FOR THE PERIOD BETWEEN THE SIXTH AND SEVENTEENTH CENTURIES A.D. 563. St Columba founds the Monastery of Iona. 590-604. Gregory the Great, last of the Latin Fathers-Founder of the Medieval Papacy. 597 . St Augustine’s mission in Kent. 626-55. The supremacy of Penda, and of Paganism, in Mercia. 627 . Paulinus in Northumbria. 631 . Felix in East Anglia. 635 . Aidan in Northumbria. 664 . Conference at Whitby. 669-90. Archbishop Theodore. 673 . The first “ Pan-Anglican” Synod, at Hertford. 675 . Caedmon. 673-735. Bede of Jarrow. Aldhelm of Malmesbury. Cynewulf. 726 . The Iconoclastic controversy in the East. 732 . Battle of Tours, and defeat of the Saracens. 750 . Alliance of the Franks with the Papacy. 753-4 . The Roman forgery called The Donation of Constantine. 755 . Pepin endows the “Holy Roman Republic” with the Exarchate of Ravenna and the Pentapolis. 787 . Appearance of the Northmen. 800 . Coronation of Charles the Great. 814 . Death of Charles the Great. 828 . Egbert, King of all the English. 850 . John Scotus Erigena. The False Decretals (Pseudo-lsidore). 871-96. King Alfred. The English Chronicle. 955 . Dunstan. 970-1006 . Abbot Ælfric. The Durham Gospels. 970-1006. The “Exeter” ‘ The “Vercelli” books of primitive national poetry. 1030 . The Rushworth Gospels. 1066 . Battle of Hastings. 1073 . Gregory VII. (Hildebrand.) 1090 . Anselm. 1116 . University of Bologna. 1150-1250. Miracle and Mystery Plays. 1150 . Gratian’s Decretum or Corpus Canonici Juris. 1164 . Constitutions of Clarendon. 1170 . Murder of Becket. 1198-1254. Innocent III. Gregory IX. Innocent IV. Culmination of the Papal power, and development of the Inquisition. 1200 . University of Paris. 1209 . The Albigensian Massacres. 1213 . Submission of King John. England a Papal fief, and its King the Pope’s “man.” 1215 . Magna Charta. Stephen Langton. The “Ormulum” paraphrase written. 1219 . The Dominican 1224. The FranciscanFriars arrive in England. 1230-90. Roger Bacon. 1250 . “Genesis and Exodus,” a poetical paraphrase. 1264 . Merton College founded. 1265 . The First Parliament of England. 1227-74 . Aquinas. 1275-1308 . Duns Scotus. 1290-1349. Bradwardine. Leading Schoolmen. 1279 . Statute of Mortmain. 1294-13. Boniface VIII. 1300-1347 . William of Ockham. Marsiglio of Padua. 1305-77. The Popes at Avignon. 1313-22. Conflict between (a) The Empire and the Papacy; (b) The Papacy and the “spiritual” Franciscans. 1320 . “Cursor Mundi,” a religious history in metre, written in Northumbria. A Psalter in English prose, doubtfully ascribed to William of Shoreham. 1322 . Conference at Perugia on “Evangelical Poverty.” The Secession of the “Fraticelli,” otherwise known as the “spiritual” Franciscans. 1324 . Birth of Wycliffe (approximate date). 1324 . The treatise, “Defensor Pacis,” by Marsiglio of Padua. 1328 . Birth of Chaucer. 1338 . Wycliffe enters Oxford (approximate date). 1338-1453. The Hundred Years’ War. 1340 . The Psalter, in English prose, by Hampole. 1341 . Earliest appointment of a layman as Chancellor. 1346 . Battle of Cre’cy. 1347-54 . Rienzi at Rome. 1348-9 . The Plague, or Black Death, by which not less than half the population perished. 1350 . Clement VI. “Jubilee” pilgrimage to Rome enforced, in spite of the plague, to raise money through sale of indulgences. 1351 . First Statute of Provisors against Papal interference with ecclesiastical patronage. 1352 . Statute of Labourers, with a view to keep down the rate of wages. 1353 . First Statute of Praemunire, against all appeals to Papal Courts. 1356 . Battle of Poictiers. Sir John Mandeville. [peasantry. 1358-9. The “Jacquerie,” or insurrection of the French 1360 . John Ball, the mad socialist preacher of Kent. Peace of Bretigny.

