From the Author's Preface:

Until rather recently almost all writers on the relationship between the English and Continental Reformations assumed that Robert Barnes and William Tyndale were key figures in the transmission of Luther's theology to the British Isles. Most books which dealt with this subject categorically stated that Barnes and Tyndale were Protestant theologians of a basically Lutheran persuasion. In the second half of the 20th century, however, a few scholars have recognized that the traditional view of Barnes and Tyndale had never been adequately documented, and, consequently, they have proposed a reinterpretation that holds that these two reformers, especially Tyndale, were actually Erasmian humanists for whom morality rather than theology was the chief concern. The present writer's study of the sources has led him to the conclusion that the traditional view in completely vlid with regard to Barnes, and, with some qualifications, generally correct for Tyndale as well. In the case of the latter, it is evident tha the disagreed sharply with Luther on the meaning and importance of the eucharistic presence, and his method of defending infant baptism was quite different from Luther's. Because of the great important that Luther attached to the Eucharist, and in view of Tyndale's divergence form that view, it is probably not appropriate to identify Tyndale simply as an "English Lutheran," as we may confidently do with Barnes. A careful contextual study of the sources has, nevertheless, convinced this author that Tyndale agreed with Luther in almost every area of doctrine except the Lord's Supper, and that the English reformer very often stated his position in terms which were characteristically Lutheran. It is the purpose of this book to re-examine the traditional interpretation, presenting the evidence for it in a systematic, documented form. The conclusion reached supports the traditional position in general, though with some noteworthy exceptions. Such exceptions notwithstanding, both Barnes and Tyndale were vital links int he chain of Luther's English connection. The controversial interpretive literature is reviewed herein.