m&km. <-f„„:„j,ing p:g: g?pSt ^M^ffp^ DIVINITY SCHOOL TROWBRIDGE LIBRARY THE SOULDIERS POCKET BIBLE PRINTED AT LONDON BY G. B. AND R. W. FOR G. C. •643 REPRODUCED IN FACSIMILE WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY FRANCIS FRY F. S. A. LONDON : WILLIS AND SOTHERAN. 1862. CBC12.6* INTRODUCTION. , HERE has been a prevalent opinion that the foldiers in Cromwell's army were fupplied with a pocket Bible ; but as to what edition of the Bible was ufed there has hitherto been no evidence to afford any reafonable conclufion. It has by fome been fuppofed that the edition of the Bible printed by John Field, 1653, was the one diftributed to the army ; but as the war in which Cromwell was engaged was terminated in 1651, that could not have been the edition. The curious tra6t now copied folves the difficulty. That this was the pocket Bible there can be no doubt ; a poor and artful fubftitute indeed for that Book in which we read, — " Love your enemies," " Do good to them that hate you," &c. though, no doubt, better fuited to the purpofe of Cromwell. iv INTRODUCTION. The exiftence of the " Souldier's Pocket Bible " was lately made known by George Livermore, Efq., of Bofton, Maflachufetts, who found a copy of it in his library. Since then another has been difcovered in the Britifh Mufeum Library, bound in a volume of pamphlets of the period, from which this copy is taken. It does not appear that any of our bibli ographers have noticed the book. This reproduction of the only known copy in this kingdom is a faithful reprefentation of the ori ginal. It has been made by tracing on transfer paper, placing this on lithographic ftones, and then printing it in the ufual way ; a method evidently calculated to infure the clofeft poflible correfpon- dence with the original, this facfimile has been compared throughout with the original to prove its correctnefs. Mr. Livermore has had " AnExa£tRe- print"* taken from his copy, " one hundred printed for private circulation," one of which he has been fo obliging as to fend to me. It is elegantly printed, and a very accurate reprefentation of the original. With his permiffion I quote from the Prefatory Note : — " That every foldier in Cromwell's army * " The Souldier's Pocket Bible " — an Exaft Reprint of the original edition of 1643, with a Prefatory Note by George Livermore, Cambridge. Printed for Private Diftribution, 1861. INTRODUCTION. v " was furnifhed with a pocket Bible of fome fort is " an undoubted tradition. But it has never been " fatisfactorily determined what edition was fo ufed, " although fome curious conjectures have been " made on the fubjecV After alluding to the fuppofition held by fome, that either of Field's Bibles of 1653, or I054-> or °f x^5^> was printed by order of Cromwell for diftribution to his foldiers, he fays, — " Now it muft be obvious, on noticing " the dates of all thefe editions, that no one of them " could have been ufed by the foldiers when they " were in active fervice under Cromwell ; for his " laft battle, ' the crowning mercy,' was that of " Worcefter, September, 1651." " The title-page of this trad, its date, its general " character, conclufively prove its purpofe." As Mr. Livermore has examined the texts, I cannot do better than quote his remarks : — " The " felecTrions from Scripture are almoft all from the " Genevan verfion," " which continued to be ufed " by the Puritans and Independents long after our " prefent ' authorized ' verfion was publifhed by " command of King James. One text only (Eccles. " ix. 2.) is unqueftionably from the latter verfion. " The variations from the Genevan confift in an " occafional tranfpofition of words, the fubftitution vi INTRODUCTION. " of a fynonym, or fimilar loofenefs of quotation, as " if memory alone had been relied on." I may remark that I had begun this reproduction before I knew that Mr. Livermore was about to reprint it, but his reprint was firft finifhed. As part of the hiftory of this " Pocket Bible," not the leaft curious fact is, that by fome gentlemen in America it has