Adrianople becomes the capital of the Turks in Europe. 1361 . Wycliffe is elected Master of Balliol. 1362. The Vision of Piers the Ploughman (Langland). 1362 .Reappearance of the Black Death. Law-pleadings ordered to be in English. 1366 . Parliament repudiates Pope Urban’s demand for arrears of tribute, and calls on Wycliffe at Oxford for a formal defense of this resolution. 1369 . Third appearance of the Black Death. The French burn Portsmouth.

Wycliffe accepts the living of Ludgarshall. 1371 . The Commons petition against the appointment of ecclesiastical dignitaries to the great offices of State. 1372 . Wycliffe takes his Doctor’s degree. 1372 . Spaniards destroy English Fleet off Rochelle. 1374 . Wycliffe appointed to the living of Lutterworth (April). 1374 . Bruges Conference (July). Wycliffe one of the Royal Commissioners. 1376 . The Good Parliament meets to reform abuses, but breaks up in July owing to death of Black Prince. Wycliffe accused by the Friars, first before the Bishops,and then before the Pope. 1377. Wycliffe’s tract “De Dominio,” defending the decision of the Parliament which refused Urban’s renewed demand in 1374. 1377. (January) Papal Court returns from Avignon to Rome. (February 19th) Wycliffe cited to appear in St Paul’s. (May) 5 Papal Bulls issued at Rome against Wycliffe, addressed to the various authorities in Church and State.The University of Oxford reports substantially in favor of the soundness of Wycliffe’s opinions. Wycliffe sets on foot his order of “poor priests.” 1377 . (June 21) Death of Edward III. Wycliffe consulted by Parliament as to payment of Peter’s pence. 1378 . Wycliffe cited to Lambeth. Death of Gregory XI. Beginning of “The Great Schism” (September). 1379 . Wycliffe on “The Truth of Scripture.” He is now preparing his translation of the Bible, and further organising his mission-priests. 1380 . The obnoxious poll-tax. 1380 . Wycliffe’s Theses against the logical validity of the doctrine of Transubstantiation. 1381 . (June) Outbreak of Peasants’ War. 1382 . The Earthquake-Synod at Black Friars. Wycliffe, by petition to Parliament, appeals against its findings. English Bible completed. 1384 . Death of Wycliffe. 1390 . Final Statute of Provisors. 1393 . Final Statute of Praemunire. 1401 . Statute enacting the burning of heretics. 1408 . Archbishop Arundel’s Constitutions forbidding (inter alia) unauthorised Bibles. 1414 . Council of Constance. Lollard Act, extending provisions of the Act of 1401. 1415 . Huss burnt at the stake. 1431 . Council of Basel. 1438 . Pragmatic sanction of Charles VII. of France. 1450 . Jack Cade’s rebellion, for redress of grievances. 1453 . Capture of Constantinople by the Turks. 1455-85. Dynastic Wars of the Roses. 1485 . Several accused persons burnt at Coventry as Lollards. 1489. Birth of Thomas Cranmer. 1491 . Savonarola in Florence. 1492 . Pope Alexander VI. 1505 . Colet Dean of St Paul’s. 1506 . Foundation stone laid of the new St Peter’s at Rome. 1508 . Michael Angelo begins to decorate the Sistine Chapel. 1509 . Henry VIII. comes to throne. 1510-16. Raphael’s cartoons. 1513 . Pope Leo X. 1516 . First Edition of Erasmus’ New Testament. More’s “Utoipia.” 1517 . Publication of Luther’s Theses against Indulgences. 1520 . Cardinal Ximenes’ Complulensian Polyglot. Lutheran books begin to be imported into England. Luther burns the Pope’s Bull. 1521 . Henry VIII.’s treatise against Luther. Lutheran books burnt at St Paul’s. Luther excommunicated. 1522 . Luther’s New Testament in German. 1522-4. Peasants’ War and Nobles’ War in Germany. 1525 . (February) Emperor defeats France at Battle of Pavia. Tyndale’s New Testament. 1525 . Society of the “Christian Brethren” founded (Froude’s History, ii., 26). 1526 . Geneva declares her political independence. 1526 . (February II) Recantation of R. Barnes at St Paul’s, and burning of Lutheran books. (October) The Primate and the Bishop of London order Tyndale’s Testaments, which had begun to be detected, to be burnt. 1527 . Spread of Lutheran opinions in Oxford and Cambridge. Henry VIII. inclines to a divorce. Sack of Rome by forces of Charles V. 1527 -9. The German-Swiss or Zurich Bible. 1528 . Latin Bible of Pagninus. 1529 . Diet of Spires. Lutheran princes and cities adopt the name of “Protestants.” Summoning of the Anti-Papal seven years’ Parliament.

