Critical Enquiries INTO THE Various Editions OF THE BIBLE PRINTED In Divers PLACES and at several TIMES Together with ANIMADVERSIONS UPON A Small Treatise OF Dr. ISAAC VOSSIVS Concerning the ORACLES of the SIBYLLS And an ANSWER to the OBJECTIONS of the late CRITICA SACRA Written Originally in Latin by Father Simon of the Oratory Translated into English by N. S. LONDON Printed by Tho. Braddyll MDCLXXXIV Robert Denison TO THE Most Worthy and Learned J. H. THis little Gift which being not long since at Paris I received from a most Eminent Divine of that City I bequeath most worthy Sir to You as knowing well how successfully for many Years you have bent your Studies to this sort of Learning The ensuing Treatise was taken out of the Large Critical History of the Old Testament Written Originally in the Latin Tongue which Original the F. Simmon Authour was lately thinking to have published himself For the French Edition which is common in every bodies Hand is only a Compendium of the Latin that has not yet seen the Light and was indeed design'd for Persons accustom'd to that Language who as they are more Nice and Curious so they are soon tir'd with what is long and tedious Nevertheless I could wish that Work had been communicated entire to us who are not so scrupulous and delicate for we do not easily reject those Things that are good but tho it could not be obtained from that most laborious Author of the Critical Animadversions Yet a Parisian Divine both Doctor and Canon who had then some thoughts of setting forth a Bible compleatly furnished bestowed it in pure Friendship upon Us whatever it be which he assured me he received from the Author of the Critics to be inserted among the rest of those Additions designed for the Bible which he was then intending to publish For most worthy Sir the Study of Critical Animadversion is not yet grown so cold among the Parisian Divines but that in our Age there are yet some most Learned Persons among them who contemning the Trifles and Idle Subtleties of the Schools handle that Art with singular Success as being eminently skilled both in the Greek and Hebrew Languages In the number of these is He who willingly Communicated to me these Critical Enquiries into the various fortune that has befallen the Bible through the diversity of Times and Places Perhaps most learned Sir that Parisian Divine may seem to you to have fallen somewhat too severely upon our most Excellent Vossius But if those Monsters of Opinions which he lays to the Charge of our most Learned Vossius be but attentively considered you shall not find him to have exceeded the Laws of Moderation and Equity But I need say no more to recommend to you so Knowing and Judicious in this kind of Learning the Reading of this little Treatise For I remember how highly you valu'd residing in Paris the Wit the Learning and Judgment of the Author of the Critica Sacra tho otherwise little known to you at that time then by his Writings And indeed such is the Genius worthy Sir with which you came into the World that what is good you approve what is right and true you applaud even in Men who differ from us in their Religion and Forms of VVorship Therefore if there be any thing too sharply uttered in that same Author or which may seem not to comply with the General Doctrine of the Protestants you know him to be one of those who professes the Faith of the Romish Church In the mean time accept this little Present whatever it be and believe that I am always ready to serve you in greater things Oxford the middle of April 1683. The TRANSLATOR TO THE READER Candid Reader THE former Critick of Mr. Richard Simon one of the Fathers of the Oratory lately publisht first in French and then in English having suffer'd the fate of all other Books of this nature especially and undergone the Censures of the various Capacities of Readers the Author hath since thought fit to take the work a second time in hand and having revised and abridged it he put it into the Latine Tongue from whence we have made this Version intending as I believe that fewer of the ignorant and injudicious part of his Country-men should hereafter busy their heads about it Adding to it an Appendix by way of answer to certain objections raised against it by the incomparably and famously Learned Dr. Isaac Vossius in his late Tract Intituled De Sybillinis Oraculis As for the few passages that in the former Edition were any way obnoxious to the cavils of some they are here mostly omitted so that there is very little to be found that is like to prove offensive to any sort of men or persuasion in Religion if but moderately Ingenuous This great and excellent Scholar is it must be confest one who lives in the Communion of the Roman Church but it must be withal remembred that so was the great Erasmus also who nevertheless is highly valued by all sorts