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evident that this had been a most busy season, nor is it difficult to perceive the occasion or cause of all the turmoil. For while the "nether house of parliament," as Foxe calls it, had been "communing of their griefs wherewith the spirituality had before time grievously oppressed them;" the Convocation had been communing also, with mingled grief and indignation, over the "new learning" come into the land. Some might say that the hand of Tyndale was in all this, and in one sense it was, but then he was not in the country. Properly speaking, the commotion is to be ascribed to the Word of God, however denounced, which he had translated, and sent home, to fight its own way.

Before the close of this year, however, if we look abroad once more, we are cheered by observing that the great cause went on. The Government at home had been absorpt in human legislation, and confounded by its perplexities. All the while, Tyndale had been diligent in preparing more of the divine law for his countrymen, and it will be home presently. He had been employing the press at Marburg, but had left it himself, for Antwerp, as already explained. It is in reference to this period that we find a statement by John Foxe. He had already narrated the negociation at Antwerp with Tunstal, through Packington; but in his story of William Tyndale, he presents the following information, under 1529:

"At what time Tyndale had translated the fifth book of Moses, called Deuteronomy, minding to print the same at Hamburgh, he suffered shipwreck, by which he lost all his books, writings, and copies, and so was compelled to begin all anew, to his hindrance and doubling of his labours. Thus, having lost by that ship both money, his copies, and time, he came in another ship to Hamburgh, where, at his appointment, Master Coverdale tarried for him, and helped him in the translation of the whole five books of Moses, from Easter to December, in the house of a worshipful widow, Mistress Margaret Van Emmerson, anno 1529-a great sweating sickness being the same time in the town. So having despatched his business at Hamburgh, he returned afterward to Antwerp again."

This story, though fully charged with inaccuracy, has passed current up to the present hour; yet is it so pointed throughout, that there is no choice left but to concede the fact, that Coverdale actually had sailed for Hamburgh, and there "tarried" for Tyndale. That Coverdale may have written to our Translator, and that he might fix a place of

meeting; that the latter had endured distressing calamity, and that they both met, we may admit, but little or nothing more. If so, it is a circumstance the more to be observed, not only because Coverdale could, as yet, render him no assistance whatever, as a translator; or because this was the first interview, and almost to a certainty the last they ever had; but because there are other circumstances which will explain the real intent and purpose of Coverdale's voyage. The language of Foxe confirms, indeed, the truth of Tyndale being at Antwerp in 1529, it brings him from thence, and makes him return thither again; but as the negociation, through Packington, could not be before August, of course Tyndale had not resided in Hamburgh from Easter, or April to December. Nor is it at all likely that even Coverdale did, though he might be in waiting. After he had disposed of his books, that Tyndale should immediately depart from Antwerp, was to be expected, since it could not be safe for him to remain where he was; not merely after such a negociation, and after all that had occurred between John Hackett and Mr. Harman, but more especially on account of the Emperor's "placard" after the treaty of Cambray. Hamburgh, too, on the contrary, was, at this moment, in a very different state, and quite favourable for his reception.42 But to represent Coverdale, at this period, as helping Tyndale in translating, is preposterous, since he was not qualified to do anything of the kind. About two years have yet to pass away, when we shall find him intimate to Crumwell, that he had then only "begun to taste of Holy Scripture," and was then only "set to the sweet smell of holy letter;" but that to the knowledge of "holy and ancient doctors, he could not attain, without diversity of books." They once had," he would sit down, and do Crumwell's pleasure. Then as for the idea of Tyndale himself now only "translating the five books of Moses," it will appear presently, or in the opening of next year, to be a mere fiction. Whatever assistance Tyndale had received in preparing the Pentateuch, was derived from Fryth.

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What, then, could possibly be the object of Coverdale's

42 Pomeranus, or John Bugenhagius, was there. A scholar and a gentleman, distinguished among the Germans for his meekness and humility; he had come by invitation of the citizens, whose freedom of thinking demanded a judicious adviser in reference to their profession of Christianity. In 1525, he had written to the saints in England, and in him Tyndale might find an intelligent friend.-See Dathe's Hist. of Hamburgh.

voyage? We have only to advert to the state of England, and observe how far Tyndale had already proceeded. Wolsey's pursuit after heretics had terminated in December last year, and throughout the present, the kingdom was in a state of transition as to its rulers. Tyndale's masterly exposure of "the Practice of Prelates," and his triumphant "answer to Sir Thomas More's Dialogue," had not yet appeared. Two Lords Chancellor, in succession, were before him, and, for the sake of divine truth, both of them must be met, next year. At this moment, therefore, a different course was about to be tried with Tyndale, which we shall see followed up afterwards. The first object, then, was to induce our Translator to return into England; so that if Coverdale now actually proceeded to Hamburgh, it could only be to present to Tyndale the first tender of a professedly different style of policy. Crumwell, as we have seen, had succeeded in gaining entire ascendancy over Coverdale; and, at this critical moment, it was of no small importance to ascertain, whether Tyndale was a practicable man. At all events, Coverdale returned to England, and Tyndale went on his way. At the same time, it ought to be noticed, that we have no confirmation of this meeting between these two men, by a single hint or expression from Tyndale himself; nor any other authority than that of Foxe; nay, it is curious enough, that in the whole of Tyndale's or of Fryth's writings, whatever was the cause, we have not the shadow of a reference to Coverdale, more than if he had never existed!

