“And the next day following uppon the same they were all burnt togither in the said towne of Beckles. {41a} Whereupon it is to be thought that the writte _de comburendo_ was not yet come downe nor could not be, the Lord Chancellor, Bishoppe Heath, being the same time at London. {41b} Which, if it bee true, then it is plaine, that both they went beyond their commission that were the executioners, and also the clergie, which were the instigatours thereof, cannot make good that they now pretend, saying that they did nothing but by a lawe. But this let the Lord finde out when he seeth his time. “In the meane time, while these good men were at the stake, and had praied, they saide their beleefe; and when they came to the reciting of ‘the catholike church,’ Sir John Silliard spake to them; ‘That is well said, sirs, quoth he, I am glad to heare you saie you do beleeue the catholike church; that is the best word I heard of you yet.’ “To which his sayings, Edmund Poole answered, thogh they beleeue the catholike church, yet doe they not beleeue 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 ioyfullie to the stake, and being bound therto, and the fire burning about them, they praised God in such an audible voice, that it was wonderful to all those that stood by and heard them. “Then one Robert Bacon, dwelling in the saide Beckles, a very enemie to God’s truth, and a persecutor of his people, being there present within hearing thereof, willed the tormentors to throwe on faggots to stop the knaues’ breathes, as he tearmed them; so hot was his burning charitie. But these good men, not regarding their malice, confessed the truth, and yeelded their lives to the death, for the testimonie of the same, very gloriouslie and ioyfullie. The which their constancie, in the like cause, the Lord grant wee may imitate and followe unto the ende: whether it bee death or life, to glorifie the name of Christ. Amen.”