COV'ERDALE, MILES (1488-1565). An Eng lish Bible translator. He was born at Coverdale, in Yorkshire. was educated at Cambridge, was or dained in 1.314 at Norwich, and became the same year an Augustinian at Cambridge. By 1526, however, his religious opinions had so far changed that he left his convent and devoted himself ear nestly to the work of the Reformation. Dressed like a secular priest, he preached against confes sion and image-worship. Shortly after that he went abroad. In 1335 he brought out his first trans lation of the Bible out of Douche (German) and Latin into Englishe,' with a dedication by him self to henry VIII. This was the first complete translation of the Bible printed in the English language. The Psalms of this translation are those still used in the Book of Common Prayer. The vexed question as to the printer of the volume has been settled. probably, by recent dis coveries in favor of Christopher Eroschouer, the famous Zurich printer. It also seems probable that Jacob Van Meteren, the Antwerp printer, employed Coverdale to make the translation, which was done in Antwerp. The basis was the Zurich Swiss-German Bible and Tyndale's New Testament, along with the Vulgate. It was re printed in London in 1537, with the royal license. In 153S Coverdale, with the consent of King Henry VIII.. and with the permission of Francis I.. went to Paris to superintend another English edition of the Scriptures, his reason for going to Paris being that paper and workmanship were there cheaper and better than in England. The Inquisition, however, notwithstanding the royal license of Francis, interfered, seized the whole impression, consisting of 2500 copies, and con demned them to the flames. But through the cupidity of one of their executive officers. who sold a considerable number of the heretical books to a haberdasher as waste paper, some copies were saved and brought to London, along with the presses. types. etc., which had been employed
in printing them. Several of the workmen also came over to London: and Grafton and Whit church. the noted printers of that day, were thus enabled to bring out in 1539, under Coverdale's superintendence, the "Great Bible." as it is called on account of its size. Coverdale also in 1540 edited a second edition, commonly called Cran mer's Bible, because that prelate wrote a preface to it. From 1540 to 1548 Coverdale was on the Continent. He married in the former year. On his return he became a royal chaplain, and in 1551 was appointed to the see of Exeter. the duties of which office he discharged with great zeal, until the accession of Mary in 1553, when he was ejected and thrown into prison, from which he was only released after a year's confine ment. on the earnest intercession of the King of Denmark, whose interest was evoked by his chap lain. Co•erdale's brother-in-law, and on the con dition that he should leave the country. Cover dale went to Denmark. and subsequently to West phalia, Deux Ponts, and Geneva. In 1559, after the accession of Elizabeth. he returned to Eng land, but certain notions concerning ecclesiastical ceremonies, imbibed at Geneva. operated against his restoration to the sec of Exeter. and his ap pointment as Bishop of Llandaff. In 1564 he was collated to the rectory of Saint Magnus, Lon don, but, owing to age and infirmities, he resigned it in 1566, and died about two years afterwards. He was buried February 19, 156S. Coverdale was the author of several tracts designed to pro mote the Reformation, and made various transla tions from the works of the Continental Reform ers. works and letters were published with a memoir, by the Parker Society (Cambridge, 1844-46). Consult, also: Memorials of Myles Corcrdalc (London. 1838) ; F. Fry, The Bible by ('orerdale (London. 1867).