THE LIFE AND STORY OF THE TRUE SERVANT AND MARTYR OF GOD, WILLIAM TINDALL We have now
to enter into the story of the good martyr of God, William Tindall.
Which William Tindall, as he was a special organ of the Lord appointed, and as God's
matter to shake the inward roots and foundations of the Pope's proud prelacy,
so the great Prince of Darkness, with his impious imps having a special
malice against him, left no way unsought how craftily to entrap him, and falsely to
betray him, and maliciously to spill his life, as by the process of his story here
following may appear.
William Tindall, the faithful minister of Christ, was born about the borders of
Wales, and brought up from a child in the University of Oxford, where he,
by long continuance, increased as well in the knowledge of tongues and other liberal
arts, as especially in the knowledge of the Scriptures, whereunto his mind was
singularly addicted, insomuch that he, lying then in Magdalen Hall, read privily
to certain students and fellows of Magdalen College some parcel of divinity,
instructing them in the knowledge and truth of the Scriptures.
His manners and conversation, being correspondent to the same, were such that
all they that knew him reputed him to be a man of most virtuous disposition and of
life unspotted.
Thus he, in the University of Oxford, increasing more and more in learning,
and proceeding in degrees of the schools, spying his time, removed from thence to
the University of Cambridge, where he likewise made his abode a certain space.
Being now further ripened in the knowledge of God's word, leaving that university,
he resorted to one master Welsh, a knight of Gloucestershire, and was there
schoolmaster to his children, and in good favour with his master.
As this gentleman kept a good ordinary commonly at his table, there resorted to
him many times sundry abbots, deans, archdeacons, with divers other doctors,
and great benefist men.
Who there, together with Master Tyndale, sitting at the same table, did use many
times to enter communication, and talk of learned men, as of Luther and of Erasmus,
also of divers other controversies and questions upon the Scripture.
Then Master Tyndale, as he was learned and well practised in God's matters,
spared not to show unto them simply and plainly his judgment, and when they at any
time did vary from Tyndale in opinions, he would show them in the book,
and lay plainly before them the open and manifest places of the Scriptures,
to confute their errors and confirm his sayings.
And thus continued they for a certain season, reasoning and contending together
divers times, till at length they waxed weary, and bare a secret grudge in their
hearts against him.
Not long after this it happened that certain of these great doctors had invited
Master Welch and his wife to a banquet, where they had talk at will and pleasure,
uttering their blindness and ignorance without any resistance or gained saying.
Then Master Welch, and his wife coming home and calling for Master Tyndale,
began to reason with him about these matters whereof the priests had talked at
their banquet.
Master Tyndale, answering by the Scriptures, maintained the truth and
reproved their false opinions.
Then said the lady Welch, a stout and a wise woman, as Tyndale reported,
Well, said she, there was such a doctor who made to spend a hundred pounds,
and another two hundred pounds, and another three hundred pounds.
And what were it reason, think you, that we should believe you before them?
Master Tyndale gave her no answer, and after that, because he saw it would
not avail, he talked but little in those matters.
At that time he was about the translation of a book called Enchiridion Miletus
Christiani, which he delivered to his master and lady.
After they had well perused the same, the doctorly prelates were no more so
often called to the house.
Neither had they the cheer and countenance when they came as before they had.
Which thing they were well perceiving, and supposing no less, but it came by the
means of Master Tyndale, refrained themselves, and at last utterly withdrew,
and came no more there.
As this grew on, the priests of the country, clustering together, began to
grudge and storm against Tyndale, railing against him in ale-houses and
other places, affirming that his sayings were heresy, and accused him secretly to
the chancellor and others of the bishop's offices.
It followed not long after this, that there was a sitting of the bishop's
chancellor appointed, and warning was given to the priests to appear,
amongst whom Master Tyndale was also warned to be there.
And whether he had any misdoubts by their threatenings, or knowledge given him that
they would lay some things to his charge, it is uncertain.
But certain this is, as he himself declared, that he doubted their privy
accusations, so that he, by the way, in going thitherwards, cried in his mind
heartily to God to give him strength fast to stand in the truth of his word.
When the time came for his appearance before the chancellor, he threatened him
grievously, reviling and rating him as though he had been a dog, and laid to his
charge many things whereof no accuser could be brought forth, notwithstanding
that the priests of the country were there present.
Thus Master Tyndale, escaping out of their hands, departed home and returned to his
master again.
There dwelt, not far off, a certain doctor that had been chancellor to a bishop,
who had been of old familiar acquaintance with Master Tyndale, and favored him well,
unto whom Master Tyndale went and opened his mind upon Diver's questions of the
Scripture, for to him he durst be bold to disclose his heart, unto whom the doctor
said, Do you not know that the pope is very antichrist, whom the Scripture
speaketh of?
