Bishop Silvanus is mentioned by Eusebius as a martyr under Diocletian about A.D. 285; and among the names of other Bishops enumerated, not less than six are found in the subscriptions of Councils, as late as to that of Jerusalem A.D. 536. Yet the city still retained in a great degree its devotion to idolatry; and in the beginning of the fifth century, not less than eight public temples dedicated to the worship of the heathen gods, still existed there. Among these the most celebrated was a temple of Marnion, the Cretan Jupiter. By the influence of Eudoxia, wife of the Emperor Arcadius, the Bishop Porphyrius was invested with authority to demolish these temples; and was furnished with means to erect a Christian church, which was dedicated A.D. 406, and named after the Empress. This may probably have been the great church now converted into a mosk, which we visited: Eusebius and Jerome speak of Gaza in their day as an important city. About the end of the sixth century, or the beginning of the seventh, Gaza was visited by Antoninus Martyr, who describes it as "splendid and delicious;" and its inhabitants as "noble, liberal, and friendly to strangers." Such was Christian Gaza. In 634 it fell into the hands of the Generals of Abu Bekr, the first Muhammedan Khalif, after a decisive battle with the Roman armies; but the Khalif died before the tidings of the victory could reach him. From this time we hear little more of Gaza, except as the birth-place of esh-Shâfi'y, the founder of a Muhammedan sect, until the time of the crusades. In 796 it was laid waste during a civil war among the Arab tribes. During the many wars between the Muhammedan rulers of Egypt and Syria, which preceded the crusades, Gaza appears to have suffered greatly, if indeed it had recovered from the former blow. The crusaders found it deserted, and its ruins spread out over the hill and the adjacent plain, like the city of the present day. Here A.D. 1152 they erected a fortress, occupying a portion of the hill, in order to cut off the approach to Askelon from the south: the defence of this castle was intrusted to the Knights Templars. The dwellings of the city became again inhabited; but A.D. 1170 the place was sacked by the troops of Saladin, who, however, did not get possession of the citadel. Yet after the fatal battle of Hattîn A.D. 1187, and the surrender of Askelon to Saladin, Gaza also passed into his hands. It appears also to have opened its gates to Richard for a short time; but it must soon have reverted to the Muhammedans. It is afterwards mentioned in the history of the crusades, only as the scene of two battles lost by the Franks A.D. 1239 and 1244. According to Brocardus, it was in his day commonly called Gazara; and it is also mentioned by this name as late as the close of the fifteenth century. At that time the pilgrims were accustomed to travel from Jerusalem to Mount Sinai by way of Gaza; where they laid in their stores for the desert. Fabri in 1483 describes the city as populous, with many Jews and Christians, as in Jerusalem, and an abundance of provisions, cheap in price and excellent in quality.-Robinson's Biblical Researches. REVIEW. The Annals of the English Bible. By Christopher Anderson. Two Volumes, 8vo. London, Pickering. 1845. (Concluded from page 493.) On the leading names of this period, and the detail which they suggest, we cannot allow ourselves to be detained. But one or two notices are essential to the integrity of our sketch.-Stokesly died, to be succeeded by the infamous Bonner. Cranmer seemed safe, during Henry's life, by his high office. But Latimer was committed to the Tower, where he remained till Edward's accession. Alexander Ales escaped to the Continent. Still, the royal mind disappointed the men of the old learning; while Crumwell, a disciple of expediency, promoted the multiplying of copies of the Scripture. Under this influence four editions of the Bible came forth two of these, if not three, being revised by Ri. Taverner. This editor's skill in Greek was great; and he was warmly attached, as his expressive language proves, to "the unspotted and lively word of God." "These Bibles were a correction of Matthew's, in which Taverner adopted a large proportion of the marginal notes, and inserted others of his own; yet so eager was Crumwell, that they were 'allowed to be publicly read in churches."" The solution is,-it suited the King, in prospect of another domestic alliance, to promote the enterprise. But the Hand of a mightier Sovereign is here; controlling Henry's inclinations, as certainly as the Eastern husbandman draws the streamlets of water over the thirsty land, "whithersoever he will." Here, then, terminated