On Old English Bibles.

From the evidence we have it is most likely that the real originators of the work were some of the Bishops and influential laymen of the Church of England . Sir Thomas More was , doubtless , one of the prime movers of it , and his associates were members of the " new learning " party . These men were not , and never intended to be , enemies or antagonists of the Church , but were amongst her most faithful sons .

Had it not been for the frightful excesses in Germany at that time , the Bible would have been translated into English , and circulated here long before it was , for almost eveiy country in Europe had been in possession of the Bible in their own language for nearly half-a-eentury before it appeared in an English form . ., For many years war has raged hot and strong as to whereand by whom

, , the first English Bible was printed . The controversy has , however , been settled at last . It was printed at Antwerp , by Jacob Van Meteren . The honour of this discovery is due to Mr . Henry Stevens ; for although the volume itself tells the day it was finished , where it was printed : by whom , or for whom , or under what circumstances , no historian or bibliograpber had given much more than negative information , until Mr . Stevens

was fortunate enough to turn up a biographical notice , by the Eevd . Symeon Ruytinck , of Emanuel van Meteren , appended to the History of Belg ium , published in the Flemish language , at the Hague , in 1614 , ancl in French , at the same place , in 1618 . It . appears that as it was doubtful what reception the book would meet with from that amiable monarch , King Henry the VIII ., it was thought better it

should be printed abroad . The entire edition was sold in sheets to James Nycholson , Southwark , who also purchased the blocks of the woodcuts with which it was illustrated . The Bible could not be imported into England bound , in consequence of an act of Parliament made to protect native bookbinders ; We possess an official black letter copy of the acts of the session of 1534 , the title of which is as follows : —

" Anno XXV , Henrici viij , Aotis made in the session of this present parliment holden uppon prorogation at West mynster , the xxv daye of Januarye , in the xxv yere of the reygne of oure mooste dradde soueragne , lorde King Henry the xiij , and there contynued aud kepte fcylle the ____ daye of Marche than next ensuyng : to the honour of god and holy church and for the common weale and profyte of this his realme . Londini . in officina Thomce Bartheleti typis impres . cvm privilegio ad impremendvm solvm . "Cap . XV is "An Act concernyng prynters and bynders of boks . " Where as by the prouisyon of a statute made in the fyrste yere of the reygno of Kynge Richarde the hit ded in the acte

thyrde , was prouy same , that all straungers , repayryng into this realme , myghte laufully brynge into the sayd realme printed and writen bokes to selle at theyi- lybertie and pleasure , By force of whiche prouisyon there hathe comen into this realme Sithen the makynge of the same , a marueylous nombre of printed bokes , and claylye dothe . " It goes on to say that the bookbinders have so increased in England that there is not employment for them , therefore the act of Eichard III . is repealed , and that from the feast of Christmas next no one

" shal bie to sel ageyne printed bokes brought fro any parties out of the Kynges obeysance , redye bounden in hordes , lether , or parchement , uppon peyne to lose and forfayte for eveiy boke the sum of syxe shyllynge eyghte pence . " And that no persone shal bye of any straunger any maner of printed bokes , except onely by engrose and not by rotayle , upo peine of forfayture of vjs . viijd . for euery boke so bought by retayle . " The one halfe of al the d forfaytures to be to the use of the Kyngeand the other

say , moytie to the partie that will sue by byl , playnt , or information , wherein the defendant shal not be admitted to wage his lawe nor no protection , ne essoyn shalhe unto him allowed . " That -Nycholson bought the woodcuts used by Van Meteren in Coverdale ' s Bible is proved by his edition of 1537 having impressions from the same blocks , and having the same side ornaments of the titles .