burned in London at St. Paul's Cross, and the bishops subscribed money to buy

up all obtainable copies; but it transpired that they were merely providing

funds for proceeding with the work.  Tyndale's New Testament differed from

all that preceded it, in that it was translated direct from the Greek.

Tyndale's words as he stood at the stake at Vilvorde in Belgium were: 'Lord,

open the King of England's eyes'.

'Tyndale was burnt, but he, with even greater right than Latimer, might

say he had lighted a candle by God's grace in England, as should never

be put out' (Kenyon).

Coverdale's Bible (1535).  Miles Coverdale, in 1535, produced a translation

that laid no claim to greatness, as its author made no profession of Greek or

Hebrew learning, and translated mainly from the German and Latin.  His

English, however, was dignified and chaste, and appears in the A.V.  His

version was not authorized, but it was circulated freely, and was the first

translation of a complete Bible to be printed in English.  Coverdale departed

from Tyndale, by bringing back into the English translation the

ecclesiastical terms which Tyndale had excluded.

Matthew's Bible (1537).  The publisher of this version was John Rogers,

chaplain to the English merchants at Antwerp.  It is really a completion of

Tyndale's work.  It was dedicated to Henry VIII, and sold by his permission;

so that Tyndale's translation, which the same king had proscribed in 1525,

was sold by his permission in 1537.  The Bible, however, was not yet

Coverdale was again employed to revise Matthew's Bible, and in 1539-41

produced --

The Great Bible.  In accordance with Cromwell's* orders, copies of this

Bible were set up in all churches and were eagerly read.

*

Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex, first Chancellor and afterwards vicar-

general to Henry VIII.

The Geneva Bible (1557-60).  Fugitives from England gathered at Geneva,

attracted there by the great personality of John Calvin and of the great

Biblical scholar Beza.  Here the Geneva Bible was produced, and it soon

became the English Bible, not to be displaced from its position until the

arrival of the Authorized Version.  It is of interest to some to find that

Shakespeare's quotations are generally from the Geneva Bible.

The Bishops' Bible (1568).  With the accession of Elizabeth I to the

throne, came a fresh demand for the free reading of the Scriptures, and a

revision was made by several Bishops.  On the whole it was not a success, and

the Geneva Bible more than held its own with the people.  In 1607 the work on

a new version commenced, and in 1611 the Authorized Version was published.

The Authorized Version (1611).  The A.V. is so closely associated with

the religious life of England, and with the very language that we speak, that

it would be impertinent to attempt a judgment upon it at the close of an

article.  With its publication the history of the English Bible practically

The Revised Version (1885).  After holding a dominant position for

nearly three hundred years, and wielding an influence beyond computation, a