Martyrs Mirror 493CONFESSION OF FAITH OF SAID THREE MARTYRS, TOUCHING THEIR BELIEF AGAINST THE ROMAN CHURCH

1. "That the children of Christians are sufficiently baptized in the blood of Christ, and, hence, need not be baptized with water.

2. "That no tithes need be given to the pastors of the Roman church.

3. "That marriage properly consists in the consent or agreement of union between man and woman (with rejection, as it seems, of the superstitions which the Romanists are wont to observe in connection with it).

4. "That auricular confession is not necessary, and that one need not go and confess to the priests, but to God alone; since no priest has power to forgive a sinner his sins.

5. "That no priest has power to make the body of Christ, or to consecrate it in the sacrament of the altar; but that after the words are pronounced, there still remains purely material bread, just as it was before.

6. "That each and every Christian believer is a priest before God.

7. "That no one is bound on pain of damnation to observe lent or any other fast days commanded by the Roman church.

8. "That the pope is the antichrist, and his prelates disciples of antichrist; and that the pope has no authority to bind or loose on earth.

9. "That it is lawful for all Christians to perform bodily works on holidays, except sins.

10. "That it is lawful for priests to marry.

11. "That the excommunications and ecclesiastical punishments decreed by the prelates are not to be regarded.

12. "That in particular cases it is not lawful to swear.

(NOTE. This article seems not to have been recorded correctly by the notary; for it appears that these people prohibited the oath not only in particular cases, but in any wise, seeing the following martyress, Margaret Backster, pronounces these men faithful preachers of the Word of God, and confessed herself, that one might not swear at all, neither by God, nor by, etc. ). 13. "One ought not to go on pilgrimages.

14. "That no worship at all is to be bestowed upon images, the crucifix, Our Lady, or any other saint or saintess.

15. "That the holy water consecrated by the priest in the church, is not holier or more efficacious than any other river or spring water; because the Lord blessed all waters together after their creation.

16. "That the death of Thomas Becket (archbishop of Canterbury), was neither meritorious nor holy.

17. "That relics consisting in bones of the dead may not be worshiped, exhumed, placed on altars in the church, or inclosed in chests.

18. "That prayers made in every place are equally acceptable to God.

19. "Saints should not be worshiped, but God alone.

20. "That bells and hand bells in church, are instituted for no other purpose than to fill the purses of the priests.

21. "It is no sin to oppose the commands of the (Roman) church.

22. "That the (true) Catholic church is only the congregation of the beloved children of God."

These are briefly the principal articles which they together unanimously maintained, and whereupon they also suffered death, inasmuch as they, after severe examination and manifold torments, refusing to apostatize, were condemned to be burnt alive; which also took place with them, namely, first with William White, in September, 1428, in the city of Norwich, and then with father Abraham, and John Waddon, who, having commended their souls into the hands of God, offered up a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable unto God.