The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-09-11
From the Rochester Amerlc
An Ancient Bible.

Among the rare and valuable old books in the
Library of Judge CHURCH, of Allegany, is copy
ofthe Bible, printed in 1877. Unjust be among
the oldest, if not the oldest copy IN the United
States. 1t is curious relic, ancient in its tsyle
of printing, its photography, and its version
From the memorandums of a friend who has an
opportunity to examine it, we give some speci-
mems of it. The imprint precedes the title page
and is made especially conspicuous
"lmprinted at London, by Christopher Barker,
dwelling at Pater noster Rowe, at
the sign ofthe Tygres Head"
The title page:
THE BIBLE,
ssThat is, the Holy Scriptures.
1t is dedicated to,
s'The most noble and vertvovs
QUEENE ELIZABETHE,
Queen of England, &c"
The following are some specimens ofthe YER
slon:-
':Then the sonnes of God saw we daughters of
men that they were taire, and they took them
wives of all that they liked.'-IGen. 6, 2
"And when l shall couer yc earthe with
cloude, and the bowc shall be seen in the cloudc -
-[Gen g. H.
"Then the eyes of them bottle were opened,
and they knewe that they were Naked and they
sewed fig tree leaves together, and made them
serves DTecCucS. --Nell D, -
The ten "commandments" would seem to be
in the form of chaunts. Two of tn Elm are render
ed thus:
No manner grattam mage shall
thou make at ali to thec:-
Notary figure like by thee
shall cOunterf,ted be,
OF any thing in heauen above,
Nor in the earth believe:
Nor in waters beneath the carthc,
to them thou shall not bow"
Thou shall not comet hovscct hatto
thy nCiglbor both belong;
Ne COuet shalt in hauing of
his wife to do him wrong
Nor his man serut, nor his madc
Ok Ass of his,
Nor auy other thing that to
thy neighbour proper ISL
The Psalms are introduced as follows:
"Thc whole book of Psalms arc collated into
English meter, by Thomas Sternh, and
John Hopkins and others,
conferred with the Hebrue, with
apt notes to sing them
withal'
"To the Rcader:-'
ssTkou shalt understand, gentle reader, that
haue, )for the help Of those that DESTROYS
to learn to sing) caused new printe of note to
be made, with letters to be joyned by query note,
whereby thou mayst know how to call curry note
by his right name, that with very little dill
gencc, Gas thou art Taught in the introduction
printed III Lllc ST tiie
more easily, by the viewing otthese letters, come
to the knowledge of perfect Solsyng;-whereby
thou mayst sing the Psalms the more speedily
and easier The letters be these:-V for Vt, r
for Re, NJ for My, F for Fa. S for Sol l. for La
Thus, when you any letters ioyned by the
note, you may easily call him by his ight name
as by the TIVE examples you may the better per
| ccve'
Examples are give n by rude music notes with
| the letters attached.
"Thus commit thee unto Him that liuth for
eur, who grauntc that we may sing with on
heartes and myndes, unto the G lory of hys holy
name.'
| "AMEN."
The following is specimen of the yer sion
| the Psalms
Why did he Gentle tumuteS rayse?
| what rage was in their brayne?
| Why did leWishc people muse
saying all is but wayne?
| The Kings and rulers of the earthe
| conspire and all are bent,
| Against the Lord and Christ his some
| which he amongst us sent.
The Book of Susanndh is thus introduced -
"Thc historic OF Svsannah which some joyn
to Daniel and make it the thirteenth chapter"