of sober Protestants and equalled in a manner with the very prime and best of their Authors insomuch that his learned Commentaries upon the Holy Scriptures were rendred into our own Tongue and chain'd up to the Pillars of our Churches in the very heat of the Reformation As to the Book itself I shall not be so importune as to forestal either the judgments or satisfaction of its Readers but only adventure in the general to say thus much that as it savours neither of the Raveries of the Bigot nor of the insolence of the Prophane so in it the learned Man and Scholar will find what will content him and the common man when he sees how many and abstruse things must be first known before a man can arrive to a competent judgment of Scripture difficulties will find great reason for modesty humility not over pragmatically to oppose his own private spirit to the wisdom of his Directors As for those to whom either the Name or Profession of our Author may create an insuperable Prejudice let them but peruse the learned Prolegomena of Bishop Walton premis'd to his Poly-glot Bible and they will find that that Learned and Reverend Prelate was I had almost said exactly but I may safely say upon the main of the same sentiments with our Author For my own part I doubt not but that the Candour of his Spirit the justness of his Judgment and impartiality of his Censures will unquestionably support his Reputation with all the Ingenuous and Wise and as for the rest their very commendation would be a Calumny Adieu M. R. A COLLECTION OF THE CHAPTERS Contained in this TREATISE Chap. 1. OF the Bibles in general as well among the Jews as Christians pag. 1. Chap. 2. Of the Hebrew Manuscripts of the context of the Bible pag. 6. Chap. 3. Several of the Manuscript Copies of the Bibles are examin'd Their various readings are approv'd by the
which if not taken Allegorically after the manner of the Cabbala as the Jews themselves write are manifestly false for the same reason if we are not as attentive to the words as to the manner of writing proper to the Jewish Nation the History of the 72. Interpreters not improbably will seem to spring from the same Fountain whether it really was approved of by the immediate Authority of the Sanhedrim or whether through connivance publickly read in their Synagogues it at length by long use became Authentick which truly seems more agreeable than what the false Aristaus says of the Approbation of the Greek Translation in these words Arist of the 70. near the end The Translation being finished Demetrius did first read it to all the Jews who were assembled in the place where it was perfected the Translators were also by who were complemented and caressed by the Body of the Jews as Authors of so great a good and in like manner they gave Demetrius his due Praise and earnestly requested that he would grant a Copy of that Translation to their Rulers As soon as that Volumn of the Law was read the Standers-by the Priests the Interpreters Elders and Governors of the City and the Rulers of the People said thus because that Interpretation was throughout so exact accurate and divine it is reasonable it should remain so and that no alteration be made therein But if the Men of Alexandria were as skilful in the Greek as in the Hebrew that they could judge from a bare Reading of the goodness and exact Agreement of the Greek Translation with the Hebrew Context why did their King so earnestly desire Strangers when he might have made use of their help And then who can believe that the Hellenist Jews but indifferently versed in the Hebrew could be competent Judges of the Translation from a superficial reading when the Learned of our times well skill'd in both Tongues dare not pretend to it Wherefore what is commonly quoted out of Josephus Philo and others in the behalf of the sincerity of the septuagint Translation is of no Moment neither can it make against the Hebrew Originals because there is nothing of the Greek Translation of the 70. in these Writers but what was first taken out of the false Aristeus Judgment of the Greek transl Although I reject the Story of the 70 Interpreters which goes under Aristeuâ—'s Name as an Invention of the Hellenist Jews yet I would not detract from that Translation which for a long time hath had a Reputation in the Synagogue and Church For I know how much the Antients esteemed this Translation since it was praised by the Apostles and the Christian Religion by no other Testimony propagated through the whole World most Churches do to this day retain it perhaps the Sea of Rome would use it to this time if St. Jerome had not made a new Translation from the Original Hebrew these and other reasons easily to be produced manifestly declare this Translation to be of great moment but it doth not hence follow as is the opinion of Isaac Vossius and some others that this