tary of state. It is probable that his patron encouraged him to undertake this work, on account of his skill in the Greek tongue. After his patron's death he was imprisoned in the Tower for this work; but had the address to reinstate himself in the king's favour. Wood attributes Taverner's imprisonment to the influence of those bishops who were addicted to the Romish religion; and informs us, that his version was read in the churches by royal authority. In 1540, two privileged editions of the bible, which had been printed in the preceding year, came from the press of Edward Whitchurche. Lewis mentions three other impressions of the great bible,

which appeared in the course of this year; two printed by Whitchurche, and one by Petyt and Redman.

In May, 1541, one edition of Cranmer's bible was finished by Richard Grafton; who also completed in the November following another bible of the largest volume, which was superintended, at the king's command, by Tonstall, bishop of Durham, and Heath, bishop of Rochester.

In the year 1544, John Day and William Serres printed the Pentateuch after the copy which the king's Majesty set forth; and in 1546, the last year of his reign, the king prohibited by proclamation having and reading Wicliff's, Tindall's, and Co

verdale's translations; and forbad the use of any other than what was allowed by Parliament.

This history of our English translations, in the time of Henry VIII., illustrates what is well known, that the king exercised a very despotic power, both in religious and civil affairs.

It also shows, with what zeal and prudence the friends to the Reformation conducted themselves in the great work of introducing and improving English translations of the bible; what peculiar difficulties they had to encounter from the dangerous inconstancy of a tyrant, and from the inveterate prejudices of a strong Romish party; and with what avidity the

English scriptures were read by the bulk of the people, so that the free use of them at length became a mark

of honourable

distinction

to the

higher ranks.

SECTION V.

Of the English Versions in the Reign of Edward VI.

SOON after the accession of this king to the throne, on January 28, 1546, the severe statute of 34, 35 Henry VIII. c. 1, was repealed; and a royal injunction was published, that not only the whole English bible should be placed in churches, but also the paraphrase of Erasmus in English, to the end of the four Evangelists. Mention

however was made of authority and licence to readers, who were to be exhorted also, that there should be no reasoning or contention, but that all should quietly hear the reader,

It was likewise ordered by this injunction, that every parson, vicar, curate, chanter, priest, or stipendiary, being under the degree of a bachelor of divinity, should have of his own the New Testament, both in Latin and English, with the paraphrase of Erasmus upon it; and that the bishops, &c. in their synods, or visitations, should examine them how they had profited in the study of the holy scriptures.

During the course of this reign, that