Page:A dictionary of printers and printing.djvu/289

 280

HISTORY OF PRINTING.

upon the pillars to which the Bibles were chained, an admonition to the readers, to " prepare them- selves to be edified thereby; to make no expo- sition thereupon, but what was declared in the books themselves; not to read with noise in time of divine service, or dispute and contend with each other; nor such number to meet together as to make a multitude."

1540, July 28. Thomas Cromwell, earl of Essex, beheaded on Tower Hill: he was the chief promoter both of printing; and dispersing the scriptures. The fall of Tiiomas Lord Cromwell, earl of Essex, who from an obscure station, being the son of a blacksmith, had risen to the highest offices in the kingdom, was severely felt by the friends of the Information. His attachment to the Bible is said to have been greatly confirmed by an intimate acquain- tance with the New Testament, having com- mitted the whole of Erasmus's Latin translation of it to memory, during a journey to Rome! He lost the favour of Henry by the active part he took in procuring the marriage of that monarch with Ann of Cleves,and was suddenly seized as he was sitting in council, and com- mitted to the tower. He was attainted by an act of parliament without being heard.

Immediately after the death of Cromwell, Richard Grafton was imprisoned for six weeks in the Fleet, for printing Matthew's Bible, and the great Bible without notes; and before his release he was bound in a penalty of £100, that he should neither sell nor imprint, nor cause to be imprinted, any more Bibles until the king and clergy should agree upon a translation.

The enemies of the English translation of the Bible immediately advanced, that as Cromwell had been the king's chief adviser respecting it, it ought to be regarded as set forth by a traitor; — and complained of it as being exceedingly erroneous and heretical. They further repre- sented to the king, that allowing the people the free use of the Scriptures was tbe means of in- creasing faction and party spirit, and was in- jurious to the peace of the nation; that the com- mon people disputed and quarrelled about them in taverns and alehouses, calling one another papist and heretic; and that others read them in the churches in the time of divine service, and with so loud a voice as to disturb the congrega- tion.* They also censured the prefaces andnotes which had accompanied several of the editions.

About this time a small volume was published, under the title of the Institution of a Chritiian Man, which was received by the convocation of the clergy, and made the infallible standard of orthodoxy. In this book the points of justifica- tion, faith, free-will, good works, and grace,

commenced a prosecution against many persons for read- ing the Bibles thus set up. One of those thus accused was a young man of the name af John Porter, who was sent to Newgate, where he was loaded with irons, and fastened by an iron collar round his neck to the wall of his dungeon. Still asserting Ills innocence, and refusing the admonitions of the Uabop, in a few days afterwards he wai found dead in his cdl, not without strong sus- picion* of being mardered.
 * After the death of CromweU. Bonner immediately

were discussed in amanner somewhat favourable to the opinions of the reformers. The sacra- ments, which a few years before were only allowed to be three, were now increased to seven. Through- out the whole of this book the king's caprice is very discernible; and the book is in reality to be regarded as his composition. For Henry, while he made his opinion a rule for the nation, would himself submit to no authority whatever; not even to any which he had formerly established. The same year the people had a farther instance of the king's inconsistency. He ordered a new book to be composed, called the Erudition of a Chritiian Man; and, without asking the con- sent of the convocation, he published, by his own authority, this new model of ortiiodoxy. This work was printed by Thomas Berthelet; and as the end, the price is thus noticed : ^* This boke bounde in paper boardes, or in claspes not to be sold above xvi<2.

But while the king was thus spreading his own books among the people, both he ana his clergy seem to have been very much perplesed with regard to the scriptures; and the knowledge of the people seemed to be still more dangerous than their ignorance. The man book also passed under the king's examination ; but little alter- ation was yet made in it. Some doubtful or fic- titious sidnts only were struck out; and the name of the pope was erased. The latter precaution was also used with every new book that was printed, and even every old one that was sold. The word pope was carefully omitted or blotted out; as if that precaution could abolish the term from the language, or cause the people to forget that such a person existed.

Concerning the acknowledged infallibility of the popes, it appears that Gregory VII. in council, decreed that the Church of Rome neither had erred and never should err. It was thus this prerogative of his holiness became received till 1313, when John XXII. abrogated decrees made by three popes, his predecessors, and declared, that what was done amiss by one pope or council might be corrected by another ; and Gregory XI. 1370, in his will, deprecates, si quid in catholica fide errasset. The Uni- versity of Vienna protested against it, calling it a contempt of God, and idolatry, if any one in matters of faith should appeal from a council to the pope: that is, from God, who preddes in councils, to man. But the infallibility was at length established by Leo X., especially after Lutber's opposition, because they despaired of defending their indulgencies, buUs, &c. by any other method.

Imagination cannot form a scene more terrific than when these men were in the height of

Eower, and to serve their political purposes, urled the thunders of their excommunications* over a kingdom. It was a national distress not inferior to a plague or a famine.

• Ezcommunlcatioii Is of Hindoo origin in the Pariah caste, adopted by the Jews, and from them by the Chris- tian churches. Tlie Greek and Roman priest and eren the Droids, had similar punishments in aid of their religioa.

VjOOQ IC