Translation is the only true and least Corrupted Peice of Scripture and to be preferred before the Hebrew Copies It hath been a receiv'd opinion among the Ancient Fathers of the Church that they could have nothing sound in Scripture but what they had had Translated from the LXX because the Church owe its Birth and Growth to their Translation Origen dared not Dissent from this opinion although he hath acknowledged a great difference between the Greck and Hebrew Copies and as he hath testified of himself and hath exercised his ingenuity upon all the Editions of the Bibles and their differences There is no need says he that I speak of Exodus Orig. Epist to African where the Appurtenances of the Tabernacle its Court and Ark where the Vestments of the High Priest and Priests are very much altered insomuch that the Sence doth not seem to be the same let us take heed therefore that we do not imprudently and ignorantly abrogate the Copies which are in many Churches In this passage Origon favours the Septuagint Translation more than the Hebrew Original for this reason least he should be thought to bring Novelties and Corruption into the Church yet at other times among the Learned he did more highly value the Hebrew Verity neither truly the Ancient Church which suspected the Jews sincerity could or ought to have any other opinion of their Copies But the Judgment of St. Jerâ—m and the Learned Fathers of our times ought to be preferred for the Antient Fathers only skilled in the Greek or Latin Tongue could not be positive in things not understood by them but we in this Age can compare the Hebrew Originals with the Greek and pass our Judgments upon them Neither can the Authority of the Apostles who had recourse only to the Greek and not to the Hebrew be any Argument to the contrary What benefit could the Apostles who sowed the first Seeds of the Gospel through the World reap from the Hebrew Copy at that time understood but by a few Jews But as for the Greek Cicero for Arch the Poet. it was become as Cicero doth Testifie the Mother Tongue to most Nations The Apostles there did not use the Greek because they were more perfect than the Hebrew Copies but with Judgment because it was adopted to the genius of those who were to be instructed in the knowledge of the Scriptures the Authority therefore which the Greek Translation of the 70. acquired was extrinsick neither was it the more correct because praised by the Apostles in the new Testament if it were corrupted before their time In like manner the Authority of the Hebrew context it not lesâ—ed because less familiar to the Apostles and the first Fathers of the Church but as the Fathers of the Councel of Trent by their Decree by which the Antient vulgar Translation was made Authentick had left the Hebrew and Greek Copies untoucht In like manner the use of the Greek Translation in the Church time out of mind did not diminish the Credit and Integrity of the Hebrew The Septuagint hath it faults even from the Infancy of the Church many of which Sir Jerom hath marked I do not speak of those which Jerom taking too much Liberty in following his own fancy sometimes doth not so well Correct The Western Church hath patronized Jeroms Censure in leaving the Greek Translation of the 70 so long and so universally used for Jeroms new Translation from the Hebrew Nor were the reasons mean which induced Jerom to this new Translation from the Hebrew Original which afterwards was deservedly used by the Church for as he himself testifieth the many errors in the Greek were not the sole cause of the undertaking of that work which many speak of but that also he had found from his exact knowledg in both Tongues the Greek Interpreters had not
of this in whose opinion it is a crime not to acquiesce Several Judgments at Rome concerning the Lâ—tin Interpreter in these words taken out of the Library of Cardinal Priscia The 17th of January 576. the general Assembly S. F. L. A. S. Montald Sixt. Caraf was of opinion that nothing could be urged that could oppose the vulgar Latin Edition that there was not so much as on Period one Sentence one Word one Syllable one Iota amiss and sharply reprehends Vega because in his Tenth Book of Justification c. 9. he utters himself so boldly But that decree of the Colledge of Cardinals because it never was promulgated never obtained the force of a Law even in Italy as all those things manifestly prove which Cardinal Palavicini urges against Padre Paolo who hath spoken concerning the Tridentine Prelates as if they by approving the Latin Interpreter by their Decree had detracted from all the other Editions But Palavicini shews at large that the meaning of the Council was far otherwise and in the Explanation of the word Authentick he perfectly agrees with us declaring that the Prelates of Trent did not purifie the Vulgar Edition from