voyde, he was compelled openly to confesse, that there was some man present at supper, which disturbed and letted all his doings. So that a man euen in the Martyrs of these our dayes, can not lacke the miracles of true faith, if miracles were now to be desired.

MarginaliaW. Tyndals. workes looked for to be all set out in one volume.As concerning þ^e workes and bookes of Tyndall, which extend to a great number, thou wast tolde before (louyng reader) howe the Printer heereof mindeth by the Lordes leaue, to collect them all in one Volume together, and put them out in print. Wherefore it shall not greatly at thys time be needefull to make any seuerall rehearsall of them.

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And as touching his translation of the new Testament, because his enemies did so much carpe at it, pretending it to be so full of heresies, to aunswere therfore to their sclanderous tongs and lieng lippes, thou shalt heare and vnderstand, MarginaliaThe faithfull dealing of Tindall in translating the newe testament.what faithfull dealing, and sincere conscience he vsed in the same, by the testimonie & allegation of his own words, written in his Epistle to Iohn Frith as foloweth: I call God to record against the day we shall appeare before our Lord Iesus, to geue a reckening of our doings, þ^t I neuer altered one sillable of Gods word against my cōscience, nor would do this day, if all that is in earth, whether it be honour, pleasure, or riches might be geuē me, &c.

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As as ye haue heard Tyndals owne words thus protesting for himselfe: now let vs heare likewise the faithfull testimonie of Iohn Frith, for Tindall his deare companion and brother, thus declaring in his aunswere to mayster More, as followeth.

MarginaliaThe testimony of Iohn Frith, for Tindall.ANd Tyndall I trust  

liueth, well content with suche a poore Apostles life, as God gaue his sonne Christ, and his faithfull Ministers in this world, which is not sure of so many mites, as ye be yearely of poundes, although I am sure that for his learning and iudgement in Scripture, he were more worthy to be promoted, then all the Bishops in Englande. I receaued a letter from him, whiche was written since Christmas, wherein among other matters he writeth this: MarginaliaThe wordes of Tindall written to Iohn Frith.I call God to record against the daye wee shall appeare before our Lord Iesus to geue a reckening of our doings, that I neuer altered one sillable of Gods word against my conscience, nor woulde do this day, if all that is in earth, whether it be honour, pleasure, or riches, might be geuen me.

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Moreouer, I take God to witnesse to my conscience, that I desire of God to my selfe in this world, no more then that without which I can not keepe his lawes, &c. Iudge Christian Reader whether these words be not spoken of a faithfull cleare innocent hart. And as for his behauiour, is such, that I am sure no man can reproue him of any sinne, howbeit, no man is innocent before God, which beholdeth the hart.MarginaliaEx lib. Tind. praxit Prælatorum. This much out of Frith.

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And thus being about to conclude and finishe wyth the life and story of William Tindall, it shall be requisite now that the Reader do heare some thing likewise of his supplication made to the King, and nobles of the Realme, as they are yet extant in his workes to be seene, and woorthy in all ages to be marked, the tenour whereof tendeth to this effect as followeth.

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MarginaliaTindals supplicatiō to the king and states of England.I Beseech the Kings most noble grace, well to consider all the wayes, by the whiche the Cardinall, and oure holy Byshops haue led hym since he was first King, and to see whereunto all the pride, pompe, and vaine boast of þ^e Cardinall is come, and how God hath resisted hym and oure Prelates in all their wiles. We haue nothing to do at all, haue medled yet with all matters, and haue spente for our Prelates causes, more then all Christendome, euen vnto the vtter beggering of our selues, and haue gotten nothing but rebuke and hate amōg all nations, & a mocke and a scorne of them, whom we haue most holpen. For the Frenchmen (as the saieng is) of late dayes made a play, or a disguising at Paris, in whiche the Emperour daunsed with the Pope, and the French King, and weeryed them: the King of England sitting on a hye bench, and lookyng on. And when it was asked why he daunced not, it was aunswered, that he sat there, but to pay the minstrels their wages. MarginaliaThe king of England payes for all.As who shoulde say, we payd for all mens dauncing. We monied the Emperour openly, and gaue þ^e french King double and treble secretly: and to the Pope also. Yea and though Ferdinandus had money sent openly to blind the world withall, yet the saieng is through all Dutchland that we sent money to the King of Pole, &c.

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MarginaliaThe secōd petition of Tindall.Furthermore, I beseech his grace also to haue mercy of his owne soule, and not to suffer Christ and his holy Testament to be persecuted vnder his name any longer: that the sword of the wrath of God may be put vp agayne, which for that cause, no doubt, is most chiefly drawne.

