“It was but the idle spite of the people of Mortimer,” he answered.  “They had baited the bull and the bear, and they had the mind to bait or burn a heretic whilst their blood was up, as a fit end to their day’s pleasuring.  I saw them prowling round the tree where the fellow was talking to the women and showing his wares; and suddenly they raised the shout.  I called out to Bertram that Mortimer’s people were bent on a mischief, and he sprang to the peddler’s side before any had touched him, and we disappointed the hell hounds of their prey.  He had nothing in his pack but such wares as all peddlers have; and the people vowed he had done naught all the day but sell to all who came.  It would have been sin and shame for us of Chad to have stood by to see him hounded perhaps to death.  We could not choose but balk those evil men of their will.  None of our blood could have stood by to see such ill done!”

“I cannot blame ye, my sons,” said the knight.  “Ye have the blood of your forefathers in your veins, and it goes against all of us at Chad to see injustice and unrighteousness committed.  I do but wish the cry raised against yon man had been anything else than that of heresy.  The priests and magistrates are very busy now searching out all those suspected of that vile sin, and those who shelter them are accounted as guilty as those who are proved tainted.  Our foe of Mortimer is very zealous in the good cause, and will not scruple to employ against us every weapon in his power.  It would be an excellent thing in his eyes to show how mine own children had stood up to defend a Lollard heretic.  I would we knew something more anent this man and his views.

“Warbel, didst thou know him?  Is he anyone known in and about Chad?”

“I never saw his face before, sir,” answered Warbel.  “I know not so much as his name.  I had thought of making some inquiries of the village folks.  All I noted was that he seemed always to have plenty of persons around and about him, and his wares were nothing very attractive.  Still, it is often the tales peddlers tell and the way they have with them that keeps a crowd always about them.  Some of the folks of the place must know who and what he is.”

“Yes, verily; and it would be well for thee to ride over tomorrow and make all needful inquiry.  It would set my mind at rest to know that there was no cause of complaint against him.  We cannot be blind to the fact that heretical doctrines are widely spread by those purporting to be hawkers and peddlers.  Yet there must be many honest men who would scorn to be so occupied, and who know not even the name of these pestilent heresies.”

And with that charge the knight tried to dismiss the subject from his mind; whilst Edred went to bed feeling terribly uneasy, and dreamed all night of the secret chamber, and how the time came when they were all forced to take refuge in it from the hatred of the Lord of Mortimer and his bloodthirsty followers.