William Tyndale, first translated the Bible from Hebrew and Greek into English, making a Bible for the common people. In 1535 he was betrayed by a friend, taken prisoner to the castle of Vilford, but continued to work on his translation during his year of imprisonment. He was unable to finish last part of the Bible because he was sentenced to die a heretic's death: Strangulation and burning at the stake. Just before his execution on October 6, 1536 his last words spoken were: "Lord! Open the King of England's eyes."

Tyndale's prayerful last words were heard and answered. Within four years, four English translations of the Bible were published in England at the King's request, including Henry's official Great Bible. All were based on Tyndale's work.