settled it. In the way which has been so often described, he upbraided certain members, dissolved the House, ordering the members to disperse, the mace to be taken away, and carrying the keys of the House with him, in the afternoon of the same day, he also dissolved the Council of State. But though Parliament under any regime must not interfere, there was nothing to prevent individuals as such, from prosecuting any enterprize with reference to the Sacred Scriptures. On the contrary, the incident just mentioned becomes far more observable from the time of its occurrence. Only a few weeks before, certain individuals moved by ardent desire for the promotion of sacred literature, with great zeal had already embarked in an undertaking of the noblest character, involving great expense. We refer to the London Polyglot Bible, by far the most important biblical work ever issued from the British press, which has rendered immense service to the interpretation of Scripture, as well as conferred imperishable honour on its projectors and its editor, Brian Walton.25 Three works of the same nature had been previously published on the Continent. The Complutensian Polyglot of 1517, at the charge of Cardinal Ximenes-The Antwerp in 1572, by Arias Montanus, at the charges of the King of Spain-The Parisian in 1645, by Michael le Jay, by authority of Cardinals Richelieu and Mazarin. All these were by disciples of the old learning, under the authority of Royal or Cardinal patronage; but the London Polyglot, by disciples of the new, originated with the people themselves, and by them it was triumphantly carried through. In 1652, it was first started; and on the 11th of July the Council of State had indeed signified their approbation, and allowance of the work; but that Council, as we have seen, had been sent adrift by Cromwell, a circumstance, in reference to the Polyglot, of no moment whatever, as the event will prove.26 A prospectus and proposals being printed, they had said-" Whereas the former editions, though less perfect than that proposed, and not so fit for use, have been printed at the public charge of Princes and great persons, and the charge of this work will exceed the ability of an ordinary person, whereupon divers persons of worth have expressed their readiness to join in the charge of the impression; and it is hoped, that others, who wish well to learning and religion, will assist-and whatso 25 Nine languages are used in this Bible, Hebrew, Chaldee, Samaritan, Greek, Syriac, Arabic, Ethiopic, Persic, and Latin; though by no means throughout. The Pentateuch is in eight, the Psalms in seven, other parts in six, the New Testament in five, and Esther in two. The Ethiopic is used in the Psalms and New Testament, but not in the Pentateuch. 26 When the approbation was signified, some hope was entertained that they would vote £1000 to encourage the work; but they certainly never did vote one farthing, nor was it wanted, as we shall see presently. ever monies shall be raised, shall be paid into the hands of William Humble, Esq. treasurer, for this purpose." Here then was one of the finest tests for proving, to what extent zeal for such learning existed in the country, or deep interest in the Original Scriptures. There was no parade, nor one sounding title to usher in the day, but with Humble for a treasurer, let us see how the design proceeded. "The work," said they, "will not be begun, till there be enough to finish the first volume containing the Pentateuch, viz. about £1500; nor the other volumes till a proportional sum for each be brought in, viz. about £1200." As there were to be six volumes in all, it was then supposed that at the least £7500 would be required, and the whole to be thus published by subscription, if there was encouragement. Those that advanced ten pounds, were to have one copy, or six copies for £50, and so for any greater sum, to be paid by instalments-And what was the result? Why that just before the English Bible had been once hinted at in Parliament, where however it must not be touched; or by the end of that year (1552) in which the subject was broached, nearly four thousand pounds had been subscribed, and in only four months after, or by the 4th of May 1653, the subscriptions to the work had not only risen to nine thousand pounds, but according to Walton's own words, much more was likely to be added! This noble undertaking then commenced at press in the autumn of this year, and the first volume was delivering to the subscribers in September following. The second volume was finished in July 1655, the third in July 1656, and the three last volumes by the end of 1657. Two presses were engaged from the beginning, and afterwards more, but the whole work was completed in only four years; while the Parisian Polyglot had been seventeen years in the press.27 Thus the most complete collection of the Sacred Writings ever published, and far surpassing all former works of the kind, was prepared and published by the people for the people. The proposal was laid before them, and they answered in a style worthy of Araunah the Jebusite. Above fifty eminent individuals, though of different sentiments, have been mentioned by name, as, with one consent, deeply interested in the stupendous undertaking; and it is not a little remarkable, that, among the innumerable works since published by subscription in this kingdom, correctly speaking, this must ever stand at the top of the list. The London Polyglot Bible, for the use of the learned, superior to all its predecessors, and thus executed, is in perfect keeping with the entire history of the English Bible for the use of the people at large. It was just at the time that the London press was occupied with the last volumes of Walton's Polyglot, that the final attempt to interfere with our present version occurred. Wal 27 Todd's Life of Walton. ton and a few others appear as though they were about to reconsider it; that is, they were deputed to do so, but as they come before us under the orders of a parliamentary sub-committee, they were not allowed to proceed. The existing parliament had been summoned by Cromwell, as the Lord-Protector, to represent