In the meantime he was examined in the faith, and it was found that he taught several articles which militated against the Roman church; but which or what kind of articles these were, is not clearly expressed by the writers; yet it can be inferred from the confession of one Walter Brute, who, in the matter of faith, is compared to William Swinderby, by Abraham Mellinus and others: yea, they declare that Walter Brute was a champion and defender of William Swinderby’s articles, who, among others, maintained this article: “That it is not lawful for Christians to swear on any account, in any case, either by the Creator, or by his creatures.”
Concerning holy baptism, he made this confession: “He (Christ) was buried that we might all, by baptism, be buried with him into his death; and that, having died unto sin (notice, this is not the work of children), we should live unto righteousness.”
As to his views in regard to all other articles, we have found them very scriptural, salutary and good. In regard to this, see _John Fox, Angl., page 440_.
It is certainly true, that William Swinderby’s articles of faith thus shone forth through their radiance of divine truth, that the children of darkness (the Romanists) could not bear them, so that they finally, after a long and severe confinement, finished his trial, pronouncing sentence of death upon him, namely: that he should be executed with fire, that is, burnt alive, as a heretic, in Smithfield, London. This, it is stated, was done with him, twelve years after his first imprisonment.