ABJURATION OF JOHN SKILLY OF
FLIXTON
(from Heresy Trials in the Diocese of Norwich,
1428-31, ed. Norman P. Tanner, Camden Society, 4th ser., 20 [1977]), pp.
56-59. Translated by Y.T.
In the name of God, before you, the worshipful father
in Christ, William, by grace of God bishop of Norwich, I, John Skylly of Flixton, miller, of
your diocese, your subject, defamed and noted hugely of heresy, feeling and
understanding that before this time I affirmed open errors and heresies,
holding, affirming, believing, and teaching,
That the sacraments of Baptism done in
water and of confirmation done by a bishop in the form customary in holy Church
be but of little avail and not to matter if the father and mother of a child
were Christian.
Also that I held, believed and
affirmed that confession should be made unto no priest, but only to God, for no
priest has the power to cleanse a man of sin.
Also that I held and affirmed that no
priest has the power to make Christ's body in the form of bread in the
sacrament of the altar, and that after the sacramental words are said by a
priest at mass there remains pure material bread on the altar.
Also
that I held and affirmed that only consent of love betwixt man and woman is
sufficient for matrimony, without expressing of words and wothout
solemnization in church.
Also that I held and affirmed that
every true man and woman, being in charity, is a priest, and that no priest has
more power in ministering of the sacraments than an unlearned [lewed] man has.
Also
that I held and affirmed that no man is bound to fast in Lent, in Quarter
Times, Fridays, vigils of saints, nor other days commanded by the Church to be
fast days, and that it is lawful to eat flesh on all such days and times
without offence to God, for God never made law to bind the people to such
fasts.
Also that I held, affirmed and taught
that the pope of Rome is Antichrist, and bishops and other prelates are
disciples of Antichrist, and that the pope has no power to bind nor loose.
Also that I held, affirmed and taught
that it is lawful for priests to take wives and nuns to take husbands and dwell
together as wife and husband, holding that life more commendable than to live
chaste
Also that I held, affirmed and taught
that it is lawful for all men and women to do all manner of bodily works on
Sundays and other festival days commanded by the Church to be hallowed.
Also that I held, affirmed and taught
that censures and excommunications of bishops and prelates are not to be feared
and do not matter.
Also that I held, affirmed and taught
that it is not lawful to swear in any case.
Also that I held, affirmed and taught
that no pilgrimage ought to be done, nor any manner of worship ought to be done
unto any images of the crucifix, or of Our Lady or of any other saints.
Also that holy water hallowed by the
priest is of no more effect than the water of a river or a well is, for as much
as God blessed all the things that he made.
Also that I held, affirmed and taught
that it is lawful for all men to withdraw and take away tithes and offerings
from churches and priests, for offerings and tithes make priests proud.
Also that I held, affirmed and taught
that if the death of Christ was precious and profitable, the death of
Also that I held, affirmed and taught
that relics of saints, that is to say flesh or bone of any dead man, should not
be worshipped by the people or enshrined.
Also that I held, affirmed and taught
that it is not lawful for any man to fight or do battle for a realm or country,
or to plead in law for any right or wrong.
Also that I held, affirmed and taught
that material churches are of little avail and ought to be but of little
reputation, for every man's prayer said in the field is as good as the prayer
said in the church.
Also that I held, affirmed and taught
that prayer should be made unto no saint in heaven, but only to God.
Also that I held, affirmed and taught
that ringing of bells in churches avails nothing but is only to get money into
priests' purses.
Also that I held, affirmed and taught
that it is no sin to oppose the precepts and laws of holy Church.
Because
of which and many other errors and heresies which I have held, affirmed and
taught to your subjects in your diocese, I am called before you, worshipful
father, who have cure of my soul. And be
you fully informed that the aforesaid holding, believing, teaching and
affirming be open errors and heresies and contrarious to the determination of
the Church of Rome, wherefore I willingly follow and pursue the doctrine of
holy Church, and depart from all manner of error and heresy, and turn again
with good will and heart to the unity of the Church. Considering that holy Church denies not her
bosom to him that will turn again, and that God wishes not the death of a
sinner but rather that he be turned and live, with a pure heart I confess,
detest and despise my aforesaid errors and heresies, and the aforesaid opinions
I confess heretical and erroneous and to the faith of the Church of Rome and
all universal holy Church repugnant. And
for as much as by the aforesaid things that I wickedly so affirmed, said,
believed and taught I showed myself corrupt and unfaithful, the faith and
doctrine of holy Church truly to keep I promise. And all manner of error and heresy, doctrine
and opinion against the faith of the Church and determination of the Church of
Rome--and namely the opinions before rehearsed--I abjure and forswear, and
swear by these holy gospels by me bodily touched that from henceforth I shall
never hold error nor errors, heresy nor heresies nor false doctrine against the
faith of holy Church and the determination of the Church of Rome. Nor no such things shall I obstinately
defend, nor any man holding or teaching such manner of things by me or any
other person openly or privately shall I defend. I shall never after this time be a receiver,
supporter, comforter, counsellor, or defender of heretics or of any men and
women suspected of heresy. Nor shall I
believe them. Nor willingly will I
show fellowship to them, or be homely with them. I shall never give counsel, favor, gifts, nor
comfort to them. If I know any heretic,
or any man or woman suspected of heresy or supporters, comforters, counsellors,
or defenders of them, or of any men or women making private conventicles or
assemblies, or holding any diverse or singular opinions from the common
doctrine of the Church, I shall let you, worshipful father, or your vicar
general in our absence or the diocesans have of such men immediate and ready
knowledge. So help me God at holy doom
and these holy gospels.
In
witness of which things I subscribe here with my own hand a cross +. And to this part sealed to remain in your
register I set my signet. And that other
part sealed I receive under your seal to abide with me until my life's
end. Given at