that class of sacred volumes, which, with considerable propriety, may be denominated the first series: reaching from Wolsey's "secret search at one time in London, Oxford, and Cambridge; or from the dungeon of Cardinal College, down to one of its inmates [Taverner] publishing three editions of the Bible, and two of the New Testament, in one year; when the long-hostile Monarch had been made to declare, that the free and liberal use of the Bible in our own maternal English tongue was the only mean by which his subjects could comprehend their duty to God or man; and when his counsellor, the successor of Wolsey, to save his popularity and retain his place, was so evidently urging the printers to speed! The series.... now included above thirty editions of the New Testament, and five of the entire Bible, which for fourteen years had formed the spiritual nourishment of all those in this kingdom who had been convinced by their own experience, that "man liveth not by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." (Vol. ii., p. 85.) Cranmer superintended an edition of Tyndale. We find the Primate pleading, after Chrysostom, that "all manner of persons, men, women; young, old; learned, unlearned; rich, poor; Priests, laymen; Lords, Ladies; officers, tenants, and mean men; virgins, wives, widows; lawyers, merchants, artificers, husbandmen, and all manner of persons,......may in THIS BOOK learn all things, what they ought to believe, what they ought to do, and what they should not do.". .Through various delays, the volume did not appear till the spring of 1540. "The second series of Bibles and Testaments, commencing with the first of Cranmer's editions, will reach to the end of the reign of Edward VI., embracing the next twelve years and a half, to July, 1553." In April, 1540, Crumwell was created Earl of Essex, and appointed Great Chamberlain of England. The truth is, he was to be employed in raising money for Henry. But it was an earldom of a hundred days! The changeful Monarch took offence. The charge of high treason was preferred against the falling Minister; and he was suddenly conducted, a prisoner, to the Tower. His melancholy end bears date, July 28. As "Vicar-General," he had no successor. This chapter of English history may be written in rubric. Two days after Crumwell, Barnes and others bled. But the greatest cause depended on no man. With regard to those large Bibles of different dates, to which the name of Cranmer was affixed in the title-page, or four in number, and other two editions, with the names of Tunstal and Heath, and not Cranmer's, or six distinct editions in all; such has been the confusion, that they have hitherto baffled the research of all our bibliographers. Preceding authors having failed, Dibdin happens to be the last who attempted an explanation, and he fairly gives up the subject in despair. "After all," says he in conclusion, "there seems to be some puzzle, or unaccountable variety, in the editions of the Bible in 1540 and 1541. The confusion itself, indeed, may be accounted for. All those largest black-letter Bibles are most interesting relics; for such was the ordeal through which they passed, first in Henry's reign, and then under his daughter Mary; such the havoc to which they were exposed from the enemy, or, in other words, such the enmity evinced by official men, that the only wonder is, that any of them remain. Yet, upon the whole, the number left, or surviving, is by no means the least remarkable feature in their history. The consequence, however, has been, that, before an experienced eye, many of them are found to be copies made up.” This remark applies generally to all collections, whether in our Universities, our public libraries, or in the hands of private gentlemen. Such, therefore, is the value of a perfect copy throughout of these Bibles, or so highly have they been estimated by posterity, above those who first read them, that they have been sold for above forty, if not fifty, pounds sterling. The original price was ten shillings in sheets, or twelve, when bound with bullions, clasps, or ornaments; that is, about seven pounds ten shillings, or nine pounds, of the present day. (Vol. ii., pp. 127, 128.) Of a very laborious collation the result is, "that of these large Bibles, specially intended for public worship or public reading, there were six distinct editions, three dated in 1540, and three in 1541; two of which were issued this year, and four in the next." They were executed in London, but with the Parisian types of which we have before heard. And it is " more than probable, that an English folio Bible printing in Paris, once interrupted, had ended in