But beware what you say, for if you shall be perceived to be of that opinion,
it will cost you your life.
Not long after, Master Tyndale happened to be in the company of a certain divine,
recounted for a learned man, and in communing and disputing with him,
he drave him to that issue.
That the great doctor burst out into these blasphemous words, We were better to be
without God's laws than the pope's.
Master Tyndale, hearing this, full of godly zeal, and not bearing that
blasphemous saying, replied, I defy the pope and all his laws, and added that if
God spared him life ere many years he would cause a boy that driveth the plough
to know more of the Scripture than he did.
The grudge of the priests increasing still more and more against Tyndale,
they never ceased barking and raiding at him, and laid many things sorely to his
charge, saying that he was a heretic.
Being so molested and vexed, he was constrained to leave that country and to
seek another place.
And so, coming to Master Welsh, he desired him, of his good will,
that he might depart from him, saying, Sir, I perceive that I shall not
be suffered to tarry long here in this country, neither shall you be able,
or though you would, to keep me out of the hands of the spirituality.
What displeasure might grow to you by keeping me, God knoweth!
For the which I should be right sorry.
So that in time Master Tyndale, with the good will of his master,
departed, and Ephsones came up to London, and there preached awhile, as he had done
in the country.
Bethinking himself of Cuthbert Tonstall, then Bishop of London, and especially of
the great commendation of Erasmus, who, in his annotations, so extolleth the
said Tonstall for his learning, Tyndale thus cast with himself,
that if he might attain unto his service, he were a happy man.
Coming to Sir Henry Guilford, the king's comptroller, and bringing with him an
oration of Isocrates, which he had translated out of Greek into English,
he desired him to speak to the said Bishop of London for him, which he also did,
and willed him moreover to write an epistle to the Bishop, and to go himself
with him.
This he did, and delivered his epistle to a servant of his, named William
Hepalthwaite, a man of his old acquaintance.
But God, who secretly disposeth the course of things, saw that was not the best for
Tyndale's purpose, nor for the profit of his church, and therefore gave him to find
little favour in the Bishop's sight, the answer of whom was this.
His house was full, he had more than he could well find, and he advised him to
seek in London abroad, where, he said, he could lack no service.
Being refused of the Bishop, he came to Humphrey Mummoth, Alderman of London,
and besought him to help him, who at the same time took him into his house,
where the said Tyndale lived, as Mummoth said, like a good priest, studying both
night and day.
He would eat but sardine meat, by his good will, nor drink but small
single beer.
He was never seen in the house to wear linen about him, or the space of his being
there.
And so remained Master Tyndale in London almost a year, marking with himself the
course of the world, and especially the demeanour of the preachers, how they
boasted themselves, and set up their authority, beholding also the pomp of the
prelates, with other things more, which greatly misliked him, insomuch that
he understood, not only that there was no room in the Bishop's house for him to
translate the New Testament, but also that there was no place to do it in all
England.
Therefore, having by God's providence some aid ministered unto him by Humphrey
Mummoth, and certain other good men, he took his leave of the realm and
departed into Germany, where the good man, being inflamed with the tender care and
zeal of his country, refused no travail nor diligence, how by all means possible,
to reduce his brethren and countrymen of England to the same taste and
understanding of God's holy word and verity, which the Lord had endued him
withal.
Whereupon, considering in his mind, and conferring also with John Frith,
Tyndale thought with himself no way more to conduce thereunto, than if the
Scripture were turned into the vulgar speech that the poor people might read and
see the simple plain word of God.
He perceived that it was not possible to establish the lay people in any truth,
except the Scriptures were so plainly laid before their eyes in their mother tongue,
that they might see the meaning of the text.
For else, whatsoever truth should be taught them, the enemies of the truth
would quench it, either with reasons of sophistry and traditions of their own
making, founded without all ground of Scripture, or else juggling with the text,
expounding it in such a sense as it were impossible to gather of the text,
if the right meaning thereof was seen.
Master Tyndale considered this only, or most chiefly, to be the cause of all
mischief in the church, that the Scriptures of God were hidden from the
people's eyes.
For so long the abominable doings and idolatries maintained by the Pharisaical
clergy could not be espied, and therefore all their labor was with might and main to
keep it down, so that either it should not be read at all, or, if it were,
they would darken the right sense with the mist of their sophistry, and so entangle
those who rebuked or despised their abominations, resting the Scripture unto
their own purpose, contrary unto the meaning of the text.
