PRINCETON, N. J. 
 
 BX 5199 .A9 S8 1821 
 Strype, John, 1643-1737. 
 Historical collections of 
 the life and acts of the 
 
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 the Internet Archive 
 
 
 
 in 2015 
 
 
 
 https://archive.org/details/historicalcollecOOstry 
 
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HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS 
 
 OF 
 
 THE LIFE AND ACTS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 RIGHT REVEREND FATHER IN GOD, 
 
 JOHN AYLMER, 
 
 LORD BP. OF LONDON IN THE REIGN OF QUEEN ELIZABETH. 
 
 WHEREIN ARE EXPLAINED 
 
 MANY TRANSACTIONS OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND; 
 AND WHAT METHODS WERE THEN TAKEN TO 
 PRESERVE IT, WITH RESPECT BOTH TO 
 THE PAPIST AND PURITAN. 
 
 BY JOHN STRYPE, M. A. 
 
 A NEW EDITION. 
 
 OXFORD, 
 
 AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. 
 MDCCCXXI. 
 
TO THE HONOURABLE 
 
 ADMIRAL AYLMER. 
 
 SIR, 
 
 Accept the Dedication of this Life of Bishop 
 Aylmer. For to what other name may it more 
 justly belong than yours? Not only in that you 
 both are sprung from the same ancient family, but 
 by reason of your high and deserved advancements : 
 he, by his Prince placed in one of the chiefest 
 trusts in the Church ; you, by yours in as great 
 and honourable a charge in the Navy. In which 
 you have not only been successful, by bringing 
 home in safety the Turkey fleet in the midst of 
 war, and a sea full of enemies laying wait for you, 
 but since by cutting [or agreeing] for the redemp- 
 tion of his Majesty's subjects, lying for many years 
 in a most miserable slavery under the Emperor of 
 Morocco ; and have gained other advantages, both 
 for the honour and trade of England; as may be 
 seen in the Articles confirmed by you with the 
 governments of Tunis and Tripoli. But you, Sir, 
 had rather do great services, than hear of them, and 
 receive the praises due for them. And therefore I 
 stop my pen from proceeding any farther in this 
 argument. 
 
 Sir, that you may still live, and be the instrument 
 
 a 
 
iv 
 
 EPISTLE DEDICATORY. 
 
 of much more good to the King and kingdom, may 
 I presume to be your monitor? Remember from 
 whose hands all your successes and honours flow ; 
 acknowledge Him, and let Him have the glory. 
 The crest and motto belonging to the other branch 
 of your family may be your remembrancer : which 
 is, three flourishing slips of the plant allelujah, (as 
 herbalists call the trijolium acetosum,) and a scroll 
 compassing the same, with the word Allelujah, 
 which signifies, Praise the Lord: let that, Sir, 
 (which is their motto,) be your practice. 
 
 To conclude, if you shall please at your leisure 
 minutes to read over these Historical Collections 
 concerning this Prelate your namesake, (as history 
 is the mistress and instructor of life,) whatsoever 
 you find praiseworthy in him, follow. Follow what- 
 soever you observe in him springing from the noble 
 principles of religion, conscience, and true magnani- 
 mity, and let them ever live and flourish in the house 
 of the Aylmers : with which wish and prayer I end 
 this address, being, 
 
 Sir, 
 
 Your most humble Servant, 
 
 JOHN STRYPE. 
 
THE 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 To give some account of my doings in publishing this 
 piece, let me premise a few things. I confess I have beef) 
 led, by a strong propension of mind, to make inquiry into 
 the ecclesiastic affairs of this kingdom, happening especially 
 in the last century of years but one, (namely, that called 
 the sceculum reformatum,) when the state of religion un- 
 derwent so great a change in Europe, and particularly in 
 England. And that I might herein be profitable to others 
 as well as to myself, I have been willing to communicate 
 what I have collected and discovered out of various re- 
 cords and archives, as well as other old cast-by printed 
 tracts ; this kind of history, especially along through the 
 reign of Queen Elizabeth, being very sparingly hitherto 
 made known to us. 
 
 And because the hinges of public affairs have chiefly 
 turned on the management of those in eminent places and 
 offices, Biography may deservedly require its place in his- 
 tory : I have had a great respect to it in the collections I 
 have made ; taking due notice of all such persons as have 
 made a figure either in the Church or State, and observing 
 as much as I coidd of their acts and characters ; especially 
 of such whose aims and pursuits have been just and honour- 
 able. Of such I have had a mind to revive the memory, 
 and retrieve their names from being lost in perpetual obli- 
 vion, by drawing up some accounts of them, taken out of 
 their own letters and papers, or elsewhere; intending to 
 offer some of them to the present age : a thing due to wor- 
 a 2 
 
VI 
 
 THE PREFACE. 
 
 thy men, that their names and good works may never die, 
 nor be forgotten. And as it is a piece of justice to them, 
 so of considerable benefit to us in this age ; the contemplat- 
 ing of their lives being like to prove of very good use to 
 those that have the skill to gather lessons of prudence and 
 conduct in human life from them. I may add, the pleasure 
 and satisfaction that is commonly taken in relations and his- 
 tories of persons of rank and eminence that liv ed in former 
 times. It hath somewhat very acceptable and agreeable in 
 it, as there is in seeing the lively portraitures or statues of 
 such as have been great Statesmen or learned Ecclesiastics, 
 being the usual ornament of the galleries of noblemen's 
 houses: though those could but represent the outward 
 shape, and not the minds and deeds, as history can and 
 doth. What flocking is there when an ambassador or a 
 great man is to be seen ! Many put themselves to the ex- 
 penses of travelling abroad, chiefly to see the faces of for- 
 tunate princes, or to be acquainted with profound scholars, 
 or men of some other great figure. And what inquiries do 
 they make into their manners, opinions, and factions ! Which 
 shews what a delight mankind usually takes in the know- 
 ledge of men, whose dignities or employments have distin- 
 guished them from the inferior rank. 
 
 I have in this book shewn to the world one of these sin- 
 gular men, viz. Queen Elizabeth's third Bishop of London. 
 Within whose diocese lay both the Court, Westminster Hall, 
 and London, the great metropolis of the nation : and by 
 whom the Archbishop of Canterbury passed all his injunc- 
 tions and mandates to the rest of the Bishops and Clergy of 
 his province. And therefore we may reasonably look for mat- 
 ters of great moment to be occasionally recommended to 
 this Bishop in this busy reign, and to fall into the accounts 
 we give of him. 
 
 If it be asked why I do not rather begin with Grindal 
 and Sandys, this Bishop's two immediate predecessors in 
 the said see of London ; it is enough to answer at present, 
 that the one being afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury, 
 and the other of York, it may be more proper to treat of 
 
THE PREFACE. 
 
 \ ii 
 
 them (as perhaps in due time I may) under the denomina- 
 tions of the sees whereof they were possessed when they 
 died. 
 
 In what I have writ, I have endeavoured invariably to 
 follow the tract of truth, and have related things as I found 
 them. I may perhaps be censured for this plain and im- 
 partial way of writing, and blamed, that I have not put 
 some veil or varnish upon some things, and been wholly 
 silent of others, which might reflect some blemish upon the 
 man I write of. In truth, I make no scruple to express 
 the defects and failings of men, as well as their excellent 
 qualities and praiseworthy deeds. We are not writing a 
 panegyric, but a faithful account. A sober reader might 
 justly misdoubt the whole, when all is praise, and every 
 passage of the life is represented as coming up to the per- 
 fect and commensurate rule of justice, virtue, and honour. 
 And herein I follow a good historian, (Morison, Secretary 
 to the Lord Mountjoy, sometime Lord Deputy of Ireland,) 
 who, undertaking to write his Lord and Master's acts, bids 
 his reader confidently to believe, " that as in the duty of 
 " a servant he would not omit any thing he remembered, 
 " which might turn to his Lord's honour; so, in his love 
 " to truth, he would be so far from lying and flattery, as 
 " he would rather be bold modestly to mention some of his 
 " defects, whereof the greatest worthiness of the world can- 
 " not be altogether free. 11 Adding, that "as he esteemed ly- 
 " ing and flattery by word of mouth among the living to be in- 
 " fallible notes of baseness and ignorance, so he judged these 
 " vices infamous and sinful, when they were left in print to 
 " deceive posterity. 11 And as for the errors in good men's 
 lives, it suffices to say, that we are not angels in this state 
 of mortality, and men will be men, as Archbishop Parker 
 used to say. The best have their imperfections ; and there 
 have been many singular useful men, whose passions or 
 other temptations have made them sometimes to deviate 
 and go aside ; and yet may their names stand fair, and 
 their examples be recommended to posterity. Some slips 
 and failings perhaps we may find in this Bishop in reading 
 a3 
 
viii THE PREFACE. 
 
 his history : which his public spirit, his zeal for the Pro- 
 testant religion, his learning, his steady and careful govern- 
 ment, and other singular accomplishments, wall abundantly 
 atone. But whereas a great many charges and criminations 
 of a fouler nature were cast upon him, they will prove but 
 the uncharitable and angry slanders of his enemies, the in- 
 novators, whom he neither, favoured nor spared. And, in 
 justice to the memory of a great Father of our Church, I 
 have endeavoured to vindicate and clear his name from 
 such impudent calumniations and picked-up stories, as are 
 in Martin Marprelate, and some other malicious scribblers 
 in those times. 
 
 But to prevent the objection of some, who do not like 
 this age's practice, of burdening the world, as they call it, 
 with such abundance of needless and frivolous books, let 
 me add to what I have already said concerning the reason 
 of my setting forth this piece, that (besides the life and 
 acts of a single man, that, dying above an hundred years 
 ago, the present generation is not much concerned for) it 
 contains in it matter of more public concern. For there 
 fall in with it many transactions in the Church ; as the pro- 
 ceedings of the Commission for ecclesiastical causes ; parti- 
 cular relations what grounds and interests both Papistry, 
 and that which was termed Puritanism and Separatism 
 got; how the State was awaked with these things; what 
 orders came down, and what prosecutions thereupon; the 
 state of the Clergy of London and the diocese ; matters dis- 
 covered in visitations ; things not yet taken notice of in our 
 histories, but rather declined and purposely omitted. Cam- 
 den, our best historian for these times, lightly toucheth at 
 matters of this nature, professing to leave them to the eccle- 
 siastical historian. 
 
 Notices and characters are here likewise given of divers 
 remarkable persons then living both in the Church and 
 State, as, namely, the faithful, the just, and wise Lord 
 Treasurer Burghley, the great favourite the Earl of Lei- 
 cester, the diligent Secretary Walsingham, the truly learned 
 and experienced Secretary Wylson, and other Statesmen ; 
 
THE PREFACE. 
 
 divers Archbishops and Bishops, and other eminent Church- 
 men, viz. Parker, Grindal, Whitgift, Sandys, Cox, Nowell, 
 Goodman, Fox ; many of the chief Papists, Feckenham,W at- 
 son, Meridith, Allen, Campion ; and Puritans, as Whright, 
 Chark, Field, Wilcox, Carew, Giffard, Cartwright, Cavvdry, 
 Barrow, Greenwood, and others of that rank. Which things, 
 when duly considered, may render this book of public use 
 and advantage, though the argument of it be more private, 
 and relate chiefly to one man. 
 
 Should any be desirous to know upon what foot of truth 
 I stand, and what authority I have for what I have written, 
 I acknowledge the demand to be very reasonable, and I 
 shall freely declare what notes I have made use of, and 
 whence I have gathered my materials. In general, I have 
 been furnished from authentic registers and records, from 
 original letters and other MSS. some lying in public ar- 
 chives, and others in more private libraries. Some help 
 also I have had from certain old tracts and pamphlets 
 printed in those times. But to be more particular, (for this 
 perhaps may give a satisfaction to some more inquisitive 
 persons,) at the end of this book I have set down a cata- 
 logue of the manuscripts, together with the other ancient 
 printed treatises, both that I have made use of, and that 
 are mentioned in the history. 
 
 And here I cannot but take this occasion publicly to 
 acknowledge my singular obligations to divers reverend 
 and honourable persons, who have granted me the liberty 
 of consulting very valuable papers in their possession or 
 custody. Among these is the right honourable and learned 
 Sir Joseph Williamson ; who, after my requests of being 
 admitted into the Paper Office had been made known unto 
 him by the favour of the most reverend Father in Christ 
 the present Archbishop of Canterbury, allowed me to take 
 a view of the ecclesiastical papers there; and afterward, 
 by a warrant from the most honourable the King's Privy 
 Council, with the same obliging readiness, to take copies of 
 divers of them for my use, in the compiling an ecclesiastical 
 history under my hands; whereby I was furnished with 
 a 4 
 
X 
 
 THE PREFACE. 
 
 some things for my present purpose. By the favour also 
 of my right honourable and right reverend Diocesan 
 Henry Lord Bishop of London, I have had access to the 
 Registry of the Bishops of London: where I was kindly 
 received and directed by Mr. Alexander, the Deputy Re- 
 gister. The right reverend the Lord Bishop of Nor- 
 wich, the possessor of a great and curious collection of 
 MSS. and other ancient printed pieces, (little inferior to 
 MSS. in regard of their scarceness,) hath also been very 
 considerably assistant to me, as well in this present work, as 
 in others, by that free leave, nay, and invitation, he hath 
 given me to peruse, and make transcriptions out of am of 
 them. Nor do I forget the obliging readiness of Sir Henry 
 St. George Clarent. King at Arms, with others belonging 
 unto the noble Office of Heralds ; who with all willingness 
 afforded me the use of their books, in order to the searching 
 for the family and pedigree of our Bishop, as well as for 
 divers other things, serviceable to some purposes I have in 
 hand. 
 
 And this at length is the sum of what I had to say to the 
 reader ; praying him, in case he discovers any slips or over- 
 sights, to pardon them to one who looks upon himself as a 
 frail and fallible man, and is apt enough to have mean con- 
 ceits of his own performances, and very ready to be set 
 right, and thankful to be instructed, as well as willing to 
 contribute his talent to instruct others. And thus I bid the 
 reader farewell. 
 
 J. S. 
 
 From Low Leyton in Essex, 
 February 6, 1700. 
 
THE 
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS OF THE RIGHT 
 REV. BP. AYLMER'S LIFE ; 
 
 TOGETHER WITH THE CHRONOLOGY. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 The Bishop's birth, education and preferments, exile and 
 return. Made Archdeacon of Lincoln. P. 1. 
 
 The name of Aylmer. His extract and birth. His education, ^nn. 1521. 
 Tutor to the Lady Jane Grey. Her proficiency under him. 1553, 
 Aylmer's character when young. Reckoned amongst the best x 559] 
 and politest wits. Studies divinity. Becomes Archdeacon of 1562 - 
 Stow. Flies abroad for his religion. Instructs youth in his 1573] 
 exile. Publisheth the Lady Jane's letter. Assists Mr. Fox the 1573 - 
 Martyrologist. Aylmer a severe critic. Aylmer at Zurich. Ad- 
 viseth to invite Peter Martyr to read at Frankfort. He tra- 
 vels. Prints a book at Strasburgh against Knox. Engaged in 
 a disputation. Made Archdeacon of Lincoln. Present at the 
 Synod anno 1562. Writes to the Archbishop concerning old 
 books at Lincoln. Sticks at Lincoln. Justice of the Peace, 
 and in the ecclesiastical Commission there. His usefulness. 
 Becomes Dr. of Divinity. Moved by the Archbishop to an- 
 swer a certain book. A controversy between the Archdeacon 
 and Bishop of Lincoln decided. 
 
xii 
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 CHAP. n. 
 
 He is preferred to the see of London. His cares in that 
 function : chiefly about Papists. Visits his diocese. 
 Preaches often. P. 16. 
 
 A "° , 7 1 8 576 - Why neglected so long. The Archbishop's character of him. 
 
 Made Bishop of London. Contest between Aylraer and bis pre- 
 decessor Sandys. Archbishop Sandys's plea. The kindness of 
 his predecessor. His confirmation and consecration. His re- 
 quest to the Queen. His primary visitation. His expenses. 
 Preaches frequently. His main endeavour. His first ordina- 
 tion. Discovers a Popish Priest. His apprehensions of Spain. 
 His advice to the Lord Treasurer concerning Papists. Orders 
 for Papists in prison. A secret letter to the Bishop concerning 
 them. Thimbletborp. The Bishop an enemy to Papists. Writes 
 to John Fox. His care about the plague in London. Discovers 
 Carter, a Popish printer. Removes Pond to his prison at Stort- 
 ford. 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 His farther dealing with Papists. Campion's book. P. 31. 
 
 Ann. 1581. Campion's book. The Bishop wished to answer it. His 
 judgment of Protestant writers. His advice to the Lord Trea- 
 surer. Persons by him nominated for answering the Popish 
 book. His reflections upon Campion's book. The Bishop not 
 for disputing. The Papists boast. 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 His dealing with the Puritans. His advice concerning the 
 University. His trouble about felling his woods. P. 36. 
 
 Ann. 1577. Puritans. His opinion of some of them; and advice con- 
 — 1580. cerning them. Imprisons a bookseller. One of the Clergy of 
 Lincoln dedicates a book to him. One Welderi abuses the Bi- 
 shop. Complains of it. A book against the Queen's marriage 
 with Monsieur : occasions the Bishop suddenly to summon the 
 London Clergy. Andreas Jacobus. The ubiquitarian contro- 
 versy. Admonishes his Clergy about the Queen. The Min- 
 isters of London now often cited. Articles of inquiry. Other 
 Articles, by virtue of the Council's letters. Orders for the 
 Clergy. Another call of the Ministers. Another. His advice 
 
AND CHRONOLOGY. 
 
 Mil 
 
 concerning the University. Licence for keeping and looking to 
 hearses at funerals. Commissions, Sir Julius Caesar. Troubled 
 about felling his woods. Writes to the Lord Treasurer about 
 it. His defence of himself. Forbid to fell any more of his 
 woods. Endeavours a commission for dilapidations. His let- 
 ters to the Secretary. He sues the Archbishop of York. The 
 charge of the dilapidations 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 An earthquake occasions the Bishop to compose certain 
 prayers. He visits. His business with the Lord Rich. 
 His device about appointment of preachers. His coun- 
 sel for rilling the see of Bath and Wells, and other sees. 
 
 P. 51. 
 
 An earthquake. Frames prayers for this occasion. A visita- Ann - t5S0 * 
 tion. Articles to be inquired of. Chiefly forPapists. City Ministers 
 cited again. And again. Contends with the Lord Rich, a Pu- 
 ritan. Wright his preacher. They come before the Commis- 
 sion ecclesiastical. Writes to the Queen concerning his doings. 
 Wright offers a subscription. His device for preachers. His 
 grave advice for supplying vacant sees. His letter to the Trea- 
 surer for that purpose. 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 The Bishop's care about the Commission. Labours a re- 
 move to Ely. P. 60. 
 Several punished for inconformity. Complains of some Com- Ann. 1 58 1 . 
 missioners that absented. Apparitors employed on Sundays. 
 The Lord Treasurer sends cautions to the Bishop. His answer 
 thereupon. The Bishop the great stay of the Commission. The 
 success of his pains. Meets with troubles at Court. Labours 
 a remove. He hath the grant of Ely. Solicits his remove to 
 Ely. Solicits again the next year. Fed with hope. Troubled 
 again by informers. The elms in Fulham. The Queen lodges 
 at Fulham. 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 
 The Bishop celebrates the 17th of November. Slandered. 
 Papists have mass in prison. Goes his visitation. Sus- 
 pends one Huckle. Suit with his predecessor for dilapi- 
 dations. Thomas Cartwright taken up. P. 68. 
 The Queen's dav solemnized at Paul's. His enemies slander Ann - 1583 - 
 
 J —1586. 
 
Xiv 
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 him. His request hereupon. Papists in prison pervert many. 
 Visits. Complaints of commutation of penance. His advice 
 for the reforming thereof. Silenceth a dangerous Minister. 
 Another suspended by him, viz. George Giffard, Minister of 
 Maiden. Restored. Suspended again. A large testimonial of 
 him by his auditors. Giffard wrote against Barrow the Sepa- 
 ratist. Casts Archbishop Sandys for dilapidations. His reasons 
 against a new commission for examination of the matter. The 
 Bishop desires the judgment of the Judges concerning certain 
 Papists. Vauce, a Popish Priest. Takes up Cartwright the 
 Puritan. The Queen offended with the Bishop. Charged un- 
 justly to have spoiled the bishopric. A controversy between 
 the Queen and him about a vicarage. A Presbytery set up at 
 Hatfield. Enormities and strange doctrines of their preacher. 
 His dealing at Hatfield. Composes a prayer for a present occa- 
 sion. The Bishop endeavours to pacify the citizens concerning 
 the strangers. Holds a visitation. Visits in London. Goes 
 into Essex. A strange rudeness intended against the Bishop at 
 Maiden. Goes to Wickham. Dr. Aylmer, Archdeacon. Visits. 
 CHAP. VIII. 
 
 Cawdry's case: who was deprived, and deposed from the 
 ministry. P. 84. 
 
 Ann. 1587. Cawdry of Luffenham cited before the Commission. The 
 1591. Bishop deprives him. Cawdry refuses to submit to the sen- 
 tence. His lawyer's arguments. James Morice his lawyer. 
 Cawdry vindicates his abilities in learning. Urges his using 
 the Common Prayer. The reason of his sentence. Which he 
 would not abide by : and why. His letter to the Lord Burghley. 
 Offers some kind of submission : but will not recant publicly. 
 Appears at Lambeth. Degraded and deposed. The Bishop of 
 Peterborough sequesters his living. Cawdry sues in the Star- 
 chamber. The Lord Burghley recommends his case to the Bi- 
 shop of London. The Bishop's letter to the said Lord. Caw- 
 dry's counsellor's angry advice. Dr. Aubrey's judgment of 
 the case. The statute urged by Cawdry's counsel. Offered to 
 be restored to his ministry upon subscription. 
 
 CHAP. IX. 
 
 The Bishop's contest with one Maddocks. Smith the 
 preacher at St. Clement's suspended. A visitation. Dyke, 
 
AND CHRONOLOGY. 
 
 xv 
 
 of St. Alban's, forbid preaching. Cartwright the Pu- 
 ritan. Sir Denys Roghan, an Irish Priest. The see of 
 Oxford void. P. 97. 
 
 The occasion of a contest between the Bishop and Maddocks. Ann. 1588. 
 Maddocks complains to the Council. The Bishop relates the 1590 ' 
 case. Maddocks submits. Smith, Lecturer of St. Clement's. 159 2 - 
 Greehham's account of him to the Lord Treasurer. The Bishop 
 suspends him. The reasons why. His answer to them. Cer- 
 tain of the parish sue to the Lord Burghley for Smith to be 
 their Minister. An abusive book against the King of Spain. The 
 Bishop sent unto, to find the printer. Visits. Suspends Dyke 
 of St. Alban's. Gives his reasons for so doing. Cartwright in 
 the Fleet appears before the Bishop : who expostulates with 
 him. The Bishop's house vexed with an Irish Priest. Sues to 
 be rid of him. Who this Irishman was. His informations to 
 the Council ; and advice. But proves a right Irishman. The 
 Bishop commends certain for the see of Oxford. Desirous to 
 resign. 
 
 CHAP. X. 
 
 The Bishop's last visitation. His death. His burial. His 
 last will. His children and posterity. P. 112. 
 
 His last visitation. Departs this life. His estate. His last Ann. 1592. 
 will. His wife and children. His eldest son, Samuel. Dr. — 1594 ' 
 Aylmer, his second son. Some character of him. Some farther 
 character of Dr. Aylmer. His charity. Humble and mortified. 
 His preparation for death. The Bishop's third son, John. His 
 fourth, fifth, and seventh sons. Tobel, his sixth son. His 
 daughters. Dr. Squire, the Bishop's son-in-law. Squire a pro- 
 digal. The Bishop's letter to the Lord Treasurer concerning 
 Squire. The Bishop's name and family. George Aylmer one 
 of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem. The Bishop's house- 
 keeping and expenses. His purchase. His dilapidations : for 
 which Bishop Bancroft sues his son and heir. 
 
 CHAP. XI. 
 
 Some observations upon Bishop Aylmer. Certain things 
 charged upon him cleared. The Lord Burghley his 
 friend. P. 129. 
 
 A review taken of the Bishop. Faults charged upon him. 
 
xvi 
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 Wronging the see by felling the wood. Charged for his licences 
 for marriage. Faculties. Old Sir Roger. Charged again for 
 disorders in Essex. Desires to be heard by the Queen. Mar- 
 prelate's slanders of the Bishop. Detaining stolen goods. 
 Wronging his grocer. Keeping one in the Clink. Ordaining 
 his porter. These calumnies wiped off. The business between 
 the Bishop and the diers ; and the executors of Allen his grocer. 
 Benison's business. His charge of making his porter a Min- 
 ister, cleared. Other calumnies. Bowling on the sabbath. His 
 friends. Lord Treasurer Burghley. 
 
 CHAP. XII. 
 
 His great abilities in learning. His disputation. Writings. 
 A logician : an historian : an hebrician : a civilian. 
 
 P. 145. 
 
 His debates in Queen Mary's Convocation: concerning the 
 sense of ov<r!a. His free speech to the Prolocutor. He takes 
 up the Prolocutor again. His book called The Harborough. 
 Dedicates it to the Earl of Bedford and Lord Dudley. Some 
 character of the book. A specimen of it. The arguments of 
 Knox's book reduced to six. Aylmer's book of the supremacy. 
 He was a logician, au historian, a good hebrician. His 
 sense of the descent of Christ into hell. Bishop Aylmer favours 
 Hugh Broughton. His opinion of the LXX. Greek. Skilled 
 in the civil law. Shews the difference between the law of Eng- 
 land and the civil law. 
 
 CHAP. XIII. 
 
 A great Divine. Well skilled in Hebrew learning. A good 
 textuary and preacher. His judgment. Some of his 
 sayings. P. 168. 
 
 Well seen in all divine learning. A good interpreter of the 
 Scripture. Several places by him explained. Conversant in 
 the ancient Church writers. An excellent preacher. A preacher, 
 how to be qualified, in his judgment. Curious in books. A 
 good judge of learning. Some of his thoughts concerning va- 
 rious matters. Quakers. His opinion of Bishops' lands. His 
 opinion of the English government. Compares the two Queens, 
 Mary and Elizabeth. His judgment of the Queen's marriage. 
 
AND CHRONOLOGY. 
 
 xv 11 
 
 His judgment of the French : and of the Spaniard. His pro- 
 verbial sayings. True fraternity. The benefit of counsellors. 
 Women's pride. The Popish Clergy. The Bible. No infalli- 
 bility. Miracles. A false argument. Women. Neglect of 
 good counsel. Acquiescence in God. 
 
 CHAP. XIV. 
 
 His qualities, conditions, and temper of mind. P. 182. 
 
 His temper and disposition. Zealous for the true religion. 
 His opinion of Luther. His prayer for a great Minister. His 
 zeal against the French King, a persecutor. Diligent and pain- 
 ful. Not to be tempted by bribes. His devotion. Punctual 
 in his visitation; and ordination of Ministers. Quick and hot 
 in his temper. Expostulates with the Lord Treasurer. The 
 Lord Treasurer's answer. Sharp in his discourse. His words 
 concerning Queen Mary's match with King Philip; and the 
 Parliament receiving absolution from Cardinal Pole. Facetious. 
 His story of the Vicar of Trumpington. Judges, drudges. He 
 called the Under Sheriff Under Thief. Bold. Free in speech. 
 Blunt in words. Stout and courageous. An odd instance of 
 his courage before the Queen. His recreation. His personage. 
 His picture now in the possession of Mr. Aylmcr of Chelms- 
 ford. His household. A man of both fortunes. His relation 
 of a passage concerning the Lady Jane Grey. His opportunity 
 of knowing the Lady (after Queen) Elizabeth. Roger Ascham. 
 
 Contents of the Additions. P. 199. 
 
 Campion the Jesuit. The Bishop's doings in Convocation. 
 Dyke the Puritan. Dyke's auditors solicit the Treasurer : who 
 thereupon writes to the Bishop. His second letter in Dyke's 
 behalf. Cartwright the Puritan imprisoned. The other Puri- 
 tans in other prisons. Their names. The conference between 
 the Bishop, with the other Commissioners, and Cartwright. 
 Mr. Attorney's speech to him. The Bishop puts him upon 
 taking the oath, which he declines. His answer to the Articles. 
 Dr. Lewin's speech to him. The oath ex officio. Bancroft's 
 speech to him. Some debate arises between the Bishop and 
 Dr. Bancroft. Cartwright's argument against the oath. Cart- 
 wright's replies, when it was told him he had once taken the 
 
xviii CONTENTS AND CHRONOLOGY. 
 
 oath : and that we are bound to confess our faults ; and that 
 he and others held conferences and made laws j and when he 
 was moved again to take the oath. Bancroft shews the danger 
 of the discipline ; in France, in Scotland, and Geneva. Cart- 
 wright's reply to this. The Bishop makes an act of Cart- 
 wright's refusal. The Queen had read his answers. The Ar- 
 ticles charged against Cartwright and his fellows. The pro- 
 ceedings with them. How the cause with the Puritans stood. 
 Interrogatories put to them. Upon the Bishop's death, the 
 Dean and Chapter claim the temporalties. The Dean and 
 Chapter custodes episcopatus. The Aylmers of Ireland. The 
 stolen match of the Lady Dorothy Devereux with Sir Tho. 
 Parrot. An injunction about licences to marry. 
 
HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS 
 
 CONCERNING THE 
 
 RIGHT REVEREND FATHER IN GOD, 
 
 JOHN AYLMER, 
 
 SOMETIME 
 
 LORD BISHOP OF LONDON. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 His birth, education, and preferments ; exile and return. 
 Made Archdeacon of Lincoln. 
 
 Bishop Aylmer (of whom this ensuing book must treat) The name 
 bore a name variously written ; sometimes Aylmer, some- of A y' mcr - 
 times Ailemare, (and so I find it written by the learned int.MSS.D. 
 Camden Clarentieux in one of his books of heraldry,) G^ge Mil 
 sometimes Elmer, sometimes JElmer, with the Saxon diph-Ciaren- 
 thong, (and so he wrote himself,) contracted, as it seems, tieux ' 
 from the Saxon name Adelmar, or Ethelmar ; for that the 
 name is Saxon is undoubted. And in the catalogue of the 
 Bishops of Sherborn in the Saxon times, viz. anno 1009, 
 we have one of the same name. 
 
 He was one of the excellent Bishops made choice of by 
 Queen Elizabeth to assist in the government of the Church 
 of England; and placed in one of the chief sees thereof, 
 being to superintend ecclesiastical matters in the chief me- 
 tropolis of the realm, the city of London, with the diocese 
 thereof. 
 
 He was a gentleman by birth, of the ancient family of"" birth** 
 
2 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP, the Aylmers, spreading in Norfolk and Suffolk ; for the 
 ' Aylmers of Quadring, in the county of Lincoln, gave a dif- 
 ferent coat of arms, and so may be concluded to be of 
 another family. The Aylmers with whom we are to be 
 concerned bear for their coat of arms, argent, a cross sable, 
 between four choughs of the same ; whence some derive 
 the name Ailmar, quasi ab alite de mart : but the chough 
 is no sea-fowl. The reason of which bearing may be per- 
 haps conjectured from the relation some of the family, they 
 say, bore to a Duke of Cornwall ; from whence, for their 
 crest, they bear on a ducal coronet a Cornish chough's head 
 and neck, wings displayed. He received his first breath in 
 the county of Norfolk, about the year 1521. For in 1581 
 I read him in one of his letters calling himself homo sexa- 
 genarius, i. e. " a man of threescore years of age." Born, 
 according to Dr. Fuller, at Aylmer Hall, in the parish of 
 Tilsley, as he saith the Bishop's nearest relation informed 
 him ; mistaken, I suppose, for Tilney in the same county ; 
 for as for Tilsley, there is scarce such a town in England. 
 In the neighbouring county of Suffolk, within four miles of 
 Ipswich, there is a very fair house called Claidon Hall, 
 now, or late, in the possession of the Aylmers. His elder 
 Sir Robert brother was Sir Robert Aylmer, of Aylmer Hall aforesaid, 
 Aylmer. w h ose ancestor was High Sheriff of that county of Norfolk 
 
 in the time of Edward II. 
 His educa- Aylmer, though he took his degrees of divinity in Ox- 
 1 ford, had his first education at Cambridge ; but when ad- 
 
 mitted, and under what tutor, and in what society, I am to 
 learn : whether in Bene't or Gonvil hall, where the Nor- 
 folk youth commonly studied, or Trinity hall, entered 
 there by the fame that Bilney, formerly of that house, bore, 
 who much conversed and carried a great stroke among the 
 people of Norfolk. But these things are uncertain. Grey, 
 Marquis of Dorset, (afterwards Duke of Suffolk,) took a 
 liking to him from a child going to school, and entertained 
 him as his scholar, and exhibited to him when transplanted to 
 the University. After he had attained some competent know- 
 ledge in University learning, and taken, I presume, his de- 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 S 
 
 grees, the Marquis took him into his family, and made him c HAP. 
 tutor to his children ; one whereof was the Lady Jane, that L 
 afterwards wore a crown : who, as she was a lady of excel- Tutor to the 
 lent parts, so by his instruction she attained to a degree Grey Jane 
 above her sex in the knowledge of Latin and Greek ; so 
 that she read, and that with ease and delight, Plato and 
 Demosthenes, and wrote excellently well. And he bred her 
 up in piety as well as learning, being very devout to God, 
 and a serious embracer of evangelical doctrine purged from 
 the superstitions of Rome. 
 
 To what perfection she attained in Greek by Aylmer's Her r r0 »- 
 instruction, and what an happy guide he was to her in good der him. 
 literature, appeared in part by a discourse that happened in 
 King Edward's days between this noble Lady and Roger 
 Ascham, who was schoolmaster to another great Lady, (and 
 afterwards Queen too,) viz. the Lady Elizabeth : and I will 
 give it in Ascham's own words. " Before I went into Ger- Sthooimast. 
 " many 11 [being Secretary to the embassy thither, Sir Ri- 
 chard Morison Ambassador] " I came to Broadgate in Lei- 
 " cestershire, to take my leave of that noble Lady Jane 
 " Grey, to whom I was exceeding much beholden. Her 
 " parents, the Duke and the Duchess, with all the houshold, 
 " gentlemen and gentlewomen, were hunting in the park. 
 " I found her in her chamber, reading Phaedon Platonis in 
 " Greek, and that with as much delight, as some gentlemen 
 " would read a merry tale in Boccace. After salutation and 
 " duty done, with some other talk, I asked her, why she 
 " would leese such pastime in the park. Smiling she an- 
 " swered me, ' I wisse, al their sport in the park is but a 
 " shadow to that plesure that I find in Plato. Alas ! good 
 " folk, they never felt what true plesure meant. 1 ' And 
 " how came you, madam, 1 quoth I, ' to this deep know- 
 " ledge of plesure, and what did chiefly allure you unto it, 
 " seeing not many women, but very few men, have attained 
 " thereunto T ' I will tell you, 1 quoth she, ' and tell you a 
 " troth, which perchance ye will marvel at. One of the 
 9 greatest benefits that ever God gave me is, that he sent 
 " me so sharp and severe parents and so gentle a school- 
 is 2 
 
4 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP. " master: for when I am in presence either of father 
 
 ' " mother, whether I speak, keep silence, sit, stand, or go, 
 " eat, drink, be merry or sad, be sewing, playing, dancing, 
 " or doing any thing else, I must do it as it were in such 
 " weight, mesure and number, even so perfectly as God 
 " made the world ; or else I am so sharply taunted, so 
 " cruelly threatned, yea presently sometimes with pinches, 
 " nipps, and bobbs, and other ways, (which I will not name 
 " for the honour I bear them,) so without mesure misor- 
 " dered, that I think myself in hell, till time come that 
 " I must go to Mr. Aylmer, who teacheth me so gentlv, 
 " so plesantly, with such fair allurements to learning, that 
 " I think all the time nothing whiles I am with him. And 
 " when I am called from him, I fall on weeping, because 
 " whatsoever I do else but learning, is full of grief, trouble, 
 " fear, and wholly misliking to me. And thus mv book 
 " hath been so much my plesure, and bringeth daily to me 
 " more plesure and more, that in respect of it, al other 
 " plesures in very deed be but trifles and troubles unto 
 " me."' 
 
 While Aseham afterwards thought on this admirable 
 Lady, and of the employment he found her in, in her 
 chamber reading of Plato, he brake out into these words ; 
 Epist. As- 'i2 Z=u xa) ©sol! divinum virginem, d'rchuim divmi Plato- 
 r!ss. n D C ' a n ™ Phcsdonem Greece sedulo perlegentem ; hoc parte jeli- 
 cior cs Judicanda, quam quod ■noa^ohiv prjpoQivTs cx regibus 
 reginisque genus tuum deducts : i. e. " O good God ! a di- 
 " vine maid diligently reading in Greek the divine Phaedo 
 " of divine Plato : in this respect you are to be reckoned 
 " happier, than that both by father and mother vou derive 
 " your stock from kings and queens." And upon the same 
 account our Aylmer, whose scholar she was, he thus con- 
 gratulates, (turning his speech to him, and then to her :) O 
 Elmarum meurn Jclicissimum, cut talis contigit discipula, 
 et te multo Jeliciorem, quae cum prceccptorcm nacta cs : 
 utrique eerie it tibi quae discis, et lUi qui docet, i t gratulqr, 
 ft gaudco: i. e. "Omy most fortunate Aylmer, to whose lot 
 " it falls to have such a scholar ; and you, madam, more 
 
 Joanna 
 Grayae. 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 5 
 
 " fortunate in such a master: all joy to you both; you CHAP. 
 " the learner of such a master, and him the teacher of such ' 
 " a scholar." 
 
 Of Aylmer's residence with the beforesaid nobleman we Ayimer's 
 have some account in an old book, entitled, The Jewel of wlien 
 Joy, written by Thomas Becon, in King Edward's reign, young. 
 That author being an old friend and professor of the Gos- 
 pel, and on that account in danger of his life under King 
 Henry VIII. resolved, for his safety in the latter end of 
 that King's reign, to conceal himself, by travelling from 
 these parts northwards : and coming into Leicestershire, 
 where the Marquis of Dorset's seat was, he met with Mr. 
 Aylmer, then a young man, that nobleman's domestic, of 
 whom he was kindly received ; and in the said book gave 
 him this character, " that he was excellently well learned Jewel of 
 " both in Latin and Greek;" and added, " that with him Joy ' 
 " alone in that county he had familiarity." There being, 
 it is probable, not one else that he dared to trust, for fear 
 lest he might be betrayed by them. Becon called him his 
 countryman ; and Becon was of Norfolk. 
 
 Aylmer now in his younger days plied his studies, read- Reckoned 
 ing Greek, and other polite authors; so that he was reckoned '^ es ^ a ^ 1( j 
 amongst the number of the best scholars and finest wits of politest 
 those times, such as Cheke, Haddon, Smith, Ascham, and 
 others. Whereof Ascham and Aylmer, being both often at 
 the Court, and in the same way employed, and equally ad- 
 dicted to good literature, contracted a great acquaintance. 
 And in a letter the former wrote from Ausburgh, in the 
 forementioned embassy, he took affectionate notice of his 
 friend Aylmer; and among other matters he begged two 
 things of him: the one was, that by his persuasion the Lady 
 Jane would write him a Greek letter, as soon as she could, 
 which was no more than she had promised him ; and so he 
 had told Johannes Sturmius, the learned Professor, his 
 friend at Strasburgh. He prayed Aylmer also to move her 
 to write another Greek epistle to that excellent person ; and 
 that it would not repent her of her pains [being likely to 
 receive back again from him some learned answer]. The 
 b 3 
 
6 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP, other request, or rather exhortation, was, that they both 
 ' should persist and continue that their present course of life, 
 of reading and studying. " How free, 1 ' said he, " how 
 " sweet, how like philosophers then should we live ! What 
 " should hinder then, dear friend, but that we might enjoy 
 " all those good things which Cicero, in the conclusion of 
 " his third book Dc Finibus, attributed to this way of living ? 
 " Nothing would occur to us in both the languages, nor in 
 " all records of time past and present, but we should gather 
 " thence matter to render our life sweet and pleasant.'" 
 studies di- But Aylmer did not only follow the studies of humani- 
 riinty. D £ (jj v j mt y a ] SQ? anc j devoted himself to the service of 
 
 Christ in the Gospel. And having the countenance once of 
 the Duke of Suffolk, his lord, under King Edward, and after 
 of the Earl of Huntingdon, (both whose places were in 
 Leicestershire,) he was the only preacher in that county for 
 some time. And by his and that Earl's means that shire 
 was converted, and brought to that state wherein it was in 
 the latter end of King Edward, and in the beginning of 
 Queen Elizabeth; which in true religion was above any 
 other place in this regard, that they retained the Gospel 
 without contention ; which few other places did. 
 Becomes The first preferment I find him possessed of was the 
 o/stow C °" Archdeaconry of Stow, in the diocese of Lincoln, wliich he 
 obtained in the beginning of the year 1553, succeeding Dr. 
 Draicot, lately deceased. This dignity qualified him to be 
 of the Convocation, which happened the first year of Queen 
 Mary, wherein when he saw the Clergy to run strongly 
 towards Popery, in compliance with the Queen, he, with five 
 more, (though with an hundred halberds about his ears,) 
 boldly and bravely offered to dispute the controverted 
 points in religion openly in that synod, against, all the learn- 
 ed Papists in England ; and learnedly argued out of Theo- 
 doret with one Moreman there, against the doctrine of tran- 
 substantiation : which dispute is set down at large in Mr. 
 Fox's Acts and Monuments. 
 Flies abroad B ut for this confidence, grounded upon his love of truth 
 for his reii- anc i tnc Q OS p e ] 5 he underwent great danger, and was de- 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 7 
 
 prived of his archdeaconry. Under this reign, uneasy and CHAP, 
 unsafe for him and all others that conscientiously adhered 
 to the reformed religion, he soon fled away into Germany, 
 and with several others of the best rank, both divines and 
 gentlemen, he resided at Strasburgh, and afterward at Zu- 
 rich in Helvetia ; and there in peace followed his studies, 
 and heard the learned Dr. Peter Martyr's Lectures, not 
 long before the King's Reader of Divinity in Oxford. 
 
 And while he was here he was not idle, but employed Instructs 
 his talent of learning partly in the instruction of certain ^ h m hl 
 students and young gentlemen in good literature and reli- 
 gion. One of these was the son of Dannet, a worthy per- 
 son, whom many years after, when he was Bishop of Lon- 
 don, he called his old scholar ; and by reason of his excel- 
 lent abilities he recommended to the Lord Treasurer. By 
 setting religion before this young Dannet in a true light, he 
 brought him off, as from ignorance, so particularly from 
 the superstitions wherein he had been bred : which he thus 
 elegantly set forth in a letter to the foresaid noble person, 
 when he sued in Dannets behalf. " Give me leave to en- 
 " treat your honourable favour for my son Onesimus, whom 
 " I begat not in my bands, but in my banishment ; fleeing 
 " not from his master Philemon to Paul, but from Mise- 
 " mon, the great Antichrist, to Christ." 
 
 Some other things I find this learned confessor doing PuMisheth 
 in his exile. Soon after the English fled from the Ro- jtL^tet- 
 man tyranny exercised in England, a learned and excel- tcr - 
 lent letter of the Lady (late Queen) Jane, written to the 
 apostate Harding, her father's chaplain, was printed in 
 English in Strasburgh. This, I make little doubt, Aylmer, 
 formerly her tutor, was the publisher of, and perhaps the 
 bringer of it along with him from England. And when a 
 few years after John Fox, who was now busy in collecting 
 materials for his Martyrology, inquired of Aylmer what he 
 had to communicate of that right illustrious Lady, he told 
 him of that epistle, and of the "publishing it in English; 
 and that if he were minded to make any memorials of her, 
 nothing could be worthier of his pen, nor redound more to 
 b 4 
 
8 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP, that rare woman's praise, than that same letter: Nam, as he 
 J wrote back to Fox, et pie et prudenter,fortasse etiam docte, 
 scriptam dices; i. e. "For you will say it was piously and 
 " prudently writ, and perhaps learnedly too.'" 
 Assists Mr. He was, while in these parts, a great fautor and for- 
 nmrtyroio- warder of that godly laborious man in the works he was 
 8 lst - upon; particularly in two: 1. His edition of the History of 
 the English Martyrs in Latin ; and 2. Of Archbishop Cran- 
 mer's Vindication of his Book of the Sacrament, against 
 Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester, translated by the said 
 Fox into Latin; which last however was never printed. 
 And of Aylmer's great learning and accurate judgment such 
 an high opinion had Fox, that he chose him of all other 
 learned men in those parts then in exile; and sent to him, 
 then at Zurich, his translation, making him alone the judge 
 of it, and resolving according as he approved of it or disap- 
 proved, so the work should stand or fall : Cujus [solius] 
 censurd hos ejus labores vel probari vel improbari vellet ; 
 as Fox wrote to him. To which Aylmer modestly answer- 
 ed, " That in this he could not so much approve his coun- 
 Aylmer a " se l as embrace his love.? Aylmer was indeed a severe 
 f lc . critic ; and so he confessed himself, and looked upon it as 
 
 Int. Foxii his fault. Sum enim, ut vere. de meipso dicam, ex eorum 
 MSS ' numero qui JhciMus reprehendwrvt, quam emcndaut: ut mi- 
 noris multd negotii est solvere quam componcre, et ut philoso- 
 phis placet, destruere quam excedificare : i. e. " For to speak 
 " truly of myself, I am of the number of them who do 
 " more easily reprove than mend ; as it is much less labour 
 " to undo than to do, or, as the philosophers speak, to de- 
 " stroy than to build up." But so correct, it seems, was 
 Fox's work, that even this critic bestowed much commenda- 
 tion on it; nay, though, as he acknowledged himself, he 
 had more accurately and nicely weighed and examined it, 
 upon divers accounts ; partly because they both were Eng- 
 lishmen, and coupled together in the same bond of reli- 
 gion, and so he was the more concerned that his country- 
 man and fellow Protestant should not set forth a raw and 
 undigested work ; partly because he esteemed it a crime to 
 
BISHOP A YLMER. 
 
 9 
 
 toy in a thing so serious with his friend, and with a Chris- CHAP. 
 
 tian, or to give his approbation of that which he did believe J 
 
 others would dislike. " My mind therefore was," as he 
 
 wrote to Fox, " in the commendation I gave of your pains, 
 
 " or in that encomiastic epistle, as you were pleased to 
 
 " style my letter, not so much to please you, as to speak 
 
 " truth, and as I really thought of it. Although I confess 
 
 " it the part of a friend, yea of a good man, rather to err 
 
 " on this hand, to attribute a little more to virtue, than on 
 
 " that, to detract one jot from true praise. But besides, I 
 
 " know in part how your own disposition inclines you to 
 
 " think meanly enough, yea perhaps more than enough, of 
 
 " yourself, and of your performances. For as to you, my 
 
 " friend, I had no fear you would begin to be puffed up with 
 
 " other men's praises of you, especially in this course of 
 
 " your studies ; wherein whatsoever is by you taken in 
 
 " hand, your purpose hath been to render an account not to 
 
 " men, but to God. Take heed rather, lest by this exces- 
 
 " sive, not to say vicious, modesty, you be drawn off from 
 
 " things that would be of great use to the whole Christian 
 
 " state, and decline doing what you are well able to do, 
 
 " and ought most willingly to set yourself about to do. 
 
 " Compare your own doings with other men's, and see 
 
 " whether you be not rather to be chidden for so much 
 
 " modesty, than for any self-conceit. In this, saith Plu- 
 
 " tarch, lies no small fault, that they that can do best at- 
 
 " tempt least. But so are the dispositions of men, that 
 
 " modesty and the dread of reproof goes with singular and 
 
 " exquisite learning, confidence and rashness with ignorance 
 
 " and unskilfulness. And hence we see it comes to pass, 
 
 " that of the writers in all kinds of literature, the more are 
 
 " and always have been unlearned than truly learned." 
 
 And then turning his speech to Fox, " Believe me, my 
 
 " friend, I do attribute very much to your merit, and ear- 
 
 " nestly pray to God, that he would daily increase those 
 
 " gifts wherewith he hath enriched you, and to turn them 
 
 " to his glory. And, lastly, I do again counsel you to dis- 
 
 " patch that work which you have in your hands as soon as 
 
10 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP. " you can, that we may enjoy those your excellent la- 
 
 bours. 1 ' 
 
 Ayimer at This was the dependence of this good and painful father 
 Zurich. U p Qn t j le w i sc j om an( j judgment of Ayimer ; and thus 
 
 friendly, learnedly, and Christianly did Ayimer excite, ad- 
 vise, and encourage Fox. And soon after, that is, in De- 
 cember 1557, Fox went over from Basil to Zurich, where 
 Ayimer then was, to consult with him, and others his fellow 
 exiles there, about his said works; Ayimer in a letter a 
 little before assuring him how glad his coming would be, 
 and promising him all the help and assistance he could. And 
 these are some instances how this good man employed him- 
 self while he remained abroad. 
 Advises to Nor must we be silent concerning the good service he in- 
 m" rtyrto" tended for the English residing at Frankfort. For observ- 
 ed at m g a considerable company of scholars and students placed 
 
 Frankfort. , & , ... l „ J . , . . 
 
 there, who might hereafter m better times become ministers 
 and preachers of true religion in England, he considered 
 how useful it would be to have some very learned reader of 
 divinity among them ; and soon called to mind Peter Mar- 
 tyr, the late King's Professor at Oxford, who then was, I 
 think, at Strasburgh: whereupon he advised Fox, who 
 then was at Frankfort, and others of chief note there, to at- 
 tempt to gain that learned man to come among them, and 
 to take that office upon him ; and for that end to propound 
 some honourable salary to him. His counsel took place, 
 and an earnest and respectful epistle was drawn up, signed 
 by Fox and the rest of the best repute there, and sent to 
 him : when Fox also wrote another more private letter of 
 his own to him to the same effect, calling him therein the 
 Apostle to the English nation ; and signifying that the 
 public letter, as it was signed by their subscriptions, so it 
 was done Elmeri nomine, in Aylmer's name. But this took 
 not effect. 
 
 He travels. While Ayimer thus continued abroad in exile, he took 
 the opportunity of improving himself by travel, visiting al- 
 most all the Universities of Italy and Germany ; and had 
 much conferences with many the best learned men. At last 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 11 
 
 he was stayed at Jene, an University erected by the Dukes CHAP 
 of Saxony; and should, if he had not come away, have had *" 
 the Hebrew lecture there which Snepphinus had, having 
 been entertained there to read in that University both 
 Greek and Latin, in the company, and with the good love 
 and liking of those famous men, Flacius Illyricus, Victorius 
 Strigellus, D. Snepphinus, (whom they termed the other 
 Luther,) with divers others. 
 
 When Queen Mary was extinct, whose reign was deeply Prints a 
 besmeared with blood, and her sister Elizabeth, a lady of gaUistV 
 other principles, succeeded to the crown, Aylmer with the at stras- 
 rest of the exiles came home to their native country, with 
 no little joy and thankfulness to God, to enjoy the quiet 
 profession of that religion they had suffered for before, and 
 endured the loss of all. But before he returned home he 
 printed an English book at Strasburgh, called An Harbo- 
 rough for faithful Subjects ; (an account whereof is given 
 towards the conclusion of the book ;) which he wrote upon 
 a consultation, as it seems, holden among the exiles, the 
 better to obtain the favour of the new Queen, and to take 
 off any jealousy she might conceive of them and the reli- 
 gion they professed, by reason of an ill book a little before 
 set forth by Knox, a Scotchman and fellow exile ; who had 
 asserted therein, that it was unlawful for women to reign, 
 and forbid by God in his word. This doctrine was season- 
 ably confuted by Aylmer, and learnedly. And for Queen 
 Elizabeth, he gave her a great character, concluding that 
 there would be all peace and prosperity under a Princess of 
 such admirable parts and godly education. 
 
 He was but newly come home, when he was appointed Engaged 
 one of the eight to hold a disputation in Westminster, be- a A '" 
 fore many of the nobility and gentry, against the like num- 
 ber of the Popish Bishops : which if it had been fairly 
 prosecuted, and not declined after one or two meetings by 
 those Bishops, our learned man had shewn his great parts, 
 and that he was not ignorant in all the three learned lan- 
 guages. 
 