been fo much approved that they have had it printed in large numbers for diftribution to the Federal army. Mr. Livermore writes to me as follows : — " It is a curious fact that after two centuries of " oblivion, ' The Souldier's Pocket Bible ' fhould be " reproduced in various forms, and on both fides of " the Atlantic. Not lefs than five diftinct editions " have been iffued here fince the Slaveholders' re- " bellion broke out in this country. The firft " American iffue for our army confifted of 20,000 " copies, and I prefume 50,000 or more have already " been circulated. There is hardly anything more " wonderful in the hiftory of the curiofities of " Literature." — Bojion, MaJJachufetts, Ottober 23, 1861. I have in my pofTeffion a rare tract of 16 pages ; of which the title is " The Chriftian Soldier's Penny Bible," " fhewing from the Holy Scriptures, the INTRODUCTION. vii " Soldier's Duty and Encouragement. — A brief Col- " lection of pertinent Scripture under XX Heads, " fit for the Soldier's or Seaman's Pocket, when he " is not furnifh'd with or cannot well carry a larger " volume in time of War. London : Printed by R. " Smith, for Sam. Wade. &c. 1693." It is evidently a reprint of the " Souldier's Bible" fomewhat altered, and with a different title. This I have alfo had reproduced in facfimile and pub- lifhed. Francis Fry. Cotham, Briftol, 1862. °°tham Zb *^^^^^§ User* *| THE *^ IsOU LDIERsI Pocket Bible : Containing the moft(if not all)thofe places contained in holy Scripture, *% which doc fhew the qualifications of his <§ inner man, that is a fit Souldier to fight 4)% the Lords Battels, both before the fight, and let the Lord doe that which is good in his eyes. For the bartell is the Lords, and hee will , ^m IJr# give you into our hands. 47. A Souldier muft denie his owne wifedome, his own ftrength, & all provijionfor war. Leane not to thine owne wifedome. Prov.j.y. In his own might fhall no man be ftrong. 1 Sam.i.o- I doe not truft in my Bow, neither can Pfal.44. 6 my Sword fave me. A King is not faved by the multitude of an Pfel.-j 3. 16 Hofte, neither is the mighty man delivered by much ftrength. Ahorfeis a vaine helpe, and fhall not 17- dcliverinthe day of battle. Man hath not Eccle.8.8. power over death,nor deliverance in battel. There is no power in us to ftand againft z Chro. this great multitude, neither doe we know «>.ia. what to doe, but our eyes are towards thee. A Souldier muft put his confidence in Gods Wifedome and [irengtb. Be ftrong in the Lord, and in the power Ephe.6.10 of his might. For with him is wifedome and ftrength, he lob iz.ij hath Counfell and understanding. The God of Ifrael is hee that giveth P&U8. ftrength and power unto his people-. 3 ">• God is our hope and ftrength, and help, p, . 6 in trouble ready to be found. God hath power to helpe, and to caft x chro. zf downe. 8. Az I <41 Pfal.67.1rf Iwillgoe forward in the ftrength of the Lord. Then Davidhid unto the Philiftine, thou * ' commeft to me with a fword, and with a fpeare, and with a fhield, but I come unto thee in the name of the Lord of hoafts, the God of Ifrael. A Souldier muft pray before hegoe to fight. Neh. 4. 9. Then we prayed unto our God, and fet Watch-men by them day and night becaufe ofthem. Iudg. 16. Then Sampfon called unto the Lord, and *8- faid, O Lord God, I pray thee thmke upon me,0 God, I befeech thee ftrengthen me at this time, &c. _ And David faid, O Lord I pray thee " turne the Counfell of Ahitophill into f 00- 3 ' lifhneffe. Iam. i,y. If anY °f vou lacke wifedome let him askeitof God. Pfa.t 19.34 Give me underftanding,and I fhall keepe thy Law: ye I fhall obferve it with my whole hearc. „- „ „ Give ftrength nnto thy fervant and fave the tonne of thine hand-maide. Pfa.