Persecution in Suffolk; Three Men Burnt at Beccles, May 21.
After the death of these above rehearsed, were three men burnt at Beccles in Suffolk, in one fire, about the 21st of May, anno 1556, whose names are here specified: Thomas Spicer of Winston, labourer; John Denny, and Edmund Poole. This Thomas Spicer was a single man, of the age of nineteen years, and by vocation a labourer, dwelling in Winston in the county of Suffolk, and there taken in his master's house in summer, about or anon after the rising of the sun (being in his bed) by James Ling and John Keretch of the same town, and William Davies of Debenham in the said county.
The occasion of his taking was, for that he would not go to their popish church to hear mass and receive their idol, at the commandment of sir John Tyrrel knight, of Gipping-hall in Suffolk, and certain other justices there, who sent both him and them to Eye dungeon in Suffolk, till at length they were all three together brought before Dunning, then chancellor of Norwich, and master Mings the registrar sitting at the town of Beccles, to be examined.
And there the said chancellor, persuading what he could to turn them from the truth, could by no means prevail of his purpose. Wherefore, minding in the end to give sentence on them, he burst out in tears, entreating them to remember themselves, and to turn again to the holy mother church, for that they were deceived and out of the truth, and that they should not wilfully cast away themselves, with such like words.
Now as he was thus labouring them, and seemed very loth to read the sentence (for they were the first that he condemned in that diocese), the registrar there sitting by, being weary belike of tarrying, or else perceiving the constant martyrs to be at a point, called upon the chancellor in haste to rid them out of the way, and to make an end. At the which words the chancellor read the condemnation over them with tears, and delivered them to the secular power.
The Articles, whereupon they were condemned.
The articles objected to these, and commonly to all others condemned in that diocese by Dr. Hopton bishop of Norwich, and by Dunning his chancellor, were these:
First, It was articulate against them, that they believed not the pope of Rome to be supreme head immediately under Christ in earth of the universal catholic church.
2. Item, That they believed not holy bread and holy water, ashes, palms, and all other like ceremonies used in the church, to be good and laudable for stirring up the people to devotion.
3. Item, That they believed not, after the words of consecration spoken by the priest, the very natural body of Christ, and no other substance of bread and wine, to be in the sacrament of the altar.
4. Item, That they believed it to be idolatry to worship Christ in the sacrament of the altar.
5. Item, That they took bread and wine in remembrance of Christ's passion.
6. Item, That they would not follow the cross in procession, nor be confessed to a priest.
7. Item, That they affirmed no mortal man to have in himself free will to do good or evil.
For this doctrine and articles above prefixed, these three, as is aforesaid, were condemned by Dr. Dunning and committed to the secular power, sir John Silliard being the same time high sheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk. And the next day following upon the same, they were all burnt together in the said town of Beccles. Whereupon it is to be thought, that the writ "De comburendo" was not yet come down, nor could be, the lord chancellor bishop Heath being the same time at London: which if it be true, then it is plain, that both they went beyond their commission, that were the executioners, and also the clergy, which were the instigators thereof, cannot make good that they now pretend; saying, that they did nothing but by law. But this let the Lord find out when he seeth his time.
In the mean time, while these good men were at the stake, and had prayed, they said their belief; and when they came to the reciting of the catholic church, sir John Silliard spake to them: "That is well said, sirs," quoth he, "I am glad to hear you say, you do believe the catholic church. That is the best word I have heard of you yet." To the which his sayings Edmund Poole answered, that though they believed the catholic church, yet did they not believe in their popish church, which is no part of Christ's catholic church, and therefore no part of their belief.
When they rose from prayer, they all went joyfully to the stake; and being bound thereto, and the fire burning about them, they praised God in such an audible voice, that it was wonderful to all those which stood by and heard them.
Then one Robert Bacon, dwelling in the said Beccles, a very enemy of God's truth, and a persecutor of his people, being there present within hearing thereof, willed the tormentors to throw on faggots to stop the knaves' breaths, as he termed them; so hot was his burning charity. But these good men, not regarding their malice, confessed the truth, and yielded their lives to the death for the testimony of the same, very gloriously and joyfully. The which their constancy in the like cause the Lord grant we may imitate and follow unto the end (whether it be death or life), to glorify the name of Christ, Amen!