The Testament of William Tracy Expounded by William Tyndale

Thou shalt understand, most dear reader, that after William Tyndale was so Judasly betrayed by an Englishman, a scholar of Louvain, whose name is Philips, there were certain things of his doing found, which he had intended to have put forth to the furtherance of God’s word; among which was this testament of M. Tracy, expounded by himself, whereunto was annexed the exposition of the same, of John Frith’s doing and own hand-writing, which I have caused to be put in print, to the intent that all the world should see how earnestly the canonists and spiritual lawyers (which be the chief rulers under bishops in every diocese, insomuch that in every cathedral church the dean, chancellor, and archdeacon, are commonly doctors or bachelors of law) do endeavour themselves justly to judge, and spiritually to give sentence according to charity, upon all the acts and deeds done of their diocesans, after the example of the chancellor of Worcester, which, after M. Tracy was buried, (of pure zeal and love hardly) took up the dead carcass and burnt it. Wherefore he did it, it shall evidently appear to the reader in this little treatise: read it therefore, I beseech thee, and judge the spirits of our spiritualty, and pray that the Spirit of him that raised up Christ may once inhabit them, and mollify their hearts, and so illumine them, that they may both see and shew true light, and no longer to resist God nor his truth. Amen.

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