never destitute of the aid of his grandfather. These be our holy holy
men, that say they are dead to the world, when no men be more lively in
worldly things than some of them be. But let them be in profession and
name most farthest from the world, most alienate from it; yea, so far,
that they may seem to have no occupying, no kindred, no affinity, nothing
to do with it: yet in their life and deeds they shew themselves no
bastards, but right begotten children of the world; as that which the
world long sithens had by his dear wife Dame Hypocrisy, and since hath
brought them up and multiplied to more than a good many; increased them
too much, albeit they swear by all he-saints and she-saints too, that
they know not their father, nor mother, neither the world, nor hypocrisy;
as indeed they can semble and dissemble all things; which thing they
might learn wonderful well of their parents. I speak not of all
religious men, but of those that the world hath fast knit at his girdle,
even in the midst of their religion, that is, of many and more than many.
For I fear, lest in all orders of men the better, I must say the greater
part of them be out of order, and children of the world. Many of these
might seem ingrate and unkind children, that will no better acknowledge
and recognise their parents in words and outward pretence, but abrenounce
and cast them off, as though they hated them as dogs and serpents.
Howbeit they, in this wise, are most grateful to their parents, because
they be most like them, so lively representing them in countenance and
conditions, that their parents seem in them to be young again, forasmuch
as they ever say one thing and think another. They shew themselves to be
as sober, as temperate, as Curius the Roman was, and live every day as
though all their life were a shroving time. They be like their parents,
I say, inasmuch as they, in following them, seem and make men believe
they hate them. Thus grandfather Devil, father World, and mother
Hypocrisy, have brought them up. Thus good obedient sons have borne away
their parents' commandments; neither these be solitary, how religious,