six others being printed in London ! Considerable interest belongs to this year (1541), as being the last in which Bibles were printed under the present reign, even though Henry had still five years to live. By his "commandment " we have seen both Tunstal and Heath giving in their adherence to the translation, and in an edition certainly finished in November last. It may, therefore, be presumed, that the order to look over it had come after the book was finished at press, since it did not appear till 25th March this year. But this would not suffice for 1541. By the end of May another edition was ready by Cranmer, thus proving that, for all practical purposes, the version was precisely the same throughout, whether his name, or that of its ancient foe, Tunstal, was affixed..... We dismiss, at present, the expense of all other editions; and taking up those only in which we find the names of Grafton or Whitchurch, partners in business, as the printers, from that first edition which was imported by them in 1537 down to only the present moment, we have six editions. The impressions thrown off have been rated at from 1,500, to 2,500 copies; so that if we take the medium, here were 12,000 volumes. We now know, from Grafton himself, that £500 had been embarked by him in the first edition, given to Britain; but those that followed after were still finer books. Granting, therefore, that there had been here a sum of no more than £3,000 incurred.... this, according to the value of money in our day, was equal to forty, if not forty-five thousand pounds! "History, though warm on meaner themes," has hitherto "been cold on this ;" and the reader of the present hour, except the transactions be explained, may pass without notice the most memorable feature of the times. In the midst of the preceding still nobler struggle, respecting the New Testament only, Sir Thomas More had expressed his astonishment, on account of the expense incurred, and so much the more that he could never fathom from whence the money came. But what would he have said to this cause now, not seven years after his death? Ah, and what would he have said to his friend Tunstal, who so led him on the ice, by granting him license to "play the Demosthenes," in opposition to Tyndale? and who now, by the command of their common Sovereign, is openly mixed up in the whole concern, though not in one farthing of the expense! (Pages 139–141.) Anthony Marler, haberdasher, of London, was the proprietor of the large volumes long erroneously called "Cranmer's Bibles." Mr. Anderson denies the statement, given in high forensic quarters, that the Eighth Henry incurred the cost. It was under the auspices of Marler, (and “honour to whom honour,") that edition after edition, large and beautiful, appeared. The Convocation of 1542 again discussed the translation of the New Testament; and the books were distributed for revision among fifteen Bishops. Among them was one, unwearied and unscrupulous in enmity to the rising truth. Gardiner presented a list of one hundred and two Latin words, advising that "for their genuine and native meaning, and for the majesty of the matter in them contained," they should "be retained in the English translation, or be fitly Englished with the least alteration." It will be readily conjectured that the list included such words as ecclesia, poenitentia, pontifex, sacramentum, simulacrum, confiteor, panis, episcopus, pascha, hostia, &c. In Gardiner's view, it has been justly said, "there was something else than majesty" in the language which he commended. "Witness," says old Fuller, "the word 'penance,' which, according to the vulgar sound, contrary to the original sense thereof, was a magazine of will-worship, and brought in much gain to the Priests, who were desirous to keep that word, because that word kept them." On the whole, however, the Prelates were overruled by a proposal, never indeed fulfilled, of remitting the business to the Universities. As there were no more folio Bibles printed in Henry's reign, it has often been supposed that this was owing to the strength of the opposing party; but the fact has now been accounted for in a manner more satisfactory. [Allusion is made to the issue, during four years and four months from August, 1537, of more than 20,000 Bibles,-ten editions in folio, and two in quarto,-Tyndale's, or based on Tyndale's.] Many of the copies which had been printed since 1539 may have been yet for sale; and Marler, it is evident, was so overstocked that he was afraid of ruin by his outlay. The King's letters in his favour now extended his privilege to December, 1545, immediately after which we shall find that Grafton was at work again, with an edition of the New Testament. But, independently of this ample sup ply,...there were many thousands of the New Testament long circulated, and reading far and wide throughout the country. [The contemporary witness of the excellent Thomas Becon is added; from which a sentence or two may be copied :] "Now," says Becon, "Christ's death is believed to be a sufficient sacrifice for them that are sanctified. THE MOST SACRED BIBLE IS FREELY PERMITTED TO BE READ OF EVERY MAN IN THE ENGLISH TONGUE. Many savour Christ aright, and daily the number increaseth, thanks be to God. Christ is believed to be the alone Saviour."