Yet the two friends had not been idle amid the splendours of York House; for Miles, the Cardinal, having given him leave to use his library, had obtained leave from the Controller of the household to take the country priest there also; and he, nothing loth to exalt his master's fame for splendour, riches, and learning, had readily agreed to let the two spend a good deal of their time there.
Books that they could scarcely hope to find anywhere else in England were stored here—treasures of Greek and Hebrew—valuable tomes that had been brought from Italy, as presents or bribes to Wolsey, were here ranged on the shelves; and the friends were not slow to make use of these for reference in the work they both had so much at heart. It was for the sake of having such a library to refer to in any difficulty that Tyndale had so much desired the patronage and help of the Bishop of London; but, as he turned the pages of these invaluable treasures of learning, he doubted whether Dr. Tunstall's library would afford him such help as this of the Cardinal's; and when the Controller graciously extended his invitation to a seat at the household table, Tyndale was careful to accept it gratefully, although he would rather have had a frugal meal served to him at the neighbouring tavern, as he and Miles had arranged for.
And the Controller was not so pleased after all, for Master Tyndale had lived sparingly and frugally all the years he had been at Cambridge, and evidently had believed in plain living and high thinking, for he persistently declined one dainty after the other, and sat munching a piece of coarse rye-bread, although there was a loaf made from the finest wheat meal standing close to him.
Miles was vexed, for he thought his friend might for once have conformed to the usages of the Cardinal's household, for his sake, if for nothing else. But all Tyndale would consent to eat was a piece of coarse boiled beef, such as was served at the tables of the servants about the kitchen.
It was a small matter, perhaps—this question of eating and drinking—but Tyndale's sturdy adherence to what he conceived the best manner of living, was characteristic of the man and the times in which he lived.
Perhaps the Reformers, of whom Tyndale was one of the earliest, might have yielded a little more in the question of non-essentials; but if they had done this, would they have been fitted for the strenuous work that was needed just then? Would they have made their protest against the corruptions of the Church as effectual, if they had not held pertinaciously to their principles in little things as well as in greater matters?
Be this as it may, Tyndale declined all the delicacies served to the gentlemen at the Cardinal's table, and thereby offended the Controller, who regarded him as a vain-glorious priest—as he told Miles afterwards—and one who set himself up as being better than the Lord's anointed, the Cardinal himself! For he never refused good meat and wine; but, like a wise man, would have nothing but the best of everything brought to his own private table.
The same difficulty cropped up at the family table at "The Golden Fleece." Tyndale did not care for the rich food that was placed on the board of the London merchant; and to Dame Dorothy's great regret would eat nothing but the plainest and coarsest food, such as was served to the 'prentice lads and serving women of the household.
The coming of the priest, Master William Tyndale—or "Sir" William, as most priests were called—did not add much to Dame Dorothy's household work, or household expenditure: for Tyndale made his own bed, and insisted upon cleaning his own room, lest through the carelessness of some awkward or inquisitive maid, his work of translation should be spoiled or hindered; for the more he saw and heard of the great Cardinal, who had the ruling of England in his hands, the more he desired that the Word of God should be placed in the hands of the people, that they might see and judge for themselves how far this proud prelate, and the church he represented, had strayed from the example of the Master they professed to serve.
To perfect his work, it was necessary sometimes that he should walk down to York House and consult with his friend, or examine some book in the Cardinal's library, for the proper elucidation of some word, that he might, by tracing it through several languages, at last select the best English word that would express its meaning.