The Marrow of Ecclesiastical History, William Tyndale
WILLIAM TINDALL
The Life of William Tindal, who dyed Anno Christi 1536▪
WIlliam Tindal was born about the borders of Wales, His birth and education.and brought up from a childe in the University of Oxford, where he grew up and encreased in the knowledge of the Tongues and the Liberal Arts, but especially in the Scriptures, whereunto his minde was singularly addicted: insomuch as being in Magdalen-Hall, His zeal.he read privately to some Fellows and Students some parts of Divinity, instructing them in the knowledge and truth of the Scriptures: His …ife also was so blameless, that he acquired much love and esteem thereby.
After he had profited exceedingly, and taken his degrees there, he remoued to Cambridge, and being well ripened in the knowledge of Gods Word,His remove into Glocestershire. he went to live with one Mr. Welch in Glocestershire, where he was Tutor to his children: and many Abbots and Doctors resorting thither, Mr. Tindal discoursing with them of Luther, Erasmus, &c. shewed them plainly his judgement in Religion, proving the same by the Word of God, and confuting their Errors; which caused them to bear a secret grudge in their hearts against him. Not long after it happened that some of these great Doctors invited Master Welch and his Lady to a banquet, where they had talk at will, uttering their blinde Superstitions without gainsaying▪ Then Master Welch and his Lady coming home,Blindeness of Papists. and calling for Master Tindal, began to reason with him about those matters whereof they had talked before with the Priests. Mr. Tindal answering by the Scriptures maintained the Truth and confuted their Errors, whereupon the …ady Welch said, There was such a Doctor as may expend 100 l. per annum, and such an one as may spend 200 l. per annum, and such another as may spend 300 l. per annum, and is it reason think you that we should believe you before them? Mr. Tindal gave her no answer at that time, and talked but little afterwards of those matters, because he saw it was in vain:Mr. Tindals wisdom. But fell upon translating a book called Enchiridion mili…s Christiani, and having finished it, he gave it to the Knight and his Lady, who after they had well read and perused the same,The fruits of it. did not more so often invite the Doctorly Prelates to their house as before, neither had they that chear and countenance when they came as formerly, which they well perceiving, supposed that it was by the means of Mr. Tindal, whereupon they utterly withdrew themselves and came no more thither.
Then did the Country Priests cluster together,Popish malice and ignorance. storming and railing against Mr. Tindal in their Alehouse-meetings, concerning whom himself writes thus: I was (saith he) in that Country much molested by a company of unlearnnd Priests that had never seen more Latine then in their Portesses and Missals, which yet many of them can …carcely read: and if they be but sorrily learned, they get Albertus Magnus de secretis mulierum, which they pore night and day upon, making notes therein &c.
These men railed and raged against him, affirming that he held heretical opinions, and thereupon accused him to the Bishop and Chancellor,He is accused. whereupon the Chancellor appointed those Priests and Mr. Tindal also to appear before him; and Mr. Tindal suspecting the matter, as he went,He prayeth for strength. prayed heartily unto God to give him strength to stand fast to the Truth: When he came, the Chancellor threatned him grievously, reviling and rating him, as though he had been a Dog,He is railed at. accusing him of many things whereof no proof could be brought, and so dismissed him for the present.
Not long after Mr. Tindal happening into the company of one that was esteemed a learned Doctor, in disputing with him he drave him to that issue that the Doctor burst out into these blasphemous words,Popish blasphemy. We had better be without Gods Laws, then the Popes. Mr. Tindal hearing this, full of godly zeal, replyed, I defie the Pope and all his Laws; and if God spare me life, Mr. Tindals zeal.ere many years I will cause a boy that drives the Plough to know more of the Scripture then you do.
The rage of the Priests encreasing, Mr. Tindal told Mr. Welch, that he well perceived that he could stay there no longer with safety, and that his stay might be prejudicial to his Family; and therefore with his good leave he departed and went to London, where he preached a while,He departs from Master Welch. as he had done in the Country before: And then hearing a great commendation of Cuthbert Tonstal, Bishop of London, he endeavored to get into his service, but the Lord saw that it was not good for him,Gods providence. and therefore he found little favor in the Bishops sight.
Remaining thus in London about the space of a year, and being desirous for the good of his Country to translate the New Testament into English, he found that there was no place for him to do it in England, and therefore being assisted by Master Humphry Manmouth, a godly Citizen, and other good men, he left the land, and went into Germany; He goes into Germany.where this good man being inflamed with a tender care of and zeal for his Country, refused no travel nor pains, if by any means possible he might reduce his Brethren and Countrymen of England to the same taste and understanding of Gods holy Word and Truth which the Lord had endued him withall:His zeal. Then conferring with Master John Frith he thought in his minde that no way would more conduce thereunto, then if the Scriptures were translated into their vulgar language, that so the people might fee the plain text before them; for he well perceived that one great cause of Error was, because the knowledge of the Scriptures was hidden from the peoples Eyes; upon these considerations he there set upon this work:The Bible translated first into English. Translating the New Testament Anno Christi 1527. and then setting upon the Old, he finished the five Books of Moses, with sundry most learned and godly Prologues prefixed before every one of them: the like also he did upon the New Testament: Besides divers other godly Treatises which he wrote there; which being published, and sent over into England, became exceeding profitable to the whole English Nation.
