OF THE RIGHT REVEREND FATHER IN GOD, MYLES COVERDALE, SOMETIME LORD BISHOP OF EXETER; WHO FIRST TRANSLATED THE WHOLE BIBLE INTO ENGLISH: TOGETHER WITH DIVERS MATTERS RELATING TO THE PROMULGATION OF THE BIBLE, IN THE REIGN OF HENRY THE EIGHTH. LONDON: SAMUEL BAGSTER, 15, PATERNOSTER ROW; AT THE WAREHOUSE FOR BIBLES, NEW TESTAMENTS, PRAYER BOOKS, PSALTERS, AND Πολλαι μεν θνητοις Γλωτται, μια δ' Αθανατοισιν, MDCCCXXXVIII. PREFACE. THE life of one of our early Reformers, a man, celebrated as being the first who translated the whole Bible into our mother tongue,* and who is not less to be admired for his piety and learning, than for his many excellent qualities of heart and mind, cannot, it is conceived, prove altogether uninteresting; particularly as the incidents of his eventful career are intimately connected with that remarkable period of our history, the æra of the Reformation. * A reprint of this important translation of the Bible, which was brought out in the year 1535, is now in the press, and will be published on the day of the Queen's Coronation. The valuable copy of the first edition used by the printer, was from the rich and extensive library at Kensington Palace. The loan was granted to the Publisher by the royal owner in the same liberal and gracious manner in which every request is met that has for its object the diffusion of knowledge, and the advancement of literature. This Bible of CoVERDALE and the reprinted Testament of TYNDAL are two of the most valuable and curious works, that modern enterprise has ever ventured to offer to the notice of the public. |