But Tyndale was not the man to desist when once he had learned what his duty was. He has chronicled the workings of his mind at this period thus: “A thousand books had they lever (rather) to be put forth against their abominable doings and doctrines than that the Scripture should come to light ... which thing only moved me to translate the New Testament. Because _I had perceived by experience_ how it was impossible to establish the lay-people in any truth, except the Scriptures were plainly laid before their eyes in their mother-tongue, that they might see the process, order, and meaning of the text: for else, whatsoever truth is taught them these enemies of all truth quench it again.” In his perplexity Tyndale sought for counsel and sympathy from “a certain doctor that dwelt not far off, and had been an old Chancellor before to a bishop. ‘Do you not know,’ said the ex-Chancellor, ‘that the Pope is very antichrist, whom the Scripture speaketh of? But beware what you say; for if you shall be perceived to be of that opinion, it will cost you your life. I have been an officer of his, but I have given it up, and I defy him and all his works.’” Soon after this visit “Master Tyndale happened to be in the company of a learned man, and in communing and disputing with him, drove him to that issue that the learned man said, ‘We had better be without God’s laws than the Pope’s.’ Master Tyndale hearing that, answered him, ‘I defy the Pope and all his laws;’ and said, ‘IF GOD SPARE MY LIFE, ERE MANY YEARS I WILL CAUSE A BOY THAT DRIVETH THE PLOUGH SHALL KNOW MORE OF THE SCRIPTURE THAN THOU DOEST.’” These noble words were, of course, soon published through the district, and they intensified the hatred of the priests still more against him. Tyndale was quite willing to leave the neighbourhood, and he even offered to settle in any English county if they would but permit him to teach the children and to preach there. But seeing the peril to which he had exposed his friends, and perhaps still more acutely realising that his work could not be accomplished in Sodbury, Tyndale took leave of his patron, and came up to London. CHAPTER III. _MARKING THE COURSE OF THE WORLD; OR, LEARNING WHOM NOT TO TRUST._ “In haste the fancied bliss to gain, In the wrong path they go, Unmindful that it surely leads To everlasting woe. Thus for the world’s delusive charms They barter joys sublime, And forfeit an immortal crown For the frail wreaths of time.” “A man may be in as just possession of truth as of a city, and yet be forced to surrender.”--RELIGIO MEDICO. “There’s a strange mixture of wisdom and folly, of grace and impatience, of the sublime and the ridiculous, in most of the best men.”--DAVID DAVIES. 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.