all its faults by their decree when as it might be still corrected and another Edition much more accurate be made neither had Gulielmus Londanus any other Sentiments of the Vulgar Edition long before that who has observed many Errours therein which he does not lay upon the Transcribers but upon the Interpreter himself But above all the rest Francis Lucas Brugensis is a material Testimony in this particular wherein he had expended the studies of his whole Life He therefore in his Epistle Dedicatory before his notes upon the Bible where he has diligently observed several differences in sundry Copies thus expresses himself What others object to us that because the Latin Edition has been approved and declared Authentick by the Council of Trent it needs no farther Correction is ridiculous For neither did the Councâ—l believe the Exemplars of this Edition to be void of Errours neither did they recommend any certain Exemplar of any Edition to be followed in General only preferred that Edition before any of the Latin which are extant and adjudged it autheâ—â—ick With which agree the Corrections of the vulgar Edition which were made at several times by the Command of Sextus the V. and Clement the VIII For Sextus fearing least we should fall into the former Chaos of Editions of which St. Jerom speaks Bulla S. V. Bulla Clem. 8. declares that he had made choice of Persons skilful in the Scripture Theologie and many Languages and for their long experience piercing judgment and diligence highly eminent to correct the antient Latin Edition according to the ancient Latin Copies and Expositions of the Fathers but in such things wherein they were not sufficiently strengthened by the consent of the Copies nor of the Fathers to have recourse to the Hebrew and Greek Exemplars according to the Counsel of St. Jerom. However Sextus admonishes 'em to do it cautiously and sparingly for fear of causing a fluctuation in things which long use and practise had authoriz'd And lastly he makes a decree of his own that that Edition should be received by all as being that which the Tridâ—ntine Synod had declared Authentick and recommends the same as True Lawful and Unquestionable and to be received in all publick Disputes Readings Sermons and Explanations Furthermore he forbids any Bibles of the Vulgar Edition to be published for the future which not being conformable to his would but disturb the peace of the Church and further decreed that they should be of no Credit or Authority which did not agree with his Edition Thus far Sixtus V. who also testifies that to the end the understanding might be more correctly accomplished where any thing seemed confus'd or that might be confounded he amended those things with his own Hand 'T was the Labour of others saith he to consult and advise but ours to make choice of what was best So that this Edition of the Bible not undeservedly bears the Name of Sixtus V. How ever this was no impediment to Clement VIII to prevent him from undertaking an Edition of the Bible different from this affirming in the beginning of his Bull. Bull. Clem. VIII That the Text of the vulgar Edition of the Sacred Scriptures had with much toyl and watching been corrected by him and purged from many Errors Prefat ad Edit Clem. 8. But the Author of the Preface to the same Bibles confesses that it is not so cleans'd from all faults but that there are some omissions still remaining In this same vulgar Edition saith he as some things were altered of set purpose so other things which seâ—â—â—d proper to be changd were purposely left unaltered It would be tedious to reckon up all the places which were mended by these Popes Sextus V. and Clement VIII But if any be curious to know what they are let him consult the little Book which Thomas Jamesius Printed in England in the envy of his Soul under the Title in great Letters Of the Papal War or the Discording Concord of Sixtus V. and Clement VIII concerning the Edition of Jerome Where he sometimes compares the Readings of both Editions with that of Lavain But for this those cheif Pontiffs are rather to be highly magnified then to be scandallz'd who contributed all their care and industry that we might have the ancient Interpreter as accurately revis'd and corrected according to the ancient Copies as it was possible to be Before whom they who overview'd the Bibles of Complutum lent their assistance to the same Correction We have also the Castigations of Robert Stephens upon the same vulgar and the Divines of Lovaine have made no scruple after the Decree of Trent to add their own Critical Animadversions upon divers Readings in the Margent of the vulgar Codex which they took care to have Printed But now the Emendation of Clement VIII is preferred before all the rest which the most famous Walton has inserted into his English Polyglotton CHAP. XXI Of the