King Henry VIII (1491–1547)

He is best known for having six wives, but he also had a lot to do with the English Bible.

In his younger days Henry violently opposed the Protestant Reformation (which emphasized having the Bible in the people’s own language), and like most Catholic kings, Henry prohibited any Bible except Latin versions.

When he broke England away from the Catholic church, he continued the old ban on English versions.

Poor William Tyndale labored in Europe on an English translation but Henry’s agents tracked him down and had him burned at the stake. Tyndale’s dying prayer was “Lord, open the king of England’s eyes!”

The prayer was answered. As he grew older, Henry became slightly more open to Protestant influences, and he authorized an English version, the Great Bible, published in 1539 (see 188).

The title page of the Great Bible had a picture of the king.

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