thence to the utmost parts of the earth."[485] Thither came young Patrick Hamilton from Edinburgh, whose “reek” was of so much potency, a boy-enthusiast of nature as illustrious as his birth; and thither came also from England, which is here our chief concern, William Tyndal, a man whose history is lost in his work, and whose epitaph is the Reformation.  Beginning life as a restless Oxford student, he moved thence to Cambridge, thence to Gloucestershire, to be tutor in a knight’s family, and there hearing of Luther’s doings, and expressing himself with too warm approval to suit his patron’s conservatism,[486] he fell into disgrace.  From Gloucestershire he removed to London, where Cuthbert Tunstall had lately been made bishop, and from whom he looked for countenance in an intention to translate the New Testament.  Tunstall showed little encouragement to this enterprise; but a better friend rose where he was least looked for; and a London alderman, Humfrey Monmouth by name, hearing the young dreamer preach on some occasion at St. Dunstan’s, took him to his home for half a year, and kept him there:  where “the said Tyndal,” as the alderman declared, “lived like a good priest, studying both night and day; he would eat but sodden meat, by his good will, nor drink but small single beer; nor was he ever seen to wear linen about him all the time of his being there."[487] The half year being passed, Monmouth gave him ten pounds, with which provision he went off to Wittenberg; and the alderman, for assisting him in that business, went to the Tower—­escaping, however, we are glad to know, without worse consequences than a short imprisonment.  Tyndal saw Luther,[488] and under his immediate direction translated the Gospels and Epistles while at Wittenberg.  Thence he returned to Antwerp, and settling there under the privileges of the city, he was joined by Joy, who shared his great work with him.  Young Frith from Cambridge came to him also, and Barnes, and Lambert, and many others of whom no written record remains, to concert a common scheme of action.

In Antwerp, under the care of these men, was established the printing press, by which books were supplied, to accomplish for the teaching of England what Luther and Melancthon were accomplishing for Germany.  Tyndal’s Testament was first printed, then translations of the best German books, reprints of Wycliffe’s tracts or original commentaries.  Such volumes as the people most required were here multiplied as fast as the press could produce them; and for the dissemination of these precious writings, the brave London Protestants dared, at the hazard of their lives, to form themselves into an organised association.