The Life and Work of William TindaleCooper, William Barrett
History
The Life and Work of William Tindale
Cooper, William Barrett
Clergy -- England -- Biography; Tyndale, William, -1536
Students of that age have been struck by the co-incidence of this
anticipation of Tindale's and the prediction of Erasmus in the passage
where the latter records his emphatic dissent from those who were
unwilling to have the Scriptures translated into the vulgar tongue and
read by private individuals.
* * * * *
The coincidence is a striking one. It may well be that the daring of the
Dutch man of letters smote a responsive chord in the breast of the brave
Englishman. If the younger catches the torch from the hand of his
precursor, must we disparage the courage with which the torch is carried
forward and kept ablaze?
From Foxe again we take the picture of a little domestic scene, very
realistic, wherein the lady of the house occupies the centre. "So upon a
time some of those beneficed doctors had Master Walsh and the lady his
wife, at a supper or banquet, there having among them talk at will
without any gainsaying: and the supper or banquet being done, and Master
Walsh and the lady his wife come home, they called for Master Tindale,
and talked with him of such communication as had been, where they come
fro (from), and of their opinions. Master Tindale there-unto made answer
agreeable to the truth of God's word, and in reproving of their false
opinions. The Lady Walsh, being a stout woman, and as Master Tindale did
report her to be wise, being there no more but they three, Master Walsh,
his wife and Master Tindale; 'Well,' said she, 'there was such a doctor,
he may dispend (spend) two hundred pounds by the year, another one
hundred pound, and another three hundred pound; and what think ye, were
it reason that we should believe you before them so great, learned and
beneficed men?' Master Tindale, hearing her, gave her no answer; nor
after that had but small arguments against such, for he perceived it
would not help in effect to the contrary."
Tindale had the good sense to know how vain would be argument with his
disputant. He found another way. Ere long both Sir John and his lady
took their stand firmly by his side.
CHAPTER IV.
IN LONDON
Tindale's residence at Little Sodbury ended when he saw that his
remaining there must bring trouble upon the inmates of the Manor House.
He resolved to move to London, and hoped that he might be enabled there
to accomplish the task he had set himself as his life work. His hopes
were centred on the then Bishop of London. Tunstal was a friend of the
new learning. He was able, ambitious, liberal, and a Prelate of rising
power. If he gave his countenance to Tindale's enterprise, its
completion and publication were assured.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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