Dear Valerie,

To watch the Tyndale Society grow from strength to strength, even on the other side of the Atlantic, has always gladdened my heart. But now I see that Master Tyndale is becoming known even to the French who delight in quoting him (albeit in French).

Let me explain. A little while ago, I was speeding nonchalantly through the tiny Normandy village of Cedez-le-Passage, when it hit me—the importance of the spoken as well as the written word. Looking in my mirror, I could see the dazzling display of flashing headlights, and hear the raucous cacophony of a hundred car horns with which French motorists always seem to greet me, and I was content with the warmth that I felt at the joy they had over simply seeing yet another English motorist on their roads. But that warmth was soon turned to elation when several of them drew alongside me and began to shout Master Tyndale’s famous last words: ‘Eh, ouvrez les yeux...!’—to which I retorted (completing the line): ‘...du roi d’Angleterre!’ This was wonderful. It was as if they knew that I must myself be a Tyndalian. I was regaled with several other phrases that were unfamiliar to me (I was my housemaster’s despair at French), though I think some of them had to do with farming—well, I had the wind in my ears. But isn’t it delightful not only that they should know our Tyndale’s words so intimately, but that they should go to such lengths to show off their knowledge?

Obviously, we are having an amazing impact. Vive le Tyndale! Vive la TSoc! Vive le Journal!—that’s what I say.

Bill Cooper,
email 21 August 2005

PS. TSJ no 29 is excellent. Keep up the good work.

Dear Valerie,

Neil Inglis’s review of McCrie is a delight. He should now be persuaded to do one on d’Aubigné, both The Reformation of the 16th century and The Reformation in Europe to the time of Calvin. But that would be cruel, as d’Aubigné is listed by Amazon in a variety of editions, new and second hand, at widely varying prices—cheap to ridiculous -, and I would trust none of them without a good look. He too is on DVD, and there complete. The Banner of Truth issued sections as a useful two-volume The Reformation in England 40 years ago, long out of print—I read them then and I wish I had time to read them again. They go as far as the death of Henry VIII, and so tell the story of Tyndale.

I was pleased to read that the new edition of Bray is not much changed. This is a book I have often intended to buy, but never have done. Goaded on by Korey Maas’s review, I looked it up on the web, and have ordered a ‘good’ (apparently unread) second hand copy for less than £8 including postage, and it is the American hardback edition.

Grace and peace,
Vic
(By email on 18 August 2005 from Victor Perry)

The reviewer, Neil Inglis, replied on 24 August

Dear Vic

Thank you for your kind words, which are greatly appreciated.

I may be back in touch with you if I need to track down the titles you mention—I’d be interested in getting a French edition, as one of the professional hazards of being a translator is that I do not enjoy reading English translations – I keep seeing things that could be done differently.

Sincerely
Neil L. Inglis

Editor’s note
A review by Prof. D. Millus of Alan Savage’s study of D’Aubignés Meditations sur les Pseaumes appeared in the July 2004 issue no 27 of the TSJ.