“He is strong that can bear another man’s weakness.”
—Tyndale.
THE QUEEN’S BIBLE—THE TRAITOR—THE TRAP—THE WEARY YEAR OF IMPRISONMENT—THE TRIUMPH.
Two years (1533-1535) were spent by Tyndale in Antwerp, and while engaged in the manner that Foxe described in the paragraph which we quoted in the last chapter, he was also employed in revising his New Testament. The Bishop of Durham says of this second edition:—
“One of the few copies of this edition which have been preserved is of touching interest. Among the men who had suffered for aiding in the circulation of the earlier editions of the Testament was a merchant-adventurer of Antwerp, Mr. Harman, who seems to have applied to Queen Anne Boleyn for redress. The Queen listened to the plea which was urged in his favour, and by her intervention he was restored to the freedom and privileges of which he had been deprived. Tyndale could not fail to hear of her good offices, and he acknowledged them by a royal gift. He was at the time engaged in superintending the printing of his revised New Testament, and of this he caused one copy to be struck off on vellum and beautifully illuminated. No preface or dedication or name mars the simple integrity of this copy. Only on the gilded edges in faded red letters runs the simple title, Anna Regina Angliæ. The copy was bequeathed to the British Museum by the Rev. C. M. Cracherode in 1799.”
It was almost his last sacrifice for England, for in the year 1535 Tyndale was arrested. He had, during this last stay in Antwerp, resided with Thomas Poyntz, an English merchant who had settled in that town. This gave Tyndale protection against liability of arrest, so long as he kept within the house of his patron and friend. From Poyntz, Foxe obtained an account of Tyndale’s capture, and we subjoin it here:—
“William Tyndale, being in the town of Antwerp, had been lodged about one whole year in the house of Thomas Poyntz, an Englishman. About which time there came thither one out of England whose name was Henry Philips, 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.”
This man basely ingratiated himself into Tyndale’s favour, and although Poyntz distrusted him, even he did not suspect that Philips was capable of the baseness of betraying Tyndale to his death.
At length the time arrived when Philips’ arrangements for the capture of Tyndale were completed, and when perhaps this Judas had received the price of blood. It happened that Poyntz “went forth to a town being eighteen miles from Antwerp, where he had business to do for the space of a month or six weeks. And in the time of his absence Henry Philips 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 is 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 of him, if he had it; for in the wily subtleties of this world he was simple and inexpert. Then said Philips, ‘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 Tyndale went forth with Philips, and at the going forth of Poyntz’s house was a long narrow entry, so that two could not go in afront. Master Tyndale would have put Philips before him, but Philips would in no wise, but put Master Tyndale before, for that he pretended to show great humility. So, Master Tyndale being a man of no great stature, went before, and Philips, a tall comely person, followed behind him; who had set officers on either side of the door upon two seats, who, being there, might see who came in at the entry; and coming through the same entry, Philips 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 that took Master Tyndale afterwards told Poyntz, and said to Poyntz, when they had laid him in prison, that they pitied to see his simplicity when they took him. Then they took him and brought him to the Emperor’s attorney, or Procuror-General, where he dined. Then came the Procuror-General 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 Filford (Vilvorde), eighteen English miles from Antwerp, and there he remained until he was put to death.”