The Fourth Method
of Sentencing, in the Case of one Accused upon a Light
Suspicion
THE
fourth method of concluding the process on behalf of the
faith is used when, after the merits of the process have
been diligently examined in consultation with expert
lawyers, the accused is found to rest under only a light
suspicion of heresy. And this is when the accused is not
taken in heresy, nor is convicted by her own confession
or by the evidence of the facts or by the legitimate
production of witnesses, and there are no other strong
or vehement indications of heresy against her; but only
a small and light indications of such a sort as, in the
opinion of the Court, to engender a light suspicion
against her. And such a one must be required to abjure
the heresy of which she is accused; and then, if she
relapses into heresy, she is not liable to the
punishment of backsliders, although she must be more
severely punished than would be the case if she had not
previously abjured the heresy (see the Canon c. accusatus).
The following procedure shall be followed in such a
case. For such an accused, if the matter be a public
one, will publicly make the following abjuration in the
Church:
I, N., of
such a Diocese, a citizen of such a city or place, being
on my trial, do swear before you the Lord Bishop of such
a city, and upon the Holy Gospels placed before me and
upon which I set my hand, that I believe in my heart and
profess with my lips that Holy Catholic and Apostolic
Faith which the Holy Roman Church believes, confesses,
preaches, and observes. Also I swear that I believe in
my heart and profess with my lips that the Lord JESUS
Christ, in company with all the Saints, abominates the
wicked heresy of witches; and that all who follow or
adhere to it will with the devil and his Angels be
punished in eternal fire unless they turn their hearts
and are reconciled by the penitence of the Holy Church.
And there I abjure, renounce, and revoke that heresy of
which you, my Lord Bishop, and your Officers hold me
suspected: namely, that I have been familiar with
witches, have ignorantly defended their errors, have
held in detestation their Inquisitors and prosecutors,
or that I have failed to bring their crimes to light.
Also I swear that I have never believed the aforesaid
heresy, nor do I believe, nor have I adhered, nor do I
adhered to it, nor shall I ever believe, adhere to, or
teach it, nor do I intend to teach it. And if I should
hereafter be guilty of any of the aforesaid practices
(which God forbid), I shall willingly submit myself to
the punishment provided by law for such who are so
forsworn; and I am ready to undergo any penance which
you see fit to enjoin me for those words or deeds of
mine for which you hold me deservedly suspect; and I
swear to fulfill such penance to the best of my
strength, and to omit no part of it, so help me God and
these Holy Gospels.
The above
abjuration shall be made in the common speech, so that
all may understand it. And when it is done, the Judge,
if he is present, or his deputy shall speak to her in
the common speech to the following effect:
My son (or
daughter), you have not unworthily abjured the suspicion
which we entertained of you, and have purged yourself by
the aforesaid abjuration. Beware then lest hereafter you
fall into the heresy you have abjured. For although, if
you should repent, you would not be delivered up to the
secular Court, since you made your abjuration as one
under a light, and not a strong, suspicion, yet you wold
then be far more severely punished than you would have
been if you had not abjured, and you would then rest
under a strong instead of a light suspicion. And when
you should abjure as such, and afterwards should
relapse, you would suffer the due punishment of a
backslider, and would without mercy be delivered to the
secular Court to endure the extreme penalty.
But if she
makes her abjuration secretly in the chamber of the
Bishop or Judge, which will be the case when the matter
is not a public one, she shall abjure in the same
manner. And afterwards sentence shall be pronounced as
follows:
We, by the
mercy of God Bishop of such a city, or (if he is
present) Judge in the territory subject to such a
Prince, having carefully seen and examined the merits of
the process conducted by us against you N., accused
before us heresy, find that you have committed such and
such (naming them) which render you lightly suspected of
heresy, on account of which we have judged it proper to
cause you to abjure that heresy as one lightly suspected
of it. But not for that can you be dismissed unpunished.
And that you may become more careful in the future,
having consulted with many eminent persons learned in
the law and with religious men, and having carefully
weighed and digested the whole matter, having only God
before our eyes, and the irrefragable truth of the Holy
Catholic Faith, and with the Holy Gospels placed before
us that our sentence may proceed as from God’s
countenance and that our eyes may see with equity, and
sitting in tribunal as Judge, we condemn, sentence, or
rather impose penance upon you N., standing in person
here in our presence, in the following manner. Namely,
that never hereafter shall you knowingly hold to,
associate with, defend in your speech, read (if you are
well learned), or hereafter, etc. and let there be set
down that which she has committed, on account of which
she was held suspected of the crime of heresy. This
sentence and penance were given, etc.
And let the
Notary take care that he sets it down in the process
that such abjuration was made as by one under a light,
not a strong, suspicion of heresy; for otherwise great
danger might ensue.
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