teuch, which he printed at Hamburg, in 1530. He also published, in 1531, an English version of the Prophet Jonah, with a prologue full of invective against the Church of Rome; proving himself, as Lord Herbert calls him, a witty, but violent, and sometimes railing disputant.

Hall says, in his Chronicle, which was printed during the reign of Henry VIII., by Richard Grafton, Tindall's friend and benefactor :"William Tindall translated the New Testament, and first put it into print ; and he likewise translated the five books of Moses, Joshua, Judicum, Ruth, the book of Kings, and books of Paralipomenon, Nehemiah, or the

first book of Esdras, and the prophet Jonas; and no more of the Holy Scriptures."

On Tindall's return to Antwerp, in 1531, King Henry VIII. and his council contrived means to have him seized and imprisoned. He was condemned to death by the emperor's decree, in an assembly at Ausburgh; and in the year 1536, he was strangled at Villefort, near Brussels, the place of his imprisonment; after which his body was reduced to ashes. He expired, praying with repeated earnestness, "Lord open the King of England's eyes."

SECTION IV.

Of the other English Versions in the reign of Henry VIII.

CRANMER was advanced to the see of Canterbury on the 30th of March 1533. On the 19th of December the.. two Houses deputed the Archbishop to attend his Majesty with a petition, "That the Scriptures should be translated into the vulgar tongue by some honest and learned men, to be nominated by the King, and that they should be delivered to the people according to their learning."

Burnet says, that the arguments for a new translation of the Bible, joined with the power which Queen Anne Bullen had in his affections, were so much considered by the King, that he gave orders for setting about it immediately; but that Gardiner and all his party opposed this measure, both in convocation and in secret with the King.

Coverdale's Bible.

THE next year, 1535, the whole Bible, translated into English, was finished at the press. It is dedicated to the King by Miles Coverdale, a man greatly esteemed for piety, knowledge of the scriptures, and diligent

preaching; on account of which qualities King Edward VI. advanced him to the see of Exeter,

་

This is the first English bible allowed by royal authority, and the first translation of the whole bible printed in our language. It was called a special translation, because it was different from the former English translations, as Lewis shows by comparing it with Tindall's. page contains these words: "Printed in the year of our Lord MDXXxv., and finished the fourth day of October."

The last

Not long after this time, Cranmer's mind was so intent on introducing a free use of the English scriptures by able and faithful translators, that he