ed Government and Liturgy in the Church, appointed a Conference to be held at Hampton Court, the 14th of January 160 for the fettling the Peace of the Church, and the quieting the Complaints of its Ad verfaries. Here Dr. Reynolds, one of the Oppofers of Conformity, moved that the Bible might be new tranflated, alledging that fuch Tranflations as were then extant, answered not the Original, and he inftanced in three Particulars; Galat. iv. 25. in the Original sora, ill-tranflated, bordereth. Pf. cv. 28. in the Original, They were not difobe dient, ill-tranflated, They were not obedient. Pf. cv. 30. in the Original, Phineas executed Judgment, ill-tranflated, Phineas prayed. To which the King replied, That he could never yet fee a Bible well tranflated in English, but thought that of all, that of Geneva was the wor; adding, I wifh fome fpecial Pains was taken for an uniform Tranflation, which should be done by the best learned in both Universities, then reviewed by the Bishops, prefented to the Privy-Council, and laftly ratified by Royal Authority, to be read in the whole Church, and no other. Here Bancroft Bishop of London interpofed, faying, It was fit no Marginal Notes fhould be added thereunto To which the King replied, That Caveat is well put in, for in the Geneva Tranflation fome Notes are partial, untrue, feditious, and favouring of traiterous Conceits. As when from Exod. i. 19. Difobedience to Kings is allowed in Marginal Note, and 2d Chron. xv. 16. King Afɑ is taxed in the Note for only depofing his Mother for Idolatry, and not killing her. To thefe Exceptions may be added two more; the first is their Comment upon the 12th Verse of the 2d of St. Matthew; here they tell us, That Promife ought not to be kept where God's Honour and preaching of his Truth is injured; or else it ought not to be broken. What loofe Cafuiftry is this? What a defperate Expedient is this to juftify the Breach of Promifes and Oaths; of Contracts between Man and Man? What infurrections and Confufions have been raised upon this Pretence? The other extraordinary Comment is on Revel. ix. 3. where the Locusts that come out of the Smoke are faid to be falfe Teachers, Hereticks, and worldly fubtle Prelates, with Monks, Fryars, Cardinals, Patriarchs, Archbishops, Bishops, Doctors, Batchelors, and Mafters, a ftrong Compofition of Ignorance and Ill-will. What broad Inuendos are here upon the English Clergy, and all thofe diftinguished with Degrees in the Univerfities? Thefe, it feems, according to the Skill and Charity of the Genevean Annotators, are Part of the Locufts that came fmoaking out of the bottomless Pit.

This produced a Refolution in his Majefty for a new Tranflation, who appointed certain learned Men to the Number of Fifty-four for that Purpose; and to encourage this Work, the King made fome preparatory Advances, as appears by his Letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury of July 22d 1604, wherein he tells him, He had already appointed certain learned Men for the Work, divers of which having either no Ecclefiaftical Preferment at all, or elfe fo very small, that the fame was far unmeet for Men of their Deferts, he gives Directions for the Remedy of it, by taking Care for their Preferment. He alfo requireth all Bifhops, to inform themselves of all fuch learned Men within their feveral Dioceses, as having efpecial Skill in the Hebrew and Greek Tongues, have taken Pains in their private Studies of the Scriptures, for the clearing of any

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Obfcurities either in the Hebrew or in the Greek, or touching any Difficulties or Miftakes in the former English Tranflation, and to charge them to fend fuch their Obfervations in, to be imparted to the fe veral Companies imployed, that fo the intended Tranflation might have the Help and Furtherance of all the principal learned Men in the Kingdom.

