agenst my Lord Chansellars booke, and wold not put it in printe till suche tyme as your grace had seen yt, becawse he appersevyth your dysplesure towardes hym for hasty puttyng forthe of his other werkes, and because yt schold appere that he is not of so obstynate mynd as he thynketh he is reported unto your grace. This is the substaunce of his comunycasion had with me, whiche as he spake, I have wrytten to your grace, word for word, as nye as I cowlde by any possible meanys bryng to remembrance. My trust, therfore, is that your grace will not but take my laburs in the best part. I thowght necessary to be wrytten unto your grace. After these wordys, he then beyng some thyng fearfull of me, lest I wold have parsuyd hym, and drawyng also towardes nyght, he toke his leve of me, and departed from the towne, and I toward the towne, saying I schold shortly peradventure se hym agayne, or yf not, here from hym. Howbeyt, I suppose, he afterward retornyd to the towne by a nother wey. for there is no lyclyhed that he schold lodge withought the towne, hastie to parsew hym I was not, becawse I had some lyclyhod to speke schortly agayne with hym, and in perswing hym, I myght perchaunse have fayllyd of my purpose, and put my selfe in dawnger. To declare to your magestie what in my pore judgement I thynke of the man, I asserteyne your grace I have rot communed with a man... The remainder of this interesting paper is lost, but it may be fairly inferred that a high character was given of the distressed exile.' pp. 63-66.

In another communication to the king we find the following noble sentiments ascribed to Tyndale :

I assure youe, sayed he, If it wolde stande withe the kinge most gracious plaisur to graunte only a bare text of the scripture to be put forthe emonge his people, like as is put forthe emonge the subgectes of the emperour in these parties, and of other cristen princes, be it of the translation of what person soever shall please his magestie, I shall ymedyatlye make faithfull promyse neuer to write more, ne abide two dayes in these parties after the same; but ymedyatly to repayre into his realme, and there most humbly submytt myselfe at the fete of his roiall magestie, OFFERYNGE MY BODYE TO SUFFER WHAT PAYNE OR TORTURES, YE WHAT DETHE HIS GRACE WILL, SO THAT THIS

BE OBTEYNED. And till that tyme, I will abide thaspect of all chaunses what so euer shall come, and indure my lyfe in as many paynes, as it is able to bere and suffer.' p. 69.

The tears stood in his eyes as he uttered these declarations,-and like one who determined to obey God rather than man, he turned a deaf ear to the seductions of princes. Amid all his intemperate rage, Henry must have respected the poor exile; and trembling lest his envoy might not be able to withstand the power of truth so exemplified in a life of godliness, "he resorted to every art of persuasion and threatening" to prevent such a result. The original state paper addressed by the king to his envoy, Mr. Offor has copied, with all Henry's interlineations in his own hand.

Never was there a more arbitrary monarch,-never a document more despotically worded. His subjects must believe as he does. Every one who dares to differ in opinion from his majesty is denounced. Tyndale knew too well what he had to expect, to trust himself within the fangs of the serpent. His friend, the amiable Frith, less cautious, went to England; but once there, his learning and his piety could avail him nothing, and he paid the penalty of his confidence in the treacherous invitation with his own life. "Two Romish clergyman exhorted the people not to pray for Frith any more than they would for a dog; at this the martyr smiled and prayed God to forgive them." We are now approaching also the close of Tyndale's eventful life. As he lives on, his spirit seems to become more and more heavenly,—his labors more and more abundant. Mr. Offor thus alludes to his residence at Antwerp,

TYNDALE'S habits, for the few years that he resided at Antwerp, were most actively benevolent. He was the almoner of his more wealthy countrymen. Saturday and Sunday were his days of relaxation from severe study on the former, he visited the sick and dying foreigners, and on Sunday, both before and after divine service, he visited and/ relieved his fellow exiles. Persecution for conscience sake, like a dreadful pestilence, ravaged his native country, sweeping away with the besom of destruction the most pious and benevolent of her sons. Many, to escape a cruel death, fled to Antwerp in the greatest distress; and they obtained from Tyndale consolation and a supply for their pressing wants. In bestowing alins, he appeared like an angel of mercy in preaching, he spoke like an apostle. These qualities which dignify human nature, only excited the more bitter animosity of those who were persecuting Christ in the persons of his pious and devoted disciples.

