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Simple English definitions for legal terms
de haeretico comburendo
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A quick definition of de haeretico comburendo:
De haeretico comburendo was a law in England a long time ago that punished people who were found guilty of heresy, which means having beliefs that went against the official teachings of the church. If someone was convicted of heresy and refused to change their beliefs, or if they changed their beliefs but then went back to their old ways, they could be burned to death. This law was first passed in 1401 and was the first English law that punished heresy with death.A more thorough explanation:
Term: de haeretico comburendoDefinition: De haeretico comburendo is a historical writ that ordered the execution of a convicted heretic who refused to recant or was convicted of heresy again after recanting. It was also the first English penal law against heresy, enacted in 1401. The law authorized the burning of defendants who relapsed or refused to abandon their heretical opinions.
Examples: In 1400, Sawtre was convicted of heresy before the Bishop of Norwich and recanted his heresy. He fell again into heresy and was condemned by the archbishop and his provincial Council as a relapsed heretic. On this conviction, the king issued a writ de haeretico comburendo. This case clearly shows that the common law recognized the rule of the canon law. The writ was not a writ of course, but issued only by the special direction of the king in council. The law was passed in 1401 and authorized the burning of defendants who relapsed or refused to abandon their heretical opinions.