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Tyndale'sBetrayaland
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By1535,severalenglishmenhadbeenorwereengagedinthehuntforWilliam
Tyndale,underorderseitherfromKingHenryVIII,SirThomasMore,orBishop
JohnStokesleyofLondon.TheseagentswerehuntingalloverEurope,butonlyone
ofthemactuallysucceededinferretingouttheelusiveTyndaleandbringingabout
hisdemise:adeviousneerdowellnamedHenry(orHarry)Phillips.
HenryPhillipsarrivedinAntwerpduringtheearlysummerof1535.Hecamefroma
wealthyandthereforenotableEnglishfamily,andhis
father,Richard,hadbeenthreetimesamemberof
parliamentandtwicehighsheriff.Inaddition,
RichardPhillipsheldthelucrativepostofComptroller
CurrentIue
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oftheCustomsinPooleHarbor.
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TheWorldI
HenryPhillipswasthethirdandlastsoninthe
Yearningfor
eautiful
family,andin1533heregisteredatOxfordfora
Orthodox
degreeincivillaw.Andbeingamanofsomeability,
JimmCarter:
hewasapparentlywellsettogainagoodpositionand
PuruinganArcof
followarespectablelife.
Reconciliation
Clinton,Trump,or
Neither?3Viewon
However,Phillipshadanothersidetohischaracter
the2016Preidential
thatnowcametodeterhim.Entrustedwithalarge
lection
sumofmoneybyhisfathertopaytosomeonein
UCRI
VIWALL
London,Henryreachedthebigcityandgambled
awayhistrust.
ucrietoChritianitTodaandgetintantacceto
patiueofChritianHitor!
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Whathismovementswereimmediatelyafterthatwe
cannotbesure,butthreeyearslater,inthewinterof
153637,hewrotefromtheContinentaseriesoflong,
penitentlettershome,expressinghisterriblepoverty
andthefactthathisdirestraitswouldsoonendhis
lifeinabjectmiseryunlesshisparentsheldoutahand
offorgivenessandassistance.Hewasbythenbeing
brandedasatraitorandrebel,andhadfoundhimself
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AftersquanderinghisfathersmoneyinLondon,
Phillipshadevidentlycomeintocontactwithsomeonewhowasstillanxiousto
apprehendTyndale.PhillipswasvirtuallystrandedinAntwerp,afraidtoreturn
homeandunabletoleavethecity.Ayoungeducatedmanfromtheuniversity,with
influentialconnectionsandaknowndisdainforthereformers,andnowinaterrible
financialmess,hewastheidealpersontosendonanewmissiontokidnapTyndale.
Wemayneverknowtheidentityofthepowerfuldignitarywhososuccessfullyused
PhillipsashisfrontmaninthearrestofTyndale,buttheprimesuspicionrestsupon
JohnStokesley.Hishatredofthereformerswasvenomous,andheboastedofthe
numberofhereticshehadkilled.BesideStokesley,evenThomasMoreappeared
gentle.
Whoeverhismasterwas,Phillipsreceivedhisorders,aservantandaliberalsupply
ofmoney,thensetoffforLouvain.ThiscitywasintheprovinceofBrabant,andthe
town,stronglyagainstreform,wassituatedabout30milesnortheastofasmall
villageoflaterhistoricalimportancecalledWaterloo.Phillipsregisteredasastudent
attheuniversityand,toexplainhisapparentwealth,spokefreelyofholdingtwo
goodbeneficesinthedioceseofExeter.FromLouvainhecouldplanhisstrategyand
ridealongthedirectroadtoAntwerp,lessthan30milesaway.
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Winning
eirCon dence
PhillipsthrewhimselfintothecompanyoftheEnglishmerchants,andbyhissilver
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tongueandgoldenhandwontheconfidenceofallexceptThomasPoyntz,theman
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whogaveTyndalesafelodginginAntwerp.ItwasnotlongbeforeTyndale,whowas
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frequentlyinvitedtodinewiththemerchants,foundhimselfinthesamecompany,
andHenryPhillipshadcomefacetofacewithhisprey.
Unsuspecting,thereformerfeltattractedtotheeasymannerandeloquentspeechof
theyoungstudentlawyer,andbeforelongheinvitedhimtothePoyntzeshome.
