IV. CHAP. tagion.95 It was perhaps some such metaphorical and fallacious reasoning, which persuaded the first christian emperors to class heresy among the offences liable to civil punishment: it was certainly their example which induced the princes of the northern nations to adopt after their conversion similar regulations. In 1215 the fourth council of Lateran decreed that persons convicted of heresy "should be left to "the secular power to be dealt with according to "due form of law:" but this was not the introduction of a new system, but merely a declaration of what was then the common law in every country in Europe. Lollards preach revenue of the church. During the last thirty years the English clergy against the had been goaded with every species of provo→ cation; and yet had exhibited the most exemplary forbearance. Their moderation seemed to invite and sharpen the attacks of their adversaries. The spirit of Wycliffe had lost nothing of its original asperity by transfusion into the breasts of his successors. His itinerant preachers still declaimed to the passions and prejudices of the people, against the riches, the luxury, and the vices of the clergy; whom they described as the disciples and associates of Satan; as mercenary shepherds, whose object was to shear the flock here, and lead it to perdition hereafter; as the usurpers of the patrimony of 95 Coke, Inst. iii. 5. IV. the poor, and of the revenues of the kingdom; CHAP. as the real cause of the taxes voted by the parliament, and consequently of the poverty felt by the lower classes.96 Such declamations might perhaps have been despised, had they not led to inferences and attempts of dangerous tendency. The people were advised, were even commanded, not to pay their tithes and plans were artfully framed, and obstinately pursued, to obtain the general confiscation of ecclesiastical property. Immediately on his accession Henry proclaimed himself the protector of the church against the assaults of the lollards. In the first convocation held during his reign his intentions were made known to the clergy by a royal message: at the opening of the second the king's 96 Wilk. Con. iii. 208. 248. 345. et seq. Knyght. 2657-2669. Knyghton, who through curiosity attended some of their meetings, informs us that, according to their assertion, all good men came over to their sect: none refused but the wicked and reprobate. They called themselves true and evangelical preachers (veros prædicatores et evangelicos); their opponents false teachers and enemies of "Goddis lawe." He was surprised to observe how soon their disciples adopted the cant of their masters, and both men and women became teachers of evangelical doctrine (unum modum statim loquelæ mirabiliter habuerunt. Doctores evangelicæ doctrinæ tam viri quam mulieres subito effecti sunt). See Knyghton, 2664, 2665. Though all the preachers seem to have studied in the school of Wycliffe, yet each distinguished himself by some particular doctrine. Most of their tenets were directed against the doctrines and the possessions of the established church: others were subversive of the well-being of society: some must appear absurd to every rational reader: and a few were too indelicate to be mentioned. See Wilk. p. 248. 345. Knyght. 2669. Wals. 557. IV. CHAP. commissioners, the earl of Northumberland, and Erpingham the lord chamberlain, exhorted the prelates and proctors to take measures for the suppression of the errors disseminated by the itinerant preachers; and promised them the royal favour and assistance in the pursuit of so necessary an object.97 In the parliament, which began to sit at the same time, the king's intention to support the established religion was announced from the throne: and the commons in their address thanked him for his solicitude in favour of the doctrine, and his determination to preserve the liberties of the church.98 Statute de heretico comburendo. The Encouraged by the royal invitation, and the disposition of the commons, the clergy presented a petition to the king in parliament; and an act was passed for the protection of the church, and the suppression of the new sect. preamble sets forth, that divers unauthorized preachers go about teaching new doctrines and heretical opinions, making conventicles and confederacies, holding schools, writing books, misinforming the people, and daily committing enormities too horrible to be heard: and that the bishops are unable to repress these offences, because the offenders despise ecclesiastical censures, and when they are cited before their ordinaries, depart into another diocese: the statute therefore provides as a remedy for these 97 Wilk. Con. iii. 239. 254, 98 Rot. Parl. iii. 454, 455. IV. evils, that the bishop shall have power to arrest CHAP. and confine persons defamed or vehemently suspected of such offences, till they make their canonical purgation; and if they be convicted, to punish them with imprisonment, and a fine to the king. It then enacts that if any person so convicted shall refuse to abjure such preachings, doctrines, opinions, schools, and informations, or after abjuration shall be proved to have relapsed, then the sheriff of the county, or the mayor and bailiffs of the nearest borough shall, on requisition, be present at the ciation of the sentence, shall receive the person so condemned into custody, and shall cause him to be burnt on a high place before the people, that such punishment may strike terror into the minds of others.99 pronun During this very parliament (whether before Execution or after the passing of the act is uncertain) a of Sawtre. petition was presented to the lords and commons by William Sawtre, begging that he might be permitted to dispute before them on the subject of religion. Such a request excited considerable surprise: but the enthusiast aspired to the crown of martyrdom; and had the satisfaction to fall a victim to his own folly. He had been rector of Lynn in Norfolk: but about May 25. two years before had been convicted of heresy, 99 Rot. Parl. iii. 466. Wilk. Conc. iii. 252. 1399. IV. 1401. Feb. 12. CHAP. and deprived of his living. On his recantation he had been lately admitted a chaplain in St. Osith's in London. The character of Sawtre, and the nature of his request, induced the convocation to summon him before them: and six days were allowed him to prepare his answer. The articles objected to him were those, of which he had been accused before the bishop of Feb. 18. Norwich. With unparalleled effrontery he de nied his former conviction and recantation; explained the other articles in an orthodox sense; but refused to give any satisfaction on the subject of the eucharist. The trial was adjourned from day to day: and the archbishop, notwithstanding the contempt and insolence of his answers, made a last effort to save him, by asking if he were content to stand on that question by the determination of the church. He answered, that he was, provided the determination were agreeable to the will of God: an evasion which of course was rejected. The record of his former conviction and recantation were now produced from the registry of the bishop of NorFeb. 23. wich; and on the eleventh day from his arraign ment he was pronounced by the primate a re- and delivered into the custody of the constable March 2. and mareschal of England. 100 About a week |