Translations of Scripture us'd by the Eastern Church and first of the Arabic Coptic Ethiopic Armenian c. The Eastern Versions thence taken AS the first beginning of the Christian Religion passed from the Greeks to other Nations of the Eastern World So the Greek Version of the Septuagint was Translated into the Languages of all those Nations nor does it appear that those Nations knew any other then the Scripture of the Septuagint the Syrians excepted concerning whom the Arabian Writer Abul-Pharajius has these Expressions Dyn 6. This Version of the Septuagint is that which is received by our Doctors and is the same which is made use of by the Greeks and other Sects of the Christians except Syrians especially the wore Easterly For their exemplar which is call'd the pure Exemplar agrees with that of the Jews But the Western Syrians have two Versions
Hebrew Tongue and one that had exercised himself very much in this kind of Study as it appears from the Latin Translation of the Old Testament which he adds to his Comment and likewise from his Hebrew Lexicon which he adapted to the ancient Translations which notwithstanding he departed from in his Translation relying too much upon his own parts and catching rather at words and shadows than the substances of things CHAP. XXIV Of the Translations of the Bible into the Vulgar Tongues and first of all of thâ—se made by Catholicks AFter the rise of new Hereticks in the Western Church who casting aside Traditions would acknowledge no other rule and standard of Religion besides the Scriptures there were several warm disputes betwixt Divines of all perswasions about this very thing The more prudent and moderate Catholicks did not absolutely condemn the Translations of the Scriptures into the mother Tongue of every Nation because it was allowed of by the Fathers But they judged it requisite to stop the increase and progress of Heresie which sprung from some misinterpreted and perverted Texts of Scripture to forbid the promiscuous reading of them in the vulgar languages by reason of several inconveniences which attend it without a due regard to the Persons Times and some other circumstances Faith according to St. Paul comes by hearing and 't is certain far more have been converted to Christianity by hearing of the Gospel than by reading it At the first promulgation of the Christian Religion there were no Books of the Gospel from which Men might have learned the Principles of their Religion 't is very probable that if the Apostles had never write any thing about the Christian Faith yet our Religion by the help of Tradition had been transmitted unto us entire and perfect This is the general opinion of the Catholick Doctors who do not positively forbid these Translations if so be all persons in all times and places be not promiscuously permitted to read them for 't is their Maxim Non prosit potius quic quid abesse potest Now 't is easily prov'd that almost all Christians before the rise of the Protestant Innovators had the liberty to peruse the Scriptures in their native Tongues For what other reason should the Grecians prefer the Septuagint to the Original Hebrew but that the Greek was their Mother Tongue Likewise the People of Italy had the Bible Translated into Latin because they naturally spoke it and for the same reason the Eastern People had their Syriack Coptick Arabick and Armenian Translations which for brevity I shall omit 'T is true that some Translations are now read among these People which they do not understand as the Latin is at this day among the Italians but this is no convincing argument that these Translations were never in the Languages familiarly known and understood by the common People Now I pass to the Translations of the Bible into the modern Tongues Jacobus de Varagine is highly esteemed among the Italians for his Translation of the Scriptures into their Tongue But now there are some other Italian Translations much in vogue which carry the names of Nicholas Malermius Abbot of the Monastry of St. Michael de Lern and Anton. Bucciolus and in some Editions there is a Preface in which the Author discourses at large of the Translations of the Scriptures into the vulgar Languages but there is this difference betwixt Brucciolius and some other Interpreters He turn'd the Bible immediately out of the Original whereas they only translated it from the Latin Interpretation which was usually read in the Western Churches There are several Editions of this immediate Translation from the Hebrew the first of which the Author dedicates to Francis the First King of France in the Year 1530. afterwards there came forth three other Editions in the Years 1539 40 and 41 but the Edition in the Year 1540 is accounted the best because there are several very useful Marginal Notes in it together with an Epistle of Antonius Brucciolius to Renata