Whole Works, Biography 1 – Errata
The Martyrdome and burning of William Tyndall in Brabant, by Filford Caſtell.
Lord opē the K. of Englāds eyes.
Here foloweth the hiſtorie and diſcourſe of the lyfe of William Tyndall out of the booke of Actes and Monumentes Briefly extracted.
FOr ſomuch as the lyfe of W. Tyndall author of this treatiſe immediately folowing, is ſufficiently & at large diſcourſed in the booke of Actes and Monumentes, by reaſon whereof we ſhall not néede greatly to intermedle with any new repetition therof, yet notwithſtanding becauſe as we hauehave takē in hand to collect and ſet forth his whole workes togither, ſo we thought it not vnconuenient, to collecte likewiſe ſome briefe notes concerning the order of his lyfe and godly conuerſation that both his teaching, & lyuing going togither, as the one may edifie by doctrine, ſo the other may profit by example. Firſt touching the birth and parentage of this bleſſed Martyre in Chriſt, hée was borne in the edge of Wales, and brought vp from a childe in the vniuerſitie of Oxforde, where hée by long continuance grew, and encreaſed aſwell in the knowledge of tongues, and other liberall artes, as eſpecially in the knowlege of Scriptures, whereunto his mind was ſingularly addicted: Inſomuch that hée liyng in Magdalene hall, read priuelye to certaine ſtudentes, and felowes of Magdalene College, ſome percell of Diuinitie, inſtructing them in the knowlege, and trueth of the Scriptures. Whoſe maners alſo and Tyndall a vertuous and godly man.conuerſation being correſpondent to the ſame, were ſuch that all they which knewe him, reputed, and eſtéemed him to bée a man of moſt verteous diſpoſition, and of a life vnſpotted. Thus hée in the vniuerſitie of Oxford encreaſyng more and more in learning, and procéeding in degrées of the ſchooles, ſpiyng his tyme, remoued from thence to the Ʋniuerſitie of Cambridge, where after hée had likewiſe made his abode a certayne ſpace, and béeing now farther rypened in the knowledge of Gods worde, leauing that vniuerſitie alſo, hée reſorted to one M. Welſhe a knyght of Gloceſter ſheare and was there ſchoole maſter to his children, and in very good fauour with his maſter. This gentleman, as hée kept a very good ordinary commonly at his table, there reſorted vntounto him many tymes ſondry Abbottes, Deanes, Archdeacons, with other diuers Doctours, and great beneficed men: Who there togither with M. Tyndall ſittyng at the ſame table, did vſe many tymes to enter communication and talke of learned men as of Luther and Eraſmus, and of diuerſe controuerſies, and queſtions vponupon the ſcripture. At which time M. Tyndall, as he was learned, & wel practiſed in Gods matters, ſo he ſpared not to ſhew to them ſimply, and playnely his iudgement in matters as he thought. And when as they at that tyme did varie from Tyndall in opinions, and iudgment, he would ſhewe them the booke, and lay playnely before them the open, and manifeſt places of the ſcriptures to confute their errours, and to confirme his ſayinges. And thus continued they for a ſeaſon, reaſoning, and contending togither diuers and Wilfull malice agaynſt opē trueth.ſondry tymes, till at the length they waxed wery of him, and bare a ſecret grudge in their hartes againſt hym.
