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.