Among those who thus publicly lectured was John Clark, a Cambridge master of arts, learned and conscientious; and he took the Greek Testament of Erasmus as the basis of many of his lectures. To meet a student like Miles was a joy to the new lecturer; and he soon heard of the young man's difficulties, and resolved to help him at the first opportunity; and this presented itself earlier than he anticipated.
To complete his college, Wolsey had obtained a bull from the Pope to suppress the monastery of St. Frideswide, and several smaller monasteries as well. This had caused an outcry among those who wished to see the old state of things continued, and some difficulty had arisen, which required the despatch of a messenger of some intelligence, not merely to carry despatches to the Cardinal, but to explain some matters to him by word of mouth, that could hardly be committed to paper; and Miles was recommended by his friend Master Clark as a suitable person to perform the delicate mission.
"This may prove an opening into a new life to you, my lad," said his friend, when he sent for Miles and explained that he was to go to London, and would probably see the great Cardinal himself. "The errand upon which you are going is a special one, and the future usefulness of this college depends much upon the despatch and skill you may exercise in getting these papers placed in the hands of the Cardinal himself without delay."
"Thank you for entrusting me with such an errand," said Miles, bowing before his master and friend. "I will do my utmost to fulfil your wishes. How soon am I to start?"
"To-morrow at daybreak a party of travellers will set off for London, and it is desirable that you should join them. But we do not wish it known that you are going to York House, where the Cardinal is living just now; and so another missive has been prepared for Bishop Tunstall. This also must be delivered, but your errand is to the Cardinal first. Place yourself in his hands, and whatever he directs you are to do. If he decides that another messenger shall be sent to the Bishop, then let it be so. He is to decide. His will must be law."
Of course Miles felt pleased to be chosen for such a mission, and he went at once to prepare for his journey.
He went to his own room at the college first, and packed up all his translations, for as it was pretty well decided now that for a man to translate the Scriptures into English was to proclaim himself a heretic, he resolved to take all these compromising papers with him, securely placed inside the lining of his doublet, for he began to fear that persecution such as had fallen upon the followers of Wickliffe a hundred years before might occur again, if this ferment continued over the sayings and doings of the German monk Luther.
Having settled his more private affairs, he went to the hostelry from whence travellers usually started on their journey to the south, and where he hoped he should find other travellers going in the same direction.
"A large party will leave by six o'clock to-morrow morning," said the landlord, in answer to Miles' enquiry; and then he went once more to tell Master John Clark that he had made all needful preparations for his journey, and to receive the despatches he was to carry.
"Now, if it be possible, I want you to let the Cardinal know that we are in no fear of the teaching of Martin Luther here. The new learning will not be disturbed in Oxford by—"