05-‘Strike, Wound, Cut Asunder'

London, 1526 – copies of the New Testament illegally imported – Tyndale at Little Sodbury – determined to translate the Scriptures – refusal by the Bishop of London – Tyndale makes a start – emigrates to the Continent to escape persecution – first copies finished and imported into England – the authorities try to stop it – their failure – the spread of the New Testament – Tyndale continues his work – his betrayal – his death

The river Thames, London, in the year 1526. It was early spring and the wharves were a hive of activity. Tiny boats bobbed on the water as they plied busily between the great vessels moored along the jetties. A continual stream of men flowed to-and-fro across the gang-planks from the quays to the ships, whistling, shouting, shoving. They heaved huge bags of corn out of the holds of the merchant-men, thrusting their shoulders under the bulging sacks, then staggered across the planks to stack them into the warehouses which towered precariously above the water. A weak sun broke through the ragged clouds and cast a watery haze over the river.