Legate Bartholomew

Legate Bartholomew , whom Lamy, mistaking the proper name Legate for an appellative, calls "un Berthelmi qui avoit rempli des Ambassades," was a native of the county of Essex ; and is thus described by Fuller, in his "Church History of Britain." "Person comely, complexion black, age about fourty years: Of a bold spirit, confident carriage, fluent tongue, excellently skilled in the Scriptures ; and well had it been for him, if he had known them lesse, or understood them better ; whose ignorance abused the Word of God, therewith to oppose God the Word. His conversation (for ought I can learn to the contrary) very unblameable ; And the poyson of Hereticall Doctrine is never more dangerous, than when served up in clean cups, and washed dishes."

He was thrown into prison on a charge of heresy ; and King James had many personal interviews with him, and employed all the stores of his learning, for the purpose of converting him to the orthodox faith. On one occasion the King expected, that he should surprise him into a confession of Christ's Deity, by asking him, whether he did not daily pray to Jesus Christ? Had Legate answered this question in the affirmative, the King fancied, that he should have been able to convict him of error out of his own mouth: for, in his opinion, such an answer would have been tantamount to an admission, that Christ was a searcher of the heart, and therefore God. But Legate replied, much to His Majesty's surprise, that he had, indeed, prayed to Christ in the days of his ignorance, but had not done so for the last seven years. This reply so ruffled the King's temper, that he spurned Legate from him with his foot, and said, "Away! base fellow! It shall never be said, that one stayeth in my presence, who hath never prayed to the Saviour for seven years together."

Legate was frequently summoned before the Bishops in the Consistory of St. Paul's ; but they had no better success than James himself, in their efforts to wring from him a confession of his supposed errors. He denied their authority to call in question his opinions ; and protested loudly and vehemently against their proceedings. The disputation against him was conducted principally by Dr. John King, Bishop of London ; but the arguments of this learned Prelate, although they had some effect upon the minds of the by-standers, elicited from the accused himself nothing in the shape of a concession.

Fuller, to whom we are mainly indebted for the above particulars, respecting the person of Legate, and the attempts made to convince him of his alleged errors, has given a full, and apparently an accurate account of his opinions, which he introduces in the following cautious and solemn manner. "Before we set down his pestilent Opinions, may Writer and Reader fence themselves with prayer to God, against the infection thereof ; lest otherwise, touching such pitch (though but with the bare mention) defile us, casually tempting a temptation in us, and awaking some corruption, which otherwise would sleep silently in our souls. And, if notwithstanding this our caution, any shall reap an accidental evil to themselves, by reading his damnable opinions, my pen is no more accessary to their harm, than that Apothecarie is guilty of murder, if others, out of a licourish curiosity, kill themselves with that poyson, which he kept in his shop for soveraigne use to make Antidotes thereof." Fuller then proceeds to say, "His damnable Tenets were as followeth: 1. That the Creed called the Nicene Creed, and Athanasius Creed, contain not a profession of the true Christian faith. 2. That Christ is not God of God, begotten, not made ; but begotten, and made. 3. That there are no Persons in the Godhead. 4. That Christ was not God from everlasting, but began to be God, when he took flesh of the Virgin Mary. 5. That the world was not made by Christ. 6. That the Apostles teach Christ to be Man onely. 7. That there is no generation in God, but of creatures. 8. That this assertion, God to be made man, is contrary to the rule of Faith, and monstrous blasphemy. 9. That Christ was not before the fulness of time, except by promise. 10. That Christ was not God, otherwise than an anointed God. 11. That Christ was not in the form of God equal with God, that is, in substance of God, but in righteousness, and giving salvation. 12. That Christ by his Godhead wrought no miracle. 13. That Christ is not to be prayed unto." We have in the "Diary of Walter Yonge, Esq.," a statement of the opinions of Legate, which agrees in every essential particular with the account given by Fuller.

When he had been in Newgate for some time, he was set at liberty, according to Gerard Croese. But on his liberation, he defended his opinions with more boldness than ever; and threatened to bring an action, for false imprisoment, against the court which committed him. This indiscretion involved him in fresh difficulties ; and he was once more summoned to appear before Bishop of King, in the Consistory of St. Paul's. The Bishop, foreseeing that the proceedings would be narrowly watched, and possibly misrepresented, took care to fortify himself by the opinions of several able Divines, and learned Jurists, as well as by those of his brother Bishops. The penal laws against Heretics were at that time in full force. They had undergone no relaxation ; but had only been allowed to slumber for a while ; and it was in the power of the public authorities to revive them at their pleasure, and, by their aid, cause any person convicted of heresy to be burnt at the stake. By these laws Legate was tried, and convicted of contumacious, and irreclaimable heresy, before the Bishop of London (Dr. Edwards) ; the Bishop of Ely (Dr. Saunderson) ; the Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield (Dr. Morton, Dean of Westminster); the Bishop of Rochester (Dr. Leyfield) ; the Dean of St. Paul's (Sir John Blount) ; and Sir Thomas Fowler. The conviction took place on the 21st of February, 1611. He was then delivered over to the secular judges, by an instrument, called a Signijtcavit, and bearing date March 3rd, 1611. This, according to our present mode of reckoning, would be March 3rd, 1612 ; for January, February, and the greater part of March, were at that time regarded as belonging to the preceding year, and the new year was considered as commencing at the time of the vernal equinox. Hence we frequently find dates, which fall within the first three months of the year, written both ways, thus:—March 3rd, 161i, that is, 1611, according to one mode of reckoning, and 1612, according to another. The King, by his letters, dated March 11th, under the privy seal, having given orders to the broad seal, to direct the Writ De Hceretico comburendo, the writ was issued on the 14th of March, and Legate was conducted, by the Sheriffs of London, to West Smithfield, on the 18th of March; and about mid-day, in the presence of a large concourse of people, burnt to death.

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