*<- ii. Plead thou my caufe O Lord with them that ftrive with me, fight thou againft them, that fight againft me. Bring out the fpeare and (lop the way a- gainft chem. And And the children of Iirael faid unto the ruan. j. I7 to deliver us from the hot fiery furnice, and he will deliver us out of thine hand O King. And I will fubdue all thine enemies. l Chro. 17 Thou {halt feeke them and fhalt not finde *?" them, to wit the men of thy ftrife ; for they fhall be as nothing-, and the men that warre againft thee asa thing of naught. No weapon made againft thee thai profper. ifa. 74,1*. A Souldier muft rutfearehis enemies. When thou fhalt go forth to War againft Out. 10.1. thine enemies., and (halt fee horfes and Cha- A 3 riots .riots moe then thou, be not afraid of them for the Lord thy God is with thee. Dut. j. 3 2 Ye fhall not fear them, for the Lord your God fhall fight for you fear them not for I heve given them in;o thine hand. a Chro. j 2 Be'ftrongand couragious, fear not, nei- 78. ther be afraid for the king of Afhur, neither for all the multitude that is with him, for there be moe with us then with him, with him is an arme.of flefh, but with us is the Lord our God for to helpe us and to fight ourbattells. Ifa.7. 4. Feare not neither, be faint hearted, for the two tailes of the fmoking fire brands. Mat. 1 0.28 And fear ye not them which kill the body. A Soulaier muft love his enemies as they are his enemies, and hate them as they are gods enemies. Mat.. 44 But I fay unto you love your enemies. 2 Chro. i; Wouldeft thou help the wicked,and love 2. them that hate the Lord. Pla. 139. Doe not I hate them O Lord that hate 21..22. thee, and do not I earneftly contend with them that rile up againft 11166/ I hate them with an unfained hatred, as they were mine utter enemies. A Souldier muft cr'tc unte God in his heart OL in the very inftant of the battel!. u.hco.13. ' ' 14. Then J udah looked, and behold the bat- tell (?) tell was before and behinde cherri, and they, cryed unto the Lord. And Afa cryed unto the Lord his God, 2 Chro. 14 and faid,Lord it is nothing with thee to help " ¦ with many,or with no power. And whentheCaptaincs of the Chariots iChrci8» fawJel:ofhaphat, they faid,itis the King of 3»- ICael and they compaffed' about him to fight but J ehofhaphat cryed, and the Lord helped him and moved them to depart from him. A Sauldeer muft conftder that fometimes Gods people have the worft in battel! as well as Gods enemies. The fword devoureth one as well as 1 Sam u. another, 2^. All things come alike to all: there is one Ecles.o.a. event to the righteous and to the wicked, to the good and to the cleane,and to the un- cleane, to him that facrificeth, and to him. that facrificeth not : as is the good, fo is the finner: and he that fweareth, as he that feareth an oath. So there went up thither of the people a- W- 7»4» bout three thoufand men and they fled be fore the men of Ai. And the hand of Midian prevailed againft Iudg.tf. 1. IfraeL And the Philiftmes fought , and Ifrael was 1 Sam. 4- fmitten downe, and fled every man into his i°* A \ Tent, Exo. i7 ir (8) Xent, and there was an exceeding great (laughter, for there fell of Ifrael thirty thpu- fand footmen. But when Mofes let his hand go downe, Amalek prevailed. Lam i . 1 6 My children are defolate becaufe the ene my prevailed. Souldiers and all of us muft confider that though Gods people have the Worft yet it cometh of the Lord. Who gave j acob to the fpoile and Ifrael '* ' 4' to the Robbers did not I the Lord. Amos 3.6* Shall there be evil in a City and the Lord liarh net done it. Iudg-42. And the Lord fold them into the hands of Jabin king of Canaan. Lam. 1.14 The Lord hath delivered me into their hands neither am I able to rife up. Lam. a.7. The Lord hath forfaken his altar he hath abhorred his Sanctuary he hath given it into the hand of the enemy. For the iniquities of Gods people are delive- veredinto the hands of their enemies. Deut x9. Then mall all nations fay; wherefore hath 14. zj. the Lord done this unto this land, how fierce is his great wrath. And they fhall anfwer becaufe they have forfaken the Covenant of the Lord God of their fathers. Iof. 7. 