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MarginaliaThe third petition of Tindall.Thirdly, my petition is to his grace, to haue compassion on his poore subiectes, that the Realme vtterly perish not with the wicked counsayle of our pestilente Prelates. For if his grace, which is but a man, should die, the Lords and commons not knowing who hath most right to enioy the crowne, the realme could not but stand in great daunger.

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Marginalia

The 4. petition of Tindall.

Limitation of succession to the Crowne.

My fourth sute and exhortation is to all the Lords temporall of the realme, that they come and fall before þ^e kings grace, and humbly desire his Maiestie, to suffer it to be tried, who of right ought to succeede: And if he or shee fayle, who next, and who third. And let it be proclaimed openly: and let all the Lords temporall be sworne therto, and all þ^e knightes and squiers and gentlmen, and the commons aboue xviij. yeares old, that there be no strife for the succession. MarginaliaI pray God this be not a prophesie agaynst England.If they trie it by the sword, I promise them, I see no other likelyhode but it will cost the realme of England, &c.

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MarginaliaThe 5. petition of M. Tindall.Further, of all the subiects of England this I craue: that they repent. For the cause of euill rulers is the sinne of the subiects as testifieth the Scripture. And the cause of false Preachers is, that the people haue no loue vnto the truth, sayth Paule in the 2. Chapter of the 2. Epistle to the Thessalonians  

. We be all sinners an hundred times greater then all that we suffer. Let vs therefore eche forgiue other, remembring the greater sinners, the more welcome if we repent according to the similitude of the riotous son   , Luk. xv. For Christ died for sinners and is their Sauiour, and his bloud their treasure to pay for their sinnes. He is that fatted calfe which is slaine to make them good cheare withall, if they wil repent and come to their father againe: and his merites is the goodly rayment to couer the naked deformities of their sinnes.

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Finally, if the persecution of the Kings grace and of other temporall persons conspiring with the spiritualtie, be of ignoraunce, I doubt not but that their eyes shal be opened shortly, and they shal see & repent, and God shal shew them mercy. But if it be of a set malice against the truth, and of a grounded hate against the law of God, by the reason of a full cōsent they haue to sinne and to walke in their old wayes of ignoraunce, whereunto beeing now past all repentance, they haue vtterly yeelded themselues, to followe with full lust without bridle or snaffle, which is the sinne against the holy Ghost: then ye shall see euen shortly, that God shall turne the poynt of the sword wherewith they now shed Christes bloud, homewarde to shed theyr owne againe, after all the examples of the Bible.

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These thinges thus discoursed pertayning to the story and doings of Tindall, finally it remayneth to inferre certayne of his priuate letters and epistles, whereof among diuers other which haue not come to our hands, two speciall he wrote to Iohn Frith, one properly vnder his own name, another vnder the name of Iacob  

, but in very deede was written and deliuered to Iohn Frith, being prisoner then in the Tower, as ye shall further vnderstand by the sequeale heereafter. The copie and tenour of the Epistles heere followeth.

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MarginaliaA letter of Tindall to M. Fryth.THe grace and peace of God our Father, and of Iesus Christe our Lord be with you, Amen. Dearely beloued brother Iohn, I haue heard say, how the hipocrits now that they haue ouercome that great busines whiche letted them, or at the least way, haue brought it at a stay, they returne to their olde nature againe. The will of God be fulfilled, and that which he hath ordeyned to be ere the world was made, that come, and his glory raigne ouer all.

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Dearely beloued, how euer the matter be, commit your selfe wholy and onely vnto your most louyng Father, and most kynde Lorde, and feare not men that threate, nor trust men that speake faire: but trust him that is true of promise, and able to make hys word good. Your cause is Christes Gospell, a light that must be fed with the bloud of fayth. The lampe must be dressed and snuffed dayly, and that oyle poured in euery euening and morning, that the light go not out. Though we be sinners, yet is the cause right. If when we be buffeted for well doing, we suffer paciently and endure, that is acceptable to God  

: for to that end we are called. MarginaliaPet. 2.For Christ also suffred for vs, leauing vs an example that wee should follow his steps, who did no sin. Marginalia1. Iohn. 3.Herby haue we perceiued loue, that he layd downe his life for vs: therefore we ought also to lay downe our liues for the brethren   . MarginaliaMath. 5.Reioyce and be glad, for great is your reward in heauen   . MarginaliaRom. 8.For we suffer with him that wee may also be glorified with him: MarginaliaPhil. 3.who shall chaunge our vile body,

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