Therehedined,admiredTyndalessmalllibrary,warmlycommendedhislabors,and
talkedeasilyoftheaffairsinEnglandandtheneedforreform.Heevenstayed
overnight.
ThomasPoyntzhadmisgivingsabouttherelativestranger,butwhenTyndale
assuredhimofthemansLutheransympathies,heputhisdoubtsaside.Thiswasthe
greatestmistakeTyndaleevermade.
PhillipswonthefriendshipofPoyntz,andafterafewdaysthemerchanttookthe
visitoronatourofAntwerp,readilyansweringallPhillipsinquiriesaboutthealleys,
buildingsandchiefofficersofthetown.Theytalkedaboutthekingandhisaffairs,
Poyntzandhisaffairs,Phillipsandhisaffairs.Itwasallveryamicable.WhatPoyntz
onlylaterrealizedwasthatPhillipswasalsogentlysoundinghimouttoseewhether,
foragoodbribe,hewouldbewillingtosacrificeTyndale.Forallhisastutebusiness
abilities,Poyntzapparentlydidnotpickuptheveiledmessageuntilitwastoolate.
WithinafewdaysHenryPhillipshadgone.Hehadlearnedenoughfromhisnew
friendstoknowthatitwouldbeuselesstoworkthroughthemerchantsorofficersof
AntwerpawarningwouldalmostcertainlyreachTyndalebeforehecouldbeseized.
Hewasrightinthis.Antwerpwasfullofeyes,earsandmouths.AsearlyasAprilof
thatyeartheImperialattorneyinBrusselshadissuedawarrantforthearrestofthe
threeleadersofEnglishreform:Tyndale,JoyeandDr.Barnes.Thiswarrantwas
passedtotheleadersattheBergenincaseoneofthewantedmenshouldvisitthe
greattradefairheldinthattowninApril.AhelpfulnoteforewarnedtheAntwerp
merchantsofalltheseofficialcommunications.
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ThusPhillipsrodestraighttothecourtofBrussels,24milesdistantandjustafew
mileswestfromLouvain.AmbassadorHacketthaddiedinOctober1534andneither
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HenryofEnglandnorCharlesofthegreatImperialEmpirewasinahurrytoseehim
replaced.HenryhadfinallysubstitutedAnneandhimselfforCatherineandthe
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popetheBishopofRochester,JohnFisher,andtherecentLordChancellor,Thomas
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More,werealreadyontheirwaytothescaffoldthepopewasputtingthefinishing
touchestoaBulltoexcommunicatethisgreatDefenderoftheFaith,andCharles,
becauseofallthis,wasnottalkingtoKingHenry.
PhillipsthereforearrivedattheImperialCourtatatimewhenhecouldactashis
ownambassadorandwithvaluableinformationagainstoneofHenryssubjects.
Withlittledelay,heobtainedtheservicesoftheEmperorsattorneyand,withasmall
partyofofficers,setoutontheroadbacktoAntwerp.
PoyntzwassittingunusuallylazilybyhisdoorwhenPhillipsservantarrived,
inquiredwhetherWilliamTyndalewasathome,andassuredthemerchantthathis
masterwouldshortlycallbacktoseethetranslator.Hedidnotcallback,andthree
orfourdayslaterPoyntzleftAntwerptoconductsomebusinessatBarrow,some18
milesfromthetown.HeexpectedtobeawayforamonthorsixweeksandPhillips,
knowingthis,decidedtostrikewithoutfurtherdelay.
HearrivedatthePoyntzhomeaboutMay21,1535,and,inhiscourteousand
charmingmanner,invitedhimselftolunch.Hethenreturnedintothetown,
presumablytosettheofficersintheirappropriateplaceforambush.Phillipsscheme
wasworkingaccordingtoplan,onlyrequiringthatTyndale,whohadalreadybeen
invitedouttolunchthatday,cancelthearrangementmadewithMrs.Poyntzand
invitePhillipstojoinhiminthetown.Inthishewasnotdisappointed.
