SECTION XII.

TYNDALE'S APPREHENSION AT ANTWERP-IMPRISONMENT IN THE CASTLE OF VILVORDE-DISTINCT INFORMATION CONVEYED TO CRUMWELL AND CRANMER THE STRENUOUS EXERTIONS OF THOMAS POYNTZ-RISKING

HIS OWN LIFE, BUT IN VAIN-TYNDALE'S PROGRESS IN PRISON-STATE OF ENGLAND-KEY TO ITS COMMOTION-HENRY'S SUPREMACY-FISHER AND MORE FALL BEFORE IT-THE ODIUM ENSUING THE VISITATION OF MONASTERIES-CRANMER AND THE BISHOPS-CRANMER AND GARDINER IN COLLISION-THE LATTER OFFENDING HIS DEXTERITY OR ADDRESS HE IS TRANSLATING LUKE AND JOHN !-GARDINER AND POLE-SPAINFRANCE GERMAN STATES, AND BARNES AS ENVOY-THE BISHOPS APPLIED TO FOR A TRANSLATION OF THE NEW TESTAMENT-A FRUITLESS ATTEMPT AND IN CONTRAST ONCE MORE, WITH FRESH EDITIONS OF TYNDALE'S TRANSLATION, PRINTED AND IMPORTING THIS YEAR.

THE last year turned out to be nothing more than a brief respite, or a transient gleam of sunshine. The present was distinguished throughout, by the imprisonment of Tyndale abroad; by the agitation and perplexity of public men, as well as by cruelty and bloodshed at home. The former was an exhibition of enmity to the truth on the part of its opponents; the latter, gave decided proof of fear for the safety of the throne. But before adverting to the peculiar state of affairs in England, we first proceed, as in previous years, to enquire respecting the Translator of the Scriptures.

"A

After a thorough investigation of this period, there can remain no hesitation in ascribing the apprehension of Tyndale, to the influence and authority of the old party in England, in alarm at the steady progress of the "new learning." plan was laid," says Foxe, "for Tyndale being seized in name of the Emperor." By the name of the Emperor, as now mentioned, could be meant nothing more than the authority of the persecuting decrees he had sanctioned; but from any share in this plan, Henry, in the first instance, must be entirely exonerated; as the chief agents employed will turn out to have been as great enemies to the King of England, and his royal progress, as they were to Tyndale and his providential one. For years, it is true, Tyndale had been deemed a man of such importance, that he had enjoyed the dis

tinction of having been pursued by the agents of Wolsey the Cardinal, and of the King himself-of Sir Thomas More the Lord Chancellor, and even Crumwell, the future vicegerent; but in the final seizure, his Majesty had no concern whatever; though at last he will certainly come in for his full share in the guilt of Tyndale's death. In the concealment of this plot from Henry before it commenced or succeeded, we descry, not improbably, the existing powerful influence of the Queen, Anne Boleyn. Had she been apprised of it, and moved the King, this might have proved fatal to the scheme.

Up to this hour, it has all along been generally supposed, that there was only one man hired to apprehend our Translator; but there was a second, of far greater note as to character, joined with him, both in counsel and action; and so, says Halle," he was betrayed and taken, as many said, not without the help and procurement of some Bishops of this realm." The help, partly consisting in money, of which we shall find, presently, there was no lack, is to be traced, therefore, to this source. The Bishops, in 1527, had leagued together under Warham, and contributed to the strange and fruitless project of buying up the New Testaments to burn them; and now, though Warham be gone, several survivors of the same temper, were still more eager to consign the Translator himself to the flames. That Stephen Gardiner, the Bishop of Winchester, who had succeeded against Fryth, was in the secret, and deeply concerned in the intrigue, there will be little or no doubt presently; but if so, he may have been the chief, for such was the well known temper of the man. "Unless," says

Bonner, who knew him well, "unless he was the only and chief inventor of any matter, he would have thwarted it." Tutored and bred up under Wolsey, though the King and the Cardinal, Sir Thomas More and Crumwell, had not succeeded, and though abroad neither Hackett or West, Sir Thomas Elyot or any other agent, had been able to apprehend Tyndale; yet intimately acquainted with all circumstances, with persons and places, and of great address, there was no man now alive, who excelled Gardiner in gaining his end, by secret and circuitous methods. As his strength and skill lay in fetching a compass, like the gyrations of a hawk before pouncing on its prey, so was he much more likely to succeed in ensnaring Tyndale than any one who had previously

attempted it. At least, no other individual knew so well how to take advantage of the rising discontent of monks and friars.