Not long after this it happened that certaine of theſe great Doctours had inuited M. Welſhe, and his wife to a banket, where they had talke at will and pleaſure, vttering their blindnes, and ignoraunce without any reſiſtaunce, or gayne ſaying. Then M. Welſhe, and his wife comming home, and calling for M. Tyndall, beganne to reaſon with him about thoſe matters, wherof the Prieſtes had talked before at their banket. M. Tyndall aunſwering by Scriptures mainteyned the trueth, & reproued their falſe opinions. Then ſayd the Lady Welſhe, a ſtoute and wiſe woman (as Tyndall him ſelfe reporteth) well ſayd ſhe, there was ſuch a Doctour which may diſpend a C. l. & an other CC. l. and an other CCC. poūdes. And what, were it reaſon thinke you that we ſhould beléeue you before them? M. Tyndall gaue her no aunſwere at that tyme, nor alſo after that (becauſe he ſaw it would not auayle) he talked but litle in thoſe matters. At that tyme he was about the tranſlation of a booke called. Enchiridon militis Christiani. Which being tranſlated he delyuered to his Maſter and lady: Who after they bad read, and well peruſed the ſame, the doctourly Prelates were no more ſo often called to the houſe, nether had they the Chere nor countenaunce when they came, as before they had, which thing they well marking, and perceiuing, and ſuppoſing no leſſe but it came by the meanes of Tyndall, refrayned thē ſelues, and at the laſt vtterly withdrewe them ſelues, and came no more there.
As this grewe on, the Prieſtes of the countrey cluſtering togither, beganne to grudge, and ſtorme againſt Tyndall, rayling at him, in houſes, and other méeting places. Of whom Tyndall him ſelfe in his firſt Prologue before the firſt booke of Moſes, teſtifieth in his owne wordes, and reporteth that hée ſuffered much in that countrey by a ſort of vnlearned Prieſtes, being full rude and ignoraunt (ſayth hée) God knoweth, which hauehave ſéene no more Latyn then that onelyonly which they reade in their Porteaſſes, and Miſſalles (which yet many of them can ſkarſely reade) except it bée Albertus de Secretis The authors that Popiſhe Priſtes doe ſtudie.mulierum, in which yet, though they bée neuer ſo ſorely learned, they pore daye, and night, and make notes therein, and all to teach the mydwifes (as they ſay) and alſo an other booke called Lynwood, a Booke of Conſtitutions to gather tythes, mortuaryes, Offeringes, Cuſtomes, and other pillage, which they call not theirs, but Gods part, the duetie of holy Church, to diſcharge their conſciences with all. For they are bound that they ſhall not deminiſhe, but encreaſe all thinges to the vttermoſt of their powers which perteineth to holy Church. Thus theſe blinde, and rude Prieſtes flocking togither to the Alehouſe (for that was their preaching place) raged and rayled againſt him, affirming that his ſayengs were hereſy: addyng moreouer vntounto his ſayenges of their owne heades, more then euer hée ſpake, and ſo accuſed him ſecretly to yt Chauncelour, and other of the Biſhops officers.
It folowed not long after this, that there was a ſitting of the Byſhops Chaūcelour appointed, and warning was geuen to the Prieſtes to apere, amōgeſt whom M. Tyndall was warned to bée there. And whether hée had any miſdoubt by their threatenings or knowledge geuen him, that they would lay ſome thinges to his charge, it is vncerteyne: But certaine this is (as hée him ſelfe declareth) that hée doubted their preuy accuſations, ſo that hée by the way in going thitherwardes, cryed in his mynde hartely vntounto God to geue him ſtrength to ſtand faſt in the trueth of his worde.
When the tyme came of his apperaunce before the Chaūcelour, hée threatened him greuouſly, reuiling and rating him as though hée had béene a dogg, and layed to his Vniuſt dcaling of the Papiſtes,charge many thinges, whereof no accuſer could yet bée brought forth (as commonly their maner is, not to bring forth the accuſer) notwithſtanding that the Prieſtes of the countrye the ſame time were there preſent. And thus M. Tyndall after thoſe examinations eſcaping out of their handes, departed home, and returned to his Maſter againe.
There dwelt not farre of a certaine Doctour that had béene an olde Chauncelor before to a Biſhop, who had béene of olde famyliar acquaintaunce with M. Tyndall, and alſo fauoured him well. Ʋnto whom M. Tyndall went and opened his mynde vponupon diuers queſtions of the Scripture: For to him hée durſt bée bolde to diſcloſe his harte. Ʋnto whom the Doctour ſayd: Doe you not knowe that the Pope is very Antechriſt, whom the Scripture ſpeaketh of? But béeware what you ſay: for if you ſhall bée perceaued to bée of that opinion, it will coſt you your life: And ſaid moreouer, I hauehave beene an officer of his, but I hauehave geuen it vp, and defye him, and all his workes.