ButHenryPhillipscouldnotresistonemorevictoryoverhisalreadycondemned
prize.AlmostasanafterthoughtheaskedTyndaleifhewouldkindlylendhimtwo
pounds,onthepretextthathehad,thatverymorning,losthispurse.Tyndale,who
accordingtoFoxesBookofMartyrswassimpleandinexpertinthewilysubtleties
ofthisworld,willinglyhandedoverthemoney(enoughforapoorfamilytoliveon
fortwomonths)andthetwomenleftthehouse.
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Amuhed!
Antwerpwas,likeallmedievaltowns,lacedwithtwisting,narrowalleysthatin
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placesrefusedtoallowtwomentopass,andweresunlessbyreasonofthe
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overhangingbuildings.AstheyleftPoyntzshome,justsuchanopeningconfronted
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them.Tyndalecourteouslysteppedbacktoallowhisguesttoprecedehim.Phillips,a
tall,handsomeman,stoodasideandinsistedthatthegreatreformershouldhave
precedence.
Tyndalecametotheopeningandsawtwoofficersreadytoseizehim,hehesitated
andmovedback,Phillipsstoodoverhim,pointingdownwithhisfingerasasignthat
thiswasthemanhethenjostledTyndaleforwardintotheofficers,whoboundhim
withropesandbroughthimtotheattorneysresidenceandfinallytothegrimcastle
ofVilvoorde,justsixmilesnorthofBrussels.
ThecastleofVilvoordehadbeenerectedin1374byoneofthedukesofBrabant,and
sinceitwasmodeledupontheinfamousBastille,builtinParisataboutthesame
time,itsmoat,seventowers,threedrawbridgesandmassivewallsmadeitan
impregnableprison.ThecastlewasusedasthestateprisonfortheLowCountries,
andTyndalewasthrownintooneofthefoulsmelling,dampdungeonswithnothing
forcompanybutthelappingmoat,thesquabblingmoorhensoutside,andthe
drippingwallsandscurryingratsinside.
Here,inhissolitarydarkness,Tyndalewaitedfortheend.Themerchants,withall
theirpoweratAntwerp,werepowerlesshere,andfewwouldrisktheirlivelihoodto
trytosavehim.Hisworkthatremainedundonecouldneverbecompleted.Tyndale
knewhehadfinishedthecourse.
WhenThomasPoyntzgallopedintoAntwerpinreplytotheurgentmessagefromhis
wife,hediscoveredTyndalesroomransackedandallhisbooksandpaperstaken.
Poyntzwasfurious.Heblamedhimself,heblamedthemerchants,heblamedthe
governoroftheEnglishHouse,heblamedTyndalessimplicitybutaboveallhe
blamedtheauthorities.Thiswasanoutrageousbreachofthetraditionalprivilegeof
thehouseoftheEnglishmerchants.Andthemerchantslostnotimeinsendinga
strongletterofprotesttothegovernmentoftheLowCountries.
LettersofindignantcomplaintpouredintothecourtatBrussels.Lettersalsobegan
toarriveatthecourtofKingHenry.Andbehindallthisactionwasthenevertiring
handoffaithfulThomasPoyntz.Butitwasaforlornhope.EmperorCharlesVwas
makingupforlosttimebyturningupontheLutheranswithavengeance,andHenry
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VIII,havingtoppledthepopeoverthecliffsofEngland,wasanxioustoprovehewas
stillaloyalRomanCatholicandcertainlynoheretic.Justtodemonstratehispoint,
14DutchAnabaptistsweresenttothestakeinEnglandwithinafewdaysof
Tyndalesarrest.
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ThomasPoyntzdeterminedtodosomething.HewrotetohisbrotherJohn,whowas
lordofthemanorofNorthOckendeninEssex,andurgedhimtomake
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representationinthecourt.ThedeathofTyndale,Poyntzurged,willbeagreat
hindrancetothegospeland,totheenemiesofit,oneofthehighestpleasure.The
kingneverhadamoreloyalsubjectthanTyndale,suggestedPoyntz,noramanof
higherreputation.Poyntzsletterbreathesazealandloyaltytothereformerthat
revealsthecloserelationshipbetweenthetwomen,andtheircommonfaithin
Christ.