They would so delude the unlearned lay people, that though thou felt in thy
heart, and wert sure, that all were false that they said, yet couldst thou not solve
their subtle riddles.
For these and such other considerations this good man was stirred up of God to
translate the Scripture into his mother tongue, for the profit of the simple
people of his country, first setting in hand with the New Testament, which came
forth in print about A.D.
1529.
Cuthbert Tonstall, Bishop of London, with Sir Thomas More, being sorely
aggrieved, devised how to destroy that false, erroneous translation, as they
called it.
It happened that one Augustine Packington, a mercer, was then at Antwerp,
where the bishop was.
This man favoured Tyndale, but showed the contrary unto the bishop.
The bishop, being desirous to bring his purpose to pass, communed how that he
would gladly buy the New Testaments.
Packington, hearing him say so, said, My lord, I could do more in this
matter than most merchants that be here, if it be your pleasure.
For I know the Dutchmen and strangers that have brought them of Tyndale, and have
them here to sell.
So that if it be your lordship's pleasure, I must disperse money to pay for them,
or else I cannot have them.
And so I will assure you to have every book of them that is printed and unsold.
The bishop, thinking he had God by the toe, said, Do your diligence, gentle
master Packington.
Get them for me, and I will pay whatsoever they cost, for I intend to burn and
destroy them all at Paul's cross.
This Augustine Packington went unto William Tyndale, and declared the whole
matter, and so upon compact made between them, the bishop of London had the books,
Packington had the thanks, and Tyndale had the money.
After this, Tyndale corrected the same New Testaments again, and caused them to be
newly imprinted, so that they came thick and threefold over into England.
When the bishop perceived that, he sent for Packington, and said to him,
How cometh this, that there are so many New Testaments abroad?
You promised me that you would buy them all.
Then answered Packington, Surely I bought all that were to be had, but I perceive
they have printed more since.
I see it will never be better so long as they have letters and stamps.
Wherefore you are best to buy the stamps too.
And so you shall be sure.
At which answer the bishop smiled, and so the matter ended.
In short space after, it fortuned that George Constantine was apprehended by Sir
Thomas More, who was then Chancellor of England, as suspected of certain heresies.
Master More asked of him, saying, Constantine, I would have had thee be
plain with me in one thing that I will ask, and I promise thee I will show thee
favour in all other things whereof thou art accused.
There is beyond the sea, tindle, joy, and a great many more of you.
I know they cannot live without help.
There are some that succour them with money, and thou, being one of them,
hadst thy part thereof, and therefore knowest from whence it came.
I pray thee, tell me, who be they that help them thus?
My Lord, quoth Constantine, I will tell you truly, it is the Bishop of London that
hath helpen us, for he hath bestowed among us a great deal of money upon New
Testaments to burn them, and that hath been and yet is our only succour and
comfort.
Now by my troth, quoth More, I think even the same, for so much I told the bishop
before he went about it.
After that Master Tindall took in hand to translate the Old Testament, finishing the
five books of Moses with sundry, most learned and godly prologues,
most worthy to be read and read again by all good Christians.
These books being sent over into England, it cannot be spoken what a door of light
they opened to the eyes of the whole English nation, which before was shut up
in darkness.
At his first departing out of the realm, he took his journey into Germany,
where he had conference with Luther and other learned men.
After he had continued there a certain season, he came down into the Netherlands,
and had his most abiding in the town of Antwerp.
The godly books of Tindall, and especially the New Testament of his translation,
after that they began to come into men's hands and so spread abroad, wrought great
and singular profit to the godly.
But the ungodly, envying and disdaining that the people should be anything wiser
than they, and fearing lest by the shining beams of truth their works of darkness
should be discerned, began to stir with no small ado.
At what time Tindall had translated Deuteronomy.
Minding to print the same at Hamburg, he sailed thitherward.
Upon the coast of Holland he suffered shipwreck, by which he lost all his books,
writings, and copies, his money and his time, and so was compelled to begin all
again.
He came in another ship to Hamburg, where, at his appointment, Master
Coverdale tarried for him, and helped him in the translating of the whole five books
of Moses, from Easter till December, in the house of a worshipful widow,
Mistress Margaret Van Emerson, A.D.
1529, a great sweating sickness being at the same time in the town.
So, having dispatched his business at Hamburg, he returned to Antwerp.
When God's will was, that the New Testament in the common tongue should come
abroad, Tindall, the translator thereof, added to the latter end a certain epistle,
wherein he desired them that were learned to amend, if ought were found amiss.
Wherefore, if there had been any such default deserving correction, it had been
the part of courtesy and gentleness, for men of knowledge and judgment to have
showed their learning therein, and to have redressed what was to be
amended.
