Clement of Scotland, a Companion of Albert, Excommunicated and Then Burned

When Clement, having come from Scotland, had joined the previously mentioned Albert as a companion, and united with him in doctrine, he not only began, but never stopped, any more than the friend he had found, to fight with the spiritual armor, and, if possible, to overcome, in an evangelical manner, the pope and the Roman church on various points, mostly touching her ceremonies. Because of this he was also accused, and put to death in the manner which, in the proper place, we hope shortly to show.

The accusations brought against him were of the same kind as those brought against Albert, his companion; which was not at all strange, since he had placed himself under Albert not only as a friend and companion, but also as a disciple. For this reason the pope, through the accusation of Boniface, the papal legate, pronounced the same excommunication against him.

But when he presented himself in order to defend his conduct before a full synod, Boniface prevented him from doing so, making the people believe that it was not lawful to admit a heretic who had been excommunicated or excluded from the church to divine worship, or to a synodal assembly; indeed, that such a one should not be allowed to have the benefit (in whatever this might consist) of the laws or ordinances of the church.

Seeing that by this pretense his lips were sealed, so that it was impossible for him to defend himself properly, he turned to his pen and wrote a book about this matter, against Boniface.

Finally, it is stated and maintained that this steadfast witness of Jesus Christ was burned as a heretic by the Romanists, even against the will of pope Zacharias, about the year 750, or a little after.

Compare this entire account of Clement with Willibaldi, Naucleri, Aventini. Balae. Alij ubi supra. Also, Annal. Boj. Bernhard. Lutz, in Catal. Haeres., volume 2, Concil. Also, A. M., 2nd book, H. M., 1619, folios 328, 329. Hist. Mart. J. S., 1645, folio 30. [n332-1]