In conclusion of this year, we have been, and will continue to be, cautious of admitting into these pages any loose conjecture. But after all that we have read, it would be difficult to believe that the Antwerp press had stood still, either last year or the present. An edition of Tyndale's Testament has been long assigned to about this period, though we are not able to fix it, by adducing such curious evidence, as in preceding cases. Hackett, however, as early as May 1527, has hinted at as many as 2000 having been for sale at Frankfort; and Joye affirms that the Dutch, as he calls them, had printed it a third time. We may, therefore, with all safety, put down another, or the fifth edition, to 1529. It is quite possible that there might have been one last year, as well as this; but, at all events, Tyndale himself will reprint his Testament next year.

SECTION VII.

TYNDALE'S PROGRESS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT-PRACTICE OF PRELATESSTATE OF ENGLAND—WOLSEY'S FINAL RUIN, SICKNESS, DEATH-PERSE

CUTION GOES ON-KING AND PRELATES DENOUNCE THE SCRIPTURESLATIMER'S BOLD REMONSTRANCE-NEW TESTAMENTS BURNT-ANOTHER, THE SIXTH EDITION-VIGOROUS IMPORTATION-DEATH OF S. FYSHE.

We have come to a more noted period in our Translator's eventful life. From the variety and importance of his publications which had now appeared in print, it is evident that the past and the present had been years of great and incessant activity on his part; nor were his opponents less active. The bench of Bishops, now headed by the civil power, were firmly leagued together, and arrayed against him. Considering all that Tyndale already knew, it is quite apparent from his writings, that he had, long before this time, been prepared in spirit for martyrdom. Resolved to tell the whole truth, and, as far as he knew, nothing but the truth, his path lay right before him. When pressed out of measure, he might and did seek for quiet and safety, that he might pursue his work; but he was of one mind—and no peril, no prospect of danger, could turn him. Depending on the sword of the Spirit for success, and feeling, as he had translated, that "the wrath of the God of heaven appeareth against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who withhold the truth in unrighteousness," he must have resolved to suppress nothing, or sooner "die upon his shield," a better than that of the ancient warrior, because the shield of faith.

Tyndale's translations of the five books of Moses were soon in circulation through his native country. His treatise entitled "The Practice of Prelates," was also this year in England; and his "Answer to the Dialogue of Sir Thomas More," will follow. After disposing of Wolsey and the prelates in general, he had taken up the production of Wolsey's successor in office. Two Lords Chancellor against one poor expatriated Exile, might seem to be fearful odds, but time will show who gained the victory.

That portion of the Sacred Volume now sent into England, has frequently been referred to by previous authors, as being

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"the first edition of Tyndale's Pentateuch;" but that this is incorrect, will at once appear from the following collation.

Genesis, in black letter, 76 leaves, with this colophon at the end,-" Emprented at Marlborow, in the land of Hesse, by me, Hans Luft, the yere of our Lorde, M.D.XXX., the xvii dayes of Januarii." Exodus, in roman letter, 76 leaves; Leviticus, roman letter, 52 leaves; Numbers, in black letter, 67 leaves; Deuteronomy, in roman letter, 63 leaves. There is a separate title and a prologue to each book; at the end of Genesis, Exodus, and Deuteronomy, and at the beginning of Numbers, are tables expounding certain words. There are a few notes in the margins, and throughout the whole, ten wooden cuts. There is no colophon or date, except that already given, attached to Genesis. From all this, but especially from inspection, it is evident that these five books were printed at separate presses; Genesis for certain, and probably Numbers, at Marburg. Deuteronomy, and for aught we know, Exodus and Leviticus, at Hamburgh. That they were circulated at first, separately, in England, is evident, because they were thus distinctly denounced; first, Genesis and Deuteronomy, and then the whole five books, but still distinctly noted. At the same time, when the whole were finished, Tyndale meant them to be bound together, as he then printed a general preface, which may have led to the popular description of "the Pentateuch, first edition."

The rarity of these five books, entire, is almost equal to that of the first octavo New Testament of 1525. Only one perfect copy is known to exist, which once belonged to Mr. Wilkinson, and is now in the library of the Right Hon. Thomas Grenville. The next best copy, as it has been completed, in the finest fac-simile, from the preceding, once belonged to Mr. Tutet. It was purchased at the sale of his books, by the late Mr. Heber, and from his collection by Mr. Grenville; who only seems to have parted with it, on obtaining his present unique perfect book. We know not what the perfect copy cost, but this second was advertised for sale in 1836, by Thorpe of London, at fifty guineas. Little did Tyndale imagine that, at the distance of more than three centuries, the labour of his hands would be so highly estimated.

Besides these two, all the other copies known to exist, are incomplete. That in the Museum at Bristol, wants the book of Genesis; that in Zion College, presented by Mr. Lewis, the book of Deuteronomy, and besides, the marginal notes are cut off, as directed by Act of Parliament in January 1543! The copy in the British Museum wants the first and last and two other leaves; the one at Cambridge is also imperfect. In the Bodleian library at Oxford, there is a beautiful copy of Genesis alone.

Tyndale's next publication was "The Practice of Prelates;" and, as far as it regards the subjects introduced, as well as the manner in which they are handled, it is, in some respects, the most remarkable of all his controversial writings. More than ever bent upon the emancipation of his country from mental bondage, he longed to see the throne established in righteousness; but he could entertain no hope of this until the power behind it, which had risen above the throne itself, was laid prostrate. "If that King of the grasshoppers," said he,

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