forth from the shelter of the
walls.

"I like not the thought of all those prying eyes. My husband, these
be strange times in which we dwell."

Sir Oliver's face was dark and thoughtful.

"Ay, verily they be. How can men wonder that the ignorant and
unlearned turn with loathing and scorn from such crooked and
cowardly ways?--

"How now, Julian? Hast learned the cause of this ado? What says the
lay brother? Hast thou sounded him with care and with all due
caution?"

Julian and Edred came in together. Julian looked flushed and
excited, Edred pale and thoughtful, and his eyes were glowing with
a strange fire.

"Ay, verily, we have found it all out," cried the younger boy, with
eager excitement of manner. "Methinks it will be a fine sight.
Father, hast heard of the thing which men call the 'Great
Abjuration'--was not that the name, Edred?"

The elder boy made a sign of assent.

"It is for the heretics and Lollards," pursued Julian eagerly. "It
hath been done before in many places, and here it is to be done two
days from hence. All those persons who are suspected of heresy, or
have been found guilty, are to be called before the lord prior and
the Lord of Mortimer, and they will be bidden to abjure all their
false doctrines publicly. The whole village will be assembled to
hear them recant; high and low, rich and poor, all are to meet
together in the great quadrangle of the priory to hear and see. The
lay brother says it will be a fine sight. If they will not recant,
the prior will give them over to the Lord of Mortimer, who will see
that they suffer as heretics are wont to do. If they abjure their
errors, the prior will set them their penances; and these be no
light thing, by what the brother says. Some will be branded in the
cheek, that they carry the mark of their shame all their days; some
will have a green badge affixed to their arm, to wear until they
have leave to cast it off, that all men may know they have been
touched by the pollution; whilst others will be set to menial toil
in the monasteries, and will perchance spend the rest of their
lives there, sundered from their friends and their homes and all
those whom they love.

"In truth, I marvel how any man can meddle with heresy in these
days. The bishops have resolved to stamp it out once and for all,
and methinks they will do so right well if they take such steps as
these."

Sir Oliver's face looked a little relieved as he heard his son's
words.