ThoughPoyntzfailedinhisattemptstorescueTyndale,itmuststandtothe
merchantscreditthathegavehimselfunstintinglytohisattempts,regardlessofthe
costtohimself.Eventually,hewasbanishedfromtheLowCountries,lostmostofhis
merchantinterestsinconsequence,wasseparatedfromhiswifeandfamilyformany
yearsand,whenhefinallysucceededtohisbrothersestateatNorthOckenden,was
toopoortolivethere.Hediedin1562,andhisepitaphinthechurchbuildingat
NorthOckendenspeaksofhissufferingandimprisonment,forfaithfulservicetohis
princeandardentprofessionofevangelicalfaith.
ItislittlecomforttoknowthatforhisJudaslikebetrayalHenryPhillipsgained
nothingeither.HespentthenextfewyearsfleeingfromKingHenrysagents.They
reachedhiminRome,andtheninParis,wherehearrivedaltogetherraggedand
torn,andwherehestolesomeclothesfromanoldfriendwhohadhelpedhim.He
oncereturnedtoLondon,butwasforcedbacktoLouvain,fromwhencehewrotethe
begginglettershome.
Intheautumnof1538hearrivedinItaly,asaSwissmercenarywithGermanboots
havingwalkedfromFlanders.By1542hepassesfromhistory,asaprisonerunder
threatoflosinghiseyesorhislife.Disownedbyhisfamily,byhiscountry,byalmost
everyprinceonthecontinentandevenbythosewithwhomhecollaboratedinhis
terriblecrime,hedied,Foxeconjectures,consumedatlastwithlice.
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eTrialandImprionment
Butbackin1535,Tyndale,shiveringinthedungeonsoftheCastleofVilvoorde,was
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toogreatamantoentertainanypettyhopesforrevengeoverHenryPhillips.Hehad
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neverexpectedhisdeathtobeotherthanviolenthehadbeentoolongexposedto
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thedangerouslifeofthehuntedexiletowastetimemourninghispresentstate.
Heknewhistrialwouldbelittlemorethanaformalitybutduringthateventhe
mighthaveopportunityforspeakingofhisSavior,andthushemustpreparehis
defensewell.Inaddition,hecontinuedwiththeworksoclosetohisheart,his
writingandtranslation.
AsTyndaletoiledandtheautumnof1535faded,hischestandheadlaboredwith
heavycatarrhheshiveredthroughtheday,andshiveredallnightaswell.Ashe
pennedhislittletreatise,FaithAloneJustifiesBeforeGod,winterdrewonandthe
lightbegantofailafewhoursadaywasallhecoulduseforwriting.Theremainder
ofthetimehesatindarkness.Buthemustfinishhiswork,forthiswastobehis
summaryoftheevangelicalgospelsincehewasgoingtodieanyway,theremustbe
nodoubtastowhyhedied.
Thewinterwasharsh,andthoughhewastooboldforChristtopleadforrelease,and
toowisetoconsideritofanyvalueifhehad,hedeterminedtoasktheprison
governor,whoalsohappenedtobetheMarquisofBergen,forafewessentialsto
helphimwithhisstudy,andtomaintainalittlelongertheflickeringlifethat
shiveredinhisbody.TheletterwaswritteninLatin,anditistheonlyletterin
Tyndalesownhandthathassurvived(seeacopyofitinALetterfromPrison).
TheletteristypicalofTyndalethereisnocringingflattery,nofranticpleaformercy,
nolongandtediousdefenseorprotestsofloyalty,faithfulservice,humbleobedience
andsoon,allofwhichissofamiliarinlettersfrom16thcenturycondemnedcells.
Tyndaleasksforhisneeds,determinestogoonwithhisstudy,longsonlyforthe
salvationofhiscaptors,andisreadyforwhateverGodssovereignpurposemaybe.
Whetherhisrequestwasgrantedcannotyetbetold.
Finally,thelongawaitedtrialbegan.Tyndalehadbeeninthecastlefor18months,
andnoweverythingwasset.Alonglistofchargeswasdrawnup:
First,hehadmaintainedthatfaithalonejustifies.
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Second,hemaintainedthattobelieveintheforgivenessofsins,andtoembracethe
mercyofferedinthegospel,wasenoughforsalvation.
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Third,heaverredthathumantraditionscannotbindtheconscience,exceptwhere
theirneglectmightoccasionscandal.