 Whether upon his return he enjoyed his archdeaconry of 
 
12 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP. Stow again, I cannot tell ; but in the year 1562 he obtain- 
 ed a far better, namely, that of Lincoln, being valued in 
 Made Arch- the King's books at one hundred and seventy-nine pounds 
 Lincoln. nineteen shillings, whereas that of Stow was but twenty-four 
 pounds odd money in the said books. In this archdeaconry 
 he succeeded one Thomas Marshal, a Papist. This he got 
 by the procurement of Secretary Cecil; to whom he was 
 earnestly recommended by one Mr. Thomas Dannet, for 
 whom the Secretary had a great esteem, both for his inte- 
 grity and good deserts. And Dannet loved Ayhner as his 
 brother. The remembrance of which kindness, and the an- 
 cient friendship between them, still kept such an impression 
 upon him, that many years after, viz. anno 1581, he was 
 very solicitous with the Lord Treasurer to prefer this Dan- 
 net's son to be a clerk of the Council; especiallv considering 
 also his excellent abilities: using these words to the said 
 Lord: " That it might please him to yield his favour to his 
 " humble suit, that as by the means of his father [Mr. Tho- 
 " mas Dannet] his Lordship was the worker of his first pre- 
 " ferment, so now God might incline his heart, at his humble 
 " request, to farther this his son to the office of the clerk- 
 " ship of the Council. Wherein if his Lordship did not find 
 " such sufficiency in the man as he would wish, then in me 
 " cudatur faba? said he. " That no man knew him better 
 " than he, [for this is he whom, as it is said before, he was 
 " the instructor of in his youth,] both for his secrecy, his 
 " learning, (most fit for such a place,) his honesty, since- 
 " rity, and zeal in religion." Thus did his gratitude to 
 the father carry him out in an endeavour to show kindness 
 to the son. But to our present business. 
 Present at And being Archdeacon, he was present at the famous 
 anno 1562. S J nod ' anno 1562, when the doctrine and discipline of the 
 Church, and the reformation of it from the abuses of Po- 
 pery, were carefully treated of and settled : and I find his 
 own subscription to the Thirty-Nine Articles under the 
 name of Johannes ^Elmerus Archidiac. Lincoln. But when 
 the bandying happened in the Lower House, for the abo- 
 lishing or retaining of certain ceremonies, (as for the recep- 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 tion of the Sacrament kneeling; the use of the cross in CHAP. 
 Baptism, and of organs in the Church ; the laying aside of *' 
 the holy days, and the using only the surplice in the ser- 
 vice,) Aylmer was absent, whether by chance or on purpose 
 I know not; and so also was the Dean of Canterbury, Mul- 
 lins Archdeacon of London, Cole of Essex, and divers others, 
 to the number in all of twenty-seven with the proxies. 
 
 This reverend man dwelt much at Lincoln, where he was Writes to 
 
 Archdeacon ; whence in the year 1567 he wrote a letter t ! ie Archb >- 
 
 •> _ shop con- 
 
 to Archbishop Parker, who had sent to him to make in- cerning old 
 
 quiry for ancient historical writings in that cathedral, or^"^,^ 
 other libraries in those parts. Mr. Aylmer accordingly 
 made search, but after all could give him no satisfaction in 
 that point, the libraries thereabouts consisting chiefly of old 
 schoolmen. But among his own books he found one writ- 
 ten by one of the Archbishop's predecessors upon the Old 
 Testament, which Aylmer promised to send up to him : in 
 fine, expressing his joy, that God had chosen the chief Pas- 
 tor of this church out of his native country, meaning Nor- 
 folk. 
 
 Here at Lincoln he stuck a long while, though he was Sticks at 
 often nominated by the Archbishop of Canterbury, his Lmcoln ~ 
 countryman and friend, as occasion served, to succeed to 
 some vacant bishopric. But the Archbishop had enemies at 
 the Court, that commonly thwarted what he recommended 
 and advised. But that he remained yet in statu quo with- 
 out higher preferment, many passed their conjectures. That 
 party of men that did not much favour the Bishops, nor 
 like the divine worship established by law, made his book 
 against Knox one of the causes that he had so many back 
 friends, that employed their interest against his rising ; be- 
 cause perhaps they thought he had in that book too much 
 advanced the power and authority of princes, which Knox 
 had so lessened and disparaged. For to this, it seems, that 
 expression tended, of one Norton, a Minister, in a letter to 
 Dr. Whitgift, wrote anno 1572; where advising the said 
 Whitgift to forbear answering Cartwright the Puritan's 
 book, that Protestants might not give an entertainment to 
 
14 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 chap, the enemies of religion, by falling into controversies among 
 l ' themselves; and as though Whitgiffs secret intention by 
 his writing in this quarrel was, to stand the fairer for pre- 
 ferment ; to this, I say, tended that expression of his con- 
 cerning Aylmer ; (as though Whitgift should take example 
 by him ;) " Mr. Aylmer's unseasonable paradox to truth 
 " hath hurt the Church, and yet not advanced his prefer- 
 " ment so much as he hoped." But Whitgift, in his an- 
 swer to Norton's letter, gave a better interpretation both 
 of himself and Aylmer, and their intentions in what they 
 MSS. D. wrote ; saying, " That Mr. Aylmer's doctrine was neither 
 ty"' Armlg. " unseasonable, nor yet a paradox ; but a common true re- 
 " ceived opinion, grounded on the express words of the Scrip- 
 " ture, and received without doubt of all learned writers, 
 " both old and new, and in most seasonable time taught, 
 " men's minds and hearts being so far from due obedience, 
 " and so inclinable to the contrary. And I am fully satis- 
 " fled, - " added he, " concerning our Divine, that he had all 
 " the advancement that he looked for ; and that it was great 
 " lack of charity to judge men to do that for advancement, 
 " which they did of conscience and duty." 
 justice of However Mr. Aylmer lived in great reputation, and was 
 IndTnThe one °f tne Queen's Justices of the Peace for the county, 
 ecclesiasti- an( j one D f ner ecclesiastical Commissioners ; being an active 
 mission. and bold man, as well as wise and learned. 
 His useful- Here in short, as his office led him, he first purged the 
 ness " cathedral church of Lincoln, being at that time a nest of 
 unclean birds; and next in the county, by preaching and 
 executing the commission, he so prevailed, that not one re- 
 cusant was left in the country at his coming away; and 
 many years after it remained a diocese well settled in reli- 
 gion ; as he mentioned himself in one of his letters to the 
 Lord Treasurer. 
 
 BecomesDr., And in the year 1573, having contented himself hitherto 
 of Divinity. w j t jj fa e (\ e g Tee on ] v G f Master of Arts, he accumulated his 
 degrees in divinity, being made Bachelor in Divinity and 
 Doctor in Divinity in one day, in the University of Ox- 
 ford. 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 IS 
 
 The next year a book De Disciplina coming forth in CHAT. 
 Latin, which struck at the present ecclesiastical government, . 
 
 and aimed to overthrow the constitution of the Church of ^ ov ^ d h ^ 
 England, the Archbishop of Canterbury made choice of bishop to 
 Dr. Aylmer, of all other divines, to take this book in hand, *" o ^ er a 
 and confute it ; and withal sent him the tract. But though 
 he kept the book a good while by him, yet he refused to do 
 it, writing back to the Archbishop, that he could not deal 
 therein: which perhaps may be attributed to his discon- 
 tent. But the Archbishop got it answered by another hand 
 soon after. Grindal also, then Archbishop of York, re- 
 puted Aylmer the fittest for this work, but concluded that 
 he would not take the pains; having other employments 
 probably lying upon his hands. 
 
 There had been for some time great question moved be- A ">ntro- 
 
 . 1 versy be- 
 
 tween our Archdeacon and the Bishop of Lincoln, concern- tween the 
 
 ing the exercise of the spiritual and ecclesiastical jurisdic-^^™^" 
 tion within the Archdeaconry of Lincoln ; about which they decided, 
 had been at law together, for asserting their distinct rights 
 in the said jurisdiction. But in the year 1 572 it came to 
 an happy conclusion by the arbitration of Matthew Arch- 
 bishop of Canterbury, and Robert Bishop of Winton; 
 both parties, for the sake of peace and concord, leaving 
 their respective rights to be finally determined by those 
 grave fathers 1 discretion ; and promising during their lives 
 to stand by their decision. Hereupon they ordered and 
 decreed, that both the Bishop and Archdeacon should hold 
 their courts weekly together jointly in some place in the 
 cathedral of Lincoln, or in the city ; and so hear and deter- 
 mine causes, receive and admit the proofs of wills, commit 
 the administration of goods of such as died intestate, and 
 exercise all other ecclesiastical jurisdiction, except collation 
 to benefices, admissions and institutions of clerks presented 
 to the benefices of the said archdeaconry; which only be- 
 longed to the Bishop and his Vicar General. They decided 
 also, that the fees, profits, commodities, and emoluments re- 
 sulting thence, should be divided between them ; but that 
 in the Bishop's triennial visitations, he should take to him- 
 
16 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP, self all the profits arising from the proving of wills, commis- 
 ' sions, administration of goods of intestate persons deceased, 
 for three months, that is, for one month before, and two 
 months after such visitation begun ; the Archdeacon more- 
 over paying the Bishop thirty-three pounds per annum. 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 He is preferred to the see of London. Hit cares in that 
 function; chiefly about Papists. Visit* his diocese. 
 Preaches often. 
 
 Why neg- Among the reasons why Ayhrier all this while of the 
 long.'' tl US Queen's reign was not yet advanced to a bishopric, (for his 
 learning, conduct, and great abilities deserved it,) one we 
 may conclude to be, that in his book before mentioned he de- 
 claimed against the splendour and wealth of that order, and 
 spake with some seeming spite against the civil authority of 
 Bishops ; which made many gather that he stood not well 
 affected to the calling itself. But in truth he was no enemy 
 to the calling, but to that domineering tyranny that had 
 been exercised by Bishops under the Papal usurpation. 
 However he used now and then to be twitted in the teeth 
 for it long after. In the year 1569, when Grindal, Bishop 
 of London, was to be removed to York, the Archbishop 
 would fain have brought him in to succeed there, and recom- 
 mended him in that behalf to the Earl of Leicester, the 
 Queen's great favourite. But he thought the Queen would 
 object against him for this preferment, as too great a step 
 from an archdeaconry to one of the chiefest bishoprics in 
 England. But when Aylmer's name was talked of at Court, 
 The Arch- the Archbishop took occasion to give the Secretary his 
 
 bishop's judgment of him; namely, "that he would be very fit to 
 
 character of-' » J . J 
 
 him. " succeed m London, being a busy government, and so 
 
 " much pestered with Papists, the Queen's mortal enemies; 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 17 
 
 " and lie would prove a careful and active Bishop to watch CHAP. 
 " the sheep against them. In fine, he signified to him, that 
 " he thought verily, that the Queen would have a good, 
 " fast, earnest servitor of this man. 11 All this took not ef- 
 fect, and Aylmer was waved for this turn, and Dr. Sandys, 
 Bishop of W orcester, was translated to London. 
 
 But at last, in the year 1576, he was preferred to be Bi-Made Bi- 
 shop of London, uj)on Sandys's removal from that see to^^on 
 York ; who, in his farewell sermon at Paul's Cross, had sandys's 
 these words concerning him ; " My hope is, that the Lord se ^„, 
 " hath provided one of choice to be placed over you ; a 
 " man to undertake this great charge, so well enabled for 
 " strength, courage, great wisdom, skill in government, 
 " knowledge, as in many other things, so especially in the 
 " heavenly mysteries of God, that I doubt not but my de- 
 " parture shall turn very much to your advantage. 11 
 
 Yet between these two reverend and grave Bishops hap- Contest be- 
 pened some sharp difference, who before were very good n * e e r *° 
 friends, and had been fellow-exiles. For Aylmer, who sue- Bishop, and 
 ceeded Sandys in this see of London, required, as his d Ue, cessor. 
 the whole incomes and benefits of the bishopric for the last 
 half-year, that is, from Michaelmas to Lady-day, though 
 Sandys continued Bishop of London the best part of that 
 time, namely, till Candlemas, before his remove to York. 
 Both of them appealed to the Lord Treasurer. Aylmer PaperOffice. 
 shewed him, by a note in writing, the present commodities 
 growing to the Archbishop of York upon his entrance : as, 
 for the Lady-day rent 500/. his demeans 400/. a bene- 
 volence of his Clergy 800/. besides woods to the value of 
 3000/. And this, he said, was a true rate, and would be 
 avowed by those that were privy to the estate of the see of 
 York. Concluding hence that my Lord of York had no 
 reason to detain any part of the revenues of London from 
 the last Michaelmas, being so well left at York ; and he 
 coming so naked now to the see of London. 
 
 The Archbishop, on the other hand, shewed the Trea- Archbishop 
 surer, that the first sum mentioned was more by a great deal p^ dys * 
 than in truth it was : and perhaps some part of the tenths 
 c 
 
18 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP, would be required of him : that as for the benevolence of 
 ' the Clergy, it would be two years before that would be re- 
 ceived: that the Bishop of London had as much woods 
 left in his diocese : and if he, the Archbishop, might sell his 
 woods at once, as Aylmer seemed to insinuate, he might do 
 the same with his. He urged also, that he had served in 
 London until the beginning of February, as Bishop, and 
 received the rents of the see, according to equity and law : 
 that the sum of what he received was small, and in that 
 time he spent 1000/. and upward ; the present Bishop of 
 London having been at no cost, neither serving the bishop- 
 ric : and that he received of the Queen's gift 397/. enjoying 
 likewise the revenues of his other livings to that time. He 
 added, that there was no example that he should make any 
 restitution of what he had received to his successor ; neither 
 Bishop Yong, nor the late Bishop Grindal his predecessor, 
 having been so dealt withal, but enjoyed all that they had 
 received. And therefore he proceeded to charge his succes- 
 sor with ingratitude ; that so soon as he [the Archbishop] 
 had holpen him on with his rochet, he was transformed, and 
 shewed himself void of that temper he pretended before : 
 and with envy, in that by the note beforementioned of the 
 Archbishop's revenues, he laboured to hinder the Queen 
 from shewing him further favour; and setting forth the 
 commodities of the see of York for a melius inquirendum. 
 And in fine concluded pretty severely upon the Bishop, 
 charging him with " coloured covetousness, and an envious 
 " heart covered with the coat of dissimulation;' 1 '' words 
 perhaps wherein the Archbishop was too much led by his 
 passion. How this business was compromised I cannot tell : 
 but it may be observed what disagreements meum and tuum 
 will create even among good men and brethren. But a 
 greater and a longer difference (such is the frailty of men) 
 happened between them upon the account of dilapidations, 
 as we shall see afterwards. 
 The kind- The truth is, his predecessor Sandys was instrumental in 
 predecessor. m s advancement to the see, recommending him to the 
 Queen, as a very fit person to succeed him. When Aylmer 
 
BISHOP AYLMER 
 
 10 
 
 came up, he courteously entertained him at his house, and CHAP, 
 upon his desire assisted at his consecration ; and when he ll ' 
 departed to York, left several things in the houses belong- 
 ing to the bishopric for his use and benefit: which kind- 
 nesses so obliged the new Bishop, that as he promised the 
 Archbishop, a little before his consecration, that he would 
 never demand any thing for dilapidations ; so a little after, 
 that he would be contented to take 100?. in full satis- 
 faction for them. But notwithstanding these friendly be- 
 ginnings, the process was more tragical, and to be la- 
 mented. 
 
 His election to London was confirmed March 22, 1576, His c °"- 
 in Bow church, before Thomas Yale, LL. D. the Arch- an d conse- 
 bishop of Canterbury's Vicar General ; and one Lane, his cratl0n - 
 Proctor, took the oath in the Bishop elect's name. On Sun- 
 day following, March 24, he was consecrated in Lambeth 
 chapel by the Archbishop, assisted by Edwin Archbishop 
 of York, and John Bishop of Rochester ; George Row and 
 Thomas Blage, Chaplains to the Archbishop, and others 
 being present. 
 
 The Bishop soon after caused a view to be taken of the Diiapida- 
 dilapidations of the bishopric; which stood thus. The re- 1 ' 0 " 5 " 
 paration of the palace of London amounted to 509/. 7s. 6d. 
 of St. Paul's church, 309/. of Fulham, 159/. 18*. lOd. of 
 Hadham, 147/. 15*. 9d. of Wickham, 46/. 8*. 4c?. of Dun- 
 mow, Wickham, Fering, Cressing, [chancels of those 
 churches, as appears in another paper,] 34/. 16s. 8d. For all 
 which his predecessor must ere long be called to account. 
 
 The reverend man was well aware into what a ticklish His request 
 station he was entering, and what back-friends he was like to 
 meet with in the conscientious discharge of his duty: and 
 therefore when he made his address to the Queen, to pay 
 her his duty, and to receive her commands, among other 
 things, he requested of her, that in case any hereafter might 
 accuse him of any misdemeanour, she would suspend her be- 
 lief until he were first heard, and that she would permit 
 him to be brought unto his answer. And this she promised 
 him graciouslv. 
 
 c 2 
 
20 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP. The Bishop began his primary visitation in London, De- 
 cember 17, 1577, when subscription was urged ; and as 
 
 His primary many did subscribe, so some refused; who called the sub- 
 scribers dissemblers for their simple subscription : nav, and 
 very uncharitably compared them to Arians, Priscillians, 
 Anabaptists, and such like. And not only so, but they 
 flouted and mocked them ; as Earl, one of these subscribing 
 
 In Bibiiotb. Ministers, in a journal of his yet extant, records it. " Where- 
 
 Ep. Norvic. " as >" writes he, " all that we say to them is, that we are 
 " sorry for them, but cannot help them. 11 
 
 At this visitation the Bishop discovered (and perhaps 
 among the Clergy) a Mass-Priest, a conjurer, and a semi- 
 nary reconciler : of whom we shall hear by and by. 
 
 His ex- The expenses of his first year, what with first-fruits and 
 
 penses. divers other necessary disbursements, were such, as he could 
 not spend above 500Z. that year, and scarcely that : how- 
 ever, he came rich and well to pass to the bishopric. 
 
 Preaches He preached very frequently in his cathedral church ; 
 
 frequently. an( j a no table art of winning the ears and attention of 
 his auditors. As once when he perceived those about him 
 not so attentive as they ought to have been to what he was 
 teaching, he presently fell to reading the Hebrew Bible : 
 which he did so long, that all his drowsy auditors gazed at 
 him, as amazed that he should entertain them so unprofit- 
 ably, in such unknown language. But when he perceived 
 them all thoroughly awake and very attentive, then he went 
 on with his sermon, after he had given them this grave 
 reprimand ; how it reflected upon their wisdom, that in mat- 
 ters of mere novelty, and when they understood not a 
 word, they should be wakeful, and listen so heedfully, but in 
 the mean time to be ready to fall asleep, and give so little 
 attention and regard, while he was preaching to them the 
 weighty matters that concerned their everlasting salvation. 
 
 At another solemn audience in the Parliament time at 
 Paul's Cross, where were present a great many noblemen 
 and persons of quality, that he might speak aptly to them, 
 and excite them to evangelical virtue and true religion, and 
 a serious regard of piety, he set before them the pattern of 
 
BISHOP AVLMEIt. 
 
 21 
 
 Sir Thomas More, sometime Privy Counsellor to King CHAP. 
 Henry VIII. and Lord High Chancellor of England ; " a IL 
 " man for his zeal to be honoured," said the Bishop, " though 
 " for his religion to be abhorred shewing them, how he 
 would divers times put on a surplice, and help the Priest 
 in his proper person to say service. Insomuch that on a 
 time at Chelsea the Duke of Norfolk came to him, being 
 then Lord Chancellor, about some special affairs, and being 
 informed that he was at church went thither. In the end 
 of the service the Duke and Sir Thomas met, and after 
 salutations, the Duke said, " What ! my Lord Chancellor 
 " become a parish clerk ? What will the King's Majesty say 
 " to this jeer, when he shall understand that his Lord Chan- 
 " cellor of England, a special person of the realm, and in the 
 " highest room of honour in the land next the Prince, is be- 
 " come a parish clerk ?" To which Sir Thomas replied, "that 
 " he thought and verily believed, that his Highness would be 
 " so far from misdeeming or misliking him herein, that on the 
 " contrary, when he should hear of the care which he had 
 " to serve both his Master and mine, 1 ' 1 said he, " he will the 
 " rather take me for a faithful servant." This passage the 
 Bishop applied to the present occasion, that when the Par- 
 liament were sitting and consulting about the national af- 
 fairs, their first care should be to serve God themselves, and 
 have a regard to his honour. 
 
 As soon as he entered upon his episcopal function, he His main 
 made it his main business to preserve the Church in the endeavour 
 state in which it was established by the laws of the land, in 
 respect both of the doctrine and discipline of it ; and there- 
 fore thought it his duty to restrain both Papist and Puritan; 
 botli which laboured to overthrow the constitution of reli- 
 gion, as it was purged and reformed in the beginning of the 
 Protestant reign of Queen Elizabeth. But this he found a 
 very hard task for him to do ; and which created him much 
 trouble and sorrow, and raised him up not a few enemies, as 
 we shall see hereafter. 
 
 Another of his cares was for the supplying the Church His first or- 
 with Ministers, that might be persons of learning and lio- 
 c 3 
 
22 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP, nesty, and bred in the Universities, who being dispersed 
 11 ' about the nation, might preach, and teach the ignorant 
 people ; for of this sort was a great want still. For many 
 of the old Incumbents and Curates were such as were fitter 
 to sport with the timbrel and pipe, than to take in their 
 hands the book of the Lord, as the preacher at the Bishop's 
 first ordination expressed it. A great number of these 
 cattle were lately deprived, as they deserved; and so the 
 more churches left destitute. Therefore on Ascension-day, 
 May 16th, in the year 1577, was a great ordination of 
 Ministers at Fulham by this Bishop ; and was his first or- 
 dination ; when he appointed one Keltridg, formerly of 
 Trinity College in Cambridge, a notable preacher, to make 
 a sermon upon the occasion: which he did from 1 Tim. 
 iii. 1, 2, 3. It is a true saying, If a man desire the office of 
 Bishop, he desireth a good work. A Bishop therefore must 
 be unreprovable, &c. This sermon he afterward printed, 
 and dedicated unto the Bishop. In it he addressed himself 
 to his Lordship against the vicious old Popish Clergy, yet 
 in the Church, but undermining it, " humbly craving of his 
 " Honour, whom God in his eternal counsel had placed 
 " over them, the Levites, to rub and raze out all the stock 
 " of Jezebel, to pluck up and deface them, who had no 
 " title to the true priesthood, to rid the kingdom of those 
 " headless fellows, who having of a long time served Peor, 
 " and offered up the first-fruits of their youth to Acheron, 
 " were then compelled to lie grovelling in the Church of 
 " God, and in the darkness wherein they had loitered, and 
 " choaked up the people with chaff and superstition, 1 '' &c. 
 And those that were then ordained he exhorted, " That for 
 " supply of preaching in the kingdom, they would scatter 
 " themselves through every angle and quarter of this realm 
 " in several congregations, that all countries might hear 
 " their voice, and every part thereof might glorify the 
 " Lord. And moreover he desired them, nay, charged 
 " them in the Lord Christ, that they would not be of di- 
 " vers minds, but that they would teach one God, and one 
 " Christ, whom he had sent; sowing abroad no new and 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 " fantastical opinions, nor scattering devilish and old here- C II A P. 
 " sies, nor inventing strange and fond novelties, thrusting 1I- 
 " upon the silly souls innovations and fables, which apper- 
 " tained not to edification, brought in at that time by the 
 " schismatics of the times, and then troubling the common- 
 " wealth." These admonitions did the grave Bishop think 
 fit should be given these young Clergymen; that they 
 might not add to the number of those that now were in 
 the Church, but troubled the peace of it. At this ordina- 
 tion were sixteen made Deacons, and ten Priests, after due 
 examination of them by William Lane and William Cotton, 
 his Chaplains. These Achans, of what persuasion soever 
 they were, he thought himself bound to discover and set 
 himself against. 
 
 In this year 1577 he discovered a Popish Priest named Discovers a 
 Meredith, and had him in hold: who came over from be-pj^' 1 
 yond sea in the year 1576, and conversed much in Lanca- 
 shire and Nottinghamshire, and resided chiefly in one Al- 
 len's house, brother to Dr. Allen, then in the college of 
 Doway, (afterwards the Cardinal of that name, and a pen- 
 sioner of the King of Spain.) The Bishop discovered con- 
 cerning this Priest, that he carried about him a book of 
 common resolutions to certain questions, which Papists here 
 in England might propound to him in cases of conscience ; 
 it is probable about dispensing with their obedience and al- 
 legiance to the Queen, coming to church, and the like to 
 these. In this book, which it seems the Bishop had seized, 
 he extolled certain traitors that had suffered, and especially 
 Felton, who set up the Pope's excommunication of Queen 
 Elizabeth upon the door of St. Paul's in London, exciting 
 her subjects to rebel against her. Him he called, The glo- 
 rious Felton ; and England he styled Babylon. Wherein 
 the Bishop supposed he obliquely aimed at the greatest 
 very pestilently, as he said, meaning the Queen, as though 
 she were the whore of Babylon. Of this man therefore the 
 Bishop informed the Lord Treasurer, holding him a pass- 
 ing crafty fellow, as he styled him. He refused to answer 
 before him upon his oath : and would confess nothing con- 
 c 4 
 
THE LIFE OF 
 
 c H A P. cerning the state, but in p>int of religion he was very frank. 
 ' " Whereby it appeared.'" said the Bishop to the said Lord, 
 " if thcv might be touched as near for their religion as they 
 " are for the state, they would look twice about them." 
 His appre- This blade carried divers trinkets about him ; as a cha- 
 Spain. lice, a patin of tin, a painted crucifix, to be in the mass- 
 book at the time of their consecration, which they used to 
 kiss at the Memento ; a Portas daily used for Latin service. 
 Whereby the Bishop gathered that he was a Priest, and 
 had said mass all Lancashire over. He had also divers 
 Ag-nus Dci's, a hallowed candle, beads, and other such like 
 things. It should appear he had bestowed many, and these 
 were the remainders. But he would name none, nor in 
 anywise confess that he came from Borne. But the Bishop 
 thought if he were shewn the rack, he would not be so 
 close; for he seemed to be somewhat timorous. He was 
 near the place where the Scotch Queen was detained pri- 
 soner, but denied he was there. Dr. Wylson, the Queen's 
 Ambassador in the Low Countries, wrote to our Bishop, that 
 there were ten Priests dispersed of late into corners of this 
 land; whereof this might well be one. Upon this occasion 
 he gave the Lord Treasurer to understand, that there was 
 such another in the parts of Suffolk, named Green, who 
 dealt with divers thereabouts by degrees of speeches of mis- 
 liking the loose government ; and told them at last how it 
 would be hard to help those things without a conquest ; the 
 better to reconcile the English Papists to the King of 
 Spain's designed attempts against England, and to assist 
 him whensoever he should invade. And he signified to the 
 said Lord, that by some that came before him and the ec- 
 clesiastical Commissioners, it appeared that there were con- 
 spiracies and dangerous attempts towards. 
 His adrice These intelligences this grave and wise Bishop, out of his 
 sure'Tccn" care °^ re hgi° n an d tne state, gave to that great minister ; 
 cerning Pa- and withal suggested freelv his own advices: which were, 
 pists ' that it was time to look about. " I speak to your Lord- 
 " ship," said he, " as one chiefly careful for the state, and 
 " to use more severity than hitherto hath been used ; or 
 
BISHOP AVLMER. 
 
 25 
 
 " else we shall smart for it. For as sure as God liveth they t H ■ P. 
 " look for an invasion, or else they would not fall away as n " 
 " thev do." For the Papistical sort, who before outwardly 
 complied with the laws, did now withdraw from the Church, 
 and refuse the oath of supremacy; and others not well 
 grounded, upon Popi-h suggestions turned Papists. He 
 suggested moreover to the same Lord, that in these danger- 
 ous times the heads of Papists which were obstinate (whom 
 he called their chief captain s) should be placed in close 
 prison, as Sir Thoma-> Fitz-Herbert, Townlev, and some 
 others of that sort, who now had liberty, or were under an 
 easv confinement only : men ready, if opportunity served, 
 to give counsel and countenance. He signified that he liked 
 not diat Fecknam, late Abbot of Westminster, Watson, late 
 Bishop of Lincoln, and Young, another active Popish dig- 
 nitarv under Queen Mary, should continue where they 
 were, in London, in the Fleet or Marshalsea; where by 
 their converse and advice they might instigate and do mis- 
 chief ; advising that they might be placed again as they had 
 been before, with some three Bishops, as Winchester, Lin- 
 coln, Chichester, or Ely ; and that for his part, he, if he 
 were out of his first-fruits, could be content to have one of 
 them. 
 
 About this time [viz. 1.577 or 1-578] orders came to the Orden for 
 prison [of the Fleet as it seems] to keep under close re- m 
 straint all the Papists, both knights and others. But thev 
 had the indulgence to dine and sup together; when they 
 sat for whole hours, conferring with and encouraging each 
 other. And upon pretence of the sickness of the wife of 
 one of them, under colour of phvsicians, Papists were ad- 
 mitted to her, and she bv private wavs let them in to the 
 rest ; where they communicated their news and the counsels 
 that were taken among them. And divers of such as were 
 Protestants, servants and others in the house, were infected 
 and turned by them. Of all this, secret information was 
 given by certain unknown persons that were privy to these 
 doings ; whose letter to the Bishop it may not be amiss to 
 set down. 
 
38 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP. « Right Reverend Father in God, these are most hum- 
 , " bly to advertise you for discharge of our consciences, and 
 
 utter to the " to ^ es * re y our Lordship to see these abuses reformed, 
 Bishop con- " which hereafter we mind to declare to your Lordship ; 
 them? S " tnat w hereas her Majesty by the direction of your Lord- 
 " ship and others, her Majesty's Commissioners in causes 
 " ecclesiastical, have set down and appointed divers and 
 " sundry good orders for the reformation of that idolatrous 
 " sect of the Romanists, enemies unto her Majesty and her 
 " realms, we thought it good to discharge our duties, and 
 " to advertise your Lordship thereof. 
 
 " So it is, that of late time there came commandment to 
 " separate and shut up as close prisoners all the Papists, 
 " as well knights as others. At which time there was re- 
 " quest made unto your Lordship by the deputy of this 
 " house, (as we think but for saving of charges,) that the 
 " said knights and men of worship should meet dinner and 
 " supper, where they should use but table-talk. The which 
 " liberty to some of them, in our opinions, is more than was 
 M before the said restraint. For that now they stay there 
 " sometimes two hours after their suppers. The reforma- 
 " tion whereof we refer to your fatherly consideration. 
 
 " Also, we thought good to advertise your Lordship that 
 " there are six prisoners, some of them gentlemen, whose 
 " names are these : Mr. Farley, Mr. Thymbletharp, and his 
 " brother, Mr. Thomson, Mr. Burchingshaw, and one Jen- 
 " kin Williams : which six persons are thought to be by 
 " the Papists infected and seduced since their coming hi- 
 " ther. Of which two of them, named Burchinshaw and 
 " Jenkin Williams, are appointed to attend upon the Pa- 
 " pists, and sworn as though they were servants ; and within 
 " these six months did come to church : with whom we 
 " desire that your Lordship of yourself will appoint some 
 " godly man to confer severally in time, lest they become 
 " arrogant. 
 
 " Also, we think good to signify unto your Lordship 
 " some of their names, which have used to come to this 
 " house to the Papists, and do yet resort to bring news. 
 
BISHOP AYLMEK. 
 
 27 
 
 " As one Dr. Fryer, a physician, who cometh and hath CHAP. 
 
 " come often under colour to see Mrs. Trugeon, who is il ' 
 
 " sick ; which doctor is accounted a notable Papist : and 
 
 " one Mr. Rocheford, an Irish gentleman of Gray's-Inn or 
 
 " Lincoln's-Inn. Both which, with others whom we know 
 
 " not, come now to Mrs. Trugeon, since this restraint, who 
 
 " is at liberty, and one of the notablest Papists of all the 
 
 " house. The which Mrs. Trugeon doth so lodge, as all 
 
 " the hours of the night he may go into the garden, and 
 
 " give intelligence to all the Papists in the house, at his 
 
 " pleasure, of any news that is brought in. 
 
 " And lastly, there are certain officers in the house, as 
 " the porter and the chamberlain, who are great with the 
 " said Burchinshaw and Jenkin Williams, supposed Papists, 
 " being all Welshmen, linked together, and leaning more 
 " to the Papists than otherwise: which porter, as it is 
 " supposed, is not yet sworn ; for he saith that he will have 
 " all the servants of the house sworn before he be sworn. 
 
 " Good my Lord, for God's sake, as secretly as your 
 " Lordship may, see these abuses reformed, after such sort 
 " as it may not any way be known that your Lordship hath 
 " had any advice from any in this house, but rather by 
 " some friend of your Lordship repairing to this house : as 
 " it is most convenient for your Lordship to have both here 
 " and in all other prisons about London. Wherein your 
 " Lordship shall do God and her Majesty good service, dis- 
 " charge your Lordship's duty, and satisfy our consciences. 
 " And thus we commit your Lordship to the blessed keep- 
 " ing of the Most Highest. 
 
 " By your Lordship's loving friends humbly 
 " to command, Nameless, 
 
 " Because we would be Blameless. 
 
 " It may please your Lordship to understand that the 
 " Thymbletharps, Mr. Farly, and Mr. Thomson, have 
 " been converted by Dr. Halsey and Trugeon.'" 
 
28 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP. This was the letter of some well-affected to religion be- 
 
 ' longing to this prison, that, as secret soever as the Papists 
 
 here were, had observed these their practices. Whence we 
 may see what reason the Bishop and the rest of the eccle- 
 siastical Commissioners had to look about them for the pre- 
 venting the mischief of these creatures of the Pope ; who 
 even in the prison made it their business to propagate the 
 treason for which they were committed. And the work was 
 not very hard to do towards discontented persons laid up 
 
 Thimble- for debt and misdemeanours, as the Thymblethorps were ; 
 
 thorp. were committed to the Fleet for endeavouring to cheat 
 
 the Queen of the tenths of the Clergy of Norfolk, which 
 they were appointed by the Bishop of the diocese receivers 
 of, and to leave the debt upon the Bishop. 
 
 The Bishop The Bishop of London was a real enemy to Popish error 
 
 Papists!^ ° an d superstition, and thought it greatly conducible to keep 
 it out, now it was out. But he with many other good men 
 were in continual fears of the re-entry of it, partly by the 
 means of the neighbourhood of Scotland, where was a great 
 faction of Papists; and partly by the Scotch Queen, pri- 
 soner in England, a pretender to the crown imperial of this 
 realm, and a busy and zealous woman of the Guisian fac- 
 tion, bigoted Papists, and mortal haters of Queen Elizabeth. 
 But it chanced about this time, that is, anno 1578, or there- 
 abouts, the young King James of Scotland received the Pro- 
 testant religion, and rejected the mass ; forbidding upon cer- 
 tain penalties to be present at it. And together with this, 
 news came that the said Queen of Scots was fallen very ill 
 of a palsy ; whose death alone in all human appearance 
 could put an end to England's fears. And it was wished 
 to be rather natural than violent. But still the Bishop 
 knew that nothing could have a good issue without God ; 
 and therefore that he was at this juncto to be earnestly in- 
 voked. These things the Bishop communicated to his old 
 fellow-exile John Fox : and especially that he might excite 
 the devotion of that pious reverend man, who was esteemed 
 in his time a man powerful in prayer with God ; and sent 
 for this purpose a letter to him to this tenor : 
 
BISHOP A YLMER. 
 
 29 
 
 Sal. in Christo. Accepimus Reginam Scotorum paralysi CHAP. 
 graviter laborare, vel ad desperationem, et aliis nonmdlis It- 
 torque? i morbis. Rex ipse optimal spei adolescens Parlia- Writes to 
 menti aut/writate decrevit de una relxgione confirmanda, ^j^ te ° F °* u 
 Papistica e Jinibus suis extcrminanda. Ita ut quisque wuVEpist. MSS- 
 sam auditurus, prima moneatur, secundo bona ipsius Jisco 
 adjudiccntur : si tertid peccaverit, solum vertcre cogatur. 
 Hcec ad tc scripsi, turn ut hujus boni participem jaciam ; 
 turn ut d te preces cum lacrymis Christo nostra Jundantur, 
 et nos beare, et suum Evangelium propagare pcrgat. Qua 
 concedat optimus Jesus noster, quern non minus tibi Jumi- 
 liarem existimo, quam est amicus quisque amico. Ora, ora, 
 mi frater ; nam. plurimum apud Christum tuas vulere preces 
 non dubito. 
 
 Tu i a tnantissimus 
 
 JOHANNES LOND. 
 
 In this year 1578, the infection of the plague spreading His care 
 in London, our thoughtful Bishop took care of two things, p i a g lie i n 
 viz. to preserve the lives of his Clergy, and yet to make London - 
 provision that the infected might be visited, and have spi- 
 rituals administered to them. Therefore he summoned the 
 city Clergy before him, (where also were present, as assist- 
 ants, Nowell, Dean of Paul's ; Mullins and Walker, Arch- 
 deacons; and Stanhop, Chancellor,) to elect and appoint 
 out of them visitors of the sick folk ; and all the rest to be 
 spared by reason of the danger of the infection. The for- 
 wardness of many Ministers to undertake this office was 
 noted; some for covetousness, and others for vain-glory, 
 and others to supply their wants, namely, such as were in 
 great debt, and others without service and employment. 
 But the Ministers generally disliked this motion ; thinking 
 it a part of their duties to suffer with their flock, and to 
 submit to God's will in the discharge of their functions. 
 
 The Bishop shewed by this, his fatherly care of the city ; 
 and also his policy for ceasing of the plague, by dispersing 
 directions in books printed for that purpose. 
 
 Several occasions fell out for Bishop Aylmer to exert his 
 
30 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP, care for religion against the dangerous Romanists and their 
 emissaries, who were very active in these days by all ways 
 cartT" ant * means to reestablish themselves, and to overthrow the 
 Popish' present constitution, and the Queen, who had taken upon 
 printer. jjer to be the supreme guardian of it. One Carter a printer 
 had divers times been put in prison for printing of lewd 
 pamphlets, Popish and others, against the government. 
 The Bishop by his diligence had found his press in the 
 year 1579; and some appointed by him to search his house, 
 among other Papistical books, found one written in French, 
 entitled, The Innocency of the Scotch Queen; who then 
 was a prisoner for laying claim to the crown of England, 
 and endeavouring to raise a rebellion. A very dangerous 
 book this was : the author called her the heir apparent of 
 this crown: inveighed against the late execution of the 
 Duke of Norfolk, though he were executed for high trea- 
 son: defended the rebellion in the north anno 1569: and 
 made very base and false reflections upon two of the Queen's 
 chiefest ministers of state, viz. the Lord Treasurer, and the 
 late Lord Keeper, Bacon. The Bishop had committed this 
 fellow to the Gate-house ; but he desired the Lord Trea- 
 sure at his leisure to call him before him, and examine him, 
 having denied to answer upon oath to the Bishop : and 
 promised that he would also send to him the Warden of the 
 Company of Stationers, who would inform him of another 
 book which was abroad, wherein her Majesty was touched ; 
 and of certain other new forms of letters which Carter had 
 made, but would not confess them. 
 Removes Another Popish gentleman there was about these times, 
 prisonat' 1 ' 8 name d Thomas Pond, sometime a courtier, that had lain in 
 stortford. prison (that of the Marshalsea I suppose) for some years : 
 him the Bishop thought convenient now to remove from 
 London unto another prison more remote, namely, his castle 
 at Bishop's Stortford, to prevent his infecting others by his 
 talk ; for some such information, and what a dangerous 
 person he was, was brought to the Bishop by Trip and 
 Crowley, two Ministers who went to confer with him. He 
 talked notably with them ; and observing them to insist 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 31 
 
 much upon Scripture, he warily required them to lay down CHAP, 
 some sure principle for both parties to proceed upon ; and U " 
 that was this, Whether the private spirit of particular men, 
 or the public spirit of the universal Church, ought to judge 
 of the sense of the Scriptures ? For he, when he heard them 
 frequently quoting places of Scripture, affirmed, that we must 
 not run in these controversies to the only letter of Scripture, 
 understood according to every private man's pleasure, but to 
 the most certain judgment of the universal, at the least the 
 most ancient, Church, which being governed by the Spirit of 
 God, propounded the truth and genuine sense of Scripture. 
 He also then proposed to them (though he were a layman, and 
 not deeply versed in divinity) six firm reasons, as he thought, 
 of his opinion, and required those Ministers to answer them ; 
 and that afterwards he might have liberty to confute their 
 answers either by speech or writing. Upon this relation 
 given of Pond by the Ministers, the Bishop thought fit to 
 remove him to the aforesaid castle, being, as the Popish 
 writers say, much provoked and angry. And they describe 
 it to be an obscure and melancholy place, void of both light 
 and converse. 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 His farther dealings with Papists. CampioiCs book. 
 
 Nor was the Bishop's endeavour only to discover and at- Campion's 
 tack books of this poisonous nature, but to arm people book ' 
 against the doctrines and principles contained in them, by 
 providing substantial answers to them. One Edmund Cam- 
 pion, formerly a scholar of Oxford, now a revolter from re- 
 ligion and his country, had entered himself into the society 
 of the Jesuits. And about the year 1581 he set forth 
 a book consisting of ten reasons, written in a terse, elegant, 
 Latin style, and dedicated to the Scholars of both Universi- 
 
32 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP, ties, in vindication of what he had done in returning to 
 
 L_ Rome, and exhortatory to them to follow him, slandering 
 
 the Protestant religion with false and unworthy imputa- 
 tions. Care was taken privily to disperse this book in the 
 Universities; which gave disturbance to the government. 
 The Lord Treasurer Burghley thought it needful to have a 
 good answer timely set forth, to prevent the mischief it 
 The Bishop might do ; and reckoned Bishop Avlmer very fit for such 
 
 wished to ° , . . , 1 ' \ „ 
 
 answer it. an undertaking; in one particular respect especially, namely, 
 for certain blots and disparagements cast upon the first re- 
 formers of religion, and restorers of it from Popery ; in 
 whose times the Bishop lived, and with some of them, and 
 their doings, was well acquainted. The Bishop had heard of 
 the book, and had sent to Oxford, and searched other places 
 for it, but could not meet with it, so secret 'it was kept; 
 which was partly his excuse for not answering it. He had 
 also at this time an ague, which was fallen down so sore in 
 his leg that he was not able to study without great danger : 
 but notwithstanding he let the Treasurer know, if he could 
 get the book, he would do what his health would permit ; 
 adding, that as to what he wrote touching those first worthy 
 and learned men, he guessed that the things wherewith he 
 reproached them, were nothing else but such railing collec- 
 tions as were gathered against them by the apostate Staphi- 
 lus, which for the most part were not to be found in their 
 Hisjudg- works. And moreover, as to the reproaches the Jesuits 
 Protestant cast u P on these reverend fathers of the Reformation, he 
 writers. knew there were divers ncevi in them, as lightly be in all 
 men's writings : as some things were spoken by Luther hy- 
 perbolically, and some by Calvin ; as in the doctrine of the 
 Sacrament, which he afterwards corrected, and in predesti- 
 nation. This Jesuit, the Bishop subjoined, and Staphilus, 
 might herein soon be answered, if they would but look in 
 the end of the Master of the Sentences, where they should 
 find under the title of Errorum Parisiis Condcmnatorum, 
 that their own Peter Lumbard, Thomas Aquinas, Gratian 
 among the Schoolmen, and Tertullian, Cyprian, Augustine, 
 Hierorae, and others among the Fathers, to be condemned, 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 33 
 
 yoa, errasse contra Jidcm, " to have erred against the C H A P. 
 " faith," as he termeth it. And yet the rest of their doc- 
 trine was holden for Catholic; and not the whole Catholic 
 doctrine condemned for a few of their natvi. A precious 
 stone, said he, may be found in a dunghill, and in the 
 fairest visage some little wart. He proceeded to give his His advice 
 advice to the Lord Treasurer, whom he saw much con- ■y TK .* ureT 
 ceraed for the honour of the Protestant religion so struck 
 at and defamed by this book, that it were not amiss 
 that a letter might be sent from the Lords of the Council to 
 the Archbishop of Canterbury, or to him, (the Bishop of 
 London,) to enjoin the Deans, Archdeacons, and Doctors, 
 to make some collections for these matters : for that such as 
 had not great dealings in the Church, to take up their time, 
 (as they had not, yea, and some Bishops also,) might, hav- 
 ing that leisure, help well, as he said, to this building. 
 Wherefore else, added he, have they their livings ? And as 
 for the number of books, he thought such a good quantity 
 might be printed, as should serve for that purpose. 
 
 He gave in also to the Lord Burghley a particular sche- Persons by 
 dule of the names of those he judged fit for this under- liate( j J^!' 
 taking ; which he divided into two ranks ; some to find ma- answering; 
 terials, others to build the house; some to make proper book'. 01 " 511 
 collections, others to write and compile the book from those 
 collections. 
 
 The collectors to be these : the Deans of Paul's, Win- 
 ton, York, Christ Church, Windsor, Sarum, Ely, Wor- 
 cester, Canterbury. The Archdeacons of Canterbury, Lon- 
 don, Middlesex, Essex, (Dr. Walker,) Lincoln, Coventry, 
 (Dr. James,) Sudbury, (Dr. Styl.) 
 
 The writers to be, Dr. Fulke, Dr. Goade, Dr. Some. 
 
 Great pity it is, that this noble design of the Bishop's 
 laying down was not pursued, and brought to perfection: 
 wherein a good history of the reformation of religion, and 
 of the doctrines embraced, might have been substantially 
 set forth, by such who lived in or near those times, for the 
 doing justice to so glorious a work as that was. But per- 
 
34 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP, haps it was not thought convenient that Campion's book 
 should have so much honour done it, to be so solemnly an- 
 swered. But yet it went not without answer, Mr. Whit- 
 aker, Professor of Divinity in Cambridge, and others do- 
 ing it. 
 
 His reflec- But when the Treasurer had soon after sent the Bishop 
 Tampion" Campion's pamphlet, and desired him again, as his health 
 book. would serve, to peruse it, and according to his discretion 
 to set some about the work, this caused some farther 
 thoughts in him concerning it pro re nata ; which he thus 
 imparted to the said Nobleman ; that as for his collections of 
 strange opinions and sayings of some of the Reformers set 
 down in his chapter entitled Paradoxa, he thought (sup- 
 posing the author truly alleged them) that none of our 
 Church meant to defend Luther's hyperbola, or all things 
 that had passed the pens of Calvin or Beza: for, quisque 
 suo sensu abundet. That we read them as Austin read 
 Cyprian, and as he would be read himself, that where he 
 dissented from the canonical Scripture, he should not be al- 
 lowed. Secondly, that if we should make such a malicious 
 collection of their writers and Schoolmen, we should find 
 other manner of things in them: sed in nuUws juravu 
 mus verba magistri ; i. e. " but that we had learned to 
 " swear to the dictates of no master 11 but of Christ. Then 
 he shewed what little credit was to be taken to his quota- 
 tions of Scripture, when in the very first text that he cited, 
 he used the Septuagint interpretation, utterly different from 
 the truth of the original : that if he dealt so in all others, 
 his credit would be but small : Ex unguibus leoncm. 
 Again, that there was a favourableness of interpretation 
 due to writers and speakers ; and if we should take every 
 thing to the worst, and not interpret candidly, what should 
 we say of Gregory Nazianzen, who saith, Ita nos Deos fecit 
 Christus, ut Me factus homo est ; with many such in Lac- 
 tantius and others. He added, it was a property of a spider 
 to gather the worst and leave the best : and that his Lord- 
 ship should find his (Campion's) writings to be the arrogant 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 35 
 
 vanities of a Porphyrias or a Julian ; who were base apostates chap. 
 from Christianity. And in fine, that were it not for the toil lU ' 
 of his ecclesiastical Commission, he could gladly have occu- 
 pied himself in searching out his vanities ; but according as 
 his health would serve, he would peruse the piece, and set 
 some others a work. 
 
 We have not done with Campion a yet. In September The Bishop 
 1581, (Campion having been caught, and now in hold uip Ut ; ng- 
 the Tower,) the vapouring challenge which he had made of 
 maintaining his doctrine by disputation with any Protestant 
 whatsoever came into remembrance. Several of our Divines 
 took him up : and, by the consent of some of the superior 
 powers, there were several conferences had with him. But 
 when the day was come allotted for these learned combats, 
 the bruit thereof brought great numbers of people to hear. 
 This gave a disgust to the Court, which thought it most 
 convenient to have it privately managed, to prevent all 
 noise, boastings, and misreports, which must fly abroad 
 concerning it. The blame of this confluence was imputed 
 to the Bishop, though he was of the same mind, and had 
 advised the Lieutenant of the Tower of his misliking that 
 so many were admitted. This he was fain by letter to sig- 
 nify to the Lord Treasurer in his own behalf, adding, that 
 the Lieutenant's authority was not to be directed by him, 
 (being an exempt jurisdiction perhaps,) but by her Majesty 
 and the Lords : nay, and that for the ill opinion he had of 
 any dispute at all, he sent to stay it : which was all that he 
 could do. And whereas Mr. Whitacre had answered in 
 Latin Campion's Ten Reasons, now some were very busy 
 in translating the answer into English, in order to the pub- 
 lishing thereof. But neither did the Bishop like this, that 
 the people's minds might not be heated with controversies ; 
 and therefore, if the copy came into his hands, he was re- 
 solved to stay it. 
 
 The issue proved the matter as the Bishop feared : for The Papists 
 the friends of the Jesuit boasted much ; and among the rest boMt " 
 
 • See Additions, Numbs I. 
 
36 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP, one Cawood b , perhaps son of the Popish printer of that 
 ' name, who talked very liberally, extolling Campion's learn- 
 ing, and attributing the victory to him : and for his confi- 
 dent and slanderous reports was brought before the Bishop, 
 who gave him the punishment of confinement in the Clink. 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 His dealing with the Puritans. His advice concerning the 
 University. His trouble about Jelling- his woods. 
 
 Puritans. ThESE were some of our Bishop's dealings with Papists. 
 
 He was also industrious for the checking of another sort of 
 opposers of the Church established, chiefly its enemies in 
 regard of the ecclesiastical regiment of it, which they 
 thought to be Antichristian, because used in the Popish 
 Church. These were now commonly known by the name of 
 Puritans and Precisians; whom the Bishop had indeed little 
 kindness for, and they as little for him. I proceed to shew 
 what happened between him and them, and his opinion con- 
 cerning the danger of them. 
 His opinion In the year 1577 he met with several persons of a con- 
 them" 16 ° f trar y wa y to P a P^ ts » °f w hom he informed the Lord Trea- 
 surer, that in respect of their hindering unity and quietness 
 they were not much less hurtful than they ; namely, Chark, 
 Chapman, Field, and Wilcox. These he had before him ; 
 the two former he had some hopes of; but the two latter 
 shewed themselves obstinate, and especially Field ; who, 
 notwithstanding the Archbishop's inhibition, had entered 
 into great houses, and taught, as he said, God knows what. 
 And advice His advice concerning these men was, that they might be 
 them.""" 5 profitably employed in Lancashire, Staffordshire, Shrop- 
 shire, and such other like barbarous countries, to draw the 
 people from Papism and gross ignorance : and that though 
 they went a little too far, yet he supposed it would be less 
 
 >' See Additions, Numl). II. 
 
BISHOP AYLMER 
 
 37 
 
 labour to draw them back, than now it was to hale them CHAP, 
 forw ard ; and that some letters of friendly request might be 
 sent thither for some contribution to be made by the towns 
 and gentlemen for some competent stipend to relieve them. 
 And he thought this might grow greatly to the profit of the 
 Church ; and therefore communicated this counsel to the 
 Lord Treasurer, and prayed him at his leisure to think on 
 it. Yet he declared that he said all this, not because he 
 liked them, but because he would have his cure rid of them. 
 
 Some years ago (about 1571 or 1572) came forth, in imprisons a 
 print, a book entitled, An Admonition to the Parliament ; Admon!" 
 the main design whereof was to subvert the Church as it ^ on i to the t 
 was then established in the public worship by the Book of 
 Common Praver, and in the government of it by Bishops 
 and other ecclesiastical officers. This therefore gave the 
 Queen great disgust ; and the Churchmen found themselves 
 obliged to give a full answer to the book ; which was done 
 by several, but especially Dr. Whitgift, afterwards Bishop 
 of Worcester and Archbishop of Canterbury successively : 
 and a severe proclamation was issued out, anno 1573, for the 
 better observation of the Common Prayer and orders of 
 the Church, and for the suppressing of that book. But now, 
 about November or December 1578, when the book was 
 almost laid aside, a young stationer, named Thomas Wood- 
 cock, hoping to make a good gain by the adventure, vended 
 several of these books ; whereupon the Bishop of London 
 committed him to Newgate. But his friends failed not to in- 
 tercede with the Bishop for Woodcock's enlargement. To 
 whom the Bishop answered, that he neither could nor would 
 do any thing without the Lord Treasurer's consent, or by 
 his letters or warrant. Which was looked upon as somewhat 
 rigorous in him. Whereas indeed it was most true, that he 
 could not of his own authority discharge a criminal he had 
 committed without inflicting due punishment, unless it were 
 by some order from above ; especially such as dispersed or 
 sold this Admonition, which depraved the Book of Common 
 Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments, and so was 
 interpreted to tend to make divisions and dissensions among 
 d 3 
 
THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP, the people ; and to breed disputes against the common or- 
 ' der. And therefore the Queen, in the aforesaid proclama- 
 tion, commanded aD printers and stationers, or others, who 
 had any of these books in their possession, to bring the 
 same forthwith to the Bishop of the diocese, or to some of 
 her Majesty's Privy Council ; and not to suffer any of them 
 upon pain of imprisonment. The issue therefore was, that 
 Woodcock, having lain about a week in Newgate, found 
 such favour from those of his own company of stationers, 
 that the chief of them, as Richard Tottyl, the Master, 
 John Harrison and George Bishop, Wardens, and Wil- 
 liam Seres and John Day, directed their letter to the Lord 
 Treasurer, soliciting him that he would either direct his 
 warrant for the enlargement of this man, or else to signify 
 his pleasure to the Bishop, to take order herein accordingly, 
 the said person putting in sufficient bonds to appear at all 
 times when he should be called, and ready to answer any 
 matters that should be objected against him. And thus the 
 Bishop by his watchfulness over this sort of men, and their 
 books too, which spread their opinions, shewed how little 
 he liked them. 
 