Not long after M. Tyndall happened to bée in the company of a certeyne deuine recounted for a learned man, and in commoning and diſputing with him, hée droue hym to that iſſue that the ſayd great Doctour burſt out into theſe blaſphemous wordes, and ſayd, we were better to bée without Gods lawe, then the Popes. M. Tyndall hearing Notorious blaſphemy of a Papiſt.this and beeing full of Godly zeale, and not bearing that blaſphemous ſaying, replyed agayne and ſayd: I defie the Pope and all his lawes, and farther added, that if God ſpared him life ere many yeares, hée would cauſe a boy that driueth the plough to know more of the Scripture then hée did.
After this the grudge of the Prieſtes encreaſing ſtill againſt Tyndall, they neuer ceaſed barki…g, and rating at him, and layd many ſore thinges to his charge, ſaying y• hée was an heretick in ſophiſtry, an hereticke in logique, and an hereticke in Diuinitie: And ſayd moreouer vntounto him, that hée bare hymſelf bolde of y• Gentlemē there in y• coū try, but notwithſtanding ſhortly hée ſhould bée otherwiſe talked withal. To whom M. Tyndall aūſwering againe thus ſaid: it was not the place hée ſtuck vpō: hée was cōtēted they ſhould bring him into any countrey in all England, geuing him x. l. a yeare to liue with, and bynding him to no more but to teach children and to preach.
To bée ſhort M. Tyndall beeing ſo moleſted and vexed in the countrey by y• Prieſts was conſtrayned to leaue that Countrye, and to ſéeke another place: and ſo comming Tyndall remoueth from M. Welſhe.to M. Welſhe hée deſired him of his good will, that hée might depart from hym, ſaying thus vntounto him: Syr I perceaue I ſhall not bée ſuffered to tarye long here in this countrie, neither ſhall you bée able (though you woulde) to kéepe mée out of the handes of the ſpiritualitie, and alſo what diſpleaſure might growe to you by kéeping mée God knoweth: for the which I ſhould bée right ſory. So that in fine M. Tyndall with y• good will of his Maſter departed, and eftſones came vp to London, and there preached a while according as hée had done in the countrye béefore. At length hée béethought hym ſelfe of Cutbert Tunſtall then Byſhop of London, and eſpecially for the great commendatiō of Eraſmus, Who in his annotations ſo extolleth him for his learning, thus caſting with him ſelfe, that if hée might attayne into his ſeruice, hée were a happy man. And ſo comming to Syr Henry Gilforde the kinges Controller, and bringing with hym an oration of Iſocrates, which hée had tranſlated out of Gréeke into Engliſhe hée deſyred him to ſpeake to the ſayd Byſhop of London for hym: which hée alſo did, and willed Tyndall ſueth to be with Tonſtall Byſhop of London, but coulde not obtayne.him moreouer to write an Epiſtle to the Byſhop and to goe him ſelfe with him: which hée did likewiſe, and deliuered his Epiſtle to a ſeruaunt of his named William Hebletwhait, a man of his olde acquaintaunce.
