they made him a Confessor in Spain as their Faction long since made his Royal Father in his Honor a Martyr And for his Carriage he converseth with us daily and knoweth us much better than any stranger can and therefore we trust his own Experience and good Opinion of us against all they can suggest And for the Prince Palatine we love his Nation from which we were extracted and we love his Religion which was the Ground of the Alliance with him and we much esteem that Noble Princess by whom he participateth with that Duty and Affection which from the King as the Root in due proportion disperseth it self in all the Branches yet so as whensoever they shall divide from the Head or the Body they cannot but know that their Moisture will dry up And for Count Mansfield it is worth the observing how they labour to dissemble and divert that Fear of him which they cannot have for us but indeed for themselves least he who hath already so troubled them in Germany should disturb them elsewhere Now whereas they conjure King and Prince to foresee the Vengeance of God provoked by my Practises and the Fury of Parliament for Testimonies and Libels against the Honour of Spain How much more Cause have they both and we all to consider and praise God's Miraculous Goodness in preserving their Persons and blessing their Endeavours in so happy a Discovery and Prevention of those Dangers which the Treaties would have brought upon our Religion and State And thereby rest assured that he will still bless where they curse and establish the Scepters of the Defenders of his Faith and in powring his Vengeance upon the Beast and the Enemies of his Truth And if the Testimonies published against Spain and believed in Parliament were not true why do they not convince them and satisfie them and satisfie the World And for those bitter and ignominious Libels they mention why can they not be read without Ignominy to our Nation as well as Pasquin's in Rome and like Libels in France Germany and other Nations with their Reproach Especially considering as the Spaniards of all People are most pursued with Writing of this kind so the English of all other do punish Libels with most Severity and Rigour But that which followeth is yet more remarkable It is apparent say they that the League is broken and Histories will witness it Surely those Histories must be of their Writing for true histories cannot record any breach on our part The Treaties are indeed dissolved First materially by them and then formally by us But are those Treaties any Articles of the League Or is it in the Power of any Subject be he never so willful to break the Leagues of Princes without due Justice demanded and refused But now the Ambassadors publick Ministers of State have made such Declaration How far that extendeth his Majesty may consider and wheâ—her it be not an Advantage cunningly â—ought to countenance the first blow And the rather because immediately after this peremptory Declaration which may seem a degree to a Denunciation of War they use all the Oratory to lull his Majesty asleep and to persuade both him and the Prince to prefer Peace and Quiet ever before their Kingdoms which thereby may be lost And what Confidence is this Do they think their Learning sufficient to teach my Master to understand his own Note who can much better teach them that Pacifici beati are not passive but Active And that the Sworâ— maketh Peace both in Governmenâ— and in War by supporting Justice wherein the happiness of all Society doth consist But whosoever construeth the Speeches of these men by the litteral sence cometh short oâ— their meaning For what are all these specious Adornings of his Majesty and the Prince in the Long Robes oâ— Peace but a Figurative menacing them with the Consequences of War And to see what the Love of the one or fear of the other may happily work by Peace i. e. by a quiet submitting the Marriage of the Palatinate and the safety of the Kingdoms and Allies to the Devotion of Spain First His Majesty may believe his Symbol as they say is verified in his Person and that he is extolled and admired through the World Or that otherwise he shall enjoy neither Happiness nor Honour And Secondly That the Prince can no other way succeed peaceably into the Hereditary Possession of these Kingdoms or the Honour of his Father or shew that he is indeed of his Blood or beareth him Love as if all these should be questioned if he do not entertain the same Peace with those Princes whose Alliances his Majesty hath so well procured and deserved meaning by giving them way to work out all their Ends And this being the sence clouded up in their unjointed Applications all they gain thereby is to give these due Acknowledgments to his Majesty and the Prince First That their Royal Dispositions and Endeavours ever tended to peace Secondly That of themselves they intended no alteration without violent Motions on the other part And Thirdly Those which force them if at the very Entrance into War they want a just Cause as the Jews called for Vengeance against themselves so these men truly prophesie that they shall have their