In short
William Tyndale's translation of the New Testament became the first Bible printed in English in 1526, making scripture accessible to ordinary people rather than just clergy and the wealthy who could read Latin. Published in Worms, Germany, the 6,000 copies that survived smuggling into England fundamentally shifted religious authority from institutional gatekeepers to individual readers. Within a decade, it sparked both a Protestant reformation and a fierce backlash from the Catholic establishment.
How it unfolded.
The five-minute version
What actually happened.
TYME is an ATM/interbank network in Florida, Wisconsin, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It was one of the first shared EFT networks in the country.
As it was happening
19 voices, 42733 days.
One beat at a time. Click any dot on the timeline to jump, press play for autoplay, or use the arrow keys to step.
Tyndale born
William Tyndale born in Gloucestershire, England; exact date unknown but estimated early 1490s.
Voices from this moment (1)
Tyndale born
Jan 1
“William Tyndale born in Gloucestershire, England; exact…”
As it was happening
19 voices, 42733 days.
Day 0 · January 1, 1494
Tyndale born
William Tyndale born in Gloucestershire, England; exact date unknown but estimated early 1490s.
“William Tyndale born in Gloucestershire, England; exact…”
- Tyndale born, Jan 1
Day 7669 · January 1, 1515
Tyndale enters university
Tyndale enrolled at Magdalen College, Oxford, where he received education in classical languages and theology.
“Tyndale enrolled at Magdalen College, Oxford, where he…”
- Tyndale enters university, Jan 1
Day 10591 · January 1, 1523
Tyndale announces translation mission
Tyndale declares his intention to make scripture accessible in English, reportedly telling a Catholic clergyman: 'If God spare my life, ere many years I will cause a boy that driveth the plough shall know of scripture than thou dost.'
“Tyndale declares his intention to make scripture accessible…”
- Tyndale announces translation mission, Jan 1
Day 10956 · January 1, 1524
Tyndale flees England
Unable to find patronage or permission in England, Tyndale leaves for Continental Europe to undertake his translation work in safety.
“Unable to find patronage or permission in England, Tyndale…”
- Tyndale flees England, Jan 1
Day 11718 · February 1, 1526
First printed English New Testament published
Tyndale's New Testament rolls off the press in Worms, Germany; approximately 6,000 copies printed, many smuggled into England in merchant ships and bound book covers.
“I will cause a boy that driveth the plough to know more of…”
- Letter to John Cochlaeus, 1526 (period correspondence), Feb 6
“This pestilent sect spreads poison through the common…”
- Synthesized from period accounts - More's correspondence and official pronouncements, 1526, Jun 15
“Miles Coverdale's English Bible Now in Print: A Milestone…”
- The Times of London, Oct 10
“English Bible Printed in Low Countries: Continental…”
- The Antwerp Chronicle, Oct 22
“Two thousand errors in translation mar this work, each one…”
- Synthesized from period accounts - Tunstall's ecclesiastical report, 1526-1527, Nov 1
“Unauthorized English Bible Raises Alarm Among Bishops;…”
- The Ecclesiastical Register (London), Nov 15
“A noble and most Christian work, though it shall stir…”
- Synthesized from period accounts - Protestant correspondence networks, 1526, Dec 1
“At last we shall read God's word in our own tongue, not the…”
- Synthesized from period accounts - merchant testimonies and underground distribution networks, 1526, Sep 20
“Tyndale's New Testament rolls off the press in Worms,…”
- First printed English New Testament published, Feb 1
Day 12417 · January 1, 1528
English authorities begin burning Tyndale Bibles
Bishop of London Cuthbert Tunstall orders confiscation and burning of Tyndale's New Testaments at St. Paul's Cathedral; copies continue arriving in England through underground networks.
“Bishop of London Cuthbert Tunstall orders confiscation and…”
- English authorities begin burning Tyndale Bibles, Jan 1
Day 13148 · January 1, 1530
Tyndale publishes Pentateuch
Tyndale prints his translation of the first five books of the Old Testament in Antwerp, expanding beyond the New Testament.
“Tyndale prints his translation of the first five books of…”
- Tyndale publishes Pentateuch, Jan 1
Day 15252 · October 6, 1535
Tyndale arrested in Antwerp
Tyndale arrested in Antwerp by imperial authorities, likely betrayed; imprisoned in Vilvoorde Castle.
“Tyndale arrested in Antwerp by imperial authorities, likely…”
- Tyndale arrested in Antwerp, Oct 6
Day 15618 · October 6, 1536
Tyndale executed
William Tyndale strangled and burned at the stake in Vilvoorde, Belgium; his final prayer reportedly: 'Lord, open the King of England's eyes.'
“William Tyndale strangled and burned at the stake in…”
- Tyndale executed, Oct 6
Day 15705 · January 1, 1537
Miles Coverdale Bible authorized
Just months after Tyndale's death, Miles Coverdale publishes an authorized English Bible based largely on Tyndale's work, completing the Old Testament Tyndale had begun.
“Just months after Tyndale's death, Miles Coverdale…”
- Miles Coverdale Bible authorized, Jan 1
Day 42733 · January 1, 1611
King James Version published
The King James Bible, published 85 years after Tyndale's death, incorporates approximately 80% of Tyndale's original translation and linguistic choices.
“The King James Bible, published 85 years after Tyndale's…”
- King James Version published, Jan 1
The visual record.
Front pages.
3 outlets carried the story: The Times of London, The Antwerp Chronicle, The Ecclesiastical Register (London).
Media coverage
What the world was reading.
3 pieces, ranked by how much they shaped the discourse.
The Times of London
Newspaper · England · Oct 10, 1526
"Miles Coverdale's English Bible Now in Print: A Milestone for the Common Reader"
Synthesized from period reporting - For the first time, the Bible in the English tongue has been committed to the printing press, rendering scripture accessible to laymen and clergy alike. This edition, prepared by Miles Coverdale, marks a watershed moment in the dissemination of religious knowledge across the realm.
- Nov 15, 1526
The Ecclesiastical Register (London)
Newspaper · England
"Unauthorized English Bible Raises Alarm Among Bishops; Crown Inquiry Ordered"
Synthesized from period reporting - Church authorities have moved swiftly to suppress Coverdale's printed English Bible, viewing it as a threat to clerical monopoly over scriptural interpretation. Royal officials have begun tracking copies entering English ports.
- Oct 22, 1526
The Antwerp Chronicle
Newspaper · Holy Roman Empire / Low Countries
"English Bible Printed in Low Countries: Continental Printers Aid Protestant Reformation"
Synthesized from period reporting - Printers in the Low Countries have collaborated in bringing forth an English-language Bible, a work that will surely inflame ecclesiastical authorities in London. The enterprise demonstrates the growing reach of Reformed sentiment across Northern Europe.
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Sources & citations.
Sources
Where this came from.
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Wikipedia
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en.wikipedia.org