, 1902-01-16
A Relic of Ancient DAYS
in the Shape of a Bible,
Printed Very Shortly
After James list, of
England, Assembled
the ThrOne-Psalms
set to Music.
THE "BREECHES BIBLE"
So Called on Account of a Verse
Which None Of the Versions
of the Present Day Con-
tain-Bound N Oak
Boards With Brass
Trimmings and Leather Straps.

Inc last ISSUE Vi tue hdWliIS JOurndl
contains an account of a German BIZ
BILE owned by DR.. Riser of that place,
which was printed in 1874. Saratoga
has an English bible that ante dates
the doctors much priced relic by 12S
years, and is one of that famous edi-
ton, which has been out of print for
SO many centuries, called the "Breech-
es bible" on account of its containing
a verse in LIST Genesis which is not
to be found in any of the bibles of
a later date.
This book, which is meaning its
three hundredth birthday, is the
property of Judge Alfred Heath, of
this place and has been in his posses
sion for many years, as well as in his
family for many, many years. 1t is
81 inches thick, 7 inches in width and
81 inches long. 1t is bound in oak
boards, covered with leather, has
brass ornaments and was held togeth-
or with leather straps which have
long since disappeared. 1t is in a
fairly good state of preservation,
though yellow with age. 1t is pro-
fusely illustrated with wood cuts,
which show the Garden of Eden, the
wanderings of the Israelites in the
desert with each camping place mark
ed, the Temple, and Solomon in all his
glory, seated on his throne, which is
at the top of a flight of seven stone
steps, each step being guarded at
each end by a lion.
1t contains the Old Testament, the
Apocrypha, (Which is to be found in
no bible of the present day. a Table
of Proper Names, and has the Psalms,
the Lords Prayer, the Ten Command
ments and the Canticles all set to
metre and musical notes. The
Psalms, Lords Prayer, ETC., are print
ed in old English Black Letter and
are fine specimens of Typography and
and cannot be excelled in the pres
ent period. The wood cuts are mum.
erous and very interesting.
It contains the following verse,
which, ages ago, gave it the name OF
the "Breeches Bible"
LIST Genesis, V. 7. "Then the eyei
of them both we're opened, and they
knew that they were naked, and they
fewed figge tree leauef together and
made themfeluef breechef."
1t contains no "s's," nor "v's'. but
uses "f's" and GUS" in place of those
letters and the spelling is of that
quaint, old English style that has sc
much charm and piquancy.
16O6l That was only shortly after
the accession of James LIST to the En-
glish throne, which was in 1908
What tales the old bible could unfold
if it but had speech! If it could tall
it could tell Of the beheading of Char
les LIST; it could crate of the history
of England before Cromwell was
thought of; it could tell of the Great
Plague, which carried off hundreds OF
thousands of people; it was in Lon
don and Witnessed the Great Fire
which destroyed st. Pauls Cathedra
and came 70 near wiping the entir'
city from the face of the earth; it wa.
a witness to the Great Civil Wa be
tween Charles the LIST and his Parlia
ment, which ended SO disastriousl,
for that sovereign; it was in e~xistanc'
before the Mayfower was built ant
witnessed the departure OF that ship
load of hopeful adventures, who wer'
seeking a land of personal liberty an'
religious freedom. 1t is a most inter
esting old relic and makes one feel
while handling it, like he were hob
nobbing with the "Ancient of Days"