherhewascallingforanewtranslation。Indeed，wearenotsurethatheevenmentionedtheGenevanversion。ButJamesspokeuptosaythathehadneveryetseenaBiblewelltranslatedintoEnglish；buttheworstofallhethoughttheGenevantobe。HespokeasthoughhehadjusthadacopygivenhimbyanEnglishlady，andhadalreadynotedwhathecalleditserrors。Thatwasattheveryleastaroyalevasion，foriftherewasanyBookhedidknowitwastheGenevanversion。Hehadbeenfairlyraisedonit；hehadlivedinthecountrywhereitwascommonlyused。Ithadbeenpreachedathimmanyandmanyatime。Indeed，hehaduseditasthetextforthatparaphraseoftheRevelationofwhichwespokeamomentago。

Andheknewitsnotes——wellheknewthem——

knewthattheywerefromrepublicanGeneva，andthatkinglypretensionshadshortshriftwiththem。Jamestoldtheconferencethatthesenoteswere"verypartial，untrue，seditious，savoringtoomuchoftraitorousanddangerousconceits，"supportinghisopinionbytwoinstanceswhichseemeddisrespectfultoroyalty。

OneoftheseinstanceswasthenoteonExodus1:17，wheretheEgyptianmidwivesaresaidtohavedisobeyedthekinginthematterofdestroyingthechildren。Thenotesays:"Theirdisobediencetothekingwaslawful，thoughtheirdissemblingwasnot。"Jamesquotedthat，andsaid:"Itisfalse；todisobeythekingisnotlawful，andtraitorousconceitsshouldnotgoforthamongthepeople。"

SomeoftheHighChurchpartyobjectedthatthereweretranslationsenoughalready；butitstruckJames"sfancytosetthemallasidebyanotherversion，whichheatoncesaidhewouldorder。Itwastobemadebythemostlearnedofbothuniversities，thentoberevisedbythebishopsandotherChurchdignitaries，thenpresentedtothePrivyCouncil，andfinallytobepasseduponbyhimself。ThereistheechoofsomesharpScotchexperiencesinhisdeclarationthatthereweretobenomarginalnotesinthatnewversion。

Whentheylookedbackontheconference，thePuritansfeltthattheyhadlosteverything，andtheHighChurchpeoplethattheyhadgainedeverything。Oneofthebishops，inaveryservileway，andonhisknee，gavethankstoGodforhavinggiventhecountrysuchaking，whoselikehadneverbeenseensinceChristwasonearth。CertainlyhardtimeswereaheadforthePuritans。TheKingharriedthemaccordingtohisword。WithinsixteenyearssomeofthemlandedatPlymouthRock，andthingsbegantohappenonthisside。ThatsettlementatPlymouthwastheoutcomeofthethreattheKinghadmadeattheHamptonCourtconference。

Butlookingbackonecanseethattheconferencewasworthwhileforthebeginningofthemovementforthenewversion。TheKingwastruetohiswordinthislinealso，andbeforetheyearwasouthadappointedthefifty-fourbestBiblescholarsoftherealmtomakethenewversion。Theyweretositinsixcompaniesofnineeach，twoatOxford，twoatCambridge，andtwoatWestminster。Thenamesofonlyforty-sevenofthemhavecomedowntous，anditisnotknownwhethertheothersevenwereeverappointed，orinwhatwaytheirnameshavebeenlost。ItmustbesaidfortheKingthattheonlyprincipleofselectionwasscholarship，andwhenthosesixgroupsofmenmettheyweremenoftheveryfirstrank，withnopeersoutsidetheirownnumbers——withoneexception，andthatexceptionisofsomepassinginterest。HughBroughtonwasprobablytheforemostHebrewscholarofEngland，perhapsoftheworld，atthetime，andapparentlyhewasnotappointedonthecommittee。Chiefly，itseemstohavebeenbecausehewasamanofungovernabletemperandutterlyunfittedtoworkwithothers。Failuretoappointhim，however，bitandrankled，andtheonlykeenandsharpcriticismthatwaspassedontheversioninitsowndaywasbyHughBroughton。HesentwordtotheKing，afteritwascompleted，thatasforhimselfhewouldratherberenttopiecesbywildhorsesthanhavehadanypartintheurgingofsuchawretchedversionoftheBibleonthepoorpeople。

Thatwassomanifestlypique，however，thatitisonlytoberegrettedthatthetranslationdidnothavethebenefitofhisgreatHebrewknowledge。JohnSelden，athisprimeinthatday，voicedthefeelingofmostscholarsofthetimes，thatthenewtranslationwasthebestintheworldandbestgavethesenseoftheoriginal。

