rings, and in
the time of the Confessor 20,000. About 956 the manor and advowson of
Beccles were granted by King Edwy to the monks of Bury, and remained in
their possession until the dissolution of the religious houses under
Henry VIII.

As I have said, and as I repeat, in these languid days--when the old
creeds have lost their power and the old bottles are bursting with new
wine--the glory of East Anglia was that it was the first to stand up in
the face of priest or king for the truth--or what it held to be such.
Amongst the early martyrs under Mary were three burnt at Beccles--Thomas
Spicer, of Winston, labourer, John Deny, and Edmond Poole. This was in
the year 1556. Their crime in the indictment, drawn up by Dr. Hopton,
Bishop of Norwich, and his Chancellor, Dunning, according to Fox, was:

'1. First was articulate against them that they belieued not the Pope of
Rome to bee supreame head immediately in Christ on earth of the
Universall Catholike Church.

'2. That they belieued not holie bread and holie water, ashes, palmes,
and all other like ceremonies used in the Church to bee good and laudable
for stirring up the people to devotion.

'3. Item that they belieued not afterwards of consecration spoken by the
priest, the very naturall body of Christ, and no other substance of bread
and wine to bee in the Sacrament of the altar.

'4. Item that they belieued it to bee idolatry to worship Christ in the
Sacrament of the altar.

'5. Item that they tooke bread and wine in remembrance of Christ's
Passion.

'6. Item that they would not followe the crosse in procession nor bee
confessed to a priest.

'7. Item that they affirmed no mortal man to have in himself free will
to do good or evill.'

It appears that the writ had not come down, nevertheless these brave men
were burnt at the stake. 'When they came,' continues Fox, 'to the
reciting of the creed, Sir John Silliard spake to them, "That is well
said, sirs. I am glad to heare you saie you do belieue the Catholike
Church; that is the best word I heard of you yet."

'To which his sayings Edmond Poole answered, "Though they belieue the
Catholike Church, yet do they not belieue in their Popish Church, which
is no part of Christ's Catholike Church, and, therefore, no part of their
beliefe."

'When they rose from praier they all went joyfullie to the stake, and,
being bound thereto, and the fire burning about them, they praised God in
such an audible vo