Success Hitherto I have been brought upon the Stage to play other mens parts Now followeth my own Indictment in more particular Terms First Concerning my Carriage of the Negotiation in Spain And Secondly For my Personal Actions and Behaviour For the Spanish Business because greater Persons are still involved in their Censure they make their way as Poets do in Tragedies by raising me as a Ghost to possess King and Prince and to terrifie all men that oppose my Designs Surely I think they smiled when they writ this passage For they cannot think me so predominant nor so terrible a Creature But to satisfie the World in those four first Questions which contain the Substance of all the Business in Spain I will briefly as I can repeat the Proceedings which have been related in Parliament more at large and justified by Letters and Records and allowed not only by the most temperate men they speak of but by general and unanimons Votes from which no one did dissent But First having the honour to be of my Master 's inward Council in these things I must testifie to the Renown of his Wisdom and especially of his Goodness that as in the Marriage of his Daughter his chief Intention was to settle and corroborate the Party of our Religion where it is most improved so by the Marriage of his Son in some powerful House of the other Religion he sought not only the strengthening and assuring is own Peace and Succession but the Universal Good of all Christendome and a means to qualifie by the Cooperation of those Princes the Spiritual Usurpations whereby in time some better accord in the Differences of Religion might be made From these Intentions and that special
alienate the same from his own Crown and Dignity to any Spiritual Potentates or Rulers whatsoever within or without his Dominions 4. We hold that though the Kings of this Realm were no members of the Church but very Infidels yea and persâ—cutors of the truth that yet those Churches that shall be gathered together within these Dominions ought to acknowledge and yield the said Supremacy unto them and that the same is not tyed to their Faith and Christianity but to their very Crown from which no subject or subjects have power to separate or dis-joyn it 5. We hold that neither King nor Civil State are bound in matter of Religion to be subject and obedient to any Ecclesiastical person or persons whatsoever no further then they shall be able to convince their Consciences of the truth thereof out of the word of God yea we think they should sin against God if they should ground their Religion or any part or parcel thereof upon the bare Testimony or Judgment of any man or of all the men in the world 6. We hold that no Churches or Church-officers have power for any crime whatsoever to deprive the King of the least of his Royal prerogatives whatsoever much less to deprive him of his Supremacy wherein the height of his Royal Dignity consists 7. We hold that in all things concerning this life whatsoever the Civil Jurisdiction of Kings and Civil States excelleth and ought to have the preheminence over the Ecclesiastical and that the Ecclesiastical neither hath nor ought to have any power in the least degree over the bodies lives goods or Liberty of any person whatsoever muchless of the Kings and Rulers of the earth 8. We hold that Kings by vertue of their supremacy have power yea also that they stand bound by the Law of God to make Laws Ecclesiastical such as shall tend to the good ordering of the Churches in their Dominions and that the Churches ought not to be disobedient to any of their Laws so far as in obedience unto them they do not that which is contrary to the word of God 9. We hold that though the King should command any thing contrary to the Word unto the Churches that yet they ought not to resist him therein but only peaceably to forbear obedience and sue unto him for grace and mercy and where that cannot be obtained meekly to submit themselves to the punishment 10. We hold that the King hath power by vertue of his Supremacie to remove out of the Churches whatâ—oever he shall discerne to be practiced â—herein not agreeable to the word of God and if he shall see any defect either in the worship of God or Ecclesiastical discipline he ought by his Royal Authority and power to procure and force the redress thereof yea though it be without the consent and against the will of the Ecclesiastical Governours themselves 11. We hold that the King hath as much Authority over the body goods and affairs of Ecclesiastical persons as of any other of his Subjects whatsoever and that by his Authority he may force them not only to all Civil Duties belonging unto them but also unto all Ecclesiastical afflicting as great punishment upon them for the neglect thereof as upon any other of his subjects 12. We hold that he hath power to remove out of the Churches all scandalous Schismatical and Hereticaâ— Teachers and by all due severity oâ— Laws to repress them 13. We hold that all Ecclesiastical Laws made by the King not repugnant to the word of God do in some sort bind the Consciences of his subjects and that no