What is the darkness then, for which ye would needs be gone from us? And what is that worthy knowledge ye have won by your departure? Tell us, that we may bte the Books, and go to school with you. Truly without ye have some hidden and secrete knowledge, which ye have not uttered to the world hitherto, as we believe ye have not, being such boasters as ye are: we see little cause, ye should twit us of ignorance, and brag of your own knowledge. This we see full well, they that run away from us to your side, be they Monks or Friars, Tinkers or Tapsters, Cobblers or Bodgers, white or black, by and by in your Synagogues they be great Rabbins. And ye the superintendents admit them to be your Ministers and Preachers of the word, and tell them they can do well, and they believe no less themselves. But the people take them for such, as they knew them before they took such degree, and many times for their good behaviour, they forget their Holy Ministry, and Christen them by their common name, which was not given them at the Font. Yet all this proveth not either our ignorance, or your marvellous and rare knowledge. Neither shall ye ever be able to prove to any man of learning and judgement, that in any liberal sciences, or right knowledge of the Scriptures, ye are comparable to the learned men of the Catholic Church. Though about fifty years paste and upward for a space, the studies of eloquence and of tongues were intermitted, yet then and before those times was there no small number of men, who had profound knowledge of all good Arts, and specially of the Holy Letters. I report me to Thomas Walden, who very learnedly confuted the Heresies of your great Grandfather John Wycliffe, to Alcuinus in the great Charles time, to Bede before that, all three English men, to Anselm and Lanckfrancke Bishops of England, though strangers borne, to S. Thomas of Aquine, S. Bernard, Rupertus, and hundreds moe, which here is no place to reckon. Were not they, by confession of all, great Clerks? do not the best learned of our time, in obscure matters fetch light of them? To say the Truth, in comparison of their clear light, your ill savouring snuffs may scantly seem to yield a dark smoke. Many talk of your painted sheath, who, were they learned in deed, would soon perceive neither that to be very fresh and gay:
VVhat is the darkenesse then, for whiche ye would needes be gonne from vs? And what is that woorthy knowledge ye haue wonne by your departure? Tell vs, that we maie bte the Bookes, and goe to scoole with you. Truly without ye haue some hidden and secrete knowledge, which ye haue not vttered to the worlde hitherto, as we beleue ye haue not, beinge suche boasters as ye are: we see litle cause, ye should twite vs of ignorance, and bragge of your owne knowledge. This we see full well, they that runne away from vs to your side, be they Monkes or Friers, Tinkers or Tapsters, Coblers or Bodgers, white or blacke, by and by in your Synagoges they be great Rabbins. And ye the superintendentes admitte them to be your Ministers and Preachers of the woorde, and tell them they can doo well, and they beleue no lesse themselues. But the people take them for suche, as they knewe them before they tooke suche degree, and many times for their good behauiour, they foregete their Holy Ministerie, and Christen them by their common name, whiche was not geuen them at the Fonte. Yet all this proueth not either our ignorance, or your maruelous and rare knowledge. Neither shall ye euer be able to proue to any man of learninge and iudgement, that in any liberall sciences, or righte knowledge of the Scriptures, ye are comparable to the learned menne of the Catholike Churche. Though about fifty yeeres paste and vpwarde for a space, the studies of eloquence and of tonges were intermitted, yet then and before those times was there no smal number of men, who had profounde knowledge of all good Artes, and specially of the Holy Letters. I reporte me to Thomas VValden, who very learnedly confuted the Heresies of your greate Graundfather Iohn VVicklef, to Alcuinus in the great Charles time, to Beda before that, all three English men, to Anselme and Lanckfrancke Bishops of Englande, though strangers borne, to S. Thomas of Aquine, S. Bernarde, Rupertus, and hundreds moe, whiche here is no place to recken. VVere not they, by confession of all, greate Clerkes? doo not the beste learned of our time, in obscure matters fetche light of them? To saie the Truthe, in comparison of their cleare light, your ill sauoringe snoffes maie scantly seeme to yeelde a darke smoke. Many talke of your painted sheath, who, were they learned in dede, woulde soone perceiue neither that to be very freshe and gaie:
