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E. APPENDIX E.
[Pages 66, 67.]
The New Testament was translated into the Indian language by
the Rev. John Eliot, then pastor of the church in Roxbury. Mr.
Eliot was called the Apostle of the Indians, and he truly was so.
He also translated the Old Testament into their language, and gave
them a version of the Psalms. They were all completed at the press
in 1663, and were bound together. The Rev. Cotton Mather, in his
Magnalia, mentions that Mr. Eliot wrote the whole of this great
work with one pen; if so, we may presume that his pen was not made
of a goose quill, but of metal.[1]
After Mr. Eliot had acquired the
Indian language, he taught English to the Indians, and made an
Indian Grammar. He went among them and preached the gospel,
instituted schools, and formed churches. The colonies of Massachusetts,
Plymouth, Connecticut and New Haven,[2]
in 1643, entered into
articles of confederation for their mutual safety and support. Each
colony was annually to choose two commissioners, who were to meet
yearly and alternately in the several colonies. These commissioners
had the power to manage all concerns, in which the colonies were
generally interested; comprising those of war as well as peace, and
each colony retained the direction of its own internal policy. The
commissioners were chosen by the general court, or assembly of the
respective colonies, and were called the Commissioners of the United
Colonies; to this office, men of the most respectable talents were
elected, and, not unfrequently, the governors of the colonies.
By the agency of Massachusetts, a society had been formed in
London, for propagating the Gospel among the Indians in New England.
Some time after the confederation of the colonies took place,
by act of Parliament; by which act, the commissioners of the United
Colonies were appointed the agents of the society, to manage its concerns,
and to dispose of the property which might be forwarded to
America, in such manner as might promote, in the most useful degree,
the design of the institution. In time, the funds of the Corporation[3]
enabled them to send missionaries among the Indians, to
instruct them in the Christian faith, and to build a number of small
meeting houses, in which the Christianized Indians might assemble
for public worship. An addition was made to the college at the expense
of the corporation, to make room for the education of Indian
youth. Several small books were written, and others translated into
the Indian language; and, eventually, the design was conceived of
translating the whole of the Holy Scriptures into Indian, and to print
the translation. For this great undertaking the corporation supplied
the means, and the commissioners of the United Colonies attended
to its execution.
Before the New Testament was finished at the press, the corporation
in England was, at the restoration of King Charles II, for some
reason, deprived of their charter; but after some time it was restored
and confirmed by the king.[4]
Before the charter was restored, the
late members of the corporation in England, judged it good policy
to present to the king one of the first copies of this work; and to
make it acceptable to his majesty, a dedication was written, printed
and prefixed to the few copies of the Testament which were sent to
England. This measure had the effect desired, and the king became
interested in the restoration of the charter. The copy for the king
and nineteen copies more were forwarded in sheets to the members
of the late corporation in England, with a letter from the commissioners
of the United Colonies, an extract from which as recorded,
follows, viz:
"The New Testament is alreddy finished, and of all the old the
five bookes of Moses; wee have heerwith sent you 20 peeces [copies]
of the New Testament which wee desire may bee thus disposed viz:
that two of the speciall being uery well bound vp the one may bee
presented to his Majestie in the first place, the other to the Lord
Chancellor; and that five more be presented to Doctor Reynolds Mr.
Carrill Mr. Baxter and the two vischancellors of the Vniuersities
whoe wee vnderstand have greatly Incurraged the worke; the rest
to bee disposed of as you shall see cause."
The dedication is recorded among the proceedings of the commissioners
of the United Colonies, and is there prefaced in the following
manner.
"Vpon the enformation of the Desolution of the Corporation, and
intimation of hopes that his Majestie would [renew and] confeirme
the same, &c. The Commissioners thought meet to present his
Majestie with the New Testament printed in the Indian language
with these presents following," &c.
The dedication as printed in the few copies of the Testament sent
to England, is in the following words.
"To the High and Mighty Prince, Charles the Second, by the Grace
of God, King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Defender
of the Faith, &c.
"The Commissioners of the United Colonies in New England, wish
increase of all happiness, &c.
"Most Dread Soveraign,
"If our weak apprehensions have not misled us, this Work will be
no unacceptable Present to Your Majesty, as having a greater Interest
this Occasion) we conceive it our Duty to declare.
"The People of these four Colonies (Confederated for Mutual
Defence, in the time of the late Distractions of our dear Native
Country) Your Majesties natural born Subjects. by the Favour and
Grant of Your Royal Father and Grandfather of Famous Memory,
put themselves upon this great and hazardous Undertaking, of Planting
themselves at their own Charge in these remote ends of the
Earth, that without offence or provocation to our dear Brethren
and Countrymen, we might enjoy that liberty to Worship God,
which our own Consciences informed us, was not onely our Right,
but Duty: As also that we might (if it so pleased God) be instrumental
to spread the light of the Gospel, the knowledg of the Son
of God our Saviour, to the poor barbarous Heathen, which by His
late Majesty, in some of our Patents, is declared to be His principal
aim.
"These honest and Pious Intentions, have, through the grace
and goodness of God and our Kings, been seconded with proportionable
success: for, omitting the Immunities indulged us by Your Highness
Royal Predecessors, we have been greatly encouraged by Your
Majesties gracious expressions of Favour and Approbation signified,
unto the Address made by the principal of our Colonies, to which
the rest do most cordially Subscribe, though wanting the like seasonable
opportunity, they have been (till now) deprived of the means
to Congratulate Your Majesties happy Restitution, after Your long
suffering, which we implore may yet be graciously accepted, that
we may be equal partakers of Your Royal Favour and Moderation;
which hath been so Illustrious that (to admiration) the animosities
and different Perswasions of men have been so soon Composed, and
so much cause of hope, that (unless the signs of the nation prevent)
a blessed calm will succeed the late horrid Confusions of Church
and State. And shall not we (Dread Soveraign) your Subjects
of these Colonies, of the same Faith and Belief in all Points of
Doctrine with our Countrymen, and the other Reformed Churches,
(though perhaps not alike perswaded in some matters of Order,
which in outward respects hath been unhappy for us) promise and
happily and graciously endowed?
"The other part of our Errand hither, hath been attended with
Endevours and Blessing; many of the wilde Indians being taught,
and understanding the Doctrine of the Christian Religion, and with,
much affection attending such Preachers as are sent to teach them,
many of their Children are instructed to Write and Reade, and some
of them have proceeded further, to attain the knowledge of the
Latine and Greek Tongues, and are brought up with our English
youth in University-learning: There are divers of them that can and
do reade some parts of the Scripture, and some Catechisms, which
formerly have been Translated into their own Language, which hath
occasioned the undertaking of a greater Work, viz: The Printing
of the whole Bible, which (being Translated by a painful Labourer
amongst them, who was desirous to see the Work accomplished in
his dayes) hath already proceeded to the finishing of the New Testament,
which we here humbly present to Your Majesty, as the first
fruits and accomplishment of the Pious Design of your Royal Ancestors.
The Old Testament is now under the Press, wanting and
craving your Royal Favour and Assistance for the perfecting thereof.
"We may not conceal, that though this Work hath been begun
and prosecuted by such Instruments as God hath raised up here,
yet the chief Charge and Cost, which hath supported and carried it
thus far, hath been from the Charity and Piety of divers of our well-affected
Countrymen in England; who being sensible of our inability
in that respect, and studious to promote so good a Work, contributed
large Sums of Money, which were to be improved according to the
Direction and Order of the then-prevailing Powers, which hath been
faithfully and religiously attended both there and here, according to
the pious intentions of the Benefactors. And we do most humbly
beseech your Majesty, that a matter of so much Devotion and Piety,
tending so much to the Honour of God, may suffer no disappointment
through any Legal defect (without the fault of the Donors, or
the poor Indians, who onely receive the benefit) but that your Majesty
be graciously pleased to Establish and Confirm the same, being contrived
and done (as we conceive) in the first year of your Majesties
your Establishment; which doth not onely presage the happy success
of your Highness Government, but will be a perpetual monument,
that by your Majesties Favour the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ, was first made known to the Indians: An Honour
whereof (we are assured) your Majesty will not a little esteem.
"Sir, The shines of Your Royal Favour upon these Vndertakings,
will make these tender Plants to flourish, notwithstanding any malevolent
Aspect from those that bear evil will to this Sion, and render
Your Majesty more Illustrious and Glorious to after Generations.
"The God of Heaven, long preserve and bless Your Majesty with
many happy Dayes, to his Glory, the good and comfort of his
Church and People. Amen."
In 1663, when the whole Bible, and a version of the New England
Psalms, translated into the language of the aborigines of New England,
were completed from the press, a copy, elegantly bound, was presented
to the king with another address, or dedication. This address,
and that presented to his majesty with the New Testament, were
printed together and prefixed to those complete copies of the whole
work, which were sent to England as presents. Few of the copies
which were circulated in this country contained those addresses. I
recollect to have seen, many years since, a copy that contained them;
that which I possess is without them, as are all others which I have
lately examined. The Rev. Thaddeus M. Harris, some time since,
fortunately discovered in a barber's shop, a mutilated copy of the
Indian Bible, which the barber was using for waste paper. In this
copy the addresses to King Charles are entire. He transcribed the
addresses, and afterward published them in vol. VII of the Collections
of the Historical Society. I have extracted them from that volume,
finding them exactly to agree with the copies on the Records of the
Commissioners of the United Colonies, in every thing but the spelling,
which on the records is in a mode more obsolete and incorrect,
but doubtless conformable to the originals, which we may well suppose
were carefully corrected before they were printed and prefixed to the
Bible.
The Second Address, or Dedication, is as follows:
"To the High and Mighty Prince, Charles the Second, by the Grace
of God, King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Defender
of the Faith, &c.
"The Commissioners of the United Colonies in New-England, wish
all happiness, &c.
"Most Dread Soveraign,
"As our former Presentation of the New Testament was Graciously
Accepted by Your Majesty; so with all Humble Thankfulness for
that Royal Favour, and with the like hope, We are bold now to
Present the WHOLE BIBLE, Translated into the Language of
the Natives of this Country, by A Painful Labourer in that Work,
and now Printed and Finished, by means of the Pious Beneficence
of Your Majesties Subjects in England: which also by Your
Special Favour hath been Continued and Confirmed to the intended
Use and Advancement of so Great and Good a Work, as is the
Propagation of the Gospel to these poor Barbarians in this (Ere-while)
Unknown World.
Translations of Holy Scripture, The Word of the King of Kings,
have ever been deemed not unworthy of the most Princely Dedications:
Examples whereof are extant in divers Languages. But
Your Majesty is the First that hath Received one in this Language,
or from this American World, or from any Parts so Remote from
Europe as these are, for ought that ever we heard of.
"Publications also of these Sacred Writings to the Sons of Men
(who here, and here onely, have the Mysteries of their Eternal Salvation
revealed to them by the God of Heaven) is a Work that the
Greatest Princes have Honoured themselves by. But to Publish
and Communicate the same to a Lost People, as remote from Knowledge
and Civility, much more from Christianity, as they were from
all Knowing, Civil and Christian Nations; a People without Law,
without Letters, without Riches, or Means to procure any such
thing; a people that sate as deep in Darkness, and in the shadow
of Death, as (we think) any since the Creation: This puts a Lustre
upon it that is Superlative; and to have given Royal Patronage
and Countenance to such a Publication, or to the Means thereof,
that are Considerate, even unto After-Generations.
"And though there be in this Western World many Colonies of
other Europæan Nations, yet we humbly conceive, no Prince hath
had a Return of such a Work as this; which may be some Token
of the Success of Your Majesties Plantation of New-England,
Undertaken and Setled under the Encouragement and Security of
Grants from Your Royal Father and Grandfather, of Famous Memory,
and Cherished with late Gracious Aspects from Your Majesty.
Though indeed, the present Poverty of these Plantations could not
have Accomplished this Work, had not the forementioned Bounty
of England lent Relief; Nor could that have Continued to stand
us in stead, without the Influence of Your Royal Favour and Authority,
whereby the Corporation, there, for Propagating the Gospel
among these Natives, hath been Established and Encouraged (whose
Labour of Love, Care, and Faithfulness in that Trust, must ever be
remembred with Honour.) Yea, when private persons, for their
private Ends, have of late sought Advantages to deprive the said
Corporation of Half the Possessions that had been, by Liberal Contributions,
obtained for so Religious Ends; We understand, That
by an Honourable and Righteous Decision in Your Majesties Court
of Chancery, their Hopes have been defeated, and the Thing Settled
where it was and is. For which great Favour, and Illustrious Fruit
of Your Majesties Government, we cannot but return our most
Humble Thanks in this Publick Manner: And, as the Result, of
the joynt Endeavours of Your Majesties Subjects there and here,
acting under Your Royal Influence, We Present You with this
Work, which upon sundry accounts is to be called Yours.
"The Southern Colonies of the Spanish Nation have sent home
from this American Continent, much Gold and Silver, as the Fruit
and End of their Discoveries and Transplantations: That (we confess
is a scarce Commodity in this Colder Climate. But (sutable to the
Ends of our Undertaking) we Present this, and other Concomitant
Fruits of our poor Endeavors to Plant and Propagate the Gospel
here; which, upon a true account, is as much better than Gold, as
the Souls of men are more worth than the whole World. This is a
was an higher intended End) of Columbus his adventure.
And though by his Brother's being hindred from a seasonable Application,
your Famous Predecessour and Ancestor, King Henry the
Seventh, missed of being sole owner of that first Discovery, and of
the Riches thereof; yet, if the Honour of first Discovering the True
and Saving Knowledge of the Gospel unto the poor Americans, and
of Erecting the Kingdome of JESUS CHRIST among them, be
Reserved for, and do Redound unto your Majesty, and the English
Nation, After-ages Will not reckon this Inferiour to the other. Religion
is the End and Glory of Mankinde; and as it was the Professed
End of this Plantation; so we desire ever to keep it in our
Eye as our main design (both as to ourselves, and the Natives about
us) and that our Products may be answerable thereunto. Give us
therefore leave (Dread Soveraign) yet again humbly to Beg the
Continuance of your Royal Favour, and of the Influences thereof,
upon this poor Plantation, The United Colonies of NEW ENGLAND,
for the Securing and Establishment of our Civil Priviledges,
and Religious Liberties hitherto Enjoyed; and, upon this Good
Work of Propagating Religion to these Natives, that the Supports
and Encouragements thereof from England may be still countenanced
and Confirmed. May this Nursling still suck the Breast of
Kings, and be fostered by your Majesty, as it hath been by your
Royal Predecessors, unto the Preservation of its main Concernments;
It shall thrive and prosper to the Glory of God, and the Honour of
your Majesty: Neither will it be any loss or grief unto our Lord
the King, to have the Blessings of the Poor to come upon Him,
and that from these Ends of the Earth.
"The God by whom Kings Reign, and Princes Decree Justice,
Bless Your Majesty, and Establish your Throne in Righteousness,
in Mercy, and in Truth, to the Glory of His Name, the
Good of his People, and to your own Comfort and Rejoycing,
not in this onely, but in another World."
Specimen of the Language of the Indians of New England, taken
from the first edition of the Rev. Mr. Eliot's translation of the Bible.
Printed at Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1661.
| Nooshun kesukqut, quttianatamunach koowesuonk. Peyaumooutch kukketassootamoonk, kuttenantamoonk nennach ohkeit neane kesukqut. Nummeetsuongash asekesukokish assamaiinean yeuyeu kesukod. Kah ahquontamaiinnean nummatcheseongash, neane matchenehukqeagig nutahquontamounnonog. Ahque sagkompagunaiinnean en qutchhuaoonganit, webe pohquohwussinnean wutch matchitut. Newutche kutahtaun ketassootamoonk, kah menuhkesuonk, kah sohsumoonk micheme. Amen. |
| Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen. |
Some writers have mentioned that the second edition of the Bible
in the Indian language was published after the death of the translator,
and that it was revised and corrected by the Rev. John
Cotton, of Plymouth. Others observe, that to the second edition an
Indian Grammar was added by Mr. Cotton. They must have been
misinformed, as appears by the statement of Mr. Eliot. In a letter
dated Roxbury, Nov. 4, 1680, to the Hon. Robert Boyle, president
of the corporation for propagating the gospel in New England. Mr.
Eliot mentions, "We are now at the 19th chap. of the Acts; and
when we have impressed the New Testament, our commissioners
approve of my preparing and impressing also the old." Nov. 27,
1683, Mr. Eliot in another letter to the same person, writes, "The
work [second edition of the Bible, which had then been more than
three years in the press] goeth on now with more comfort, though
we have had many impediments, &c. They [the Indians] have still
fragments of their old Bibles [first edition] which they make constant
use of." Aug. 29, 1686, Mr. Eliot informs the Hon. Robert Boyle,
"the Bible is come forth; many hundreds bound up, and disposed to
the Indians, whose thankfulness I intimate and testify to your honor."
And in another letter of July, 1688, he requests that 10l. may be
given to the Rev. John Cotton, "who has helped him much in the
second edition of the Bible."[5]
It appears, as has been elsewhere
observed, that the second edition was six years in the press. Mr.
Eliot died two years after this edition was published; according to
Mather,[6]
in 1690, aged 86. The New England Version of the
Psalms was printed with the Bible but I cannot find that the Indian
Grammar was published with either of the editions. It accompanied
some copies of the Psalter; i e. they were occasionally bound together
in one volume small octavo.[7]
I have been informed that Edward Gibbon, the celebrated author of
the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, wrote the volumes of which
that work consists with one pen; which, at her request, he presented to the
beautiful Duchess of Devonshire, and it was by her preserved in a golden
shrine.
The society in England for Propagating the Gospel among the Indians
was so called. It was incorporated in 1649.
After the charter was restored, the corporation sent over to the commissioners
by their request, as a remittance toward printing the Bible,
and in other ways promoting the propagation of the gospel, a quantity of
pieces of eight, to be recoined here; which is taken notice of in the following
manner in a letter from the corporation to the commissioners:
"We have thought good in pursuance of the trust committed to vs and
for the Improvement of that little wee have to send you ouer 433 peeces of
eight, which costs vs one hundred pounds heer, hauing obtained this priviledge
in our Charter that what wee shall send ouer shal be without any
charge or custom pay'd for the same, and that the coyning thereof into
youer coyne, and according to youer standard will make a considerable
aduance for your supply," &c.
The commissioners, September 18, 1663, in answer to the corporation
observe, "Youer honores accepting our bill of fiue hundred pounds, and
sending ouer a supply of an hundred pounds in peeces of eight wee humbly
acknowledge, and haue Improued the said peeces to the vttermost wee
could, whereof by minting or otherwise is 117lb. 0s. 07d. by which youer
honores may see what aduance there may be made to the stocke by sending
of such peeces."—Records of the United Colonies.
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