 One of the In this year 1578, one William Hopkinson, a Minister 
 LiDJoln°de- e ^ Lincolnshire, and under the care of our Bishop when 
 di.ates a Archdeacon there, translated a Latin book of Beza in be- 
 i,, m half of Calvin's doctrine concerning election, entitling it, An 
 evident Display of Popish Practices, or patched Pelagianism : 
 which the said Hopkinson printed, and dedicated to our 
 Bishop, in acknowledgment of his former good and careful 
 inspection of the Clergv of Lincoln, " and his zeal for the 
 " Lord's family," as he expressed it ; " which," he said, " he 
 " himself eftsoons experienced to his great comfort, in the 
 " time of his being within his jurisdiction. And being lately 
 " come to the great charge of overseeing the diocese of 
 " London, he prayed God to increase in him his many and 
 " mighty blessings, and to multiplv upon him the measure 
 " of his grace; that as he had chosen him into the forefront 
 " of His harvest, and given him among others the chiefest 
 u and special charge over his field furnished with labourer:*; 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 39 
 
 " so he continually would make full the measures of his CHAP. 
 " own mercies in his heart, Sec."" This great esteem had the U ' 
 learned Clergy for him. 
 
 But the Bishop was as little liked of the Puritans. For "ne Wei- 
 as he roundly executed his office in reclaiming or suppress-,^. Bishop _ 
 ing them, they spared not to defame and shew their ill-will 
 to him. Such a matter fell out in the year 1579 : Cook- 
 ham, a considerable parish in Berkshire, was destitute of a 
 preacher ; some Puritan minister belonging to that place 
 having been, as it seems, suspended by the Commission. 
 Hither the Bishop sent Mr. Keltridg, before mentioned, an 
 able preacher, to supply that church. But one Welden, a 
 person of some note in Cookham, hindered him, saying, 
 that though the Bishop himself should come and sit with 
 Keltridg in Cookham church, he should have a very warm 
 seat, and he would make them both weary of their places. 
 The Bishop upon this disturbance sent an attachment for 
 him. But he told him, that he should answer that which 
 he had done before his betters. He reported also, that 
 if the Bishop had sent forth another attachment, he had 
 proceeded so far with his Lordship's betters, that he should 
 have had such an attachment for him, that none should 
 have bailed him ; and that he himself would have been his 
 keeper. And when a pursuivant had served him with a 
 letter, he said, the Bishop of London had now learned good 
 manners. He said, moreover, what was he before but a 
 private man ? but he must be lorded. And it please your 
 Lordship at every word ; and that there was never Bishop 
 so vilely esteemed as he was, and that he was as ill thought 
 of as ever was Bonner. All this was proved by deposition ; 
 and the said Welden convict bv the court, because he re- 
 fused in a most contemptuous manner to answer : and for 
 his great contempt he was in January committed by the 
 rest of die Commissioners, without the Bishop, because it 
 was his own cause. The Bishop was not a little moved to Ompiai&* 
 be so used in his discharge of the Queen's Commission ; °' ,t- 
 which made him think it convenient to let the Lord Trea- 
 surer know it, and to countenance their prosecution of this 
 d 4 
 
40 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP. man. He reminded him, how he and the Lord Chancellor 
 ' had told him, that they were to countenance and back the 
 Commissioners in the said Commission ; which he humbly 
 prayed his Lordship to do, or else he saw not how he might 
 continue in that place ; and that for his own part, if every 
 man might thus rail at them for their faithful and painful 
 service in the executing of her Majesty's Commission, it must 
 needs make him weary. Finally, he hoped his Lordship 
 would not suffer him to be so abused. This care and these 
 discouragements soon made him earnestly desirous to change 
 his see, as we shall hear hereafter. 
 A book The Queen and her Court were now in September 1579 
 
 against the , - . 
 
 Queen's startled upon one or two occasions. 1 he one was, the news 
 marriage Q f tne breaking out of a rebellion in Ireland; and the other, 
 
 with Mon- . 
 
 sieur. the publishing of a book written by one Stubbs, a great Pu- 
 ritan, against the Queen's marriage with the Duke of An- 
 jou, the French King's brother : for he being a Papist and 
 a Frenchman, the English had an antipathy against him 
 upon both accounts. Many expressions in the book tended 
 to sedition, and gave high offence to the Queen ; as though 
 she herself were warping from religion by her entertain- 
 ment of such an one. It made also very dishonourable re- 
 flections upon that Prince ; which she feared France might 
 well resent. The very title also was penned after that rude 
 The Disco- sort that it might justly offend; viz. The Discovery of a 
 Raping * S a P m g Gulph, whereinto England is like to be swallowed 
 Guiph. by another French Marriage, if the Lord forbid not the 
 banns, by letting her Majesty see the Sin and Punishment 
 thereof. In one place of this book he disparaged the per- 
 son of this Prince, and by consequence the Queen's judg- 
 ment in entertaining him. " I humbly beseech her Majesty 
 " that she will view it, (his person,) and surview it ; and in 
 " viewing she will fetch her heart up to her eyes, and carry 
 " her eyes down to her heart. And I beseech God grant 
 " her at that time to have her eyes in her head; even in the 
 " sense which Solomon placeth a wise man's eyes in his 
 " head : and then, I doubt not, upon conference of her wise 
 " heart and her eyes together, he shall have her dispatching 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 41 
 
 " answer.'" And then, as to this Prince's manners, thus he CHAP, 
 exposed them ; (both his and his brother's, now King of 1V " 
 France;) " They speak in all languages of a marvellous, 
 " licentious, and dissolute youth passed by this brother- 
 " hood ; and of as strange incredible parts of intemperance 
 " played by them, as those were of Heliogabalus. Yet I 
 " will not rest upon conjecturals. For if but the fourth part 
 " of the misrule bruited should be true, it must needs draw 
 " such punishments from God, who for the most part pu- 
 " nisheth these vile sins of the body, even in the body and 
 " bones of the offender, besides other plagues to a third and 
 " fourth generation ; as I would my poor life might redeem 
 " the joining of Queen Elizabeth to such an one in that near 
 " knot, which must needs make her half in the punishment 
 " of those sins." This bold book, therefore, and clamours 
 of the people, (London being in a dangerous ferment,) espe- 
 cially those that were of the Puritan party, made a consider- 
 able shock at Court. It was therefore thought convenient Occasions 
 to send a hasty despatch to London, to the Bishop there, and *„j d g^y°£, 
 presently to summon the Clergy for the better pacifying summon the 
 these matters. And on a sudden, September 27, 1579, on ciergy? 
 Sunday, at one of the clock, the Clergy of the city were 
 called unto the Bishop's palace ; where forty of them ap- 
 peared. Then the Bishop, the Dean of Paul's being pre- 
 sent and assistant, told them the occasion of his sudden 
 calling for them was, to admonish them of two things chiefly. 
 The former was of one Andreas Jacobus, a Dutchman, and, Andreas 
 as it seems, a Minister of the strangers' church in London ; Jacpbus - 
 who was a Lutheran, or an ubiquitary, as they now styled The ubiqui- 
 them who were for the real presence ; and had caused great ^" v a e ^ n " 
 quarrels among the strangers' preachers. He warned them 
 to take heed how they gave ear to the sophistical arguments 
 of him, or any such like. That this ubiquitarian contro- 
 versy had caused great heats and differences among the Pro- 
 testants of Germany, and that the Divines had a Diet at 
 Smalcald on that occasion ; and that God be thanked it 
 was appeased, and all at quiet among them. 
 
 He proceeded to the other reason, (and which was the 
 
i2 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP, chief indeed,) why he called for them at that time ; to wit, 
 n ' upon the account of Stubbs's book, and of the animosities 
 Admonishes that it had occasioned ; for people were highly offended at 
 about th"/ Monsieur's being at Court, and perhaps he used his religion 
 Queen. there. And many of the preachers themselves meddled in 
 that argument, and in matters of state, in their pulpits, to 
 the farther disturbing of the minds of the people. There- 
 fore the Bishop first of all assured them with many good 
 words of the Queen's steadiness in religion, wherein she 
 was, he said, resolute and settled. Then, that they should 
 not meddle with such high secular matters, nor intrude 
 themselves into the Queen's affairs; but study peace and 
 quietness, and to promote it in their several charges : that 
 they should be constant, sober, prudent, and wise; and that 
 they should do their endeavour in their places to bring in 
 that dangerous book : for which purpose there was a pro- 
 clamation issued forth. And both the author, printer, and 
 disperser afterwards were discovered and severely punished. 
 For which I refer the reader to the civil historian. 
 The Minis- These disturbances about the Queen's marriage being 
 don now" cn i e % moved by such as were enemies to the ecclesiastical 
 often cited, constitutions, a straiter hand was this year held over them, 
 and the Ministers of the city, for their due conformity to 
 the orders of the Church. For besides this summons al- 
 ready mentioned, they were four times more called together 
 by order from above to the Bishop, that there might a dili- 
 gent inspection be made into their behaviour ; and for the 
 prescribing them several rules in their ministry. 
 Articles of The next citation then of the Ministers of London was 
 inquiry. November the 10th following, at St. Sepulchre's church ; 
 
 where also met many persons sworn to make inquisition 
 upon certain articles to be given them ; which articles were 
 as follow: L For the true and faithful observation of the 
 book of public prayers : 2. If any preachers meddled with 
 matters of state in their public or private doctrine, or inter- 
 meddled with alterations of states and kingdoms : 3. If any 
 used to preach not licensed thereunto ; for that such who 
 had not licences were not to preach : 4. To inquire after 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 is 
 
 private conventicles, preachers, and fasts ; 5. If there were C H A P. 
 any alterations from the Book of Common Prayer ; and to 1V ' 
 inquire who, and how many, gathered to private preaching : 
 6. To make diligent search after vagrant preachers and 
 Popish priests. 
 
 Again, in January this same year, 1579, came forth arti- other arti- 
 cles to be ministered and inquired of by the parsons, vicars ^of'the' 
 and curates, ministers and church-wardens, of every parish Council'* 
 within the archdeaconry of London, according to a com- 
 mandment sent from the Lords of the Queen's Majesty's 
 Privy Council, by their letters bearing date January 17, 
 1579; viz. 
 
 I. Who is parson, vicar, curate, or minister of your pa- 
 rish, and whether he be resident upon his benefice, or no. 
 
 II. Whether the parson or vicar doth serve the cure of 
 his parish himself, or who doth serve it for him. 
 
 III. Whether your parson or vicar doth say the divine 
 service in the church, and minister the sacraments of Bap- 
 tism and of the Lord's Supper in his own person, or who 
 doth it for him. 
 
 IV. Whether the parson or vicar doth use weekly or 
 monthly to preach or to read any lectures in their church, 
 or in any other church or place ; and where he doth use so 
 to preach or read. 
 
 V. Whether any other minister or preacher doth use to 
 preach or to read any lectures in their church ; who they or 
 he be, and set down their names, and where such preacher 
 or reader is beneficed. 
 
 VI. Whether such minister or preacher, as useth to preach 
 or to read any lecture in the church, doth use also to minis- 
 ter the sacrament of Baptism and the Lord's Supper in 
 his church, or in any other church ; and where he doth use 
 to minister the same. 
 
 I am apt to conclude that these were articles of the Bi- 
 shop's framing ; but that he procured the Privy Council to 
 own and send them as theirs, to give them the more strength 
 and authority- 
 
 For the better execution of the Council's letters, it was the Clergy 
 
44 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP, ordered the Clergy at this meeting after this manner, " That 
 
 ' " from henceforth you do not admit any man to preach, or 
 
 " to read any lectures in any of your churches, but such as 
 " you do know ; that do also in their own persons minister 
 " the sacraments of Baptism and of the holy Communion, 
 " according to the order prescribed in the Book of Common 
 " Prayer. 
 
 " Ye shall make return of your answer to these articles 
 " on this side the first day of March next coming, to Mr. 
 " Good the registrar."" 
 Another In pursuance of which articles, February 6th following, 
 Ministers, there was another call of the London Clergy by virtue of 
 the Council's letters. Then there were again precepts given 
 to mark the recusants of the Book of Common Prayer, or 
 such as refused to administer the sacraments after that or- 
 der, or that only preached, but had no celebration of the 
 sacraments ; putting that work upon their curates, or as- 
 signs, or that preached and used not the book, and so made 
 a schism. The church-wardens were called and sworn to 
 present all such. 
 
 Another. Now on the first of March, the Clergy was summoned 
 again, and met, according to the Council's letters before 
 mentioned, in pursuance of the six articles. Thus close was 
 the matter of conformity this year pursued ; and that be- 
 cause of the dangerous schism that was now a breeding, and 
 the apprehension of the great evils that must needs ensue 
 upon that ; while the Common Prayer was by some in part, 
 and by others wholly, laid aside, and the sacraments of the 
 Church disused, or shifted off to be performed by others 
 that were hired or procured. All which considerations 
 made both the Bishop and the Queen herself somewhat vi- 
 gorous in the suppressing these men. And this quickening 
 of the London Ministers in their obedience to the ecclesiasti- 
 cal laws went on the next year, as we shall see by and by. 
 His advice About this time the University of Cambridge was run 
 theUniver- mto Puritanism, and the Bishop was consulted with about it 
 sity. by the Lord Burghley, the Chancellor thereof. For when, 
 in the beginning of March 1579, upon the motion of Dr. 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 45 
 
 Pern, Dean of Ely, and others, making complaint to the CHAP, 
 said Chancellor of the Puritans 1 disorderly preaching, and of IV ' 
 the unsuitahle apparel of the scholars, he was resolved to 
 take some order for the redress of both, he sent the said 
 Dean to the Bishop from him, for his opinion ; which ac- 
 cordingly he gave in these particulars. 1. That all licences 
 granted by the University should be called in, and granted 
 anew by the Heads, to such as would subscribe to the articles 
 synodical, as in all dioceses it was used ; and that bonds 
 should be taken of the parties that they should preach no 
 innovation, as he himself used to do in granting his licences. 
 2. That the Heads of the houses might be enjoined by the 
 Chancellor to see every man to his own company, that both 
 at home and abroad they used scholars 1 apparel, according 
 to their statutes ; or else to crave the aid of the rest of the 
 Heads to expel such stubborn persons out of the University, 
 as would not submit themselves to that order. And this to 
 be done by some injunction from her Majesty, to authorize 
 the Heads in that behalf. And this he thought would be a 
 good way for the redress of both offences; for, Stultitia, 
 said he, Ugata in corde pueri virga discipline. fugatur; and 
 indeed the only way ; for he thought no other way would 
 do. These were the resolute counsels of a resolute man. 
 
 The Bishop about this time, or somewhat before, thought Licence for 
 fit to grant somewhat an unusual licence to one Manwaring, [^afsesf 
 which was to keep good order at the funerals of the nobility 
 and gentry; when the rude people used to commit much 
 outrage and disorder by defacing the hearses as they passed 
 along the streets, and violently taking away the coats of 
 arms and other ornaments ; and to preserve the better de- 
 cency at these solemnities ; yet without intent of encroach- 
 ing upon the office of heralds. And to this tenor ran the 
 Bishop's faculty, which because somewhat extraordinary I 
 set down. 
 
 " John, by the permission of God Bishop of London, 
 " to all and singular to whom these presents shall appertain, 
 " greeting. Whereas about the hearses of honourable and 
 
4G 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CH AP. " worshipful men there groweth sundry discourse by em- 
 
 ' " bezzeling and stealing away the escutcheons of arms and 
 
 BlmeriRe- " other ornaments to funerals belonging; with such other 
 " rudeness and misdemeanor ; we have upon good consider- 
 " ation hereunto moved, permitted and licensed Nicolas 
 " Manering, servant to the Right Honourable the Countess 
 * of Darby, to have the keeping of the said hearses .within 
 " our diocese of London, for the avoiding of the said incon- 
 " veniences and disorders ; and this his licence to endure 
 " the natural life of the said Nicolas Manering, not abridg- 
 " ing but aiding the heralds in their office. Yeoven under 
 " our hand and seal at Harnsey, September 25th, the 20th 
 " of the Queen. 
 
 " JOHN LONDON." 
 
 Comniis- By a commission dated May 1579, he constituted Ro- 
 slons - "bert King, clerk, to exercise the office of Commissary in 
 partibus within the archdeaconry of Essex and Colchester, 
 and other places. 
 
 And about four years after, anno 1583, December 26th, 
 he preferred a very remarkable man, (famous afterward for 
 his faithful and able management of great places of trust 
 Sir Julius pertaining to the civil law,) Julius, afterwards Sir Julius 
 t *sar. Caesar, LL. D. to whom he gave the office of Commissary 
 and Sequestrator General in the archdeaconry of Essex and 
 Colchester, and the deanery of Braughing, Harlow, Dun- 
 mow, and other places. 
 Troubled But now let me proceed to a matter that created the Bi- 
 tng hil 6 "" sno P some passion and disturbance. He had made a good 
 woods. f a ]l 0 f hl s woods ; and that in so large a proportion, and (as 
 it was pretended) so unlawfully, that an information was 
 brought to the Lord Treasurer and Council against him for 
 it, as though he had made a great spoil of the timber and 
 woods, and wasted the revenues of the bishopric. It was 
 informed, that he had felled and sold three hundred timber 
 trees at one time, and an hundred at another, and some 
 more besides at another : also that a great number of acres 
 of wood were sold at divers times, allowing to every acre 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 47 
 
 certain timber trees. Though this information was partly CHAP, 
 true, yet it had more of malice than truth in it. But the lV ' 
 Bishop upon this w as brought before the Council, where the 
 said Treasurer in May 1579 openly blamed him ; holding 
 himself bound, as he said, so to do, as he was a public min- 
 ister, and with all plainness and freedom telling him, that 
 there was a Bishop once displaced for such a deed. These 
 words gave the Bishop some uneasiness, and provoked him 
 to some anger, holding himself unblamable for what he had 
 done. 
 
 Whereupon coming home he took up his pen, and in that Writes to 
 heat that was upon him vented his grieved mind to the same -p"^^^ 
 noble Lord, telling him that they were but indigested sur- abo,lt 
 mises of his wasting the woods, giving (in a writing in- 
 closed) to the particidar articles of accusation particular an- 
 swers ; wherewith, as he shortly told him, if his Lordship 
 should be satisfied, he should be glad ; but if not, he would 
 stand to the justification of his doings, both in that and 
 in all other things. He added, that if he (the Lord Trea- 
 surer) thought his answers were either untrue, or not suffi- 
 cient to satisfy him, he prayed him to call to him a gentle- 
 man, (well acquainted with the Bishop's doings,) and one 
 whom his Lordship judged to be both upright and wise, 
 and of great experience, and to inform himself by him ; and 
 if it fell not out that he (the Bishop) was not too careful a 
 man of his woods, and that they were much the better for him, 
 then let him lose his credit with her Majesty and all their 
 Honours of the Council. But, in fine, these surmises against 
 him he counted but light in comparison of his grief, as he 
 expressed himself, that " my Lord Treasurer should have a 
 " discontented mind toward the Bishop of London,' 1 whose 
 friendship he valued above all ; and therefore the seeming 
 estrangement thereof could not but be very afflicting to him. 
 
 The sum of the paper above mentioned, wherein he en- His defence 
 deavoured to clear himself by distinct answers to each ob- of lumself - 
 jection against him, was this : That those trees which he 
 had given order for the falling of were not timber trees, but 
 pollards, doatcd and decayed at the top ; nor was the num- 
 
4S 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP, ber of them so many as was informed. He acknowledged that 
 1V ' in the years 1577, 1578, and 1579, he sold sixscore acres of 
 wood by the arbitrament of the Lord Dyer and consent of 
 the tenants, and allowed two lopped and doated trees to each 
 acre; which he would justify to be an increase of wood: for 
 that for which he had received 300/. at the next fall (the 
 spring being kept) would be worth 500/. And that whereas 
 it was informed, that the sales of these woods amounted to 
 1000/. he shewed they came but to 600/. And in the whole, 
 he desired that it might be considered, that in these three 
 years he had paid, and must, to the Queen, 1800/. besides 
 his housekeeping, wherein he had threescore persons young 
 and old ; that he bought his fuel at Fulham wholly ; and 
 that at London and Harnsey he used coals, sparing wood, 
 which came to sixscore pounds yearly : in the whole, in 
 fuel eighteen score pounds. Moreover, the burning of his 
 house (at Harnsey, if I mistake not) put him to 200 mark 
 charges. And lastly, he was able to prove, that whereas 400 
 acres of wood were destroyed by his late predecessor, and 
 threescore more in his time, the see was the better by 100/. 
 a year. 
 
 Forbid to But, in short, this business of the wood still depended ; 
 more of bis ^ or ^ ^ n( ^ tnat aoout half a year after, the Queen sent her 
 wood. letters to the Bishop, and some others, to inquire into the 
 felling of those woods; to which the Bishop, with the others, 
 prepared their answer, and wanted only to know whether 
 they should direct their letters to the Queen immediately, 
 or to the Lord Treasurer, who might inform her Majesty 
 concerning their answer : and for direction herein the Bi- 
 shop craved the said Treasurer's advice. This ended at 
 length with a restraint from her Majesty, that the Bishop 
 hereafter should take down no more of his woods. 
 Endeavours Now also the business of dilapidations came on between 
 sion°fo™di- our Bishop and the Archbishop of York, his predecessor; 
 lapidations. wherein also the Archbishop of Canterburv, predecessor to 
 him of York, was involved. In the beginning of the year 
 1577 he had laboured to procure a Commission for that 
 end, and made use of Secretary Walsingham therein. The 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 4!) 
 
 Archbishop made his complaint to the said Secretary against CHAP. 
 
 Bishop Aylmer's proceedings, shewing the many good turns ' 
 
 he had done him ; and withal the good promises the said 
 Bishop had before his consecration made him, not to trou- 
 ble him in this regard. He also sent up his servant from 
 Bishopthorp, where he now was, to enter into reasonable 
 conditions with Bishop Aylmer, with which he made Wal- 
 singham privy ; who soon laboured with the Bishop in this 
 affair to bring things to an accommodation. But it could 
 not or would not be done ; and the reason was, because it 
 was not safe for him to put this suit to an end by arbitra- 
 tion ; which Walsingham was willing to take upon him, and 
 the Bishop declared himself to have been willing to leave it 
 to him ; but that for the security of his posterity it must be 
 decided by law : which the Bishop signified in his letter 
 written to him in May. 
 
 Therein he signified, " That he found himself marvel- His letters 
 " lously beholden to him for his good continuance and ready ^ta^f'" 
 " answers of his matters, that his man whom he sent unto 
 " him found at his hands. That the cause that moved him Par.erOtfiee. 
 " so earnestly to urge the commission for dilapidations was, 
 " that unless he had end by law, he and his executors could 
 " not be discharged ; which he was sure, if her Majesty un- 
 " derstood, she would grant him justice for his indemnity : 
 " otherwise he assured his Honour, he had as lief be without 
 " the bishopric, as to dwell still in that danger. That if it 
 " might be put in arbitrement, he minded to choose none 
 " but him, if he would give him [the Bishop] leave to be 
 " so bold with him." 
 
 Upon this they go to law. There is a book in the Paper He sues the 
 Office consisting of divers sheets of paper written in Latin, Arthb,sho P- 
 as it seems, of the Bishop's own penning, wherein he ar- 
 gued his own case ; and by his many quotations of the civil 
 law she wed himself very well studied therein. It was en- 
 titled his Allegations, beginning thus: 
 
 Ad decisionern prcesentis controversies prcemittendum est, 
 quod inter alia, qua: ad curam et solidtudinem providi et 
 vigikmtis pastoris pertinent, curare debent sacratissimi 
 
 E 
 
50 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP. Episcopi, ut Ecclesias Cathedrales, aliaque cedificia ad 
 Episcopatum spectantia, ah omni ruina et deformitate con- 
 servent, ut ruinosa rejiciant, diruta et collapsa restaurent. 
 Si enim in privatis cedificiis deformitas omnis vitanda est, 
 ac Reipublicas intersit, ne civitas minis deformetur, (ut C. 
 de JEdificiis privatis L. ii. et F. nequid in loco publico. L. 
 ultima, et ex. de Elect, c. fundamenta §. dig-no: libro vi.) 
 Multdque mag-is interest omnium, ut Ecclesice, quce in lio- 
 norem et cultum Dei Omnipotentis ac Jidelium Christi 
 consolationem ; ubi Christi Jideles divina audire, et Sa- 
 cramenta percipere solent, ah omni deformitatis et mince 
 lube conserventur, ut notant doctores in c. 1. ex. de Ecclesiia 
 cedificandis, Sfc. 
 
 There is also in the same place another book in Latin, 
 wherein he learnedly labours to confute the witnesses that 
 the two Archbishop's defendants brought to prove the edi- 
 fices were left in sufficient repair when they were translated. 
 The conclusion of which paper ran thus: Ex quibus omni- 
 bus manifeste patet, non esse, [invalidas] out insuffu ientcs 
 Londinensis Episcopi probationes, sed debile ct uifu mum 
 esse illud subterfugium in re tarn manifesta, et omnium 
 oculis objecta, probationes nostras tanquam minus conclu- 
 dentes arguere : cum tamen illi non probaverint se ea Je- 
 cisse quae facere debebant; et proinde eorum culpa hcec con- 
 tigisse prcBSumatur. Juxta L. qui non facit. F. de regulis 
 juris. 
 
 The charge In the year 1580, a new review was appointed to be 
 pidationl* taken of the dilapidations, when they amounted to about 
 16021. that is much more than they were when the first view 
 was taken, anno 1577; the charge being then but 1200/. 
 The suit held till 1584, when our Bishop obtained a favour- 
 able sentence : and then the Archbishop of York's last plea 
 was to get the sentence qualified, and to lay part of the bur- 
 den upon the executors of Archbishop Grindal, lately de- 
 ceased. 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 51 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 An eartliquake occasions the Bishop to compose certain 
 prayers. He visits. His business with the Lord Rich. 
 His device about appointment of preachers. His counsel 
 for filling the see of Bath and Wells, and other sees: 
 
 There happened, April the 6th, in the year 1580, an An eartli- 
 earthquake in London and the parts adjacent, and farther quake- 
 off. Camden, in his History of Queen Elizabeth, writes 
 of it, that it was about six in the even, the air clear and 
 calm, in England on this side York, and in the Nether- 
 lands, almost as high as Colen ; when the earth in a mo- 
 ment fell a trembling in such a manner, that in some places 
 stones fell down from buildings, and the bells in the steeples 
 struck against the clappers, and the sea, that was then calm, 
 vehemently tossed and moved to and fro; and the night 
 following the ground in Kent trembled two or three days : 
 and the like again happened May the 1st, in the dead time of 
 the night. The Bishop of London was piously sensible of 
 this, and willing to take this opportunity to call the people 
 to repentance, that such a terrible providence might have a 
 due effect upon them. And indeed this earthquake, together 
 with the present apprehension of the nation's enemies, made 
 a mighty impression upon men's hearts. The Bishop speed- Frames 
 ily upon this, while the matter was warm, and the people ti^oc™- 
 affected with fear and horror, framed prayers to be used in sion - 
 public through his diocese on this occasion; having also 
 some instructions from the Lord Treasurer, by the Queen's 
 order, for the same ; who signified, that she would not have 
 any solemn matter made of it ; meaning not to have a day 
 set apart through the kingdom for it ; but yet some serious 
 notice to be taken of it in the public devotions. In com- 
 pliance with which, the Bishop had composed the prayers 
 aforesaid without any special psalms ; but the psalms to be 
 read according to the common order. The Lord Treasurer, 
 a grave and pious man, signified his mind to the Bishop ra- 
 e 2 
 
58 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP, ther for some more solemn observation of a day ; or at 
 V " least that all things should be done, as much as might be, 
 to the capacity and edifying of the people. But the Bishop 
 in answer, first thanking God for this Lord's care of so im- 
 portant a thing as the people's spiritual benefit, did never- 
 theless take leave to dissent from him for the keeping of a 
 national day; hecause the state of the time considered, toge- 
 ther with the malice of the enemies, who commonly (though 
 falsely) upbraided the English Protestants, that they never 
 fasted, and seldom prayed ; he held it requisite, without 
 farther delay, to give some order and direction to stir up the 
 people to devotion, and to turn away God's wTath threat- 
 ened hy the earthquake. B u t the compiling of a new form 
 of prayer would ask a longer time ; and therefore he 
 thought it would do more good, if the form already fin- 
 ished were followed ; especially for that the people was then 
 much moved with the present warning: but their nature 
 was such as commonly to make these things but a nine days' 
 wonder : adding, CUo arcscit lacryma ; i. e. A tear soon 
 dries up; and that he might say, multo elfins indole icit ani- 
 mus ; i. e. much sooner does the mind wear off its grief : 
 that it were therefore necessary, that things of this nature 
 should be done out of hand : but yet concluding, that wliat 
 should seem best to his Lordship he was ready to follow. 
 But we return to his dealings with his Clergy. 
 
 A visitation. In the year 1580 c he instituted an episcopal visitation, 
 which began August 16th, in London; and in the month of 
 November ensuing were divers articles exhibited by the 
 Archdeacon, to be inquired by the ministers, church-war- 
 dens, and sworn men of every parish within the archdea- 
 conry of London; in all the diocese also, in places as well 
 exempt as not exempt, according to the special direction of 
 certain letters, sent to the Bishop from the Lords of the 
 Queen's Privy Council : which articles were as follow, and 
 respected chiefly the Laity, Sectaries, and Papists. 
 
 Imprimis, Whether there be any in your parish that do 
 
 c See Additions, Numb. III. 
 
BISHOP AYLMElt. 
 
 53 
 
 refuse to conform themselves in matters of religion, and to C H A P. 
 come to their own parish church, and refuse the Commu- V " 
 nion; and what be their names, and of what condition or Ai tides to 
 estate they are. „f. 
 
 Item, How long they have refused so to do. 
 
 Item, How many of their wives, children, servants, or 
 others, sojourning and abiding in their houses, do likewise 
 refuse so to do ; and what be their names and surnames ; 
 and how long they have so done. 
 
 Item, For what cause they have refused so to do. 
 
 Item, Of what yearly living in England, or other value 
 of substance or goods, are these principal persons thought 
 to be, in truth and in deed, and not as they be stinted in the 
 suliMclv book. 
 
 Item, Whether any one or more of them have been now 
 already committed to any prison for such recusancy. 
 
 Memorandum, This inquisition not to extend to any 
 other than such as do obstinately refuse to come to their 
 parish church, and there to receive the Communion. 
 
 This inquisition seems to have been set on foot upon the Chiefly for 
 intelligence of the increase of Papists. For those crafty emis- 1>a '" sts - 
 saries of Rome took this opportunity to reconcile as many 
 as they could to the pretended unity of the Church, while 
 the eyes of the State were chiefly upon the dissenting bre- 
 thren, of whom it had a great jealousy about this time. 
 
 Therefore from henceforth both sorts were equally looked City Minis- 
 unto; and in the month of January 1581, there was a call *g r a s il , lted 
 of the City Ministers, to make inquiry what sons of English 
 gentlemen and others, or what servants were now beyond 
 seas, and to what ends they went ; whether as scholars, or 
 factors, or otherwise. And the same month, namely, Ja- And again, 
 nuary 29th, there was another call of them into the consis- 
 tory by the Bishop of London and ecclesiastical Commis- 
 sioners ; when these injunctions and inquiries were given 
 forth. 1. No invectives to be used of or against estates: 
 [that is, this or other kingdoms, or potentates: some preach- 
 ers, as it seems, being now-a-days very liberal of their 
 speeches both against France and Spain.] 2. None to re- 
 f. 3 
 
54 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP, fuse the wearing of the surplice. 3. That there be no di- 
 ' minishing or altering the service. 4. Inquiry to be made 
 who did not celebrate the Sacraments together with their 
 preaching; doing the one, but wholly omitting the other. 
 5. Also, who made alteration in the rites required to be 
 used in Baptism. 6. Who did not catechize the youth. 
 7. The seventh article related to contentious preachers,- who 
 scandalously gave others the name of dumb dogs. 8. The 
 last related to such as utterly refused to read the Homilies. 
 The Bishop at this assembly shewed himself somewhat ear- 
 nest, and said, he would surely and severely punish the of- 
 fenders in these points, or / zcill lie, said he, in the dust 
 for it. 
 
 Contends He had a long and troublesome business with a certain 
 Lord Rich, nobleman, a great favourer of the Puritans. It was the 
 a Puritan. L or cl Rich, who about the years 1580 and 1581, had ex- 
 ercises of religion after their way in his house in Essex, one 
 Wright being the preacher ; who seems to have been the 
 same Wright with him of Trinity College in Cambridge, 
 and tutor to the Earl of Essex, both before and at his being 
 at the University ; a sister of which Earl the said Lord 
 Rich had married. These meetings in this Lord's house 
 the Bishop being informed of, opposed and forbade, and by 
 the power he had endeavoured to stop. In his father's 
 time, the former Lord Rich, the Bishop had many storms 
 from him upon the same account : and now his son conti- 
 nued the same practices in his house. This was come by 
 this time to the Queen's ear ; that is, that there were dis- 
 orders practised in Essex, and particularly in that Peer's 
 house ; which she angrily took notice of to the Lord Trea- 
 surer : of which he acquainted the Bishop, and withal, that 
 it was her order and command to him, to take notice of those 
 unlawful exercises, and forbid them. The Bishop took this 
 opportunity, that the Queen might know what troubles he 
 underwent in this her service, by the answer he made to the 
 Treasurer's letters ; therein desiring and entreating that 
 Lord to signify to her Majesty, that he had many great 
 storms with the late Lord Rich ; and that now latelv the 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 55 
 
 present Lord Rich, and his bastard uncle, and another, CHAP. 
 
 aforesaid Wright to preach in his diocese ; but this the Bi- 
 shop utterly denied to do, unless he would subscribe to the 
 orders of this Church. But that Lord's aforesaid uncle did 
 hereupon so shake him up, that he said he was never so 
 abused at any man's hands since he was born. For which 
 he was minded to commit him, as great a person as he was, 
 but that there were not three Commissioners together to do 
 it according to the authority of the Commission : but deter- 
 mined that he [the Bishop] and some of the rest would call 
 him at their first sitting in the term ; for lie considered, the 
 Queen's chief Commissioner was not so contemptuously to 
 be treated for saving the honour of the Princess herself ; 
 and our Prelate's spirit was as great as the greatest. 
 
 He then gave the Lord Rich warning, that he followed 
 not his uncle's counsel in those matters ; and that if he did, 
 he must needs make her Majesty acquainted with it ; and 
 so he meant to do. 
 
 His endeavour next was to get Wright their preacher. Wright his 
 But him he could not come by, unless he sent a power of P reacher- 
 men to fetch him out of a nobleman's house ; for he had 
 charged both father and son to send him unto him ; and 
 they promised they would, but never did. Therefore, seeing 
 they of the Commission had done as far as their said Com- 
 mission gave them leave, he hoped her Majesty woidd think 
 the best of their doings, and not suffer them to be defaced 
 by such busy-bodies; or be grieved with them, the Com- 
 missioners, for not doing that which their authority reached 
 not unto. Two years he had been thus struggling with 
 them : but he told the Treasurer, that unless they should 
 pull Wright out by the ears, he knew not how thev should 
 come by him. These things were by the said Treasurer 
 communicated to the Queen ; and so the Bishop desired they 
 might in his own vindication. 
 
 This business made such a noise, and the Queen so irri 5-jJ ' l, f e ^ e c °, me 
 tated, that it seems Mr. Rich and Mr. Wright aforesaid, Commis- 
 cxam 
 E 4 
 
5i 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP, sioners in the month of October, not long after the fore- 
 X ' mentioned reneounter with the Bishop, which happened in 
 September ; and the Lord Burghley himself, perhaps by 
 the Queen's special order, was present. In November they 
 had these men again before the Bishop and Commission. At 
 this second appearance great proofs were brought against 
 them [i. c. Rich and Wright] concerning their speech about 
 solemnizing the Queen's day, viz. November the 17th ; 
 against Wright, for asking if they would make it an holy 
 day, and so make our Queen an idol : and against Rich, 
 for soothing and maintaining, in very great earnest, the same 
 speeches, and others like to them. For this cause, and for 
 rejecting the book, and many other disorders, the Bishop 
 with the rest of the Commissioners sitting the 7th of No- 
 vember, committed them both ; Wright to the Fleet, and 
 Rich to the Marshalsea : and one Dix, another very disor- 
 dered man, and a violent innovator, (as the Bishop charac- 
 tered him,) was sent to the Gate-house : that he there, and 
 Wright in the Fleet, might exercise their learning against 
 the Papists who lay in those prisons, which hitherto they 
 had broached against their brethren, and against the State. 
 Writes to And having proceeded thus far, the Bishop thought good, 
 ronceming ^ or n ^ s bett er safety in case of false informers, to tell his 
 his doings, tale to the Queen herself in a letter from him and the rest 
 of the Commissioners ; which he did in January following : 
 and that for these reasons, as he signified to the Lord Trea- 
 surer, who seemed not so well to have approved of it, since 
 the Bishop had before desired this Lord to acquaint the 
 Queen with it. First, because the Lord Chancellor had 
 said, it were better it should be known farther. Secondly, 
 he understood the Queen knew of it, and had thought that 
 she had heard nothing before of it as from him. Thirdlv, 
 because it chiefly touched her. Wherefore he and the rest 
 thought good to make her privy to it. 
 Wright ^ l n f] nej ]\f r . Wright, having lain in the Gate-house till 
 xription. September 1582, became willing to subscribe to two arti- 
 cles ; viz. to his good allowance of the ministry of the 
 Church of England, and to the Book of Common Prayer. 
 
BISHOP AYLMER 
 
 63 
 
 Yet one thing more the Bishop required of him ; which CHAP, 
 was, that some of his friends should be bound for him in a ' 
 good round sum, that from henceforth he should neither 
 commit in act, nor preach any thing contrary to the same : 
 and then the Bishop did not mislike that he should have 
 farther favour, so that the Queen were made privy there- 
 unto, whom this offence did chiefly concern. 
 
 Our Bishop was instrumental, anno 1-581, in setting on His dt-rice 
 foot a verv useful practice in London : namely, that a num- P reatl) - 
 ber of learned, sound preachers might be appointed to preach 
 on set times before great assemblies ; chieflv, I suppose, for 
 the Paul's Cross sermons ; their pains to be spent mainly in 
 confirming the people's judgments in the doctrine and dis- 
 cipline of the present established Church, so much struck 
 at and undermined bv many in these times ; and for the 
 encouragement hereof certain contributions to be made, and 
 settled on them bv the city. This motion was so approved 
 of at Court, and by the Queen especially, that Mr. Beal, a 
 clerk of the Council, was sent from aljove to the Bishop, 
 bringing with him certain notes and articles for the more 
 particular ordering of this business, which he and the eccle- 
 siastical Commissioners were to lay before the Mayor and 
 Aldermen. Sir John Branch was then Mayor ; who, it 
 seems, with the Aldermen, did not much like this motion, 
 for the standing charge it must put the city to. For after 
 much expectation, the Mayor gave the Bishop answer, that 
 his brethren thought it a matter of much difficulty, and al- 
 most of impossibility aJso. Notwithstanding, to draw them 
 to this good purpose, the Bishop had appointed divers con- 
 ferences with them ; but after all concluded, (and so he sig- 
 nified to the Lord Treasurer,) that unless the Lords wrote 
 directly unto them, to let them know it was the Queen's 
 pleasure, and theirs, little would be done in it ; and so a 
 good design overthrown by the might of mammon, as he ex- 
 pressed it. But withal he offered that himself and the rest 
 would, if it pleased them above, proceed farther and do 
 what they could, thinking it pity so good a purpose shoidd 
 
58 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP, be hindered, where there was so much ability to main- 
 v - tain it. 
 
 His grave The see of Bath and Wells was now in November 1581 
 supplying vo ^ tne death of Gilbert Barklay, aged eighty years ; 
 vacant sees, who by reason of his great age, and the affliction of a le- 
 thargy, could not be so diligent as was requisite in so large 
 a diocese, and so inclined to superstition and the Papal reli- 
 gion; which grew the more for want of episcopal inspection, 
 and frequent good instruction. At the same time the dio- 
 cese of Norwich bent much towards innovation, and har- 
 boured such as taught disobedience to the orders of the 
 Church ; which our Bishop, being a Norfolk man born, the 
 more laid to heart. For these causes at this time he se- 
 riously bethought himself, how these things might be sea- 
 sonably remedied by fit Bishops ; and that the Queen's and 
 the Treasurer's consciences might be well discharged in this 
 work of setting governors over the flock of Christ, he in a 
 very grave and bishop-like manner expressed his mind to 
 the said Treasurer in this affair, urging it closely upon him 
 not to neglect so necessary a matter, as he would give ac- 
 count to God for it : advising therefore that Cooper, the 
 Bishop of Lincoln, a learned and active man, might be 
 translated to Bath and Wells ; Freke of Norwich, less fit 
 for that place, to go to Lincoln ; Young, a good governor, 
 Bishop of Rochester, to be removed to Norwich ; and the 
 Dean of Westminster, Dr. Goodman, a man excellently 
 qualified, to succeed to Rochester, to be held hi commaidum 
 with the deanery. And with what good reasons lie backed 
 this his advice, and what deference and yet becoming gra- 
 vity he joined witli it, will appear to him that reads his 
 letter. Thus therefore he accosts that great counsellor : 
 
 His letter " Right Honourable and my singular good Lord. For- 
 surer'for** " asmuc h as I am in conscience persuaded, that no man 
 that pur- " next to her Majesty hath a greater care for the furnishing 
 p0Se ' " of the Church of Christ with able men, especially to be 
 " Bishops, than you have ; nor any man more able to dis- 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 59 
 
 " cern and judge of meet or unmeet persons for such rooms, CHAP. 
 
 " both for your long experience in the Commonwealth, and V " 
 
 " for that rare learning that God hath endued you with ; 
 
 " therefore, as one wishing that the best jewels may be 
 
 " sought out for the garnishing of Christ's Church, I 
 
 " thought good to call upon you, (though I need not,) and 
 
 " to put you in remembrance of that I know you never for- 
 
 " get, (unless it be through your great and infinite business,) 
 
 " that it may please you to have a special eye to the be- 
 
 " stowing of the bishopric of Bath and Wells ; wherein I 
 
 " will not prescribe, but shew what I wish, to the discharge 
 
 " of her Majesty's conscience, which I know of itself herein 
 
 " is tender, and godly, careful for the great advancement of 
 
 " God's glory, and the profit of his Church. Methink 
 
 " therefore (pardon me, my good Lord) it were good, if 
 
 " Lincoln were removed to Bath ; where, for lack of a learned 
 
 " man, reigneth great ignorance ; and Norwich (who shall 
 
 " never be able to do any great good where he is) to Lin- 
 
 " coin, where the diocese is well settled ; and Rochester to 
 
 " Norwich ; who for his quickness in government, and his 
 
 " readiness in learning, is the fittest man for that country 
 
 " that I know ; and especially to bridle the innovators, not 
 
 " by authority only, but also by weight of argument : and 
 
 " then to his place Mr. Dean of Westminster, a man every 
 
 " way very fit for tiny good place ; who having his deanery 
 
 " in commendam, might marvellous well serve her Majesty 
 
 " in the room of the Almoner, who now I know, even upon 
 
 " conscience, would be glad to be with his flock. And so I 
 
 " think all places would be sufficiently provided, and your 
 
 " conscience discharged ; to whom I am persuaded the due 
 
 " looking to this matter specially appertaineth, because you 
 
 " are learned and zealous. 
 
 " Therefore in God's behalf, my good Lord, look to it ; 
 " for truly God will require an account of your omission at 
 " your hands. Thus hoping you will forgive me this bold- 
 " ness, I take my leave, most humbly praying God to bless 
 " you many years in this State ; that we all thereby may 
 
60 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP. " continue to taste of the wonted blessings which God hath 
 V ' " poured upon us by her Majesty's ministry, and your 
 " Christian vigilancy. 
 
 " Your good Lordship's humbly to command, 
 
 « JOHN LONDON^ 
 
 " From my house by Paul's, 
 " November 28, 1581. 
 
 But all this good plot of the Bishop came to nothing : 
 and notwithstanding this serious incitement, this bishopric 
 laid vacant for almost three years after, (a thing sometimes 
 practised in this Queen's reign, I will not say for the sake 
 of the temporalities,) and then Dr. Goodwin, Dean of Can- 
 terbury, was preferred to it. 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 Tlw Bishop's care about tlic Commission. Labours a re- 
 move to Eli/. 
 
 Several pu- At the commitment of Rich, W right, and Dix, before 
 "^^^J^j mentioned, were present the Bishop, Sir Owen Hopton, 
 ty- Dr. Clark, Dean of the Arches, Dr. Walker, and Dr. 
 
 Lewen; Dr. Lewis, Dr. Hammond, Mr. Mullins, Arch- 
 deacon of London, and other Commissioners, which ought 
 to have assisted, withdrew themselves ; which weakened 
 their proceedings. But at this sitting, some they had ad- 
 monished, and some suspended, (but not many,) till they 
 should shew themselves conformable in allowing the book. 
 Complains The Bishop observed how in these things, and such other 
 Commis- 8)8 he judged of importance, but odious, their colleagues did 
 sioners that sluink from them ; whereby those few that did assist grew 
 discouraged. He thought fit therefore to let the Lord 
 Treasurer know it, and interpose himself in it. He advised 
 that the Dean of the Arches, who was very active and as- 
 sistant, might be encouraged by his Lordship or the Queen; 
 especially having had little favour from the Court : and the 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 Others to be somewhat touclied by his letters for their ab- CHAP 
 sence. He feared thai within a while in such matters of . 
 displeasure, they should have but few to join with them. 
 The Recorder, Mr. Fleetwood, in the term-time seldom or 
 never came amongst them. He also propounded to have 
 some other able and courageous men to be joined with them, 
 as Dr. Dale, Dr. Forth, Civilians, and the Chancellor of 
 London. For he shewed how he saw that other men in 
 weighty matters slipped the collar. 
 
 At the aforesaid last sitting of the Commissioners they Apparitors 
 made an order, that the Archdeacons, Commissaries, and onsunda ys. 
 Officials, should send their Apparitors from place to place 
 every Sunday, to see what conformity was used in every 
 parish, and to certify. These proceedings the Bishop 
 prayed the Treasurer to impart to the Queen for her better 
 satisfaction, and to understand farther her pleasure in the 
 same. "Which he thought would not be amiss to be done. 
 
 In the midst of their business in the month of December The Lord 
 1581, that the Bishop and his colleagues might not do any se ™.ht U cau- 
 thino- to create more displeasure against them and their ,ions to tl,e 
 
 ° . . ■ o . Bishop. 
 
 Commission, and that there might be no occasion of appeal- 
 ing from them, the Lord Burghley sent Dr. Lewis, Master 
 of the Bequests, to the Bishop, to advise him not to meddle 
 with many matters, by virtue of their Commission, but sucli 
 only as concerned religion. Which direction, mixed with 
 so much wisdom and moderation, and proceeding from so 
 great a counsellor, the Bishop received in very good part ; 
 and to demonstrate what a grateful sense he had of it, he 
 despatched his mind in these words, viz. 
 
 " That he agreed with his Lordship in judgment, as one His answer 
 '• by whom he had ever desired to be directed, and would thereu P° ni 
 " be still, if it pleased him to grant him that favour that he 
 " might. For his wisdom, zeal, experience, learning, and 
 " godliness, (he thanked God,) he accounted to be such, 
 " and himself in all such so mean, that he would think him- 
 " self happy to be directed by him. And therefore my 
 " good Lord (as he added) do but let me in sucli points 
 " know your pleasure, and by God's grace I shall be as 
 
THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP. " ready to accomplish it as any whosoever either love you 
 VI " " or lionour you. And so the Lord pour his rich blessings 
 " upon you and yours to his glory, 11 &c. 
 The Bishop Jt was s tiU the Bishop that moved this body, the rest 
 !tay g o7 the being ready to slip away from the work, had not he still 
 Commis- appeared, and acted vigorously, and carried the Commis- 
 sioners along with him. For he was absent but once by 
 reason of a pain in his eyes, and there was no sitting, to the 
 great murmuring and charges of the suitors. The civil 
 lawyers that were of the Commission neglected the public, 
 and looked after their private affairs, where their gains most 
 lay. But the Dean of the Arches, and Hopton, who was 
 Lieutenant of the Tower, continued verv diligent. And 
 the Bishop on these considerations moved the Lord Trea- 
 surer to write a letter to the Registrar, a little to touch the 
 slackness of the Commissioners, naming none, and giving 
 some commendations unto Dr. Clark and Sir Owen Hopton, 
 who onlv were painful. And that his Lordship would here- 
 by greatly farther the service. 
 The success And indeed by his diligence and patience he was a great 
 o l. pams. ; nstrument> m obedience to the Queen, to quell and take 
 down these men, who set themselves against the ecclesiasti- 
 cal order, notwithstanding all their endeavours and interest 
 at Court against him : which he remembered to the Lord 
 Treasurer as a good office that he had done, for which the 
 Queen, he reckoned, ought to favour him, and not to give 
 ear to every information given against him and the Com- 
 missioners ; but to consider into what peaceable tranquillity 
 God, by his poor service, as he said, had brought not only 
 London, and the whole diocese, but also the most part 
 of England, since he came to that place : whereby he had, 
 as he thought in his conscience, rather deserved her gra- 
 cious favour than discouragement. For on the other side 
 he expressed how he was hated like a dog, and was called 
 the oppressor of the children of God. 
 Meets with By this it appears that he laboured at this time under some 
 Court" at tUscoun tenance at Court, the Puritans commonly raising a 
 dust there against the Bishops that favoured them not. 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 as 
 
 A \ liner had indeed a cause depending now before the CHAP. 
 Queen and Council, upon some complaint as it seems for V 
 a pretended injuring of the revenues of the bishopric by 
 felling great quantities of wood. This was in the year 
 1581, these accusations were mixed with much falsehood, 
 creating him great trouble. But the Lord Burghley here 
 stood his friend to the Queen, and stuck to him heartily. 
 Which kindness of his so overcame the Bishop, that he 
 could not sufficiently express his gratitude ; writing thus to 
 him ; " My good Lord, I cannot but honour you for car- 
 " rying yourself with so great equity before her Majesty in 
 
 my late cause. You have so won my heart, (though God 
 " is my witness you had it before,) that you shall be the 
 " man to whom I will trust, (under God,) whom I will only 
 " choose for my judge in all cases, and honour as my most 
 " noble friend at all times ; and in some part be thankful, 
 " as I may, but never as you deserve." Thus did this good 
 man's soul run out, as though it had been melted down with 
 the seasonable kindness of this noble person; whose up- 
 rightness was such, that he used not to favour any, but 
 those whose innocency or other circumstances required it. 
 
 But the Bishop plainly saw how liable he was to these Labours a 
 troubles while he remained Bishop of London, and how remove ' 
 subject to the inconvenience of slanderous tongues and ma- 
 licious informations, which had too much ear at Court. 
 The labour and attendance also of the Commission was too 
 heavy for him, now become old. Wherefore he endeavoured 
 long for a remove to another diocese : which he had been 
 harping upon ever since the year 1579 : for then he was 
 earnest with the Lord Treasurer to procure him a transla- 
 tion either to Ely or Winchester. But because the former 
 hung upon uncertain points, (Bishop Cox of Ely being yet 
 alive, and there being a design to take away some of the 
 revenues of that see, to which the Bishop incumbent was 
 to agree,) therefore he chose to decline that ; and disclosed 
 his wishes unto the Treasurer, that Dr. Day, the present 
 Bishop of Winchester, might be removed to London, and 
 he in his room to Winchester ; and that his Lordship should 
 
THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP, find him as thankful as any that ever received benefit at his 
 Vl " hands. And that being so near lie might assist the Bishop 
 of London, which peradventure would be some ease to him, 
 and not unprofitable for the ecclesiastical government, 
 lie hath the But afterward his eye lay chiefly upon Ely, (the change 
 Ely. with Winchester it seems not being to be expected.) He 
 had in the languishing time of Cox, Bishop of that see, 
 made interest with the Lord Treasurer to be invested in it, 
 when the present incumbent should die. And as for this 
 suit which the Treasurer made for our Bishop, the Queen 
 granted it : and so Secretary Walsingham told him. There- 
 fore the good Bishop of Ely being dead, two days after his 
 death, that is, July 24, 1581, the Bishop despatched a letter 
 to his before-mentioned friend at Court to promote now his 
 remove, having certain news of Cox's departure. " And he 
 " thought fit now, as he wrote, to remind him, that as by 
 " his Lordship's only means he had at her Majesty's hands 
 " then a yea, so by some sinister working her gracious fa- 
 " vour were not turned into a nay. He added, that he 
 " would not seek the place as he did, but that he found in 
 " himself some imperfection in body and mind, being then 
 " homo sexagcnarius : and that he found in himself, that 
 " within a short time he should never answer her Majesty's 
 " expectation, nor his own conscience, in that place of ser- 
 " vice which hitherto had been so tedious, that he hoped 
 " her Majesty even of justice would recompense him, though 
 " not with gain, yet with ease in these his crooked years/ 1 
 
 It was about this time that the Queen was in the mind to 
 remove him to Worcester, and in his room to have preferred 
 Dr. Richard Bancroft, Archbishop Whitgift's Chaplain, an 
 active man, and made much use of in the ecclesiastical Com- 
 mission. But whatever the matter was, this came to no- 
 thing. 
 