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Fourth,hedeniedthefreedomofthewill.
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Fifth,hedeniedthatthereisanypurgatory.
Sixth,heaffirmedthatneithertheVirginnortheSaintsprayforusintheirown
person.
Seventh,heassertedthatneithertheVirginnortheSaintsshouldbeinvokedby
us.Andsothelistcontinued.
EarlyinAugustof1536,thereformerwascondemnedasaheretic.Afewdayslater
thepageantofcastinghimoutoftheChurchtookplace.Inthetownsquareacrowd
gathered.Thegreatdoctorsanddignitariesassembledinduepompandarray,and
tooktheirseatsonthehighplatform.Tyndalewasledout,wearinghispriestsrobes.
Hewasmadetokneelandhishandswerescrapedwithaknifeorapieceofglassasa
symbolofhavinglostthebenefitsoftheanointingoilwithwhichhewasconsecrated
tothepriesthood.
Thebreadandwineofthemasswereplacedinhishands,andatoncewithdrawn.
Thisdone,hewasceremoniouslystrippedofhispriestsvestments,reclothedasa
layman,andhandedovertotheattorneyforsecularpunishment.TheChurchwould
condemn,butalwaysleftittothesecularofficerstostaintheirhandswiththe
murder.ButforTyndaletheendwasnotyet.HewastakenbacktoVilvoordeCastle
andforsomeunexplainedreasonremainedaprisonerfortwomoremonths.
execution
Then,earlyinthemonthofOctober1536,WilliamTyndalewasledoutofthecastle
towardthesoutherngateofthetown.Thesunhadbarelyrisenabovethehorizon
whenhearrivedattheopenspace,andlookedoutoverthecrowdofonlookers
eagerlyjostlingforagoodview.Acircleofstakesenclosedtheplaceofexecution,
andinthecenterwasalargepillarofwoodintheformofacrossandastallasa
man.
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Astrongchainhungfromthetop,andanooseofhempwasthreadedthroughahole
intheupright.Theattorneyandthegreatdoctorsarrivedfirst,andseated
themselvesinstatenearby.Theprisonerwasbroughtinandafinalappealwasmade
thatheshouldrecant.
Tyndalestoodimmovable,hiskeeneyesgazingtowardthecommonpeople.A
silencefelloverthecrowdastheywatchedtheprisonersleanformandthin,tired
facehislipsmovedwithafinalimpassionedprayerthatechoedaroundtheplaceof
execution:Lord,openthekingofEnglandseyes.
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Hisfeetwereboundtothestake,theironchainfastenedaroundhisneck,andthe
hempnoosewasplacedathisthroat.OnlytheAnabaptistsandlapsedhereticswere
burntalive.Tyndalewassparedthatordeal.
Pilesofbrushwoodandlogswereheapedaroundhim.Theexecutionercameup
behindthestakeandwithallhisforcesnappeddownuponthenoose.Within
secondsTyndalewasstrangled.
Theattorneysteppedforward,placedalightedtorchtothetinder,andthegreatmen
andcommonerssatbacktowatchthefireburn.Notuntilthecharredformhung
limplyonthechaindidanofficerbreakoutthestapleofthechainwithhishalbert,
allowingthebodytofallintotheglowingheatofthefiremorebrushwoodwaspiled
ontopand,whilethecommonersmarveledatthepatientsufferanceofMaster
Tyndaleatthetimeofhisexecution,accordingtoFoxe,theattorneyandthedoctors
ofLouvainmovedofftobegintheirdayswork,neverimaginingthatwithinmonths
atleastpartofthepleainTyndalesdyingprayerwouldbeansweredaffirmatively.
BrianH.EdwardsistheauthorofGod'sOutlaw,a1976bookaboutWilliamTyndale,
publishedbyEvangelicalPressandnowinitsthirdprinting.Thisarticleisadaptedfroma
chapterinthatbook,usedbygraciouspermissionofBrianandEvangelicalPress.Brianis
ministerofacongregationinSurrey,England,andhasauthoredfourotherbooks
Copyright1987bytheauthororChristianityToday/ChristianHistorymagazine.
forreprintinformationonChristianHistory.
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