he perfection of nature:
for the trial whereof, at the request of my worshipful friend, I will in
some sort propound questions fit to be resolved by one of your
profession. Say, what is a person that was never at the university?

IMMERITO.
A person that was never in the university is a living creature that can
eat a tithe-pig.

RECORDER.
Very well answered; but you should have added--and must be officious to
his patron. Write down that answer to show his learning in logic.

SIR RADERIC.
Yea, boy, write that down. Very learnedly, in good faith. I pray now,
let me ask you one question that I remember: whether is the masculine
gender or the feminine more worthy?

IMMERITO.
The feminine, sir.

SIR RADERIC.
The right answer, the right answer. In good faith, I have been of that
mind always. Write, boy, that to show he is a grammarian.

PAGE.
No marvel my master be against the grammar; for he hath always made
false Latin in the genders. [_Aside_.

RECORDER.
What university are you of?

IMMERITO.
Of none.

SIR RADERIC.
He tells truth; to tell truth is an excellent virtue. Boy, make two
heads, one for his learning, another for his virtues; and refer this to
the head of his virtues, not of his learning.

PAGE.
What, half a mess of good qualities referred to an ass' head?
[_Aside_.

SIR RADERIC.
Now, Master Recorder, if it please you, I will examine him in an author
that will sound him to the depth--a book of astronomy, otherwise called
an almanac.

RECORDER.
Very good, Sir Raderic; it were to be wished that there were no other
book of humanity, then there would not be such busy, state-frying
fellows as are nowadays. Proceed, good sir.

SIR RADERIC.
What is the dominical letter?

IMMERITO.
C, sir, and please your worship.

SIR RADERIC.
A very good answer, a very good answer, the very answer of the book.
Write down that, and refer it to his skill in philosophy.

PAGE.
C the dominical letter? It is true: Craft and Cunning do so domineer;
yet, rather C and D are dominical letters, that is, crafty duncery.
[_Aside_.

SIR RADERIC.
How many days hath September?

IMMERITO.
April, June, and November, February hath twenty-eight alone; and all
the rest hath thirty and one.

SIR RADERIC.
Very learnedly, in good faith, he hath also a smack in poetry. Write
down that, boy, to show his learn