lear

card 1 of 5 · context meaning

In this archaic passage, what contrast is the speaker making about different kinds of 'lear'?

'Foul befa' him and his lear too! It maun be o' some new-fangled kind, I think. Our auld minister had lear enough, baith Hebrew and Latin, and he believed in witches and warlocks, honest man, like ony ither sober, godly person.'