The men in England selected on this occasion, were Henry Phillips, belonging to Poole in Dorset, on the borders of Gardiner's diocese; and the other individual, in counsel with him, hitherto altogether unknown, was Gabriel Donne or Dunne, a monk from Stratford Abbey, who had proceeded to Louvain. The former, a good-looking young man, acted as the gentleman, and the latter in disguise, as his counsellor and servant.

The apprehension of Tyndale has been sometimes supposed to have happened at the end of last year; but as his confinement before death has been limited even to a year and a half, it seems to have commenced not sooner than the beginning of the present year. Certain parts of the story cannot be better told than in the words of Foxe; but we shall now interweave a variety of other particulars, hitherto unnoticed by any historian, and not a few of them altogether unknown.

"WILLIAM TYNDALE, being in the town of Antwerp, had been lodged about one whole year in the house of THOMAS POYNTZ, an Englishman, who kept there a house of English merchants; about which time came thither one out of England, whose name was Henry Phillips, his father being a customer (belonging to the custom-house) of Pool, a comely fellow, like as he had been a gentleman, having a servant with him: but wherefore he came, or for what purpose he was sent thither, no man could tell.

"Master Tyndale divers times was desired forth to dinner and supper amongst merchants; by means whereof this Henry Phillips became acquainted with him, so that within short space Master Tyndale had a great confidence in him, and brought him to his lodging, to the house of Thomas Poyntz; and had him also, once or twice with him, to dinner and supper; and further entered such friendship with him, that through his procurement he lay in the same house of the said Poyntz; to whom he showed, moreover, his books, and other secrets of his study, so little did Tyndale then mistrust this traitor!

"Poyntz, having no great confidence in the fellow, asked Tyndale how he became acquainted with this Phillips. Tyndale answered, that he was an honest man, handsomely learned, and very conformable. Then Poyntz, perceiving that he bare such favour to him, said no more, thinking that he was brought acquainted with him, by some friend of his. The said Phillips being in the town three or four days, upon a time, desired Poyntz to walk with him forth of the town, to show him the commodities thereof; and in walking together without the town, had communication of divers things, and some of the King's affairs; by which talk, Poyntz, as yet suspected nothing, but after, by the sequel of the matter, he perceived more what he had intended. In the meantime, this he

This seems to be Foxe's mode of expressing that Mr. Poyntz was an English merchant-adventurer, belonging to "the English house" of Antwerp.

well perceived, that he bare no great favour, either to the setting forth of any good thing, or to the proceedings of the King of England. But after, when the time was past, Poyntz perceived this to be his mind; to feel, if he could perceive by him, whether he might break with him in the matter, for lucre of money, to help him to his purpose; for he perceived before that he was monied, and would that Poyntz should think no less; but by whom, it was unknown. For he had desired Poyntz before, to help him to divers things, and such things as he named, he required might be of the best, 'for,' said he 'I have money enough:' but of this talk came nothing but that men should think he had some things to do. So it was to be suspected, that Phillips was in doubt to move this matter to any of the rulers or officers of the town of Antwerp, for doubt it should come to the knowledge of some Englishmen, and by the means thereof Tyndale should have had warning.

"So Phillips went from Antwerp to the court of Brussels, which is from thence twenty-four (rather 30) English miles, the King having there no Ambassador ;2 for at that time the King of England and the Emperor were at a controversy for the question betwixt the King and Catherine, who was aunt to the Emperor; and the discord grew so much, that it was doubted lest there should have been war; so that Phillips, as a traitor both against God and the King, was there the better retained, as also other traitors besides him; who after he had betrayed Master Tyndale into their hands, showed himself likewise against the King's own person, and there set forth things against the King3 To make short, the said Phillips did so much there, that he procured to bring from thence with him to Antwerp, that Procurer-general, who is the Emperor's Attorney, with certain other officers, as after followeth; which was not done with small charges and expenses, from whomsoever it came.