The laborious studies which occupied the great portion of his time, were in vindicating himself and the reformation from the slanders of Sir Thomas More, and in completing the translation of the Sacred Script

It is impossible to decide, without the discovery of new evidence, whether he translated the whole of the Old Testament: the similarity which pervades it, leads me to conclude that he did, and that Coverdale profited by his manuscripts. It is plain, that, from Esdras to Malachi, it is one translation, published by Coverdale in 1535,* and by Matthews in 1537,† with such alterations as pleased the respective editors: from Genesis to Esdras, and the whole New Testament, are distinct translations. Tyndale's name was suppressed in both, on account of the rancorous hostility of Henry against him, for having honestly spoken in opposition to the divorce from Catherine.' pp. 76, 77.

Here too he republished his new testament, taking advantage of both friendly and hostile criticism to render his version, yet more

*Printed at Cologne, republished at Zurich, 1550.

† Printed at Lubeck, and published by Grafton in London.

correct.

"The most singular rendering in the whole volume was contained in all the editions. Death, in the Revelations, is mounted on a green horse."

In the year 1534, Sir Thomas More, who by minutely questioning such as were examined, as having come from Flanders and Germany, had obtained "a description of Tyndale's person, dress, habits, friends and places of resort," was enabled to get him betrayed and taken. He lodged with a merchant, Thomas Pointz. One Henry Phillips was suborned and employed by his enemies. Tyndale, with little of his customary caution," placed a fatal confidence in him, and invited him to his apartments." Pointz, more suspicious, asked Tyndale respecting him, and Tyndale replied "that he was an honest man and handsomely learned;" Pointz supposed all was right, therefore, and made no further inquiry. Philips, after having for some time enjoyed Tyndale's hospitality, and thus thrown him entirely off his guard, went to Brussels, and with great pains and expense obtained a warrant for his arrest for heresy. Mr. Offer himself must tell the rest of the story.

To execute it, he brought back with him the procurer-general and his officials, not daring to trust the officers of Antwerp, where his victim was so much beloved. Having detained these persons at Antwerp until Pointz had left that city on business, he then called at the house of Pointz, and Tyndale invited him to go and dine with him at the house of one of his friends, assuring him of a hearty welcome. The villain then, under a pretence of having lost his purse, borrowed of his unsuspecting victim all his money. In passing through the narrow entry of the hotel, Phillips, with apparent courtesy, insisted on Tyndale going first; and, as his victim was much shorter than himself, when they came to the door, he pointed down on Tyndale: immediately the officers whom he had placed there, seized him together with all his books and papers. He was in this pennyless condition conveyed to the prison at Vilvoord, a village at the ford between Brussels and Malines, on the road to Antwerp. If ever there was seen the perfection of unprincipled villany, to the utter disgrace of human nature, it was in this diabolical agent to the Roman Catholic party in England,-Phillips.' pp. 79, 80.

Pointz and the British merchants of Antwerp used all their exertions to effect the deliverance of their beloved pastor; but in vain. Pointz himself nearly lost his life in some of his attempts to save Tyndale,-and after being himself imprisoned, and he had broken out and escaped, still he ceased not to labor for Tyndale's relief. Tyndale was retained in prison nearly two years; nor did he forget his object as a minister of Christ even in the midst of his bonds. Here he redeemed his pledge to the priests of Gloucestershire," that the plough boys should have the New Testament to read." In 1535 was printed a very curious edition of

Tyndale's version. "It was a revision made in a provincial orthography, probably that of his native country, peculiarly adapted to agricultural laborers." The following specimen of some of the words we copy from Mr. Offor. "Holly cite, for holy city; saeyde, aengels, wayghthyer, foete, behoelde, broether, faether, moether, tacken, agaeynst, theacheth, graece, cloocke for cloke, maester, saefe, shaeke," &c. To this book was also added the heads of the chapters. But his life was almost over. The formalities of a trial,-a mere mockery of justice as he was already marked out for death,-were allowed, and he was sentenced to death for heresy. In September, 1536, he suffered martyrdom :