10. And the Lord faid unto J ofhua get thee xi. up; wherefore lieft thou thus upon thy face? Ifrael (9) Ifrael hath finned,and they have tranfgrefted my Covenant which I commanded them. The Lord thy God hath pronounced this ifcr. 4o.2.j plague upon this place now the Lord hath brought it and done according as he hath feidj becaufe ye have finned againft the Lord. My people have been as loft ftieepe, all that found them have devoured them, and Ier *0,tf'7 their enemies faid we offend nor, becaufe they have finned againft the Lord. Wherefore then is the living man for*ow- Lara 3. j9 full ; man fuffereth for his mine. Therefore both Souldiers and all Gods peo ple upon fuch occafions muft fearch out their- firmer. Let us fearch and try our wayes and tucne Lam.3. 40 againe unto the Lord, Up therefore San£tifie your-fel-ves a- - gainft to morrow, for thus faith the Lord J God of Ifrael, there is an execrable thing amongft you therefore you cannot ftand againft your enemies untillye have put the execrable thing from among you. Efpecially let Souldiers and all of us upon fuch occafions fearcktyhetber we have not put tV)o little confidence in the Arme of the Lord, and too much in the arme of P/h.t For my people have eommittteo two e- Jer-i.rj. vtls, they have forfaken me the fountaine of living (io) Jiving waters, to dig them pits, even broken pits that will hold no water. Therefore faith the Lord they fhall goe 37 forth from thence with their hands upon their heads, becaufe the Lord hath rejected their confidence they fhall not profper thereby. Jer.17.y- Therefore thus faith the Lord, curfed be the man that truftech in man, and maketh flefh his Arme and withdraweth his heart from the Lord. And let Souldiers and all of us confider, that to prevent this ftn,dnd for the committing of this ftnne the Lord hath ever beene accufiomed to give the victory to a few, Tud 7-a. ^n^ t'ie ^ord fe1^ unto Gideon the peo ple chat are with thee are too many for me to give the Midionites into their hands, left- Ifrael make their vaunt againft me, and fay, mine hand hath faved me. 7 Then the Lord faid unto Gideon by thefe "' three hundred men that lapped will I fave you and deliver the Midionites into thine han des. Jud. ao. And the children of Benjamin were num- tj- bred at that time out of the Cities fix and twenty thoufand men that drew fword. I7 Alfothe men of Ifrael befidesBenjamin were numbred four hundred thoufand men that drew fword. ii And the children of Benjamin came out of (II) of Gibeah and flew downe to the ground^ of the Ifraelites that day two and twenty thoufand men. And the fecond day Beniamin came forth * f to meet them out of Gibeah and flew down ro the ground of the children of Ifrael again eighteeen thoufand men. And the children of Ifrael went up againft ,0 the Children of Benjamin the third day. And compaffed the Benjamits about,and 43 chafed them at eafe, and over ran them, and there were flaine of Benjamines eigbteene thoufand men. And the Ifraelites gleaned of them by the 44, way five thoufand men, and perfued after them unto Gidon and flew two thoufand men of them. So that all that were flaine that day of 4f Benjamin, were five and twenty thoufand men, that drew fword. And Abijah fet the bactell in aray with the x chron. Army of valiant men of War even four '3-J- hundred thoufand chofen men, Jeroboam alfo fetithe battell in aray againft him with eight hundred thoufand chofen men, which were ftnong and valiant. And Abijah ftood upon the mount Zeme- + raim, ahd faid O Jereboamand all Ifrael heare ye me. Ye tbinkethar ye be able to refift againft the Kingdome of the Lord which is in the hands 10 li- (12) bands of the Sonnes of David ; and ye fee a great multitude, and the golden calves are with you, which Jeroboam hath made you for Gods. But we belong to the Lord our God and have not forfaken him, Xl And behold this God is with us as a Cap- taine, O ye children of Ifrael fight not a- gainft the Lord God of your fathers, for ye fhall not profper. But Jeroboam caufed an Ambuftiment tocompaffe and come behinde them. 14. Then Judah looked and behold the bat tell was before and behinde them, and they cried unto the Lord. 1 y. And the men of J udah gave a fhout, and as the men of J udah fhouted God