P025 Tyndale's Translations.

P025 Tyndale’s Translations. The date of his ordination to the priesthood is not known.

He came to London probably in 1523. Receiving no encouragement from Bishop Tunstall, to whom he applied for employment, he found a home in the family of Humphrey Monmouth, a friendly merchant, with whom he remained a year. In May, 1524, he went to Hamburgh. It is maintained by some writers that he spent a part of this year with Luther at Wittenberg, but of this there is no positive evidence. The most that can be said is, that it might have been.

He visited different cities on the continent, Worms, Cologne, Antwerp, and probably learned Hebrew of the Jews in some of these towns. To translate the Bible into English had long been his great desire. In 1525 the New Testament was ready for the press.

He began to print secretly a quarto edition in Cologne, at the press of Peter Quentel, but, being accidentally discovered by Cochlӕus, a Romish priest, he and William Roye, his amanuensis, fled up the Rhine to Worms, carrying with them the sheets already printed. In Worms an edition in octavo was printed by Peter Shoeffer, in the early part of 1526, and, shortly after, the quarto edition, which had been begun at Cologne, was finished at the same press. Of each of these editions three thousand copies were printed. Tyndale was not at first known as the translator, as his name did not appear on the title.(1) The authorities in England had been warned by Cochlӕus and others of the probable attempt to circulate the book, and endeavored to prevent it. In this, however, they failed, for in the spring or early summer of 1526 the precious volumes were brought over to London concealed in grain and other merchandise consigned to pious merchants, and were sold as stealthily as they had been imported. The way for their reception and use had been prepared by the "Brothers in Christ" mentioned in the preceding chapter.(2) The common people welcomed these volumes, though the price of one was equal to two weeks’ wages of a laboring man; but those in authority opposed their circulation. In the fall of 1526 Bishop Tunstall issued his orders forbidding the use or the possession of the book, and directing all copies to be delivered within thirty days to his vicar-general for destruction.

------------ (FN1)There is only one small fragment of the 4to. edition of 1525 now known to be in existence.

There are but two copies of the 12mo. edition, and neither of them perfect.

(FN2)See page 23.

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