Page:Catholic Encyclopedia, volume 15.djvu/435

 VERSTEGAN

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illen, and Worthington. The Old Testament was nblishod at Douai (1609-10) through the efforts of )r. Worthington, then superior of the seminary, ^he translation had been prepared before the appear- nce of the New Testament, b»it the publication was elayed ''for lack of good means" and "our poor es- ate in banishment ". The religious adherence to the yatin text is the reason of the less elegant and idio- latic words and phrases found in the translation, 'he original Douai Version has undergone so many pvisions that "scarcely any verse remains as it was riginally published". Dr. Challoner probably mer- s the credit of being the principal reviser of the )ouai Version (1749-.50); among the many other re- isers we may mention Archbishop Kenrick, Dr. Lin- ard. Dr. John Gihnary Shea.

(j) The Reims Version had its influence on the authorized Version (q. v.), which was begun in 1604 nd published in 1611 (.see Carleton, "The Part of teims in the Making of the English Bible", O.xford, 902). The work was distributed among six com- littees of scholars, the Bishops' Bible being taken as lie basis to work on. A body of rules was drawn up ■hich contained both a scheme of revision and gen- ral directions for the execution of their work. The ctual work of revision occvipied about two years and ine months, and an additional nine months were re- uired for the final preparation for the press. But ven after its publication in 1611 deliberate changes ere introduced silently and without authority by len whose very names are often unknown.

(k) In February, 1870, the Convocation of Can- >rbury appointed a committee to consider the subject F an authorized revision of the .\uthorized Version, iter the report of the committee had been pre- mted in May and had been adopted, two companies ere formed for the revision of the (^Id and the New estament res])ectively. The members of each com- any were partly appointed, partly invited. The re- ision of the New Testament was completed in 407 leetings, distributed over more than ten years, and as finally presented to Convocation on 17 May, ■fSl; the revision of the Old Testament occupied 32 days, and was finished on 20 June, 1884. The 'vised Apocrypha did not appear until 1895. At rst the work of the revisers satisfied neither the ad- inced nor the conservative party, but in course of me it lias grown steadilv in popularity. Lewis, rompletc Hist, o/ the 'several Translations of the Holy Me into Englisli (London. 17:)!1) ; Newcome. Hist. View of Enal. ible Translations (Dublin. 1792); Baqster, Enalish Heiapla -ondon, 1841): Cotton, List of Editions of the Bible (Oxford, DOAR, The Bibles of England (London, 18.S9) : Westcott, Hist, the Engl. Bible (London, 186S) : Hoare, Erolution of the Engl, ible (London, 1902); Eadie, Hist, of the Engl. Bible (London, 176): Westcott and Hort. New Testament (Cambridge. 1882), troduction; Grat, Where tre got the Bible. Our debt to the Itholic Church (St. Louis, 1911); PiiPE, Origin of the Douay bleinDublin /frr.. CXLVII, 97; Idem. The Origin of the Clemen- i« Vulgate \n .\mer. Ercl. Rrv. (0<-t. 1911); Maas. The English ■otcatant Version of the Bible after 300 years in Eccles. Rev. lov., 1911); IDE.M, The Revision of the Vulgate in Amer. Eccl.
 * 51-2); Anderson, Annals of the Engl. Bible (London, 1S4.5);
 * v. (Apr., 19121. A. J. Maas.

Verstegan, Richard, nlia.'! Rowlands, publisher id antiquarian, b. at London, about 1.548; d. at .Ant- "■rp 16.36 (?). Hisgrandfalher, whohadmigratedfrom uclderland, took the name Rowlands, and Richard is sent to Oxford (Christchurcli) under this name 1.565. Being a Catholic he found it impossible obtain a degree, and finally returned to Antwerp, suming his proper f.amily name. His fir.st impor- nt work was his "Theatrum crudelitatis hareti- rum nostri t<Tdoms in England, continuing e idea of Persons', "De per.secutione " (1.582). r Edward St.afford, the English ambas.s.ador to ance, declared that these pictures were libels on leen Elizabeth. The book was confiscated and stroyed (one page survives in trs., London, Record