Before this Work was begun, Seven of the Perfons nominated for it, were either dead, or declined the Tafk; for the Lift of the Tranflators, as given us by Fuller, amounts to but Forty-Seven. This Number was ranged under Six Divifions, and several Parcels of the Bible affigned them, according to the feveral Places, where they were to meet, confer, and confult together. Every one of the Company was to tranflate the whole Parcel; then they were to compare thefe together; and when any Company had finished their Part, they were to communicate it to the other Companies, fo that nothing fhould pafs without a general Confent. The Names of the Perfons and Places where they met, together with the Portions of Scripture affigned each Company, were as follow.

ft, Dr. Lancelot Andrews, firft Fellow, then Mafter of Pembroke Hall in Cambridge, at this Time Dean of Weftminster, afterwards Bishop of Ely, then of Winchester. 2dly, Dr. John Overall, Fellow of Trinity College, Mafter of Catherine Hall in Cambridge, at this Time Dean of St. Paul's, afterwards Bifhop, firft of Coventry and Litchfield, then of Norwich. 3dly, Dr. Adrian Saravia, a Native of Artois, bred at the University of Leyden, but a ftrong Affertor of Epifcopacy. This Doctrine being difcouraged in his own Country, where the Parity of Minifters was an Article of their publick Confeflion, he caft himself upon the Protection of the Church of England, in which he was preferred to be a Prebendary of Canterbury and Wefiminfter, and confidered in other Refpects to his Satisfaction. 4thly, Dr. Layfield, Fellow of Trinity College in Cambridge, Parfon of St. Clement-Danes; being killed in Architecture, his Judgment was much relied upon for the Fabrick of the Tabernacle and Temple. 5thly, Dr. Clerk, Fellow of Chrift College in Cam bridge, Preacher in Canterbury; not in the Lift of thofe that met. 6thly, Dr. Leigh, Archdeacon of Middlefex, Parson of Allhallows Barking. 7thly, Dr. Burgley. 8thly, Mr. King. 9thly, Mr. Thompson. 10thly, Mr. Bedwell, fometime of St. John's College in Cambridge, and Vicar of Tottenham, near London.

These Ten met at Westminster, and to them were affigned the Pen tateuch, the Hiftory from Jofua to the First Book of Chronicles exclufively.

2dly, To meet at Cambridge Eight; viz. ft, Mr. Lively the King's Hebrew Reader in Cambridge. 2dly, Mr. John Richardson, Fellow of Emanuel College, afterwards Doctor of Divinity, Mafter first of PeterHoufe, then of Trinity College. 3dly, Mr. Chadderton, after Doctor in Divinity, Fellow firft of Chrift College, then Master of Emanuel. 4thly, Mr. Dillingham, Fellow of Chrift College, beneficed in Bedfordshire, where he died. 5thly, Mr. Andrews, after Doctor in Divinity and Mafter of Jefus College, Brother to the Bishop of Winchester. 6thly, Mr. Harrifon, Vice-Matter of Trinity College. 7thly, Mr. Spalding, Fellow

of

of St. John's, and Hebrew Profeffor in that College. Fellow of Peter-Houfe, and Hebrew Profeffor therein.

8thly, Mr. Bing,

To these were allotted the Books from the First of the Chronicles, with the rest of the Hiftory, and the Hagiographa, viz. Job, Pfalms, Proverbs, Canticles, Ecclefiaftes.

3dly, For Oxford were chofen Seven, viz. ft, Dr. John Harding, Prefident of Magdalen College. 2dly, Dr. John Reynolds, Prefident of Corpus Chrifti College; dyed foon after his ingaging in this Work: He was born at Pinhoe in Devonshire, bred in Oxford where he was King's Profeffor; his Brother William and himfelf happened to divide in their Persuasion; John was a zealous Papift, and William as heartily engaged in the Reformation. Afterwards the two Brothers entring into a clofe Difpute, argued with that Strength, that they turned each other. This Dr. Reynolds, notwithstanding his appearing for the Diffenters at the Hampton-Court Conference, conformed himself to the Church Ceremonies. 3dly, Dr. Thomas Holland, Rector of Exeter College, and the King's Profeflor of Divinity. 4thly, Dr. Richard Kilby, Rector of Lincoln College, and Hebrew Profeflor. 5thly, Mr. Miles Smith, after Doctor in Divinity, and Bishop of Gloucester. He wrote the Preface to the Tranflation, and was one of the Revifers of the whole Work, when finifhed. 6thly, Dr. Richard Brett, Rector of Quainton in Buckinghamfire. 7thly, Mr. Fairclowe.