At his first going over into Germany, His conference with Luther.he went into Saxony, and had much conference with Luther, and other learned men in those quarters: and then returning into the Netherlands, made his greatest aboad at Antwerp: He wrote also divers other Books under sundry titles, amongst which is that most worthy monument of his called The Obedience of a Christian Man, His excellent works.with divers other Treatises, as the Wicked Mammon, the Practice of Prelates, with divers Expositions upon sundry portions of Scripture: As also some answers to Sir Thomas Moore, and other Adversaries of the Truth, no less delectable then right fruitful to be read:The benefit come by them. These Books being sent over and dispersed in England, it cannot be imagined what a dore of Light they opened to the Eyes of all the Nation, which for a long time had been shut up in darkness. He wrote also one Book of the Declaration of the Sacrament and against the Mass, but he kept it by him, and did not print it, considering how the people for the present were held under their gross Idolatry; and therefore judging that it would be odious to them to hear these things at the first,His prudence. he waited a fitter time for the publication of it.
These godly Books, but especially his translation of the New Testament coming abroad, as they brought singular profit to the godly: So the ungodly Clergy disdaining and envying that the people should be wiser then they, and withall fearing least by the shining beams of the Truth, their hypocrisie and works of darkness should be unmasked,Satans malice against the truth. they began to make a great stir: but especially the Devil envying the progress of the Gospel, sought by all means to hinder the blessed travels of this worthy man: For when he had finished his translation of Deuteronomy, minding to print it at Hamborough, he sailed thitherward.His great afflictions. But by the way upon the coast of Holland he suffered shipwrack, by which he lost all his Books and Writings, and so was compelled to begin all again to his great hinderance and doubling of his labors.
Thus having by that shipwrack lost all his mony, copies and time, yet (through Gods mercy) he was not discouraged, but taking the opportunity of another Ship, he went to Hamborough, Mr. Coverdal assists him.where he met with Mr. Coverdal, who assisted him in the translation of the five Books of Moses, the sweating sickness being in that Town all the while, which was Anno Chri. 1529. And during their imployment in that work,A widows charity. they were entertained by a religious widow, Mistress Margaret Van Emerson.
When his English Testament came abroad, Satans and the Popes instruments raged exceedingly,Popish lyes. some saying that there were a thousand Heresies in it: others that it was impossible to Translate the Scriptures into English: others, that it was not lawful for the Laye people to have it in their own language, &c. and at last the Bishops and Priests procured of King Henry the Eight a Proclamation prohibiting the buying or reading of it,The Bible prohibited to be read. Anno Christ▪ 1527. Yet not satisfied herewith, they suborned one Henry Philip… to go over to Antwerp to betray him: who, when he came thither,Popish malice. insinuated himself into Mr. Tindal… company, and pretended great friendship to him: and having learned where his abode was, he went to Bruxels, and there prevailed so far,He is betra…d. that he brought with him the Emperours Atturney to Antwerp, A Judas. Cast into prison.and pretending to visit Mr. Tindal, he betrayed him to two Catchpoles, which presently carryed him to the Atturney: who, after examination, sent him to Prison in the Castle of Filford, 18 miles of, and withall they seized upon all his writings, and what else he had at his lodging
The English Merchants at Antwerp, who loved Tindal very well,Means used for his release. did what they could to procure his release; also Letters were sent by the Lord Cromwel and others out of England in his behalf: but Philips so bestirred himself, that all their endeavours came to nothing: and Tindal was at last brought to his answer, and after much reasoning, although he deserved not death, yet they condemned him to dye.
When he was brought forth to the place of Execution, whilst he was tying to the stake,His martyrdom. he cryed with a fervent and loud voyce, Lord, open the King of Englands eyes. And so he was first strangled by the Hangman, and then burnt, Anno Christi 1536.
The power of his Doctrine, and the sincerity of his Life was such, that during his imprisonment (which was about a year and an half) he converted his Keeper and his daughter,A jalor converted. and some others of his houshold: and Philips that betrayed him,Gods judgment on a persecutor. long enjoyed not the price of innocent blood, but by Gods just judgement was devoured by lice.
The Emperors Atturney that prosecuted against him, left this testimony of him, that he was Vir doctus, pius, & bonus, a learned, pious, and godly man: Whilst Mr. Tindal was Prisoner in the Castle, there was much writing, and great Disputations betwixt him and them of the University of Lovain (which was but nine or ten miles from thence) so that they had all enough of him, not knowing how to answer the authorities and testimonies of Scriptures, whereupon he grounded his Doctrine.
On a time the Company of English Merchants being a Supper together at Antwerp, A Conju…er prevented by Mr. Tindals presence.there was a Jugler amongst them who by his Magical Art could fetch all kinde of dainty dishes, and wine, from any place they pleased, and set it on the Table incontinent before them, with many other such like things: This being much talked of abroad, Mr. Tindal hearing of it, desired of some of the Merchants that he might be present at supper to see the Jugler play his pranks. Accordingly supper was appointed and Mr. Tindal with the Merchants went to it: and the Jugler being requested to play his pranks, and to shew his cunning, he after his wonted boldness began to utter all that he could do: but all was in vain: So that at last after all his sweating, toiling and labor, when he saw that nothing would go forwards, but that all his enchantments were void, he openly confessed that there was some man present at supper which disturbed and hindred all his doings.
Concerning his Translation of the New Testament which was so vilifyed by his Adversaries, he thus writes in an Epistle to John Frith: His sincerity.I call God to record against the day we shall appear before our Lord Jesus, to give up reckoning of our doings, that I never altered one syllable of Gods Word against my conscience, nor would do it for all that is in the Earth, whether honour, pleasure, or profit &c.
Most of his Works are mentioned before in his Life.His works.