"Yes, that is very likely," answered Philippa, contemptuously. "No doubt he knows all about it. Latin is the sacred language of the church, not like that profane Greek and Hebrew which was used only by heathen and by wicked Jews."
"But the Scripture was written in Greek and Hebrew in the first place; was it not, sister?" asked Amyas, eagerly. "I am sure the master said so, and I suppose he is right. Do you think you know more than our head-master, Cousin Philippa?"
"Gently, gently, little brother!" said Margaret. "Your master would also tell you that one may be right in a wrong way. 'Do you think you know more than so-and-so,' is not very good logic, neither is it very good manners, especially when addressed to one older than yourself."
At this, the lad blushed and hung down his head, but presently raised it and said frankly, "I beg your pardon, Cousin Philippa. But was it not so, sister?"
"Yes, you are right, so far. The Old Testament was written in Hebrew, as most, if not all, of the New Testament was in the Greek tongue. Scholars are now beginning to give great attention to the Hebrew."
"Yes, my sister wrote me that His Grace of Suffolk gives some chaplaincy or the like to a young man—a secular priest—who hath come up from the west country expressly to study the Hebrew," said Mistress Davis.
"I dare say that might be the same young priest who was in our shop yesterday," observed Margaret. "He was a fair Grecian for one of his years, and was asking for some one with whom to learn Hebrew."
"I wish I might learn Greek!" said Amyas.
"All in good time!" returned his mother. "And you, Hal?"
"Not I!" answered Hal, the younger boy. "I would rather be a sailor, and sail away to the Indies, like Columbus, than to be poring over little crooked letters, all dots and spots, like those you showed us the other day, sister."