skull and crossbones with recumbent human skeleton A RELATION Sent from ROME, OF THE PROCESS, SENTENCE, AND EXECUTION, Done Upon the Body, Picture, and Books, Of MARCUS ANTONIUS de Dominis, Archbishop of Spalleto, after his death. Published by Command. LONDON, ΒΆ Printed by John Bill, Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majesty. 1624. A RELATION OF THE PROCEED at Rome, Against the late Archb. of SPALLETO, And the burning of his dead Body, etc. THe late Archbishop of Spalleto being dead, his Body was put into a well pitched Coffin, and that into another greater than it; and so was it carried to be kept in the Convent of the Holy Apostles, and there committed to the charge of the Reverend Fathers of that place, until such time as the Cause of the said Archbishop (still depending) should be determined by the Sacred Congregation; that according to their Sentence, whatsoever justice did require might be done upon him. The Sentence being framed, and ready to be put in execution, the said Body was first recognized, according to the Form of Law; and was taken the twentieth of this present Month of December forth from the Convent where it was kept, and carried to the Church of Minerva, and there laid upon a Table in an eminent place, together with his Picture, and a little sack full of Books, which He had printed: where it stood all the night. The next morning at the time appointed, the most Illustrious, and most Reverend Lords Cardinals Supreme Inquisitors, with many others, (to the number of sixteen, or thereabout,) being met together, after they had delivered over a certain Milanese (who under the feigned name and habit of a Greek, notwithstanding he had never been made Priest, had presumed to celebrate Mass both in the Holy House of Loretto, and other where) unto the Secular Powers the 23. of this present Month aforesaid, to be first hanged, and then afterwards burnt, was the Sentence of the said Archbishop read to this effect. First of all, The Manner of his Escape and going into England was recompted; and what he had there done in preaching, and in printing; and how that upon better advice, and bethinking of himself, he preferred a Supplication unto our Lord the Pope, showing, that he would willingly return again into the bosom of the Holy Church, if he might be secured of his pardon; and also that he would abjure all and every heresy which he had heretofore maintained. He came to Rome, He did all accordingly, He obtained grace, and pardon of his Holiness, and so continued there for a long time. But because his Conversion was not sincere, and from his heart, but feigned only; He began at length in his familiar discourses, to break forth into most heinous heresies, and would needs maintain, that what he had said before was true. Thereupon he was put into the Holy Inquisition; and in the Process which was framed against him, we find that he held the Heresies here under written. 1 THat the Council of Trent had declared many things to be de fide, which were not. 2 That all the Sects of Heretics might be reduced unto one Church, if the Church of Rome would remit some of those things, which in process of time she had determined to be de fide, instancing in particular in the Article of Transubstantiation. 3 That there might be made an union between the Church of Rome and the Protestant Heretics, they both agreeing in articulis fundamentalibus. 4 That it may well be questioned, of some Articles, and of many things defined in the Council of Trent to be de fide, whether they were sufficiently discussed, and defined, yea or no. 5 That he who holdeth and believeth the Fundamental Articles, although he doth not hold the Rest, is not therefore separated from the Church, but is united to it in the Faith. Because that only the Fundamental and Essential Articles, are necessary to salvation. The rest are matters of controversy. 6 That what the Council of Trent hath defined to be de fide in matter of Justification, of Predestination, of Grace, and of the Sacraments, that they confer grace ex opere operato, belongeth not to the Faith. 7 That he was ready to maintain, even with the loss of his life, that all men might abound in their own sense (in other matters,) so that they did agree in Essentialibus fidei. 8 That the Primacy of the Pope of Rome is not de iure divino, or at least, it may be disputed whether it be, or be not, until such time as the question may be decided. 9 That the Anathematisms of the Council of Trent, are no definitions of Articles of Faith. 10 That the Heretics were not condemned in the Council of Trent for any Heresies that they taught; but only, because they taxed the Church of Rome of Heresy. 11 That to deny Transubstantiation, Purgatory, and worshipping of Jmages and Saints, is not to deny matters that belong to the substance of Faith. That therefore the Protestants have the true Faith, and the true Church. 12 That the Church of Rome, and the Church of England are one and the same Church, both the one, and the other, Catholic and Orthodox. 13 That it is not de fide, that a General Council, together with the Pope, is the judge of controversies of the Faith. 14 That the bond of Matrimony solemnised and consummated, may be dissolved by the adultery of either party. 15 That the bond of Matrimony may be dissolved as well for other causes, as for adultery. 16 That the Secular Prince upon a reasonable cause may ordain, that the bond of Matrimony solemnised and consummated, may be dissolved. There were some other Articles beside, but they fall within the compass of these. After these false and heretical Propositions were read; it was related how they that were of the kindred of the said Archbishop, (or whosoever else would pretend to be willing to undertake the defence of his cause) were cited; And some of them made their appearance at the time appointed them; but when they saw the Process, together with the Archbishops own Confessions, they renounced him, and would do nothing in his behalf. Whereupon the most Illustrious and most Reverend Lords proceeded unto a definitive Sentence. Which was, to declare him unworthy of the favour of the Holy Sea Apostolic; to deprive him of all his honour, benefit, or dignity; to confiscate his goods, and to give him over to the Secular Powers; as De facto they then gave him over, That He and his Picture, together with the Books he had written, should be burned. This Sentence being read, the said Coffin there present, the Picture, and the Books were delivered over to my Lord the Governor of Rome, who desired, that the Corpse might be reviewed, and recognized anew; which was done accordingly. And presently the said Governor gave order, that the Corpse together with the other things should be carried into Campo di Fiori, to be there burned. But because they found no man that was willing of himself to carry him to the said place; therefore the Sergeants took up certain Porters, whom they bound and constrained to go along with them, and to take up the said Corpse, Picture, and Books, which being carried into Campo di Fiori, were there instantly burned. And because the said Archbishop, towards the end of his life, made show as if he had been penitent for the heresies which he had held de novo, after his former abjuration, and ask pardon for them, he had the favour done him to be made partaker of the most holy Sacraments. But notwithstanding because he had relapsed, He was therefore given over to the Secular Power. Which was all that occurred in this action. INSCRIPTIO.