IGNORANCE. I fear the same also; but as touching that whereof you speak full well, They have revoked divers old heresies out of hell. As against transubstantiation, purgatory, and the mass, And say that by scripture they cannot be brought to pass. But that which ever hath been a most true and constant opinion, And defended also hitherto by all of our religion, That I, Ignorance, am the mother of true devotion, And Knowledge the author of the contrary affection: They deny it so stoutly as though it were not so; But this hath been believed many an hundred year ago. Wherefore it grieveth me not a little that my case should so stand, Thus to be disproved at every prattler's hand. PERV. DOC. Yea, doth? then the more unwise man you, as I trow, For they say as much by me, as you well do know. And shall I then go vex myself at their talk? No, let them speak so long as their tongues can walk. They shall not grieve me, for why in very sooth It were folly to endeavour to stop every man's mouth. They have brought in one, a young upstart lad, as it appears, I am sure he hath not been in the realm very many years, With a gathered frock, a polled head and a broad hat, An unshaved beard, a pale face; and he teacheth that All our doings are nought, and hath been many a day. He disalloweth our ceremonies and rites, and teacheth another way To serve God, than that which we do use, And goeth about the people's minds to seduce. It is a pestilent knave, he will have priests no corner-cap to wear;[7] Surplices are superstition: beads, paxes, and such other gear, Crosses, bells, candles, oil, bran, salt, spettle, and incense, With censing and singing, he accounts not worth three-halfpence, And cries out on them all (if to repeat them I wist) Such holy things, wherein our religion doth consist. But he commands the service in English to be read, And for the Holy Legend[8] the Bible to put in his stead, Every man to look thereon at his list and pleasure, Every man to study divinity at his convenient leisure, With a thousand new guises more you know as well as I. And to term him by his right name, if I should not lie, It is New Custom, for so they do him call, Both our sister Hypocrisy, Superstition, Idolatry and all. And truly me-thinketh, they do justly and wisely therein, Since he is so diverse, and so lately crept in.