“Nay,” he whispered earnestly to Bertram: “he is yet hid some whither,—here, in Wales. Men wit not where; and God forbid too many should!”
“Then men be yet a-searching for him?”
“High and low, leaving no stone unturned. God keep His true servant safe, unto His honour!”
It needs no far-fetched conjecture to divine that they were speaking of Lord Cobham.
“And goest unto these French wars, sweet Hugh?”
“Needs must; my Lord’s Grace hath so bidden me.”
“But thou wert wont to hold that no Christian man should of right bear arms, neither fight.”
“Truth; and yet do,” said Hugh quietly. This was the view of the extreme Lollards.
“Then how shall thine opinion serve in the thick of fight?”
“As it hath aforetime. I cannot fight.”