... Notwithstanding this attestation, however, let there be no surprise, though the clouds should still be gathering, and another storm await us soon." (Pages 153-155.) Before Parliament interfered (1543) to oppose the good work, 26 Tyndale's translation had been printed under other names, such as Matthew, Taverner, Cranmer, Tunstal and Heath; for this translation having been retained in all the English Bibles, with very little variation, it was now impossible to reach it. It so happened, too, that there were by this time various editions of the Bible printed without note and comment. Marler's editions, as well as others, were of this character; and, backed by the stern authority of the King, there was no possibility of touching any of them." The interference came as-lucus à non lucendo-" An Act for the advancement of true religion." (!) Tyndale's pages were to be consigned to the flames; and there is another enactment, strange and inconsistent, showing the hands of two conflicting parties,-which we must give :— "That no manner of persons, after the 1st of October, should take upon them to read openly to others, in any church or open assembly, within any of the King's dominions, the Bible or any part of Scripture in English, unless he was so appointed thereunto by the King, or by any Ordinary, on pain of suffering one month's imprisonment." But then "the Chancellor of England! Captains of the wars! the King's Justices! the Recorders of any city, borough, or town! and the Speaker of Parliament! may use any part of the holy Scripture as they have been wont !"* And every nobleman or gentleman, being a householder, may read or cause to be read, by any of his family servants, in his house, orchard, or garden, to his own family, any text of the Bible; and also every merchantman, being a householder, and any other persons, other than women, apprentices, &c., might read to themselves privately the Bible. But no women, except noblewomen and gentlewomen, might read to themselves alone; and no artificers, apprentices, journeymen, serving-men of the degrees of yeomen, husbandmen, or labourers, were to read the Bible or New Testament to themselves or to any other, privately or openly, on pain of one month's imprisonment." !!) 9 * In the face of this prohibition, a foreign press was at work in 1544 with Tyndale's New Testament. At home, a plot was formed against Cranmer ; his enemies alleging that "he with his learned men " had "infected the whole realm," that "three parts of the land were become abominable heretics," and that insurrection might be expected. Though the complainers were in this instance signally defeated, yet in the late evening of the reign persecution revived. Anne Askew, of Lincolnshire, was burned to ashes for the crime of adhering to the truth of God! She appeared, in the bloom of youth, before the oppressors; and, when the royal pardon was offered if she would recant, she nobly answered, “I came not hither to deny my Lord and Master." With three fellow-sufferers she expired; having expressed the lovely, gentle, primitive spirit, in these lines: "Then thought I, Jesus Lord! When thou shalt judge us all, Hard is it to record, On these men what will fall :- "Yet, Lord, I thee desire, For that they do to me, These were the last martyrs under Henry VIII., "Defender of the Faith!" Latimer and others were examined; but that illustrious man was left in the Tower for six slow years to come. Vernacular literature, in a long list of publications, was condemned; and a proclamation was issued against all books bearing the names of Fryth, Tyndale, Wickliffe, Joy, Roye, Becon, Bale, Barnes, Coverdale, Turner, Tracy. Such were the tremulous efforts of the King,-now on the brink of the grave. The *It was usual, says Collier, for the Lord Chancellor, Judges, Recorders, &c., to take a text for their speeches on public occasions; but that the Captains of the wars, adds Todd, thus opened a campaign, or that the Speaker of the House of Commons thus regulated a debate, the historian does not pretend. |