THE LOLLARDS;

Or some Account of the Witnesses for the Truth in England, between the Years 1400 & 1546.

PART IV.

Henry the Eighth.-More Persecutions.— Bishop Tonstal's Mandate against the English Testament.-Tindal.-Some Account of his Translation of the Testament, the first that was printed in the English Language. Many Copies purchased by the Bishop of London, and burned at Paul's Cross.- Proceedings against those in whose possession they were found.-Tracts against the Errors of the Church of Rome circulated. -Supplication of the Beggars.-Sir Thomas More. -Frith's Book on Purgatory.-These Tracts actively distributed.— Some of them reach the King.-Bilney. Some Account of him.— His Examination before Bishop Tonstal.- His Letters to the Bishop. -Is persuaded to recant.-His deep Sorrow and Repentance for having done so.

DURING the latter half of Henry's reign, the state of ecclesiastical affairs was much altered. He renounced his subjection to the Pope, and broke off all connection with the court of Rome, becoming its most violent enemy. He assumed the title of Supreme Head of the English Church, and equally persecuted to death the Roman Catholics who denied his supremacy, and the Protestants who did not admit most of the errors of the Romish faith. With singular inconsistency, he sent the persecutors and their victims to the same place of execution, drawn together on the same sledge. Such a Monarch, of course, was hateful to both parties. There does not appear any ground for attempting to excuse his conduct; but, surely, we may view the finger of God in these transactions, and consider Henry the Eighth, with all the vices of his character, and his overbearing strength of mind, as raised up to produce that change, which, as far as human views can determine, a milder and more temperate Monarch would have been unable to effect.

While we have no desire to excuse or palliate the vices of Henry, we cannot allow the manner in which Roman Catholic historians have described his character, and exaggerated his errors and evil deeds, to pass unnoticed. [Lollards, Part 4.]

D

(Entered at Stationers' Hall.)

They have no right to use this as an argument against the Reformation; for if we look at the Popes who were his cotemporaries, we shall find that they equalled, nay exceeded him in all the worst features of his conduct. Guicciardini, an historian of their own, while he calls Pope Clement, (who first pronounced sentence of excommunication against Henry,) a good Pope, adds, "I mean not goodness apostolical, for in those days he was esteemed a good Pope that did not exceed the worst of men in wickedness!" Such were the characters who styled themselves the representatives of God upon earth, and whose mandates were considered superior in authority to the Word of God itself!*

We may briefly notice the names of a few individuals mentioned in the Bishop's Registers about this period, who were compelled to recant, and do penance.

Elizabeth Wightill deposed against her mistress, Alice Doly, that speaking of John Hacher, a water-bearer in Coleman Street, London, she had said he was so very expert in the Gospels and the Lord's Prayer in English, that it did her good to hear him. She was also said to have heretical books in her possession.

Roger Hackman, of Oxfordshire, was accused for saying, in the county of Norfolk, "I will never look to be saved for any good deed that ever I did, neither for any that I shall ever do, unless I have my salvation by petition, as an outlaw pardoned by the king," adding,

that if he might not have his salvation so, he thought he should be lost." If such doctrine as this was condemned, we cannot wonder at hearing of certain heretical books called the Epistles and Gospels." Reader, turn to the third chapter of the Epistle to the Philippians, and say, what mercy could the apostle himself have looked for at the hands of such men?

John Ryburn was accused of objecting to the service of the Church, because it was not in English; and in this case, Bishop Longland appears to have exerted his utmost ingenuity to find evidence; for Ryburn's two

The Pope's Bulls, or decrees, contained a clause, expressly stating that they were to be carried into effect, notwithstanding any thing to the contrary in the Apostolic writings!

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sisters, his wife, and, lastly, his own father, as appears from the Registers, were compelled to bear witness against him.

Although many others are passed by, we cannot close this list, without mentioning John Eaton, who was punished for saying, "That the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ hath made satisfaction for sin, and there was no necessity for going on pilgrimages; and that "it was casting away money to buy pardons, for the Pope could not help any man's soul; but if we ask pardon of the Lord Jesus, he will give it us freely." We may also notice John Algar; when Dr. Aglonby argued with him for the authority of the Pope, by quoting Matt. xvi. "Thou art Peter," &c." he referred to the following verses, "Get thee behind me, Satan," as at once destroying this argument for the pretended infallibility of the Apostle.

We cannot but observe that these poor men had become wiser, from simply perusing the Scriptures, with prayer for divine teaching, than their learned persecutors, who wilfully rejected the light of truth. This remark is not made with a design to undervalue human learning, but to notice that, agreeably to the words of the Apostle, "God hath made foolish the wisdom of this w world," and that it availeth not, unless its possessor also "become wise unto salvation."

In 1526, Tonstal, the Bishop of London, directed an especial prohibition against several books, but particu larly noticed the New Testaments in English, which, as he asserted, contained pestiferous and most pernicious poison," and were dispersed through his diocese in great numbers, to" the peril of souls, and the offence of God's divine majesty ;" and concluded by directing his Archdeacons to proceed, with increased activity, in suppressing the Testament, and all such works..

These books were chiefly written by Tindal, Joye, and a few others, who, having been driven from England, resided at Antwerp, and were busily employed in writing and printing works against the corruptions of the Church of Rome. Tindal was principally engaged in preparing a translation of the New Testament, the first that was printed in the English language. As it excited violent enmity, and the greatest alarm in the minds of the

Romish Prelates, we may notice the history of the translator somewhat particularly.

WILLIAM TINDAL, called "the Apostle of England in the time of the Reformation," and ever to be remembered as one of the earliest translators of the Bible into our language, was born on the borders of Wales; and, although the date of his birth is uncertain, it was probably about the year 1490. He had the advantage of a learned education, and was brought up from a child in the University of Oxford, where he was remarkable for a godly and virtuous life, and close application to the study of the Scriptures; and on account of his learning, was appointed a Canon of Christ Church. From thence he removed to Cambridge, probably from being sus pected of holding heretical opinions ; and after some time went to reside with Sir Welch, a Knight of Gloucestershire, as tutor to his children. This gentleman was noted for his hospitality, and frequently had many Ecclesiastics and other learned men at his table, with whom Tindal used to converse freely, and dispute upon the doctrines of the Reformation, and the controversies of the day, pointing out the different passages of Scripture which confirmed the opinions he maintained. The Knight and his Lady, having been one day invited to a feast where some of these Doctors were present; on their return home began to reason with Tindal upon these points, quoting the arguments they had just heard. He replied by stating the truth, and shewed the fallacy of such opinions; when Lady Welch silenced him by the following brief argument, which, in substance, has often been used by others since that day!" Well," said she, "there was Dr., who can spend a hundred pounds, Dr., who spends two hundred, and Dr. —, whỏ can spend three hundred pounds a year, they said, as we have told you; and is there any reason, think you, why we should believe you before them?” Tindal did not attempt to reply to this notable argument; but being engaged in translating a work written by Erasmus, called it into the

"The Christian Soldier's Manual," Erasmus, called

hands of his patrons; who, having carefully perused its contents, were convinced, in some measure, of the absurdities of Popery; and the Priests and Friars no longer