Vol 02 - THE HISTORY OF WILLIAM SWINDERBY

THE HISTORY OF WILLIAM SWINDERBY
IN the year 1359, William Swindcrby, priest, within the diocese of Lincoln, was presented before John, bishop of that see, and examined upon certain articles in the church of Lincoln. "That men may ask their debts by charity, but in no, wise imprison any man.-That if parishioners know their curate to be an evil man, they ought to withdraw front him their tythes.-That no prelate may curse a man, except he know 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.That any priest, being in deadly sin, if he give himself to consecrate the body of the Lord, committeth idolatry.-That a child is not truly baptized, if the priest that baptizeth, or the godfather or godmother be in deadly sin.."
Which articles, although he never preached, or defended; yet the friars, with their witnesses, standing:. forth against him, declared him to be convict; bringing also dry wood with them to the town to burn him; and would not leave him before they made him promise never to hold, teach, or preach them; and that he would go to certain churches to revoke the aforesaid conclusions, which he never affirmed.
Afterward, William Swinderby removed to the diocese of Hereford, where he was much molested by the friars again, and by John Tresnant, bishop of that see, as by the process and story ensuing may appear.
The process of John Tresnant, bishop of Hereford, against William Swinderby, in the cause of heretical gravity.
Whereas, among many kinds of cares which come to our thoughts, by the duty of the office committed unto us, we are specially bound to extend our strength, that the Catholic faith may prosper, and heretical pravity be rooted out; we therefore, being excited through the information of many faithful Christians of our diocese, to root out pestiferous plants, that is to say, preachers of the new sect, vulgarly called Lollardsy who, under a skew of holiness, running abroad through divers places of our diocese, endeavor to cut asunder the Lord's unsowed coat: that is to say, to rent theunity of the holy church, to weaken the strength of the ecclesiastical state, and the determination of the holy church:-we, to encounter such preachers, nay, rather deceivers, and horrible seducers among the people, advancing and rousing up ourselves in God's behalf with the spiritual sword, which may strike them wisely, and wound them for their health and welfare; and namely, William Swinderby, priest, as a preacher of such pernicious doctrine: to whom, personally appearing before us, on Wednesday the 14th of June, in the parish church of Kington, in the year of our Lord 1391, we have caused many articles concerning the Catholic faith to be ministered, that he should answer to the same, at a day and place for him convenient; that is to say, on Friday, being the last day of the same month, at the church of Bodenham. Of which articles, exhibited unto us by many zealous followers of the Catholic faith, the tenour followeth, and is thus a Reverend father and high lord, lord John, by God's sufferance, bishop of Hereford: It is lamentably declared unto your reverend fatherhood, on the behalf of CHRIST's faithful people, your devout children of your diocese of Hereford, that there is newly come a certain child of wickedness, named William Swinderby, who by his horrible persuasions, and mischievous endeavors, and also by his open preachings and private teachings, does pervert, as much as in hint is, the whole ecclesiastical state.
I. " William Swinderby affirmed, in the presence of many Christian people, That, after the sacramental words uttered by the priest, there is not made the very body of CHRIST in the sacrament of the altar.
II. "That all priests are of like power; notwithstanding that some of them are of higher honor, degree, or pre-eminence.
III. “That contrition putteth away sin, if a man be duly contrite; and that auricular confession is not requisite to salvation.
IV. " That the pope cannot grant yearly pardons; whereby it followeth, that the pardons are not of such value as they are praised to be.
V. " That it stands not in the power of any prelate to give letters for the benefit of his order; neither does such benefit granted profit them, to the salvation of their souls, to whom they are granted."
Upon Friday, the last day of June, about six o'clock, in the said parish church of Bodenham, has the said William Swinderby personally appeared before us. And he has read before the multitude of Christian people many answers made by the same William to the said articles: which thing being done, the said William did depart from our presence, because that we, at the instance of certain noble persons, had promised to the same William free access on that day, and also free departing, without harm in body or in goods. Notwithstanding, this sentence was pronounced upon him not long after " are, John, by the permission of GOD, bishop o f Hereford, having God before our eyes, considering the articles by the aforesaid faithful Christians put up against the said Swinderby,-do pronounce, decree, and declare the said William to be an heretic, schismatic, and a false informer of the people, and such as is to be avoided of faithful Christians. Wherefore we admonish, under the pain of the law, all and singular Christians, that neither they, nor any of them, do believe, receive, defend, or favor the said William, till he shall deserve to be fully reconciled to the bosom of holy church."
William Swinderby appealed from this sentence of the bishop to the king and his council. What became of him afterward I cannot certainly affirm; whether he died in prison, or was burned. This is beyond all doubt, that during the life of king Richard 11. no great harm was done to him. But when Henry 4: invaded the kingdom, about the beginning of his reign, we read of a parliament holders at London, in which it was decreed,’ That whosoever spewed themselves favorers of Wickliff, who at that time were called Lollards, they should be apprehended; and if they obstinately persevered, they should be committed to the secular magistrate.' This law (says the story,) brought a certain priest to punishment the same year, who was burned in Smithfield, in the presence of a great number. And it appears to me, by divers conjectures, that his name was Swinderby.