Page:New history of all religions.pdf/24

( 24 ) not but with the utmost stretch of the King's authoritry and Mr Fox says, that he cannot find that it ever did pass the Commons; but supposes, that as parliamentary affairs were then managed with little regularity it was huddled in among other acts and signed by the King without further notice. It is indeed by no means improbable, that this act might be passed without the consent of the Commons; for in the next reign we find the lower House of Parliament petitioning that no act or statute might pass without their assent. However, it was now enacted the upon a certificate of the diocese Bishop, or his commissaries, delivering those who either refused to abjure their heresy or relapsed after abjuration, over to the secular arm, the civil magistrate should receive their bodies and cause them to be burnt in public William Sawtre a Lollard, and rector of St Ofithe's in London, was the first man who was put to death of destature. Sentence was pronounced against him in the ecclesiastical court immediatly after the act was passed: so eager were they to proceed to the extripation of heresy.