 Solicits his He continued soliciting this business till April 1582, a hen 
 n-uiove to j le lj e gg ec l Q f t ne aforesaid Lord a remove upon account of 
 his age, and the greatness of the business of London, much 
 fitter for a younger man than he. The said Nobleman had 
 stirred in this business for him; and now he entreated him 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 65 
 
 that he would finish that which he had so favourably hi- CHAP, 
 therto followed ; desirous to be delivered of this heavy bur- VI ' 
 den, as he called it, of London. The bishopric of Ely had 
 been now void for a pretty long time ; which he was con- 
 tented to succeed into. He desired now in the beginning of 
 the year, that the business might be finished, since he once 
 had the Queen's promise for it. He pleaded, now was the 
 time for him to settle himself for his provision either here 
 or there : which must at this time be considered of both for 
 the successor's commodity, and his own. He added, how 
 this ensuing summer would much hinder the state of that 
 living, both the parks and elsewhere. And he heard that 
 great swarms both of Papists and of the family of love did 
 daily increase there, for lack of one to look unto such dis- 
 orders. But alas ! these were not sufficient reasons to fill 
 that vacant see while there wanted not men about the 
 Queen that suggested to her the ample revenues of it. And 
 Bishop Aylmer seemed not to be for their turn ; that is, to 
 submit to the alienation of some of the lands and lordships 
 of it. So that however he called this his long looked for 
 suit, and thought it now upon a despatch, yet he was de- 
 ceived. 
 
 But still he gave it not over; for in October the next Solicits 
 year I find him labouring: with the Treasurer in the same aga ! n the 
 
 » » next year. 
 
 cause: who furthered it again with the Queen, and got 
 some good probability of it. So that the Bishop hung in 
 suspense, and could not settle to make his provisions in any 
 place. He pleaded again his years; and that that place 
 of London had need of a younger man than he was. And 
 at last he was so near his desired remove, that his conge 
 dclirc seemed only deferred a little, because he was con- 
 cerned in a commission for the reparation of Paul's, which 
 by his departure thence might probably receive some hin- 
 drance ; and because the Queen's audit for the temporalities 
 of that bishopric of Ely was at hand. But the Bishop an- 
 swered, that as for the first, the action would follow his 
 person ; and that it was to be answered at Ely as well as at 
 London. And as to the second, that the audit would be 
 
 F 
 
06 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP, past before he could do his homage; and so the conge 
 V1 " (Telire could not be hindrance to that. But this business 
 still stuck ; and finally came to nothing. 
 
 Fed with However he was always fed with hope to succeed at last ; 
 
 hope ' calling it therefore his long- lingering hope. For in June 
 1585, the Lord Treasurer sent him word by a certain Lord, 
 that he had it in his mind and purpose to purchase him 
 some more ease in his old years ; adding many favourable 
 speeches concerning him. Which revived again in him the 
 sense of this great man's honourable countenance towards 
 him ever since he came to that restless see, or eurfpus, as 
 he chose to call his bishopric, and the constant continuance 
 of his favour and furtherance in that long lingering hope of 
 his, which his Lordship and some other of his friends had 
 divers times set on foot for him. 
 
 Troubled It was mentioned a little above, that our Bishop had a 
 
 fnforaiers uusmess depending at Court, concerning some complaint 
 made against him for embezzling his woods. Which was 
 the second time these informations were made to the Coun- 
 cil or Star-chamber against him. Of which nevertheless he 
 had a discharge ; and the Lord Treasurer shewed himself 
 therein his greatest friend. The great informer now against 
 him was one Litchfield, a Court musician, who was the in- 
 former of cutting down of the elms in Fulham. But the 
 Bishop was so confident of his own innocency in this busi- 
 ness, that he prayed the Lord Treasurer, that he would 
 procure that he might answer any adversary he had : and 
 he doubted not but he should clear himself. Indeed for 
 his lewd officers, which he had then in suit, he could not so 
 well answer. The woods in the park were better than they 
 were before his time. And for the out woods he did his 
 best (both by suit of law, and by diligent looking to them) 
 to meet with the outrage of the borderers ; who indeed had 
 sought to spoil them, so much as in them lay. And in 
 truth a great share of that timber that had been felled since 
 his time was done by the woodwards : who having by his 
 predecessor a large grant of fees by the name of dead trees, 
 starveling trees, sear trees, and such as were in decay, car- 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 67 
 
 lied away all the timber there. For as he, since her Ma- CHAP, 
 jesty's restraint, had not felled nor sold one tree, so under 
 the terms aforesaid the woodwards had carried away above 
 an hundred, which were good timber trees. For indeed 
 there were few or no timber trees then within his parks, but 
 either sear, starveling, or half dead. Therefore by the ri- 
 gour of his patent the woodward should have all, and the 
 Bishop none, by reason of the prohibition : whereas neither 
 law nor conscience, as the Bishop himself argued, could 
 otherwise interpret his grant, than that he should have fire- 
 wood only, and no timber. But the Bishop had not only this 
 wrong done him, but all was laid upon his neck, though it 
 were other men's faults. So that in fine he desired to come 
 to his answer against any man that should take upon him 
 to charge him. And as for Litchfield, in truth he wanted 
 twenty timber trees, and requested them of the Bishop. 
 But the Bishop refused to give them : which if he had 
 granted, as he plainly told the Treasurer, it would have 
 ended all this matter. But this man soon after died. 
 
 He it was that blazed abroad the report of the Bishop's The elms in 
 felling of the elms about the palace at Fulham : but it was Fulham - 
 a shameful untruth. And how false it was, all the Court Admoni- 
 knew, and the Queen herself could witness. For she had p^ptetf* 
 lately lodged at the palace there ; where she misliked no- England, 
 thing, but that her lodgings were kept from all good pros-T^Que,,! 
 pect by the thickness of the trees, as she told her Vice- lodges at 
 Chamberlain ; and he reported so to the Bishop. And Dr. Fulham - 
 Pern, Dean of Ely, being at a great man's table soon after, 
 and hearing much railing discourse against the Bishop for 
 his felling the elms at Fulham, asked one of the company, 
 being an ancient lawyer, how long the elms at Fulham had 
 been felled ; " Some half a year ago", said the lawyer. " Then 
 replied Pern, " they are marv ellously grown in that time. 
 " For I assure you, I was there within these four days, and 
 " they seem to be two hundred years old." And then he 
 took occasion likewise to repeat the passage mentioned be- 
 fore, how the Queen complained of her prospect hindered 
 by the trees. And therefore that storv that commonlv 
 f 2 
 
G8 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP, went, and is mentioned by Martin Marprelate, and Sir 
 V1 ' J ohn Harrington, is false : namely, that Madox should tell 
 Brief view, the Bishop, that his name was Elmar, but it might well be 
 Mar-elm, for that he had marred all the elms in Fulham. 
 For Madox, who dwelt at Fulham, well knew that the 
 elms were not felled at all: or perhaps but two or three 
 of the decayed ones. Which might give umbrage to the 
 clamour. 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 
 The Bishop celebrates the 17th of November. Slandered. 
 Papists have mass in prison. Goes his visitation. Sus- 
 pends one HucMe. Suit with his predecessor for dilapi- 
 dations. Thomas Cartwright taken up. 
 
 BlJT now let us look a little back, and observe some of 
 the Bishop's doings in the dispensation of his office, and in 
 other matters that befell him in the years 1583, 1584, and 
 1585. 
 
 TheQueen's I n the year 1583, the Queen's day, that is, the 17th of 
 ntJedat 1 " November, fell on a Sunday : which the Bishop resolved to 
 Paul's. celebrate with all the becoming solemnity that so great a 
 mercy as her access to the crown deserv ed. Therefore he 
 obtained the favour of Whitgift, Archbishop of Canterbury, 
 to preach that day at St. Paul's ; and that the great Lords 
 of the Court might honour the auditory with their presence, 
 he invited them after the sermon to dine Avith him ; virs. the 
 Lord Chancellor, and the Lord Treasurer Burghley, the 
 Earl of Leicester, and other great personages. 
 His enemies j n the beginning of November divers of the Council de- 
 sired to speak with the Bishop, that they might be better 
 informed about his matter, (that is, somewhat that his ene- 
 mies had accused him of.) And in the issue he found at 
 their Lordships' hands great justice with honourable favour : 
 and so came off with much reputation. But, however, this 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 09 
 
 appearance before the Counsellors gave occasion to the fac- CHAP, 
 turn to boast, and to bruit abroad that the Bishop of Lon-____ 
 don was called before the Council, and there chidden, and 
 what not ; as though this had been in respect of his severe 
 actings in the Commission. However false this was, the 
 Bishop, being a man of a stout and somewhat hasty spirit, 
 was inwardly vexed; and thought this talk arose partly 
 from his being before so many of the Council ; which made 
 the matter look somewhat criminal on his side. Therefore Hjs^ request 
 for the future, to prevent any such surmises, he prayed the 
 Lord Burghley, that hereafter, if there should be occasion, 
 he might be called before him, and some one of the Coun- 
 cil; or else he must, as he said in some heat, with their 
 good Lordships' 1 favour, give over sitting in the Commis- 
 sion : and moreover wished earnestly that the Archbishop 
 were in the Commission ; for he, for his part, was deadly 
 weary. Accordingly the Commission was renewed in De- 
 cember, and the Archbishop put in to help to bear the 
 burden. 
 
 The Bishop was troubled at this time with Popish Priests Papists in 
 and Jesuits, who lay in the prisons in and about London, ven'many" 
 and especially the Marshalsea ; being now replenished with 
 these dangerous underminers of the quiet state of the realm, 
 and disowners of the Queen's supremacy. These, though 
 by the laws they were liable to the death of traitors, yet the 
 Queen cared not to spill their blood, but rather to keep 
 them up in restraint from doing mischief abroad, by their 
 massing and suggesting evil counsels against religion and 
 the Queen's just authority. But though they were thus in 
 hold, under an easy confinement, they followed their ap- 
 pointed business, commonly saying mass, and enticing the 
 youth of London unto them, to the Bishop's great grief 
 when he understood it ; and especially that they were daily 
 reconciled. One of these, named Hartly, was more busy 
 than the rest ; whom he therefore shut up, and laid irons 
 upon him, till he should hear from above what course to 
 take hereafter in this matter. 
 
 Our Bishop's triennial visitation happened this year, 1583. Visits. 
 f 3 
 
70 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP. June the 21st he visited his London Clergy at St. Paul's; 
 ' where Dr. Walker, one of the Archdeacons, preached. 
 Then was required of them generally a new subscription. 
 That which he discovered this visitation, among other things 
 that were faulty, and required correction, was the practice 
 complains of the commutation of penance ; much practised in his dio- 
 tatimi of 1 " cese D y Chancellors, Commissaries, Officials, Registers, even 
 penance. t Q j ne very Apparitor. And these commutations were so 
 many, and sometimes so strange, that he feared it would be 
 a means to let in all manner of vice; which like a flood 
 (unless prevented) was in danger to overspread the whole 
 realm ; especially the wealthier sort, who might be as bad 
 as they pleased, when they should think they might be 
 saved from punishment by their mammon. And this was 
 done notwithstanding a late Convocation had expressly or- 
 dered, that there should be no commutation of penance with- 
 out the Bishop of the diocese's privity. And in this abuse 
 even the highest courts ecclesiastical were not clear. 
 His advice Of all this the Bishop, being now at Hadham in Hert- 
 forming fordshire, (as it seems in his visitation,) informed the Lord 
 thereof. Treasurer ; and, for the redressing of this evil, desired the 
 said Lord, together with the Council, to direct their letters 
 to the High Commissioners ecclesiastical : that where in 
 the last Convocation at the last Parliament order had been 
 taken by the Bishops of the realm then and there assembled, 
 that no commutation of penance should be made without 
 the Bishop should be made acquainted ; (which thing was 
 not at all observed,) therefore their Lordships' pleasure was, 
 that the said Commissioners should examine all manner of 
 ecclesiastical officers, what and how many penances they had 
 commuted and changed within six or seven years past. The 
 benefit whereof, according as the Bishop propounded it, 
 might be, that these commutations being refunded, (which 
 he concluded to be very considerable,) should go towards 
 the reparation of the ruinous church of St. Paul's; "which 
 " would well help to make good a good piece of it. And 
 " besides, by this means all ecclesiastical officers would," as 
 he said, " be more precise in bargaining for sin, and all sin- 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 71 
 
 " ners would be more afraid of punishment : God's name CHAP. 
 •• would be loss dishonoured, and the chief of the Clergy, V1 ^' 
 " which were therein most blamed, should, he hoped, shew 
 " themselves of all others to have least gain : or else let 
 " them bear," said he, " the burden of their deserts." This 
 letter was writ in July. Thus honestly and discreetly did 
 our Bishop advise for the cure of this corruption of dis- 
 cipline : but what effect it had I cannot say. 
 
 In the foresaid visitation the Bishop silenced one Huckle, Silenoeth a 
 a Minister in his diocese; a person who it seems before, for Minister! 
 divers years past, had been complained of in his archdea- 
 con's and commissary's courts. He was a busy man, trans- 
 gressing the orders appointed in the Church, and an enemy 
 to the peace of it ; an impugner of the book, and a gather- 
 er of night-conventicles, and more lately a busy disputer 
 against Athanasius's Creed. Him therefore, when the Bi- 
 shop himself could not reclaim him, he suspended from his 
 preaching. And he declared that he was the more in fear 
 of him, because he was but an indifferent scholar, and so 
 the more easily carried into error. But notwithstanding, 
 this man, after having laid some time under suspension, got 
 friends at the Council-board ; who in May 15S4- sent then- 
 letter to our Bishop to restore bun again. But he shew ed 
 himself herein a man not to be warped from doing his duty 
 by any authority. . For with all deference making his an- 
 swer to the said letter, he shew ed them w hat the man w as, 
 according as was said before, and therefore how dangerous 
 to be readmitted to his office. And finally, that he hoped 
 their Lordships woidd permit him to use his discretion in 
 ordering such offenders, unknown to them, but much com- 
 plained of to him. But that he might avoid displeasure, he 
 applied to the Lord Treasurer, who had been absent from 
 the Council, letting him know what he had done, that if 
 occasion were, he might interpose a seasonable word in the 
 Council, as he knew he would do in all matters of justice 
 and equity. 
 
 George Giffard, Minister at Maiden, was also about this Another 
 time (viz. in the year 1584) suspended from preaching and b^^f 1 
 f 4 
 
n 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP, administering the Sacraments ; for refusing to subscribe the 
 ' Articles, which all the Clergy were obliged to subscribe to, 
 
 c'"ff?d O Se tnere oem g some things in the Book of Common Prayer 
 Minister of which he was not persuaded of to be agreeable to the word 
 Maiden. Q £ q 0( j. Information also was given against him to the 
 Bishop, that he taught disobedience to magistrates, used 
 conventicles, and secret teachings, and divers other things 
 worthy of sharp reprehension. This man was a great and 
 diligent preacher, and much esteemed by many, and of 
 good rank in the town, and had brought that place to more 
 sobriety and knowledge of true religion : insomuch that many 
 of his hearers obtained from the Lord Treasurer a letter to 
 the Archbishop of Canterbury in his behalf. But the Arch- 
 bishop shewed the said Lord, that Giffard was a ringleader 
 of the rest ; and that he had received certain complaints 
 against him, to the answering whereof they of the High 
 Commission did intend to call him : and that his deserts 
 might be such as would deserve deprivation ; and therefore 
 he thought it not convenient to grant him any farther li- 
 berty or release of his suspension, until he had purged him- 
 self. The Bishop of London also had sent the Archbishop 
 an account of certain crimes charged upon him, wherefore 
 he had suspended and restrained him; which the Arch- 
 bishop also sent to the Treasurer. This happened in May 
 1584. 
 
 Restored. It was not long after, that Giffard was brought to answer 
 before the High Commission ; and his accusers were heard, 
 and he, in his own vindication, by certain discreet men ap- 
 pointed by their letters. But his enemies could not prove 
 any of their accusations to be true. Whereupon the Bishop 
 restored him to his preaching. 
 Suspended But this was not the end of this Preacher's troubles ; for 
 ' upon some new complaint he was a second time suspended. 
 Then a long and large petition was put up to the Bishop in 
 his behalf, signed with the hands of two and fifty persons ; 
 A large tes- whereof two were Bailiffs of the town, two Justices of the 
 him°by hu P eace > four Aldermen, fifteen head Burgesses, and the Vicar 
 auditors, of the town. In their petition they shewed how the former 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 73 
 
 accusations appeared so false, that his Lordship had set him CHAP, 
 at liberty to preach after a suspension: that they themselves. V11 ' 
 and many others, had been nourished and strengthened in 
 many good graces by his doctrine ; and that the outrage of 
 many notorious sins, commonly practised before his coming, 
 was abated and suppressed, to the great glory of Almighty 
 God, and the comfort of their weak consciences : that it was 
 the profane and wicked sort, that ceased not in their great 
 rage and malice both to his person and religion, to accuse 
 him in slanderous and unjust reports; and therefore, that 
 they could not but in a godly charity towards the man, and 
 for the better information of his Lordship, soundly and 
 rightly to judge of him and his cause, to certify him, that 
 they and many others of his usual auditory never received 
 from him any other but true and sound doctrine to their 
 judgments; and that he always in preaching and catechiz- 
 ing taught outward obedience to princes and magistrates; 
 that he preached and catechized in no other place than in 
 the church ; that he used no conventicles ; and that in his 
 life he was modest, discreet, and unreprovable : by which 
 good and gracious means there was wrought a godly con- 
 formity of the people, to the great benefit of the town, and 
 of the Church of God. 
 
 And to confirm this their report to be true, they reminded 
 his Lordship, how the same GiflFard their Preacher was con- 
 vented before him and others the Queen's Commissioners, not 
 long since, upon these and other like accusations, none of 
 which his accusers could prove to be true ; and that he, the 
 said Bishop, restored him to his preaching: and therefore 
 they most humbly begged, out of that godly care which 
 they hoped to find at his hands for the benefit of their souls, 
 that he would vouchsafe them his restitution. This Gif-Giffard 
 fard, however he were a Puritan, wrote very well against ™l„ st 
 Barrow, and the separatists, and the pleas and pretences Barrow, 
 urged by them for withdrawing from the public communion 
 of the Church. I cannot proceed farther in relating the 
 issue of this business, but conclude, it appearing a slander, 
 the Bishop restored him. 
 
74 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP. Here it comes in place to relate the issue of a law-suit, 
 VI1- commenced between this Bishop, and Sandys, late Bishop 
 Casts Arch- of London, now Archbishop of York, whereof mention was 
 Sandys for made before. It was for dilapidations of St. Paul's church. 
 tions' da SU ' t Was £ reat ' l° n g» an( ^ chargeable. At length the Queen, 
 
 who had a great care of Paul's, granted a special Commission 
 for the examining and proceeding in the matter. And in 
 the year 1584 the Archbishop was cast, by sentence of the 
 judges delegates, to pay to the present Bishop 900 or 1000Z. 
 for the repairs of the said church. And this was the sum 
 Sandys's predecessor in the see of London, viz. Archbishop 
 Grindal, had allowed him for his dilapidations. But after 
 sentence, the Secretary, who was one of the delegates, was 
 for a delay of the execution for a time, upon pretence the 
 same was not just ; and laboured that the Archbishop might 
 obtain another commission for a new examination of the 
 matter, before the former sentence were executed ; and that 
 His reasons because the Archbishop did pay a quarto. To this the 
 newborn- Bishop urged many things : " as that the authority of a 
 mission. « sen t ence being once given might not be called in question 
 " by the same judges, neither by any other, but a superior 
 "judge. For that when sentence is once given, the law 
 " saith, Quod judex functus est officio suo ; and hath no 
 " other thing to do but to execute : otherwise there would 
 " never be an end or certainty of any suit ; but that the 
 " authority of judges would be eluded, and the travail and 
 " cost of the parties utterly lost. That the judges in this 
 " case might not stay execution upon pretence that the same 
 " is unjust, or upon colour that the Archbishop might ob- 
 " tain another commission for a new examination ; for that 
 " it was not likely that the Queen would grant a new com- 
 " mission in this case, because the same had not hitherto 
 " been granted in any like case ; and that if there were anv 
 " hope to obtain such commission, yet the former judges 
 " ought to proceed to execution of their sentence, until such 
 " time they were inhibited. That learned writers did say, 
 " that the denying of this execution was a contempt to the 
 " superior that committed the cause, an injury to the party 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 75 
 
 " that sought for execution, and charged the judges which CHAP. 
 " so denied justice, to answer all such damages as the party VI1, 
 " sustained for lack of execution. Moreover, that the judges 
 " delegates, in deciding and determining the matter, had used 
 " great pains, travail, and diligence, to understand the truth 
 " both in fact and in law ; and after great and long delibe- 
 " ration had given a just, discreet, and indifferent sentence. 
 " That whereas Mr. Secretary made a scruple of quarta, the 
 " truth was, the Archbishop paid not after the rate of octava 
 " nor duodecimo,. That it was strange that the said Secre- 
 " tary, who was not learned in the laws, should stick and 
 " swerve from the rest of his colleagues, seeing he had given 
 " sentence jointly with the rest. Farthermore, that the Bi- 
 " shop of London and his executors shoidd be charged for 
 " ever with the sum of money that was adjudged by the 
 " sentence, as with that which he had received, or might 
 " receive ; and could not any way be discharged against the 
 " church, or against his successor, but by employing the 
 " same upon the church : and that even then the Commis- 
 " sioners for Paul's, by their letters to the Bishop, did ear- 
 " nestly urge present payment thereof to be made : that the 
 " decays of the church were such as required speedy and 
 " present reparation." Yet after all this, the Bishop offered, 
 that if the two Archbishops (who had been Bishops of Lon- 
 don before him) would bear him harmless, he would be con- 
 tented to hold himself satisfied. 
 
 The Bishop and the other ecclesiastical Commissioners The Bishop 
 were inclined to release out of prison certain Popish Priests, ^Xmeutof 
 whereof there were not a few now in custody; and that as tl,c j ud ? es 
 
 , .... . , . .... , concerning 
 
 it seems by some intimation from above, being unwilling the certain Vn- 
 rigour of the law should take place upon them. But the pists " 
 Bishop doubted whether they might safely extend this fa- 
 vour to them ; and therefore the opinion of the judges was 
 required in this matter. This was in the beginning of the 
 year 1585, when it was delivered by the said judges in the 
 Star-chamber, the Lord Chancellor and the Lord Treasurer 
 present, viz. that they, being upon condemnation according 
 
THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP, to the statute in execution for the Queen, the Commission 
 VI1 ' had no more to do with them. 
 Vauce, a It was not long after, that the Bishop had one Vauce, an 
 Priest. °ld Popish Priest, and divers others of that order before 
 him, whom the Commission found guilty and obnoxious to 
 the law as criminals, and so in danger of death. In the 
 behalf of this Vauce, who was not so bad as the rest, the 
 Lord Treasurer had interceded with the Bishop for his de- 
 liverance. And the Bishop pitied the old fellow, as he 
 called him, who was not the worst, though bad enough. But 
 yet dared not to take upon him to deal with him or any 
 other in the like state for their liberty, remembering what 
 the judges lately had declared in the Star-chamber. And 
 so he signified back to the said Treasurer. And that there- 
 fore it lay before him and the rest of the Lords of the 
 Privy Council, and thence it must come, and not from them 
 of the Commission. 
 Takes up Thomas Cartwright in these days was the chief head of 
 the Puritan, the Puritan faction; a man of a bold spirit, and a running 
 pen. He had writ some books against the hierarchy esta- 
 blished by law in the English Church, whereby he had 
 given great offence, and made himself obnoxious to the 
 laws. This man Bishop Aylmer had lately taken and com- 
 mitted to prison ; which, according to his constant practice, 
 he acquainted the Lords with by the Clerk of the Council. 
 And thinking to decline thereby displeasure from himself or 
 the Commission, he took him up by warrant from the Queen ; 
 who in truth was incensed against him. And he sent the 
 Lords word, that he did it by her order. But the Queen 
 took this in evil part, and was very angry that he used her 
 name to the Lords. This the good Bishop took to heart, 
 and thus made his complaint to the Lord Treasurer, his 
 constant friend, expostulating with him for what he had 
 done, and begging his endeavours to appease the Queen's 
 indignation. 
 
 The Queen " I understand myself to be in some displeasure with her 
 wTthllfm " Majesty about Mr. Cartwright, because I sent word to 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 77 
 
 " your Lordships by the Clerk of the Council, that I com- CHAP. 
 
 " mitted him by her Majesty's commandment. Alas ! my VJ *' 
 
 " Lord, in what a dilemma stood I, that if I had not shew- 
 
 " ed that warrant, I should have had all your displeasures, 
 
 " which I was not able to bear : and using it for my shield, 
 
 " (being not forbidden by her Majesty,) I am blamed for 
 
 " not taking upon me a matter, wherein she herself would 
 
 " not be seen. Well, I leave it to God, and to your wisdom 
 
 " to consider in what a dangerous place of service I am. 
 
 " But God whom I serve, and in whose hands the hearts 
 
 " of princes are, as the rivers of waters, can and will turn 
 
 " all to the best; and stir up such honourable friends as 
 
 " you are to appease her Highness' s indignation." 
 
 Perhaps the Bishop's enemies took their opportunity now charged 
 to buzz in the Queen's ears slanders and misreports against ^"l"^^^ 
 him : whereof one M as, that he had spoiled the revenues of tj»e iiisiiop- 
 the bishopric ; and how he was noted for this, she bade the 
 Archbishop of Canterbury let him know from her. This 
 was in August. Apprehending well how this tended to his 
 great discredit, and knowing his innocency herein, and the 
 good service he had done in truth to the bishopric, he drew 
 up a brief note of particulars, which he communicated to 
 the Treasurer, and to some other persons of honour, his 
 friends, to shew that he was so far from impairing the bi- 
 shopric, that he had bettered it in divers respects : and that 
 so it would easily appear, whensoever the matter should 
 come to trial, that he had by no means diminished it, but 
 increased it considerably. And he applied to the said Trea- 
 surer, beseeching him even in equity to weigh what wrong 
 he had sustained by such reports, and, as occasion should 
 serve, to let her Majesty understand that all was not true 
 that had been reported. 
 
 In the month of October following, another business fell A contro- 
 out to our Bishop, by the instigation of some troublesome t^" c y n b th e 
 persons unknown, which created some controversy between Queen and 
 the Queen and him. But herein the Bishop shewed him- a vicarage, 
 self a true friend to his poor Clergy, and withal a tight 
 maintainer of the rights of his bishopric. The case was 
 
78 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP. this. One Houseman, Vicar of Canwedon in Essex for thirty 
 VII. 
 
 years, was complained of to the Lord Treasurer and other 
 
 the Barons in the Exchequer-chamber, at Mr. Attorney 
 General's information, for a supposed intrusion and wrong 
 holding the said vicarage from her Majesty. The Vicar 
 applied to his diocesan ; who, having examined his ancient 
 records, found that his predecessors, the Bishops of Lon- 
 don, from time to time, for two hundred years agone and 
 more, had some interest in the patronage of that vicarage 
 by nomination ; and now belonged unto him. Wherefore 
 he engaged himself in this affair, and signified to the said 
 Lord Treasurer his right by his own letter. And that he was 
 informed by learned counsel, that the said suit or complaint 
 could not by law be held or maintained there before him 
 the Lord Treasurer, but was to be returned by trial at 
 common law, where all matters of like nature had usually 
 been heard and determined. Therefore, taking the case 
 upon himself, he moved the said Lord, that he might find 
 such favour, (if, as he added, by law or justice it might 
 be,) that he would either dismiss the Vicar absolutely from 
 his Lordship's Court of the Exchequer; or else, that he 
 would return him with his cause to the common laws of the 
 realm. " Where," said the Bishop, " he for his possession, 
 " and I for the right of myself and of my successors in the 
 " patronage of that vicarage, may use such defence as the 
 " law doth permit us." 
 A Presby- Another thing happened in this year ] 585, that gave 
 Itliatfieid. some concern also to our careful Bishop. It was a Pres- 
 bytery set up within his diocese, at Hatfield Peverel in 
 Essex ; the head and teacher whereof was one Carew. Of 
 him and his congregation such information was brought to 
 the Bishop and his fellow-Commissioners, that they could 
 not but summon divers of them, and after examination 
 commit them. But before their commitment he repaired to 
 the Lord Treasurers house at London, and acquainted him 
 with these persons, and their disor Jerly principles and prac- 
 tices. Whereat he replied in one or two short words taken 
 out of the Scripture, Habetis legem, &C. Whereby he seemed 
 
BISHOP AYLMEU. 
 
 79 
 
 to think them worthy of the Commissioners proceeding with CHAP, 
 them. For as for Carew, he took upon him to preach with- V>1 ' 
 out authority, nay, against authority : but this was not all, Enormities 
 but he contemned all ecclesiastical censures ; he was elected doctrine" 5 * 
 by the people, and practised a Presbytery. He defaced the of their 
 Book of Public Prayers and Administration of the Sacra- 
 ments. He utterly denied that article of the faith, that 
 Christ descended into hell. He held to the Bishop's face, 
 that the Queen had no authority to make ecclesiastical laws. 
 He maintained, they must continue in division, because 
 Christ saith, Non veni mittere pacem, sed gladium : i. e. 
 / came not to send peace, but a sword. He put several 
 good gentlemen and others from the Communion, when (as 
 the Bishop wrote in his letter to the Treasurer about him) 
 there was more need to allure them to it. He ignorantly 
 and heretic-ally held against the Bishop, that the soul of 
 man was of the substance of God; and so consequently that 
 it was infinite : and the soul of the reprobate being damned, 
 the substance of God should be damned ; with infinite such 
 other errors, as the learned Bishop shewed him, whereinto 
 he fell through ignorance and arrogancy. Nor could he 
 speak three words of Latin. As for his people, he had 
 brought them to that point, that they said, even at Baptism, 
 that it made no matter for the water, so we have the word. 
 And divers of them denied to join with the congregation in 
 praying for the Queen ; and irreverently sat with their heads 
 covered, in spite of good order, when others kneeled and 
 prayed for her. 
 
 The noise of these men was so great in the parts adja- His dealing 
 cent, that the Earl of Sussex, who lived at New-hall, not at Hatfield - 
 far off, signified to the Archbishop of Canterbury their great 
 evil example. After these innovators were committed, the 
 Archbishop and the Bishop took care to send down preach- 
 ers to Hatfield, and one to read the book, according to the 
 law. And however greatly they had offended, they were 
 offered to be bailed upon these conditions : that Allen, the 
 layman, would not disturb the preachers that were appointed 
 to preach there, nor disquiet the Minister in reading the 
 
80 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP, service, and that Carew preached no more in his diocese 
 ' without licence. But in January these persons had the 
 confidence to make their complaint to the Council against 
 these proceedings, according to their custom : and some 
 friends they had there. This when the Bishop understood, 
 he wrote to the Lord Treasurer, who now seemed with 
 others to shew them favour, importing, that they were com- 
 mitted by a great bench, both of divines, civdians, and com- 
 mon lawyers. That if his Lordship understood out of the 
 registry and otherwise, of them and their behaviour, he 
 thought the other would as much mislike them as they did. 
 He shewed him the reasonable conditions made them for 
 their enlargement ; and at length in some heat he added, 
 " that if those were suffered, the Church and the realm 
 " would be so disturbed, as it was never yet since her Ma- 
 " jesty's reign. That if the Lords of the Council thought 
 " that the Bishop and his Commission would deal too hardly 
 " with diem, he prayed, in God's name, that the Archbishop 
 " of Canterbury and the Commissioners there at Lambeth 
 " might examine it, and inform the Lords how they found 
 " it there ; and the Bishop declared he and the rest would 
 " be ready to exhibit the whole proceedings before them. 
 " Finally concluding with these words, that if this foul and 
 " contemptuous fact were suffered, he for his part must 
 " yield up to her Highness all authority which they had 
 " received at her hand." 
 Composes a This year, 1585, the nation was much afflicted with un- 
 present oc-" seasonable wet weather, and dispirited by fears arising from 
 casion. foreign enemies, the Queen of Scots, and the plots laid for 
 Queen Elizabeth's life, on which so much depended the 
 peace of England. This gave occasion to the Bishop to 
 compose, or cause to be composed, a form of prayer, very 
 pious and well expressed, and of good length, consisting 
 of seven pages, and being one continued prayer; and re- 
 commended to be used in private families as well as in pub- 
 lic. It was entitled, " A necessary and godly Prayer, by the 
 " Right Reverend Father in God, John, Bishop of London, 
 " to be used throughout all his Diocese upon Sundays and 
 
BISHOP A YLMEK. 
 
 81 
 
 Fridays; for the turning away of God's wrath, as well CHAP, 
 concerning this untemperate weather, and rain lately V11 ' 
 
 " fallen - upon the earth, as also all other plagues and 
 " punishments which for our manifold sins we most justly 
 " deserve. Most needful to be used of every housholder 
 " and his family throughout the realm. 11 It began, " O 
 " Almighty God, and most merciful Father, we most hum- 
 " bly prostrate ourselves before thy mercy-seat, 11 &c. 
 
 The Bishop was now, together with the Lord Mayor, The Bishop 
 using his interest in the city of London to pacify a mur-^'*'-^ 
 muring and discontent among the citizens, occasioned by the citize » s 
 great multitude of poor strangers that fled thither, by rea-the strang- 
 son of the persecution of religion in those parts whence ers - 
 they came. The tradesmen were apprehensive how injuri- 
 ous they would prove to them by underworking and under- 
 selling them, and getting part of the business from them. 
 Of this dissatisfaction some good men at the Court were 
 very sensible ; and the Lord Treasurer wrote to Secretary 
 Walsingham about it ; who thereupon procured letters from 
 the Council to the Bishop and the Mayor, that they would 
 use all means to make the strangers better liked of in Lon- 
 don : an account of which Walsingham gave to the Trea- 
 surer in these words : " That he was sorry to find by his 
 " Lordship's letters, that the repair of the poor afflicted 
 " strangers was so greatly grudged at, seeing for their sakes 
 " (for that God had used this realm as a sanctuary for them) 
 " he had bestowed so many extraordinary blessings upon 
 " us ; and that both the Bishop and the Mayor had re- 
 " ceived letters from the Board, to use all good means that 
 " might be, to remove the dislike of the vulgar sort. 11 This 
 letter was written November 4, 1585 ; and the Bishop, 
 who himself was once an exile for religion, no question 
 heartily espoused this business. 
 
 In the summer of the year 1586, the Bishop went his Holds a vi. 
 next triennial visitation, to take account in what state the sitation - 
 Ministers and people of his diocese were; and had, as it 
 seems, some intimation from the Queen, especially to have 
 regard to those that dissented from the established order, 
 
THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP, who now were reported to her to be very strong in their 
 ^ n " numbers, and to act very disorderly in some parts of 
 Essex. 
 
 Visits in He held his visitation in London, May the 22d. Then the 
 Ministers there were enjoined the observation of these articles. 
 l.To use prayers Wednesdays and Fridays. 2. To read and 
 preach such sermons and homilies as were proper to move 
 compassion to the poor. 3. To make contributions among 
 themselves at free choice according to their abilities, without 
 laying any taxation upon them. This I suppose was a sea- 
 son of sickness or dearth. 4. Presentment to be made of 
 negligent recusants. 
 
 From thence he repaired into Essex ; but he found as he 
 went along the disorders were not so great as was feared, 
 though more (as he confessed in a letter to a great friend at 
 Court) than were to be wished, until he came to Maiden ; 
 where, as he expressed in the same letter, he had like to 
 have tasted of the sour fruits of the new reformers, and 
 especially of such as were mercenary ; that is, such as were 
 retained to preach in divers places, besides the ordinary 
 trange Ministers. A certain fellow, to be hired by some young 
 
 Goes into 
 Essex. 
 
 ni' ^ in- 
 
 tended a- heads in the town, tradesmen there, was to have come into 
 gainst the t j le c l lurc ]j besmeared like a fool, and to have taken the 
 
 liishop at 
 
 Maiden. Bishop's cap off from his head, and having twirled it about 
 his finger, to have cast and tossed it to and fro among 
 them in the midst of the people. But by some means this 
 came to knowledge, and was seasonably prevented : which 
 if it had not, there was no doubt but a dangerous tumult 
 would have risen, and, as the Bishop feared, not without 
 blood. The Bishop examined the matter, and having found 
 out the chief devisers of it, committed them. The bailiffs 
 and the rest were much dismayed at it. The Bishop did ad- 
 vise hereupon, that her Majesty, or some of the Lords of 
 the Council, would shew some countenance of misliking of 
 so dangerous a device as the fruits of those men's preach- 
 ings, who disobeyed the book and other orders ; whereby, 
 as by the Bishop's present proceedings they were daunted, 
 and began to yield, so the Bishop doubted not then to find 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 them and all others in that corner verv tractable. This hap- CHAP, 
 pened in July. U1 
 
 The Bishop retreated from his adventures at Maiden to Goes to 
 Wickham, where he had a manor, to which was a fair large w lcJJiam - 
 house annexed, formerly the seat of the Bishops of Lon- 
 don, for the government of those parts of the country. But 
 now it had been granted away from the manor by some 
 means or other ; perhaps some long lease made by some of 
 this Bishop's predecessors to the Queen, as it seems : so that 
 the Bishops, when they came into these parts, had no house 
 for them and their companies to reside in : whereby the 
 people of that country was deprived of the benefit of their 
 Bishop's influence and care in dwelling sometimes among 
 them. The house was large and spacious ; the farmer who 
 now occupied it had but a small family ; so that a great 
 part of the house might well be spared. This therefore the 
 Bishop had a desire of, and made interest with the Queen 
 for her gracious letters to have some portion of the house for 
 a month or two in the year; not only because the house 
 went to ruin so greatly, as if he had not some part thereof, 
 thereby to repair it, it would be ever hereafter unfit for any 
 Bishop to tarry in ; but chiefly, because he doubted not but 
 within short space to bring all the whole country into so 
 good an order, as any other part of his diocese whatsoever, 
 both in respect of disordered persons, as such as were of 
 lewd conversation. As Ins being at his house at Hadham 
 some small time in the year had made by this time all the 
 country of Hertfordshire (before out of order) now to be 
 most quiet and orderly. 
 
 The Bishop's pious and painful son, Dr. Theophilus Avl-Dr.Ayimer, 
 mer, now Archdeacon of London, the 6th of January en- A 
 suing, called for the Clergy, (as he frequently used to do,) 
 intending this meeting chiefly for such Ministers as were not 
 preachers, but of the inferior sort : for the bringing forward 
 of which were these particulars enjoined. 1. Every person 
 to have a Bible in English and Latin. 2. Every person to 
 have Bullingers Decads. 3. Each to have his paper book, 
 and therein to write the quantity of one sermon every week. 
 g 2" 
 
84 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 p - 4. This book to be shewn quarterly unto a certain grave 
 ! — man appointed to examine how they had profited, and he 
 to deliver them to Mr. Archdeacon. 5. The examinants to 
 use these beginners with favour. 6. Every non-preaching 
 Minister to be taxed at four purchased sermons every year ; 
 that is, to procure at his own cost a preacher to preach a 
 sermon in his church once in a quarter. 7. A licensed 
 preacher to preach sixteen times in a year. Within two 
 months after, the diligent Archdeacon summoned the Clergy 
 again, viz. March the 8th ; that is, the preachers and learn- 
 eder sort ; enjoining them, L To observe carefully the 
 Book of Common Prayer. 2. To catechize youth Sundays 
 and holydays. And this was now allowed to Curates to do ; 
 and that in certain questions and answers set forth by the 
 Bishop: as namely, Who made you? God. Who re- 
 deemed you ? Jesus Christ, Sec. and so on, as little children 
 are now commonly and commendably taught by their pa- 
 rents to this day. 3. Every man to shew his letters of or- 
 ders and licence to preach immediately. And lastly, se- 
 veral who had taken the degrees of Masters of Art, or Ba- 
 chelors of Art, were enjoined to procure the Bishop's li- 
 cence to preach. This and the former call was for this end; 
 to increase the number of preachers, according to a mandate 
 from the Archbishop to all the Bishops. 
 
 CHAP. VIII. 
 
 Cawdrifs case, who was deprived and deposed from the 
 ministry. 
 
 Cawdry of In the year 1587, 1 find the Bishop again sitting in the ec- 
 citcd be- clesiastical Commission ; where he executed a judicial act, 
 fore the t hat created him, and others with him, work for four or five 
 sion. years after : and because I shall set it down more distinctly, 
 let me obtain excuse for the length of it. There was one 
 Robert Cawdry, that having been a schoolmaster for seven 
 or eight years, afterwards got the favour of the Lord Burgh- 
 
BISHOP 
 
 A YLMER. 
 
 B5 
 
 ley to be presented to the living of South Loughnam, or C H A P. 
 Luffenham, in Rutlandshire : where after he had spent six- ) I1L 
 teen years, he was convented before the Commission, and 
 in fine deprived by our Bishop : for there was preferred se- 
 cretly an information against him for speaking divers words 
 in the pulpit, tending to the depraving of the Book of Com- 
 mon Prayer. The Commission gave him his oath, according 
 to the practice of those spiritual courts, to answer interroga- 
 tories that should be propounded to him, for the clearing of 
 himself if he could do it. Then he attended ten weeks 
 upon the Commissioners, but proved altogether incompliant; 
 and so being judged a dangerous person, if he should con- 
 tinue preaching, bv infecting the people with principles dif- 
 ferent from the religion established, at length the Bishop The Bishop 
 himself gave the definitive sentence May the 30th, there him?™ 
 sitting then with him, Dr. Valentine Dale, Sir Owen Hop- 
 ton, Kt., 'William Fleetwood, Sergeant at Law, William 
 Aubrey and Edward Stanhope, Doctors of Law, his col- 
 leagues. In the aforesaid sentence there was added a se- 
 cond cause of his deprivation ; namely, for not conforming 
 himself in the celebration of the divine service and admin- 
 istration of the Sacraments, but refusing so to do ; though 
 indeed for the most part he did conform himself to the book, 
 only leaving out the cross in baptism, and the ring in mar- 
 riage. The Bishop also, besides his deprivation, suspended 
 him from exercising any ministry in LufFenhani or else- 
 where. 
 
 But Cawdry thought himself hardly and unjustly dealt Cawdry re- 
 withal, and therefore acquiesced not in his sentence, nor mit to the 
 would submit himself. However the Commissioners had in sentence. 
 March following sent their letters to the Bishop of Peter- 
 borough, to send his ordinary process to Luffenham church, 
 and to give intimation to the Lord Burghlev to present an- 
 other ; yet he still kept possession and held the Erring, styl- 
 ing himself in his letters, " Minister and Pastor of South 
 " Luffenham." Upon which disobedience he was also de- 
 graded by the Commissioners at Lambeth, as well as he 
 had been deprived before in the consistory of Paul's. And 
 g 3 
 
86 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP, there were two things charged upon him by the Commission, 
 VI11 ' why he should not be restored ; viz. want of learning, and 
 not using the Common Prayer Book in that due exactness 
 as he should. 
 
 His law- On Cawdry's side the question was, whether he were 
 ments. gU rightly deprived. If the Commissioners proceeded upon the 
 statute primo Elizabeth, then it was argued by his lawyers, 
 that he was not legally deprived ; for that statute limited 
 deprivation to be a punishment for a second offence, and not 
 James Mo- for the first, as Cawdry's case was. James Morice, Attor- 
 yer. ne y °f tne Court of Wards, held this sentence to be nuD and 
 void in law for these reasons: because his Lordship, the 
 Bishop of London, was not Ordinary of the diocese where 
 the benefice lay ; and that it was his sentence only, and not 
 of the rest of the Commissioners. But to that it would be 
 said, that the rest that were present and assisting concurred 
 also in the sentence. Whereunto he replied, (which was 
 his second argument,) that it was not the sentence of the 
 Commissioners ; for by law the sentence should have been 
 given in the name of all the Commissioners present, and not 
 in the name of one by the others' consent, as it seems the 
 sentence ran. Again, the Bishop in his decree said ex- 
 pressly, the cause was controverted before him in judicio cx 
 officio mero, which could not be before the Commissioners ; 
 and if the cause were depending before his Lordship as pro- 
 ceeding ex officio, how could the judgment, said he, be other 
 than his own ? 
 
 And then as for the sentence itself, or the matter of it, 
 that he held to be contrary to law ; because there were by 
 law several censures and punishments to be inflicted in that 
 case before deprivation, which was the last ; as namely, ad- 
 monition, excommunication, sequestration. But this sen- 
 tence at the first inflicted the last and extremest punish- 
 ment ; which was not warrantable by the statute, nor any 
 other of the Queen's ecclesiastical laws. 
 
 This was the substance of a paper which the said Morice, 
 a good friend to Cawdry, and that stuck close to him, writ 
 in Cawdry's behalf upon the Lord Treasurer Burghley's de- 
 
BISHOP AYLMEIl. 
 
 87 
 
 sire; who, upon that Minister's suit to him, had a com pas- CHAP, 
 siou for the man, having a wife and eight children. V111 ' 
 
 A year was now spent in this cause, and in May 1588 vindicates 
 Cawdry laboured to vindicate himself in the two points laid learning! 
 to his charge by the Bishop ; namely, concerning his learn- 
 ing, and concerning his using the Book of Common Prayer. 
 To satisfy the Lord Burghley (whom he styled his patron) 
 in both these, as to the former, lie shewed him that (be- 
 sides his teaching a grammar school formerly) he had weekly 
 used some exercise of learning, in expounding to the jieople 
 some places of holy Scripture now for the space of almost 
 twenty years ; and he hoped in so many years 1 study in the 
 school and in the Church, God hath blessed him with some 
 small measure of knowledge. He appealed to the people, 
 and the good success of his ministry ; which was, he said, 
 a great comfort to his soul ; and he desired the said Lord 
 to appoint him to read upon some place of Scripture in his 
 own hearing, and he was in some good hope his Lordship 
 should not find him so utterly unfit to do any good in the 
 service of the Church. He confessed in very truth, that in 
 respect of his great calling he was much unfit, for want of 
 ability in learning, to supply that sacred function ; and 
 therefore wished with all his heart, that he were the most 
 unlearned Minister in England, on this condition, that he 
 might give over the same, and never to meddle with it 
 again, even to-day before to-morrow. But it was some 
 comfort to him, that God in mercy had so blessed his la- 
 bours, that of so few people there was not a parish within 
 ten miles and more of him, that knew better how to give unto 
 God that which was due to God, and to Caesar that which 
 was due to him. 
 
 As for the other objection against him, he declared that Urges his 
 he had always used the Common Prayer, and purposed to ^"fj^* 
 use it still ; only he humbly craved that he might not be Prayer, 
 more narrowly searched and looked into in the using of it, 
 than many other Ministers were throughout England. 
 
 Thus far on Cawdry "s side : but in truth to know how The reason 
 Cawdry stood affected may be learned from the process it- ^ n '" e s sen " 
 g 4 
 
88 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP. self. He was convicted upon his own confession, publicly 
 V111 ' in his sermon to have depraved the Book of Common 
 Prayer, saying, that the same was a vile book, and fy upon 
 it ; and that he had not observed the order of the said book 
 in his ministration. For this he was divers and sundry 
 times moved, commanded, and enjoined, publicly to retract 
 and revoke his said words, and to acknowledge the book to 
 be good and godly, and to promise to observe the order 
 thereof in his future ministration ; but this he wilfully re- 
 fused. The Court long expected his conformity; that is, 
 from December 1586, to May the 30th 1687: which he 
 not performing was then deprived. 
 Which he The very next day he acquainted the Lord Burghley 
 abide bv. with the sentence passed against him, and only craved that 
 And why. {jy j^g f avour he might enjoy his benefice till Michaeltide 
 next, as he called it ; (not liking, I suppose, to name it Mi- 
 chaelmas ;) and intending quietly to relinquish it. But af- 
 terwards, by the instigation of certain persons, he found 
 fault with the sentence as unjust, and refused to submit to 
 it, and prayed the favour and assistance of the said Lord. 
 But that noble personage advised him to submit himself to 
 the determination of the Archbishop and the Bishop of 
 London. But this now he would not do ; and in a letter to 
 that Lord, dated March 22, 1587, gave his reasons why 
 His letter he would not abide by their award ; viz. " Because he was 
 Burghley 11 " P ersua ded in his conscience, and lamentable experience 
 " proved it, that these Lord Bishops after a sort, though not 
 " directly, were the greatest enemies her Majesty had this 
 " day in England : for that they had been, and yet were, 
 " the greatest lets of a learned ministry. Through lack 
 " whereof her Majesty's subjects, in six parishes for one 
 " through her dominions, were yet as ignorant of the right 
 " knowledge of their obedience towards God and her Ma- 
 " jesty, as though they had lived under Popery. For had 
 " it been possible, said he, that such a riotous rout of re- 
 " bels could have been assembled together, and diat in one 
 M corner of this realm, as were assembled together not many 
 " years ago, (viz. anno 1569,) against her Majesty in the 
 
BISHOP AY L ME It. 
 
 SO 
 
 " north parts ; or that so many treasons and conspiracies CHAP. 
 
 " could have come to that height as they were, if so be that 
 
 " every parish had a faithful and learned Pastor, by preach- 
 
 " ing and catechizing to beat into their heads continually 
 
 " what obedience faithful subjects owe, first to God, and next 
 
 " to their Prince ; which might have been brought to some 
 
 " good effect or this, if they had not so countenanced non- 
 
 " residents, and made so many idle shepherds ; and besides, 
 
 " if they had not dealt so extremely against so many godly 
 
 " Ministers, in displacing them for not observing some 
 
 " Popish ceremonies. That this was most true, that gene- 
 
 " rally throughout England, where most need was of the 
 
 " best Ministers, there were the worst. That for his part he 
 
 " did not know in any country where there was a preaching 
 
 " Minister placed in that town where a recusant was : so 
 
 " that Jesuits, seminaries, and Popish priests, might have 
 
 " there free egress and regress without any check, which was 
 
 " very dangerous to the State ; besides the great hindrance 
 
 " of knowledge to obey God and the Prince, that otherwise 
 
 " might there be planted. 
 
 " A second cause was, for that the Bishops punished most 
 " rigorously godly Ministers, (whom they could not justly 
 " touch either with false doctrine or any misbehaviour in 
 " life,) for not observing the Book of Common Prayer; and 
 " yet they themselves, for the most part these twenty-nine 
 " years had not observed it : as, first, in granting licences for 
 " money to marry without the banns asking ; secondly, in 
 " making insufficient Ministers; and thirdly, in not confirm- 
 " ing of children, as the book appointed : and yet by that 
 " order, they that were inferior Ministers were charged, that 
 " they should not admit any to receive the Communion, 
 " until such time as they were confirmed by the Bishop. 
 " Whereby they fell into two extremes, either to offend 
 " God, or the book : for if they were able to examine them- 
 " selves, and give a reason of their faith, they, the Ministers, 
 " might not deny them the Communion : but the book said 
 " otherwise. Now seeing they omitted this, because they 
 " knew it was a Popish ceremony, and not warrantable by 
 
00 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP. "God's word; he demanded then, with what conscience 
 " they could deal so hardly with them for leaving out some 
 
 " ceremonies more superstitious and offensive than this. 
 
 " Thirdly, for that they would allow any Papist, atheist, 
 " and what wicked liver soever, that was convented before 
 " them, to know their accuser, to have a copy, for their mo- 
 " ney, of the interrogatories and other proceedings ; but 
 " they, the Ministers, could neither know their accusers, nor 
 " yet have the benefit of subjects. 
 
 " Fourthly, for that they, the Bishops, condemned non- 
 " residency to be horrible, odious to the people, and perni- 
 " cious to the Church of God, and vet tolerated and dis- 
 " pensed with the same ; as by their book of Canons extant 
 " in print, and agreed upon in the Convocation House 1571, 
 " in these words, as his memory served him: Absentia Pas- 
 " toris d Dominico grege, et secura ilia negligentia, quam 
 " videmus in multis, et destitutio Ministcrii, est res et in se 
 "Jbeda, et odiosa in vulgu-s, et perniciosa Ecclesice Dei. 
 
 " And lastly, for that they, the said Bishops, did molest, 
 " nay, deprive them for preaching that doctrine which they 
 " themselves had published in print, and was extant to be 
 " seen." And then instanced in a book of the Bishop's of 
 London, entitled, The Harborough of the Faithful : out 
 of which the said Cawdry had transcribed as many passages 
 as would fill half a sheet of paper, and sent them enclosed 
 in his foresaid letter to the Lord Burghley. 
 offers some And these at length were the causes set down by himself, 
 mission!" 11 ne wou ld not submit himself to the Archbishop and 
 Bishop, as he was advised to do ; yet afterwards, upon fur- 
 ther suggestion of the forementioned Lord, he made at last 
 a submission before the Archbishop, for the words he ut- 
 tered concerning the Common Praver. But a further sub- 
 mission he refused, viz. to submit himself to such orders as 
 But win not should be agreed concerning liim ; namely, to recant and 
 lidy"' retract publicly in the same place the words he was charged 
 with, and to promise conformity to the laws established, and 
 subscription to the Articles : which were such conditions, 
 he said, as he dared not yield unto ; being persuaded that 
 
BISHOP A YLMER. 
 