While he calmly viewed the dread preparations to deprive him of life, and burn his body, his heart mourned over England. His last thoughts were for the eternal welfare of his country, and his dying voice called for mercy on his unrelenting persecutor. He cried out at the stake, "LORD, OPEN THE KING OF ENGLAND'S EYES." He was then strangled; and long ere his body was reduced to ashes, his soul had commenced the glorious anthems of the redeemed of God, who had washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

The conduct of Tyndale in jail won the heart of his keeper, who, with his daughter and some of the household, became converts to the cross of Christ. Even the Emperor's attorney-general, who had obtained the sentence against him, solemnly declared that he was a learned, a good, and a godly man.

His character is thus drawn by Francis Quarles, author of the Divine Emblems.*

"Zeal crowned his heart and made him to outvie
Papistick stories of hell-bred tyranny;

He fear'd them not, but boldly would dispute
Against their swelling errours, and confute
Their principles with a most dexterous art;
His tongue was never traytor to his heart;
Truth was the hand that pointed to the way,
Where full content and rich salvation lay.
'Twas not a loathsome prison could devorse
His ready lips from the profound discourse
Of true religion, nothing could prevent
His just endeavours. Time he thought mispent
If not employed to good; reader, admire,
His body flam'd to make his soule a fire."'

pp. 82-84.

Scarcely had the dying Tyndale breathed forth his earnest prayer before it was answered by Henry's issuing a mandate "that the bible should be placed in every church for the free use of the people." The same year (1536) seven or eight editions of the new testament in English were published. Coverdale's bible followed in 1538, and was the authorized bible for nearly thirty years. Says Mr. Offor,

* Fuller's Abel Redivivus, 4to. 1651. p. 130.

Such was the amazing zeal of the people to receive the Scriptures, that, before the close of the year 1541, sixteen distinct editions of the whole Bible were printed, each of which consisted of from fifteen to twenty-five hundred copies.

Upon their being set up for public use in the churches, great numbers resorted to read or hear them read, insomuch that the people selected one who had the clearest voice to read for the benefit of the mul

titude, who resorted to them instead of hearing mass. This gave great offence to the clergy, and they seriously complained that the service of the mass was interrupted. The bishops placed over these public Bibles, orders and regulations, threatening to remove them unless the strictest decorum was preserved.' pp. 86, 87.

Changes however occurred. The same king who had commanded the reading of the scriptures, again forbade them. Such were some of the struggles with which piety, even in its feeble growth in England, had to contend,-and such too are some of the painful consequences which must light upon that people which bows down in subserviency to Popery. They must read the bible only according to the will of a corrupt priesthood. We shall not dwell upon Tyndale's character. The sketch we have given we trust has already placed its most prominent traits before our readers. We simply subjoin, in connection with this part of our subject, a few sentences from the closing paragraph of Mr. Offor's memoir.

Before I close this memoir, it may be proper to remark, that it is not possible to identify Tyndale with any of the little detachments of Christians called sects, the whole of which form the Christian army. Tyndale's time was so fully occupied in defending the great principles of Christianity, that his sentiments upon what are called non-essentials cannot be ascertained. This is certain, that he most justly conceived the church of Christ to consist of all those who from conviction and affection received the gospel, and proved their sincerity by strict morality and amiable conduct; all those who were obedient unto faith, and considered Christ to be the sole head of his universal church.

The republication of this volume, formerly prohibited under the severest penalties, is not merely intended to gratify the antiquary or the philologist, but to promote and assist researches after divine truth. The severe trials of our forefathers have secured to us extensive privileges: they sowed the seed with tears; we are reaping the harvest with joy. They immortalized their names by having, through sufferings almost inconceivable, given to us the inspired volume. And be it our glory to send this heavenly gift to the uttermost parts of the earth; until its triumphs shall be completed by exterminating war, slavery, and all other evils, and by disposing every human being to seek the glory of God, in promoting peace on earth and good-will towards his fellow men.' p. 89.

It only remains, that we speak briefly of this antique version. We have already mentioned its great accuracy. It would be in