Wedonotknowmuchofthepersonnelofthecompany。Theirnameswouldmeanverylittletousatthisdistance。Allwereclergymenexceptone。Therewerebishops，collegeprincipals，universityfellows，andrectors。Dr。

Reynolds，whosuggesteditinthefirstplace，wasamember，thoughhedidnotlivetoseetheworkfinished。ThisDr。Reynolds，bytheway，waspartytoamostcuriousepisode。HehadbeenanardentRomanCatholic，andhehadabrotherwhowasanequallyardentProtestant。

Theyarguedwitheachothersoearnestlythateachconvincedtheother；theRomanCatholicbecameaProtestant，andtheProtestantbecameaRomanCatholic!Dr。LancelotAndrewes，chairmanofoneofthetwocompaniesthatmetatWestminster，wasprobablythemostlearnedmaninEngland。TheysaidofhimthatifhehadbeenpresentatthetowerofBabelhecouldhaveinterpretedforallthetonguespresent。

Theonlytroublewasthattheworldlackedlearningenoughtoknowhowlearnedhewas。

HiscompanyhadthefirstpartoftheOldTestament，andthesimpledignityofthestyletheyusedshowshowscholarshipandsimplicitygoeasilytogether。Mostpeoplewouldconsiderthattheleastsatisfactorypartoftheworkisthesecondsection，runningfromIChroniclestoEcclesiastes。Aconvertfromanotherfaith，wholearnedtoreadtheBibleinEnglish，onceexpressedtoafriendofmyownhisfeelingthatexceptforthePsalmsandpartsofJob，thereseemedtobehereadistinctletting-downofthedignityofthetranslation。Thereisgoodexcuseforthis，ifitisso，fortwoleadingmembersofthecompanywhohadthatsectionincharge，botheminentCambridgescholars，diedveryearlyinthework，andtheirplaceswerenotfilled。Thethirdcompany，sittingatOxford，werepeculiarlystrong，andhadfortheirportionthehardestpartoftheOldTestament——allthepropheticalwritings。Buttheydidtheirpartwithfinestskill。Thefourthcompany，sittingatCambridge，hadtheApocrypha，thebookswhichliebetweentheOldandtheNewTestamentsforthemostpart，orelsearesupplementaltocertainOldTestamentbooks。Theirworkwasratherhastilyandcertainlypoorlydone，andhasbeendroppedoutofmosteditions。Thefifthcompany，sittingatOxford，withgreatGreekscholarsonit，tooktheGospels，theActs，andtheRevelation。Thiscompanyhadinittheonelayman，SirHenrySavile，thenthegreatestGreekscholarinEngland。ItisthesameSirHenrySavilewhoheard，onhisdeath-bedin1621，thatJameshadwithhisownhandstornfromtheJournalofParliamentthepageswhichboretheprotestinfavoroffreespeechinParliament。Hearingit，thefaithfulscholarprayedtodie，saying:"Iamreadytodepart，theratherthathavinglivedingoodtimesI

foreseeworse。"ThesixthcompanymetatWestminsterandtranslatedtheNewTestamentepistles。

Itwastheoriginalplanthatwhenonecompanyhadfinisheditspart，theresultshouldgotoeachoftheothercompanies，comingbackwiththeirsuggestionstotheoriginalworkerstoberecastbythem。Thewholewasthentobereviewedbyasmallercommitteeofscholarstogiveituniformityandtoseeitthroughthepress。Therecordsarenotextantthattellwhetherthiswasdoneinfulldetail，thoughwemaypresumethateachsectionoftheScripturehadthebenefitofthescholarshipoftheentirecompany。

Weknowagooddealofthemethodoftheirwork。Weshallunderstanditbetterbyrecallingwhatmaterialtheyhadathand。Theywereenabledtousetheresultofalltheworkthathadbeendonebeforethem。TheywereinstructedtofollowtheBishops"Biblewherevertheycoulddosofairly；buttheyweregivenpowertousetheversionsalreadynamedfromWiclifdown，aswellasthosefragmentaryversionswhichwerenumerous，andofwhichnomentionhasbeenmade。TheyransackedallEnglishformsforfelicitouswordsandhappyphrases。ItisoneoftheinterestingincidentsthatthissameHughBroughton，whowasleftoffthecommitteeandtookitsohard，yetwithouthiswillcontributedsomeimportantmattertothetranslation，becausehehadonhisownauthoritymadetranslationsofcertainpartsoftheScripture。SeveralofourcapitalphrasesintheKingJamesversionarefromhim。Therewasnoefforttobreakoutnewpaths。Preferencewasalwaysgiventoafamiliarphraseratherthantoanewone，unlessaccuracyrequiredit。First，then，theyhadthebenefitofalltheworkthathadbeendonebeforeinthesameline，andgladlyusedit。

