p>Notes and Queries, Number 63, January 11, 1851
NOTES
THE BREECHES, OR GENEVA BIBLE
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 100l., 30l., 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.
POEMS DISCOVERED AMONG THE PAPERS OF SIR KENELM DIGBY
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.
Doe but consider this small dust running in this glasse,
By atoms moved;
Would you believe that this the body ever was
Of one that loved;
Who in his mistresse flames playing like a fly,
Burnt to cinders by her eye?
Yes! and in death as life unblest,
To have it exprest
Even ashes of lovers have no rest.
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?
What sodaine change hath dark't of late
The glory of the Arcadian state?
The fleecy flocks refuse to feede
The Lambes to play, the Ewes to breede
The altars make(s) the offeringes burne
That Jack and Tom may safe returne.
The Springe neglectes his course to keepe,
The Ayre continual stormes do weepe,
The pretty Birdes disdaine to singe,
The Maides to smile, the woods to springe,
The Mountaines droppe, the valleys morne
Till Jack and Tom do safe returne.
What may that be that mov'd this woe?
Whose want afflicts Arcadia so?
The hope of Greece, the proppe of artes,
Was prinly Jack, the joy of hartes.
And Tom was to his Royall Paw
His trusty swayne, his chiefest maw.
The loftye Toppes of Menalus
Did shake with winde from Hesperus,
Whose sweete delicious Ayre did fly
Through all the Boundes of Arcady,
Which mov'd a vaine in Jack and Tom
To see the coast the winde came from.
This winde was love, which Princes state
To Pages turn, but who can hate
Where equall fortune love procures,
Or equall love success assures?
So virtuous Jack shall bring from Greece
The Beautyous prize, the Golden fleece.
Love is a world of many paines,
Where coldest hills, and hottest playnes,
With barren rockes and fertill fieldes
By turne despaire and comforte yeldes;
But who can doubt of prosperous lucke
Where Love and fortune both conducte?
Thy Grandsire great, and father too,
Were thine examples thus to doe,
Whose brave attempts, in heate of love,
Both France and Denmark did approve.
For Jack and Tom do nothing newe
When Love and Fortune they pursue.
Kind shepheardes that have lov'd them long,
Be not rasfe in censuringe wronge,
Correct your feares, leave of to mourne,
The Heavens will favour their returne;
Committ
