“These youths,” he said, “have not been long conversant with Master Garret, nor have greatly perused his mischievous books; and long before Master Garret was taken, divers of them were weary of these works, and delivered them back to Dalaber.  I am marvellous sorry for the young men.  If they be openly called upon, although they appear not greatly infect, yet they shall never avoid slander, because my lord’s grace did send for Master Garret to be taken.  I suppose his Grace will know of your good lordship everything.  Nothing shall be hid, I assure your good lordship, an every one of them were my brother; and I do only make this moan for these youths, for surely they be of the most towardly young men in Oxford, and as far as I do yet perceive, not greatly infect, but much to blame for reading any part of these works.”

It was Arthur who brought word to the Bridge House of this letter of mediation which had been sent to the bishop, who would then confer with the cardinal; and the hearts of all beat high with hope.

“Surely, when he reads that, he will not deal harshly with them!” spoke Freda, her colour coming and going.

“I hope not—­I trust not; but for the bishop none may answer.  I would rather we had the cardinal directly over us; but it is the bishop who is our lord and master.”

“And is he a hard and cruel man?”

“He is one who has a vehement hatred of heresy, and would destroy it root and branch,” answered Arthur.  “It may be that even this letter will in some sort anger him, though it is meant for the best.”

“How anger him?” asked Magdalen.

“Marry, in that he sees how godly and toward has been the walk of those youths who are now accounted guilty of heresy.  Even Dr. London, who has been so busy in the matter of the arrests, now that he hath gotten them safe in ward, is forced to own that they are amongst the best and most promising of the students of the university, and therefore he himself pleads that they be not harshly dealt with.  But how the bishop will like to hear that is another matter.”

“Yet to us it cannot but be a testimony,” spoke Dr. Langton gravely, “and one which those in authority would do well to lay to heart.  In the matter of wisdom, prudence, and obedience, these young men may have failed somewhat—­they may have been carried away by a certain rashness and impetuosity; but that they are of a pious and godly walk and conversation, even their accusers know well.  And here in Oxford, where so much brawling and license and sinfulness stalks rampant, does it not say somewhat for these new doctrines that they attract the more toward and religious, and pass the idlers and reprobates by?”

So there was much eager talk and discussion throughout Oxford during the days which followed, and excitement ran high when it was known that Garret had been taken—­not in London, not in a tawny coat, but near to Bristol—­by a relative of Cole, one of the proctors, who had recognized him from the description sent by his relative, and was eager to be permitted to conduct him to Oxford, and hand him over to the authorities.