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whole year, when they were arrested upon a Capias Excominuni- 
_catum and imprisoned in the county gaol, from which they 
were released only on their “earnest request and submission,” 
and sentenced to the following penance. Omitting the usual 
white sheet and the papers for the head, in consideration of 
their submission whilst in gaol, it was ordered that on Sunday, 
the 26th day of June, 1637, being in their ordinary apparel, 
they should stand forth in the middle aisle of the Parish 
church of Beckington, and there immediately after the reading 
of the Gospel, “openlie and penitentlie,” with an audible 
voice make this acknowledgment following, repeating the same 
after the Minister, viz..—We James Wheller and John Frie 
doe here before this Congregation assembled acknowledge and 
confesse that we have grievouslie offended the Divine Maiestie of 
Almighty God and the laws ecclesiasticall of this Realme of England, 
in that we have in Contemptuous manner refused to remove the 
Communion table in the Chancel of the parish Church of Becking- 
ton and to place it close under the East wall of the said Chancell 
in the same manner and forme as the Communion Table standeth 
in the Cathedrall Churche in Wells, and to remove the seates placed 
above the said table; being hereunto lawfully and Judiciallye 
monished and warned by the Right reverend father in God, the 
Lord Byshop of Bathe and Wells. And, in that, for our contempt 
and disobedience in not performing the said lawfull command of 
the said reverend father, wee have suffered ourselves to be lawfully 
excommunicated and so to stand for the space of one whole year 
last past or thereabouts, not fearing nor regarding the dreadful 
Censure of the Church. And in like manner have suffered our- 
selves to be lawfullye aggravated and signified according to the 
laudable lawes and statutes of this Realme, thereby in a loyall 
manner to compell us to our due obedience to the lawfull command 
of the Churche, and wee doe hereby protest that we are right 
heartily sorry for the same. And we doe faithfullie promise never 
from henceforth to offend in the like again, but to demeane our- 
