But when once these dangers were passed, and the upper rooms gained, Master Tyndale found that they were as conveniently and elegantly furnished as little Sodbury Hall itself. Indeed, all the new inventions, such as stamped leather tapestry on the walls, and a rug of some foreign make on the floor, in the best room, instead of the rushes that needed constantly replacing, if the room was to be kept sweet and clean, were in use here.
Before the day was over, Master Tyndale had learned not to despise a London merchant; for Monmouth showed as great an appreciation of the truth of the Gospel as even he could desire, and begged him to come and stay with him while he translated the New Testament.
[CHAPTER XI.]
SIR THOMAS PATON.
MASTER TYNDALE went to spend a day or two with Miles at York House, before taking up his quarters with the generous London merchant, Monmouth, at "The Sign of the Golden Fleece." Every shop—no matter what its trade might be—had its distinctive sign in those days—the picture, if possible, as well as the words, being painted on a board and hung out beyond the doorway. Prentice lads called out the wares that were sold, trying to outbawl each other in their shouts of "What d'ye lack? What d'ye lack? Here's fine Flemish cloth for hose and doublet!" "Here's spices and peppers from beyond the sea!" called another. "Hats! Hats! Hats!" screamed a third. This was the din that greeted the two friends as they walked up Fleet Street together from York House.
It was not too quiet there for a studious man, with its constant coming and going; but here, in the midst of this London chaffering, what hope would there be of ever getting a quiet hour? And Miles said something of this as they were pushed and jostled and shouted at by these eager lads, who were anxious to secure them as customers.
But on their arrival at "The Golden Fleece" they found that Dame Monmouth had anticipated her guest's desire to be quiet, for she had prepared a room for him at the back, as far away from the noise of the street as possible; and, being at the very top of the house, it was light, although the casement was small. But the room itself was not much larger than a monk's cell, and almost as plainly furnished.
A table, a stool, a little pallet bed in one corner, and two deal shelves to hold his books! But Tyndale was delighted with his little room, and deeply grateful to the lady who had taken care that all the deal furniture should be carefully scrubbed before it was brought up here.
Miles was inclined to view it with a little disfavour, for he would fain have honoured his friend by providing him with a more luxurious lodging, he having begun to get used to "purple and fine linen" from living in the Cardinal's household—although his own room at Oxford had been little, if any, better.
"This will be as the portal of heaven to me, I hope," said Tyndale, looking round the room with a smile of supreme satisfaction. "Here I trust I shall be taught of the Spirit how to write and what to say, for the harvest truly is plenteous but the labourers are few."