"Prince, remember that God has said, 'Honour thy father.'"
"Has he not somewhere also said, 'Parents, provoke not your children to anger'?"
"God judge between you, then," said the bishop, "but I warn you that you appear the greater transgressor."
"Meanwhile," said Edric, "I feel like a man who is being put unjustly to the torture. What is the accusation against me?--let it be stated in plain words."
"That just after the army disbanded in October, you visited the camp of Sweyn, and gave him to understand that the country was at his mercy, opposition being removed."
"What day of the month?"
"I do not know the exact day."
"Perhaps it was in the Greek calends," said Edric.
"I do not know when the Greek calends are, nor do I want to; my mother spent her time, I thank God, in teaching me to speak the truth, and to be true to my country, and not in teaching me outlandish gibberish."
"Still," said the bishop, "it is important to learn the day."