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The date of his birth is uncertain, so is
the place,
but he was born in Gloucestershire about 1490.
William was sent to Oxford at an early age, perhaps as early as 1508. He was ordained priest. He was proficient in Latin and Greek and was able to read the Bible for himself. Later William had the opportunity to study Hebrew, which was an added aid to his accuracy in translating. William Tyndale longed to liberalize and reform the Church from priestly arrogance and corrupt teaching. Not only in England was this felt - in Italy the eloquence and teaching of the greatly loved reformer Savonarola was gaining support and in Germany Martin Luther. Tyndale and the other reformers of his day realized all too well how great was the danger and how real would be the penalty if he followed his resolved intention. William Tyndale became a chaplain to 'Master Walsh, a knight of Gloucestershire' and his household, and tutor to his children and for a time lived with the family at the Manor House at Little Sodbury. During his stay he had been busy with translations. Shortly before leaving for London he had preached to a large congregation on College Green in Bristol, where the common people heard him gladly, by this time the people were to question what they had previously been taught by the priests. William was summoned to appear before Lord Abbot at Gloucester, who accused him if disturbing the peace and preaching rank heresy. No charge was made against him. Shortly after the trial William left for London, where he hoped to gain support from the Bishop Tunstal for permission to produce a Bible in English. The Bishop was approached with a prepared English translation of Tyndale's from Erasmus' Greek "Enchiridion Militis Christiani' to prove his worthiness to undertake such a task, only to be dismissed without a glance. Disappointed, and penniless, he turned away not knowing what his next move would be. About May 1524, Tyndale set out to Hamburg. From Hamburg, he was able to continue with his translation of the New Testament. A year later, he was in Cologne and it was discovered by his enemies in England that 2,000 copies of his New Testament were 'in the press' being printed by Peter Quentell. Betrayed, and with only just enough time to snatch a few of the unfinished sheets, he made a quick departure, sailing up the Rhine to seek a more friendly atmosphere. Word got to King Henry and Tyndale found himself a Wanted Man. He arrived at Worms with half-printed Testaments and in 1526 found a willing printer in Peter Shoeffer, who was making great strides in the new printing trade. While in Worms he was able to study Hebrew as many Jews lived in the town. Back in England, Henry VIII decreed that Tyndale's translation of the New Testament, printed over seas was forbidden. The Testaments finding their way;y into London , via the port of Hamburg to London, very soon the Bishop became aware and a discussion was made to seize the books and publicly burn them. Despite frantic vigilance by the Church dignitaries, copies of the New Testament were distributed throughout London and even further. Meanwhile Tyndale had hidden himself securely in one of the smaller German towns, probably Marburg, where he found one Hans Luft, who favoured the Reformation and who printed several of Tyndale's pamphlets. William Tyndale then went to Antwerp, most of the books printed in Antwerp by De Keyser were publicly burned as were, sadly, some of Tyndale's friends and supporters. With many unsuccessful attempts to lure Tyndale back to England . A plot was made by enemies in England to arrest him whenever he could be taken alone. So through the trickery of a priest friend Henry Phillips who proved false and a spy, Tyndale was lured into venturing into the open city one night, when he was taken prisoner. By this time he had completed the translation of both Old and New Testaments. 6th October 1536, William Tyndale was put before a public trial and charges set against him. Nearly two months later age 46 William was led out to die. The law at that land decreed that a prisoner must first be strangled and then his body burnt. Being led to the stake he first requested a few minutes in private prayer. It is said that he cried out loud "Lord, open the King of England's eyes. Wherever the English tongue is spoken the words of the English Bible still speak to men and women in the same words that this brave, zealous reformer used when he translated the Scriptures for all people to read. (Ref) Gloucestershire's Famous Connections - Margaret Hilton |
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