subject ought to refuse obedience to any such Law 14. We hold that the King onely hath power within his dominions to convene Synods and General Assemlies of Ministers and by his Authority Royal to ratifie and give life and strength to their Canons and Constitutions without whose Ratification no man can force any Subject to yield any obedience unto the same 15. We hold that though the King may force the Churches to be subject and obedient unto him and to be members of the common-wealth yet that the Churches severally or joyntly have no power to force him or any subject against their will to any service unto them or to any Religious duty whatsoever no nor so much as to â—e a member of any Church 16. We hold that the King ought â—ot to be subject to the Ecclesiastiâ—al censures of any Churches Churchâ—fficers or Synods whatsoever but onâ—y to that Church and those officers of â—is own Court and household unto â—hom in reverence of their Religiâ—n and of the Spiritual graces of God â—e sees shining in them he shall of â—is own free will subject and commit â—he Regiment of his Soul in whom â—here can be no suspicion or fear of any â—artialitie or unjust or rigorous dealâ—â—g against him 17. We hold that if any Ecclesiâ—stical Governours call them by what â—ame you will shall abuse their Ecâ—lesiastical authority in the execution â—f their censures upon any man whatâ—â—ever That the King and Civil States â—nder him have power to punish â—hem severely for it much more if â—hey shall abuse it upon the Supreme Majesty himself 18. If the King subjecting himself to 〈◊〉 Spiritual Guids and Governours shall afterwards refuse to be governed and guided by them according to the word of God and living in no torious sin without repentance shall willfully contemn and despise all their holy and Religious censures that theâ— these Governours are to refuse to administer the holy things of God unto him and to leave him to himself and to the secret Judgment of God and wholly to resigne and give over that Spiritual Charge and tuition over him which by calling from God and the King they did undertake and morâ— then this they may not do And after all this we hold that he still retaineth and ought to retaine entirely and solidly all that aforesaid Supreme power and authority over the Churches oâ— his Dominion in as ample a manner as if he were the most Christian Prince in the world 19. We acknowledge King James to be our onely lawful Soveraign and unto him to be due all the aforesaid Supremacy and we renounce and abjure all Opinions Doctrines Practices whatsoever repugnant or Contrary to â—he same as Anabaptistical and Anti-â—hristian And wish they may be seâ—erely punished 20. We hold that the King ought â—ot to give his Authority away or to â—ommit it to any Ecclesiastical person â—r persons whatsoever but ought himâ—â—lf to be as it were Arch-bishop and General overseer of all the Churches â—ithin his Dominions and ought to â—â—ploy under him his Honourable Councel his Judges Lievtenants Juâ—ices Constables and such like to oâ—ersee the Churches in the several diâ—isions of their Civil Regiments visitâ—â—g them and punishing by their Civil â—ower whatsoever they shall see aâ—iss in any of them especially in the â—ulers and Governours 21. We hold it utterly unlawful â—r any Christian Churches
Nicene Creed and Athanasius Creed contain not a profession of the true Christian Faith or that he will not profess his Faith according to the same Creeds that Christ is not God of God begotten not made but begotten and made that there are no Persons in the God-head That Christ was not God from Everlasting but began to be God when he took flesh of the Virgin Mary that the World was not made by Christ that the Apostles teach Christ to be man only that there is no Generation in God but of Creatures that this Assertion God to be made Man is contrary to the Rule of Faith and monstrous Blasphemy That Christ was not before the fullness of time Except by Promise that Christ was not God otherwise than an anoynted God that Christ was not in the form of God Equal with God that is in substance of God but in Righteousness and giveing Salvation that Christ by his Godhead wrought no Miracle that Christ is not to be prayed unto wherein he the said Bartholomew Legatt hath before the said Reverend Father maintained his said most dangerous and Blasphemous Opinions as appeareth by many his Confessions publickly made and acknowledged for which his Damnable and Heretical Opinions he is by Difinitive sentence by the said Reverend Father John Bishop of London with the Advice and Consent of other Reverend Bishops Learned Divines and others Learned in the Laws assisting in Judgment Justly adjudged pronounced and declared to be an obstinate and incorrigible Heretick and is left by them under the sentence of the great Excommunication and therefore as a Corrupt Member to be Cutt off from the Chruch of Chist and society of the Faithful and is to be by our secuâ—ar Power and Authority as an Heretick punished as by the Significavit of the said Reverend Father in God the said Bishop of London