fmote J eroboam,and alfo Ifrael before Abijah and Judah. I7, fl And Abijah and his people flew a great flaughtcr of them,fo that there fell of them down wounded five hundred thoufand cho fen men. i Chro. ^n<^ ^a 'iac^ an Armv of Judah that bare 14.8. fhields and fpeares, three hundred thoufand, and of Benjamin that bare fhields and drew bowes four hundred and fourfcore thoufand, all ihefe were valiant men of war. And there came out againft them Zerah of Ethiopia with an hofteof ten hundred thoufand, and three hundred Chariots. Then (13) Then Afa went out before him and they x0; fet the bactell in aray in the valley of Zepha- thah befides Marefhah. And Afa cryed unto the Lord his God, "• and faid, Lord it is nothing with thee to help with many or with no power, helpe usO Lord our God for we reft on thee, and in fhy name are we come againft this multitude O Lord thou art our God let not man prc- vaile againft thee. And tet Souldiers, and all of us \mow, that the very nicke of time that God hath pro- mi/id us helpe, is when we fee no helpe in man. In the mount will che Lord be feene. „ Then Mofes faid unco the people, fear ye exo 14 i? not ftand ftill and behold the Salvation of the Lord, which he will fhew to you this day the Lord fhall fighcforyou cherefore hold you your peace. O our God wilt thou not judge chem,for z chrci© there is no ftrength in us to ftand againft 11. this great multitude, neither doe wee know what to doe, but our eyes are towards thee. Ye fhall not need co fight in this battell, I7 ftand ftill, move not, and behold the falva- tion of the Lord towards you. Vengeance and recompence are mine, j)eut their feet fhall Aide indue time for the day 35-, j£ " of their calamities is at hand, and all things that (14) . that fhall come upon you make hafte. Deut.32. Fot the Lord fhall judge his people, and j6. repent towards his fei-vantsj when he feeth that their power is gone and none fhut up in hold or left abroad. 2 Cor. 1 2. por mv p0wer is made perfect through 1 '" weaknelTe. Zack. 4. 6. F°r ne'ther by an Army,nor ftrength but bymyfpiric, faith the Lord of Hofts. Pfa i2~ y. Now for the opreffion of the needy and for the fighes of the poor, I will up faith the Lord I will fet him in fafety from him that puffeth at him. Efa.3 3.10. JSJow- will I arife faith the Lord, now will I be exalted, now will I lift up my felfe. Wherefore if our Forces be Wealmed, and the enemy ftrengthened, then let Souldiers and all of as know that no$> we have a pro- mi fe of Gods helpe Which we had not Vohm we Voere Jlron^ers, and therefore let us pray mere confidently. Ela. 33.1. o Lord have mercie on us, wee have waited for thee, be thou which was their arme in the morning,our helpe alfo in time of trouble. Deut.33.7 Heare, O Lord the voyce of fndah, and bring him unto his people, his hands fhall be fufficfent for him if thou help him againft his enemies. Pfa. 142. I looked upon my right hand and beheld, 4f- but there was none chat would know me, all refugt (15) refuge failed mee, and none cared for my foule, then cried I unto the Lord, and aid, thou art my hope. Be not farre from me, becaufe trouble pfa.ii.it. isneere, and there is none to helpe. Remember not againft us our former Pfa 97. 8. iniquities, but make haft, and let thy tender mercies prevent us, for we are brought very low. Lay hand upon the fword and buckler, p&*e. j. and ftand up for my helpe. Helpe us O God of our falvation, for Pfi.79 9. the glory of thy name. And let Souldiers, and d& of us (mow, that if toe obtaine any victory over our enemies, it is our dutieto give all the glory to the Lord, and fay The Lord isa man of warre, his name is Exo ,„ . Jehovah. Thy right hand, O Lord is glorious in 5. power, thy nghc hand O Lord hath bruifed the enemies. And in thy great glory, thou haft over. 7. throwne them thatrofe up againft thee. This was the Lords doing, and it is mar- pfi. 1 jg. vcllous in our eyes. • ij. For the Lord fought for Ifrael. Iofin- to- Therefore will we looke unto the Lord. J*: Who delivered us fro mfo great a death. x Co"r. 1. • Now therefore our God we thanke thee, 10. and praife thy glorious name. 1 Cor.»