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12.—All ye orthodox Bishops, governours of ye church upon 
reformation in King Edward’s time of blessed memorye, 
have either written or preached against altering ye table. 
13.—Divers of ye Bishops and the eminent Divines in Queen 
Marie’s time have sealed the same with their blood. 
14.—All ye modern Bishops, governours of ye church since ye 
established reformation in Queen Elizabeth’s Raigne, Kinge 
James, and King Charles, for almost 80 years have not 
altered ye aritient standing of ye Communion Table, nor hath 
beene attempted until this 2 or 3 years.* 
These “ Reasons” are endorsed—“ This I thinke is ye answer 
which is soe much taulked of to Dr. Heylin, and all ye answer for 
other I can neither see nor beleeve yet what do they not bragg of.” 
This opposition and the reasons given necessarily attracted much 
attention, and brought the Beckington people into prominent 
notice in the Diocese, where every parish anxiously watched the 
result of their appeal. After much waiting in the Arches Court, 
the petitioners got from Sir John Lambe, the Dean, a letter to 
their Bishop requesting him to absolve them for atime. This he 
accordingly did for twenty-seven days, admonishing them then 
to submit. But in reply to the Dean’s letter, and clearly not 
liking too much interference from him, the Bishop wrote on the 
2nd January, 1636 :—“ If these men have their wills the example 
will do a great deal of harm, and then many of the parishes which 
have already conformed will fall back, and others will never come 
on to this conformity who are now at a stand to see what will be 
done at Beckington. Therefore I feel assured you will do nothing 
herein but that which shall be for the good of the Church and 
preservation of authority in all things just and lawful.” 
The twenty-seven days passed, and as there was still no sign of 
obedience, Wheeler and Fry were again excommunicated in open 
Court on the 13th January, 1636 ; and further, at the Lent Assizes 
* From Sommersetsheer, S,P., Vol. ecelxxv., 84, 