England, Scotland, and Ireland. They had chosen what they were pleased to style "The grand committee for Religion," but whatever else they had done, or did after, they must not interfere in regard to the Scriptures. This Committtee assembled at the house of Lord Commissioner Whitlock, who has himself recorded their fruitless attempt in the following words : "Jan. 16, 1656," (that is 1657) "ordered that it be referred to a sub-committee to send for and advise with Dr. Walton, Mr. Hughes, Mr. Castell, Mr. Clarke, Mr. Poulk, Dr. Cudworth, and such others, as they shall think fit; and to consider of the Translations and impressions of the Bible, and to offer their opinions therein to this committee; and that it be specially commended to the Lord Commissioner Whitlock to take care of this business." This Committee accordingly often met, from this date to November following, when they gave in a Report. They might say what they pleased, as to any existing impressions of the Bible, but, as an official body, they must not touch with the Translation itself. Accordingly they had occasion to reprobate the incorrectness of certain editions, but particularly one, printed by John Field for the Barkers, in 1653, or twenty years after their father had been fined under Charles, for the same crime. As for the Translation itself, they made several remarks upon some mistakes; while they agreed, that, as a whole, it was "the best of any translation in the World.” In this testimony Walton, Castell, Pocock, Seldon, and others concurred; but with an eye on all the past, the reader may anticipate, that official authority, of course, could not be admitted to proceed any farther. Parliament was soon dissolved, and from about this period the general acquiescence of the nation in that version of the Bible, which has been read and revered ever since, may be considered as having taken place. The reader cannot fail to mark the season of this very important national occurrence; but of this, we must refrain from taking any farther notice, till the History of the Bible in SCOTLAND be brought down to the same period. SCOTLAND. INTRODUCTION. BRIEF NOTICE OF SCOTLAND DURING THE FOURTEENTH AND FIFTEENTH CENTURIES-THE OPENING OF THE SIXTEENTH BEFORE THE SACRED SCRIPTURES IN PRINT WERE FIRST IMPORTED. BEFORE the Sacred Volume in our vernacular tongue, and in a printed form, was brought into England itself, we had occasion to notice the two preceding centuries; and it would be doing injustice to the northern part of our island, were we not now to glance, however briefly, at the same period. The early connexion of Scotland with France, is distinguished by the institution of the Scots College, or “Séminaire des Ecossais," in Paris, founded in 1325, by the Bishop of Moray; and in the revival of literature during the fourteenth century, such as it was, individual natives of Scotland must have taken an interest, if one of her sons may be admitted in evidence. In furnishing a poetical historian, contemporary with Wickliffe and Chaucer, of whom an Englishman, even Wharton, has told us, that he "adorned the English language by a strain of versification, expression, and poetical imagery, far superior to the age;" Caledonia had so far already proved herself to be no unmeet "nurse for a poetic child." We refer, of course, to John Barbour, Archdeacon of Aberdeen, the author of "The Bruce"-a soothfast history of the life and adventures of Robert the First; for, independently of its poetical merits, it is acknowledged to be a book of good authority. "Barbour," says Dr. Irving, "was evidently skilled in such branches of knowledge as were then cultivated; and his learning was so well regu This was David Moray, whose exertions were sanctioned by Charles IV. of France; but dying soon after, his successor, John Pilmore of Dundee, took great care to finish what Moray had begun.- Keith. lated, as to conduce to the improvement of his mind: the liberality of his views, and the humanity of his sentiments, appear occasionally to have been unconfined by the narrow boundaries of his own age." His apostrophe to Freedom, like the earliest lark of the morning, though hailing a day which he could not anticipate, has been quoted with admiration in his own country, at the distance of more than four hundred and fifty years. Ah! freedom is a noble thing!— Though he that aye has lived free This work, finished about the year 1375, was written while Wickliffe was yet busy with his translation of the Scriptures; and we notice them together, simply for the purpose of remarking, that as there was but little difference in the phraseology of the Scotish and English writers of this period, so the prose of Wickliffe must have been as intelligible in North Britain, as the poetry of Barbour in the south. "The obscure and capricious spelling," it has been said, may, perhaps, deter some readers from a perusal of "The Bruce,” (a supposition equally applicable to Wickliffe ;) "but it is very remarkable, that Barbour, who was contemporary with Gower and Chaucer, is more intelligible to a modern reader, than either of these English writers." Nor was the language unfelt by those who first read it. On the contrary, so highly was the work appreciated, that, by Robert II., the author had a pension assigned to him, which was punctually paid until the day of his death in 1395. Seventeen years, however, before that event, this man, along with the rest of his countrymen, had taken part in that great controversy, which agitated all Europe, when Scotland and England became divided in opinion, and on a point of such vital importance as the Pontificate itself. To this subject, reference has already been made, in our introduction to the first volume; but to understand it now, so far as Scotland was concerned, we know not of a shorter method, than that of exhibiting the two countries in the position which they respectively occupied for nearly half a century. ENGLISH PONTIFF, CHOSEN. DEPOSED. RESIGNED. DIED. SCOTISH PONTIFF. CHOSEN. DIED. Clement VII. 1378. 1394. 1394. 1424 Thus strikingly had Providence shed confusion into the counsels of Rome; and throughout the whole period, there must have been a |