The+Taverner's+Bible



**Richard Taverner and Taverner's Bible**

Taverner's Bible (the preferred reference instead of the official title //**The Most Sacred Bible whiche is the holy scripture, conteyning the old and new testament, translated into English, and newly recognized with great diligence after most faythful exemplars by Rychard Taverner**//) was truly a Bible of expedience. This actually was a fitting product for a man whose life was seemingly ruled by expedience.

Taverner was born near Norwich around 1505. We know that he was educated at Christ Church, Oxford. He was a well educated man with a good knowledge of Greek and Latin. He experimented with translation, attempting to produce the Book of Matthew using only "words of pure Anglo-Saxon ancestry." While he was at Oxford he was caught with a copy of Tyndale's New Testament. He did public penance, setting a precedent for his history of bowing with the prevailing winds that would last throughout his life.

Taverner practiced as a lawyer. He was a member of London's Inner Temple Society--a professional organization for lawyers and judges. He also served as a preacher on more than one occaision in his life. He produced some notable writings in his own right, but is best remembered for his 1539 Bible .

**Taverner's Bible**

If Richard Taverner attempted to create his Bible in today's society, it is likely he would be brought up on copyright infringement charges. Taverner's Bible is, for the most part, an edited version of Matthew's Bible.

When Coverdale's and Matthew's Bibles were published they sold wildly throughout England, many publishers saw the chance of making a farthing or two in the venture of producing and selling a Bible. Two London printers, Bardell and Barthlett, approached Taverner with the proposition of creating a Bible for them. Taverner took the commission. This commission was very expedient for Thomas Cromwell, the King's First Minister and personal friend of Taverner. Cromwell heartily endorsed Taverner's venture.

The reason was simple. When Tyndale's New Testament flooded England in 1526 it was banned by King Henry VIII who had personal issues with Tyndale's political views. Now Henry wanted an official English Bible for use in the church and by the public in general. The Bishops and priests that were called to create this official Bible were hopelessly deadlocked in a convocation arguing over words and meanings, while Cromwell and the Archbishop of London had given the royal license to Coverdale's Bible (which at present was chained in every church where all could use it) and Matthew's Bible--both of which contained Tyndale's translation. This was a potential powderkeg. If the King discovered that he had unwittingly approved the very Bible he had openly condemned there would most definitely be trouble.

The printers were waiting to make their money and with the church and court were waiting eagerly for the end product. Taverner set to work editing Matthew's Bible (almost completely Tyndale) so that the language was more idiomatic and modern. He attempted to make the Bible as free from foreign influence as possible by using words of Anglo Saxon origin wherever he could, but in all the Taverner Bible was a pirated rehash of William Tyndale and John Rogers' existing work.

Because of Cromwell's patronage Taverner's Bible had no problem obtaining the royal license. The publishers printed both the entire Bible and the New Testament. It sold very well. It might have done better but its publication fell victim to bad timing. Later that same year it was eclipsed by the publication of The Great Bible. This was the officially commissioned version which Henry had been asking, and which Coverdale finally was able to produce. The arrival of this definitive Bible pushed Taverner's Bible into relative obscurity almost immediately.

Taverner's life of expedience continued on after the quasi-success of his Bible. Intrigues and ambition in Henry's court led to the arrest and execution of Thomas Cromwell in 1540. Taverner was also arrested but finding that discrestion truly was the better part of valor abandoned his friend, submitted to the King and was released. When Edward VI needed clergy Taverner was right there, taking the pulpit. While he was a devout reformationist during the reigns of Henry and Edward, he took a decidedly Catholic turn the minute Mary assumed the throne. Once Elizabeth began her reign he was able to return to his protestant ways. He began preaching again and continued to do so until his death in 1575.