note, sir, that they which examined them were as wise as woodcocks
themselves, and therefore judged of them as penmen of pikemen and blind
men of colours. Or were it that they had so much learning in their
budgets as that they could make a shift to know their inefficiency, yet
to pleasure those that recommended them they suffered them to pass. One
is famous among the rest, who being asked by the bishop sitting at the
table: 'Es tu dignus?' answered, 'No, my Lord, but I shall dine anon
with your men.' For he thought that _dignus_ (that is, worthy) signified
to dine."

[148] This is a work distinct from Henri Etienne's _Apologia
pour Herodote_. An English translation of it was
published at London in 1807, and at Edinburgh in 1808,
under the title of "_A World of Wonders_; or, an
Introduction to a Treatise touching the Conformitie of
Ancient and Modern Wonders; or, a Preparative Treatise
to the Apology for Herodotus," etc. For this book (the
"Introduction") Etienne had to quit France, fearing the
wrath of the clerics. His _Apologie pour Herodote_ has
not been rendered into English--and why not, it would be
hard to say.

Etienne gives another example, which, however, belongs rather to the
class of simpleton stories: A young man going to the bishop for
admission into holy orders, to test his _learning_, was asked by the
prelate, "Who was the father of the Four Sons of Aymon?"[149] and not
knowing what answer to make, this promising candidate was refused as
inefficient. Returning home, and explaining why he had not been
ordained, his father told him that he must be an ass if he could not
tell who was the father of the four sons of Aymon. "See, I pray thee,"
quoth he, "yonder is Great John, the smith, who has four sons; if a man
should ask thee who was their father, wouldst thou not say it was Great
John, the smith?" "Yes," said the brilliant youth; "now I understand
it." Thereupon he went again before the bishop, and being asked a second
time, "Who was the father of the Four Sons of Aymon?" he promptly
replied: "Great John, the smith."[150]

[149] One of the Charlemagne Romances, translated by Caxton
from the French, and printed by him about the year 1489,
under the title of _The Right Pleasaunt and Goodly
Historie of the Four Sonnes of Aymon_. It has been
reprinted for the Early English Text Society, ably