Moot Hall, and thrust her into the
dungeon: and with a bass clang as if it had been the very gate of doom,
the great door closed behind her.

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN.

AT THE BAR.

The great hall of the Moot Hall in Colchester was filling rapidly.
Every townsman, and every townswoman, wanted to hear the examination,
and to know the fate of the prisoners--of whom there were so many that
not many houses were left in Colchester where the owners had not some
family connection or friend among them. Into the hall, robed in
judicial ermine, filed the Royal Commissioners, Sir John Kingston, and
Dr Chedsey, followed by Boswell, the scribe, Robert Maynard and Robert
Brown the Sheriffs, several priests, and many magistrates and gentlemen
of the surrounding country. Having opened the Court, they first
summoned before them William Bongeor, the glazier, of Saint Michael's
parish, aged sixty, then Thomas Benold, the tallow-chandler, and
thirdly, Robert Purcas. They asked Purcas "what he had to say touching
the Sacrament."

"When we receive the Sacrament," he answered, "we receive bread in an
holy use, that preacheth remembrance that Christ died for us."

The three men were condemned to death: and then Agnes Silverside was
brought to the bar. She was some time under examination, for she
answered all the questions asked her so wisely and so firmly, that the
Commissioners themselves were disconcerted. They took refuge, as such
men usually did, in abuse, calling her ugly names, and asking "if she
wished to burn her rotten old bones?"

Helen Ewring, the miller's wife, followed: and both were condemned.

Then the last of the Moot Hall prisoners, Elizabeth Foulkes, was placed
at the bar.

"Dost thou believe," inquired Dr Chedsey, "that in the most holy
Sacrament of the altar, the body and blood of Christ is really and
substantially present?"

Elizabeth's reply, in her quiet, clear voice, was audible in every part
of the hall.

"I believe it to be a substantial lie, and a real lie."

"Shame! shame!" cried one of the priests on the bench.

"Horrible blasphemy!" cried another.

"What is it, then, that there is before consecration?" asked Dr
Chedsey.

"Bread."

"Well said. And what is there after consecration?"

"Bread, still."

"Nothing more?"

"Nothing more," said Elizabeth firmly. "The receiving of Christ lies
not in the bread, but is heavenly and spiritual only."

"What say you to confession?"

"I will us