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 One of Elizabeth I’s problems was defending her kingdom from foreign attacks. She worried that Catholics would attack her via Wales, especially in a time of crisis. The problem intensified in 1585 following the war between her and the king of Spain, Phillip II. Elizabeth agreed to a Welsh Language Bible in Religion was the primary reason for translating the Bible into Welsh. After all, Elizabeth was head of her Church and defender of her Kingdom. Translating the Bible in 1588 was very important to the Church of Elizabeth. William Morgan was responsible for its translation. Although Morgan wanted everyone in Elizabeth’s kingdom to speak one language, he believed his priority was to turn everyone in Wales toward the Protestant faith. Therefore, translating the Bible into the Welsh language opposed those who wanted the whole Welsh public to speak only in English, as they would in England. 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 Some Welsh people were attempting to keep the Catholic faith alive throughout the reign of Elizabeth I. Two of these people were executed for attempting to murder Elizabeth. Many Welshmen came to the country to be Catholic priests. They worked undercover trying to maintain the Catholic faith and keep it alive. Many prominent Welsh people realised that the majority of the Welsh population disliked the Protestant faith – they believed it to be a foreign religion in a foreign tongue. Therefore, great importance was placed on producing a Bible in the mother tongue of the people. Hence the translation of the Bible into Welsh in 1588 was of key importance. Now, the Welsh people could hear God’s word in Welsh in their churches each Sunday. Publishing the Welsh Language Bible was the most important event in the rise of the Protestant faith in Wales throughout the Tudor period. Adapted from the book: ‘Hanes Cymru yn y Cyfnod Modern Cynnar’ (The History of Wales in the Early Modern Era) by the academic historian Geraint H. Jenkins [1983] Source B

GCaD CYMRU NGfL Translating the Bible into Welsh was very important. However, it wasn’t until 1603 that the first free Bible was available for all to read. Without doubt it was the Bible that saved the Welsh language from extinction. The Bible was also an important weapon against the Catholic faith. One must remember that many Welsh people were educated in Catholic colleges in Valladolid and Seville in Spain – and they endangered the future of Elizabeth’s Protestant Church. Adapted from the book: Tudor Wales by the academic historian W.S.K. Thomas [1983] Source C

GCaD CYMRU NGfL There were numerous prominent Welsh Catholics living in Europe. For example, three of these were students in the College at Douai in the Netherlands. The Netherlands were ruled by Phillip II of Spain. In 1561, Morris Clynnog called on Phillip II to get rid of Elizabeth as Queen of England. This demonstrated that not all Welsh people were completely obedient to Elizabeth and the Protestant faith. Therefore, translating the Bible into the Welsh Language was extremely important not simply to confirm that all the Welsh population were Protestant. It also ensured that the Welsh people would not support a foreign invasion by Catholics, such as the Spanish or the Irish. As stated by R.T. Jenkins in his book, the new Bible was very much welcomed within Wales - the Protestants and supporters of the Queen were satisfied. Everyone would be able to hear the Bible in their churches each Sunday. Certainly, the Bible was one reason why Elizabeth’s church were victorious over her enemies. 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