bearing date at London the third day of March in the year of our Lord 1611. In the ninth year of our Reign and remaining in our Court of Chancery more at large appeareth And although the said Bartholomew Legatt hath since the said sentence pronouced against him been often very Charitably moved and exhorted as well by the said Bishop as by many grave and Learned Divines to disswade revoke and remove him from the said Blasphemous and Heretical Opinions yet he arrogantly and willfully persisteth and continueth in the same We therefore according to our Regal Function and Office minding the Execution of Justice in this behalf and to give Example to others lest they should attempt the like hereafter Have determined by the Assent of our Councel to will and require and do hereby Authorize and Require you our said Chancellor Immediatly upon the receipt hereof to award and make out under our great Seal of England our Writ of Execution according to the Tenor in these Presents ensuing and these Presents shall be your sufficient Warrant and Discharge for the same The WARRANT THE King to the Sheriffs of London greeting Whereas the Reverend Father in Christ John Bishop of London hath signified unto us that when he in a certain business of Heretical pravity against one Bartholomew Legatt our Subject of the City of London of the said Bishop of Londons Diocese and Jurisdiction rightly and lawfully proceeding by Acts enacted drawn proposed and by the Confessions of the said Bartholomew Legatt before the said Bishop Judicially made and acknowledged hath found in the said Bartholomew Legatt very many wicked Errours false opinions Heresies and cursed Blasphemies and Impious Doctrines expresly contrary and repugnant to the Catholick Faith and Religion and the Holy word of God knowingly and maliciously and with a pertinacious and obdurate plainly Incorrigible mind to believe hold affirme and publish the same Reverend Father the Bishop of London with the advice and consent as well of the Reverend Bishops and other Divines as also of men Learned in the Law in Judgment sitting and assisting thâ— same Bartholomew Legatt by hiâ— Definitive Sentence hath pronounced decreed and declared to be an Obdurate Contumacious and incorrigible Heretick and upon that occasion as a stubborn Heretick and rotten contagious Member to be cut off from the Church of Christ and the Communion of the Faithful whereas the Holy Mother Church hath not further to do and prosecute in this part the same Reveren'd Father hath left the aforesaid Bartholomew Legatt as a Blasphemous Heretick to our secular power to be punished with Condign punishment as by the Letters Patents of the said Reverend Father in Christ the Bishop of London in this behalf above made hath certified unto us in our Chancery We therefore as a Zealot of Justice and a defendor of the Catholick Faith and willing to maintaine and defend the holy Church and Rights and liberties of the same and the Catholick Faith and such Heresies and Errours every where what in us lyeth to Root out and extirpate and to punish with Condign punishment such Hereticks so Convicted and deeming that such an Heretick in form aforesaid Convicted and Condemned according to the Laws and Customs of this our Kingdom of England in this part occasioned ought to be Burned with Fire We do Command you that the said Bartholomew Legatt being in your Custody you do Commit publickly to the Fire before the people in a publick and open place in West-Smithfield for the Cause aforesaid and that you cause the said Bartholomew Legatt to be really burned in the same Fire in detestation of the said Crime for the manifest Example of other Christians lest they slide into the same fault and this that in no wise you omit under the peril that shall follow thereon witness c. Anno Dom. 1611. An. Reg. Jac. 9. The Commission and Warrant for the Condemnation and Execution of Edward Wightman at Lichfield 1611. with an Account of his Heretical Opinion â—Ames by the Grace of God King of England Scotland France and â—eland Defender of the Faith c. To our Right Trusty and Right â—ell-beloved Councellour Thomas â—ord Ellesmere our Chancellour of â—ngland Greeting Whereas the Reâ—erend Father in God Richard Biâ—op of Coventry and Lichfild Having â—diciously proceededf in the Examinaâ—on Hearing and Determining of a Cause of Heresie against Edward Wightâ—an of the Parish of Burton upon â—rent in the Diocese of Coventry and â—ichfield Concerning the wicked Heâ—sies of the Ebionites Corinthians Vaâ—ntinians Arrians Macedonians of â—imon Magus of Manes Manichees of Photinus and Anabaptists and 〈◊〉 other Heretical execrable and unheard of Opinions by the Instinct 〈◊〉 Satan by him excogitated and holden viz. 1. That there is not the Trinity 〈◊〉 Persons the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost in the Unity of the Deity 2. That Jesus Christ is not the true Natural Son of God perfect God and of the same Substance Eternity and Majesty with the Father in respect of his Godhead 3. That Jesus Christ is only Man and a mere Creature and not both God and Man in one Person