Fall of Wolsey. More made Chancellor. 1530 . Tyndale’s Pentateuch. Confession of Augsburg. Death of Wolsey. 1530 . Royal Proclamation against heretical books, coupled with conditional promise of an English Bible. Great holocaust of heretical books at St Paul’s. Protestant League of Schmalkald. 1531 . The “Supremacy” of the King recognised by the Convocations. 1532 . The submission of the clergy. Macchiavelli’s “Prince” published.

Death of Archbishop Warham. 1533 . (January) Henry VIII. privately, married to Anne Boleyn. 1533 . Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury (March 30th). Act in restraint of appeals to Rome. 1533 . Henry’s marriage canonically celebrated. Cromwell “rules everything.” (Chapuis.) 1534 . Act embodying the submission of the clergy. Act of Supremacy.

Fisher and More sent to the Tower. Cranmer and the Convocations petition for an English Bible. Tyndale revises his New Testament and Pentateuch translations. 1534-5. Sebastian Milnster’s Latin Version of the Old Testament. 1534-5. Tyndale’s finaI revision of the New Testament (known as the “G.

H.”). 1535 . Olivetan’s French Bible. Execution of Fisher and More. 1535 . Coverdale’s Bible reaches England. Cromwen made ecclesiastical Vicegerent. Visitation of the Monasteries. 1535 . Conference of Henry’s envoys with Lutherans in Saxony. 1536.