Thefe had for their Tafk the four great Prophets, with the Lamentations, and the twelve leffer Prophets.

4thly, For the Prayer of Manaffes, and the reft of the Apochrypha, Seven were appointed at Cambridge. 1ft, Dr. Duport, Prebendary of Ely, and Mafter of Jefus College. 2dly, Dr. Brainthwaite, first Fellow of Emanuel, then Mafter of Gonvil and Caius College. 3dly, Dr. Radcliff, Fellow of Trinity. 4thly, Mr. Ward of Emanuel, after Doctor in Divinity, Mafter of Sidney College, and Margaret Profeflor. 5thly, Mr. Downs, Fellow of St. John's, and Greek Profeffor. 6thly, Mr. Boyfe, Fellow of St. John's, Prebendary of Ely, and Parfon of Boxworth in Cambridgefbire. 7thly, Mr. Ward, Fellow of King's College, after Doctor in Divinity, Prebendary of Chichester, and Rector of Bijhop-Waltham in Hampshire.

5thly, For the New Testament, there were the Four Gofpels, Ats, and Revelations, affigned to Eight at Oxford, viz. ft, Dr. Thomas Ravis, Dean of Chrift Church, afterwards Bishop of London. 2dly, Dr. George Abbot, Mafter of Univerfity College, afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury. 3dly, Dr. Eedes. 4thly, Mr. Thompson. 5thly, Mr. Savil. 6thly, Dr. Peryn. 7thly, Dr. Ravens. 8thly, Mr. Harmer.

6thly, The Epiftles of St. Paul, and the Canonical Epiftles, were affigned to Seven at Westminster, viz. ft, Dr. William Barlow, of Trinity Hall in Cambridge, Dean of Chefter, after Bifhop of Lincoln. 2dly, Dr. Hutchenfon. 3dly, Dr. Spenfor. 4thly, Mr. Fenton. 5thly, Mr. Rabbet. 6thly, Mr. Sanderfon. 7thly, Mr. Dakins.

That thefe might proceed to the beft Advantage in their Method and Management; the King recommended the following Rules to be by them most carefully obferved:

1ft, The Ordinary Bible read in the Church, commonly called the Bifhops' Bible, to be followed, and as little altered as the Original would permit.

2dly, The Names of the Prophets and Inspired Writers, with the other Names in the Text, to be kept as near as may be, as they stand at present by customary Ufe.

3dly, The old Ecclefiaftical Words to be kept, viz. the Word Church, not to be tranflated Congregation, &c.

4thly, When a Word hath divers Significations, that to be kept, which hath been most commonly used by the most of the Ancient Fathers, being agrecable to the Propriety of the Place, and the Analogy of Faith.

5thly, The Divifion of the Chapters not to be altered, or as little as may be, if Neceflity fo require.

6thly, No Marginal Notes at all to be affixed, but only for the Explanation of the Hebrew or Greek Words, which cannot, without fome Circumlocution, fo briefly and fitly be expreffed in the Text.

7thly, Such Notations of Places to be marginally fet down, as shall ferve for the fit Reference of one Scripture to another.

8thly, Every particular Man of each Company, to take the Chapter or Chapters affigned for the whole Company, and having tranflated or amended them feverally by himself, all the Divifion was to meet together, examine their respective Performances, and agree for their Parts what fhall ftand.

9thly, As any one Company hath finished a Book in this Manner, they shall send it to the reft to be further confidered.

1othly, If any Company, upon the Review of the Book fo fent, doubt or differ upon any Place, they were to note the Place, and fend back the Reafons for their Difagreement. If they happen to differ about the Amendments, the Difference was to be referred to a general Committee, confifting of the chief Perfons of each Company, at the End of the Work.

