Various - Notes and Queries, Number 63, January 11, 1851

Of this, the most popular edition of the Scriptures in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, we meet continually with erroneous opinions of its rarity, and also of its value, which the following brief statement may tend in a degree to correct.

The translation was undertaken by certain reformers who fled to Geneva during the reign of Queen Mary; and is attributed to W. Whittingham, Anthony Gilby, Miles Coverdale, Thomas Sampson, Christopher Goodman, Thomas Cole, John Knox, John Bodleigh, and John Pullain; but Mr. Anderson, in his History of the English Bible , says that the translators were Whittingham, Gilby, and Sampson: and from the facts stated, he is, no doubt, correct.

It is called the "Breeches Bible" from the rendering of Genesis, iii. 7.:

"Then the eyes of them bothe were opened, and they knewe that they were naked, and they sewed fig tree leaves together, and made themselves breeches."

The first edition of the Geneva Bible was printed at Geneva in 1562, folio, preceded by a dedication to Queen Elizabeth, and an address "To our beloved in the lord the brethren of England, Scotland, Ireland," &c.; dated from Geneva, 10th April, 1561. This edition contains two remarkable errors: Matt. v. 9. "Blessed are the place makers." Luke xxi. "Chris condemneth the poor widow." This is the first Bible divided into verses.

Second edit. 4to., printed at Geneva, 1569. To this edition is added "Certeine Tables, A Calendar, and Fairs in Fraunce and elsewhere."

The first edition printed in London is a small folio. Imprinted by Christopher Barker, 1576.

The first edition of the Scriptures printed in Scotland is the Geneva version, folio, began 1576, by Thomas Bassandyne; and finished in 1579 by Alexander Arbuthnot.

Other editions, 1577, London, sm. fol.; 1578, sm. fol.; 4to., 1579; two editions 4to., 1580, 1581; sm. fol.; 1582; 4to., 1583; lar. fol., 1583; 4to., 1585; 4to., 1586; 8vo., 1586; 4to., 1587; 4to., 1588; 4to., 1589; 8vo., Cambridge, 1591, supposed to be first printed at the university; fol., 1592; 4to., 1594; 4to., 1595; fol., 1595; 4to., 1597; sm. fol., 1597; 4to., 1598; 4to., 1599. Of this last date, said to be "Imprinted at London by the deputies of Chr. Barker," but probably printed at Dort, and other places in Holland, there were at least seven editions; and, before 1611, there were at least twenty other editions.

Between the years 1562 and 1611, there were printed at least 130 editions of the Geneva Bible, in folio, 4to., and 8vo.; each edition probably consisted of 1000 copies.

Persons who know but little of the numbers which are extant of this volume, have asked 100 l. , 30 l. , and other like sums, for a copy; whereas, as many shillings is about the value of the later editions.

The notes by the Reformers from the margin of the Geneva version, have been reprinted with what is usually called King James' version, the one now in use, in the editions printed at Amsterdam, at the beginning of the seventeenth century.

MR. HALLIWELL (Vol. ii., p. 238.) says that he does not believe my MS. of the "Minde of the Lady Venetia Digby" can be an autograph. I have reason to think that he is right from discovering another MS. written in the same hand as the above, and containing two poems without date or signature, neither of which (I believe ) are Ben Jonson's. I enclose the shorter of the two, and should feel obliged if any of your correspondents could tell me the author of it, as this would throw some light upon the writer of the two MSS.

I also enclose a copy of another poem I have discovered, which appears to me very curious, and, from the date, written the very year of the visit of Prince Charles and Buckingham to the court of Spain. Has it ever been printed, and who is the author?

From London, 31. Martii, 1623.

Prefaced to this poem is an extract from a letter of Buckingham's to his wife, containing an account of their reception: but it is hardly worth copying.

Having been requested by a foreign nobleman to furnish him with a list of the editions of the works of Camoens, and of the various translations, I have prepared one; and considering the information might be interesting to several of your readers, I send you a copy for insertion It besides affords an opportunity of asking after those editions, to which I have added the observations. The first star indicates that the works are in my private collection, as are several other works relating to that celebrated poet. Obras means the collected works.

Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Dec. l6. 1850.

N.B. There are several translations of portions of the Lusiad , and of the smaller poems, both in French and English.