Chapter I: Preface

“I have surveyed most of the learning found among the sons of men,” said the learned Seldon, “but I can stay my soul upon none of them but the Bible;” and precisely similar has been the experience of many others.

The Bible is in the Scripture declared to be that which the Holy Spirit employs both in conversion and in sanctification; it is therefore needful above all things that we should know our Bibles well. Nothing can compensate for the want of this, and at the same time a spiritual knowledge of the Scriptures will often atone for natural deficiencies, both in mental equipment and in social position.

The man, therefore, who brings the Bible to bear efficiently upon the hearts and lives of his fellow-creatures is the true servant of God; what then shall be said in praise of William Tyndale?

Before his day such copies of Wycliffe’s Version as still survived could only be consulted in secret; they were but few in number, and the language in which they were written had become obsolete. Tyndale conceived the bold idea of translating the Scriptures so that the poorest might be able to obtain and to understand them.

For this noble object he lived and died, and Englishmen should never forget that the priceless boon of an open Bible, which is the secret source of our national liberties and success, was paid for by Tyndale with his blood.

Tyndale does not regret the purchase now, for although duty exacts a heavy fine, it more than repays those who give up all things that they may possess her.

HARRINGAY, LONDON N., 1890.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

_THE APOSTLE OF ENGLAND; OR, THE MAN WHO
IS FORGOTTEN BECAUSE OF HIS SUCCESS._
PAGE
“PUT IT ON THE SHELF!”--A BLANK WORLD--CLEVERNESS
NO CREDIT--THE FARMER’S SON--NEW LIGHT
FROM THE OLD CHRONICLES--THE MIDNIGHT DARKNESS
AND THE MORNING STAR 1

CHAPTER II.

_THE SCHOLAR WHO OUTSTRIPPED HIS TEACHER._

HARD FARE MAKES FIRM MEN--WHAT ERASMUS WISHED,
AND TYNDALE ACCOMPLISHED--WEALTH MADE
THE TEST OF TRUTH--A MAN OF PUTTY HELPING
A MAN OF IRON--DRIVEN AWAY, BUT NOT CONQUERED 11

CHAPTER III.

_MARKING THE COURSE OF THE WORLD; OR,
LEARNING WHOM NOT TO TRUST._

NO ROOM FOR A BIBLE IN THE BISHOP’S PALACE--THE
MERCHANT’S HOUSE A HOME--MONMOUTH’S GRACIOUS
CHARACTER--AN EXILE FOR CONSCIENCE’ SAKE 23

CHAPTER IV.

_AN EXILE, YET IN HIS FATHER’S LAND._

HELPED BY LUTHER--FINDING A COMPANION--A BOLD
VENTURE--DRIVEN AWAY--BURNING THE BIBLE
DOES NOT DESTROY IT 30

CHAPTER V.

_A MAN WITHOUT A PATTERN, BUT WITH MANY IMITATORS._

CURIOSITIES OF TRANSLATION--ANCIENT VERSIONS--THE
BOOK THAT TURNS THE HEART INSIDE OUT--TYNDALE’S
QUALIFICATIONS--HIS PUNGENT GLOSSES 40

CHAPTER VI.

_HATED BY THE CARDINAL, BUT WORKING FOR GOD._

LEAVES WORMS FOR MARBURG--FARTHER FROM ROME,
YET NEARER TO THE TRUTH--“THE WICKED MAMMON”
AND “THE OBEDIENCE OF A CHRISTIAN MAN”--READ
BY KING HENRY--“THE PRACTICE OF PRELATES”--NOTES
ON THE PENTATEUCH 56

CHAPTER VII.

_NOT SECOND TO A GLADIATOR; OR, STRONG FOR THE TRUTH._

SIR THOMAS MORE THE ADVOCATE OF THE BISHOPS--TYNDALE’S
CRUSHING REPLY--MORE’S GROSS ABUSE AND FOUL
LANGUAGE--PUBLIC OPINION WITH TYNDALE 73

CHAPTER VIII.

_BRIBES AND BAIT; OR, THE FLY WHO WOULD
NOT ENTER THE SPIDER’S WEB._

ATTEMPTS TO INDUCE TYNDALE TO RETURN TO ENGLAND--THE
INTERVIEW IN THE MEADOW--TYNDALE’S
PATHETIC APPEAL AND HIS NOBLE OFFER 79

CHAPTER IX.

_A FRIEND UNTO DEATH; OR, COMFORTING A SUFFERER._

THE BOOK OF JONAH TRANSLATED--POWER LENT BY
GOD--WANDERING BUT WORKING--COMFORTING
FRYTH--FRYTH’S NOBLE DEFENCE--TYNDALE’S MODE
OF LIFE 87

CHAPTER X.

_TRAPPED AT LAST; OR, DYING FOR THE TRUTH._

THE QUEEN’S BIBLE--THE TRAITOR--THE TRAP--THE
WEARY YEAR OF IMPRISONMENT--THE TRIUMPH 98

WILLIAM TYNDALE.