But the clergy, not willing to have that book prosper, cried out upon it,
that there were a thousand heresies in it, and that it was not to be corrected,
but utterly to be suppressed.
Some said it was not possible to translate the Scriptures into English, some that it
was not lawful for the lay people to have it in their mother tongue, some that it
would make them all heretics.
And to the intent to induce the temporal rulers unto their purpose, they said that
it would make the people to rebel against the king.
All this Tindall himself, in his prologue before the first book of Moses,
declareth, showing further what great pains were taken in examining that
translation, and comparing it with their own imaginations, that with less labor,
he supposeth, they might have translated a great part of the Bible.
Showing, moreover, that they scanned and examined every title and point in such
thought and so narrowly, that there was not one eye therein, but if it lacked a
prick over his head they did note it, and numbered it unto the ignorant people
for a heresy.
So great were then the froward devices of the English clergy, who should have been
the guides of light unto the people, to drive the people from the knowledge of
the Scripture, which neither they would translate themselves, nor yet abide it to
be translated of others.
To the intent, as Tindall saith, that the world being kept still in
darkness, they might sit in the consciences of the people through vain
superstition and false doctrine, to satisfy their ambition and insatiable
covetousness, and to exalt their own honour above King and Emperor.
The bishops and prelates never rested before they had brought the King to their
consent, by reason whereof a proclamation in all haste was devised and set forth
under public authority, that the testament of Tindall's translation was inhibited,
which was about A.D.
1537.
And not content herewith, they proceeded further, how to entangle him in their
nets, and to bereave him of his life, which how they brought to pass,
now it remaineth to be declared.
In the registers of London it appeareth manifest how that the bishops and Sir
Thomas More, having before them such as had been at Antwerp, most studiously would
search and examine all things belonging to Tindall, where and with whom he hosted,
whereabouts stood the house, what was his stature, in what apparel he went,
what resort he had, all which things, when they had diligently learned,
then began they to work their feats.
William Tindall, being in the town of Antwerp, had been lodging about one whole
year in the house of Thomas Points, an Englishman, who kept a house of English
merchants.
Came thither one out of England, whose name was Henry Phillips,
his father being customer of Poole, a comely fellow, like as he had been a
gentleman, having a servant with him.
But wherefore he came, or for what purpose he was sent thither, no man could tell.
Master Tindall, divers' times, was desired forth to dinner and supper
amongst merchants, by means whereof this Henry Phillips became acquainted with him,
so that within short space Master Tindall had a great confidence in him,
and brought him to his lodging, to the house of Thomas Points.
And had him also once or twice with him to dinner and supper, and further entered
such friendship with him, that through his procurement he lay in the same house of
the said Points, to whom he showed moreover his books, and other secrets of
his study, so little did Tindall then mistrust this traitor.
But Points, having no great confidence in the fellow, asked Master Tindall how he
came acquainted with this Phillips.
Master Tindall answered that he was an honest man, handsomely learned,
and very conformable.
Points, perceiving that he bear such favor to him, said no more, thinking that he was
brought acquainted with him by some friend of his.
The said Phillips, being in the town three or four days, upon a time, desired Points
to walk with him forth of the town, to show him the commodities thereof,
and in walking together without the town, had communication of divers things,
and some of the king's affairs, by which talked Points as yet suspected
nothing.
But after, when the time was passed, Points perceived this to be the mind of
Phillips, to feel whether the said Points might, for lucre of money, help him to his
purpose, for he perceived before that Phillips was moneyed, and would that
Points should think no less.
For he had desired Points before to help him to divers things, and such things as
he named, he required might be of the best, for, said he, I have money enough.
Phillips went from Antwerp to the court of Brussels, which is from thence twenty-four
English miles, whence he brought with him to Antwerp the procurer-general,
who is the emperor's attorney, with certain other officers.
Within three or four days, Points went forth to the town of Barois, being
eighteen English miles from Antwerp, where he had business to do for the space
of a month or six weeks.
And in the time of his absence, Henry Phillips came again to Antwerp,
to the house of Points, and coming in, spake with his wife, asking whether Master
Tyndall were within.
Then went he forth again, and set the officers, whom he brought with him from
Brussels, in the street and about the door.
About noon he came again, and went to Master Tyndall, and desired him to lend
him forty shillings, for, said he, I lost my purse this morning, coming over
at the passage between this and Mechelen.
So Master Tyndall took him forty shillings, which was easy to be had of him
if he had it, for in the wily subtleties of this world he was simple and inexpert.
Then said Phillips, Master Tyndall, you shall be my guest here this day.