Inaddition，theyhadallotherversionsmadeinthetonguesofthetime。ChieflytherewasLuther"sGermanBible，alreadybecomefortheGermantonguewhattheirversionwasdestinedtobefortheEnglishtongue。TherewerepartsoftheBibleavailableinSpanish，French，andDutch。Theywerekeptathandconstantlyforanylighttheymightcastondifficultpassages。

FortheOldTestamenttherewereveryfewHebrewtexts。Therehadbeenlittlecriticalworkyetdoneonthem，andforthemostparttherewereonlydifferenteditionsrunningbackoverthecenturies。Wehavelittlemorethanthatnow，andthereisalmostnonewmaterialontheOldTestamentsincethedaysoftheKingJamestranslators。Therewas，ofcourse，theSeptuagint，theGreektranslationfromtheHebrewmadebeforeChrist，withtheguidanceitcouldgiveindoubtfulplacesontheprobableoriginal。AndfinallytherewastheVulgate，madeintoLatinoutoftheGreekandHebrew。

ThiswasalltheOldTestamentmaterialtheyhad，orthatanyonecouldhaveinviewoftheantiquatedoriginalsources。

TheNewTestamentmaterialwasmoreabundant，thoughnotnearlysoabundantasto-day。Therewerefewmanuscriptsoftheearlydaystowhichtheycouldrefer；buttherewerethetwogreatcriticalversionsoftheNewTestamentinGreek，thatbyErasmusandtheComplutensian，whichhadmadeuseofthebestmanuscriptsknown。Then，finallyagain，therewastheVulgate。

WemuststopamomenttoseewhatwasthevalueoftheVulgateinthiswork。ItisimpossibletoreckonthenumberoftheearlyNewTestamentmanuscriptsthathavebeenlost。

IntheearlierdaytheScripturesweretransmittedfromchurchtochurch，andfromagetoage，bymanuscripts。Manyofthemweremadeasdirectcopiesofothermanuscripts；butmanyweremadebyscribestowhomthemanuscriptswerereadastheywrote，sothattherearemany，thoughordinarilycomparativelyslight，variationsamongthemanuscriptswhichwenowknow。Moremanuscriptsarecomingtolightconstantly，manuscriptsoncewellknownandthenlost。Manyofthem，perhapsmanyearlierthanwenowhave，musthavebeenfamiliartoJeromefourhundredyearsafterChrist。When，therefore，thereisaplaindifferencebetweentheVulgateandourearlyGreekmanuscripts，theVulgatemaybewrongbecauseitisonlyatranslation；

butitmayberightbecauseitisatranslationofearliermanuscriptsthansomeofours。

Itissteadilylosingitsvalueatthatpoint，forGreekmanuscriptsareallthetimecomingtolightwhichrunfartherback。ButwemustnotminimizethevalueoftheVulgateforourKingJamestranslation。

Withallthismaterialthescholarsoftheearlyseventeenthcenturysettowork。Eachmaninthegroupmadethetranslationthatseemedbesttohim，andtogethertheyanalyzedtheresultsandfinallyagreedonthebest。Theyhuntedtheotherversionstoseeifithadbeenbetterdoneelsewhere。TheshadeofTindalewasoveritall。TheGenevanversionwasmostinfluential。TheDouaihaditsshare，andtheBishops"wasthegeneralstandard，alteredonlywhenaccuracyrequiredit。Onallhardpassagestheycalledtotheiraidtheappropriatedepartmentsofbothuniversities。Allscholarseverywherewereaskedtosendinanycontributions，tocorrectorcriticizeastheywould。Publicannouncementoftheworkwasmade，andallpossiblehelpwasbesoughtandgladlyaccepted。

Veryfaithfullythesegreatestscholarsoftheirtimewrought。Nooneworkedformoney，andnooneworkedforpay，buteachforthejoyoftheworking。Threeyearstheyspentontheoriginalwork，threeyearsoncarefulrevisionandonthemarginalreferencesbywhichScripturewasmadetothrowlightonScripture。

Theninsixmonthsacommitteerevieweditall，putitthroughthepress，andatlast，in1611，withtheimprintofRobertBarker，PrintertotheKing"sMostExcellentMajesty，theKingJamesversionappeared。ThenameAuthorizedVersionisnotahappyone，forsofarastherecordsgoitwasneverauthorizedeitherbytheKingorthebishop；and，evenifitwere，theauthoritydoesnotextendbeyondtheEnglishChurch，whichisaverysmallfractionofthosewhouseit。Onthetitle-pageoftheoriginalversion，asonsomanysince，isthefamiliarline，"AppointedtobeReadinChurches，"butwhomadetheappointmenthistorydoesnotsay。