But God, who ſecretly diſpoſed the courſe of things, ſaw y• was not beſt for Tyndals purpoſe, nor for the profite of his Church, and therefore gaue him to fynde litle fauour in the Biſhops ſight. The aunſwere of whome was this, that his houſe was full: hee had moe then hée could well fynde, and aduiſed him to ſéeke in Londō abroad where he ſayd he could lacke no ſeruice &c. And ſo he remayned in London the ſpace almoſt of a yeare, beholding and marking with him ſelfe the courſe of the world and eſpecially ye Demeanour of the preachers, how they boaſted them ſelues, & ſet vp their auctoritie & kingdome: Beholding alſo the pompe of the Prelates, with other thinges that greatly miſliked him. Inſomuch, as he vnderſtoode not onelyonly to be no roome in ye Biſhops houſe for him to tranſlate the new Teſtament: but alſo that there was no place to doe it in all England. And therefore fynding no place for his purpoſe within the Realme, and hauing ſome ayde and prouiſion, by Gods prouidence miniſtred vntounto him by Humfrev Mommouth Merchaunt, who after was both Shirife and Alderman of London, and by certaine other good men, he tooke his leaue of the Realme, and departed into Germany. Where the good man being inflamed with a tender care and zeale of his countrey refuſed no trauell, or diligence, how by all meanes poſſible; to reduce his bretheren & Countrymen of England to the ſame taſt and vnderſtanding of Gods holy worde, and veritie which the Lorde had endued him withall.
Where vponupon he conſidering in his minde, & partly alſo conferring with Iohn Frith thought with him ſelfe no way more to conduce thereunto, then if the ſcripture were The Scripture in the vulgare tongue, a ſpeciall manifeſting of the trueth.turned into the vulgare ſpeeche, that the poore people might alſo ſee the ſimple and playne worde of God. For firſt, he wiſely caſting in his minde, perceiued by experiēce how that it was not poſſible to ſtabliſh the lay people in any trueth, except the Scripture were ſo plainlye layd before their eyes in their mother tongue, that they might ſee the proceſſe, order, and meaning of y• text: For els whatſoeuer trueth ſhould be taught them, theſe enemies of the trueth would quench it agayne either with apparaūt reaſōs of Sophiſtrye, and traditions of their awne making, founded without all ground of Scripture: Either els iugglyng with the text, expounding it in ſuch a ſence, as impoſſible it were to gather of the text, if the right proceſſe, order and meaning thereof were ſeene.
Agayne right well he perceaued, and conſidered this onelyonly, or moſt chiefly to be the cauſe of all miſchiefe in the Church, that the Scriptures of God were hydden from the Ignoraūce of Scripture cauſe all miſchife & erroures in religion.peoples eyes: For ſo long the abhominable doinges and Idolatries mainteyned by the Pharaſaicall Clergie, coulde not be eſpyed, and therefore all their labour was with might a…d mayne to keepe it downe, ſo that either it ſhould not bee read at all, or if it were, they woulde darken the right ſence, with the myſt of their Sophiſtry, and ſo entangle them which rebuked, or deſpiſed their abhominations, with argumentes of philoſophy, and with worldly ſimilitudes, and apparant reaſons of naturall wiſedome: and with wreſting of Scripture vntounto their awne purpoſe, contrary vntounto the proceſſe, order, and meaning of the text, would ſo delude them in deſkanting vponupon it with allegoryes, and amaze them, expounding it in many ſences layed before the vnlearned laye people, that though thou felt in thy heart, and were ſure that all were falſe that they ſayd, yet couldeſt thou not ſolue their ſubtile ryddells.
For theſe and ſuch other conſiderations, this good man was moued (and no doubts ſtyrred vp of God) to tranſlate the Scripture into his mother tongue, for the publique vtilitie and profit of the ſimple vulgar people of his coūtrey: Firſt ſetting in hand with the new teſtament, which he firſt tranſlated about the yeare of our Lord. 1527. Aftrr yt he tooke in hand to tranſlate the olde teſtament, finiſhing the v. bookes of Moſes, with ſondry moſt learned and godly prologues prefixed before eueryevery one of them moſt worthy to be read, and read againe of all Chriſtians, as the like alſo he did vponupon the new teſtament.
He wrote alſo dyuerſe other woorkes vnderunder ſondry titles, among the which is that moſt worthy monument of his intuled the obedyence of a Chriſtian man, wherein with ſingular dexteritie he inſtructeth all men in the office, and duetie of Chriſtian obediēce, with dyuerſe other treatiſes as may apere in the contentes of this booke.