No, said Master Tyndall, I go forth this day to dinner, and you shall go with me,
and be my guest, where you shall be welcome.
So when it was dinnertime, Master Tyndall went forth with Phillips, and at the going
forth of Points' house was a long narrow entry, so that two could not go in a
front.
Master Tyndall would have put Phillips before him, but Phillips would in no wise
but put Master Tyndall before, for that he pretended to show great
humanity.
So Master Tyndall, being a man of no great stature, went before, and Phillips,
a tall comely person, followed behind him, who had set officers on either side of the
door upon two seats, who might see who came in the entry.
Phillips pointed with his finger over Master Tyndall's head down to him,
that the officers might see that it was he whom they should take.
The officers afterwards told Points, when they had laid him in prison,
that they pitted to see his simplicity.
They brought him to the Emperor's attorney where he dined.
Then came the procurer-general to the house of Points, and sent away all that
was there of Master Tyndall's, as well as his books, as other things,
and from thence Tyndall was had to the castle of Fulford, eighteen English miles
from Antwerp.
Then in Continent, by the help of English merchants, were letters sent, in favour of
Tyndall, to the court of Brussels.
Also, not long after, the letters were directed out of England to the council at
Brussels, and sent to the merchant adventurers to Antwerp, commanding them to
see that with speed they should be delivered.
Such of the merchants as were there at the time, being called together, required the
said Points to take in hand the delivery of those letters, in favour of Master
Tyndall, to the Lord of Barois and others, which Lord of Barois, as it was told
Points by the way, at that time was departed from Brussels.
Points did ride after the next way, and overtook him at Aachen, where he
delivered to him his letters, which when he had received and read, he made no
direct answer, but somewhat objecting, said, There were of their countrymen,
that were burned in England, not long before, as indeed there were Anabaptists
burned in Smithfield.
And so Points said to him, How be it, said he, whatsoever the crime was,
if his lordship or any other nobleman had written, requiring to have had them,
he thought they should not have been denied.
Well, said he, I have no leisure to write, for the princess is ready to ride.
Then said Points, If it shall please your lordship, I will attend upon you unto the
next baiting place, which was at Maastricht.
If you so do, said the Lord, I will advise myself by the way what to write.
So Points followed him from Aachen to Maastricht, which are fifteen English
miles asunder.
And there he received letters of him, one to the council, another to the Company
of the Merchant Adventurers, and another also to the Lord Cromwell in England.
So Points rode from thence to Brussels, and then and there delivered to the
council the letters out of England, which the Lord of Barois' letters also,
and received Ephsun's answer into England of the same by letters which he brought to
Antwerp to the English merchants, who required him to go with them into
England.
And he, very desirous to have Master Tyndall out of prison, let not to take
pains, with loss of time in his own business, and diligently followed with the
said letters which he delivered to the council, and was commanded by them to
tarry until he had other letters.
A month after, the letters being delivered him, he returned, and delivered them to
the Emperor's council at Brussels, and tarried for answer for the same.
Phillips, being there, followed the suit against Master Tyndall, and hearing that
he should be delivered to Points, and fearing lest he should be put from his
purpose, he knew no other remedy but to accuse Points, saying that he was a
dweller in the town of Antwerp, a succorer of Tyndall, and one of the same
opinion, and that all this was only his own labor and suit, and no man's else,
to have Master Tyndall at liberty.
Thus Points was delivered to the keeping of two sergeants at arms.
Master Tyndall, still remaining in prison, was prophet and advocate and a procurer,
of which he refused, saying that he would make answer for himself.
He had so preached to them who had him in charge, and such as was their conversant
with him in the castle, that they reported off him, that if he were not a good
Christian man, they knew not whom they might take to be one.
At last, after much reasoning, when no reason would serve, although he
deserved no death, he was condemned by virtue of the emperor's decree made in the
assembly at Augsburg.
Brought forth to the place of execution, he was tied to the stake, strangled by the
hangman, and afterwards consumed with fire at the town of Filford, A.D.
1536, crying at the stake with a fervent zeal and a loud voice, Lord, open the King
of England's eyes!
Such was the power of his doctrine, and the sincerity of his life,
that during the time of his imprisonment, which endured a year and a half,
he converted, it is said, his keeper, the keeper's daughter, and others of his
household.
As touching his translation of the New Testament, because his enemies did so much
carp at it, pretending it to be full of heresies, he wrote to John Frith as
followeth, I call to God to record against the day we shall appear before our Lord
Jesus, that I never altered one syllable of God's word against my conscience,
nor would do this day, if all that is in earth, whether it be honour, pleasure,
or riches, might be given me.