Early+Modern+English+Translations

In 1476 William Caxton brought the first printing press to England. This singular event opened the doors to a period of change which moved the language into Early Modern English. The period covering roughly 1500--1700 is one filled with great advances in literature, philosophy and religious reform. The reign of Elizabeth I saw the English renaissance bring new words and ideas from the continent. The advent of printing helped lower illiteracy and standardized both spelling and grammar. The London dialect became more established as the anchor dialect, and the Great Vowel Shift made English phonology unique.

This age also saw a major period of reform throughout Europe. English reformers created new translations of the Bible, leading to new schools of doctrinal thought and bringing a new richness to the language. Political turmoil made these changes dangerous, but the legacy left by reformers and translators of this period live with us to this day.

William Tyndale (1494--1536) The Coverdale Bible (1535) Matthew's Bible (1537) The Taverner's Bible (1539) The Great Bible (1539) The Geneva Bible (1560) The Bishop's Bible (1568) The Douay-Rheims Bible (1582-1609)