So ſoone as theſe bookes were compiled, and made by William Tyndall, and the ſame were publiſhed and ſent ouer into England, it can not bee ſpoken what a dore of light they opened to the eyes of the whole Engliſhe nation, which before were many yeares ſhut vp in darknes.
Now theſe godly bookes, and ſpecially the new Teſtament of William Tindals tranſlation beyng ſpred abroad and come into many mens handes, as they wrought ſingular profitte to the godly: ſo the vngodly enuying and diſdayning that the people The reprobate are alwayes offended at ye trueth.ſhould be any thing wiſer then they: and agayne, fearing leaſt by the ſhyning beames of trueth, their falſe hypocriſie and workes of darcknes ſhould be diſcerned: began to ſtirre with no ſmall adoe, lyke as at the byrth of Chriſt, Herode and all Ieruſalē were troubled wyth hym, ſo the Papiſtes made open exclamation agaynſt this godly man, and publiſhed hym opēly in all their ſermons to be an hereticke, and that all his bookes were none other but damnable hereſies, and ſought by all the meanes they might, how to empeach and hynder that godly man in his bleſſed trauayles.
But to returne to the ſtory. After that William Tyndall had tranſlated the fifth booke of Moſes called Deuteronomium, and he mynding to print the ſame at Hamborough, ſayled thitherward: and by the way vponupon the coaſt of Holland, he ſuffered ſhipwracke, and loſt all his bookes, writinges, and copyes: and ſo was compelled to beginne all agayne an…we, to his hynderaunce and doublyng of his labours. Thus hauyng loſt by that ſhip both money, his copyes and tyme, he came in an other ſhippe to Hamborough, where at his appointment M. Couerdale taryed for hym, and helped hym in the tranſlatyng of the whole fiue bookes of Moſes. And after hee returned to Andwarp, a…d was there lodged more then one whole yeare in the houſe of Thomas Pointz, an Engliſh man, who kept a table for Engliſhe marchauntes. About which tyme, an Engliſhe man whoſe name was Henry Phillips, whoſe father was cuſtomer of Poole, a comely man, and ſéemed to be a gentleman. This man ſodainely entred into Henry Phillippes a wicked and diſſembling Iudas.the great louelove and fauour of William Tyndall, who greatly commended his curteſie and learning, and in the ende fell into famylier louelove and acquaintaunce with him. And Thomas Pointz their hoſt eſpying ſuch great louelove and familiaritie to be betwéene M. Tyndall and this Philippes, which vntounto hym was but a mere ſtrainger, did much meruell thereat, and fell into a gelouſy, and ſuſpition that this Phillipes was but a ſpye, and came but to betraye M. Tindall, wherefore on a time, the a fore ſayd Thomas Poyntz aſked M. Tyndall how he came acquainted with this Phillipes: M. Tyndall aū ſwered that he was an honeſt man, handſomely learned, and very conformable. Then Pointz perceauing that he bare ſuch fauour vntounto him, ſayd no more, thinking that hee had béene brought acquainted with him by ſome frende of his. The ſayd Phillipes being in the towne iij. or iiij. dayes did then depart to the Court at Bruxelles, which is from Andwarp x…iiij. myles and did ſo much there that he procured to bring from thence with him to Andwarp the procuror generall, which is the Emperours attorney with certaine other officers. And firſt the ſayd Phillipes ſeruaunt came vntounto Poyntz and demaunded of him whether M. Tyndall were there or not, for his maſter would come and dyne with him. And foorthwith came Phillipes and aſked Poyntz wife for M. Tyndall and ſhe ſhewed him that he was in his chamber, then ſayd he, what good meate ſhall we hauehave to dinner for I entend to dyne with you, and ſhe aunſwered they ſhould hauehave ſuch as the market would geue. Then went phyllipes ſtraight vp into M. Tyndales chamber, and tolde him that by the way as he came he had loſt his purſſe, and therefore prayed him to lend him xl. ſhillings, which he foorthwith lent, for it was eaſie inough to be had of him if he had it. For in the wilie ſubtilnes of this world, he was ſimple and vnexpert.