 !)1 
 
 such a submission would be both contrary to God's word, CHAP, 
 and of great offence unto the Church. ' 
 
 In May, on a Thursday, he appeared before the Com- Appears at 
 missioners at Lambeth, who told him with some threats, Lambeth - 
 that seeing he would not comply, he must attend them two 
 days after, and then be deprived of his ministry, (as he had 
 been of his benefice before,) and be made a layman. 
 
 Yet they were so patient towards him, that this sentence Degraded 
 was not executed upon him until a whole year after; namely, l)0sc j. 
 May the 14th, 1590 : when, having been divers and sundry 
 times advised and commanded to submit himself unto the. 
 former sentences, and to the Queen's laws, in the observa- 
 tion of the order of the book, but he had refused and de- 
 nied to yield thereunto ; wherefore on the same day, for the 
 said contempt and disobedience, (as the instrument of the 
 sentence ran,) the nature and merits of this cause being first 
 duly considered, he was by sentence in writing degraded 
 and deposed from the ministry by these Commissioners pre- 
 sent ; viz. Whitgift, Archbishop of Canterbury, Mr. Se- 
 cretary Wolley, Mr. Fortescu, the Lord Chief Justice of 
 the Common Pleas, the Lord Chief Baron, Dr. Aubrey, 
 the Dean of Westminster, the Attorney General, Dr. Co- 
 sin, Archdeacon Redman, Dr. Stanhop, Dr. Lewin, Dr. 
 Bancroft. At this meeting the Archbishop told him, that 
 if he would not conform himself and be obedient to law, 
 they would deprive him of his ministry. Cawdry answered, 
 that he never denied to conform himself so far as he was 
 bound by law, and as a Minister of God in conscience was 
 bound to do. Upon this, the Commissioners 1 Proctor said he 
 was deprived for speaking against the Book of Common 
 Prayer. Cawdry answered, it was not true ; for that it ap- 
 peared in his answer to the Articles upon his oath, that it 
 was for speaking against an inconvenience that came by the 
 book : but, added he, that if it were so in the worst manner 
 that they could take it, yet it was no deprivation by law for 
 the first offence ; and that he should have been indicted at 
 the next assizes after, which he was not, and therefore clear 
 by statute. 
 
THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP. Upon this sentence the Bishop of Peterburgh, his dio- 
 VI11 " cesan, sequestered him from his benefice, who hitherto had 
 
 Bishop of enjoyed it, and supplied it with his Chaplain. To which 
 feq^esters 11 Bishop the Lord Burghley, compassionating Cawdry's case 
 bis living. an( j poverty, wrote, that he would, in consideration of his 
 desolate state and great charge, allow him some yearly pen- 
 sion out of the living. Whereupon the Bishop made this 
 offer to Cawdry, that if he would disclaim his title to the 
 living, and resign it unto his hand to the use of his Chap- 
 lain, he would then consider of him. But Cawdry stopping 
 upon terms, and requiring to know how and in what man- 
 Cawdrysuesner the Bishop would do it, they brake off. Cawdry de- 
 ^^^"'"sisted not, but took his course in the Star-chamber, and 
 served subpoenas upon the Chaplain, and some others, upon 
 pretence that they had committed a riot, in taking away by 
 violence the corn that grew upon the glebe ; and again de- 
 sired the said Lord's favour in that court. On the other 
 hand, the Chaplain laboured to bring him before the Com- 
 missioners ; and got an order to be set down there against 
 him, either to answer more fully, or to be committed to pri- 
 son within eight days. 
 The Lord The next year, viz. May 1591, upon Cawdry 's suit again 
 reconi- ey to tne Lord Burghley, he bade him consult with his coun- 
 mends his se ] \yy w l ia t course he might be relieved. Accordingly he 
 
 case to the ' y i i , • , • , , , ~ 
 
 Bishop of did so: and they told mm the way was, either that the Corn- 
 London, missioners should revoke their sentence of deprivation, and 
 so to restore him to his ministry ; or, by his Lordship's means, 
 to have a mandate procured for that end from the Queen ; 
 or else to be restored to the possession of his living, and so 
 to follow his suit in forma pauperis, depending in the 
 King's Bench, for the trial of his cause. But the moderate 
 course the said Lord thought fittest to take was, to desire 
 the Commissioners to consider the exceptions taken against 
 their proceedings, and to review and reexamine this man's 
 case ; and so he prayed the Bishop of London to do, spe- 
 cially considering several particulars urged by Cawdry on 
 his own behalf : but in truth misrepresented to that Lord 
 against the Commissioners. Whereupon the Bishop of Lon- 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 93 
 
 don wrote this letter unto the said Peer, relating the truth CHAP. 
 
 e a VIII. 
 oi the cause : 
 
 " I received your Lordship's letter of the first of June, The Bj-^ 
 " upon the fourth of the same, touching Robert Cawdry, to the said 
 " late Parson of South Luffenham in the county of Rut- Lord - 
 " land, and his deprivation from the said benefice by sen- 
 " tence definitive of her Majesty's Commissioners for causes 
 " ecclesiastical, together with a case drawn by himself, as it 
 " seemeth, and subsigned by his learned counsel ; wherein 
 " how far he abuseth your Lordship may appear by this 
 " enclosed brief, touching our proceedings against him. He 
 " was detected unto us, not only for depraving the Book of 
 " Common Prayer in such vile terms as in the said brief is 
 " set down, but also for refusing to observe the orders by 
 " the same book appointed. Which his speeches, he being 
 " oftentimes by us judicially admonished to revoke, and to 
 " observe the said orders, and he still refusing the same, 
 " we in the end proceeded, as by law, and a proviso in the 
 " end of the statute, mentioned by his learned counsel, we 
 " hold it warrantable, to his deprivation. 
 
 " Where your Lordship further writeth to pray the Com- 
 " missioners to review and examine the said sentence, and 
 " to consider of the exceptions by him proposed to the same, 
 " your Lordship shall find in the enclosed brief a further 
 "judicial proceeding against him, whereat were present 
 " some of the judges of the land, and of her Majesty's 
 " learned Council ; wherein, for that he persevered in his 
 " disobedience, whereof he was convicted upon his own con- 
 " fession, for not submitting himself to the former sentence 
 " of deprivation, and for continuing in refusal of observa- 
 " tion of her Majesty's laws, touching the use of the orders 
 " of the Book of Common Prayer, he was by sentence de- 
 " finitive in writing degraded and deposed from his min- 
 " istry. So as there is now no colour for him to desire re- 
 " view of the former sentence touching his deprivation ; 
 " when as the same is by a second sentence confirmed, and 
 " he utterly unabled and removed from the ministry. These 
 " proceedings, I hope, will justly move your good Lord- 
 
94 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP. " ship not to give credit unto the complaints of such disor- 
 V111 " " dered men as he is, whom it seemeth no due course of 
 " law will anywise content. And so I commit your good 
 " Lordship to God's holy protection. 1 ' 1 
 
 The proviso mentioned by the Bishop in the letter before, 
 as warranting their doing, is in the statute of anno primo ; 
 whereby is given unto the Archbishop, Bishop, and other 
 ordinaries, power and authority to inquire in their visita- 
 tions, synods, &c. to take accusations and informations of 
 such offences, and to punish the same by admonition, ex- 
 communication, sequestration, or deprivation, and other cen- 
 sures and proceedings in like form, as heretofore had been 
 used in like cases by the Queen's ecclesiastical laws. 
 Cawdry's But James Morice, Cawdry's friend and counsellor, ad- 
 counseiior's v i sec l m sorae heat, that his Lordship would make the Bi- 
 
 angry ad- 1 
 
 vice. shop feel and understand his lawless proceedings, whereby 
 (as he said) haply some remorse of conscience might move 
 him to be more favourable ; and added, that though it 
 might be offensive to find fault with judicial proceedings, 
 he considered also the present time and persons, and had 
 little hope to do any good by that course of reexamining ; 
 yet, seeking to help the wronged, and to maintain law and 
 justice, and to make ecclesiastical judges more careful here- 
 after, he thought it unseemly in men of his profession to be 
 afraid of every frown ; especially having, as he assured him- 
 self, the law to take his part. 
 Dr. Au- In the same year, viz. July 1591, the Lord Burghley 
 leiiuHhe sent certam papers concerning Cawdry's case, drawn up by 
 case. the aforesaid Morice, to prove the course taken against him 
 unlawful, to Dr. Aubrey, a learned civilian, and indeed one 
 of the Commissioners ; that he would send back his impar- 
 tial judgment thereupon, laying aside the consideration of 
 himself as a Commissioner. And Aubrey accordinglv wrote 
 his opinion learnedly and modestly, as followeth ; for I 
 choose rather to transcribe his letter, than contract the sub- 
 stance of it. 
 
 ' My duty to your good Lordship humbly remembered. 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 95 
 
 " I make bold to return to your Lordship such writings as CHAP. 
 
 " it pleased your Lordship to deliver unto me, touching the V11K 
 
 " removing of Cawdry from the parsonage of Luffenham 
 
 " in the county of Rutland, and his deposing from the min- 
 
 " istry ; which for the duty I owe to your good Lordship 
 
 f I have perused, and according to my poor skill considered ; 
 
 " and dispossessing myself, as I could, of all affection that I 
 
 " should bear to the maintenance of a sentence wherein, 
 
 " among other, myself is a party, I make bold to impart to 
 
 " your good Lordship my opinion simply, as I think and 
 
 " can conceive of the cause. First, if either the Commis- 
 
 " sioners were bound by the Commission to proceed accord- 
 
 41 ing to the statute of anno primo, or had in any part of 
 
 '• their proceedings expressed that they meant to proceed 
 
 " only according to the order and form appointed in that 
 
 " statute ; or if the statute were so straining, as the Com- 
 
 " missioners were tied to proceed according to the form of 
 
 " that statute, and no otherwise, (as I take it not to be,) it 
 
 " is true that is delivered to your Lordship by Cawdry 's 
 
 " counsel, that the sentence is not justifiable by the precise 
 
 " letter of the statute. But the law ecclesiastical being in 
 
 " such force for manner of proceeding as it was before the 
 
 " making of that statute, and the Commission warranting 
 
 " the Commissioners to proceed according to the law eccle- 
 
 " siastical, or according to their sound discretions, all the 
 
 " principal force of the reasons alleged to ground a nullity 
 
 " in the sentence is taken away. And where the sentence is 
 
 " impugned, because the Bishop of London did read the 
 
 " sentence cum consensu collegarum suorum, whatsoever 
 
 " the temporal law is in that point, it is most agreeable to 
 
 " the law civil and canon, that where there is a multitude 
 
 " of judges, one shall be the instrument in the pronouncing 
 
 " with the consent of the rest ; and it is a matter absurd, 
 
 " and not possible, that all shall concur in the act of read- 
 
 " ing. And that hath been in this realm the usual form, 
 
 " and no other, of all sentences in proceedings and causes 
 
 " ecclesiastical. 
 
 " As for the degradation and deposing of Mr. Cawdry 
 
96 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP. « from the ministry, the temporal law of the realm taketh 
 
 \ " no knowledge thereof ; and yet the Chief Justice of the 
 
 " Common Pleas, the Lord Chief Baron, and the Queen's 
 " Attorney, were there, and gave their consents. And it is 
 " of that nature, that until he be restored, he is not capable 
 " of any other benefice ecclesiastical ; and was [so censured,] 
 " not only for lack of his conformity to the sentence, but 
 " for that he refused to conform himself to the observ ation 
 " of her Majesty's laws, and of the order of the book, in 
 " sundry particular points : however, in general words he 
 " pretendeth that he will be obedient. Thus praying your 
 " good Lordship to take this my short plain answer in good 
 " part, I humbly take my leave of your good Lordship. 
 
 " Your good Lordship's humbly 
 " at commandment, 
 
 « WILLIAM AUBREY." 
 
 " From London, 
 « this 18th July, 1591." 
 
 The statute That sentence of anno prbno of the Queen, which Caw- 
 Cawdry's dry's counsel so much urged to render the sentence of de- 
 counsel, privation null, was this, that it appointed the punishment 
 for depraving the Book of Common Prayers, or refusing to 
 say or use the said Common Prayers, or to minister the Sa- 
 craments, after lawful conviction according to the laws of 
 this realm, by verdict of twelve men, by confession, or no- 
 torious evidence of the fact ; for the first offence, to be only 
 the loss of the profits of his benefice for one year, and six 
 months' imprisonment ; and after the first conviction, if a 
 second offence be committed, and a lawful conviction had, 
 then a year's imprisonment with deprivation ipso facto. 
 But this decree or definitive sentence inflicted deprivation 
 for the first offence, leaving no time for the second convic- 
 tion, nor punishment for a second offence. 
 Offered to j^ n ^ fa us at ] ast t j 1 i s \ ono . process seemed to be ended, 
 
 be restored ° . r . . , ~ , 
 
 to his min- (at least I know no more of it,) which was in hand four 
 subTcrip-" y ears an d seven months, and cost Cawdry one or two and 
 tion. twenty journeys to London. The last particular I meet 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 97 
 
 with in this tedious suit was, that the aforesaid nobleman CHAP, 
 requested that this man might be restored to his ministry ; V111 ' 
 which Dr. Lewin and Dr. Aubrey acquainted the Arch- 
 bishop with : who answered, he was willing to do it, if he 
 would subscribe to certain Articles, as other Ministers did: 
 which had been offered to him several times before, both by 
 the Archbishop and the Bishop of London. But that Caw- 
 dry would not be brought to do : neither could the advice 
 of his said noble intercessor prevail with him. 
 
 CHAP. IX. 
 
 His contest with one Maddocks. Smith, the Preacher at 
 St. ClemenCs, suspended. A visitation. Dyke, of St. 
 Albans, forbid preaching. Cartzoright the Puritan. Sir 
 Denys Roghan. The see of Oxford void. 
 
 1 HESE transactions with Cawdry have carried me for- 
 ward three or four years, that I might lay my whole narra- 
 tive thereof together. I must therefore go back again, 
 having some other things to relate, wherein our Bishop was 
 concerned. 
 
 In April 1588, he happened to have a ruffle with a mad The occa- 
 blade named Maddocks, who had married a gentleman's ^""telt be- 
 daughter of Fulham. This man was of a turbulent hot head, tween the 
 and made great stirs in that town : and the same Maddocks, Maddocks. 11 
 I suppose, of whom Sir J ohn Harrington relates, how that Brief view 
 this Bishop once told him, that his name expressed his na- '{J* s ' tat< 
 ture, and that he was one of the madest beasts that ever he Chnrch. 
 talked with. He happened to have a contest with the 
 Bishop about some private matters ; as concerning the right 
 of a pew in Fulham church ; and with the townsmen about 
 a passage to a ground of the Bishop's. Martin Marprelate 
 brings in another cause yet of these dissensions, namely, 
 from the Bishop's taking part with his man, who being 
 executor to the will of somebody dwelling in Fulham, de- 
 tained the payment of a legacy given therein to a poor 
 it 
 
98 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP, shepherd : whereat Maddocks advised the shepherd to bring 
 ' his case into the Court of Requests, where he had some of- 
 fice, thinking probably thereby to draw some blemish upon 
 the Bishop. And when the matter was indeed moved in 
 that Court, the Bishop wrote to the Masters of the Requests, 
 that they would discharge his man, and he would see agree- 
 ment made ; which nevertheless that Court yielded not to : 
 and the Bishop knowing Maddocks, the man that upheld 
 the shepherd, sent for him; who coming, angry words 
 happened. These matters argued pro and con created 
 more and more difference ; insomuch that divers frays hap- 
 pened between Maddocks and the Bishop's servants, who 
 would not hear their master abused. One of these hap- 
 Maddocks pened when he and his wife were walking together. Mad- 
 to"the a ' nS docks makes the first complaint, and puts up a petition to 
 Council. the Privy Council, (enclosed in a letter to the Lord Trea- 
 surer,) therein relating particularly the injuries pretended to 
 be done him by the Bishop and his followers, desiring his 
 case might be heard before his Lordship and the Queen's 
 honourable Council; which, he said, no mean justice would 
 do, because the Bishop was, by her Majesty's advancement, 
 in such dignity: and that in the mean time he might have 
 a warrant from his Lordship to apprehend the Bishop's cut- 
 ters, as he called them, until the matter had a hearing. He 
 added, that his wife was with child as he thought, and 
 rested since the last assault (wherein he was wounded) in very 
 hard case : that that assault was in the view of the Bishop : 
 that when he complained thereof to him, he gave him re- 
 proachful words : that for his part, he had given no cause 
 to his knowledge. He represented his case as desperate, 
 either to lose his own life, or, by the loss of the life of some 
 of the Bishop's base followers, to hazard his poor estate ; 
 which was the thing, he said, the Bishop desired. 
 The Bishop Upon this the good Lord Treasurer sent to the Bishop, 
 cLe. eS 6 P ravm g hun to order his men to do no injury to Maddocks. 
 
 To whom the Bishop presently sent answer, that he had 
 given warning to his servants not to meddle with Mad- 
 docks : nor needed he to fear that his men should offer him 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 99 
 
 any injury, nor hitherto had done, but. when he and two CHAP, 
 of his men had picked out their match to assault one of IX ' 
 his men, three against one. And yet, said the Bishop, as he 
 understood, his single man housed them all. But that he, 
 minded to see the peace kept, sent for both him, his men, 
 and his own servant: but Maddocks refused to come to him. 
 The Bishop upon this occasion thought fit moreover to give 
 this Lord a little taste of the good dealing of the man : as 
 1. He made a fray upon his father's man, (as well as upon 
 his,) and wounded him in the head with some peril, and he 
 himself had his head broken for his labour : which blood- 
 shedding was to be examined at the next leet. 2. He 
 charged some belonging to his father with felony; which 
 proved but a rage of humour, and nothing else. 3. He 
 wrangled with the whole town [of Fidham] about a pas- 
 sage to a ground of his, [the Bishop's,] wherein he thought 
 in his conscience he did them wrong. 4. He found means 
 in the Court of Requests to cast an honest husbandman of 
 the said town into the Fleet, greatly to his damage and 
 hurt. 5. Upon Easter-day last he came in warlike man- 
 ner with rapier and target to Fulham church, when the 
 Bishop and all his men were at the Court ; and there thrust 
 in his mother and his sister into the Bishop's wife's seat, 
 and troubled his daughters, being come to receive the Com- 
 munion. The Bishop added, that he bragged that he dis- 
 dained to fight with any of his men ; but if he [the Bishop 
 himself] would hold up his finger, he would be with him 
 at host. That his father-in-law was an honest gentleman, 
 but could do nothing with him, and his rash head since he 
 came there troubled all the town. And lastly, as to the late 
 fray, he told his Lordship that he might well consider that 
 if Maddocks abused him behind his back, his men would 
 hardly bear it at his hands. And indeed the Bishop himself, 
 who was a man of metal, and could use his hands well, 
 would perhaps not well have liked it, if they should. 
 
 In fine, Maddocks had so rudely behaved himself to- Maddocks 
 wards the Bishop, that at last it came before the Arch- sub "" ts - 
 bishop of Canterbury, and some other Bishops assisting; 
 h 2 
 
100 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP, who found the matter so ill on Maddocks's part, that he 
 ' was content before them to ask him forgiveness, and to pro- 
 mise that he would ever after have a reverent regard of his 
 duty toward the said Bishop, as his ordinary. 
 Smith, Lec- Mr. Henry Smith, an eloquent and a witty man, had the 
 Clement?' ^ ast y ear ' VIZ - 1587, become Reader or Lecturer at St. Cle- 
 ment Danes without Temple-Bar, at the desire of many of 
 the parishioners, and by the favour of the Lord Treasurer, 
 who dwelt in the said parish, and yielded contribution to 
 him. This is the Smith whose sermons have been a com- 
 mon family book even to this day, and often reprinted. He 
 was the son of a gentleman of Leicestershire, and bred for 
 a little while in Oxford : but desiring to spend more time 
 there, his father, whatever the reason was, would not yield 
 unto his suit. Soon after his coming from Oxford, he lived 
 and followed his studies with Richard Greenham, a pious 
 Minister in the country, but not thoroughly affected to the 
 orders of the Church established ; and Ins principles he 
 seemed to have infused into Smith. The Lord Treasurer 
 took notice of the man, especially when he put in for the 
 preacher's place in the parish of St. Clement's. Therefore 
 he obtained a testimonial and character from Greenham to 
 the said Lord : to whom, after some preface in his letter, as 
 considering his Honour's place, and rare wisdom in discerning 
 of gifts, and his own unmeetness to commend, and that there 
 were many better means to inform himself, which he might 
 Greeniiam's have ; at length lie thus wrote of him, " That he would 
 him to the " not speak of his human literature, whereof he supposed 
 Treasurer. « Smith himself had given him [the Lord Treasurer] some 
 " small token, (he meant, I suppose, by a sermon preached 
 " before him,) but he had perceived him to have been well 
 " exercised in the holy Scriptures, religious and devout in 
 " mind, moderate and sober in opinions and affection, dis- 
 " creet and temperate in his behaviour, industrious in his 
 " studies and affairs, and, as he hoped, of an humble spirit 
 " and upright heart, joined with the fervent zeal of the 
 " glory of God and health of souls. Which mixture of 
 " God's gifts put him in hopes, that God hereafter might 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 lul 
 
 " be much glorified in him ; specially if he might have tar- CHAP. 
 " ried in the University until his gifts were grown unto Ix " 
 " some more maturity. In which particular, he added, he 
 " had earnestly dealt with him unto the same end, [and so 
 " had the Lord Treasurer,] but he still answered that he 
 " could not obtain that favour of his father." 
 
 In short he was permitted to read (that is, to preach aThe Bisiiop 
 lecture) at St. Clement's, where one Harewood was now^ ends 
 Parson. But the next year, being the year 1588, our Bi- 
 shop, being informed that he had spoken in his sermon 
 some words derogatory to the Common Prayer, neither had 
 subscribed the Articles, wherein was contained the approba- 
 tion of the said book, suspended him from preaching a 
 while. His own case he drew up briefly for the informa- 
 tion, it seems, of the Lord Treasurer; which was as fol- 
 lows : 
 
 Reasons objected and alleged by the Bishop of London, 
 against Henry Smith, Preacher of St. ClemenCs without 
 Temple-Bar, as causes for which he hath proceeded to 
 the suspension of the said Henry from the exercise of his 
 ministry. 
 
 I. That I was chosen by a popular election, as his Lord- The reasons 
 ship termeth it, that is, by the Minister and congregation, why " 
 without his Lordship's licence. 
 
 II. That I have preached against the Book of Common 
 Prayer. 
 
 III. That I have not yielded my subscription to certain 
 Articles which his Lordship required at my hands. 
 
 Mine answer to the same. 
 " First, touching my calling thither, I was recommended His answer 
 " to the parish by certain godly preachers, which had heard t0 them ' 
 " me preach in other places in this city; and thereupon ac- 
 " cepted of by the parish, and entertained with a stipend 
 " raised by voluntary contribution : in which sort they had 
 " heretofore entertained others without any such question 
 " or exception. Secondarily, his Lordship calling me to 
 h 3 
 
102 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CH\p. " preach at Paul's Cross never moved any such question to 
 IX " " me. Nevertheless, if any error have been committed 
 " herein either by me or the parish, through ignorance, our 
 " joint desire is to have his Lordship's good allowance and 
 " approbation for the exercise of my function in his Lord- 
 " ship's diocese. 
 
 " Touching the second, however his Lordship hath been 
 " informed against me, I never used speech in any of my 
 " sermons against the said Book of Common Prayer ; 
 " whereof the parish doth bear me witness in this supplica- 
 " tion to your Lordship. 
 
 " Concerning the third, I refuse not to subscribe to any 
 " Articles, which the law of the realm doth require of men 
 " of my calling : acknowledging with all humbleness and 
 " loyalty her Majesty's sovereignty in all causes, and over 
 " all persons within her Highness's dominions ; and yield- 
 " ing my full consent to all the Articles of faith and doc- 
 " trine taught and ratified in this Church, according to 
 " a statute in that behalf provided the thirteenth year of 
 " her Majesty's reign. And therefore beseech his Lordship 
 " not to urge upon me any other subscription than the law 
 " of God and the laws positive of this realm do require." 
 Certain of If he subscribed not afterwards, yet he seemed to have 
 'lie to the £* ven some satisfaction to the Bishop for his continuance in 
 LoidBuxgh-Ms place till the year 1589 ; when, upon the dangerous sick- 
 Smith to be ness °f Harewood the incumbent, divers of the parish peti- 
 their Minis- turned the Lord Treasurer, that in case he died, Mr. Smith 
 their preacher might succeed him. And being departed this 
 life, they renewed their petition, signed with the hands of 
 divers of St. Clement's and Lion's Inns, and the two 
 churchwardens, the one a grocer, the other a locksmith, and 
 a good number besides of ordinary tradesmen, as smiths, 
 tailors, saddlers, hosiers, haberdashers, glaziers, cutlers, and 
 such like, most of them setting their marks. The petition 
 was somewhat rude, as were the men from whom it came: 
 for it expressed, " That if there were any towards his 
 " Lordship, whom his Honour affected, and was willing to 
 " prefer thereunto, they most humbly and instantly impor- 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 103 
 
 " tuned his Lordship [notwithstanding to lay them aside, CHAP. 
 
 " and] to prefer Mr. Smith in this, and them some odier IX ' 
 
 " way, as his Lordship had many- And in behalf of them- 
 
 " selves they set forth, that [if this might be obtained] then 
 
 " Mr. Smith's living should be ascertained, [which was but 
 
 " precarious before,] and they eased of his stipend, [and so 
 
 " a charge taken from them,] and their desires satisfied 
 
 " in enjoying him for their Parson. In fine, giving this 
 
 " character of him, that his preaching, living, and sound 
 
 " doctrine, had done more good among them, than any 
 
 " other that had gone before, or, which they doubted, could 
 
 " follow after." But notwithstanding, I scarce think these 
 
 men, nor their reasons, were of strength to prevail with the 
 
 Treasurer. 
 
 The care of the press lay also upon the Bishop ; and An abusive 
 complaint was made to him in the year 1589, in April, by g ainst the 
 the Lord Treasurer, concerning a piece that was now come Kin s of 
 abroad. The matter was this. After the Spaniards were 
 so shamefully defeated at sea the last year, and their Invin- 
 cible Armada came to nothing, as thanks and praise was 
 given to God by the devout sort, so lighter minds set them- 
 selves to exercise their wits in the abuse of that proud na- 
 tion, not sparing King Philip himself. One pamphlet of 
 this sort in foolish rhyme was dispersed in London about 
 this time ; which gave offence to the said Lord, and, as it 
 seems, to the Queen herself: for the persons of Princes are 
 sacred, and that great statesman ever spake reverently of 
 them ; nor was it thought advisable to provoke that Prince. 
 Whereupon he sent to the Bishop to know who presumed The Bishop 
 to print it. The Bishop was of the same judgment, andt 0 n fi n dthe 
 said, that in his opinion it had been better to have thanked P rinter - 
 God than to have insulted upon men ; and especially upon 
 Princes : and that he marvelled that they of Oxford (where 
 it was first printed by Jos. Barnes) should suffer such toys 
 to be set forth by their authority : and that he had found 
 Toby Cook printed it at London without licence, and he 
 would talk with him about it. 
 
 The diligent Bishop was now very aged, near seventy visit*. 
 h 4 
 
104 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAT, years of age ; and yet, according to his constant practice, 
 . IX ' went this year 1589, his triennial visitation, which he held at 
 London, August 30. Now among other injunctions, the 
 Clergy there were required, 1. To give God public thanks 
 for the French King's victory. 2. That they be ready with 
 furniture according to the proportion assigned them ; that 
 is, with arms for the Queen's defence, who was now in 
 daily apprehension of the enraged Spaniard, since their 
 shameful defeat the last summer. 
 Suspends At St. Albans in Hertfordshire was placed somewhile 
 Albana! S '' a g° one Dyke for preacher ; and that in some measure by 
 the means of the Lord Treasurer, who dwelt not far off: 
 for he had recommended him to the Bishop of London to 
 allow him ; and because he was but Deacon, and somewhat 
 suspected of nonconformity, the said Lord promised the 
 Bishop, that if he troubled the congregation with inno- 
 vation, he would join with the Bishop in punishing him. 
 But now in November 1589, the Bishop stayed him from 
 preaching for troubling his auditory with new opinions and 
 notions, thwarting the established religion d . But Dyke had 
 gained a great vogue among that ordinary sort of people ; 
 who therefore made their application to the said noble per- 
 son, that he would prevail with the Bishop that he might 
 be restored to his ministry. And in compliance with their 
 suit the kind Lord writ to the Bishop about Dyke, and the 
 interest made for him ; and desired to know upon what 
 cause he had forbidden him the pulpit. The Bishop 
 Gives his readily gave these reasons for it : viz. That he was only 
 
 reasons for j) eacon an d S o had continued manv years, refusing and dis- 
 so doing. r * J ° 
 
 allowing of the ministry of the Church of England, and the 
 
 priesthood, as the book called it, which Dyke, I suppose, 
 reckoned Popish. That the people, if they listed, might be 
 sufficiently instructed by one Mr. Williams, a grave preacher 
 and better learned, without new-fangled innovations, where- 
 with the other did exceedingly keep them occupied : and 
 added, he thought it necessary to have him there. That 
 Dyke was and had been charged with ill-favoured matters 
 
 "1 See Additions, Numb. IV. 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 105 
 
 of incontinencv, schisms, and disorders, and withstanding of C II A P. 
 orders given from the Lords of the Privy Council ; whereof 1X " 
 
 he had not yet purged himself, and therefore not to be 
 retained in the Church. He added, that the multitudes 
 of supplicants for him were of the meanest and basest sort, 
 "dubbed," as he expressed it, "with the title of yeomanry." 
 But instead of all other reasons, he urged that he could not 
 in conscience tolerate him, who was not full Minister, nor 
 would be, lest by that means he should seem to join with 
 him in misliking and disallowing of our sacred ministry. 
 And thus hoping that his Lordship, in consideration of the 
 premises and many other reasons which he omitted, would 
 be content to bear with him, though he bore not with Dyke, 
 he took his leave of his Lordship, praying God to bless him 
 with health and a just care of the peace of the Church, as 
 hitherto he had done. 
 
 Thomas Cartwright, the head Puritan, lay now in the Cartwright 
 Fleet, having been in the year 1590 summoned up f rom app'arf be- 
 Warwick into the Star-chamber, together with Edmund fore the 
 Snape, and divers other Puritan Ministers, for setting up a Bl!,hoi>- 
 new discipline and a new form of worship ; and subscribing 
 their hands to stand to it e : which therefore was interpreted 
 an opposition and disobedience to the established laws. In 
 May 1591, Cartwright lying now in the Fleet, was sent for 
 by the Bishop to appear before him and Dr. Bancroft, and 
 some others of the ecclesiastical Commission : and being 
 brought into a chamber of the Bishop's house, he in a long 
 speech directed himself unto him. He first charged him in Who expos- 
 abusing the Privy Council by informing them of his dis- j ul!ltcs with 
 eases, wherewith indeed he was not troubled: for Cart- 
 wright had lately sued to them for his liberty from the 
 Fleet upon pretence of his gout and sciatica: which it seems 
 was more in pretence than truth. Secondly, that as he 
 had abused the Council, so he with others, in a supplication, 
 had abused her Majesty, in suggesting that the oath that 
 was tendered to them was not according to law r , and that it 
 was given generally without limitation : meaning the oath 
 c See Appendix, Numb. V. 
 
106 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP, which the ecclesiastical Commissioners offered to those that 
 ' came before them. Thirdly, that he had confessed twice or 
 thrice before that time, that a man might be saved in ob- 
 serving the orders of the Church established by the laws 
 of the land, and in consequence thereupon he charged him 
 with the vanity and fruitlessness of seeking a further re- 
 formation : adding moreover, that in the greatest matters 
 he and others contended for, they were of the same opinion 
 that the Papists were of ; as partly, he said, appeared by 
 the answers of some of his party that were a few days ago 
 at Lambeth before the Archbishop and the Commissioners 
 there: whereas what agreement was between the Papists 
 and the Bishops (which that party was so apt to lay to their 
 charge) was at most but in some small ceremonies, and they 
 but indifferent, till established by law. And these were 
 some of his expostulations and dealings in commission with 
 Cartwright. 
 
 In many passages past of this our history we may have 
 seen, that our Bishop had no great pleasure in his advance- 
 ment to the bishopric. And he being of a quick and some- 
 The Bi- what hasty spirit became the more uneasy. I shall mention 
 vexed with* one passage more, (besides what is before mentioned,) that 
 an insh p u t him into a discomposure, and seemed in truth to have 
 been a thing put upon him by some of his back-friends to 
 disturb him. It was often practised by the Priw Council 
 to commit to the Bishops persons of quality or learning, to 
 whose charge matters of treason or breach of laws had been 
 laid ; that by their conversation and learned discourses and 
 persuasions, the other might be gained and reclaimed, lying 
 under an easy restraint in their houses. But about the 
 month of April 1592, the Council sent to our Bishop a cer- 
 tain extravagant Irish Priest named Sir Denys Roghan, or 
 Rowghane, and a woman, pretended to be his wife; the 
 Bishop called her his liousew'ife. These he was to maintain 
 in meat, drink, and lodging, at his house; how long he 
 knew not. The man had little to recommend him, be- 
 ing of a loose turbulent conversation. The woman had a 
 great belly, (which the Bishop called, her being bagged,) 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 107 
 
 and was like perhaps to lay her burden within the Bishop's CHAP, 
 house : and then he must also provide for her nurses and 1X " 
 other necessaries. This Priest had lived in Spain, and 
 seemed to have been privy to the conspiracies between 
 Spain and the wild Irish against the Queen, and an actor 
 in the disturbances and rebellions of that people. But now, 
 upon some disgust taken against his party, came over, or 
 was sent over, to discover their practices ; for which he ex- 
 pected not only pardon but reward : for he carried himself 
 insolently in the Bishop's family, and required great ob- 
 servance of him and his, from the Bishop and his people. 
 When he removed with his family to Fulham, Sir Denys 
 would not stir from the Bishop's house at London ; and 
 made such a revel rout there, that the Bishop and his ser- 
 vants were perfectly afraid of him. 
 
 He was therefore not without cause highly displeased Sues to be 
 that these guests should be forced upon him, and sent letter nd ° f him " 
 after letter to the Council ; and his son had waited upon 
 them a fortnight and more, to be released of that most 
 heavy and unbishop-UTce burden, as he termed it. And to 
 the Lord Treasurer he thus bemoaned himself : " That 
 " besides his charges, there was the carefulness of keeping 
 " them : and assuring his Lordship that it was a great of- 
 " fence to his conscience to keep such an idle couple in his 
 " house ; which stirred no more in reading, in working, 
 " in praying, than very dead idols ; but when his Irish 
 " mouth lavished against his Lordship, [the Lord Trea- 
 " rurer,] the rest of the Council, and such as strained them- 
 " selves to keep them to their charge, [the Bishop meant 
 " himself,] very unseemly and ungratefully. That it had 
 " been the wont to commit to the Bishops of London their 
 " keeping learned men, and not asses with their great- 
 " bellied wives; Indignum Ejri.scopo, et sene, et libero cive 
 " officium, i. e. ' An office unworthy a Bishop, an aged 
 " man, and a free citizen.' He prayed his Lordship that 
 " he might have help; for it hindered his study, his prayer, 
 " and his preaching : and whatsoever they had offended 
 " among them, that it was no reason that he should bear 
 
ICS 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP. " the punishment." Thus he expostuled and argued in liis 
 1X - letter dated May 13. 
 Delivered of But notwithstanding all this endeavour, the Bishop could 
 him at last. not ge( . rid of y g guest . f or j fj nc j fa was with him in 
 
 June. And when he was to be removed to Fulham, where 
 the Bishop now was, he would not by any means go thither : 
 of which he wrote to the Lord Treasurer in a second letter. 
 Here Sir Denys's business now was, in preparing pistols, 
 and swords in walking staves, and other weapons, whereby 
 the Bishop shewed the said Lord that his men and himself 
 were driven to some suspicion that he minded some mis- 
 chief to somebody: that therefore none of his men dared 
 tarry about him, nor he [the Bishop himself] go into his 
 house, but by some back way. He acknowledged, " it was 
 " an honourable meaning to seek to help this man, but 
 " what it would be in the eye of the world, and in the 
 " chronicle to our posterity, to reward an accuser, that he 
 " left to his Lordship's wisdom to judge.'" But at length 
 he was relieved : for I find Rowghan at Kingston in the 
 month of November, and at liberty. 
 Who this Perhaps we shall be desirous to know who this Irishman 
 irishman w ^ what his business here in England. Take this 
 
 was. ' o 
 
 account of both. He had been a Romish Priest, but now 
 professed himself a most faithful subject of the Queen, and 
 acknowledged her supremacy, made a shew of the Protestant 
 religion, and was married. And being formerly among the 
 Queen's enemies in Ireland, was privy to all their traitorous 
 purposes and doings; and upon some disgust taken, had 
 left them, and come into England, to accuse them and dis- 
 cover their practices, and withal hoped by this means 
 to get himself advanced. And coming over in the year 
 1591, he exhibited a note to the Council of the special and 
 His inform- chief mischiefs in Ireland. And his informations he re- 
 the°Councii P eate( l several times to the Council, who it seems were not 
 very fond of him. The sum of which was, that there was 
 one Dr. Craghe in Ireland, who came thither in company 
 with Dr. Saunders from beyond sea, with a number of 
 Spaniards, to the arch-traitor the Earl of Desmond : that 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 109 
 
 this Craghe remained there to this day, seducing the people CHAP, 
 from the true service of God, and their loyalty to the 1X " 
 Queen ; giving the world to understand, that he was there 
 without either protection or pardon : that he daily conse- 
 crated priests, and used other papistical orders : that by his 
 means the land was filled with iniquity, theft, murder, and 
 rebellion. Moreover, he informed, that there were very many 
 of the inhabitants of that realm, as well in cities and towns, 
 as in the countries, that transported themselves into Spain, 
 and others sent their sons or their next kin thither, to 
 assure the Spaniard the land to be theirs. Then he ad- His advice, 
 vised that it would be necessary to send somebody furnished 
 with sufficient authority to seize upon those seminary priests 
 and their tutors, and to empower some trusty men to exa- 
 mine such as sent their sons or kindred to Spain ; and espe- 
 cially the Lord of Cahir, who had sent his nephew with let- 
 ters to the King of Spain, and to inquire into the numbers 
 and names of those that were gone to seek the invasion of 
 the land. This man offered himself ready to answer any 
 interrogatories concerning the premises that the Council 
 should put to him, and to discourse the same more largely, 
 and to set down the best means, as was possible, to bring the 
 same to pass. He promised to discover many other abuses 
 done there, yet unknown to the Queen and her Council ; so 
 that he were encouraged, as he had been discouraged, as he 
 told the Queen. I take also out of a letter Rowghane wrote 
 to her, that he avouched that several of her chief officers 
 themselves in Ireland were traitors; as Sir John Perrot, the 
 Lord Deputy, Sir Nic. White, Master of the Rolls, and 
 many more. He subscribed himself, Her Majesty's most 
 true, humble, and faithful subject, D. Rowhcme, both Priest 
 and Solicitor to her Highness. 
 
 But how, if, after all this, Rowghan were a Papist still, But proves 
 and all he drove at was only to get himself advanced and re- Irishman, 
 venged ? for what a right Irishman this fellow was, was evi- 
 dent by the examination that was taken of his man, one Ar- 
 thur Connock, upon oath before Sir William Rowe, Lord 
 Mayor in November anno 159-9- ■ whence it appeared, that 
 
110 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP, he, for his service in accusing Sir John Perrot, expected to 
 1X " have been made a Bishop, or to have been raised to some 
 high place : which if he had, he said, he would have pulled 
 down the best of them all ; meaning, of the Queen's Privy 
 Council. And because he was not better answered, he told 
 Connock he meant to go to Rome ; and would have had 
 this servant of his to go along with him, saying, that he 
 should have better maintenance for saying of masses, than 
 he had of her Majesty for his said service; and that he stayed 
 only to get a little money together, and then he would set 
 forward : and added, that when he was once at Rome, he 
 would lay such plots as should disquiet the best of them all. 
 And when his said man refused to go over to Rome with 
 him, he threatened he would lay so heavy a burden upon 
 him as he should not be able to bear, and would charge 
 him with such plots as should cost him his life. And what 
 truth there was in his pretence of being a Protestant may 
 appear in this, that he wore next his skin a string whereon 
 hung a little round bag, and divers pieces of twopences and 
 threepences were bowed over the said string, to be offered 
 to saints, or those that kept saints. And this at length was 
 the man that our Bishop was so weary of ; and well he 
 might be. 
 
 Commends His care of the Church, and his respect to his friends, 
 certain for sucn as were tru jy WO rthv, put him on sometimes to recom- 
 
 the see of . , J 
 
 Oxford. mend persons to bishoprics that fell void : and in May this 
 year, viz. 1592, the see of Oxon lost its Pastor, Dr. Under- 
 hil. For the supply of this place he had two persons in his 
 eye ; the one was the Bishop of Gloucester, John Bulling- 
 ham, who at that time made suit, that that bishopric might 
 be joined in commendam to his own poor one : the other 
 was Dr. Cole, Head of a College in that University. Con- 
 cerning these the Bishop of London wrote to the Lord 
 Treasurer; that as for the Bishop of Gloucester, it was 
 in his opinion very fit for him, for the nearness of the place, 
 and to make some addition to his poor portion : or, if that 
 were not thought convenient, and his Lordship shoidd not 
 like of it, then he prayed him to remember Dr. Cole, who 
 
BISHOP AYLME It. 
 
 Ill 
 
 was his co-exile in Queen Mary's days, and his Lordship's CHAP, 
 countryman, (that is, of Lincolnshire,) and his faithful well- 1X ' 
 wilier. This man our Bishop had not long before recom- 
 mended to something else, but succeeded not ; it being not 
 his luck, as he said with some discontent, to further any 
 of his good friends in any suit of his : yet however, he 
 added, he could not be wanting to his friends, and to God's 
 Church. But neither of these two were preferred to this 
 bishopric, nor indeed any else during the reign of the Queen. 
 
 Now our Bishop hath not above two years more to finish Desirous to 
 his pilgrimage, when he had a great mind to resign his res ' gn " 
 bishopric to Dr. Bancroft, a rising man, and acceptable to 
 the Queen. And three times this year he offered him a re- 
 signation upon certain conditions, perhaps in respect of the 
 dilapidations, to allow him such a sum in satisfaction : for 
 the Bishop seemed to foresee a considerable burden like to 
 fall upon his estate on that account, and so thought it his 
 best way to compound it in his life-time : but Bancroft re- 
 fused. But questionless Bishop Aylmer's main inducement 
 in labouring Bancroft's succession to the see of London was, 
 that he knew him to be a person long used in the ecclesias- 
 tical Commission, and strait for the observation of the rites 
 and prescriptions of the Church established, against such as 
 would have trampled upon them. Therefore it was but 
 the day before our Bishop died, that he signified how sorry 
 he was that he had not written to the Queen, and com- 
 mended his last suit unto her Highness, viz. to have Ban- 
 croft his successor : and being dead, none was so commonly 
 talked of to succeed, as he. But the Queen bestowed it 
 upon another, to wit, a courtly Prelate, Fletcher Bishop of 
 Peterborough ; for such the Queen delighted in : who en- 
 joying it two or three years, it came to pass according to 
 Bishop Aylmer's last desires. Yet however Bancroft's suc- 
 cession proved prosperous to the Church, it light heavy 
 upon Aylmer's heir ; as we may see hereafter. 
 
112 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP. X. 
 
 The Bishop's last visitation. His death. His burial. His 
 last will. His children and posterity. 
 
 His last A GREAT burden of years lay now upon the aged Bi- 
 visitation. sno p 5 an( j y et h e omitted not the care of his diocese : for in 
 the year 1592, March 18, when his son the Archdeacon vi- 
 sited his archdeaconry, he was present, to counsel, advise, 
 and oversee. And the next year, viz. January 16, 1593, 
 was the ancient Bishop's last visitation ; when Dr. Stanliop, 
 his Chancellor, assisting him, or visiting in his name, every 
 Minister was enjoined, among other things, to do what was 
 somewhat extraordinary, (but this I suppose by order from 
 above,) that the full state of each man might be the better 
 known and examined ; it was, to bring, in a fair sheet of 
 paper in writing under their hands, their parents, their 
 schools where they were educated, their degrees, their age, 
 the day and year of their letters of orders, when made Dea- 
 con and when Priest, their presentation, institution, in- 
 duction into their benefices, and their licences to preach the 
 word of God, and where; and lastly, the Bishop that 
 allowed them, since they officiated in the Church. These, 
 with the frequent and careful visitations of his good consci- 
 entious son the Archdeacon, and their rules, orders, coun- 
 sels, instructions, tasks, and examinations, did great good 
 among the Clergy of the city, especially towards the re- 
 forming and quickening of them, and keeping them within 
 their duty, and in the better discharge of it. 
 Departs this Thus our Bishop continued, rubbing through many dis- 
 hfe - couragements, but still persisting in the discharge of his 
 episcopal function in preaching and governing his Church, 
 and watchfulness over such as disturbed the peace or orders 
 of it ; till June 3, 1594, when being arrived to a good 
 old age, that is, to seventy-three, he departed at his palace 
 at Fulham. His body was interred with due solemnity in 
 his own cathedral church before St. George's chapel, which 
 was in the north walk of the east part of that church, under 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 113 
 
 a fair stone of gray marble with an inscription ; which, C H 
 
 together with those of his two successors, Fletcher and * 
 
 Vaughan, are long since defaced and taken away by sacri- 
 legious hands, as Dugdale in his History of St. Paul's tells 
 us. But that which was the inscription was as follows ; 
 
 Hie jacet certissimam expectans resurrectionem sua. carnis 
 D. JoJiannes Aylmer D. Episcopus Londini. Qui obiit 
 diem suum an. Dom. 1594. cetat. sum 73. 
 
 To- scnos annos Prcesul ; semel Exul, et idem 
 Bis Pugil in causa religionis erat. 
 
 By an authentic paper in my hands, it appears the vaca- 
 tion of this bishopric was reckoned from June 5, 1594, to 
 January following, when the temporalities were restored to 
 Richard Fletcher, Bishop Aylmer's next successor f . 
 
 What worldly estate and wealth he left behind him, it is His estate 
 not evident ; but it is, that he made several purchases in 
 London, in Lincolnshire, and in Essex ; and lent out mo- 
 ney upon mortgages. Among his purchases in Essex, the 
 chief was the manor of Mugden or Mowden Hall, in the 
 parish of Hatfield, the seat of the family of the Aylmers to 
 this day. Whatsoever his estate was, he carefully and pru- 
 dently in his life-time divided it among his wife and 
 children by an indenture octopartite ; which he mentioned 
 and confirmed in his last will ; which bore date April 22, His last 
 1594, that is, not six weeks before his death. Therein he W1 "" 
 willed to be buried in some convenient place in the ca- 
 thedral of St. Paul's, on the north side, with some decent 
 monument to be erected for him, and his figure set up, in 
 imitation of that of John Colet, sometime Dean of the said 
 church, standing on the south side. He gave by the said 
 will 300/. to be paid in six years into the chamber of Lon- 
 don, for the better maintaining of constant sermons at Paul's 
 Cross : which sum his eldest son Samuel was to pay out of 
 the rents of Mugden Hall ; and 100/. more, deposited with 
 him by the Countess of Shrewsbury for the same purpose : 
 » See Additions, Numb. VI. 
 
114 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP, willing and advising, that in those sermons there should be 
 X " some remembrance made of such benefactors. To his wife 
 he bequeathed 20/. per aim. until such time as she should 
 become possessor of certain houses in London. He gave to 
 his second son, Theophilus, Archdeacon of London, 100/. 
 owing from Mr. Newce, being remainder of the portion 
 which his said son was by agreement to have with Mary, 
 the said Newce's daughter ; the Bishop acknowledging he 
 had received 100/. already of the said portion. He gave 
 legacies to his two grandchildren, a son and a daughter 
 of the said Theophilus ; and to little John and Judith, son 
 and daughter of Squire that married his daughter ; and to 
 the children of Judith Lynche, another of his daughters, 
 that married Mr. Lynche, gentleman. He gave the manor 
 of Muckleton alias Mugden Hall, with all his lands in Essex 
 besides, to his eldest son Samuel. Certain lands in We- 
 theringset, late the Lady Stafford's and Sir Edward Staf- 
 ford's, he gave to his son Theophilus, or the money lent 
 upon the same. All his lands in Rivesby in Lincolnshire 
 he gave to his son John, who, as it seems, married and 
 lived there. His son Samuel to take out of his library 
 what philosophy books he pleased. The rest to be divided 
 between three of his sons, Theophilus, Zachary, and an- 
 other, who, as it seems, studied divinity. He bequeathed 
 to the poor of London 100/. to the poor of Fulham 40/. 
 to the poor of Hadham 51. His executors were his sons 
 Samuel and Theophilus, Dr. Richard Vaughan his cousin, 
 and Mr. Lynche his son-in-law. For the overseer of his 
 will he appointed Dr. Foorth. The probation thereof bore 
 date November 28, 1594. This is enough to shew the 
 contents of his will. Now we will look into his family and 
 children. 
 
 His wife He married Judith, the daughter of Bures, or Buers, a 
 dren d ' U " S 00 ^ house in Suffolk, being entitled the Bures of Bures. 
 
 Joan, a daughter of Robert Bures, Esq. was married to 
 Thomas King, a good family in the same county ; and after 
 to Sir John Buck, Knight, about the year 1530. From 
 which match or matches sprang manv noble and eminent 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 115 
 
 families of the Mordaunts, Barrows, Bacons, Bucks, Gaudies, CHAP. 
 
 . . X 
 
 Tilneys, Sheltons, Hauts, Aylmers, Foliots, Vaughans, Hai- ' 
 
 dens, Hassets, &c. I find one Esau Buers, Vicar of Istel- ^ " ss - 
 
 . Collect. D. 
 
 worth, who was ordained Priest by our Bishop anno 1577, Geo. Buck 
 no question a relation of his. By this matron Judith, thej^ 1 ' P eDes 
 Bishop had a numerous offspring; viz. seven sons ; Samuel, 
 Theophilus, John, Zachary, Nathaniel, Tobel, and Ed- 
 mund ; besides two or three daughters. Samuel, his son Ex Offio 
 and heir, was left in good circumstances, as may be guessed ^^eldest 
 from a purchase or purchases of lands, which cost the Bi-son. 
 shop 16000. 7 . This Samuel was of Claydon Hall in Suffolk, 
 and High Sheriff of that county in the reign of KingCharles I. 
 He was bred to the law ; which, by certain note-books of 
 his which I have seen, he seemed to be studious in. He 
 married two wives. His former was Dorothy Hastings, 
 daughter of Edward Hastings, of the Abbey of Leicester 
 in Pratis: by whom he had no issue. His second was 
 Ann, the eldest daughter of Edward Lord Brabazon, of 
 Tamer's Court, near Dublin in Ireland ; who was the son 
 (if I err not) of Sir William Brabazon, Lord Chief Justice 
 of Ireland three times in six years, that is, from 1543 to 
 1549, in which year he died in the tents in Ulster, and was 
 buried in Trinity church in Dublin, and his heart carried 
 into England, to be buried there. This Lord Brabazon 
 had three sons ; his eldest was William Earl of Meath ; the 
 second, Wallop Brabazon, of Eaton in Herefordshire ; the 
 third, Sir Anthony Brabazon, of Ireland. His daughters 
 were six. The second was thrice married ; viz. ^o the Lord 
 Montgomery, Sergeant Brereton, and Sir John Bramston, 
 Lord Chief Justice of England. The third married to 
 Rigby, of Lancashire. The eldest, viz. Ann, was linked 
 to the said Samuel Aylmer, our Bishop's eldest son ; by 
 whom he had divers children ; viz. John, Edward, An- 
 thony, Elizabeth, and Alice: from which John sprung 
 Brabazon Aylmer, late of Mowden Hall in the county of 
 Essex, Esq. Justice of the Peace; who hath left three sons, 
 Samuel, Anthony, and John ; and two daughters, the eldest 
 married to John Godbold, of Territon Hall in the same 
 i 2 
 
116 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP, county, Esq. the other unmarried. And from Anthony, 
 X ' the youngest son of the same Samuel, is descended another 
 Brabazon Aylmer, the bookseller and publisher of this book ; 
 who, out of due and honourable respects to the memory of 
 his great grandfather, the Bishop, put me upon exposing 
 these collections, and communicated some considerable papers 
 and notices relating hereunto. 
 Dr. Ayi- Theophilus, his second son, was bred up to the study of 
 cond son. divinity, and commenced Dr. of Divinity, was Archdeacon 
 of London, and Rector of Much Hadham in Hertfordshire : 
 out of which parish he married his wife Mary, daughter of 
 William Newce, (Thomas Newce, Esq. was anno 1617 High 
 Sheriff of Hertfordshire, who, I suppose, was the said Wil- 
 liam's son.) He was, if we may take Dr. Fuller's character 
 of him, one of the most reverend and learned divines of his 
 generation, and an excellent preacher : and preaching once 
 before King James, the King took great satisfaction in his 
 sermon, commending it much ; but being chiefly levelled 
 against the Puritans, he thought he made use of his father 
 the Bishop's notes, who little favoured that party. Among 
 others the good and praiseworthy qualities of this man, he 
 was an encourager of learning, and maintained some scholars 
 at the University to be brought up to the ministry : among 
 the which was one J ohn Squire, his nephew ; and by the 
 said Theophilus's means possessed of the living of Shore- 
 ditch, London : which favours the said Squire did openly 
 acknowledge in his epistle to a Paul's Cross sermon by him 
 preached anno Dom. 1623, whicli he dedicated unto him, 
 and gratefully remembered there ; confessing it was he sent 
 him to the University, procured his preferment there, and 
 had been his patron ever since. This Squire's father was 
 in such reputation with the Bishop, that he gave him one 
 of his daughters in marriage. But how he proved after- 
 wards, we shall see by and by. 
 Some cl>a- We may take some character of this Dr. Aylmer from a 
 b\m. r ° { l etter of his occasionally written to Cecil, Earl of Salisbury, 
 a great man, now, or soon after, Lord High Treasurer, con- 
 cerning tithes due to him from the said Earl's tenants ; for 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 117 
 
 which he was fain to sue them. And to take off any dis- CHAP, 
 pleasure that might arise to him on that occasion, he penned X ' 
 a very handsome letter to him, set forth with much defe- 
 rence to his Lordship, and expressive of much gravity and 
 sense of piety. And not being very long, I shall insert it. 
 
