GCaD CYMRU NGfL WHY WAS THE TRANSLATION OF THE BIBLE INTO WELSH IN 1588 SO IMPORTANT? In 1588, the Bible was translated into the Welsh language for the first time. Here you have an opportunity to decide why the 1588 Bible was so important and also to whom. To enable you to obtain the required information, you will need to use Sources A - D Click on each of these links below and answer the questions posed. Elizabeth I as head of the Church Welsh Catholics The Welsh Nobility Elizabeth I as Queen of England The grass roots population of Wales Historians The Welsh Public today Source A Source B Source C Source D

GCaD CYMRU NGfL Elizabeth I was troubled by France and Spain. France and Spain were two Catholic countries. She was worried by the possibility of war against the Spanish. She worried that Catholics from Spain,ay choose to attack her via Wales. Religion was the main reason for translating the Bible into Welsh. Elizabeth was head of the Church and she demanded that everyone in England and Wales should belong to her Church. Translating the Bible in 1588 was very important to the Church of Elizabeth. William Morgan was responsible for its translation. Elizabeth I and William Morgan wanted everyone in Wales to be members of the Protestant religion. The Welsh language Bible was very important to everyone who spoke the Welsh language. This now meant that Welsh speakers were able to turn to the Protestant faith. Adapted from the book: ‘Cymru a’r Tuduriaid’ (Wales and the Tudors) by the academic historian J. Gwynfor Jones [1993] Source A

GCaD CYMRU NGfL Not all the Welsh population were Protestant during the reign of Elizabeth I. Some Welsh people wanted to remain Catholic. Two Catholics had tried to kill Elizabeth. They were both executed. A few Welsh men were Catholic priests. They had to work in secret. When Elizabeth I became Queen, not many Welsh people were in favour of Protestantism. This worried Elizabeth. Elizabeth wanted the Welsh people to turn Protestant. The way to achieve this was to provide a Bible in the Welsh language. Therefore, translating the Bible into the Welsh language in 1588 was extremely important. Now, the Welsh population could hear the words of the Bible in Welsh each Sunday in their churches. Adapted from the book: The History of Wales in the Early Modern Era (Hanes Cymru yn y Cyfnod Modern Cynnar) by the academic historian Geraint H. Jenkins [1983] Source B

GCaD CYMRU NGfL Translating the Bible into the Welsh language was vital. However, the grass roots population were unable to purchase it. It was too expensive. But in 1603 a free Bible was produced. Now, people were able to read the Bible in their homes. The Bible saved the Welsh language. That is why it is so significant today. The Welsh language Bible also turned the people of Wales against the Catholics. Many Welsh men went to study at Catholic colleges in Spain. These men wanted to turn the Welsh population against Elizabeth’s Protestant Church. Adaption from the book: ‘Tudor Wales’ by the academic historian W.S.K. Thomas [1983] Source C

GCaD CYMRU NGfL Many Catholics from Wales lived in Europe. Three of these were students at the College in Douai, The Netherlands. Philip II of Spain was the ruler of The Netherlands. In 1561, Morris Clynnog asked Philip II to get rid of Elizabeth. People such as Morris Clynnog wanted to kill Elizabeth. Translating the Bible into the Welsh language was vital. Nearly everyone in Wales now became a Protestant. Wales was no longer a Catholic country! The new Bible was very well received in Wales (as R.T. Jenkins mentions in his book). The Protestants and followers of the Queen were pleased. Everyone would now be able to hear the Welsh Bible in their churches each Sunday. Adapted from the book: ‘Cyfnod y Tuduriaid’ (The Tudor Period) by the academic historian W. Ambrose Bebb [1939] Source D

GCaD CYMRU NGfL Elizabeth I as head of the Church 1. The evidence that shows that the 1588 Bible was important to Elizabeth I as head of the Church is : 2. One historian who states this is: 3. He (or she) wrote their interpretation in the year:

GCaD CYMRU NGfL Elizabeth I as head of the Church 4. The type of original evidence studied by him/her was [provide three suitable examples]. Click here to find a list of original sources.Click here 5. This historian studied the opinion of other historians such as:

GCaD CYMRU NGfL Welsh Catholics 1. The evidence that shows that the 1588 Bible was important to Welsh Catholics is : 2. One historian who states this is: 3. He (or she) wrote their interpretation in the year:

GCaD CYMRU NGfL Welsh Catholics 4. The type of original evidence studied by him/her was [provide three suitable examples]. Click here to find a list of original sources.Click here 5. This historian studied the opinion of other historians such as:

GCaD CYMRU NGfL The Welsh Nobility 1. The evidence that shows that the 1588 Bible was important to the Welsh Nobility is : 2. One historian who states this is: 3. He (or she) wrote their interpretation in the year:

GCaD CYMRU NGfL The Welsh Nobility 4. The type of original evidence studied by him/her was [provide three suitable examples]. Click here to find a list of original sources.Click here 5. This historian studied the opinion of other historians such as:

GCaD CYMRU NGfL Elizabeth I as Queen of England 1. The evidence that shows that the 1588 Bible was important to Elizabeth I as Queen of England is : 2. One historian who states this is: 3. He (or she) wrote their interpretation in the year:

GCaD CYMRU NGfL Elizabeth I as Queen of England 4. The type of original evidence studied by him/her was [provide three suitable examples]. Click here to find a list of original sources.Click here 5. This historian studied the opinion of other historians such as:

GCaD CYMRU NGfL The grass roots population of Wales 1. The evidence that shows that the 1588 Bible was important to the grass roots population of Wales is : 2. One historian who states this is: 3. He (or she) wrote their interpretation in the year:

GCaD CYMRU NGfL The grass roots population of Wales 4. The type of original evidence studied by him/her was [provide three suitable examples]. Click here to find a list of original sources.Click here 5. This historian studied the opinion of other historians such as:

GCaD CYMRU NGfL Historians 1. The evidence that shows that the 1588 Bible was important to historians is : 2. One historian who states this is: 3. He (or she) wrote their interpretation in the year:

GCaD CYMRU NGfL Historians 4. The type of original evidence studied by him/her was [provide three suitable examples]. Click here to find a list of original sources.Click here 5. This historian studied the opinion of other historians such as:

GCaD CYMRU NGfL The Welsh Public Today 1. The evidence that shows that the 1588 Bible was important to the Welsh public today is : 2. One historian who states this is: 3. He (or she) wrote their interpretation in the year:

GCaD CYMRU NGfL The Welsh Public Today 4. The type of original evidence studied by him/her was [provide three suitable examples]. Click here to find a list of original sources.Click here 5. This historian studied the opinion of other historians such as:

GCaD CYMRU NGfL Original testimony · Parliamentary laws · Elizabeth I’s private letters · Maps · Poems by poets of the period · Archaeological evidence · Church records · The Pope’s letters · A picture of Philip II · Bishops’ reports into the state of the Church in Wales · Letters sent by members of the Welsh Nobility to Elizabeth I · A picture of Elizabeth I · The Bible of 1588 · A picture of William Morgan · The wills of the Nobility · Gravestones in Welsh churches · The letters of William Morgan · Pictures of Catholics being executed