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.
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