 " Mine humble duty in all due sort premised. My very 
 " honourable good Lord, the constant report of your Lord- 
 " ship's religious and just disposition in all affairs whatso- 
 " ever, hath emboldened me (by nature timerous) to solicite 
 " your Honour in a word or two for mine own self. May 
 " it therefore please your Lordship to understand, that I, 
 " being Parson of Much and Little Hadham in Hartford- 
 " shire, have a year since (or thereabout) commenced suit 
 " against some of Little Hadham (who may happly be your 
 " Lordship's tenants) for tyth of underwoods, by all law to 
 " me due. This very name of suit, though it might with 
 " some persons fore-condemn me, either as covetous or con- 
 " tentious ; yet dare I mention it unto your Honour, whose 
 " upright judgment righting many, will never admit that 
 " prejudice should wrong me or any. 
 
 " First therefore I protest in the sight of the Heart's only 
 " Searcher, that not any sinister affection, but necessities 
 " forceable compulsion, hath urged hereunto. Secondly, 
 " whereas it may be thought, that my beginning this suit 
 " with some of your Lordship's tenants may imply want of 
 " due regard in me towards your Honour, I (upon my for- 
 " mer protestation) assure your Lordship, that these men 
 " being the first, who (after demaund of tyth) were first to 
 " me presented, as those that carried their woods; not leaving 
 " their tyth, they were, not voluntate mea electi, but sorte 
 " sua relicti, et oblati to the first trial of this suit. Thirdly 
 " and lastly, mine humble suit unto your Lordship is, that 
 " though your tenants may expect your honourable patron- 
 " age, (which as their Lord you may afford them without 
 " wrong-doing unto any,) yet it would please yon (of that 
 " rehgious integrity which tyeth the souls of all good men 
 " unto you) to reserve for me (your Lordship's poor, true, 
 i 3 
 
118 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 HAP. " and affectionate suppliant) such favour and grace in your 
 ' " eyes, as that law having free passage, right being tryed, 
 " my poor estimation with your Lordship may, so far forth 
 " as I shall not deserve the contrary, abide untainted : I in 
 " this and in all things wholly submitting my self to your 
 " Lordship's godly command. Thus unfainedly praying 
 " for your Honour's continual prosperity in this world, 
 " and eternal happiness in the world to come, I most hum- 
 " bly take my leave. 
 
 " Your Lordship's in all duty to command, 
 
 " Theophilus Aylmer." 
 
 London, this 8th of Feb. 1605. 
 
 Some fur- We have not yet said all of the Reverend Son of this 
 lef'of Right Reverend Father; but having been so singular a 
 Aylmer. person in his life, I will here relate some few things more 
 concerning him from papers communicated to me by Mr. 
 Aylmer the bookseller, to whom he was great uncle. As 
 this divine was an excellent, so a frequent preacher; and 
 that even to his last and crazy age. He had also an un- 
 common gift in prayer, whereby he was enabled to put up 
 fit and proper petitions to God, according as the different 
 states and necessities of men and things required. He trod 
 in his father's footsteps in his earnest endeavours by all 
 sober and rational means to persuade his people to a due ob- 
 servance of the Common Prayer, and the orders prescribed 
 in the worship of God ; so that it was observed, his congre- 
 gation was as reverent and uniform in the public service as 
 any congregation in England beside: for his father had 
 bred him up to be a true son of the Church of England. 
 And yet he was not at all of a contentious spirit, nor placed 
 his conformity in continual disputations and tossing of argu- 
 ments, or in angry and reproachful terms against such as 
 differed from him, or the present constitution. For he was 
 a mild and peaceable man, retaining the truth in peace. 
 c ha- And as he had considerable incomes from the Church, or 
 otherwise, so his charity was extraordinary: and that not 
 only towards the poor within his own precincts and parishes, 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 119 
 
 but towards others that needed ; especially poor scholars and CHAP, 
 poor strangers; whether Spanish, Dutch, French, Italian, X ' 
 Grecian exiles: gratefully remembering, no question, that 
 his father was once an exile for his religion, as they now 
 were : to whom therefore he could not but have a peculiar 
 compassion. Mr. Squire, his nephew by his sister, Minister 
 of St. Leonard, Shoreditch, London, would often shew to 
 him the necessities of certain persons, and ask an alms on 
 their behalf; jvhen he would usually give him twice as 
 much as he demanded ; whence the said Squire would say, 
 he was constrained to conceal from him many objects of 
 charity, because he conceived him to be too bountiful in his 
 liberality, even to the injuring of his family. So that it was 
 said by the foresaid person, who knew him and his concerns 
 intimately well, that had he been but ordinarily frugal, he 
 might have reserved from his charity to the poor, as much 
 as he left for the entire maintenance of his wife and family. 
 It was this made him say on his death-bed, " that the poor 
 " could not expect any gift at his death, because he had 
 " given them as much as he could, while he was alive ; and 
 " that, to his soul's comfort, he had already made his own 
 " hands to be his executors, and his own eyes his overseers. v ' 
 
 And as he was thus of a charitable, so he was also of an Humble 
 humble and mortified spirit. He exercised himself upon j^J" 017 " 
 occasions in praying and fasting; living contentedly and 
 thankfully with what he had. And though he were one 
 of the ancientest Chaplains to King James, and might have 
 deservedly attained more preferment in the Church, and 
 have been placed in a higher sphere, in respect of his fa- 
 ther and his own learning, when many of his inferiors and 
 juniors obtained greater and more wealthy places, yet he 
 never repined nor envied. 
 
 His preparation for death, and his behaviour of himself His papa- 
 in his sickness, was remarkable, and truly Christian. He ™ t a ' t ° | " ,or 
 was at first taken with a feverish distemper, which though 
 not violent, yet he apprehended would cause his death, say- 
 ing, Nemo moritur sine fibre. Wherefore his first work 
 was to put his house in order, and to make his will : and 
 i 4 
 
120 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP, then raised up his mind to frequent holy and heavenly 
 thoughts ; quickening himself by these words ; Quo propin- 
 quior morti, eo Icetior ; quo vicinior carlo, long'ior a terra. 
 He enjoined one of his nearest and dearest friends, that 
 when he should perceive him at the point of death, he 
 should prompt him to say these words ; Lord have mercy 
 upon me ; Lord Jesus receive my soul. Which his friend, 
 when he perceived his death approaching, accordingly did ; 
 and though he could not speak the words, y#t by the lift- 
 ing up his hand he signified the repeating of them in his 
 heart. 
 
 In the beginning of his sickness his friends persuaded 
 him to make use of physic. He answered, " It needed not ; 
 " he should be well. However,' 1 said he, " I commit and 
 " submit my body unto them, as unto God's instruments : 
 " yet with this caution, that they deal plainly with me ; 
 " and when they find their art ineffectual, then they render 
 " my poor carcass to me again, to be ordered according to 
 " my own direction." When he was asked often, how he 
 did, he would say, " I thank God, heart-whole.'" And once, 
 having laid one hand on his heart, and lifting up the other 
 to heaven, he said, " The glory above giveth no room to sick- 
 " ness." When he found he approached nearer to death, 
 according to the order of the Church, he made his confes- 
 sion to the Preacher, his assistant, and received his absolu- 
 tion; and desired the Communion, but death came too 
 hastily, and prevented. When the Preacher praying with 
 him came to the suffrage, Let the enemy have 710 power 
 against him, he suddenly interposed with an observed cou- 
 rage, "I am assured he shall not." 
 
 He shewed his paternal and conjugal love by these ex- 
 pressions : " Let none," saith he, " think that I have left 
 " my children poor : no, I have left them heavenly riches." 
 And when his wife wept by him, he observing it said, "Why, 
 " how now, sweet heart : dost thou by those dear tears 
 " wound thine own heart and mine ? But mine is passion- 
 " proof. Worldly occasions have many nights separated 
 " us, and the morning hath rejoined us. It is but one 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 131 
 
 " night, one short night, I shall he from thee, when the CHAP. 
 
 " glorious morning, by that never-setting Sun of Glory, ' 
 
 " shall eternally bring us together." Like a good pastor, 
 
 he shewed a great concern for the well-doing of his flock 
 
 after he was dead and gone. " As St. Paul,'" said he, 
 
 " prayed for his brethren according to the flesh, that all 
 
 " Irsael might be saved ; so do I pray for my flock, that 
 
 " all my people may be saved. And to this end I earnestly 
 
 " entreat the Lord, that after my departure he will send 
 
 " faithful and painful pastors among them, who may break 
 
 " the bread of life sincerely unto them, and in all godliness 
 
 " go in and out before them. 11 
 
 When his death came with nearer approaches towards 
 him, he shewed greater acts of faith and fearlessness of it. 
 He declared he forgave all men, as he desired God should 
 forgive him. " Let my people know, 11 added he, " that 
 " their pastor died undaunted, and not afraid of death. I 
 " bless my God, I have no fear, no doubt, no reluctation ; 
 " but an assured confidence in the sin-overcoming merits of 
 " Jesus Christ. 11 And in the conclusion of all, he shut his 
 own eyes with his own hands, dying in the Lord Jesus in 
 the month of January 1625, the first year of King Charles I. 
 a year memorable for a severe pestilence; in which time 
 died fifty-four preachers of London. He was buried in his 
 own parish church, and honoured with a funeral sermon 
 preached by Dr. James Usher, the most learned Archbishop 
 of Armagh. And all this we have said of the Bishop's se- 
 cond son, Theophilus. 
 
 His third son, and his namesake, John, perhaps a soldier, His tbird 
 for some service, or testimony of honour the Prince thought son ' Jolin ' 
 fit to shew him, was knighted, and styled Sir J ohn Aylmer, 
 of Rigby in the county of Lincoln, Knight. He married 
 Susan, daughter and heiress of Sampson of Suffolk. 
 
 Of his fourth and fifth and seventh sons, Zachary, Na-His fourth, 
 thaniel, and Edmund, I know little; only that Zachary andse',^" 11 
 Edmund, as they were brothers, so they were friends, a sons - 
 most entire affection passing between them. As a notable 
 testimony whereof, when Edmund lay sick, Zachary never 
 
122 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP, left him, but was continually with him night and day to 
 X ' the very last ; never to be parted from each other till death 
 made the separation : and that was not long ; which Zachary 
 himself, as it were by some hidden instinct, was aware of. 
 For when the joiner came to take measure of the corpse of 
 his brother to make his coffin, Zachary at the same time 
 ordered him to take his measure also for the same intent ; 
 and his coffin was made too ; in which he was enshrined in 
 a short time after, and died without issue. A commendable 
 instance of that affection and love that ought to be between 
 . near relations, and such as nature hath tied together in 
 blood. 
 
 Tobel, Lis Tobel, his sixth son, had Archbishop Whitgift for his 
 
 sixth son. • a 
 
 Fuller. godfather, who so named him according to the signification 
 of the word, (that is, The Lord is good,) in memory of a 
 great deliverance by the goodness of God this child's mo- 
 ther received, and the child too, cast out of her coach, being 
 big with child, and no harm followed. He was styled, Tobel 
 Aylmer, of Writtle in Essex, gentleman. He took to wife 
 Mary, daughter of John Sammes, of Toppingohal in Hat- 
 Ex Oft'io^ field Peverel, in Essex ; and had by her John Aylmer, his 
 eldest son, Rector of Bletneso and Melchborn in the county 
 of Bedford ; and Tobel, of London, gentleman, who mar- 
 ried Margaret, daughter of John Casinghurst, of Lether- 
 head in the county of Surrey : besides which two sons he 
 had a daughter, named Mary, married to John Acton, son 
 of John Acton the King's goldsmith : which second Tobel 
 had issue two daughters, Mary and Margaret ; as appears 
 by a visitation of London taken by S. George about the 
 year 1636. 
 
 His daugh- The Bishop's daughters were, Judith, who married Wil- 
 ters ' liam Linch, of Kent ; and Elizabeth, married to Sir John 
 Foliot, of Pirton in the county of Worcester, Knight ; who 
 had issue Aylmer Foliot; and he Aylmer Foliot, of Yard- 
 ley in the same county, a worthy and a learned man, and 
 of a good estate, lately deceased. The Bishop had a third 
 daughter, (or one of the former by a second marriage,) 
 Dr. Squire, matched with Dr. Squire, a Divine and Preacher. There 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 123 
 
 be two copies of verses of his extant upon the death of CHAP. 
 Bishop Jewel, one in Latin, the other in Greek. This Bi- X " 
 shop he styled his master in those verses ; 
 
 Heul miki, mors rapu'd dominum. 
 
 So that Squire seems either to have been his Chaplain, or 
 brought up under him ; and that that Bishop exhibited to 
 him in the University. And I find he had in that Bishop's 
 life a dispensation for the vicarage of Conmore in the diocese 
 of Sarum. This man was somewhat fantastical, as appears 
 in that he would needs preach his own wedding sermon ; 
 which he did from that text, It is not good for Adam to be 
 alone ; Adam being his own Christian name. But this was 
 not the worst of him ; for he proved an unkind husband, Squire the 
 and a dissolute man. She was a virtuous woman, and well ^ n _jJJ! 
 brought up. But he, to cover his disloyalty to her bed, 
 unworthily feigned an intrigue between her and a Knight ; 
 and, as we are told, framed a letter from the Knight unto Brief view 
 her, which was indeed his own inventing, to bespatter her^j]^ State 
 reputation. The Bishop sent for the Knight, and found church, 
 out the truth : and soon after, arguing the case between 
 him and his son-in-law, soundly cudgelled him for his 
 baseness; which Martin Marprelate hearing of, thus abu- 
 sively related it; " that he went to buffets with his son-in- 
 " law for a bloody nose." 
 
 He had good preferments in the Church. In one whereof, Squire a 
 by the statutes of the church where it was, he was bound prod ' 6a1- 
 to keep hospitality ; and to have every Saturday three Vi- 
 cars Choral at supper ; and every Tuesday to feed all the 
 poor that came to his house for alms: and there came 
 weekly above ninety persons. But as he was vicious, so he 
 was of a prodigal humour, and ran much in debt : and his 
 houses and chancels belonging to his livings fell into great 
 decay. He was also in the Queen's debt for first-fruits and 
 tenths ; and was fain to make use of a protection. So that 
 at last the Lord Treasurer, the Bishop, and his eldest son, 
 and four other commissioners, took the management of his 
 debts, the Archbishop of Canterbury having granted his 
 
124 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP, creditors the sequestration of his livings. This sequestra- 
 ' tion the Bishop procured to stop his vice and profuseness, 
 and to see his just debts satisfied; taking care that his al- 
 lowance out of the sequestration should be but a bare sub- 
 sistence; because his father-in-law was minded hereby, if 
 possible, to reduce this lavish sinful man to thrift and repent- 
 ance. But Squire laboured with the Lord Treasurer that 
 he might have these sequestrators nominated by the Bishop 
 removed, and this sequestration taken off : for that all his 
 creditors would have been content upon his own word (ex- 
 cepting Dr. Bingham) without sureties to have borne with 
 him, and to have received portionally as his revenues had 
 come in, if the sequestration had been released. Whereas 
 he did then daily more and more incur forfeitures. That 
 it were better for him to resign all his livings, and to com- 
 mit his body to his creditors, than to suffer the Bishop of 
 London (in whose debt he said he was not, but the Bishop 
 in his) to keep his living from him, and to receive all the 
 profits into his own purse. That he could stay no longer 
 at Court, partly for want, and partly for fear of imprison- 
 ment, his protection being ended. That in his journey he 
 must have begged, had not Sir Francis Knolles given him 
 some money to bring him home. And when he should come 
 home, he had not one penny to maintain him and his fa- 
 mily : and yet he was bound by oath, and the statutes of 
 the church to which he belonged, to keep hospitality. This 
 was the substance of a letter he wrote to the said Lord 
 Treasurer, August 12, 1587. And the said compassionate 
 Lord the said day, either by letter or word of mouth, moved 
 the Bishop for some favour to be shewed this spendthrift. 
 Whereat the very same day the Bishop signified his mind 
 in this grave and earnest manner to the Treasurer : 
 
 The Bi- " My singular good Lord, (my duty remembered.) I 
 shop's letter « tmst vour g0 od Lordship will have due consideration of 
 
 concerning JO I 
 
 Squire. " my lewd son-in-law, that neither by pity, whereto you 
 " are naturally enclined, nor by importunity of friends, 
 " which such a lewd fellow shall commonly find ready, you 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 125 
 
 " will forget any piece of that fear which you owe unto CHAP. 
 
 " God, or that singular care which your Lordship hath 
 
 " ever had to cleanse the Church, the Spouse of Christ, of 
 
 " all hypocrites and filthy livers. And upon that confi- 
 
 " dence I am bold to pray your good Lordship, that such 
 
 " an aeolastus, and dilapidator rerum ecclesiasticarum, shall 
 
 " not carry any piece of Christ's patrimony away to main- 
 
 " tain his vicious life : or that he and his friends shall find 
 
 " such favour in Court, that a sequestration, granted by 
 
 " my Lord of Canterbury's Grace, and of his colleagues, 
 
 " men of great wisdom, knowledge, and consideration, 
 
 " should now be discredited, (a matter whereof there is no 
 
 " precedent,) to bring the fruits of Squire's livings to hungry 
 
 " men's hands, as those two were which were offered to your 
 
 " Lordship ; whereby the unthrift might make some piece 
 
 " of money, and so run away ; and so the creditors be de- 
 
 " feated of all satisfaction ; which hitherto they have had 
 
 " good hope of. The sequestrators are for one piece, Mr. 
 
 " Francis Hastings and Mr. Purefoy, of Leicestershire ; the 
 
 " others, my eldest son, and one Mr. Kemp, of the Temple, 
 
 " Utterbarister ; whom your Lordship may at all times 
 
 " cause to be called to account : where otherwise, being 
 
 " committed to such needy fellows as he hath and will 
 
 ; ' bring in, your Lordship shall see a mervailous great in- 
 
 " convenience to follow : whereof I shall not need to speak ; 
 
 " for your wisdom will have thereof sufficient consideration. 
 
 " Thus praying God to direct your Lordship in this and 
 
 " all other things, I commit you to the most favourable 
 
 " blessings of God. From my manour of Much Hadham, 
 
 « this 12th of August, 1587." 
 
 The Bishop's vexation with this man, both for his un- 
 kindness to his daughter, and his other immoralities, was 
 such, that he accused him at the Council-table, where he 
 gave the Bishop sharp words. But in his own vindication 
 he soon after ventured to make his protestation to the Lord 
 Treasurer, (which I must not omit,) that for matters of 
 crimination objected by the Bishop, he was innocent ; and 
 
126 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP, had offered himself to trial in any court in England, saving 
 X ' only where his father-in-law was a Judge; although he 
 knew, as he said, that all the civil lawyers almost stood in 
 awe of him ; and the rather for that the Lord Archbishop 
 of Canterbury had joined with him in this action. He pro- 
 tested before the eternal God, that he had ever, until their 
 meeting at the Council-table, in all humble and most dutiful 
 sort, reverenced his father-in-law, and most entirely loved 
 and yet did love his wife; although he had been greatly 
 abused, and strangely dealt withal. 
 
 What afterwards became of this loose man I know not. 
 But his son John seems to have been left in low circum- 
 stances ; whom his uncle, Dr. Theophilus Aylmer, brought 
 up and maintained at the University, and proved a sober 
 and honest man. He enjoyed the benefice of St. Leonard, 
 Shoreditch, London, by the means of his uncle, and other 
 preferments ; which he gratefully acknowledged in print, as 
 was said before. He was endued with good learning, as 
 appears by his sermon preached at Paul's Cross anno 1523, 
 upon the second Commandment ; which hath a great deal 
 of reading in it. 
 
 The Bi- Having said all this of our Bishop, and his children, I 
 Lid P femUy. e might add somewhat of his name and family, which was 
 ancient and genteel. I find several of the Aylmers in the 
 city of Norwich about the beginning of the sixteenth cen- 
 tury commencing 1500. In St. Peter's church in Norwich 
 was buried one Richard Aylmer, with an old inscription in 
 Latin verses upon him; which shew him to have been 
 Mayor of that city, and derived of an honourable stock. 
 Which verses began thus : 
 
 Weever's Aylmer Riehardus procerum de stipite natus ; 
 
 Mon.p.802. j g q Uon d arn Major urbisjacet hie tumulatus, &c. 
 
 His wife was named Joan ; and by her he had posterity ; 
 is charactered for a good and a charitable man ; and was 
 buried 
 
 anno milleno D. bino cum duodeno ,• 
 that is, 1514, if 1 take it right. And before him there was 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 127 
 
 one Thomas Aylmer, of Norwich, grocer; whose last will CHAP, 
 bare date 1500; who therein left a legacy to his aunt, Mar- X ' 
 garet Parker : which Margaret seems to have been grand- 
 mother to Matthew Parker, Queen Elizabeth's first and 
 most worthy and well-deserving and learned Archbishop of 
 Canterbury. 
 
 Of this family, I suppose, was Laurence Aylmer, Sheriff Stow's Surv 
 of London anno 1501, and Mayor 1507; serving out the 
 year upon the decease of William Brown, Mayor. This 
 Laurence was a draper, and son of Thomas Aylmer, of 
 Ellesnam in Essex, a neighbour county to Norfolk. 
 
 And of the same family I make no doubt was that George Geo. Ayl- 
 Aylmer, one of the chief of the Friars of the Priory of St. ™X'n° of 
 John of Jerusalem in London, who at the dissolution of Jerusalem, 
 religious houses under King Henry VIII. was one of those 
 stout Knights of the Priory that would not surrender the 
 house to the King, as many of the other monasteries did. 
 But however, when this house was dissolved by act of Par- 
 liament, he fared pretty well, notwithstanding his obsti- 
 nacy, having 100/. pension allowed him for life by the same 
 act. 
 
 To all the rest let me add, that I find one Mrs. Fraunces MSS. in 
 Aylmer, a gentlewoman of the Court, who was one of the °* r c " Ar " 
 ladies that attended Queen Jane, King Henry VIII.'s most 
 beloved wife, on horseback at her most splendid and so- 
 lemn funeral S. 
 
 Our Bishop kept a good house, having eighty servants The Bi- 
 with him in his family. And besides, he built and repaired * ll0p ' s , 
 
 J ' r housekeep- 
 
 houses, bridges, scoured and cleansed ditches and common ing and 
 sewers, &c. in which he spent more than any Bishop 0 f ex P enses - 
 London before him had done in forty years. And whereas 
 it was not unusual in those times for Bishops to obtain the 
 Queen's release of first-fruits, he generously forbore to sue 
 for it, considering the Queen's great charges. 
 
 And yet by his good and provident husbandry he laid His pur- 
 out 16000Z. in purchase of lands not long before his death. chase ' 
 
 e See Additions, Numb. VII. 
 
128 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP. And when he died, his goods of all sorts came to about 
 X ' 1000/. ; which was most of it spent upon his funerals. 
 His diiapi- But notwithstanding all the charges and expenses which 
 the Bishop bestowed in necessary reparations, such were the 
 decays of that great structure of St. Paul's, and his ancient 
 palace at London, that three years after the Bishop's death 
 the cost of putting them in repair was computed at 6513/. 
 14?. as Bishop Bancroft, his next successor but one, brought 
 For which in ; who sued Mr. Aylmer, the Bishop's son and heir, for 
 frof"^*" dilapidations, (as the Bishop had sued his predecessor,) and 
 his sod. obtained a sentence in the Arches against him for 4210/. l.y. 
 
 8d. But, to speak the truth, Paul's church had been in a 
 decaying condition before Aylmer came to the see; and 
 what he and his predecessors could do themselves, or gather 
 from others, towards the repairs, could not effect it. The 
 sentence aforesaid took not effect, because the personal estate 
 was not sufficient to satisfy the sum awarded. Bancroft 
 thereupon desired the Lord Treasurer's good liking and 
 furtherance, to prefer a bill in the High Court of Parlia- 
 ment for sale of so much of his lands as should suffice to 
 discharge the dilapidations, considering the said lands were 
 bought with part of that money that should have kept the 
 church and houses in repair: and added, that it had cost 
 him a thousand marks to repair the house at London, being 
 ready to fall down when he came to it. It was said also by 
 the said Bancroft, that Bishop Aylmer made 6000/. of his 
 woods, and left scarce enough to find the present Bishop 
 yearly fuel ; and that he let out leases, some for an hundred 
 years and above, and some for fifty. But he now suing 
 Mr. Aylmer at the law, some caution must be had in the 
 reader how he takes all in the strictest sense, especially 
 having no opportunity of hearing the other side, and re- 
 membering what the Bishop himself in his lifetime urged 
 concerning his woods. I do not know what issue this came 
 to : it seems Mr. Aylmer set him at defiance, and said, Let 
 the Bishop of London repair how he list, but he should re- 
 pair nothing with his money. But I have been told by 
 some of his posterity, that he was fain to part with a round 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 129 
 
 sum at last, and to sell some part of liis estate to make sa- CHAP, 
 ti-faction. x 
 
 CHAP. XI. 
 
 Some observation I upon Bishop Aijhner. Certain things 
 charged upon hint chared. The Lord Burghlcy his 
 J'riend. 
 
 cannot leave our Bishop vet, till we have in some A review 
 reflections and considerations taken a review of him, and BUbop.' " 
 looked into his nature and disposition, his good acquiretl 
 accomplishments of learning and judgment, his friends and 
 enemies, and what things were charged upon him as faults 
 in the administration of his episcopal function. 
 
 I shall begin with the last of these. For however care-Fau'»> 
 fully and conscientiously the Bishop behaved himself in his npoTblni. 
 office, he could not escape many and various censures and 
 ill representations made of him and his actions. But I must 
 premise, that the ground of all the accusations that were 
 preferred to the Queen and Council against him, for the' 
 most part were his prosecutions of such as went contrarv to 
 the rules and orders appointed in the Church. For he 
 spared not his pains to keep the Church of England in that 
 stay of doctrine and discipline wherein it was settled, when 
 with so much mature advice and deliberation it shook off* 
 Popery at first. 
 
 The greatest broil he met with was, that he was reported Wronging 
 to have made a great waste of his woods, to the injurv and felling the 
 impoverishment of the see. In the year 1579, he made w " 0 ' 1 - 
 indeed a considerable fall of wootl and timber. The inform- 
 ation whereof was brought to the Council : and the Lord 
 Treasurer soon wrote to him upon this complaint ; and in 
 his free and plain manner blamed him for what he had 
 done ; and withal told him, that there was a Bishop once 
 deprived for such a thing. But the Bishop on the other 
 
 K 
 
ISO 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP, hand a little nettled, and, being somewhat a hot man in his 
 
 nature, called these undigested surmises; and, conscious 
 
 that he had done nothing but what he could answer, was 
 resolved to stand to the justifying of his own doings. But 
 what his pleas and vindication of himself was, we have seen 
 already. 
 
 Charged for The Bishop was again blamed for his too hastily and 
 for mar- * negligently granting licences for marriage, without due exa- 
 nage. mination concerning the consent of the parents, guardians, 
 and friends of the parties to be married. The occasion 
 whereof was, that in July 1583 some noble person's son or 
 daughter was matched unequally and unhappily, by means 
 of one of these licences. Whereupon the complaint was 
 brought before the Council-table h . And the officer named 
 Mr. Blackwel, was sent for by a warrant from the Lord 
 Treasurer, to appear before the Council, to examine him 
 about granting this licence. But both he and Dr. Stanhop, 
 the Bishop's Chancellor, protested they neither knew nor 
 heard of the fault till the Lord Treasurer's warrant came : 
 whose charge they confessed it was, if they had been pre- 
 sent, to have looked unto it. The Bishop himself was also 
 sent for to the Council, where he was twitted for his li- 
 cences : though if there were any fault committed in this 
 particular, the blame lay in his officers, not in him. But 
 effectually to prevent such unfortunate accidents for the 
 future, out of his good zeal and fatherly care, he forthwith 
 sent order to Dr. Stanhop, inhibiting him for granting any 
 licences at all : which he professed most willingly to obey : 
 but withal desired, that there might be one uniform order 
 in all courts, whence these licences were to be granted. 
 Faculties. Eor the courts out of which they w r ere taken, besides that 
 of the Bishop of London, were that of the Archbishop of 
 Canterbury's Vicar General, the Court of Faculties, whereof 
 Dr. Lewin was Judge; the Consistory of every Bishop: 
 and in some places the Commissary in partibus used it ; and 
 some Archdeacons challenged it by prescription : there was 
 
 h See Additions, Numb. VIII. 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 181 
 
 also the exemption of the Tower ; by pretence of which an c H A P. 
 ancient Priest, commonly called Old Sir Roger, did marry x1, 
 without any licence. For, as Stanhop prudently signified Old Sir 
 to the Bishop, if he made special restraint of his licences, H ° scr- 
 and all other courts were left at liberty, although the 
 judges of those courts were careful themselves herein, yet 
 their courts being kept in London, it was easy for those 
 that meant evil to seek that in one place, which they might 
 not have in another, as daily experience shewed in the ex- 
 emption of the Tower ; by virtue whereof Old Sir Roger 
 married many a couple, which licences could not or would 
 not be obtained. And if other courts were not restrained, 
 as well as that of the Bishop of London, as the subject 
 would receive no benefit, so a blot would only remain upon 
 the Bishop's court, and his jurisdiction be in part over- 
 thrown; when men should know, that they were driven to 
 leave his court to sue to another. 
 
 Therefore upon these considerations, and for a due regu- 
 lation of these licences every where, the said learned Civilian 
 craved of the Bishop, that he would endeavour with their 
 Honours of the Council, that certain restraints might be 
 put upon all courts where such licences were wont to issue 
 out : first, for the form of them ; and secondly, for certain 
 limitations to be observed concerning them. 
 
 For the forms, he sent the Bishop a copy of that of the 
 court of Canterbury, and another of that of London. 
 Whereby it might appear, that the latter was a great deal 
 more strait in respect of the manner of the licences, and the 
 consent of the parents. And if by comparing botfi it should 
 be found, that that form of London were less disordered, then 
 that his Lordship would procure that form might generally 
 stand. 
 
 The limitations to be observed to be these : 
 First, That no licence pass, but that it be directed to 
 some certain parish, and either to the Parson, Vicar, or Cu- 
 rate, who did continually serve there. So might the officers 
 know upon present search, where to answer the delivery of 
 their licences. 
 
 k 2 
 
132 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP. Secondly, That no licence should pass for any maid, (rich 
 or poor,) but that the clause in English subscribed be set 
 unto it. For that every Minister was not to understand 
 Latin. 
 
 Thirdly, That none that came for licence should be al- 
 lowed to it by the Register : but that he should bring him 
 to the Judge, to examine the cause and the necessity of the 
 licence before it pass. And so the Register to receive his 
 instructions at the Judge's hands, in presence of the party 
 that sued for the licence. 
 
 Fourthly, That no bond under two hundred pounds 
 should be taken for any licence of the meanest. And so 
 according to the quality of the person, the sum of the bond 
 to be raised. 
 
 Fifthly, That one clause in every bond to be taken be. 
 that the parties be of that quality, and no other than they 
 are named in the licence; as either by the name of his 
 occupation, trade, gentry, or upward. 
 
 Sixthly, That no licence pass for any maid, but that the 
 quality of the parents be set down truly : and that likewise 
 to be a clause in the bond. 
 
 Seventhly, That where the party himself to be married 
 did not come to sue about the licence, the solicitor, or who- 
 soever else did follow it, should put in known security that 
 the parties were of that quality, and of no other than he did 
 avouch them to be. 
 
 These were the Civilian's restraints devised for marriage 
 licences, recommended by him to the Bishop : to which he 
 in his wisdom might add more. But in behalf of defence 
 and maintenance of the Bishop's court and jurisdiction, and 
 for the care he had that they might not be noted above all 
 others to be restrained from that which was the liberty of 
 others ; he humbly required of the Bishop, that these, or 
 what other orders soever were thought necessary, might be 
 by the Queen's honourable Council given generally to all 
 courts, and all limited to one manner of bounds. 
 Heischarg- Another time an accusation was brought to the Queen 
 disorders in' against our Bishop by some of his back-friends, and that 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 only upon hearsay; which reflected upon his care of seeing CHAP. 
 
 due conformity observed in his diocese; a thing apt to pro- 
 
 voke the Queen against her Bishops more than any other. 
 Therefore they told her of reports of great disorders in 
 Essex, a considerable part of his diocese; and that the 
 Ministers there in their several churches had ways and 
 forms of their own, all different from the appointed service ; 
 and that there were not seven churches in the whole county 
 one like another. This was a severe charge indeed, if it had 
 been true. This happened in November 1581. The Bi- 
 shop understanding such an information to be brought to 
 the Queen against him, was not a little nettled at it; and 
 forth with caused a diligent search to be made in Essex. And 
 after all had not found three churches in the whole county, 
 wherein the service of the book was not observed. Where- 
 upon he prayed the Lord Treasurer, that he would let her 
 Majesty know (and that on his credit) the falsehood of this 
 report, and the conformable condition of his diocese : add- 
 ing his resentment, that any should so far abuse her Ma- 
 jesty upon credit of others, and tell the Queen matters not 
 of their own knowledge. And to signify his diligence in 
 his place to cure all disorders, he shewed the Lord Trea- 
 surer, how by them of the ecclesiastical Commission orders 
 were given out, that Apparitors and officers should on 
 Lord's days go from church to church to see what confor- 
 mity \\as used everywhere, and to certify accordingly. Of 
 this also the Bishop thought convenient that the said Peer 
 should advise the Queen, and to understand further her 
 pleasure in the same. 
 
 In these and divers other matters, there wanted not for Desires to 
 persons to misrepresent him to the Queen; which, when IheQueen . V 
 they were better and more throughly known and under- 
 stood, proved but calumnies. And therefore when some- 
 time the Queen seemed to give too much credit to these 
 reports, the Bishop would remind her of the request he 
 made to her upon his first access to his charge, desiring he 
 might enjoy the promise she had then made him thereupon : 
 that his adversaries might not carry it away without his an- 
 k 3 
 
134 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP, swer, nor she condemn him without his deserts. And when 
 ' he found his enemies aspersing him liberally, and he not 
 called to speak in his own vindication, he would sometimes 
 be a remembrancer to the Treasurer, and say, he did not 
 doubt her Majesty would graciously call to her remem- 
 brance what a princely promise she made him more than 
 once at his first coming to that place, that whatsoever should 
 be informed against him, he should come to his answer. 
 The performance whereof he hoped she would honourably 
 grant him. 
 
 Marpre- By the above written it appears, that our Bishop wanted 
 ders of this neither enemies nor slanderers. Whereof one was Maddocks, 
 Bishop. wno re f ram ed not from shewing his spite against him, even 
 before the Lord Treasurer himself, telling him, that the 
 Bishop's dealings were under the censures of' many, and his 
 life ga ined evil speeches of all. But it must be marked 
 that a great part, or most of these his ill-willers, were such 
 as he procured by that which he counted the discharge of 
 his own duty and conscience, namely, the pressing obedience 
 to the established Church and Liturgy. These men of the 
 separation threw loads of reproaches and vilifications upon 
 him. And every one of them Martin Marprelate carefully 
 picked up, and howsoever slenderly vouched, he clapped 
 into his book, the more to expose the Bishop. Some, and 
 the chief whereof, we will here mention. 
 Detaining He told a lamentable story of the Bishop for detaining 
 goods. stolen goods, viz. a parcel of cloth found within his manor 
 of Fulham, left there by certain thieves, who had taken it 
 from certain diers living at the Old Swan in Thames-street. 
 But when the diers came to challenge their cloth, the Bi- 
 shop said it was his own, because taken within his own 
 lordship: and that if it was theirs, the law should pass 
 upon the thieves, and then he would talk further with 
 them. The thieves were tried and executed, and they con- 
 fessed the cloth to be theirs that claimed it. But notwith- 
 standing the diers could never get their cloth. With this 
 the scurrilous author made sport, saying, the cloth was 
 good blue, and so might well serve for the liveries of the 
 
BISHOP AY L ME It. 
 
 135 
 
 Bishop's men; and good green, and so would serve for his CHAP, 
 cushions, and the coverings of his tables. X1 " 
 
 Another story was told of him, which I put also among Wronging 
 the rank of his slanders. That one George Allen, being his s rocer - 
 the Bishop's grocer, and dying, Tho. Allen and Rich. Al- 
 worth, merchants of London, were his executors. And 
 finding in the books of the deceased the Bishop to owe lil. 
 odd monev*, on Easter-Wednesday, of all the days of the 
 year, they waited upon him at his palace at London for the 
 said money, for that they were to dispose of it according to 
 the trust reposed in them. But that the Bishop called them 
 rascals and villains, saying, that he owed the deceased no- 
 thing, and that he had a general acquittance to shew. But 
 when they desired him to shew his discharge, and they 
 should be satisfied, he would shew them none, but bade 
 them go sue him. And then they replied, Do you use us 
 thus for asking our due ? We would you should know, we 
 are no such vile persons. To whom the Bishop again, 
 Away, citizens ! nay, you are rascals ; you are worse than 
 wicked mammon. And so lifting both his hands, and fling- 
 ing them down again, said, You are thieves, you are co- 
 zeners. Take that for a Bishop's blessing ; and so get you 
 hence : and so thrust them out of doors. But when they 
 shortly after went to bring the matter to further trial, he 
 sent a messenger to them confessing the debt. Yet they 
 could not get the money to this day. 
 
 Another of his enemies 1 slanders was, that he kept one Keeping 
 Benison, a poor man, in the Clink, for I cannot tell how ^J^^ tlie 
 long, unjustly without cause. 
 
 They threw it also as an heinous reproach on him, that Ordaining 
 he ordained his porter that waited at his gate, for a Min- his P ortcr- 
 ister. 
 
 These and divers other stories were but the effects of a These ca- 
 calumniating spirit ; and were either false, or, if there were ^""d^ff 
 any truth in them, they were so put together, as to make 
 that criminal and heinous, which indeed was justifiable, or 
 at least excusable. But the libeller, to set out his pasquil, 
 raked all things by all reports from all the sycophants in 
 k 4 
 
136 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP, the world, and made no choice of men or matter, so that it 
 
 ' might serve his turn ; as an author in those times, (sup- 
 
 Admonit. posed to be Cowper, Bishop of Winchester,) in his answ er 
 People of to Martin's libel, speaks ; who wiped off all these foul and 
 annoTas.o ¥ n o representations of this and other worthy Bishops in 
 Queen Elizabeth's reign, and set in true light the disguised 
 stories told of them. 
 
 And from him to assoil these dire accusations* The busi- 
 ness between the Bishop and the diers in truth was thus. 
 That upon notice given to the said Bishop, that such cloth 
 was waived within his manor of Fulham, and left in a ditch 
 there, and no owner known, he presently, hoping to take 
 them that brought it thither, or at least to save the same 
 from purloining or miscarrying, appointed the same to be 
 watched divers nights. And in the end, hearing neither of 
 the owners, nor of them that so waived it, willed the same 
 to be brought to his house in Fulham, and there to be kept 
 for him or them which by law ought to have it, were it in 
 respect of the first property, or of the alteration thereof by 
 means of the liberties. Whereupon a good space after, the 
 diers indeed came to the Bishop and claimed the cloth, and 
 sought by earnest means to have it again, without making 
 any proof that the cloth was theirs, or that the same cloth 
 was it, for which the thieves were executed, or that fresh 
 suit was made after the said thieves for the same. But 
 upon conference had with learned lawyers therein, it was re- 
 solved, that the property of this cloth was altered, and trans- 
 ferred to the liberties. And so the diers themselves found ; 
 else they would by law have sought remedy ere this, three 
 years being now past since this pretended loss of the cloth. 
 Yet nevertheless, so far had the Bishop been from exacting 
 the extremity, that offer had been made to the diers of a 
 good part of the cloth, where in law they had lost all : 
 and farther to restore all, or to make sufficient recompense, 
 if by law it ought to be so, upon the examination of the 
 truth of the cause. Marprelate indeed called this down- 
 right theft, though it were taken and claimed by right and 
 law, because the true owners were defeated. And this is 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 137 
 
 no more than the law doth in other eases : as in strays, pro- CHAP, 
 claimed and kept a vear and a day, according to the law, Xl ' 
 the property is altered, and transferred to the lord from the 
 true owner. So is it for stolen cattle, brought bona fide to 
 the open market. The first owners property is gone, and 
 the buyer hath it. And so it was for waived goods, as was 
 that cloth. So that herein the Bishop did but maintain the 
 common known right and privilege of his manor, and no 
 otherwise than any other lord of a manor would and might 
 do in the like case. But to shew that he had not so great 
 a desire to detain the cloth as the libeller presumed, he 
 oftentimes asked an officer of his. how it happened that the 
 dier- came not for it : for he had been ever ready, and still 
 was, (and so the apologist seemed to have warrant from him 
 to declare,) to deliver it to them, or the value thereof, if it 
 proved to be theirs. 
 
 As to the executors of Allen the grocer, it is true the Bi- 
 shop was somewhat moved to hear his name to be in the mer- 
 chants* books ; a thing which he ever so precisely avoided, 
 that commonly he sent to them he had to do with, warning 
 them to deliver nothing in his name, without his own hand, 
 or ready money. Hence if peradventure, provoked by the 
 executors, he used some sharp words in a matter that was 
 so sudden and so strange to him, it must be placed among 
 human frailties. But certain it is, that though not at that 
 time, yet very shortly after, the debt was discharged; and 
 that long before Martin's railing book came forth, excepting 
 ten pounds, which the said executors themselves for a time 
 respited. 
 
 The business the Bishop had with one Barnabe Benison, Benison s 
 who called himself student in dhinity, and who for his mattCT * 
 perverseness was kept in the Clink half a year and more, 
 was thus. This man had studied for some time at Geneva; 
 and after a convenient stay returned into England, full 
 fraught with the study of innovation and disobedience, set- 
 ting up his nation in London : where he was married by 
 some other order different from the book and usage of the 
 Church of England : and it seems bore out himself by 
 
138 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP, grave Mr. Fox, the martyrologist ; who, being mistaken in 
 XI " him, favoured him at first, but afterwards acknowledged 
 with grief of heart that he had been abused by him. Now 
 Benison gathered conventicles, refused to go to his parish 
 church, sought to set all in combustion with schism in the 
 city. Whereupon he was called before Sir Nic. Wood- 
 roff, a grave citizen, (that had been Lord Mayor anno 
 1580,) and the Recorder; who found him in such an 
 humour, that they meant to have sent him to prison. But 
 because he was of the Clergy, they thought good to com- 
 mit him to his Ordinary. The Bishop's Ordinary travailed 
 with him most earnestly to bring him to the Church, and 
 become orderly ; but after all could profit nothing with 
 hiin. Wherefore he sent him again to the sessions, to the 
 Lord Mayor and the Judges. After they had dealt with 
 him, and could find at his hands nothing but railing, they 
 referred him to the Bishop ; who finding in him unspeak- 
 able disobedience to the Queen and her laws, offered him 
 the oath usually tendered by the Commission, which he 
 contemptuously and spitefully refused. Which being cer- 
 tified according to order, he was sent to the King's Bench, 
 and condemned, and thereupon sent to prison. And what 
 at length could the Bishop have done less ? 
 
 But it seems the Bishop had in the managery of the matter 
 with this man somewhat overshot himself, and not proceeded 
 so circumspectly in the imprisonment of him for so long 
 time. For Benisons cause being brought before the Lords of 
 the Council, the Bishop was judged to have dealt too hardly 
 with him, and received therefore some reprimand. This 
 made Benison's friends and the Bishop's enemies to triumph. 
 And he, to second his blow, (that I may put all together,) 
 preferred a petition to the Lords, " That it would please 
 " them to inform the Queen, while his affliction was vet 
 " something fresh within her remembrance, that for the 
 " late loss and great hindrance he had sustained by his late 
 " imprisonment, over and beside his former harm done him, 
 " the Queen would take some pity on him, and that in three 
 " regards especially. First, his charges of close imprison- 
 
BISHOP AYLMEH. 
 
 " ment thirty weeks in the Chnk; having a man conti- CHAP. 
 
 " nually suing to their Honours for him : whose expenses, X1, 
 
 " besides his ordinary maintenance, were great and charge- 
 
 " able unto him. And that it might be judged, that nei- 
 
 " ther he, nor any poor student else, who had been ten- 
 
 " derly brought up after an honest manner in learning, 
 
 " could not any way live conveniently in so costly a place 
 
 " so long time under 40/. cost at least. Secondly, the un- 
 
 " faithful dealing of sundry men with him, who had most 
 
 " part of his household-stuff' in their hands when he went 
 
 " to prison ; and the utter spoil of his books, both at his 
 
 " chamber, and also in the prison, brought no less damage 
 
 " unto him than were his costs in the Clink, with much 
 
 " grief because he could get no such books again, as were 
 
 " the most of those he missed. Thirdly, his tenement of 
 
 " freehold, all the stay of living that was left him of his 
 
 " father, was so ruined, and utterly spoiled in his absence 
 
 " especially, as an 100/. would not in all things repair it 
 
 " again, and bring it to the same ableness for her Majesty's 
 
 " service, that it was in, in his ancestors' days. 
 
 " Wherefore these things briefly informed by their Ho- 
 " nours, and his present poverty opened unto her, to wit, 
 " that it would please them to tell her, that he was not 
 " then able, unless he would sell his poor apparel off his 
 " back, or cover of his bed, to lay out 40.9. for his recovery 
 " of ought of that which was unjustly taken from him, and 
 " by force kept still. Which if they would do, he would 
 " nothing doubt of it, but that God, who of his mercy to- 
 " ward him made her Majesty to pity him for his long im- 
 " prisonment, and other wrongs received of the Lord Bi- 
 " shop, would now again move her to set down, according 
 " to this Christian clemency he had ingrafted into her, some 
 " good order of recompensing of him for the great wrong 
 " the Bishop had done him." But how well or how ill this 
 petition was taken of the Lords I cannot tell. And so much 
 for Benison. 
 
 As for the charge, that the Bishop made his porter a ^'^l *, r ,| e 
 Minister; all things considered he thought it to be justifi- hi * P ort ^ 
 
 cleared. 
 
140 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP, able and lawfully done, and not to lack example of many 
 
 such that had been after that sort admitted, both since the 
 
 Queen's coming to the crown, by many good Bishops, and 
 by sound histories ecclesiastical. That where Churches, by 
 reason of persecution, or multitudes of hamlets and free 
 chapels, had commonly very small stipends for the Min- 
 isters, honest godly men, upon the discretion of the go- 
 vernors of the church, had been, and might be, brought in 
 to serve, in the want of learned men, in prayer, administra- 
 tion of the Sacraments, good example of life, and in some 
 sort of exhortation. And this man therefore, when the Bi- 
 shop found him by good and long experience to be one that 
 feared God, to be conversant in the Scriptures, and of very 
 honest life and conversation, he allowed of him to serve in 
 a small congregation at Paddington ; where commonly, for 
 the meanness of the stipend, no preacher could be had ; as 
 in many places it came to pass, where the parsonage was 
 impropriate, and the provision for the Vicar or Curate very 
 small. And how that poor man behaved himself there, 
 time and trial proved him : for he continued in that place 
 with the good liking of the people eight or nine years, till 
 he grew dull of sight for age, and thereby unable to serve 
 any longer. It is to be found among the Greek Canons, 
 that in Spain and Africa, when the Goths and Vandals had 
 by extreme persecution made havock of the Churchmen, 
 those few that were left there alive made their moan to the 
 Churches of Rome and Italy, that their churches stood 
 empty, because they could get none to serve, no not such 
 as were unlearned. Whereby it appears, that in the time 
 of necessity, and such great want, the Church did allow of 
 very -mean clerks ; and so did they in the beginning of this 
 Queen's reign. 
 
 other ca- It is hard to relate all the aspersions and stories they cast 
 lumines. U p on tn ; s grave Father. For besides the former, they 
 charged him for cutting down the fair elms of Fulham ; 
 and for taking part with his man, who endeavoured to 
 wrong a poor shepherd of a legacy left him. The false- 
 hood of both which hath been declared before. They rudely 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 Ill 
 
 nicknamed his Lordship (whose Christian name was John) CHAP. 
 Don John, and sometimes, by an easy variation from thence, XI ' 
 Dumb John ; intending thereby to fetch him over for lazi- 
 ness and neglect of preaching. Whereas in truth he was 
 both a great and a learned preacher, and had been very 
 successful therein. In former time he was the only preacher 
 in Leicestershire : whereby, under God, that county was 
 brought out of ignorance to knowledge and sound religion. 
 When afterwards he was Archdeacon of Lincoln, by his 
 diligent preaching and careful discipline, he purged both 
 the cathedral church and the county too, and reduced it 
 to order, sobriety, and religion. Moreover they had the 
 confidence to give out, that simony was the Bishop's lackey, 
 and that, according to Marprelate's phrase, Tarleton had 
 taken him in Don John of London's cellar: that he urged 
 men to subscribe contrary to law : that he abused the High 
 Commission: that he bound an Essex Minister in a bond 
 of 200/. to wear his surplice on Easter-day : that he forbade 
 men to humble themselves in fasting and prayer : and that 
 he then said unto the preachers, Now you had best tell the 
 people that ice forbid fasts. The occasion of this clamour 
 seemed to be, that in Lent 1588, by letters to the Arch- 
 deacon of Essex, he had forbidden certain fasts which the 
 sectaries had of their own authority appointed. Further, 
 they told it abroad with triumph, how one dame Lawson, 
 a citizen's wife, a bold prating woman, came to the Bishop 
 at Paul's gate, and bade him throw himself down at her 
 Majesty's feet, and acknowledge himself to be unsavoury 
 salt, and to crave pardon of her Highness, because he had 
 so long deceived her and her people. This woman, as it 
 seems, was set on by the malecontent party. For she took 
 her opportunity to abuse even the Archbishop of Canter- 
 bury, as well as the Bishop of London. But the apolo- 
 gizer, in the name of the Bishop, replied, that this dame 
 came at no time to him in that bravery. For if she had, 
 the Bishop was not so soft, but she should have felt of his 
 discipline, and of the Queen's authority. 
 
 They charged him further, that he was a defender of the f h 0 e w £g 0 ' 
 
142 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP, breach of the Sabbath, and that he used to play at bowls 
 X1 ' on those days. And that he was a swearer, because he used 
 to say sometimes, By my faith. As to these two last im- 
 putations, the Bishop thus either justified or excused him- 
 self ; That he never withdrew himself from service or sermon 
 on the Lord's days. That Christ, the best expositor of the 
 Sabbath, said, that the Sabbath icus made for man, and 
 not man for the Sabbath. That man might have his meat 
 dressed for his health upon the Sabbath ; and why might 
 he not have some convenient exercise of his body for the 
 health thereof on that day ? Indeed it was the general cus- 
 tom in those days, both at Geneva, and in all other places 
 where Protestants inhabited, after the service of the Lord's 
 day was over, to refresh themselves with bowling, walking 
 abroad, or other innocent recreations. And the Bishop fol- 
 lowed that which in his travels abroad he had seen ordina- 
 rily practised among them. As for his using the word, By 
 his faith, sometimes in his asseverations, the Bishop pleaded, 
 that if it were an oath, he would amend it ; but he was ap- 
 prehensive of no more in that phrase of speech, By my faith, 
 than In very truth, Bona fide, Assuredly, or as Amen im- 
 porteth. 
 
 Beside the book of Martin Marprelate, wherein most of 
 these calumnies are cast upon him, there was another book 
 came forth in these times, written with as much spite against 
 the Bishops, and Aylmer among the rest, entitled, A Dia- 
 logue concerning the Tyrannical Dealings of the Lord Bi- 
 shops. Where the author spake of his making the porter 
 of his gate Minister of Paddington, being blind, when he 
 could do him no further service. But that was known to 
 be false, that honest man losing his sight divers vears after. 
 And in another place, that this Bishop when he was at best 
 was but a corrupt man : and that the best thing in his book 
 [of the Harboroagh of Faitlful Subjects] savoured but of 
 earth, and many things handled in it very immodestly and 
 unchristianly. 
 
