When they reached the end of the lane which led into the high road from Bradmond, they found Dr Thorpe seated on his bay horse, awaiting them. Behind, on a brown nag, was Dickon, with a bundle strapped at his back. "Come, friends mine!" cried Dr Thorpe. "If you urge on your horses no faster, we shall sleep on the common to-night." Then as Bayard came up with him, he added in a lower tone, "It was too true, Jack. Fourteen houses were sacked in Bodmin last night." "Of them that had enclosed?" "Mostly, but not all," he answered. "They opened the cellars, and set the conduits a-flowing with wine; then, having well drunken, marched to the church, where they cast the new service-book into a bonfire [Note 1]; and at after surrounded Father Prideaux [a fictitious person] his house, shouting and singing in uproarious wise, calling upon him to come forth and set himself at their head. (A fair body to be head of!) By God's providence, he was not within; but it was full two hours ere they would depart, for all the handmaid's telling of them that her master was from home. At long last they did go thence, and down the streets, shrieking and yelling like fiends." "And is it over, think you?" suggested Avery. "Is it begun?" answered Dr Thorpe. "Tidings came yestre'en of riots in Somerset; and, Jack, the commons have taken Exeter." "Taken Exeter!" cried John and Isoult in a breath. "Taken Exeter!" repeated he. "What think you now?" "Lord, have mercy upon us!" said Isoult under her breath. "A letter is come from the King," pursued Dr Thorpe, "exhorting the commons to obedience and patience, and they shall receive redress of their griefs." Philippa and Robin now came ambling alongside, for here they could ride three abreast. "But what profess the commons to be their griefs?" said Isoult; "for I did never yet rightly understand." "Firstly," said Dr Thorpe, "they do allege the young age of the King, and the having a Protector over them." "What foolishness!" exclaimed Avery. "Would they have the King grow unto manhood in a day? or think they that he abideth a child of set purpose?" "Then," pursueth Dr Thorpe, "their second matter is, the 'stablishing of Lutheranism within the realm. They would fain see the mass set up again, and have the Six Articles back." "The Bloody Statute!" cried Isoult. "God forgive them!" "And the third matter is the enclosures," added he. "Methinks men are not over weighted with religion, that be so ready to pull it down," remarked Philippa. "That hangeth on whether it be truth or error," replied he. "Nay," said she, "you draw lines too fine for me. What I learnt in my youth is truth enough for me." "So do many think," said Avery. "But there is yet an other question, Mrs Basset, which they shall some day have to front, though they will not now; and that is, whether it be truth enough for God?" But to that she made no answer.