All the boys were Latin scholars, and had made much progress in their knowledge of that language since the advent of the young monk into the household.  They had likewise greatly increased in their knowledge of the Scriptures; for Brother Emmanuel was a sound believer in the doctrine preached by the Dean of St. Paul’s, and of the maxims laid down by him—­that the Scriptures were not to be pulled to fragments, and each fragment explained without reference to the context, but to be studied and examined as a whole, and so explained, one portion illuminating and illustrating another.  After such a fashion had Brother Emmanuel long been studying the Word of God, and after such a method did he explain it to his pupils.

All three boys were possessed of clear heads and quick intelligence, and their minds had expanded beneath the influence of the young monk’s teaching.  They all loved a quiet hour spent with him in reading and expounding the Bible narrative, and today a larger portion than usual had been read; for the heat made exertion unwelcome even to the active lads, and it was pleasanter here beneath the cedar tree than anywhere else besides.

“Now, I would fain know,” began Julian, after a pause in the reading, “why it is that it is thought such a vile thing for men to possess copies of God’s Word in their own tongue that they may read it to themselves.  It seems to me that men would be better and not worse for knowing the will of God in all things; and here it is set down clearly for every man to understand.  Yet, if I understand not amiss, it is made a cause of death for any to possess the Scriptures in his own tongue.”

“Yea, that is what the heretic Lollards do—­read and expound the Scriptures in the vulgar tongue and after their own fashion,” said Bertram.  “Have a care, Julian, how thou seemest to approve their methods; for there is a great determination in high places to put down at once and for all the vile doctrines which are corrupting all the land.”

“I approve no heresy,” cried Julian eagerly.  “I do but ask why it be heresy to read the Word of God, and to have in possession a portion of it in the language of one’s country.”

“Marry, dost thou not know that one reason is the many errors the translators have fallen into, which deceive the unwary and lead the flock astray?” cried Edred eagerly.  “Brother Emmanuel has told me some amongst these, and there are doubtless many others of which he may not have heard.  A man may not drink with impunity of poisoned waters; neither is it safe to take as the Word of God a book which may have many perversions of His truth.”

Edred looked up at Brother Emmanuel for confirmation of this explanation.  It was the monk’s habit to encourage the boys to discuss any question of interest freely amongst themselves, he listening in silence the while, and later on giving them the benefit of his opinion.  All the three turned to him now to see what he would say upon a point that was already agitating the country, and was preparing the way for a shaking that should lead to an altogether new state of existence both in Church and State.  Even out here in the garden, in the sanctuary of their own home, with only their friend and spiritual pastor to hear them, the boys spoke with bated breath, as though fearful of uttering words which might have within them some germ of that dreaded sin of heresy.