11thly, When any Place is found remarkably obfcure, Letters were to be directed by Authority, to any learned Perfon in the Land, for their Judgment thereupon.

12thly, Letters to be fent from every Bifhop to the rest of his Clergy, admonishing them of this Tranflation in Hand; and to move and charge as many as being fkilful in the Tongues, and having taken Pains in that Kind, to fend their particular Obfervations to the Company, either at Westminster, Cambridge, or Oxford.

13thly, The Directors in each Company to be the Dean of Westminfter, and Chefter for that Place, and the King's Profeffors in Hebrew and Greek, in each University.

14thly, The Tranflations of Tyndal, Matthews, Coverdale, Whitchurch, and Geneva, to be used, when they come clofer to the Original, than the Bishops' Bible.

Lastly, Three or Four of the most eminent Divines in either of the Universities, though not of the Number of the Tranflators, were to be affigned by the Vice-Chancellor, to confult with other Heads of Houses, to be Overseers of the Tranflations.

Thefe entred upon the Work in the Spring 1607, and profecuted it with all due Care and Deliberation; but it was about Three Years before it was finifhed. The untimely Death of Mr. Edward Lively (much Weight of the Work lying on his Skill in the Original Tongues) much retarded the Proceedings; however, the reft vigorously, though flowly, proceeded in this hard, heavy, and holy Tafk, nothing offended with the Cenfures of impatient People, condemning their Delays (though indeed but due Deliberation) for Lazinefs. But after long Expectation and great Defire, came forth this new Tranflation Anno 1610, the Divines having been at great Pains in the Work, not only examining the Chanels by the Fountain, Tranflations with the Original, which was abfolutely neceffary, but alfo comparing Chanels with Chanels, which was abundantly ufeful, Italian, Spanish, French, and Dutch Languages.

The Defign, as the Preface tells us, was not to maké a Tranflation altogether new, nor yet to make of a bad one a good one, but to make a good one better; or of many ones, one principal good one, not juftly to be excepted against.

But this glorious Work did not want Detractors to defame it; the Romanifts much excepted hereat. Was their Tranflation (fay they) good before? Why do they now mend it? Was it not good? Why was it obtruded upon the People? These obferve not, that whilft thus in their Paffion they feek to lafh the Proteftants, their Whip flies in the Faces of the most learned and pious Fathers, efpecially St. Jerom, who, not content with the former Tranflations of the Septuagint, Symacus, and others, did himself tranflate the Old Teftament out of the Hebrew. Yea, their Cavil recoils on themfelves, and their own Vulgar Translation, whereof they have fo many and different Editions. fitrus Clavius, a famous Papift, obferved and amended, as he fays, Eight Thoufand faults in the Vulgar Latin. And fince his Time, how do the Paris Editions differ from the Louvaine, and Hentenius's from them both? How infinite are the Differences of that which Pope Clement the VIIIth published, from another which Sixtus Quintus, his immediate Predeceffor, fet forth? Thus we fee, to better and refine Tranfla tions, hath ever been accounted a commendable Practice, even in our Adverfaries.

Befides this, the Romanists take Exception, becaufe in this our new Tranflation, the various Senfes of Words are fet in the Margin. This they conceive a fhaking of the Certainty of the Scriptures, fuch Variations being as Suckers to be pruned off, because they rob the Stock of the Text of its due Credit and Reputation. But on ferious Thoughts it will appear that thefe Tranflators, affixing the Diverfity of the Meaning of Words in the Margin, deferve Commendations for their Modefty and Humility therein. For though all Things that are necelfary to Salvation are plainly fet down in the Scriptures, yet feeing there is much Difficulty and Doubtfulness (not in Doctrinal, but) in Matters of lefs Importance, Fearfulnefs did better befeem the Tranflators than Confidence, entring in fuch Cafes a Caution, where Words are of d.fferent Acceptations.

VOL. III.

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