^. And *• (i6) BCra.9.13. And feeing that thou our God haftftaid 14. us from being beneath for our iniquities, and haft given us fuch a deliverance, mould wee returne to breake thy Commande- ments. Pli « 6. I wili wake before the Lord in the Land 9' of the living. P&. 1 9 * kave vowed, and I will performeit, l0a[ that I wilt keepe tby righteous judge ments. Ibis is Licenced according to order: FINIS. REPRODUCTIONS IN PAOSIMILE BT THE SAME EDITOR. THE FIEBT NEW TESTAMENT PRINTED IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE — (1525 Or 1526) Translated bt WILLIAM TYNDALE REPRODUCED IN FACSIMILE — -WITH AN INTRODUCTION BT F. FRT, P.S.A BRISTOL PRINTED POR THE EDITOR — 1862 8vo. Price ..£800 THE PEOPHETE JONAS "WITH AN INTRODUCTION BEFORE TEACHINGE TO UNDERSTONDE HIM BT WILLIAM T4TNDALE TO "WHICH IS ADDED COVEEDALE'S VEBSION OF JONAH REPRODUCED IN FACSIMILE "WITH AN INTRODUCTION BT P. PRT — 1863 8vo. Price £0 10 0 On Old Paper . . . . 10 0 A few copies on Vellum, for which Special application should he made. A PEOPEE DIALOGE BETWENE A GEN TILL MAN AND A HUSBANDMAN ECHE COMPLAYNYNGE TO OTHEU THEIR MISERABLE CALAMITE THROUGH THE AMEICION OF CLERGYE "WITH A COMPENDIOUS OLDE TREATYSE BHEWYNGE HOWE THAT WE OUGHT TO HAVE THE SCRIPTURE IN ENGLYSSHE PRINTED BT HANS L V P T. 15 3 0. REPRODUCED IN FACSIMILE WITH AN INTRODUCTION BT FRANCIS FRT — 1863 8vo. Price £0 10 0 On OU Paper . . 10 0 A few copies on Vellum, for which Special application should be made. THE SOULDIEES POCKET BIBLE PRINTED AT LONDON BT G. B. AND R. "W*. FOR G. C. 1643 REPRODUCED IN FACSIMILE — WITH AN INTRODUCTION BT F. PRT — 1862 8vo. Price .. £0 5 0 A few copies on Vellum, for which Special application should he made. THE OHEISTIAN SOLDIER'S PENNY BIBLE. SHEWING FROM THE HOLT SCRIPTURES THE SOLDIER'S DUTT AND ENCOURAGEMENT. LONDON : PRINTED BT R. SMITH, FOR SAM. WADE, 1693. REPRODUCED IN FACSIMILE. WITH AN INTRODUCTORY NOTE BT FRANCIS FRT — 1862 8vo. Price ..£050 DESCRIBED MORE AT LENGTH OVER LEAF. "THE PROPHETS JONAS" Bt WILLIAM TYNDALE This work has been so long lost that no copy was known to exist. Lord Arthur Hervey lately found a copy in his library bound in a volume with other tracts. By his Lordship's great courtesy, this and the following work are offered to the public in accurate Facsimile. Tyndale's version has never appeared since the original edition now copied. It is not in the first or any other edition of the Bible — -called Tyndale's. TO WHICH IS ADDED COVEBDALE's VERSION OF JONAH "A PROPER DIALOGE" WITH "A COMPENDIOUS OLDE TREATYSE" These are one book being printed on four sheets, signatures A b c d. The author or editor is unknown. They were written by some one who strongly advocated the new learning. The Dialogue is in rhyme. The only copy of the original edition which is known is bound in the same volume with Tyndale's Jonah, which is the property of Lord Arthur Hervey. "THE SOULDIERS POCKET BIBLE" " Containing the most (if not all) those places contained in holy Scripture, which doe shew the qualifica tions of his inner man, that is a fit Souldier to fight the Lords Battels, both before the fight, in the fight, and after the fight ; " Which Scriptures are reduced to several! heads, and fitly applyed to the Souldiers several! occasions, and so may supply the want of the whole Bible, which a Souldier cannot conveniently carry about him: "And may bee also useful! for any Christian to medi tate upon, now in this miserable time of Warre." There has been a prevalent opinion that the Soldiers in Crom well's Army were supplied with a Pocket Bible, but as to what edition of the Bible was used there has hitherto been no evidence. That this was the Pocket Bible there can be no doubt. One copy only of this tract is known in this Kingdom, which is in the British Museum. "THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS PENNY BIBLE" " SHEWING From the Holy Scriptures, the Soldier's Duty and Encouragement. BEING A Brief Collection