the Wife of Francis Duke of Ferrara in the defence and commendation of the Translations of the Bible into the Vulgar Tongues yet this Italian Interpreter seems to be too weak for the management of so noble and weighty a design seeing he sticks not closely enough to the Hebrew Text but follows other Translations especially that of Pagnin whose very errors he has copied out adding some more of his own in some places which he did not understand For in the 8 Chap. of Nehemiah where Pagnin perverts the Original by rending it In lege Dei expositi he translates it Nulla lege d'Iddio dichiarata differing as much from Pagnin as the Hebrew Text For because he searched not into the Hebrew Copies he did not take notice that the word which fignifies Lex is of the Feminine Gender and that the Participle passive which he render'd by Dichiarata was of the Masculine Gender and so while he pretends without consulting the words of the Context to correct Pagnin whom he did not well understand he falls into a downright error I shall forbear to say any thing of the Translation of Jacobus de Voraign because I never saw it Passevinus who had a Copy of it gives no very great Character of it but others highly commend it But I think I may confidently affirm that very few of those Translations which are taken out of Latin Editions can be accurate and correct seeing it happens very often that the Latin Interpreter cannot be understood without some knowledge of the Hebrew Tongue hence it is that Jacobus de Voraigne Mattermus and others who turn the holy Scriptures out of Latin into another Tongue are often guilty of gross mistakes There were several Translations of the Bible into French long before Calvin was heard of Gall. Vers For before the Catholick Religion was reform'd or rather deform'd by him a French Translation of the Scriptures was read in Geneva and the neighbouring Mountains which was compos'd in the year MCCXCIV by one Guiars des Moulins a Canon of Aria in Artois formerly under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Terovenne a Copy of that Translation is still kept in the publick Library at Geneva and another at Paris in the study of the Famous Henry Justelle and I am of opinion that this is the Translation which is mention'd by Robert Olivetanus Rob. Olivet Praes in Bibl. who sent the first Bible in French to Genevah Likewise there is another French Translation in some Libraries in France which is believ'd to have been done by Orosmes Canon of Rouen in the time of Charles the fifth and Car. Molinaus gives out that he had some loose Manuscript Peices of it Moreover 't is evident that the Divines of Lovaine were not the first as is commonly believ'd who Printed the French Translation of the holy Scriptures We have a Translation publish'd at Antwerp in the year 1530 by Martin L' Empereur with the Priviledge
Now there is extant a German Translation done by the Doctors of Tigurino and chiefly of Leo Judas who was most particularly concerned therein which Translation openly opposes that of Luther And yet the same Doctors of Tigurino forged a new one as though the former Version had not been found and good The Authors of this late Translation are are as I hear Hottinger Heideker Mulerus and others who have translated the Hebrew words almost verbatim Piscator a man of great account among the Calvinists is reported to have done a Bible into the German tongue who though he relyed upon Junius and Tremelius their Latin Version yet he did not hang back but kept a full pace with the above named Translators The low German Translation which was taken into consultation at the Synod of Dort in the year of our Redemption 1618 came forth in the year 1637 and by orders of the higher Powers was done into Low-Dutch immediately out of the Hebrew and not from Martin Luthers High Dutch Translation was found errouneous Neither doth the Low-Dutch Translation want its faults arising from a more than ordinary dependance upon the Expositions of the Modern Jews who were rashly supposed by them to understand the Hebrew better then all the World beside And thereupon this Translation met with brisk opposition from some of the the Protestant Faction and Low-Germany the Country wherein it was hatcht was quickly markt out with the brand of novelty and affectation Mr. Leusden Hebrew Professour in Vtrecht a man before commended taking upon him to argue for the Low-Dutch Translation among the rest of his proofs produces as arguments the Corrections of the vulgar Latin by Sixtus Quintus and Clement Octavus Popes of Rome But the true reason why these two Prelates should Correct the vulgar Latin was far different from that of the Low-Country Protestants The former Animadversions without vain affectation desired only to make the vulgar Latin answerable to its ancient Copies whilst the latter sort of men magnifying