"Within a while after, Poyntz sitting at his door, Phillips's man came to him, and asked whether Master Tyndale were there, and said his master would come to him, and so departed; but whether his master, Phillips, were in the town or not, it was not known; but at that time Poyntz heard no more, either of the master, or of the man. Within three or four days after, Poyntz went forth to the town of Barrois,4 being eighteen (rather 24) English miles from Antwerp, where he had business to do for the space of a month or six weeks ;5 and in the time of his absence Henry Phillips came again to Antwerp, to the house of Poyntz, and coming in, spake with his wife, asking her for Master Tyndale, and whether he would dine there with him ; saying— what good meat shall we have?' She answered, such as the market will give.' Then went he forth again, as it was thought, to provide, and set the officers whom he brought with him from Brussels, in the street, and about the door. Then about noon he came again, and went to Master Tyndale, and desired him to lend him forty shillings; for,' said he, 'I lost my purse this morning, coming over at the passage, between this and Mechlin.' So Tyndale took him forty shillings, which was easy to be had

2 This was a mistake. Vaughan, of whom we have already heard, was still there. 3 The reader will come to full proof of this presently.

4 This Barrois, Barrow, Barough, Bergen, we repeat, is no other than Bergen-op-Zoom, now greatly blocked up by the sands of Beveland, but having still a communication with the Scheldt, by canal. Hence the title, Marquis of Barough or Bergen.

5 In the marts or fairs of Brabant the English, and probably other foreigners, were obliged to sell their cloths, &c. in fourteen days, and make their purchases of mercery, haberdashery, and groceries, in as many more, on pain of forfeiture. Those fairs were frequented by the English, French, Germans, and other nations.

of him, if he had it; for in the wily subtilties of this world, he was simple and inexpert.6

"Then said Phillips, Master Tyndale, you shall be my guest here this day.' No, said Tyndale, 'I go forth this day to dinner, and you shall go with me, and be my guest, where you shall be welcome.' So when it was dinner time, Master Tyndale went forth with Phillips, and at the going forth of Poyntz's house was a long narrow entry, so that two could not go in a front. Tyndale would have put Phillips before him, but Phillips would in no wise, for that he pretended to show great humanity, (courtesy.) So Master Tyndale, being a man of no great stature, went before, and Phillips, a tall comely person, followed behind him; who had set officers on either side of the door on two seats, who being there might see who came in the entry; and coming through the same, Phillips pointed with his finger over Master Tyndale's head down to him, that the officers who sat at the door might see that it was he, whom they should take; as the officers afterwards told Poyntz; and said, when they had laid him in prison, that they pitied to see his simplicity, when they took him. Then they brought him to the Emperor's attorney where he dined. Then came he, the attorney, to the house of Poyntz, and sent away all that was there of Master Tyndale's, as well his books as other things, and from thence Tyndale was had to the castle of VILVORDE, eighteen (rather 234) English miles from Antwerp." Thus far at present the narrative of Foxe.

Though Mr. Poyntz was from home, his friends, among the merchant-adventurers of the English house, were immediately alive to what had happened, and application was made without delay to the court of Brussels, but without effect. Many of these merchants were much in favour of Tyndale, but they communicated as "the English house" officially, through one of their number, elected periodically, called their GOVERNOR. This was at present one Walter Marshe,7 and he, if not an enemy to the cause for which Tyndale was seized, was at least indifferent. England, it is true, had no influence with the Emperor, who, at all events, was then engrossed by his famous enterprise against the piratical states in Africa; and though Stephen Vaughan, of whom we have heard, was still at Brussels, he seems to have been indisposed to say or do any thing, after all he had suffered at Antwerp, through the violence of Sir Thomas More, now himself a prisoner in the Tower. Vaughan, however, had received no instructions from England, and without these, perhaps, would not interfere. The merchant-adventurers were a powerful body of men, and

6 The betrayer, in this instance, first took from his kind hearted and unsuspicious victim, more than "thirty pieces of silver." Two pounds then, was equal in value to thirty pounds of the present day.

7 Or Marsch, not improbably related to John Marshe, cousin of Sir Thomas Gresham.