APPENDIX. A SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF MILES COVERDALE, D.D. SOMETIME BISHOP OF EXETER. ON the accomplishment of any important work, a desire naturally arises to know some particulars of the individual who accomplished it. This is eminently the case with respect to objects connected with literature and religion. What pains are often taken to acquire information as to the persons, lives, and deaths of eminent characters, is a point perfectly familiar to every one conversant with letters. Hence it occurred to the writer of these pages, that some notice of a man, who holds so prominent a place as Bishop Coverdale does among the real benefactors of our nation, would probably be not unacceptable; especially to those, whose connection with him may, in some sense, be said to be of the most affecting kind. Indeed, it has been intimated, that they almost expect something of the kind. This brief sketch is subjoined by way of Appendix, as the time and limits allotted to an address from the pulpit, to assign no other reason, precluded any detailed account of the first translator of the entire English Bible from being given in a sermon. MILES COVERDALE was born in Yorkshire, A.D. 1487. He was educated at the University of Cambridge, where he is said to have taken the degree of Bachelor of Law in 1530; though Lewis, the historian of the translations of the Bible, doubts (apparently without reason, since Coverdale was at Cambridge at the time) whether it was not another person of that name. Afterwards, according to Godwin,* though he does not give the date, he received the degree of D.D. from the University of Tubingen in Wertemberg, and was subsequently admitted to the same degree at Cambridge. At Norwich, in the 27th year of his age, he was admitted to holy orders; and being strongly attached to the Romish religion, in which he had been brought up, he became an Augustine monk, and resided in their monastery at Cambridge. This house, through the care and learning of its prior, Dr. Barnes, was now rising to distinction; and many of those who "sojourned at the university for learning's sake,"t were in the habit of attending the prior's lectures, and so became "learned men." Among other improvements, Barnes had discarded Godwin. Prces, Angl. p. 417. + Fox's Mon, p. 435. Ed. 1684. Duns' and the other books of scholastic sophistry most commonly read, and read to his auditory St. Paul's Epistles; "whereby," says Fox, "in a short space he made sundry good divines." Among his constant hearers was Coverdale, who is particularly mentioned. It would seem as though God designed to convince men of the importance of the Bible by the manifest blessing attendant on reading it. It was so in this case. By publicly reading the Scriptures, Barnes became familiar with divine truth, and was prepared to abandon the errors of Popery. For when Bilney, the Professor of Civil Law in Cambridge, afterwards a martyr, "expounded to him the way of the Lord more perfectly," he at once embraced and avowed the principles of the Reformation. This led to happy consequences. Not only Barnes, but many of those also who attended his lectures, embraced the sentiments of the Reformers, their minds being already prepared. by a knowledge of Scripture, to receive the pure doctrines of the Gospel. Thus between the years 1526 and 1531, the Reformation made great progress in Cambridge. Many members of colleges, being accustomed to assemble together to learn and discuss the doctrines which were then rapidly spreading among the German states, the house, called the White Horse, in which they met, because its vicinity to several colleges allowed of an unobserved access, was humorously called Germany. Thus Cambridge became a centre of radiation, whence many went forth to preach the doctrines of the reformed religion in different parts of the country. Of this number was Coverdale. One man, A.D. 1528. who recanted, confessed that he had abjured the worship of images, the invocation of saints, and private confessions, in consequence of hearing Coverdale, at Bumstead in Essex, preach against them. Indeed, he seems to have been very eminent as a preacher, as will further appear from other circumstances of his life. A.D. 1529. As a wise builder, Coverdale was aware that the foundation must be firm and substantial, if the superstructure is to be secure. Deeply convinced that all true religion must be based upon the Scriptures, he was early induced to give his principal attention to the translation of them into English. For in the year after he had been in Essex, we find him, upon the invitation of Tyndal, at Hamburgh; whither he had gone to assist him in translating the Pentateuch anew; Tyndal having lost his books, writings, and copies by shipwreck, in going to Hamburgh to print it. Where Tyndal had made his former translations, does not appear; probably at Antwerp, but, according to Fox, certainly not in England. The work occupied them from Easter to December. Coverdale having himself found the inestimable value of the Scriptures, no doubt was zealously anxious for them to be placed within the reach of his fellowcountrymen, by being translated into their native tongue. But whether this was the only motive, or whether his being abroad in 1532 was in consequence of the troubles that existed in England, and which arose from a difference between Henry VIII. and the Pope, cannot now be very easily determined. However, about this time we find him at Hamburgh, * again busily employed in assisting Tyndal A. D. 1532. A.D.1534. to translate further portions of the Bible. When the greater part of it had been prepared, and perhaps published, Tyndal, through the diligent inquiries and search of Sir Thomas More and the English bishops, was seized at Antwerp and thrown into prison. After eighteen months, notwithstanding great interest had been made in his behalf, he was strangled and then burnt.† His last A. D. 1536. A.D. 1535. words were, "Lord, ope the king of England's eyes.” Biblia. The Bible, that is, the Holy M.D.XXXV. And on the last page there is the following imprint: Prynted in the yeare of our Lorde, M.D.XXXV. This is the first printed translation of the whole Bible in English; and must have been the book *V. Fox, p. 434. + Near Felford Castle, about 18 miles from Antwerp. |