THE OLD
BLACK LETTER BIBLE Joseph A. PHILBROOK8 of Hampton has the Old Black Letter Bible, printed in
London, A. D. 1583. The tradition is that "A Captain Philbrook, was with his ship
captured by a French war vessel. By his skill in pilotage he afterwards saved both vessels
from shipwreck and in return his liberty and his vessel were restored to him. While on
board the man-of-war, this ancient Bible, previously captured from some English ship, was
during a storm brought on deck to be cast overboard, perhaps as a Johah. Captain Philbrick
begged it for himself, and took it to London, and had it rebound, and brought it to this
country. It weight twenty-seven pounds, and still retains the worn brass knobs on which
the open covers used to rest. It contains an address to Queen Elizabeth, and the following
prayer;
"O gracious God, and Most Merciful Father, which has vouchsafed us the rich and
precious jewell of thy Holy Word, Assist us with thy spirit, that it may be written on our
hearts, to our everlasting comfort, to reform us, to renew us, according to thine own
image, to build us up and Edifie us, into the perfect building of thy Christ, sanctifying
and encreasing in us all heavenly vertues. Grant this O heavenly Father, for Jesus
Christ's sake. Amen." [J.W.C., Portland, 1 Dec., 1862]
This large volume, over 300 years old, was printed in London, by permission of Her
Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, in the year 1583, the twenty-fifth year of her reign. In
January, 1692-3, it was the property of William Bray. Of course it was more than one
hundred years old when it was taken to sea, and providentially saved and preserved to
continue for centuries, telling "the old old story." The type is still clear,
the paper good and, though much worn at the corners, the main part of it may continue
legible for five hundred years to come.
Transcribed from
"A Genealogy of the Philbrick and Philbrook Families, descended from the emigrant, Thomas Philbrick, 1583-1667" by Rev. Jacob Chapman of Exeter, N.H. 1886
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