Death of Catherine (January). The Pilgrimage of Grace; being the revolt of the North of England against Cromwellism. Execution of Anne Boleyn (May 19th). The “Ten Articles,” marking the highest point of Protestant influence during Henry’s reign. Calvin’s “Institutes.” 1536 Suppression of the lesser Monasteries. Geneva adopts Protestantism under Calvin. Tyndale burnt at Vilvorde, October 6th. Convocation renews petition for an English Bible, being dissatisfied with Coverdale’s version. 1537 . Matthew’s and Coverdale’s Bibles licensed. The Bishops’ Book. 1538 . Cromwell’s injunctions. Lutheran delegates sent to England for a conference as to a possible religious agreement. Tunstall and Gardiner hostile-failure of negotiations. 1539 . Dissolution of the greater Monasteries. Act of the “Six Articles,” indicating the reaction towards Catholicism. 1539 . The Great Bible (Cromwell’s), 1st Edition. 1540 . Henry VIII. marries Anne of Cleves, January 6th. Foundation of the Order of Jesuits. Execution of Cromwell, July 28th. Burning of Barnes and others for heresy. Great Bible, 2nd Edition, with Cranmer’s Preface. Henry marries Catherine Howard, July 28th. 1543 . The King’s Book. Restrictions as to the public and private reading of the Bible. 1543 . The Copernican System published. 1544 . The Litany in English. 1545 . Council of Trent, first session. 1546 . Death of Luther. Statutory restriction of 1543 now made to include the Coverdale Bible (July 8th). Wholesale destruction of Bibles. 1547 . (January) Death of Henry VIII. Accession of Edward VI. 1548 . “Order of the Communion” in English. 1548-9. Erasmus’ “Paraphrase” set up in Churches. 1549 . First Prayer Book of Edward VI. Bucer, a moderate Lutheran, made Professor of Theology at Cambridge. Peter Martyr, a Calvinist, made Professor of Theology at Oxford. 1550 . John a Lasco, a Calvinist, made director of the foreign Protestants in London. 1551. Castalio’s Latin Bible. John Knox made a royal chaplain. 1552 . Second Prayer Book of Edward VI. 1553 . Death of Edward VI., July 6th. (October) Coronation of Mary Tudor. 1554 . (July) Mary marries Philip II. of Spain. 1554-5. The troubles at Frankfort. The Marian persecutions begin in England. 1555 . Religious compromise of Augsburg-“Cujus regio ejus religio “-(September 26th). 1555-8. Martyrdom of Cranmer, Hooper, Ridley, Latimer, and nearly others. 1557 . The Genevan New Test. in English, by Whittingham. 1558 . Death of Mary Tudor, and accession of Elizabeth on November 17th. 1559 . (January 12th) Coronation of Elizabeth. Cecil made the Queen’s chief adviser. Treaty of Cateau Cambresis (April). Secret agreement between France and Spain for extermination of heretics. Acts of Supremacy and of Uniformity. 1559 . (December) Parker made Archbishop. 1560 . Protestantism established in Scotland. The Genevan Bible. 1561 . Birth of Francis Bacon. 1562 . Religious Wars in France. 1563 . The Thirty-nine Articles settled by Convocation. Foxe’s Book of Martyrs. 1564 . Birth of Shakespeare. 1566 . Revolt of the Netherlands. Vestment controversy reaches its height, and the malcontents are branded as “Precisians,” or Puritans. 1568 . The Bishops’ Bible. 1570 . Excommunication of Elizabeth. Anglo-Roman Schism. 1572 . Cartwright’s declaration. Presbyterianism announced to be a divine institution. Massacre of St Bartholomew (August 24th). 1579 . Latin Old Testament by Tremellius. (The New Testament was completed soon afterwards.) 1580 . Cartwright’s Book of Discipline. 1581 . Jesuit mission to England. United Provinces declare their independence. 1582 . The Rheims (Douai) New Testament. Hakluyt’s Voyages. 1586 . The Babington plot against Elizabeth. 1587 . Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots (February 8th). 1588 . Martin Marprelate libels. The Armada (July, August). 1590 . The “Faerie Queen.” 1594 . Hooker’s “Ecclesiastical Polity.” 1595 . Lambeth Articles. 1597. Bacon’s “Essays.” 1598 . Edict of Nantes (April 3oth). 1602 . “Othello ” played at Court. 1603 . Death of Elizabeth; accession of James I. (Mar. 24th). 1604.

Hampton Court Conference. 1605 . Gunpowder Plot. Bacon’s “Advancement of Learning.” 1606. “Macbeth” and “Lear ” played at Court. 1608 . Birth of Milton. 1609-10. Douai Old Testament. 1611 . “Tempest ” played at Court. “Authorised Version” published. 1613. “Henry VIII.” played at Court. Close of Shakespeare’s public career, and transition from the Elizabethan England of the Renaissance to Puritan England. 1616 . Death of Shakespeare.

A TABULAR VIEW OF THE EVOLUTION OF THE ENGLISH BIBLE.

THE BIBLE BEFORE THE INVENTION OF PRINTING.

I. A.D. 597-1382-The Middle Ages Metrical Paraphrases, Glosses, and Translations from the Latin Vulgate and from the so called “Old Latin.”

II. A.D. 1382-The Wycliffe-Hereford Bible.

III. A.D. 1388-A Revision of the above Bible, by Purvey and others.† THE PRINTED BIBLE OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. -Tyndale’s New Testament-Tyndale’s (part of the) Old Testament -Coverdale’s Bible (the first complete Bible in English) -Matthew’s Bible. -Taverner’s Bible From the original Greek and Hebrew. Not from the Greek and Hebrew.

Mainly a compilation from Tyndale and Coverdale.

A private revision of Matthew’s, and comparatively unimportant.

The first edition of the Great Bible; the second edition of which (with Cranmer’s Preface), is dated 1540.

A.D. 1560-The Genevau Bible.

A.D. 1568-The Bishops’ Bible.

A.D. 1582-The Rheims New Testament (from the Vulgate).

THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.

A.D. 1610-The Douai Old Testament (from the Vulgate).

A.D. 1611-The Authorised Version.

THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.

A.D. 1881-The Revised New Testament.

A.D. 1885-The Revised Old Testament.