| Notes |
- [Brøderbund WFT Vol. 2, Ed. 1, Tree #5006, Date of Import: Apr 26, 1997]
Being a non-conformist of the radical wing, the Separists, Edward was
destined to be persecuted. All of his troubles began just eight years
into the reign of James I in the year 1611.
Although James I spent little time governing England, he could hardly
overlook a direct challenge to his monarchy when Edward Wightman presented a
manuscript to him as he passed through Royston in March 1611.
King James, finding that Wightman was from the Diocese of Coventry and
Litchfield, sent him to Westminister to Richard Neale with command to commit
him to the gatehouse and to take examination of his several opinions which did
not conform to the Established Church. Wightman was found to be obstinate and
"every day more blasphemous". King James then ordered his removel to
Litchfield for trial.
Finally, sentence was pronounced on December 14, 1611 in the Cathedral. They
actually threw the book at him, to use the modern vernacular. The account of
charges brought against him because of his faith included eleven distinct
heresies, several of which were unheard of opinions. His contempories said
that if Edward really held all the opinions that he was accused of, he must
have been an idiot or a madman. Edward was excommunicated and publicly
denounced following the sermon in the cathedral at Litchfield. He was
condemned to burn at the stake the following spring on the 9th of March 1612 by
warrant of King James I.
While the flames started to burn his flesh, he shouted out unintelligible
words that seemed to infer that he had changed his mind and was ready to accept
the religion of the Established Church. The crowd rushed forward and assisted
the sheriff in releasing him from the stake. Later, however, as he refused to
make a formal retraction in writing and cntinued to preach heresies, he was
again tied to the stake and his body reduced to ashes on April 11, 1612. "It
is said he died so cheerfully, and yet so cruelly, that the popular feeling
created was so great the authorities feared to deliver another who had been
condemned to the same fate." To his last breath, "he died blaspheming." He
was the last of the religious martyrs in England to be burned at the stake. He
left a grieving wife and five children at home. Both of his sons, John and
Samuel, came to Rhode Island.
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1576 - 1612 (67 years)
[1] 