William Tyndale, a scholar and religious reformer, is best known for his Bible translations into English.
He translated the New Testament from the original Greek into English, but was forced to print it in Lutheran Germany. Copies had to be smuggled back into England, where many were seized and publicly burnt.
As a result, early edition copies of Tyndale's translations are extremely rare.
Tyndale was eventually tried for heresy as a Lutheran and burnt at the stake.
Book of Jonah
The only known copy of the 1537 edition of Tyndale's translation of the book of Jonah is held at the National Library of Scotland.
Entitled 'The Prophet Jonas with an introduccion before teachinge to vnderstande him', this copy is believed to have been printed in London. [NLS shelfmark: H.26.g.8.a(5)]
The Tyndale translation of Jonah was part of the display about 'The Bible in English' in our George VI Bridge Building from 2 November 2011 to 8 January 2012.