the Hebrew varities which they pretend always to stand by set out every day and jump't up new Translations of the Bible which as soon as they come a little in vogue the Authors of them presently perkt up show their faces and ridicule the Old Translatour making it their end and aim to build up their Yesterday Opinions upon these new and unheard of Translations being the sole way they make use of to thrust their monstrous Doctrines into the Church and which they do openly acknowledge saying That the Sun of the Eastern Languages arising they betook themselves to the Hebrew Fountains the better to find out and confute the errours of Popery the better to establish their Religion That the English Protestants was cloy'd and overcharged with the numerous Translations of the Bible the bare words of the Bishop of London in his conference at Hampton-Court may be of sufficient evidence If each man begins the Bishop had his peculiar fancy we could never expect an end of Translation wherefore the good will and pleasure of his most Excellent Majesty 't is that some uniform Version be thought upon adding moreover that then he had never met with an English Bible well Translated and was very well satisfied that among the bad ones that of Geneva was the worst where he then thought expedient that the most Learned in both the Vniversities should confer notes together and make up a Translation which being first revised by the most Learned Bishops and Privy Council should at last be established by the Kings Authority The which being done the Church of England will be confin'd to one Translation and no more We may easily from hence conclude with what noyse bustle and dispension the diversities of Bibles came accompanied into England under the different Names of Tâ—ndal and Coverdale Thâ— Matthews Tonstal and Hethe Parker Archbishop of Canturbury and other Bishops the last named persons being the Author of a Bible Entituled the Bishops Translation Now the Geneva Translation which King James will have to be the worst is the same with the French Bible Printed at Geneva the which was made English and Read in Great Britain by some of the Geneva Profession As for the History of these and such like Bibles you may have it in Durel and Fuller's State of England Most wisely therefore did King James the first of the Name of the Kings of England Establish That rejecting and making void all other Translations which were then us'd in the Nation some new impartial and unaffected Translation should be composed Likewise he made a Law for Interpretation and ordered those who had the overseeing of it to go from the Bishops Translation as little as possible willing that some particular words which were in a manner Consecrated to the use of the Church should be retained as the word Church it self which signifies a public meeting and by the Decree he reprimanded the Geneva Reformadoes who had foisted in other Names commanding for these mens sakes that all Marginal Notes and Annotations at the beginning and end of the Bible should be struck out as things of bad consequence and the snares of the common People These and a great many more particulars of the like Nature were order'd by the Kings Royal Authority and accordingly effected so that to this intent there is no Translation made use of in the Church of England than the English one only set forth by his Majesties especial command To which Translation truly their Book of Common Prayer may bear some resemblance which Book except the Version of the Psalms hath been so far from the least alteration that it hath been used in their Publick Worship ever since their Reformation in the Reign of Edward the Sixth Though it be a general Opinion that the English had a Translation of the Bible in English done by Wiclift and that before the above named King began his Reign which Translation together with that which was abroad in England in the Reign of King Henry the Eighth was done into English out of the vulgar Latin Also Cochlaus will tell you that Luther's Translation of the New Testament was made English Besides all this there is a common report that a Bible was published at London in Welch that James Vsher the Bishop of Armaugh turn'd a new Copy into Irish and Mr. William Bedd an old one and that both of them are supposed to have been burned CHAP. XXVI Of the Translations of the Bible which were writ in the vulgar Tongue and their Rise from the Geneva Schools WE find not any French Translations of the Holy Scriptures and done out of the Hebrew and Greek which went not to School at Geneva neither do I omit that Translation which may seem to be composed by Renatus Benedictus one of the Parisian Divines since the Geneva Translation and the aforenamed piece are most nearly related as I shall hereafter make evident Robertus Olivetanus born in Picardie and a nigh kinsman of Jo.