slightly stronger than
that of readings which were in competition with it. Of this it was
obviously necessary that some final intimation should be given to the
reader, as the subsequent discovery of additional evidence might be held
by a competent critic to invalidate the right of the adopted reading to
hold its place in the text. This intimation could only be given by a
final marginal note, for which, as we know, by the arrangement of the
University Presses (see p. 66), our page was now available.

These notes were objected to by one of our critics as quite unprecedented
additions; but it will be remembered that there are such notes in the
margin of the Authorised Version, though of course few in number
(thirty-five, according to Dr. Scrivener), textual criticism in 1611
being only in its infancy.

The necessity for the insertion of such notes was clearly shown in a
pamphlet that appeared shortly after the publication of the Revised
Version, and was written by two members of the Company. The three cases
in which these notes appeared certainly to be required were thus stated
by the two writers: "First, when the text which seemed to underlie the
Authorised Version was condemned by a decided preponderance of evidence,
but yet was ancient in its character, and belonged to an early line of
transmission. Secondly, when there were such clear tokens of corruption
in the reading on which the Authorised Version was based, or such a
consent of authority against it, that no one could seriously argue for
its retention, but it was not equally clear which of the other competing
readings had the best claim to occupy the vacant place. In such a case
there was not, in truth, decidedly preponderant evidence, except against
the text of Beza, and some notice of this fact seemed to be required by
critical equity. The third and last case was when the text which, as
represented in the Authorised Version, was retained because the competing
reading had not decidedly preponderant evidence (though the balance of
evidence was in its favour), and so could not under the rule be admitted.
In such a case again critical equity required a notice of the facts in
the margin."

This quotation, I may remark in passing, is not only useful in explaining
when and where marginal notes were demonstrably needed, but also in
showing how carefully such questions were considered, and how
conscientiously the rules were observed under which our work was to be