 And, that I may not conceal any thing that his slander- 
 ous enemies belched out against him, the very mention 
 
BISHOP AYLMER 
 
 14:3 
 
 whereof is enough to shew their malice, and to justify the CHAP. 
 Prelate ; there was another imputation cast upon him, both ' 
 of covetousness and falsehood. As that he protested once 
 at Paul's Cross, that he had no money, and that Paul's 
 church could bear him witness, [upon which he had laid 
 out so largely in repairs.] And that shortly after one of 
 his servants robbed him of an 100/. As though these two 
 might not well consist together ; that at the time when he 
 spake those words he might have little or no money, and 
 soon after receive an 100/. and have it in his house. Nor 
 is it an unusual manner of speech for men to sav, thev have 
 no monev, when thev have not plentv of it. The slanderer 
 added, that for this offence of robbing the Bishop, he hung 
 three or four : some of which said, they knew he had 
 money at usury, and that his servants lived upon bribes. 
 The libeller was put hard to it to blemish the Bishop's 
 name, when he was fain to make use of the words of rogues 
 hanged at Tyburn to do it. What credit is to be given to 
 such, let anv one judge. 
 
 But in the midst of these enemies he had divers friends, His friends, 
 and some of them of power and quality at the Court. The 
 chief of these was the Lord Burghlev, Lord Treasurer of 
 England ; who indeed, as he was a verv good and wise 
 man, so lie was a general patron and friend to all the wor- 
 thy and learned men of the Church. He was this Bishop's 
 great and constant friend ; and he shewed himself never 
 the less friendly, though he used, as he saw occasion, freelv 
 to speak his mind, and admonish him in some things which 
 he thought reprovable. Whereat though the Bishop woidd 
 be sometimes a little nettled, and speak and write to the 
 Lord Treasurer somewhat hastily, vet this never abated 
 that real love the said Lord had for him : which the Bi- 
 shop after long experience being very sensible of, vowed 
 himself unto him, as his chief patron under God and the 
 Queen. And when once, viz. in the year 1585, the said 
 noble Peer had by the Lord North sent a kind message to 
 him, expressing what an opinion and value he had for him ; 
 and particularly that he would endeavour to procure him 
 
144 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP, more ease by a translation to an easier bishopric, which was 
 XI " the tiling that of all he most desired ; these favours made 
 a great impression upon the Bishop's grateful heart ; which 
 by letter to the said Lord he soon expressed: "That he 
 " understood by the abovesaid Lord North, how much he 
 " was bound to him, as well for his good opinion of him far 
 " above any thing that was in him, as also for his honour- 
 " able purpose to purchase, him some more ease in his old 
 " years, than hitherto it had been his luck to have. That 
 " though he had neither by obsequious attendance, nor bv 
 " any manner of recompense, nor by any great signification 
 " of thankfulness, given his Lordship any cause to deal so 
 " favourably ; yet that it might please him to think of him, 
 " [the Bishop,] who, he said, was no good courtier, as one 
 " that could better conceive what and how much he was 
 " bound unto so honourable a friend, than his plain nature 
 " by outward shew did commonly vaunt. But that his 
 " Lordship should find, by God's grace in the end, when 
 " ability served, that he would neither forget his obtain- 
 " ing the archdeaconry of Lincoln for him, nor his honour- 
 " able countenance for him since he came to that restless 
 " sea, [he meant the bishopric,] nor the constant conti- 
 " nuance of his favour and furtherance towards him in his 
 " long lingering hope of remove." But there was a party 
 at Court against him, that ever obstructed this from taking 
 effect, in how great probability soever it was sometimes of 
 succeeding. 
 
 He called it his burthenous estate in that place, wherein 
 he found himself every day more and more unapt to supply 
 what the place and the time required. But he prayed that 
 God's will might be done, who in mercy in his good time 
 would provide a place for him of more ease, [meaning 
 heaven,] and a man for that room of more ability. And 
 thus in the conclusion composing himself as to this matter, 
 " that though some men sought to hinder the course that 
 " the Lord Treasurer and other of his honourable friends 
 " so favourably followed, yet in the end they should do no 
 " more than God would suffer 1116111." 
 
BISHOP AYLMER 
 
 145 
 
 Between the foresaid noble Lord and him was held a con- C II A P. 
 stant good correspondence. For indeed he was a person that XI ' 
 took a particular care of the Church, and the state of reli- Lord Trea - 
 gion; and was, as I may so say, the superintendent of theuurghiey. 
 superintendents of it. And the Bishop, seeing how he was 
 concerned, not only for the civil state, but the ecclesiastic 
 also, told him once, that he, the said Lord, might justly say, 
 not only rcipublicce, but, with St. Paul, Mild incumbit cura 
 omnium Ecclesiarum. In truth he was one, that, by his ex- 
 traordinary natural parts, and deep and long experience, 
 had arrived to such a degree of wisdom and understanding, 
 that when once the Bishop had signified his advice in some 
 matter, he shortly took up himself with the Latin proverb, 
 Sed sus Minervam, and said no more. And well know- 
 ing the great stay this said Lord was to the whole kingdom, 
 at another time he made this prayer for him ; " I pray for 
 " you as God's good and great instrument in this poor ark 
 " of Noah, and these most dangerous times. In which I 
 " pray God send you the eyes of angels, and the wisdom 
 " of Solomon." 
 
 CHAP. XII. 
 
 His great abilities in learning. His disputations : writ- 
 ings. A Logician : <m Historian : an Hebrician : a 
 Civilian. 
 
 But let us turn away our eyes from these his troubles, 
 and take another view of him, as he was a man excellently 
 endowed both with human and divine learning. 
 
 He gave the first marks of his abilities this way in his His debates 
 disputations in the Convocation under Queen Mary, when Mary's 
 he was a member there. Where he had need both of cou- Convoca- 
 rage and learning too, to withstand the torrent of an assem- 
 bly of Popish Divines, resolvedly bent to overthrow the 
 Gospel. He managed himself now very well, and shewed 
 
146 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP. 
 XII. 
 
 Concern- 
 ing the 
 sense of 
 
 His free 
 speech to 
 the Prolo- 
 cutor. 
 
 first that he was a good Grecian ; making that part of his 
 . learning serviceable now to him. For when Cheny, another 
 of the Protestant disputants, had quoted a passage out of 
 Theodoret, to prove that the substance of bread remained 
 after the consecration, viz. that the elements were the same 
 after sanctification that they were before; and that they 
 did not go out of their former substance and form, where 
 that writer useth the word owlet, substance : and when one 
 Moreman, a member of that Synod, (to evade this allega- 
 tion,) had said, that outrlu. was a word that implied accidence 
 as well as substance, and accidental substance ; Aylmer 
 shewed learnedly, that owlx could not possibly signify acci- 
 dence in the place alleged. And that was evident from the 
 two other words used by Theodoret in the same place, viz. 
 etio; and ayy^oi ; which signify in English, shape and form. 
 He proved moreover out of the same author, that wv'ta in 
 Greek could not be so generally taken, as Moreman for a 
 shift would have had it. This was made good by Aylmer 
 in the acts of the second day. And two days after, when 
 Moreman, his antagonist, for his own reputation, had endea- 
 voured to refute what Aylmer had before said, he again 
 very learnedly confirmed what he had spoken of the sense 
 of ouo-la, by reasons and proofs grounded and brought out 
 of the Greek. Which so confounded his said opponent, 
 that he desired a day to overview them, not knowing what 
 to say. 
 
 Another passage of this learned man in this Convocation 
 must not be omitted: it was this: that when Pern had 
 made a declaration of his mind against transubstantiation, 
 and confirmed the sayings and authorities of Aylmer, Dr. 
 Weston the "Prolocutor took him up short, and said, he 
 wondered that Pern would say so much, because but Friday 
 last he had subscribed to the contrary. But Aylmer stepped 
 forth, and told the Prolocutor, that he was to blame to 
 reprehend any man ; partly, for that the House was an 
 house of liberty, and every man was there free to speak 
 his conscience; and partly, because he himself had pro- 
 mised but the day before, that notwithstanding any man 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 147 
 
 had subscribed, he should have free liberty to speak his CHAP, 
 mind. Such was the bold spirit of the man in a just and XI1 ' 
 good cause. 
 
 One passage more must be remembered of this reverend He take3 
 man with relation to this Synod ; which shewed his pru- i OC utor 
 dence and care for the credit and reputation of himself, and a S ain- 
 those few Protestants with him that were in the House. 
 For when the Prolocutor after some days would have made 
 a triumph against them on the side of the Papists, and had 
 termed their conferences about the argument of transub- 
 stantiation a disputation ; telling the House that they had 
 three days together answered them, upon promise that they 
 should answer them [the Papists] again, as the order of 
 disputation did require ; " and if they be able to defend 
 " their doctrine," said he boastingly, " let them do it 
 Aylmer stood up, and shewed the House how vain a man 
 this Prolocutor was; affirming, that they never promised 
 any such matter as to dispute, but only to open and testify 
 to the world their consciences. For when they were re- 
 quired to subscribe, that which they did was, that they 
 refused, and said, they would shew reasons which moved 
 them that they could not with their consciences do it : as 
 they had partly sufficiently done, and were able to do more. 
 And therefore that it was illy called by them a disputation ; 
 and that they were worthy to be blamed that were the 
 authors of that name. And finally, that they should but 
 encumber themselves, and profit nothing, since the matter 
 was already resolved upon in the House, and determined 
 whatsoever they should do, or dispute to the contrary. 
 
 The next specimen Aylmer gave of his learning, was a His book 
 small but a truly learned piece, called, An Harborowc for Harbo-™ 6 
 faith full and trace Subjects, against the late blourne Blaste, T0U S h - 
 concerning the Governement of Wemcn. Wherin be con- 
 futed al such reasons, as a Straunger of late made in that 
 bchalfe: zvith a breife Exhortation to Obedience. Which 
 he wrote in his exile, and near upon his coming over into 
 England, printed in Strasburgh, anno 1559, the Queen 
 being then newly come to the possession of the crown. It 
 l 2 
 
148 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP, was penned in the name and for the vindication of the 
 ' English Protestants, against a hook written by Knox the 
 Scot, entitled, A Blast against the Government of Women. 
 Wherein he spake much and vehemently concerning the 
 unlawfulness of women's government, and for fighting 
 against and dethroning of Princes, if they opposed and 
 persecuted religion, and earnestly excited the people there- 
 unto, out of hatred to Queen Mary and her persecutions. 
 This was a doctrine the true English Protestants in these 
 times utterly disowned ; and therefore it behoved them at 
 this juncture especially to clear themselves of by some pub- 
 lic testimony. And this Aylmer did in this book, and 
 threw such principles rather upon the Papists. And hence 
 in a place in his book he took occasion to declaim against 
 the Popish Bishops, and their lascivious living, and their 
 secular wealth, and spake in these words ; (which Marpre- 
 late, and after him Will. Prin, made use of against even 
 Antipathy, the Protestant Bishops ;) " Come off, ye Bishops ; away 
 Part 4 n. " with your superfluities : yield up your thousands : be 
 " content with hundreds, as they be in other reformed 
 " Churches, where be as great learned men as you are. 
 " Let your portion be priest-like, not prince-like. Let 
 " the Queen have the rest of your temporalities and other 
 " lands to maintain these wars [against the French, that 
 " now threatened the nation much] which you procured, 
 " [meaning the Popish Clergy, in compliance with King 
 " Philip,] and your Mistress [Queen Mary] left her [Queen 
 " Elizabeth] embroiled in ; and with the rest to build and 
 " found schools throughout the realm ; that every parish 
 " church may have his preacher, every city his superin- 
 " tendent, to live honestly and not pompously : which 
 " will never be unless your lands be dispersed and be- 
 " stowed upon many, which now feed and fat but one. 
 " Remember that Abimelech, (as he goes on,) when David 
 " in his banishment would have dined with him, kept such 
 " hospitality, that he had no bread in his house to give him 
 " but the shewbread. Where was all his superfluity to 
 " keep your pretended hospitality ? For that is the cause 
 
BISHOP AYLMEIt. 
 
 149 
 
 " that you allege, why you must have thousands, as though CHAP. 
 " vou were commanded to keep hospitality rather with a X11 " 
 " thousand than with an hundred." 
 
 Indeed our Divine was then, as appears sufficiently by 
 what is above said, no friend to the wealth and grandeur of 
 those Papal Bishops that were then in place, who affected 
 splendor and glory more than true regard to Christ and his 
 flock, and had shewn themselves the greatest opposers of 
 the Gospel, and the reformation of the corruptions of the 
 Church. And hence he spared them not. And in another 
 place of his book, " Could the Bishops ruffle in their robes, 
 " keep their great horses, and have their thousands yearly, 
 " with all the rest of their superfluity, if she [Queen Eliza- 
 " beth, lately come to reign] were not their bulwark, and 
 " took care for them, while they care not for her :* mean- 
 ing these Popish Prelates, who remained at present in their 
 places, and whom the Protestants feared might still con- 
 tinue there. But Aylmer's expressions were so general 
 against all Bishops, that they were afterwards by the ene- 
 mies of episcopacy thrown in his own teeth, and of the rest 
 of the Protestant Bishops. And he himself was fain to 
 make apology (the best he could) for those words of his. 
 One of the taunts on this occasion cast at him by Martin 
 Marprelate was, that he prayed Bishop Aylmer to resolve 
 him, that in case this prophecy of Mr. Aylmer (meaning 
 those words of his book, " come down, ye Bishops, from 
 " your thousands, 11 &c.) came to pass in his days, who then 
 should be Bishop of London ? 
 
 But to return to the book itself. He dedicated it to the Dedicates it 
 Earl of Bedford and the Lord Dudley ; and therein gave * 'J Bedford 
 the reason that moved him to write, protesting, in the name a " d Lord 
 of the rest of the learned Protestants, against this Blast to Dud ' ey ' 
 overthrow the government of women"; and that he took this 
 work in hand so much the rather, because, if no man should 
 have done it, all their side should seem to have borne with 
 it ; which he knew to be so far off, that none that he knew 
 (he spake of the learned) were any further guilty in this 
 point, than that by their [public] declaration they had not 
 l 3 
 
150 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP, shewed themselves guiltless. " I dare be bold to say," 
 XI1 " added he, "that all the best learned be of the same judgment 
 " herein, that this my simple treatise shall utter me to be 
 " of. So that neither our sworn enemies, the Papists, shall 
 " have any longer leisure to belie us ; nor our half friends, 
 " which are indifferent to believe any thing of us hereafter, 
 " to mistrust us; nor the high powers themselves in this 
 " point to fear us. We have learned and taught, we love 
 " and like, we honour and esteem true obedience to the 
 " high Ministers of God. And on the contrary, we can no 
 " skill of seditious disturbers of well settled polices, of rash, 
 " unbridled breakers of wholesome and godly laws. Thus, 
 " methinks, I may say in the name of all, because I know 
 " the contrary opinion to be in few or none. Wherefore let 
 " our enemies leave off thus to charge us." 
 
 But it seems their enemies would not leave off, notwith- 
 standing Aylmer's counsel to them : for the calumny was 
 too sweet to their enemies to lay it aside. And they con- 
 tinued industriously to blow it about, and to make a noise 
 against the whole body of the English Protestants for that 
 single book of Knox's, however disowned and abhorred by 
 them. For it was three or four years after, that one Tho. 
 Dorman boldly in print told the English Protestants in ge- 
 Dorm. neral ; " When it served your turn, you defended stoutly 
 n9° f ' P " with tooth an d nau S that a woman might not govern a 
 " realm lawfully descended unto her, no, not in civil and 
 " politic matters. Within how few years, yea months after, 
 " taught ye, (the time so serving for your purpose,) and 
 " yet do, that a woman may rule not the realm in temporal 
 " things [only,] but the Church in spirituals." As though 
 it were still the Protestants 1 principle, but that now they 
 concealed it, because they had a woman on their own side. 
 
 And besides this, the Papists had the impudence to lay 
 the charge still more home, viz. that however the author of 
 the Harborough pretended that he that wrote that book of 
 the Blast was a stranger and no Englishman, yet in truth 
 he was an Englishman. For thus the same Dorman writ ; 
 " That they covered their malice with the cloak of a 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 161 
 
 " stranger, and so conveyed the fault from themselves to CHAP. 
 " another. But that the truth was well known to be far Xl1 ' 
 " otherwise." And that first, because [forsooth] Aylmer in 
 his book had said, that the author of that book against wo- 
 men's government " was grieved, like a good member of that 
 " body which then suffered," [that is, the English in exile 
 under Queen Mary,] therefore he must be English himself, 
 and of English principles: for surely the Scottish author 
 must be said to be so, living in England upon Queen 
 Mary's access to the crown, and flying then with the rest 
 of the English in the beginning of her reign. And se- 
 condly, this author must in Dormant account be English, 
 because Aylmer had said of him, that he should not have 
 meddled with other Princes, but kept himself in the parti- 
 cular person of his sovereign Lady Queen Mary. Indeed 
 this might have looked like some truth, if there had been 
 no other Queen Mary at that time but she of England. 
 But there was then a Mary Queen of Scots too ; and of the 
 same severe temper against the professors of religion as the 
 other Queen her namesake. And concerning her, viz. the 
 Scotch Queen Mary, it is that Aylmer spake, " that the 
 " present State then, through the fault of the person and 
 " not of the sex, was unnatural, unreasonable, unjust, and 
 " unlawful. And that if he [meaning Knox] had kept him 
 " in that particular person, he could have said nothing too 
 " much, nor in such wise as could have offended any indif- 
 " ferentman : adding this concerning the same Knox, (which 
 " will speak full out his mind in this matter,) that this again 
 " would have been considered, that if the question were to 
 " be handled, yet were it not meet to bring it into doubt at 
 " that time, when it could not, nor yet can be, redressed 
 " (were it never so evil) without manifest and violent wrong 
 " of them that be in place. For if it were unlawful (as he 
 " will have it) that that sex should govern, yet is it not 
 " unlawful that they should inherit. And in this point 
 " their inheritance is so linked with the empire, that you 
 " cannot pluck from them the one, without robbing them of 
 " the other. This doubt might better have been moved, 
 l 4 
 
152 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP. " when the sceptre was, or shall be, in the hand of the male. 
 . " And so if it were found evil, (as I am persuaded it shall 
 
 " never be,) it might without the wronging of any be re- 
 " formed. But now being stablished by law, confirmed by 
 " custom, and ratified by common consent of all the orders 
 " in the realm ; it can be no equity to take it from them, 
 " nor any colour of honesty or godliness to move any plea 
 " against them. If nature hath given it them by birth, 
 " how dare we pull it from them by violence ? If God have 
 " called them to it either to save or to spill, why should we 
 " repine at that which is God's will and order ? Are we 
 " wiser than he in bestowing it ? or so bold to alter that he 
 " purposeth should come of it ?" Thus fully and plainly did 
 our Divine, in his own and in the name of the rest, declare 
 their loyal sentiments of obedience to the supreme, be he 
 man or woman, whom God had brought unto the throne. 
 However, this could not stop the mouths and pens of their 
 enemies the Papists, charging them with disloyal principles, 
 and gladly taking hold of the occasions this foreigner s book 
 had given them. 
 
 Some elm- But as for Aylmer's book, surely it was writ with as close 
 thfbook anc ^ logical reasoning and good arguing, as any I have met 
 with composed in that age, and void of that manner of abu- 
 sive treating of the adversary, (too common in controversial 
 writers, especially of that time,) dealing in gentle and hu- 
 mane words with the person he undertook to confute. And 
 his expositions of Scripture throughout the book, which are 
 divers and sundry, are very sound and learned ; a piece of 
 learning more rare among Divines then, when the original 
 languages and the Jewish history were less known. 
 A specimen Now that the reader may the better see and observe the 
 of the book. design D f t ] ie au thor of this treatise, and his stvle, (espe- 
 cially it being a book somewhat rare to be met with in this 
 age, now after an hundred and fifty years well near,) let it 
 not be counted tedious, if I repeat somewhat at large his 
 introduction to his said discourse in his own words. 
 
 " Like as sick or feble bodies cannot abyde any great 
 " panges or fittes, or old cracked shyppcs any great waves 
 
BISHOP A YLME'R. 
 
 153 
 
 " or windes; so disturbed or maymed commonweal thes are CHAP 
 
 " sone overturned and cast under foot by soden and straung XI1- 
 
 " mutations. Seing therefore that by frowning fortune and 
 
 " Gods wrath, for thoffences of thinhabitantes, Englande 
 
 " is of late, both in honour and possessions, not a lytle 
 
 I* maimed ; yea, takinge a fall through the negligence of 
 
 " the nurse, [viz. Queen Mary,] half made a creple ; it is 
 
 " necessary for all good men, and the dutie of all faithful 
 
 " subjects, to have an eye to it, that it runne not upon the 
 
 " rockes, and make shippwrake. And as in great cities 
 
 " great hede is given, that neither by negligence of the ci- 
 
 " tezins, nor malice of evil-willers, it be consumed by fyre, 
 
 ** or hurt by any other casualtie ; so in commonwelthes 
 
 " must it be provided, that no fyre-brandes of sedicion be 
 
 " cast into the houses of mens hartcs, to hnpayre thobedi- 
 
 " ence of good subjects, to kindle the hearts of thefroward, 
 
 " and to destroy honest, godly, and comly order. For 
 
 " mans nature being such, as it can hardly be brought to 
 
 " stupe, and easily stirred up to disturbe, all occasions must 
 
 " be cut off", whereby the evyl may be encoraged to cast of 
 
 *f the yocke of obedience, and the simple brought into doubt 
 
 " what thei ought to follow. 
 
 " Happening therefore not long agone to rede a lytle 
 " book, straungely written by a straunger, to prove that 
 " the rule of women is out of rule, and not in a common 
 " welth tollerable ; and waving at the first what harme 
 " might come of it, and feling at the last, that it hath not a 
 " lytle wounded the conscience of some symple, and almost 
 " cracked the dutie of true obedience, I thought it more 
 " then necessary to lay before mens eyes the untruth of the 
 " argument, the wekenes of the proufes, and the absurditie 
 " of the whole. In the sifting whereof I mynd to use such 
 " modestie, that it shall appear to all indifferent men, that 
 " I seke to defend the cause, and not to deface the man ; 
 " seing this errour rose not of malice, but of zeal ; and by 
 " loking more to the present crueltie [viz. under Queen 
 " Marv] that then was used, then to the inconvenience that 
 " after might follow. Wherein surely his doing is some- 
 
151 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP. " what to be pardoned, considering the grief that, like a 
 XI1 " " good member of that bodie which then suffered, he felt, 
 " to his great sorrow and trouble.. For lyke as the eye 
 " being full of tears is the more unable to see, so is the 
 " mind full of sorrow much the less hable to judge. 
 Eurip. in " As ye see in Euripides, Polymnestor, being for his 
 " mordring of Polydorus extremeli punished of Hecuba 
 " and other women, (who pricked out his eyes with pins,) 
 " cryeth out not only agaynst them that hurt hym, but 
 Idem in " agaynst the whole sexe that never came nere him. And 
 Hipp. « m Hippolitus, who for the faut of his stepdame Phedra, 
 " curseth the whole kind : so this author seyng the tor- 
 " ments of martyres, the murdring of good men, thimpri- 
 " sonment of innocents, the racking of the giltless, the ba- 
 " nishing of Christ, the receivyng of Antichrist, the spoyl- 
 " ing of subjects, the maintenance of strangers, the moving 
 " of warrs, the losse of Englandes honour, the purchasing 
 " of hatred where we had love, the procuring of trouble 
 " where we had peax, the spending of treasure where it was 
 " nedlese ; and to be short, all out of joynt ; he could not 
 " but mislike that regiment from whence such fruits did 
 " spring. Only in this he was not to be excused, (unless 
 " he alledge ignorance,) that he swarved from the vnoflsaic 
 " to the 05<tk, that is, from the particular question to the 
 " general ; as though all the goverment of the whole sexe 
 " were against nature, reason, right, and lawes, because 
 " that the present State then, through the faulte of the per- 
 " sone, and not of the sexe, was unnatural, unreasonable, 
 " unjust, and unlawful. If he had kept him in that parti- 
 " cular person, he could have said nothing to much, nor in 
 " such wise, as could have offended any indifferent man. 
 
 " And this again would have been considered, that if the 
 " queston were to be hanled, yet was it not mete to bring 
 " it into doubt at that time, when it could not, nor yet can 
 " be, redressed (were it never so evil) without manifest and 
 " violent wrong of them that be in place. For if it were 
 " unlawful (as he will have it) that the sexe should go- 
 " verne, yet is it not unlawful that they should inherit, as 
 
BISHOP AYLMEIt. 
 
 155 
 
 " hereafter we shall prove. And in this point their en- CHAP 
 
 " heritance is so lynked with the enipyre, that you cannot XU " 
 
 " pluck from them thone without robbing them of thother. 
 
 " This doubt might better have been moved, when the 
 
 " sceptre was, or shall be, in the hand of the male. And 
 
 " so, if it were found evil, (as I am persuaded it shall never 
 
 " be,) it might without the wronging of any be reformed. 
 
 " But now being stablyshed by law, confirmed by custom, 
 
 " and ratified by common consent of all the orders in the 
 
 " realm ; it can be no equitie to take it from them, nor any 
 
 " colour of honestie or godlines to move any plea against 
 
 " them. If nature hath given it them by birth, how dare 
 
 " we pull it from them by violence? If God have called 
 
 " them to it either to save or to spill, why should we repine 
 
 " at that which is God's will and order ? Are we wiser then 
 
 " he in bestowing it ; or so bold to alter that he purposeth 
 
 " should come of it ? If he liable women, shall we unliable 
 
 " them ? If he ment not they should minister, he could 
 
 " have provided other. Therefore the safest way is, to let 
 
 " him do his will which can do best ; which can see plainly 
 
 " that will follow it, where we blindly guesse, and do but 
 
 " grope at it. Per me reges regunt, saith Wisdom in the 
 
 " person of God. By him reign they, and not by us. It 
 
 " is his appointment, and not ours. For though we some- 
 
 " tyme have the election to chuse or refuse this person or 
 
 " that, (as it is in some commonwelths,) yet because we be 
 
 " not our own, but his, nor have our hearts in our hands to 
 
 " ordein what Ave liste, but must as waxe yelde to his wurk- 
 
 " ing ; therfore it is more aggreable to dutie, and a great • 
 
 " deale less jeopardie, to honour his choise, rather then to 
 
 ** preferre our own. Placeth he a woman weake in nature, 
 
 " feable in bodie, soft in courage, unskilful in practise, not 
 
 " terrible to the enemy, no shielde to the frende; well, 
 
 " Virtus mea (saith he) in infirmitate perficitur ; i. e. My 
 
 " strength is most perfight, when you be most weak. If he 
 
 " joyn to his strength, she cannot be weak ; if he put to his 
 
 " hand, she cannot be feable ; if he be with her, who can 
 
156 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP. " stand agaynst her? Thou shalt not take with thee any 
 X11 " " great power, (saith he to Gedeon,) lest you think to 
 " overcome your enemies by your own strength and prow- 
 " ess, and not by my wurking and might. It is easy for 
 " him to save by few as by many, by weak as by strong, 
 " by a woman as by a man. Yea, his most wonderful 
 " works are always wrought in our most weakness, as infi- 
 " nite examples and testimonies do shewe. 
 
 " Yet mean I not to barre policie, when without breach 
 " of Gods ordinance it may have place. For policie is 
 " Gods gifte, either geven man immediately of God, or 
 " gotten by study, experience, and practise, or wonne by 
 " quickness of witt. But when God chuseth himself by 
 " sending to us a King, whose succession is ruled by in- 
 " heritance and lyneal descent ; no heires male ; it is a 
 " plain argument, that for some secret purpose he mindeth 
 " the female should reigne and govern,'" &c. 
 
 After this he proceeds to a closer combat, and undertakes 
 to overthrow all Knox's arguments ; entering upon this 
 part with these words: " But lest this author should 
 " thinke that I make to long a floryshe before I come to 
 <; handstrokes with him, as an evil-fenced man, that can 
 " make a better bragge of his cunning, then, when need is, 
 u use it, I mind before I say any more of this matter, to 
 " buckle with him in his arguments, and to try what blowes 
 " he gyveth. Wherein if I follow not the order that he 
 " kepith leafe by leafe, and reason by reason, (which I 
 " avoide, because he followeth no method,) yet I trust so 
 " to hyt the pithe of it, that all such as be indifferent shall 
 " think him fully answered ; and he himself, with the boult- 
 " ing out of the truth, not offendid. For I have that opin- 
 " ion of the man's honesty and godlines, that he Mill not 
 " disdayne to hear better reasons, nor be lothe to be taught 
 n in any thing he misseth : knowing that no mans judg- 
 " ment is so sound, no mans wytte so ripe, no mans learn- 
 " ing so perfight, but he may sometyme misse the quissyon, 
 M and fall into efcrouf/ 1 The arguments, (winch he acknow- 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 157 
 
 ledged to be liandsoniely amplified,) as he gathered them CHAP, 
 up through Knox's book, reducing them to syllogisms, were xn " 
 these six. 
 
 I. That whatsoever is against nature, the same in a com- The argu- 
 monwealth is not tolerable. But the government of a wo-JJ^ fi 
 man is against nature. Ergo it is not tolerable. 
 
 II. Whatsoever is forbidden by Scripture is not lawful. 
 But a woman to rule is forbidden by Scripture. Ergo it is 
 not lawful. 
 
 III. If a woman may not speak in the congregation, much 
 less may she rule. But she may not speak in the congre- 
 gation. Ergo she may not rule. 
 
 IV. What the civil law forbiddeth, that is not lawful. 
 But the rule of a woman the civil law forbiddeth. Ergo it 
 is not lawful. 
 
 V. Seeing there followeth more inconvenience of the rule 
 of women than of men's government ; therefore it is not to 
 be borne in a commonwealth. 
 
 VI. The Doctors and Canonists forbid it. Ergo it can- 
 not be good. 
 
 Thus Ayhner drew out the substance and strength of 
 Knox's book by reducing it into these particulars : which 
 he called the props which held up this matter ; or rather 
 the pickaxes to undermine the State. All which he an- 
 swered, article by article, with a great deal of fine wit, 
 strong reason, handsome eloquence, and great reading of 
 histories and authors. 
 
 After he had despatched his answer to Knox, in the con- 
 clusion of his book he treated of three things with peculiar 
 regard unto the new Queen. I. Of the duty owing from 
 the subject to her. II. Of the good hope that her people 
 might conceive of her. And, III. Of the fruit of doing or 
 balking their duty to her. Wherein his intent was (as in- 
 deed it was in the whole book) to take off all disloyal prin- 
 ciples from her subjects, especially from such of them as 
 professed themselves to have rejected the Popish religion, 
 and to make them ready, both for conscience and policy 
 sake also, to submit themselves to her government. 
 
158 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP. This book came out nameless ; and he studiously con- 
 X11 ' cealed himself to be known the author : whereof he gave 
 this good reason, viz. " That he suppressed his name that 
 " his pen might be freer; and that he might appear to say 
 " of the Queen, for conscience sake, what he thought and 
 " knew, without suspicion of flattery, or hope of benefit.' 1 
 And thus much for his Harborow. ■, 
 
 His book of I do not know whether he writ and published any thing 
 the supre- , , , . _ r , . ? 
 
 macy . else, unless perhaps concerning the Queen s power in spi- 
 rituals, and over spiritual men ; for satisfying the people in 
 her ecclesiastical supremacy, concerning which an act was 
 soon after the Queen's taking the sceptre to be made, and 
 all her liege subjects to swear to it. For he gave some sig- 
 nification of writing on that argument in his forementioned 
 book, where, having discoursed briefly upon it, he promised, 
 that though he then tarried not longer in that matter, yet 
 a time should come peradventure, when it should be more 
 largely handled. 
 
 He was a We have seen somewhat of Aylmer's learning : indeed it 
 log ' t,an ' was universal, being a generally learned man. He was an 
 exact logician ; and so he shewed himself in answering 
 Knox's book, by reducing it into arguments; and then 
 closely examining the strength thereof, and shewing the 
 sophisms in them ; going on all along in a very clear way 
 An histo- of ratiocination, and apt distinguishing. He was a great 
 historian. He had read Josephus, Egesippus, Berosus, 
 Herodotus, Justin, Polybius, Livy, and divers other such 
 authors. And out of these profane histories, as well as 
 sacred, by many instances at large cited in his foresaid 
 book, he shewed how under women that reigned, the com- 
 monwealth was happily preserved, and greatly flourished : 
 first shewing this in Jewish Queens, and then in Queens of 
 other countries : and it was one of his reprimands to Knox, 
 that he should attempt to write of an argument that re- 
 quired so much knowledge and insight of ancient history, 
 and be skilled in none but that of the Bible. " All an- 
 " tiquity," saith he, " of time, all histories and monuments 
 " cannot be contained in so little room : and that therefore 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 159 
 
 " if men would decide matters hanging upon antiquity, CHAP. 
 " they must not only counsel with the Bible, but exercise X11 ' 
 " themselves in ancient stories." And then mentioned 
 Philip Melancthon, whom he called one of the princes of 
 learning at that day, that he travailed more in those his last 
 years in reading, gathering, and setting forth of histories, 
 than in any other kind of learning ; " and not without 
 " reason, added he ; for histories, as he alleged out of 
 " Tully, be the witnes of time, the candle of truth, the 
 " life of memory, the lady of life, and the register of an- 
 " tiquity." 
 
 Then he shewed that no antiquity ever debarred the 
 heirs female of their right and title of inheritance, whenso- 
 ever it fell to their lot to succeed their parents ; as though 
 it had been unlawful, ungodly, and unnatural for that sex 
 to govern. And he proved the reign of women out of the 
 histories of the Jews, Ethnics, and Christians: that in 
 many countries, and under every monarchy, women have 
 not only ruled, but happily and well ; and that one shall 
 find none, or very few, in whose reign their country was 
 the worse for their government, but much the better. 
 
 First, for the Jewish history; here he mentioned Deborah; 
 and out of the latter Jewish history he produced Johannes, 
 Ruler of the Jews four hundred and seventy years after the 
 captivity of Babylon, who at his death left his wife Queen 
 and Governess. Aristobulus also left his wife Queen. 
 Alexander left Alexandria his wife Queen of the country. 
 The sister of Antigoniis, and Salome the sister of Herod : 
 one was Queen of Hyrcania, and the other appointed by 
 Augustus Caesar to rule over Jamnia, Azotus, Pharsalides, 
 and Ascalonia; which she after left to Julia, Tiberius' s 
 mother, and Augustus's wife. This was enough to shew 
 that the Jews were sometimes ruled by that sex. 
 
 Then he proceeded to profane history among the Gen- 
 tiles, who were led by the law of nature, to shew that this 
 was not against that law. Berosus, he said, who followed 
 no fables, but the records of the Chaldees, writ, that Noah, 
 which was called Janus, (for Jain, signifieth wine, 
 
IGO 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 chap, which he invented,) made his daughter Crana Queen and 
 XI1 ' Governess of Italy. In the monarchy of the Babylonians, 
 (for which he quoted Herodotus,) were Semiramis and 
 Nicocris. The former builded Babylon, conquered Ethiopia, 
 invaded India, whither never King nor Emperor came, but 
 Alexander the Great. The latter, wiser than the former, 
 defended her empire against the Medes, who then sought 
 the monarchy of the world ; wrought such a wonder in that 
 great flood Euphrates, as all men then were amazed at it, and 
 yet think it almost incredible ; for she made it to leave its 
 old course, and to follow her device to and fro, to serve the 
 city most commodiously : so that, as our scholar wittily ex 7 
 pressed it, she did not only pass all men in wit, but over- 
 came the elements with power. Among the Massagets, 
 reigned Queen Thomyris. He mentioned also Mandane 
 and Artemisia, women ; one Cyrus's mother, and the other 
 the wise counsellor of King Xerxes. Isis, after the death of 
 her husband Osyris, reigned over Egypt ; and that with so 
 much provision for the wealth of the realm, that she was 
 after her death counted a goddess. Lavinia, after the death 
 of -(Eneas, reigned in Latium, Dido in Carthage, Olympias 
 in Epirus, Aramea in Scythia, Cleopatra in Egypt, and a 
 Queen in Illyria, who ventured to withstand the Romans 
 when they were greatest; and Olympias, after the death 
 of Alexander, in Macedonia: and he added somewhat of 
 the stories of all these. This for heathen history. 
 
 Then he ran over some records among Christians. Theo- 
 dora, otherwise called Helena, reigned, after the death of 
 Leo the Emperor, over all Asia, as Lady and Empress. 
 That in France, till of late years, women inherited the 
 Crown as in England and Scotland ; until that they meant 
 by the law Salique rather to defeat us of our title, than to 
 condemn the succession as unlawful. Henry, Duke of Sue- 
 via, son of Frederick the First, called Barbarosa, mar- 
 ried the heir of Sicily, and so became King thereof, and 
 Emperor of Rome. Conrade Palatums left behind him 
 one only daughter Agnes, who was Palatiness, and after 
 being married to Henry Duke of Saxony, made him 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 161 
 
 Palsgrave; who in like manner died and left a daughter CHAP. 
 
 . xil 
 
 called Gertrude, Palatiness ; whom Otto, Duke of "Bavaria, 
 married, and became Palsgrave. And the same order of 
 descent and succession remained in the most part of the 
 empire. Hence our historian proceeded to Spain ; where, 
 he said, he could number a great sort of women, who suc- 
 ceeded and ruled in the realm : as Joanna, the mother of 
 Charles V. Mary the daughter of Charles called Bellator, 
 and wife to Maximilian, succeeded her father in the duke- 
 dom of Burgundy and the county of Flanders. Mary, 
 Charles's sister, ruled in Flanders in his time : and Frances, 
 the French King's mother, ruled the whole dominion during 
 the term of her son's captivity in Spain. And many more 
 he mentioned in France. I have repeated all this, which he 
 handled more at large, to shew what a general well read 
 historian our Bishop was, even in his younger years, when 
 he wrote that book of the lawfulness of women's govern- 
 ment ; and so well accomplished in that material piece of 
 learning. 
 
 And as Aylmer, as we have seen, was an excellent histo- A good He- 
 rian, so he was well seen in the learned tongues } and par- bnc ' sn - 
 ticularly in the Hebrew, a piece of learning very rare in 
 those times: nor had he a superficial knowledge only 
 therein, but was able by the help of it to search out truth 
 and confute error. To give an instance or two. Whereas 
 some had objected, that Moses's authority was not over the 
 priest, because he was a prince, but in that he was a priest 
 himself; and so it became lawful for him to meddle in 
 Church matters, because he was a Churchman. And this 
 they went about to prove from Psal. xcix. Moses and Aaron 
 among- his Priests. Here Aylmer made use of his He- 
 brew learning, by shewing what the word was in the Hebrew, 
 viz. O^rO (which is there translated priests,) but that 
 it was a word indifferent to the chief priests or the chief 
 princes: and therefore that such as best understood that 
 tongue rendered it thus ; Moses et Aaron inter MiNiamtoa 
 ejus. And to prove that it might be so, the Scripture, lie 
 said, called David's sons Cohanim, by the same word. 
 
 M 
 
162 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP. 2 Sam. viii. 18. but no man therefore would be so fond 
 XH ' as to say, that a King's sons were priests : yea, he added, 
 that the best among the Hebrew authors, interpreting this 
 word, gave it to be no more than the expression in the 
 following clause ; Kore Shemo, Moses et Aaron, inter eos 
 qui invocant nomen ejus, i. e. among them that call upon 
 his name. 
 
 His sense of It was a great controversy in Queen Elizabeth's reign, 
 of Christ and especially more latewardly, what the meaning of that 
 into hell, article in the Creed was, He descended into hell. Arch- 
 bishop Whitgift, and the most of the Clergy, stood for 
 the literal sense, that is, Christ's local descent into hell. 
 Hugh Broughton, the profoundly learned Hebrician in 
 those days, by his excellent and deep knowledge in the 
 original languages, and of the use of the word (which we 
 translate hell) in the sacred writings, confuted that notion 
 of the article ; and demonstrated that it meant not any lo- 
 cal descent, but that Christ after his burial went into para- 
 dise, that is, the mansion that received his soul, that being 
 the constant sense in Scripture of "A%, and VlE?, which we 
 translate hell in English. That learned man had much 
 contested in this argument with the Archbishop, Dr. Ban- 
 croft, Dr. Bilson, and others ; and after much strife, at 
 length brought off the Archbishop. This doctrine of the 
 local descent was one of the reasons that kept off Barrow and 
 Greenwood, the Separatists, from being present at our 
 churches ; who after they were condemned were promised 
 pardon, if they would have come to church : but this at last 
 was the chief, if not only, bar that stopped them, as 
 Broughton shewed in his letter to Bancroft, now Archbishop 
 of Canterbury. Bishop Aylmer, who was better versed in 
 the Hebrew learning, was of Broughton's opinion, and 
 knew that the Greek which we translate, He zcent dawn 
 to hell, signified more truly his going up to heaven ; and 
 he did therefore endeavour to satisfy those two poor men 
 before spoken of, by a friend sent to them ; and that this 
 was indeed the true sense which our Church, if it under- 
 stood itself, did hold, though some of its members did make 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 16:3 
 
 a mistake here. But a certain Chaplain of the Archbishop's CHAP, 
 not doing his message, it had no effect : which otherwise X11 ' 
 might have saved their lives. Indeed our Bishop had some 
 controversy with Archbishop Whitgift about this point of 
 the descent : which the said Archbishop seemed to have re- 
 quired the assent of all the Clergy to ; and that from his 
 bare authority, as Archbishop of Canterbury. But the 
 Bishop of London told him, " that some [meaning himself 
 " among others] thought, that his title and revenue might 
 " be employed to singular good use for the Church, with- 
 " out authority of ambition to be relied on.'" 
 
 Bishop Aylmer was a friend and a fautor of that above- Bishop Ayl- 
 said most learned man in the Hebrew literature, knowing well Hugh" 0 "" 
 the great use of it in the study of divinity. Broughton had Broughton. 
 conversed much with the Jews in foreign parts, and for 
 their sakes he bethought himself of drawing up an abridg- 
 ment in Hebrew of all the Bible; and was very desirous 
 of having the work brought to perfection. He communi- 
 cated it to the Bishop of London, and to divers other Bi- 
 shops, who were all for it ; and would have contributed to 
 the charge of the impression, and given other encourage- 
 ments : for the Bishop well considered, that this abridgment 
 would have served notably for the use of the Jews, that is, 
 for their conversion, or conviction : for the drift of the work 
 would have been, to have shewn how all the Old Testament 
 bore an admirable harmony with those things that hap- 
 pened under the New. But Broughton applying not him- 
 self to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Whitgift, he shewed 
 himself no friend to it ; and so it came to nothing. 
 
 When the said Broughton had set forth his learned book 
 called The Concent, the Archbishop of Canterbury disliked 
 it, and was calling him to answer for some things in it : 
 so that he was fain to depart, and go away into Germany, 
 or at least hastened his journey thither, to avoid the ecclesi- 
 astical Commission. This gave cause of much discourse 
 among learned men, and Broughton was by most of them 
 cried out upon as a broacher of errors ; and Dr. Caesar was 
 one of these. But their clamour depended upon their ig- 
 m 2 
 
164 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP, norance in that sort of learning : and Bishop Aylmer, who 
 
 was better versed in those Hebrew studies, once, while the 
 
 book was talking of in the presence of the said Caesar, said, 
 " One scholar of right judgment would prove all adversaries 
 " foolish." Thus he spake in effect, and more, in commen- 
 dation and vindication of that great Hebrician. 
 His opinion Our Bishop valued the Hebrew verity before the Septua- 
 Greek. ' gint's Greek translation of the Old Testament, of which 
 he had no great esteem : and from his skill in the Hebrew 
 took occasion to confute a passage in Campion the Jesuit's 
 book, called his Ten Reasons. Casting his eye upon the 
 first passage, he perceived he quoted a verse out of the 
 Psalms after the LXX. much swerving from the truth of 
 the Hebrew text, which, he said, every child understood at 
 this dav : for alleging the 63d Psalm, (where it is indeed 
 in the Hebrew original the 74th,) he read, Et sag-ittce 
 pari ulorum erant plagce illorum : the text indeed is, Sed 
 ubi jaculis penctravit eos Deus, sag-'itta repentina fucrunt 
 plaga. " If," added the Bishop, " he deal so in all other, 
 " his credit will be small." 
 Skilled in He was well skilled in the civil law ; concerning which 
 iaw. C Vl1 ne i nto some discourse, occasioned by Knox*s bringing 
 a proof out of that law against the government of women. 
 This matter, he said, belonged not to the civil law, but to 
 the municipal law of England. For that like as every field 
 brought not forth all fruits, so was not one law meet for all 
 counti"ies. He granted the civil law was the best and the 
 perfectest and the largest that ever was made, yet compre- 
 hended it not all things in all countries : nor at the making 
 and gathering thereof in Justinian's time by Trebonianus, 
 Dorotheus, and Theophilus, were all countries and pro- 
 vinces so known to the Romans, that they could provide all 
 laws as should be for all necessarv. Wherefore in appoint- 
 ing us to be ordered by the civil law, he offended in distri- 
 butive justice : as Cyrus in Xenophon, he said, did, being 
 a child ; who finding a great boy to have a little coat, and 
 a little boy a great coat, gave sentence that the great boy 
 should have the great coat, and the little boy the little coat. 
 
BISHOP AVLMER. 
 
 165 
 
 But his master corrected him for his judgment. For it was chap. 
 not to be judged bv the greatness or smallness, but which 
 was whose : and every one according to justice to have his 
 own. In like manner you should not, said Aylmer to this 
 author, looking upon the civil law, and weighing how 
 goodly it is, how large and indifferent it is, give it, as that 
 great coat, to England ; no more than you would appoint 
 the English law, which is the little coat, to Rome : our 
 law must direct us, because it best agreeth w ith our coun- 
 try. Therefore, as he concluded smartly, to burden us with 
 the civil law, is as much as if you should persuade the Scots 
 to use the Garamantes" law, to kill men at fifty, and women 
 at forty, because the country, being somewhat barren, 
 could not well nourish such as by their age could do no 
 great good. And he proceeded to shew learnedly in divers 
 respects, wherein the English law and the civil disagree. 
 And for the entertainment of the reader I will repeat them. 
 
 " In England the eldest son inheriteth the father's lands, Shews the 
 " saving in gavel-kind. And in mine opinion it is good Jj^tke 
 " policv for the continuance of houses : for nothing sooner law °* Eo s- 
 " destroveth great houses, than the division of the inherit- the civil 
 " ance ; as it appeareth in Germany, and will more here- law - 
 " after in our posterity, when the younger brethren shall 
 " not be made Abbots, Bishops, and Cardinals, as they have 
 ' 4 hitherto been. In the civil law the children succeed in- 
 " differently in their father's patrimony, in feudU the sons, 
 
 and in other both sons and daughters. L. max. vit.ff. 
 " sancimus. C. de lib. prcet. Item in Autent. de Hcered. ab 
 " intest. in princ. et in ff. cum jilius Just, de hcered. Where 
 " you see not only our law far to disagree with this, but 
 " also that the civil law granteth inheritance to the females, 
 " which you [Knox] would pluck away. 
 
 " The civil law giveth the father power over his chiid in 
 " life and death : specially that which is called jus vefus, 
 " as it appeareth, Le. 2. C. de par. quijil. diet, et le. in suis 
 " F. de lib. et po-sth. C. de pat. ptatem. But in England, if 
 " any father should kill his son. he should be trussed up 
 " for his labour. 
 
 m 3 
 
166 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 Just 
 app. tut 
 
 CHAP. " The civil law maketh the children of traitors in fames, 
 XII • . 
 
 ' " i. e. infamous, but committeth them not to perpetual pri- 
 
 " son, as they do in England. 
 Tit. de leg. « j n tne c J y jj ] aw ^ k m ~ or ] or( J Q f tne s0 ;j no _ 
 tute. ff. et ' &' » 
 
 le. et Ti. " thing to do with wards or tutorships, but the next of kin, 
 if the father in his lifetime appoint none. But in our 
 law, the king hath the wardship of all that hold of him 
 in capite, or knight's service. And as it was granted to 
 " the Crown upon a necessary respect ; so must it not be 
 " pulled away, so long as the same cause remaineth. It 
 " was given him at the first in consideration of the great 
 " charges in war, and the small revenues that belonged to 
 " the Crown. And though such orders seem hard, through 
 " the abusing of them by some greedy-guts ; yet the realm 
 " having always almost continual wars with the French or 
 " Scots, or both ; whosoever goeth about to pull from the 
 " Crown such helps, unwittingly maketh a breach for the 
 " enemy to invade us. 
 Const. Just, « j n tne c \y\i j aWj tne tutorship endeth in the males at 
 " fourteen years of age, and in the females at twelve. But 
 " our law keepeth him in nonage until one and twenty 
 " years. 
 
 Quand. tut. " The civil law bindeth not him to marry by the force of 
 desiuunt. " his wardship, where his tutor will. Marriage must be 
 c. de Nup. " free, and in his own choice, and may not be compelled by 
 deNnp*Lsi" his father, much less by his tutor. But in England, the 
 61. famiie. « tutor hath his marriage, or maketh him to pay for his li- 
 f.' in'con-" 1 " berty. How that cometh to pass, and how indifferent it 
 vict. c. de u j Sj j et tne ] aw yers answer. I meddle no further than to 
 
 " shew that it is so. 
 L. servum « The civil law so favoureth life, that it granteth a trai- 
 cast.' nu/s. " tor his advocate to defend his innocency. But in our law 
 Bart. u ne can nave none to speak for him, but himself. For 
 " the fault is counted (and that justly) so heinous, that it 
 " taketh from him all manner of help, to put others in fear. 
 
 " Again, the civil law condemneth no man, unless he ei- 
 " ther confess the fault, or be openly convict by witness 
 " sufficient. But our law committeth it to the verdict of 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 167 
 
 " twelve men, indwellers in the country where the trespass CHAP. 
 " is committed, who pronounce Guilty, if they think so, " 
 " whether he confesseth it or no : and ofttimes rather upon 
 " their own conscience, than any great witness, or other 
 " evidence. This order, as it was in itself at the first with- 
 " out corruption, was marvellous conscionable and godly, 
 " and in my judgment much better than the civil order. 
 " For they, to wring out the confession of the fault com- 
 " mitted, are driven to use torments, and to punish before 
 " they have tried the fault. Wherein they are ofttimes de- 
 " ceived, by racking those which have not offended, and 
 " driving them for pains of torments to say that they never 
 " did. As I have heard happened at Tubinga in the Wir- 
 " tenbergh land, that a man was broken upon the wheel for 
 " murdering another, which after was found alive. The 
 " smarts of the torments made him to confess it, and lie of 
 " himself : in monument whereof his image standeth yet 
 " in a glass window of the church, even as he w as upon 
 " the wheel. Again, there was in England an Italian, not 
 " long ago, who, as they say, passed through all the tor- 
 " ments in Venice, and escaped without confessing the fault 
 " which indeed he had committed. On the other side our 
 M twelve men, the quest, being indwellers in the country, 
 " and men of skill, shall learn by the circumstances, as by 
 " the life of the man, the common fame of the people, or 
 " their own search in the matter, whether he be such an 
 " one or no ; and so without racking, wresting, and tor- 
 " menting, the deed may be found. But indeed at these 
 " days it is grown to great corruption, &c. But, as I said, 
 " this order [of the verdict of twelve men] in itself, me- 
 " thinks, hath much more justice, equity, and indifference, 
 " than the civil (or rather cruel) rack hath. If I should 
 " peruse and compare all points wherein ours differ from 
 " the civil, and shew that for our country it is much meeter, 
 " I should never make an end." And so at length he con- 
 cludes, turning his speech to him whom he is refuting: 
 " Wherefore these shall be sufficient to shew, that vou 
 " must bring our owti weights, to weigh our matters by, 
 m 4 
 
168 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP. " and not strangers' ; or else we must take you for an evil 
 ' " clerk of the market," as he proverbially and pleasantly 
 expressed himself. I have set down this thus largely, that 
 the reader may see, not only his skill in the civil law, but his 
 solid judgment in comparing that and the proper law of this 
 realm together. 
 
 CHAP. XIII. 
 
 A great Divine. Well skilled in Hebrew learning. A 
 good Textuarij and Preacher. His judgment. Some of 
 his sayings. 
 
 We.Ueen BuT as our Bishop was thus universally learned, so (as 
 learning, his holy function required) he was best seen in theology- 
 He accurately discussed deep points in divinity : he had an 
 excellent faculty in a sound interpretation of the sense of 
 difficult places of Scripture. He was well read in the Fa- 
 thers and ecclesiastical history, and a great preacher. 
 
 The Papists, and Scotch Protestants following John 
 Knox, gave the supreme power in temporals only to the 
 Prince; but retained the power in spirituals to the Church, 
 that is, to themselves. But our Divine decided the point in 
 his Sovereign the Queen's behalf ; that she was supreme in 
 both. " Both," said he, (in his book against the Blast,) " be- 
 " long to her. But not in one manner. For in the one, 
 " that of policv, she hath a function that she must be a 
 " doer. In the other she hath authority and oversight, but 
 " not the function and practice. As we see in the common- 
 " wealth of the Jews first between Aaron and Moses. Moses 
 " controlled Aaron, but yet he executed not Aaron's office. 
 " He offered no incense nor sacrifice ordinarily; he meddled 
 " not with the ark, nor any such thing as belonged to the 
 ** priesthood ; he ware not the garments; he ministered not 
 " the sacrifice. And yet had he authority to redress 
 " Aaron's toils, by the commission he received at God's 
 " hand, Tu eris Mi in Deum, ct Me erit os tuum." 
 
