thereof, you may easily judge what hath happened unto them all: forsomuch as the cruelty of all the bishops towards them hath been in a manner, all alike, the form of their judgments all one, the reason of their condemnation agreeing, and the order and kind of their death nothing different, neither were their causes greatly diverse, when, as in a manner from the superstition of the sacrament only, and a few other ceremonies, and the ambition of the clergy, the whole principal cause and occasion of this trouble, did spring and grow.🞼
Now particularly and in order let us, by Christ's grace, prosecute the stories and persecutions of the parties aforenamed as the course of their times shall require, first beginning with the valiant champions William Swinderby and Walter Brute.
The Story of William Swinderby.[1]
A.D.1389.
W. Swinderby first examined.In the year of our Lord 1389, William Swinderby, priest, within the diocese of Lincoln, being accused and detected as to certain opinions, was presented before John, bishop of Lincoln, and examined first upon certain articles in the church, of Lincoln, after the form and order of the pope's law, according to their usual rite observed; his denouncersDenouncers of W. Swinderby, three friars. were these: friar Frisby, an observant ; friar Hincely, an Augustine; and Thomas Blaxton, a Dominican. The articles wherewith they charged him, although in form of words, as they put them up, they might seem something strange here to be recited; yet, the intent that all men may see the spiteful malice of these spider-friars, in sucking all things to poison, and in forging that which is not true, as in process (Christ willing) hereafter shall better appear by his answers, I thought good to notify the same.
Articles untruly collected against Swinderby.That men may ask their debts by charity, but in no manner for debt imprison any man; and that he so imprisoning is accursed.
That if parishioners do know their curate to be a lecher, incontinent, and an evil man, they ought to withdraw from him their tithes, or else they be fautors of his sins.
That tithes be purely alms, and that in case curates be evil men, the same may lawfully be conferred on other men.
That for an evil curate to curse his subject for withholding tithes, is nothing else, but to take with extortion wickedly and unduly from him his money.
That no prelate may curse a man, except he know beforehand that he is cursed of God.
That every priest may absolve any sinner being contrite; and is bound, notwithstanding the inhibition of the bishop, to preach the Gospel to the people.
That a priest taking any annual pension upon covenant, is, in so doing, a simoniac, and accursed.
That any priest being in deadly sin, if he give himself to consecrate the body of the Lord, committeth idolatry rather than doth consecrate.
That no priest entereth into any house, but to evil entreat the wife, the daughter, or the maid; and therefore he admonished the- ↑ Ex Registro Episc. Hereford