Office, "Dom. Eliz.", 16,5, f. 77), and Verstegan was arrested and in danger of being extradited (January, 1.584). Through the influence of Cardinal Allen and the papal nuncio the author was soon free again. On 25 April, 1584, he went to Rome (Foley, V, 555) to beg aid from the pope. This was refused (15 May), but he afterwards obtained a Spanish pension. Returning to Antwerp, he published a fuller edition of his "Theatrum" (1588, 1.592; French tr., 1607). He was at this time corresponding agent for Cardinal Allen at Rome, the Catholics in England, .and especially for the Jesuits (some fifty of his letters, 1591-95, are in the Archives of Westminster and of Stonyhurst). He also composed several political tracts (Calendar of State Papers Addenda, 1589, p. 290), and printed an answer to the Proclamation of October, 1591 (A Declaration of great Troubles intended against the Realm, 1592), which was answered by Francis Bacon ("Works", ed. Spedding, 1862, Vni, 146); he took a leading part in the writing and publication in 1595 of "Dolman's Conference" (see Persons, Robert). During the heated Appel- lant controversy he seems to have written a manu- script tract in answer to Watson, which drew upon him the furious abuse of Anthony Copley.

His main occupation was the publication of Catholic books of devotion, sometimes signed by his initials, but never with his name either as composer or publisher. The earliest known English post-Reformation manuals (see Prayer- BooKs) and primers (q. v.) were brought out by him, and, 25 March, 1595, he applied for the monop- oly of printing the latter (Stonyhurst MSS., "Ang- lia", ii, n. 4). He also wrote verse, with little poetic fire, but with facility and a homely, simple taste, .sometimes rising, as in "Our Lady's Lullaby", to religious song of real merit. The translations of hymns in the Primer of 1599, presumably by him, are again above the average. He published a small collection of verse, "Odes in imitation of the Seaven Penitential Psalms", s. 1., UiOl. His chief work was, "A Restitution of decayed Intelligence in Antiquities" (Antwerp, 1605), remarkable as per- haps the first endeavour to persuade Englishmen that they should regard with special piedilection the remains of Anglo-Saxon in their language, customs, and laws, a matter in which (despite obvious faults) he was far in advance of his age, when the influence of Latin was so predominant. It is probable that he translated and published many more works than can now be traced to him, but the later Dutch works, sometimes attributed to him, should no doubt be ascribed to a younger man, probably his son, of the same name. Exile and other hardships some- times embittered his pen; but his correspondence and publications show us a man of faithful and affection- ate mind, and of varied talents, a diligent collector of literary and .scientific curiosities, with a wide circle of literary friends.

Be.sides the correspondence, mentioned above, and introduc- tions to his various works see: French Correspondence (Loudon, Record Office, Januar.v. 1584); Roman Transcripts (ibid.. May, 1584); Wood. .Athena- Ozonicnscs (1813), ii. .■i92: .'^mith in Did. Nat. Biog., a. V. Rowlands, Richard; GlLLOW, Bibl. Diet. Bng. Calh., s. v.; Kelly, Neva Review (July, 1897), a literary estimate.

J. H. Pollen.

Vertin, John, third Bishop of Marquette, U. S. A., b. at Doblicc, Diocese of Laibach (Carniolia), Austria, 17 .luly, 1844; d. at Marquette, 26 Feb., 1899. He received his classical education at Rudolfswert, and came to America at the age of nineteen. His pious parents presente<l him to Bishop Baraga, who, upon ado])! ing him into the diocese, sent him to SI . Fr.ancis, Wisconsin, where he completi'd his lheologic;d train- ing. On ;il Aug., 1866, he wius ordained priest. For twelve years he Laboured zealously, dis|)l.iying great administrative ability. Upon the resignation of Bishop Mrak, Leo Xtll elevated him to the episco-