IGNORANCE. So they call him indeed, you have said right well, Because he came newly from the devil of hell, New Custom, quoth you? now a vengeance of his new nose, For bringing in any such unaccustomed glose! For he hath seduced the people by mighty great flocks: Body of God, it were good to set the knave in the stocks. Or else to whip him for an example to all rogues as he, How they the authors of new heresies be, Or henceforth do attempt any such strange devise: Let him keep himself from my hands, if he be wise. If ever I may take him within my reign, He is sure to have whipping there for his pain. For he doth much harm in each place throughout the land. Wherefore, Perverse Doctrine, here needeth your hand: I mean that ye be diligent in any case, If ye fortune to come, where New Custom is in place, So to use the villain, you know what I mean, That in all points you may discredit him clean; And when he begins of anything for to clatter, Of any controversy of learning or divinity matter, So to cling fast unto every man's thought, That his words may seem heresy, and his doings but nought. PERV. DOC. Tush, let me alone with that, for I have not so little wit, But I have practised this already, and mind also to do it. Yet a further device I have, I think, not amiss. Hearken to me, Ignorance, for the matter is this: For the better accomplishing our subtlety pretended,[9] It were expedient that both our names were amended; Ignorance shall be Simplicity, for that comes very nigh; And for Perverse Doctrine I will be called Sound Doctrine, I. And now that we are both in such sort named, We may go in any place, and never be blamed. See then you remember your name, sir Simplicity, And me at every word Sound Doctrine to be; Beware of tripping, but look in mind that you bear Your feigned name, and what before you were. But who is this that hitherward doth walk? Let us stand still, to hear what he will talk. ACTUS I., SCÆNA 2. NEW CUSTOM _entereth alone._