P036 A Short History of the English Bible.

P036 A Short History of the English Bible.

Though not noted for piety, Cromwell was a friend of the Reformation. He broke up the monasteries, which had become nests of corruption.

He persistently opposed the papal supremacy, working, however, for political, rather than religious, ends. He was shrewd, ambitious, proud, unprincipled, and a man of great courage and firmness. With all his worldliness, he professed a deep veneration for the Scriptures.

He was the early friend and patron of Coverdale, and used his influence for him when he published his translation of the Bible. He interceded with the king for the royal permission to publish Matthew’s Bible, and patronized Taverner in his publication. When at his highest position he was the most powerful subject in the kingdom. Vicar-general and vicegerent, he represented the king as the head of the Church, and presided in convocation, much to the disgust of the learned bishops, who looked upon him as "an ignorant layman."

Living in bloody times, he was a man of blood, and at last went to the ax, where he had sent so many others.

Though sometimes called Cranmer’s Bible, the edition of 1539 was Cromwell’s sole enterprise, Cranmer having nothing to do with it.

It was a revision of Matthew’s Bible, which, in turn, was a compilation of the translations of Coverdale and Tyndale. In 1538 Cromwell directed Coverdale and Grafton to put the work through the press, the former as editor, the latter as printer.

Coverdale had previously prepared the work in England, but the printing was to be done in Paris, because better materials and workmanship could be obtained there than in England. For this purpose Henry VIII. obtained permission from Francis I. After the work was partly completed an order came from the Inquisition, forbidding its prosecution, and commanding that all copies be seized and destroyed.

Two thousand five hundred copies were accordingly burned, but, through the cupidity of the official who had charge of the burning, "four great dry vats" of them were sold to a haberdasher to lay caps in.

These were afterward bought for Grafton, and, with the types, presses, and workmen, were safely taken to England. In April, 1539, the Bible was published.

It was called "great," because of its size, the pages being fifteen inches by nine, and larger than those of any other Bible.