Then ſayd Phillipes you ſhall be my geſt here this day. No, ſayd▪ Tyndall, I got forth this day to dynner, and you ſhall goe with me and be my geſt where you ſhall be welcome. And when dynner tyme came M. Tyndall and Phillipes went both forth togither. And at the going forth of Poyntz houſe was a long narrow entrey, ſo that ij. coulde not goe on a front. Tyndall would hauehave put phillipes before him, but Phillipes would in no wiſe, but put Tyndall béefore him, for that hée pretended to ſhew greate humanitie. So Tyndall being a man of no great ſtature went before, and Phillipes a tall perſon folowed behinde him, who had ſet officers on either ſyde of the dore vponupon ij. ſeates, which beeing there might ſée who came in the entrye. And comming through ye ſayd entrye, Phillipes pointed with his finger ouer M. Tyndales head downe to hym, that the officers which ſat at the dore, might ſee that it was hée whom they ſhould take, as the officers that tooke Tyndall afterward tolde the a fore ſayde Poyntz, and ſayd that they pit…ed to ſée his ſimplicitie when they tooke him. But Tyndall when hée came Tyndals ſimplicitie pitied of the officers.nere the dore eſpied the officers and woulde hauehave ſhronke backe: nay ſayd Phill…ipes by your leaue you ſhall goe forth, and by force bare hym forward vponupon the officers. And aſſone as the officers had taken him, they forthwith brought him vntounto the Emperours attorney, or procurour generall, where hée dyned. Then came the procurour generall to the houſe of Poyntz, and ſent away all that was of Tyndales, aſwell his bookes as other thinges: And from thence Tyndall was had to the Caſtell of filforde, xviij Engliſhe myles from Andwarpe, where hée remayned priſoner more then a yeare and a halfe, and in that meane tyme, came vntounto him diuerſe lawyers, and Doctours in Diuinitie, aſwell fryers as other with whom hée had many conflyctes: But at the laſt Tyndall prayed that hée might hauehave ſome Engliſhe Deuines come vntounto him, for the maners and Ceremonies in religion in Douch land (ſayd hée) did much differ from the maners and Ceremonies vſed in England. And then was ſent vntounto hym dyuerſe Deuines from Louayne whereof ſome were Engliſhmen: and after many examinations, at the laſt they condemned him by vertue of the Emperours decrée made in the aſſembly at Auſbrough, and ſhortly after brought him forth to the place of execution, and there tyed him to a ſtake, where with a feruent zeale, and a loud voyce hée cried, Lord Tyndals godly zeale to his Prince.open the eyes of the King of Englande, and then firſt he was with a halter ſtrangled by the hangman, and afterward conſumed with fier. In the yeare of our Lord. 1536.
Such was the power of his doctryne, and the ſinceritie of his lyfe, that during the tyme of his impriſonment, which (as aforeſayd) endured a yeare and a halfe, hée conuerted his kéepers Daughter, and other of his houſholde. Alſo ſuch as were with him conuerſaunt in the Caſtell reported of him, that if hée were not a good Chriſtian man, they could not tell whom to truſt. The Procurour generall the Emperours attorney A teſtimony of Tyndals godly life, euen by his aduerſarye.béeing there, left this teſtemony of him, that he was Homo doctus, pius et bonus. that is a learned, a good, and a godly man.