of pertinent Scriptures, under XX Heads, fit for the Soldier's, or Seaman's Pocket, when he is not furnish' d with, or cannot well carry a larger Volume, in time of War." This is also a rare tract. It is nearly a reprint of the Souldiers Pocket Bible, somewhat altered. Some of the "Heads" and the texts are amplified, and others are varied. WILLIS & SOTHERAN, 136, Strand, London. OLIVE LASBURY, Park Street, Bristol. THE FIRST NEW TESTAMENT PRINTED IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE (Worms, 1525 or 1526) Translated bt WILLIAM TYNDALE REPRODUCED IN FACSIMILE WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY FRANCIS FRY, F.S.A. BRISTOL PEINTED POR THE EDITOR — 1862 William Tyndale having completed his translation of the New Testament from the Greek, went to Cologne, intending there to print it. Not being successful he removed to Worms, where there is no doubt he accomplished the work, and gave to his countrymen the New Testament, which was the first printed in the English language. This is a reproduction of the only known copy of the first edition of Tyndale's New Testament, perhaps the most interesting book in our language. It contains 6 9 2 pages of close small type ; is a faithful representation of the original ; and will be valued not only as a Version, but as shewing the state of the English language, the style of the printing, the orthography (which is very irregular), the punctuation, the divisions of the words at the ends of lines (even to a letter), and the contractions used. It has been made by tracing on transfer paper, placing this on lithographic-stones, and then printing it in the usual way : a method evidently calculated to ensure the closest possible correspondence with the original. To prove the correctness of the work, I have compared a proof of every page, folding it so as to place each Hne parallel with, and close to, the same line in the original ; so that, by comparing the line all along, I could easily see that it was correct. In this way I have examined every line throughout the volume, and I believe that not a single incorrect letter will be found in it. I have devoted so much time to this careful examination, in order that the accuracy of the work may be relied on. The paper, on which this Testament is printed nas been expressly manufactured to imitate the colour and appearance of the original. It is hand-made, the fine and cross wires being placed in the paper maker's mould so as to produce the same wire marks as appear in the paper used by Schoeffer. The large paper copies are printed on the same paper, made thicker for the purpose. The whole impression consists of 177 copies, of which 26 are in quarto. To produce these, the entire text has been transferred from the 88 stones used in printing the octavo size, to 176 stones required for the quarto size, so as to obtain the wider inside and top margins. It is proper to state that the work has been effaced from the stones. The Introduction contains a brief notice of the early life of Tyndale, and of his printing the New Testament at Worms ; and the evidence that I have collected to prove that Peter Schoeffer was the printer, to which are added 7 pages of facsimiles from books printed by him, and the water marks in the Testament, and Schoeffer's Bible ; a description and history of the only known copy, which is in the Baptist College, Bristol, with a page, on which is the beginning of the first epistle of St. Peter, with the woodcut of the Apostle, illuminated and ruled with red lines, like the original. Also a list of the works printed by Peter Schoeffer, of Worms. In the original, the wood-cuts, capitals, &c, 2606 in number, are illuminated ; copies so illuminated, also on large paper, on old paper and on vellum, may be obtained on special application. FRANCIS FRY. Cotham, Bristol, 1862. N.B. Preparing pr Publication, a Description of Lord T. Cromwell's Bible, of 1539; the Six Editions of Cranmer's Bible, of 1540 and 1541; and of the authorized folios of 1611, 1613, 1617, 1634, 1640. 3 9002