The worthy vertues, & doinges of this bleſſed martyr (who for his painfull traueles and ſingular zeale to his countrey may be worthelye called in theſe our dayes, an Apoſtle of England) it were long to recite. Amongeſt many other, this one thing, beecauſe it ſemeth worthy of remembraunce, I thought good to ſhew vntounto you. There was at Andwarp on a tyme, amongeſt a company of merchauntes as they were at ſupper a certaine iuggeler, which thorough his Diabolicall inchauntmentes, or Art Magicall, woulde fetch all kinde of Ʋyandes and wine from any place they would, and ſet it vponupon the table incontinent before them, with many other ſuch lyke thinges. The fame of this iuggeler being much talked of, it chaunced that as M. Tyndall heard of it he deſired certeine of the merchauntes that he alſo might be preſent at ſupper to ſée him playe his partes. And to be ſhort, the Supper was appoynted and the merchauntes with Tyndall were there preſent. Then was the iuggler called foorth to play his feates and to ſhew his conning, and after his wonted boldnes began to vtter all …hat he coulde The fayth of Tyndall ſhewed by a manifeſt myracle.doe, but all was in vayne. At the laſt with his labour, ſweating, and toyling, when he ſawe that nothing would goe forward, but that all his inchauntmentes were voyde, he was compelled openly to confeſſe that there was ſome man preſent at ſupper which diſturbed, and letted all his doinges. So that a man euen in the martyrs of theſe our dayes can not lack the myracles of true fayth, if myracles were now to be deſired.
And here to ende and conclude this hiſtory with a fewe notes touching his priuate behauiour in dyet, ſtudy, and eſpecially his charitable zeale, and tender releuing of the poore: Fyrſt he was a man very frugall, and ſpare of body, a great ſtudent and earneſt laborer, namely in the ſetting forth of y• Scriptures of God. He reſerued or halowed to hym ſelfe ij▪ dayes in the weeke, which he named his dayes of paſtime, and thoſe dayes were Monday the firſt day in the weeke, and Satterday the laſt day in the weeke. On the Monday he viſited all ſuche poore men and women as were fled out of England by reaſon of perſecution into Antwarp, and thoſe well vnderſtanding their good exerciſes and qualities he did very liberally comfort and relieue: and in like maner prouided for the ſicke and deſeaſed perſons. On the Satterday he walked round about the towne in Antwarpe, ſeeking out eueryevery Corner, and hole where he ſuſpected any pooreperſon to dwell, (as God knoweth there are many) and where he found any to he well occupied, and yet ouerburdened with children, or els were aged, or weake, thoſe alſo hée plentefully releued. And thus he ſpent his ij. dayes of paſtime as he cauled them. And truelye his Almoſe was very large and great: and ſo it might well bee: for his exhibition that he had yearely of the Engliſhe merchauntes was very much, and that for the moſt part he beſtowed vponupon the poore as afore ſayd. The reſt of the dayes in the weeke he gaue hym wholy to his booke where in moſt dillgently he traueled. When the Sonday came, then went he to ſome one merchaunts chamber, or other, whether came many other merchauntes: and vntounto them would he reade ſome one percell of Scripture, eyther out of the olde teſtament, or out of the new, the which proceded ſo frutefully, ſweetely and gentely from him (much like to the writing of S. Iohn the Euangeleſt) that it was a heauenly comfort and ioy to the audiēce to heare him reade the ſcriptures: and in likewiſe after dinner, he ſpent an houre in the aforeſayd maner. He was a man without any ſpot, or blemiſhe of rancor, or malice, full of mercy and compaſſion, ſo that no man liuing was able to reprooue him of any kinde of ſinne or cryme, albeit his righteouſnes and iuſtification depended not there vponupon before God, but onelyonly vponupon the bloud of Chriſt, and his fayth vponupon the ſame: in the which fayth conſtantly he dyed, as is ſayd at Filforde, and now reſteth with the glorious campany of Chriſtes Martyrs bleſſedly in the Lord, who be bleſſed in all his ſaintes Amen. And thus much of W. Tyndall, Chriſtes bleſſed ſeruaunt, and Martyr.
Faultes eſcaped in the Printing.
Page 16. the 2. col. in the margent, after theſe wordes [from the] put to ſaluation in Christ. The ſame Page, and ſame col. in the next marginall note after, put out [in Christ] from the beginning of the note.
Page 21. col. 2. in the margent, for adminition, read admonition.