BISHOP A YLMER. 
 
 169 
 
 When some quoted Scripture for directing matters of CHAP, 
 worldly policy and government, as who were to govern 
 kingdoms, and how qualified they were to be, he shewed 
 the false divinity thereof by the practice of Christ, " who 
 " knowing the bounds of his office," as he said, " would not 
 " meddle with extern policies, translating of realms, de- 
 " priving of true inheritors. No ; when he was desired to 
 " be arbiter between two brethren, he asked not how the 
 " plea stood, but who made him an officer. Divines, me- 
 " thinks," as he added, " should by this example not give 
 " themselves too much the bridle, and to enlarge a scope to 
 " meddle too far with matters of policy; as that is, where- 
 " upon dependeth either the welfare or illfare of the whole 
 " realm. If those two offices, viz. ecclesiastical and civil, be 
 f* so jumbled together, as it may be lawful for both parties 
 "to meddle in both functions, there can be no quiet, nor 
 " any well-ordered commonwealth." 
 
 And again, thus did he learnedly explain the foresaid 
 words of our Saviour, Who made me a judge betzveen you ? 
 as a rule, tending not to teach Christian subjects to dispose 
 of governments, but to obey them. " As though Christ 
 " should have said, Mine office is not to determine matters 
 " of policy, of succession, and inheritance: for that belongs 
 " to the civil magistrate. If he had thought that it had been 
 " within the compass of his function, why, and with what 
 " consequence, refused he to set those brethren at one which 
 " were at strife, and to put that out of doubt which was in 
 " suit, if he ought to do it? and would he not have lacked 
 " charity, and not done his duty ? If it belonged not to 
 " him, how belonged it to any of his apostles, disciples, or 
 " successors ? Had he not as large commission as he gave ? 
 " or could he give that he had not ? But knowing his office, 
 " as the Prophet Esay had forespoken of him, to preach 
 " the Gospel, to heal the broken, &c. he would do nothing 
 " without warrant. And therefore being asked whether he 
 " were a [secular] king, he answered simply by a plain ne- 
 " gative, My kingdom is not of this world. If his kingdom 
 " were not here, neither the ordering of policy was his. All 
 
170 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP. " that he saith in this matter of policy is, Date Cazsari qua 
 
 '__ " sunt Ccesaris. Obey the magistrates, and those that be in 
 
 " authority ; not only for fear, but for conscience. He limit- 
 " eth no magistrates; he altereth no policy; he meddleth 
 " neither with democraties, aristocraties, nor monarchies; nor 
 " prescribeth whether old or young, rich or poor, learned or 
 " unlearned, man or woman, should reign. But as he finds 
 " them, so he leaves them ; impairs none, alters none, dis- 
 " turbs none." Thus gravely did our Divine reprove tam- 
 perers with princes' crowns, and meddlers with matters of 
 state to the disturbance of kingdoms, whether Papists or 
 innovators; and by a sound exposition rescue Scripture 
 from countenancing such doctrines. 
 A good in- Indeed he had well studied the holy Scriptures, both as 
 
 terpreter of .... ,. . . , 
 
 the Scrip- to the original language, history, and design thereof: where- 
 ture ' by he became an excellent interpreter of the sense. To 
 give a specimen or two. He gave a notable answer to his 
 Several adversary who had made an unsound exposition of Deut. 
 h'nTex^ xvu - Thou shalt choose a king among thy brethren ; and not 
 plained. among thy sisters, as he collected: and thereupon inferred, 
 that it was unlawful for us to have queens to rule over us. 
 It is as much, said Aylmer, as if a man should say, Christ 
 said, / came to call sinners, sinful men, to repentance; that 
 is, I am come to call men sinners, and not women sinners. 
 Or, saith he, as one reasoned, Examinet se homo; Let a man 
 examine himself, and then communicate: ergo women may 
 not. And Christ at the latter day saith, Venite benedict/, 
 and not benedicta ; Come, ye blessed men, and not blessed 
 women: therefore women shall never go to heaven. But 
 this learned man shewed, that in all tongues the figure syn- 
 ecdoche hath a singular good grace, as he expressed it, espe- 
 cially in the Hebrew tongue ; where Ach, which signi- 
 fieth a brother, doth not only comprehend a sister, but a 
 nephew too. And throughout the Scripture the masculine 
 comprehends the feminine: or else surely we must say 
 with the phrenetic Postellus, that women be not yet re- 
 deemed, but men: and that thev must have a xcoman to die 
 for them, as well as man had Christ. And that place of 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 171 
 
 Scripture which commanded a brother to be king among CHAP, 
 the Jews, had no relation to a sister, as these men made it, ' 
 but to a stranger, as he observed. For it followed, Thou 
 shalt not appoint a king alterius gentis, of a strange na- 
 tion. And the reason of this was, for to prevent swerving 
 from God, and falling into idolatry. 
 
 Gen. iii. Thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall 
 rule over thee. Which place when the author of the Blast 
 had interpreted, that for the woman's enticement, it was en- 
 joined her and her posterity, as a penance, to be at the beck 
 and command of the man, Aylmer shewed what the com- 
 mon interpretation of it was; viz. Though both in conceiving 
 and bringing forth thy child, thou shalt feel throes, and 
 exceeding plagues, yet shalt thou not be able to withdraw 
 from thy husband, but shalt give occasion to have more: 
 the pains of the former shall not make thee to avoid the 
 next. This he called no evil interpretation ; for it answer- 
 ed, as he said, in the manner of the pains the quality of the 
 offence. As who should say, Thou hast enticed thy husband 
 to turn to thy folly, I shall therefore make thee to turn to him 
 to thine own smart. But because some rejected this interpre- 
 tation, he admitted the other, that it made for the wife's 
 obedience to her husband ; that she must hang upon him 
 as upon her guide; follow his will, as the wiser; obey his 
 commandment, as her superior ; and, to be short, to know 
 him for her head, and herself for his subject. 
 
 To add two or three interpretations more, setting right 
 thereby the sense of certain places of holy writ, by the fore- 
 said author wrested, to favour his argument against the go- 
 vernment of women. 
 
 Isaiah iii. / will take from you your honourable sena- 
 tors and your wise counsellors ; and I will give you boys 
 and women to reign over you. Not boys, said he, in age, 
 but manners. As Aristotle said of young men, that to hear 
 philosophy, it maketh no matter for their years, but for 
 their manners. Not xcomen in sex, but in feebleness of wit; 
 and not such as some women be, wiser, better learned, dis- 
 
172 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP, creeter, constanter, than a number of men ; but such as wo- 
 XU1 " men be of the worst sort, fond, foolish, wanton, &c. Such 
 shall be your senators and rulers, that shall be neither able 
 to rule themselves nor you. 
 
 1 Cor. xiv. 1 Tim. ii. where St. Paul forbade women to 
 speak in the congregation ; and that it was an unseemly 
 thing for them to speak. This the Apostle, he said, meant, 
 that though he ordained that every man in the assembly 
 ecclesiastical, about the word of God and prayer, should 
 have leave orderly and in his course to speak and utter, for 
 the interpretation of the Scripture, all that was revealed him 
 by the Spirit of God ; yet -women, because they were not 
 meet, neither by nature nor study, to preach and interpret 
 Scriptures, he would not have to meddle with it there : and 
 then, from Primasius and Theophylact, added, that the chief- 
 est cause that moved Paul to take this order was the com- 
 mon fault that then was in that sex. For being somewhat 
 instructed by this hearing of the Apostle in the mysteries of 
 salvation in the cross of Christ, they began to think some- 
 what of themselves, and turned that was taught to edify 
 them with, to a jangling and tattling in the Church, w hen 
 they met ; so that the congregation was thereby disturbed. 
 For the avoiding whereof Paul meant to bridle them ; as 
 without doubt he would have done the men also, if they 
 had prophesied unorderly. And moreover hereby the Apo- 
 stle not only debarred women from prophesying, but from 
 any public function in the ecclesiastical jurisdiction. 
 
 Knox brought this place to shew that the Scripture dis- 
 allowed a woman's government : if not to speak in the con- 
 gregation, therefore not to rule; thinking that it was a for- 
 mal a minore ad mqjus. But Aylmer argued, that it was 
 not to be taken thus ; Paul forbade her the less for her un- 
 aptness, therefore he debarred her of the greater : but in- 
 deed it was contrariwise, he forbade her the greater and 
 more chargeable function; which was the spiritual ministry, 
 and preaching : therefore it followed not, that he shut her 
 from the less, which is extern policy. And thus, as he 
 
BISHOP AYLMEK. 
 
 1 78 
 
 concluded, we see that St. Paul thrusting that sex from the CHAP. 
 
 the other. 
 
 And as the Bishop was thus learned in the sacred Scrip- Conversant 
 tures, both in the knowledge of the original tongues, and ^church" 
 the sound sense and interpretation ; so he had read the writers, 
 writings of the Fathers, and the history of the ancient 
 Church of Christ: whereby he came the better to know and 
 defend the pure and primitive doctrine in those times 
 wherein he lived, when the corruptions of Popery had so 
 overspread the earth. 
 
 This learning in sacred things qualified him excellently Anexceiient 
 for the discharge of the ministerial function, and the teach- preacher- 
 ing others the true Christian doctrine. And he frequently 
 and successfully preached it, both in Leicestershire, where 
 in King Edward's days he was the only preacher, and in 
 Lincolnshire, where he was Archdeacon ; and afterward at 
 London, and at the Court ; where he preached often ; and 
 especially when invasions were feared, and rumours of wars 
 were much spread and talked of : for he had a way of 
 preaching that would encourage and inspire with spirit and 
 life those that heard him. And sometime when fears were 
 put into people's heads from the conjunction or opposition 
 of the planets, and from figure-casting, he had these words 
 in a sermon at Court, " As long as Virgo [meaning the 
 " Queen] is in the ascendent, we need fear nothing. Deus 
 " nobiscum, quis contra nos ?" And the Queen for this used 
 much to commend him. 
 
 As he could also by his preaching raise fearful minds, A preacher, 
 and inspire them with courage in a good cause ; so in ap- quaUfiedTn 
 plying himself to sinners' consciences, he would use all free- Ms judg- 
 dom and boldness, let the quality of his auditors be what it ment ' 
 would. He could not endure 1 temporising and flattery in a 
 preacher ; and reckoned other great abilities, as of learning, 
 integrity, zeal, and wisdom, to be necessary to such an one. 
 He said, " that those that were preachers must be no milk- 
 " sops, no white-livered gentlemen, [according to his fami- 
 " liar way of expression,] that for the frowning and cloudy 
 
174 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP. " countenance of every man in authority will leave his 
 XI11 ' " tackle, and cry Peccavi. They must be of such a nature 
 " as the poet Terence said of Crito, In vultu gravitas, in 
 " verbo fides ; to have gravity in his countenance, and 
 " faithfulness in his speech. That they should not be afraid 
 " to rebuke the proudest, no, not kings and queens, so far 
 " forth as the two tables reach : that they stoop not to 
 " every man's beck, nor study to please men more than 
 " God. If heresies arise, they must have their tools ready 
 " to meet with the adversary, and to overthrow him ; which,'" 
 as he added, " he could never have, unless he had travailed 
 " in many sciences, heard and read much, &c. : for it was 
 " not enough," he said, " for a man to tell a fair tale in the 
 " pulpit, and when he came down was not able to defend 
 " it." And again, "in such as shall occupy the pulpit are re- 
 " quired these things, that they be meet to teach, to reprove, 
 " and convince. In teaching is required gravity, learning, 
 " and eloquence ; in reproving, carriage and sound judg- 
 " ment; and in convincing, arts, memory, and much sci- 
 " ence." 
 
 Curious in All this I have said, that it might be seen what his great 
 books. abilities were in learning. And, according to the usual in- 
 clination of such as are scholars, he was a lover of, and 
 searcher after books, and especially of such as were more 
 rare and curious. While he was in exile he saw a piece 
 of Wiclif de Ecclesia, which treated of the Church and 
 Churchmen, and the abuses and corruptions superinduced 
 by them. He chanced to meet with it in the hands of 
 one who brought it out of Bohemia; and he wished it 
 were put into print : whence, as he said, the Popish Bi- 
 shops might see their wrenches and cavillations concerning 
 their great estates, and their pretended hospitality to be 
 maintained thereby. And this I the rather mention, be- 
 cause I think this tract of Wiclif is not mentioned among 
 the catalogue of his writings set down in Dr. Cave's Histo- 
 ria Literaria. 
 
 A good And as he was a truly learned man himself, so he was a 
 Anting S ooc ^ j u ^g e °f Earning and languages, being an exact critic. 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 m 
 
 Insomuch that John Fox the Martyrologist, in one of his C H A P. 
 letters to him, (while they were both exiles,) praised him for XH1 
 his singular judgment, and that mixed with a snou-y can- 
 dour. And when the same Fox had sent him a translation 
 of his into Latin, (I think it was Archbishop Cranmer's last 
 book of the Eucharist, with his confutation of the Bishop of 
 Winchester,) he prayed him narrowly to peruse it, in order 
 to his printing of it at Basil, where Fox then was : for that 
 he was resolved, as he said, to stand to his judgment alone; 
 and that it should be approved or rejected according to his 
 only censure. Which address made Aylmer give a cha- 
 racter of himself varying from what Fox had given, (where- 
 in, perhaps, the learned man was over-severe towards him- 
 self ;) namely, " That he was too critical in other men's 
 " performances, and too blind in the conceit of his own. - " 
 The former he called in alienis curiositas, et ingenium ni- 
 mis eniTty-^Ttxiv, i. e. "a curiosity in other men's matters, and 
 " a disposition too much addicted to find fault." Sinn enim, 
 as he added, ut vere de me ipso dicam, ex eorum nume- 
 ro, qui Jacilius reprehendunt quam emendant ; ut minoris 
 multo negotii est solvere quam componere, et, ut philosophis 
 placet, destruere quam ex cedificare : i. e. " For I am, to 
 " speak the truth of myself, of the number of them that 
 " are more ready to find fault than to amend ; as it is a 
 " much less labour to dissolve than to frame, and, as the 
 " philosophers speak, to pull down than to build up. Do 
 " not therefore doubt of me," speaking to Fox, " that I am 
 " too candid, but doubt that I be not more rigid than pru- 
 " dent, and a lover of mine own beauty more than is fit, 
 " and a less esteemer of the beauty of others. But besides, 
 " this is a quality peculiar to me, (for let me set forth to 
 " you my virtues,) that I look upon the things of others 
 " with lyncean and too piercing eyes, even then especially 
 " when I am purblind in mine own. Whereupon those 
 " that know me are wont to reprove my more delicate j udg- 
 " ment and rigid censoriousness, rather than to esteem me 
 " a man that think over-candidly and kindly even of my 
 " best and dearest friends." 
 
176 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP. After all that I have said here concerning our Prelate's 
 '* learning, we may take some notice of his judgment and 
 
 Some of his opinion in a few things that occur. There was a sort of people 
 concerning even in his time, (like our modern Quakers,) who counted 
 j e a r r s ' ousmat " it idolatry to pull off the hat, or give reverence even to 
 Quakers princes. These were, I suppose, of the sect of the Anabap- 
 tists in those days. Of whom thus did our Divine give his 
 opinion : " I think it no idolatry, as some men use to term 
 " it, either to bare the head or bow the knee to the chiefest 
 " minister of God, [the Prince;] yea, if thou dost it not, 
 " thou makest an idol of thyself, while thou liftest up thy 
 " baseness to that height, that thou wilt not stoop where 
 " thou oughtest, nor give honour where thou shouldest. 
 " What is else to make an idol of thyself, but to honour 
 " thyself where thou oughtest not ; and to pull down God's 
 " majesty, [represented by the Prince,] where thou should- 
 " est not ?" 
 
 His opinion He was once of opinion, namely, when Queen Elizabeth 
 
 tands! h ° PS m ' st began her reign, concerning Bishops' lands and incomes, 
 that a good share of their temporalties should come into the 
 Queen's hands ; partly to maintain her wars, and partly to 
 build schools, and to be a maintenance for preachers in 
 every parish, and superintendents in every citv. This he 
 expressed thus, turning his speech to the Bishops in those 
 
 Hsrbo- times, "Come off, ye Bishops; away with your superfluities; 
 
 rough ' " yield up your thousands; be content with hundreds, &c." 
 
 as was mentioned before. This was a principle embraced 
 and taken up by many such as favoured the Gospel from 
 the times that Henry VIII. seized the lands of the abbeys; 
 when the shew was, that those revenues, idly and luxuri- 
 ously employed, should come to the Crown for better uses ; 
 as to be laid out upon maintaining the King's wars without 
 taxing the subject ; furthering of learning by building a 
 great many schools, founding more bishoprics, and such like 
 charitable donations. But the courtiers about the King 
 soon subverted those good purposes, by obtaining those de- 
 means to themselves, and a very poor share thereof disposed 
 according as was pretended. And Bishop Ayhner after- 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 177 
 
 wards well saw the same greedy spirit still in the Court : and CHAP, 
 therefore changed his mind, and thought the Bishops had X111, 
 as good retain their ancient revenues, as to see them run 
 away with by the laity, and little good done with them. 
 And when this passage of his was sometimes afterward 
 thrown in his dish, he would say, as St. Paul did in another 
 case, Cum esscm parvulus, loquebar cum parvulis, sapie- 
 bam ut parvulus : i. e. " When I was a child, I spake as a 
 " child, I thought as a child, &c." 
 
 Take also a few instances of his judgment in matters of 
 worldly state and policy. 
 
 His opinion of the proper government of this nation was His opinion 
 
 this : " The regiment of England is not a mere monar chy, "lament. 
 
 " as some for lack of consideration think ; nor a mere oli- 
 
 " garclty, nor democratic; but a mixed rule of all these: 
 
 " wherein each one of these have, or should have, like au- 
 
 " thority. The image whereof, and not the image but the 
 
 " thing indeed, is to be seen in the Parliament House ; 
 
 " wherein you shall find these three estates, the King or 
 
 " Queen, which representeth the monarchy; the Noblemen, 
 
 " which be the aristocratic ; and the Burgesses and Knights, 
 
 " the democratic. The very same had Lacedaemonia, the 
 
 " noblest and best governed city that ever was. They had 
 
 " their King, their senate, and hippagretes, which were for 
 
 " the people. As in Lacedaemonia none of these could 
 
 " make or break laws, orders for war or peace, or do any 
 
 " thing without the other ; the King nothing without the 
 
 " Senate and Commons, nor either of them, or both, without 
 
 " the King: albeit the senate and ephori had greater au- 
 
 " thority than the King had. In like manner, if the Par- 
 
 " liament use their privileges, the King can ordain nothing 
 
 " without them : if he do, it is his fault in usurping it, and 
 
 " their folly in permitting it. Wherefore," as he added, 
 
 " those, in his judgment, that in King Henry's days would 
 
 " not grant him, that proclamations should have the force 
 
 " of a statute, were good fathers of the country, and wor- 
 
 " thy commendation in defending their liberty.'" 
 
 He notably decided which of the two Queen sisters, Mary Compares 
 
 the two 
 
178 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP, or Elizabeth, was wisest, in respect of the different choice 
 
 they made of their counsellors. And for that purpose he 
 
 Q i ucens > set the two sorts of Rehoboam's counsellors before those to 
 Elizabeth, whom he made his discourse. The grave and the ancient 
 senators, those Queen Elizabeth chose: but the rash younger 
 sort, those Queen Mary chose. " These, 1 ' as he described 
 them, " advised that King not to spare, but to lay about 
 " him, to chop off their heads, to tower them, hang them, 
 " burn them, away with them : Dead men do no harm : 
 " and to make his little finger heavier upon his people than 
 " was his father's body. These were lusty lads, these were 
 " such as would win all or lose all." Thus Aylmer, under 
 the colour of Rehoboam's rash counsellors, made a lively 
 representation of Queen Mary's. But her sister Queen 
 shewed her wisdom in making another choice. For she, 
 said he, picked out such counsellors to serve her as were 
 neither of common wit nor common experience. Of whom 
 some by travel in strange countries, some by learning, 
 some by practice and like authority in other rulers' days, 
 some by affliction either one way or other, for their gifts 
 and graces, which they had received at God's hand, were 
 men meet to be called to such rooms. He added, (to 
 take off an objection,) that if she could, she would have 
 chose her Council wholly of the nobility, she being her- 
 self the head of that order and patroness ; but if she espied 
 out meaner men of greater experience, further reach, and 
 more science than they were, there was no fear but the 
 nobles, both for their own safety and the Queen's, would 
 gladly lot to themselves such as might put them in mind 
 of things they remembered not. By which words, I make 
 no doubt, he had his eye upon Bacon and Cecil, whom, 
 though not noble by birth, the Queen had taken into her 
 Council. 
 
 His judg- His iudgment of the Queen's marriage, (which solicitouslv 
 
 ment of the .• ' & , , i , ° , • • ^ , ' 
 
 Queen's exercised all men s thoughts and cares at this time,) whe- 
 roamage. tner better to marr y to some within her own kingdom, or 
 some foreign Prince, he thus expressed ; "That if all things 
 " answered, it was better joining at home than choosing 
 
BISHOP AYLMEB. 
 
 179 
 
 " abroad : as if he be no very base or mean person ; if lie c H A P. 
 
 " love and fear God ; if he be of the same religion, endued 
 
 " with good and commendable qualities of wisdom, justice, 
 " manhood, temperance, gifts of languages, knowledge of 
 " countries, pitiful, merciful, constant, sober, no hearer of 
 " flatterers, continent, not prodigal, but liberal, no extorter, 
 " &c. such an one, if God should allot any Queen, were to 
 " be preferred to any abroad. Unless all these, vi he said, 
 " might be found in a stranger: and thereto joined nobility, 
 " and ancientness of lineage, and the nation being such as 
 " used not to rule cruelly, but rather fatherly than lordly." 
 We easily perceive what foreign Prince he excluded by 
 those words, namely, proud King Philip ; who had already 
 made his addresses to the Queen : and she most discreetly 
 had declined him. 
 
 His judgment of the French he shewed in these words; His judg- 
 " That they were the proudest, the untruest, and the most French. 
 " tyrannical nation under the sun. I except not, 11 said he, 
 " the Spaniards : whose dominion the Italians in Milan, 
 " Naples, Sicily, and elsewhere, can much better brook and 
 " abide, than the light and inconstant French, as Caesar 
 " called them. 11 
 
 Of the Spaniard, another powerful neighbour of England, Of the 
 these were his thoughts with respect to Queen Elizabeth's Spamard ' 
 late denial of him. " If kings be wooers and no speeders, 
 " there can be small hopes that they will be faithful friends 
 " after : for great men cannot bear great repulses ; espe- 
 " cially when their power is such as they can, when they 
 " will, revenge it. A mind or heart, 11 added he, "where love 
 " hath dwelt, if it begin once to hate, is like a sponge, 
 " which sucketh up as much water of malice, as it had 
 " before honey. 11 
 
 A man's wisdom and judgment, and a great deal of his His prover- 
 mind and sentiments, become known by his ordinary speeches b,alsa >' in £ s - 
 and expressions. And for this purpose I shall rehearse 
 here divers of our Bishop's proverbial sayings and apo- 
 phthegms. 
 
 n 2 
 
180 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP. "If thou hast the forecast of a wise man, thou wilt be 
 X1IJ " " content with a little, to purchase the safety of the whole." 
 
 " Be not covetous where thou shouldest be liberal, nor 
 " unkind where thou shouldest be thankful, nor wayward 
 " where thou shouldest be forward.'''' 
 
 " Take to thee the stomach of a free palfrey, and not the 
 " froward touches of a resty jade." 
 
 " As it is God's peculiar property never to err, so it is a 
 " botch in man's nature seldom to hit the truth.'" 
 
 " Sometimes under a homely coat lieth much treasure, 
 " and pure gold is found among much dross." 
 True frater- « it i s manners, faith, and behaviour, and not nations, 
 y " that make men strangers. And contrariwise, where there 
 " is one faith, one baptism, and one Christ, there is nar- 
 " rower fraternity than if they came out of one womb." A 
 saying proper to cheer him in his exile condition. 
 
 " As an eye full of tears is the more unable to see, so the 
 " mind full of sorrow is the less able to judge." 
 
 " You must bring our own weights to weigh our matters 
 " by, and not strangers 1 , or else we must take you for an ill 
 " clerk of the market." 
 
 " Good example is ofttimes much better than a great 
 " deal of preaching." 
 The benefit " If I had but ten Nestors, said Agamemnon, Troy 
 lors. * " could not stand long :" speaking of some wise counsellors 
 the Queen had chose about her. 
 
 Speaking against covetous men, " Your gold and your 
 " angels are called current, and not sleepant." 
 Women's Speaking of the pride of women, and of their excess, 
 pnde ' when the nation wanted necessary defence, he thus accosted 
 them : " Oh ! ye English ladies, learn rather to wear Ro- 
 " man hearts, than Spanish knacks ; rather to help your 
 " country, than hinder your husbands; to make your Queen 
 " rich for your defence, than your husbands poor for your 
 " gearish gayness. If every one of you would employ your 
 " rings and chains, or the price of your superfluous ruffs, 
 " furs, fringes, and such other trinkets, upon the necessary 
 
BISHOP AVLMER. 
 
 181 
 
 " defence of your country, I think you should make the CHAP. 
 " Queen much richer, and abler to meet with your enemies, xnI " 
 " and yourselves much the honester." 
 
 The Popish Clergy he called " spiritual spiders." And The Popish 
 Bonner, the fat, cruel Bishop of London, he called « My Clergy ' 
 " Lord Lubber of London." 
 
 The Bible he called " a Paradise, wherein are to be found Tlie Bible. 
 " all the best herbs and fruits that b?." 
 
 " A good purpose overthrown by the might of mam- 
 " mon." 
 
 " No man's judgment is so sound, no man's wit so ripe, No infclli- 
 " nor his learning so perfect, but he may sometime miss the bU ' ty- 
 " quission." 
 
 " As a man that would buy a house, will not so much 
 " weigh the gay painting as the sure building ; so who 
 " will judge of any matter truly, must lay it before his eyes 
 " nakedly." 
 
 " Miracles are not the work, but the impediment of na- Miracles. 
 " ture." 
 
 " The breach of good laws is the breakneck of the 
 " country." 
 
 Speaking of some ignorant persons that yet will talk and 
 prate, he said, " They were like a certain Sir John, which 
 " said, By my priesthood, if the Trinity were not in my 
 " poi-tas, I would not believe it." 
 
 He compared a false argument, cunningly set out with A false ar- 
 words, " to a well kembed bush, where never a hah- lay s ument - 
 " amiss, so long as the man had a house to cover him: but 
 " when he comes into the wind, it is soon ruffled. Or like 
 " a painted madam's face, which, so long as nobody blows 
 " upon it, nor sweat riseth in it, is gay glistering : but any 
 " of these means maketh the wrinkles soon appear. So is a 
 " false argument decked with fair words : it seemeth good, 
 " but turn it naked, and you shall soon see the botches." 
 
 He made women to be of two sorts, " some of them Women. 
 " wiser, better learned, discreeter, and more constant than a 
 " number of men." But another and a worse sort of them, 
 and the most part, he thus facetiously, but sharply de- 
 n3 
 
182 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP. 
 XIII. 
 
 Neglect of 
 good coun- 
 sel. 
 
 Acqui- 
 escence 
 in God. 
 
 scribed ; " Fond, foolish, wanton, flibbergibbs, tattlers, 
 . " triflers, wavering, witless, without counsel, feeble, careless, 
 " rash, proud, dainty, nice, tale-bearers, eves-droppers, ru- 
 " mour-raisers, evil-tongued, worse-minded, and in every 
 " wise doltified with the dregs of the Devil's dunghill." 
 
 Shewing how misery and unsuccessfulness happened to 
 Xerxes, that powerful and mighty emperor, for neglecting 
 the good counsel of Artimisia in Herodotus, having lost his 
 vast army, "He went home," said he, " not like a king, but 
 " like a coxcomb : not like a conqueror, but like a coward : 
 " not like a man, but like a mouse, in a fisher-boat with one 
 " or two with him ; though he brought out so many [sol- 
 " diers] with him, as it is almost in these days incredible." 
 
 " The safest way is to let him do his will which can do 
 " best ; and which can see plainly what will follow, where 
 " we blindly guess, and do but grope at it:" spoken in 
 reference to our acquiescence in the providence of God. 
 
 CHAP. XIV. 
 
 His qualities, conditions, and temper of mind. 
 
 "dd^o" "W" E nave not y et said tnat i s sufficient to describe the 
 sition. character of this reverend Father : for we have not all 
 this while looked into his nature, temper, disposition, and 
 the inward tendencies of his mind. 
 Zealous for And first, for his sense of God and religion, and dis- 
 l'gio 1 ™ 6 charge °f his duty. He was deeply and heartily concenied 
 for the true religion in opposition to Popery ; and from the 
 beginning was a hearty embracer of the reformed religion, 
 and an earnest Protestant : he was deeplv sensible of the 
 wonderful goodness of God, in detecting and delivering us 
 from the gross errors of Popery. This was once his con- 
 His opinion templation concerning Luther : " When the light of the 
 " Gospel was put out, and Antichrist ruled and revelled in 
 " the temple of God, (which is men's hearts and con- 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 188 
 
 " sciences,) armed and guarded with the power of emperors, CHAP. 
 
 " kings, princes, and laws, beyond all men's expectations, X1V ' 
 
 " contrary to hope, a poor Friar, one man, at that time not 
 
 " the best learned, through the mighty hand of God, ac- 
 
 " cording to his unsearchable decree, was able, not with 
 
 " force and armour, not with bands of men and power, not 
 
 " with favour of princes and prelates, not with any help 
 
 " of man or favour of the world, to set up the cross of 
 
 " Christ, to pull down the chair of Antichrist, to restore 
 
 " God's word, to banish the Devil's sophistry, to make of 
 
 " darkness light, of lies truth, of plain foolishness true wis- 
 
 " dom ; and as it were another Helena, to find out the 
 
 " cross of Christ hidden in the dunghill of devilish doc- 
 
 " trine, covered with the rotten bones of Romish martyrs, 
 
 " sinful saints, and counterfeit confessors." 
 
 And when about the year 1577 great fears were in all His prayer 
 men's hearts from the joint conspiracies of Popish Princes minister* 
 abroad, and the Scotch Queen's accomplices at home, against 
 the peace and quiet of England, the Bishop knowing what a 
 great minister of state the Lord Treasurer was, and what 
 a chief hand he had in the counsels and government, fell to 
 his prayers, and most earnestly beseeched God to give that 
 great Counsellor " the eyes of angels and the wisdom of 
 " Solomon ;" styling him " God's great and good instru- 
 " ment in this poor ark of Noah in these dangerous times." 
 
 And concerning Henry the French King, a deadly op- His zeal 
 pressor of his poor Protestant subjects, who had also joined French ^ 
 in league with the Turk, Christ's sworn enemy, (by means King.aper- 
 of which league the Turk fell upon some Christian king- 
 doms,) he zealously brake out into these words : " He, a 
 " King or a Devil, a Christian or a Lucifer, that by his 
 " cursed confederacy so encourageth the Turk, that he now 
 " dares be bold to venture upon Polonia, a Christian realm, 
 " which hath received the Gospel, and that way to come 
 " into Germany. Oh ! wicked caitiff, and firebrand of 
 " hell, [pardon, reader, this language to his zeal,] which, 
 " for the increasing of the pomp and vain-glory which he 
 " shall not long enjoy, [mark that,] will betray Christ and 
 n 4 
 
184 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP. " his cross to his mortal enemy. Oh ! foolish Germans, 
 ' " which see not their own undoing, [which Germans were 
 
 " his soldiers, or favoured him,] who conspire not together 
 " with the rest of Christian Princes, to pull such a traitor 
 " to God and his kingdom by the ears out of France, and 
 " hang him against the sun a drying, &c. God cannot long 
 " suffer this, though he wink a while at his wretchedness." 
 One would think our Divine spake these words by a pro- 
 phetic spirit, when we consider the event. For it was not 
 much above a quarter of a year after that this King indeed 
 died, viz. July 10, 1559, and that in the flower of his age, 
 being forty-two years old ; and, which is more remarkable, 
 not by a common death, but God made a new thing : and 
 he was thrust into the eye by a lance, notwithstanding his 
 head-piece, in tilting with one of his nobles, that he com- 
 manded to run with him, though earnestly declining it. 
 Whereby his head festered, and he died in miserable pain 
 and anguish. 
 
 Diligent In the discharge of his duty, the Bishop was very con- 
 and painful, g^g,,^^ an( j exac t ? anc i S p are( J f or no pains, being natu- 
 rally an active and stirring man : and so he was particularly 
 in his episcopal function. One part of his diligence con- 
 sisted in pressing a due conformity unto the laws and orders 
 of the Church established : and that because he thought 
 it the best bulwark to secure from Popery. This was the 
 cause he spared neither Papist nor Puritan. Whereby he 
 drew upon himself the hatred of both : but especially that 
 of the Puritan appeared most visibly against him ; setting 
 Martin Marprelate loose upon him, and giving him all the 
 trouble they could any other way, as we have seen in part 
 in the foregoing history. 
 Not to be Nor was he a man to be biassed by any temptation, or 
 bribe!' id by blinded 'by gifts. An instance of this happened in the year 
 1581; when a certain prisoner, (some Papist, as it seems,) 
 sent a letter to him, wherein was some signification of a 
 liberal gratification offered for his favour, perhaps to pro- 
 cure him liberty some clancular way : or whether it were a 
 contrivance to betray him into some unwarrantable action, 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 185 
 
 and a plot laid for him to bring him into trouble, I know CHAP, 
 not. But the Bishop shewed himself above these tempta- XIV- 
 tions of money, and took the letter and enclosed it in one of 
 his, and sent it to the Lord Treasurer, telling him that the 
 meaning he understood not, but that the writer would angle 
 for him with a golden hook : that he knew his Lordship's 
 •wisdom could smell out the meaning of such matters better 
 than he, and therefore thought good to make his Lordship 
 privy to it : and then to proceed as he should direct him : 
 adding, that he could not think that any of that religion 
 could have any good meaning towards him. 
 
 He and his whole family every day in the week twice His devo- 
 were present at, and joined with the whole divine service ; tlon ' 
 calling upon God for a blessing upon themselves, the State, 
 and the Queen's Majesty : and by that means putting up 
 frequent devout prayers for her and her kingdoms. 
 
 He duly observed his triennial visitations. And because Punctual in 
 his presence might be of advantage to the promoting of so- ti 'o n \' 5lta " 
 briety in manners, and obedience to the ecclesiastical constitu- 
 tion, he would often make some longer stay in several places 
 of his diocese, where conveniently he might ; and that for a 
 month or two, before his return home : as to see abuses rec- 
 tified, to hear complaints, to give his counsel and advice to 
 such as needed it, to observe the behaviours of the Clergy, 
 to preach himself, to keep hospitality, and such like. 
 
 In his ordination of Ministers he was very punctual and An <i °rdi- 
 careful : admitting none to Orders but such as himself did Ministers, 
 examine in his own person in points of divinity, and that in 
 the Latin tongue, in the hearing of many ; whereby it came 
 to pass, that none lightly came at him, but such as were 
 graduates, and of the Universities. 
 
 For his natural temper, he was quick and hot ; as many Quick and 
 great spirits have been : and this would sometimes lead t e °^p" r his 
 him out into haste and passion : but he had the wisdom 
 and conduct soon to check and take up himself again. 
 Once the Bishop was very angry with the Lord Treasurer 
 Burghley, otherwise his very cordial friend, charging him 
 somewhat too hardly in respect of the friendship between 
 
186 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP, them : for which the Bishop soon excused himself by rea- 
 
 l_son of his natural hastiness. The Treasurer had heard 
 
 how he had felled much wood pertaining to the reve- 
 nues of the see, to the prejudice of it, which caused that 
 great minister of state, according as he reckoned it his 
 duty, to tell him plainly of the waste of his woods. The 
 Bishop gave the Treasurer a quick answer, knowing his 
 own innocency, and the informations brought to the said 
 Lord to be malicious ; saying that these reports were all in- 
 digested surmises; and that whether he [the Treasurer] 
 were one to bring him to the bishopric, he knew not; but if 
 he would procure to bring him out, he assured him he 
 would thank him for it: and that he would stand to the 
 justifying of his doings. He took this opportunity to com- 
 plain to the said Lord, how he had cheeked him at other 
 times for his urging so much some ceremonious points, and 
 
 Expostu- t ] le r ig 0ur 0 f ] ns ecclesiastical officers. He wrote his mind 
 lates with ° 
 
 the Lord at large concerning these matters to the said Lord : " That 
 Treasurer. u jj g r i eve( j fcjjgg ni y Lord Treasurer was counted to 
 
 " have a miscontented mind towards the Bishop of London. 
 " He was sure he had given him no just cause; but con- 
 " trariwise had as much honoured him in all times and 
 " everywise as any man in England. That God would 
 " touch his heart, when he should think best, and move him 
 " to remember, non occidat sol super iracuudicun vestram. 
 " That he could have no great victory over him, if he 
 " should displace him, as he had told him a Bishop once 
 " was. Nay, he would thank him. And the charge being 
 " so importable, his old years growing on, the beggaring of 
 " himself, the wearing of his body, the thanklessness of the 
 " office, the continual discouragement, especially of late, 
 " made him he even upon his knees prayed, that he [the 
 " Treasurer] or some other would help him away, even to 
 " lead a private life. And therefore that no man should 
 " need to sift much his doings, for habebitis ream conjitcn- 
 " tern. 
 
 " And to be plain with you, my Lord, [as he proceeded.] 
 " you are the man that do most discourage me, not in these 
 
BISHOP A YLMER. 
 
 187 
 
 " points, (whereof I make no account,) but in that by your CHAP. 
 
 " words and countenance my government is hindered. For XIV ' 
 
 " when such words shall pass from you, that such and such 
 
 " things be not of the substance of religion ; that the eccle- 
 
 " siastical jurisdiction (which you yourself by statute have 
 
 " confirmed) is mere Papal ; that you would such and such 
 
 " should preach, which are disturbers, &c. it cannot be, my 
 
 " Lord, but three words from your mouth hujus generis 
 
 " shall more embolden them and hinder our labours, than 
 
 " our toil and moil shall in many years be able to help and 
 
 " salve. These are the things, my Lord, that do discou- 
 
 " rage me, and make me weary, that on the one side we 
 
 " shall be bawled on by them ; and not backed nor counte- 
 
 " nanced by such great magistrates as you are : and there- 
 
 " with for my part so oppressed with business, (enough for 
 
 " any three,) without either help, reward, or thanks, it must 
 
 " needs make us desperate, as by my writing you may see 
 
 " I am. For I cannot live this life, nor joy greatly in my 
 
 " state, where I always toil tanquam in pistrino, and dwell 
 
 " in suspicion of your good-will, &c. I have a clear con- 
 
 " science that I ever deserved well at your Lordship's hand, 
 
 " and never ill. And therefore, whatsoever shall happen, I 
 
 " stand clear before God. 11 
 
 But as he would be thus hot sometimes, so his heat 
 would be soon over, and he would recall himself, and bring 
 himself into a cooler temper ; as he did in the conclusion 
 of all this expostulatory epistle with the Treasurer ; which 
 ran after this tenor : " I know this is no time to hold your 
 " Lordship thus long, but that very grief of mind makes 
 " me to deal with your Lordship as Job did with God ; to- 
 " ward whom, in his passion, he sometimes forgat himself. 
 " So I may seem to pass the limits of my duty. But if it 
 " may please you with this to forgive and forget all the 
 " rest, I shall be as ready to seek your favour as any man's 
 " alive : which if I cannot obtain, there is one above that 
 " will one day reprove you and chide you. Thus God 
 " bless your Lordship as I would be blessed myself. 11 This 
 was writ in May 1579- 
 
 This letter shews us Bishop AyJmer's grief, and some- 
 
188 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP, what of His spirit, tending to impatience ; which however 
 XIV ' he had the grace to master, and not long to give way to. 
 But lest, by the abovesaid challenges and charges of that 
 most excellent Statesman, any sinister opinion might be left 
 in men's minds concerning him, I shall subjoin his answer 
 to the Bishop, wrote the very same day ; wherein may 
 appear that most admirable, wise, and serene temper that he 
 was master of. 
 
 The Lord " My good Lord, your Lordship's letter is too full of cho- 
 answer erS " ^ er ^ or me to answer directly without adding of choler: 
 " and so I should uddere oleum igni, i. e. add oil to the fire. 
 " But I am otherwise disposed, both for reverence to vour 
 " spiritual vocation, and for charity to mine old familiar ac- 
 " quaintance. For the opinion by you conceived of me, as 
 " not bearing you good-will, surely your Lordship therein 
 " doth misinform yourself: and for answer coram Domino, 
 " I protest that I bear you no kind of disfavour. That I 
 " have said to you of your wasting of timber, I spake as a 
 " public officer, and will speak the like upon like occasion 
 " to any of your estate, how dearly soever I shall love them. 
 
 " For reprehension of the common misusage by Bishops' 1 
 " Chancellors, Commissaries, Summoners, and such like, I 
 " say, with grief of mind, that I see therein no true use of 
 " the discipline meant at the first erection of those officers, 
 " (which I allow well of,) but a corrupting of them to pri- 
 " vate gain, and not to the public benefit, and edifying of 
 " the Church. And it grieveth me to see the fond, light, 
 " pretended reformers, to have occasion ministered unwisely 
 " to condemn the offices, where they should condemn the 
 " misuse thereof. 
 
 " And so, my Lord, lest in much writing I should by 
 " heat of argument stir your choler, I end, and pardon 
 " your taunts sparkled in your letters. 
 
 " Your Lordship's with reverence 
 
 " and Christian charity, 
 
 " W. Burghley." 
 
 Westminster, May 26, 1579- 
 
BISHOP A YLMER. 
 
 189 
 
 But to return to our Bishop : as he was somewhat hasty CHAP. 
 
 xiv. 
 
 and quick in his temper, as we have heard, so he was quick 
 and sharp in his discourse ; and his expressions were min- Sharp in ins 
 gled with pungency and pleasure. When he was arguing 
 with Knox, in respect of his hook against the reign of wo- 
 men, wherehy he touched hard upon Queen Elizabeth, he 
 had these words; " It is a great enterprise, and, as they 
 " say, no ball-play, to pidl a Queen's crown off her head ; 
 " and especially such an one as many ages have not seen." 
 
 When the same author had pretended Scripture against 
 the rule of women, he said in general, " I must say to 
 " them all in general, that the Scripture meddleth with no 
 " civil policy, further than to teach obedience. And there- 
 " fore whatsoever is brought out of the Scripture concern- 
 " ing any kind of regiment, is without the book pulled into 
 " the game-place by the ears, to wrestle whether it will 
 " or no." 
 
 Speaking concerning the marriage of Queen Mary to His words 
 King Philip, so unfortunate to England, he used these Queen"'" 5 
 words; " Cyrus, that noble Persian, sent to Thomaris, Mary's 
 " Queen of the Massagetes, for marriage. To whom she KingPhiiip; 
 " made answer, that she knew his meaning was to marry 
 " her kingdom, and not her. Which answer if Queen 
 " Mary had given to Philip, Calais, Hammes, and Guisnes 
 " had not been lost ; nor the good Lady, her sister and our 
 " Sovereign, so left in the briers ; beset about on every side 
 " almost with mighty enemies, impoverished and robbed of 
 " her common treasure, and her subjects so fleeced, that 
 " they must scrape near the bones that will get any 
 " more." 
 
 Mentioning Queen Mary's Parliament, that took the And the 
 Pope's absolution from Cardinal Pole on their knees, he j^ 1 ^ re _ 
 said, " They stooped upon their marrow-bones to receive ceiving ab- 
 " the Devil's blessing, brought them by Satan's apostle, fi^fcar- 
 " the Cardinal." dinai Pole. 
 
 When certain arguments were brought, dressed and flou- 
 rished over, to prove an error, and he was taking them into 
 examination, " I will," said he, " turn the arguments out 
 
190 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP, "of their clouts, and consider them as they be in them- 
 XIV - "selves- 
 
 Facetious. For he would also mix a facetiousness with his discourses. 
 
 When Knox would have proved the unlawfulness of wo- 
 men's government from that place in Isaiah, / will take 
 Jrom you your honourable senators and your wise counsel- 
 lors, and I will give you boys and women to reign over you ; 
 he confuted it by saying, that it was not meant of boys in 
 age, but in manners; not of women in sex, but in feeble- 
 ness of wit: and then added, divertingly, that this argu- 
 ment therefore arose of wrong understanding the word. As 
 His story of the Vicar of Trumpington, said he, understood Eli, Eli, 
 Tramping- f ^ JMraa sabacthani, when he read the Passion upon Palm- 
 ton- Sunday. Coming to which place he stopped, and calling 
 the churchwardens, said, " Neighbours, this gear must be 
 " amended. Here is Eli twice in the book. I assure you, 
 " if my Lord of Eli come this way and see it, he will have 
 " the book, [since his name was in it.] Therefore by mine 
 " advice we shall scrape it out, and put in our own town's 
 " name, viz. Trumpington, Trumpington, lama sabac- 
 " thani." They consented, and he did so, because he un- 
 derstood no better. So they that use this place for a wea- 
 pon against this matter do fault in homonymia ; not con- 
 sidering that words have proper significations and trans- 
 lations. 
 
 Judges, And once speaking to the Judges, " Some in sport,''' said 
 drudges. ^ u drudges, and not judges ; but I think in good 
 
 " earnest, that it is contrary, that you make yourselves 
 " lords, and all other drudges. 11 
 He called The Under Sheriff he would call the Under Thief; the 
 Sheriff Un- jurymen, or the questmen, the questmongers, and some- 
 der Thief, times the curstmongers. And he thus once facetiously as well 
 as sharply delivered his mind concerning the unjust mea- 
 sures that poor men often received by their means: " Be- 
 " tween the High Thief and the Under Thief, my Lord 
 " [the lord of the manor, or chief nobleman] and the 
 " curstmongers, [the choice of whom was influenced by my 
 f Lord,] poor men are outweighed." 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 191 
 
 The Bishop was a man of a bold spirit, and feared no- c H A P. 
 body. Concerning which courage he once said, that " two XIV ' 
 " things made him so ; the one, that he neither feared nor Hold. 
 " cared for any loss of his place, [which had so much of 
 " care and vexation;] the other, a clear conscience. 11 
 
 He took a great freedom to speak his mind, whosoever Free in 
 was worthy to be reproved, and whatsoever sins or evil speeth ' 
 customs were to be checked. It was a sharp reproof he 
 gave the nobility in his time, which had been the occasions 
 of abusing that ancient good custom of the verdict of twelve 
 men for deciding criminal matters, and of meum and tuum. 
 " If there be, 11 said he, " any nobleman dwelling in the 
 " country, either a duke, a marquis, an earl, or baron; 
 " he shall lightly have in his retinue all the cobbs in the 
 " country, which be the questmongers, [as he styled the 
 " questmen.] And if any matters be touching him, his 
 " man, or his friend, whether it be a crime capital or nisi 
 " prius, sent down for lands, the case shall weigh as he 
 " will. For his detainers [as he called retainers] must 
 " needs have an eye to my Lord, though they should go to 
 " the devil for it. And so be some innocents knit up, and 
 " some offenders delivered, and some titles of inheritance 
 " lost, against all justice and right. Another is, if my lord 
 " will not offend the statute of retinue, then must the High 
 " Sheriff be his friend, and the Under Thief (Under Sheriff" 
 " I should say) his man. He empanelleth the quest, either 
 " such as dare not displease my lord, or for good-will will 
 " not. And so that way, betwixt the High Thief and the 
 " Under Thief, my Lord and the curstrnongers, poor men 
 " are outweighed. This corruption, if it be not looked to, 
 " will make this order, [of the jury of twelve,] which was 
 " the best that could be, to be the wickedest that can 
 " be. 11 
 
 Thus he would in a blunt way freely deliver his mind ; Blunt in 
 especially when it was needful the truth should be spoken words " 
 for vindication of innocence or reproof of sin, let it be be- 
 fore the greatest person. Hence, after he had taken the 
 liberty once to say what he thought in some certain matter 
 
192 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP, to a great lord, he acknowledged that he -was no good 
 X1V ' courtier, and excused himself by his plain nature. 
 
 stout and All this that I have said already sheweth him to have 
 courageous. ^ ^ great stomach. Indeed he had a natural cou- 
 rage : which appeared also not in words only, as we saw 
 before, but sometimes even in deeds : for the Bishop was 
 a man of his arms, and would not turn his back for any 
 man. Sir John Harrington, who lived in this Bishop's 
 time, and knew him, tells us, that when he was an old man, 
 when no other correction nor sober advice would do his 
 unthrifty son-in-law any good, he took him into an inner 
 room, where they were alone, and cudgelled him soundly. 
 And methinks those words of his in the description of a 
 preacher intimated his skill in fighting as well as preaching. 
 " It is not enough, 1 '' said he, " for a man to tell a fair tale 
 " in the pulpit, and when he comes down is not able to 
 " defend it. If preachers and spiritual men be such, where 
 " be we, when we come to hand-gripes? They must not 
 " only flourish, but they must know their quarter-strokes, 
 " and the way how to defend their head ; their head 
 " Christ, I say, and his cross. 1 ' 
 An odd in- And now we are fallen upon this argument, I will not 
 ^"courage omit a tradition that goeth in the family of the Aylmers, of 
 before the tj le Bishop's stout heart in a pretty odd instance, namely, 
 in causing one of his teeth to be drawn once in the Queen's 
 presence, for the better encouraging her to undergo that pre- 
 sent pain for her own quiet and ease afterwards : and indeed 
 I find she was once so disquieted with the toothach, that it 
 gave a concern to all the Court. It was in the month of 
 December 1578, when she was so excessively tormented with 
 that distemper, that she had no intermission day nor night, 
 and it forced her to pass whole nights without taking any 
 rest ; and came to that extremity, that her physicians were 
 called in and consulted. These differed among themselves 
 as to the cause of the distemper, and what means were pro- 
 perest to be used. There was then an outlandish physician 
 of some note, it seems, for giving ease in this anguish, whose 
 name was John Anthony Fenotus ; him the Lords of the 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 193 
 
 Council sent for, and required, or rather commanded him chap. 
 to give his advice in writing, to procure the Queen ease. XIV ' 
 Whereupon he wrote a long Latin letter which I have 
 seen : first, disabling himself to come after such great phy- 
 sicians ; and then prescribing divers remedies. But in case 
 the tooth were hollow, his advice then was, that when all 
 was done, it was best to have it drawn out, though with the 
 incurring some short pain. But if her Majesty could not 
 submit to such chirurgical instruments, (which it seems he 
 had heard something of the Queen's abhorrence of,) then he 
 advised that the juice of chelidonius major might be put 
 into the tooth, and so stopped with wax, that none of it 
 might fall upon the sound parts ; whereby the tooth would 
 in a short time be so loose that it might be pulled out by 
 the fingers: or the root of it might be rubbed upon the 
 tooth, and it would have the same effect. But in short, 
 the pulling it out was esteemed by all the safest way ; to 
 which, however, the Queen, as was said, was very averse, 
 as afraid of the acute pain that accompanied it. And now 
 it seems it was that the Bishop of London being present, a 
 man of high courage, persuaded her that the pain was not 
 so much, and not at all to be dreaded ; and to convince 
 her thereof told her, she should have a sensible experiment 
 of it in himself, though he were an old man, and had not 
 many teeth to spare; and immediately bade the surgeon 
 come and pull out one of his teeth, (perhaps a decayed 
 one,) in her Majesty's presence. Which accordingly was 
 done : and she was hereby encouraged to submit to the 
 operation herself. 
 
 The recreation which he delighted in was bowling ; His recrea- 
 which he used for the diversion of his cares, and preserva- 
 tion of his health at Fulham, according as he had leisure. 
 This exercise he used on Sundays, in the afternoon, after 
 evening prayer. And herein he would be so eager, that he 
 sometimes had such expressions in his game as exposed him 
 to the censure of many, especially of his enemies. Hence 
 Martin Marprelate spake of his running after his bowl, and 
 crying Rub, Rub, Rub ; and then, The Devil go with it, 
 o 
 
194 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 C xiv P w ' ien l ie followed himself. And again on another occasion, 
 
 . ! " that he would spare him for that time, because it may be 
 
 " he was at his bowls ; and it was pity to trouble him, lest 
 " he swore. " 
 
 His person- g ut now at ] agt tQ wm( j U p m s } lor t my accounts of this 
 Bishop, and to draw towards a conclusion. As to his per- 
 son, he was mean of stature, but of courage great, and very 
 valiant in his youth ; which quality departed not from him 
 The picture when he was old. He wore a long gray beard. A good 
 the posses- original picture of him is preserved to this day, or at least 
 sion of Mr. did lately remain, in the town of Bishops Stortford, fastened 
 
 Aylmer, of . . , 
 
 Clieims- into the wainscot of an house there, once inhabited by Mr. 
 
 ford ' Aylmer, an apothecary, that derived himself from him. 
 
 His house- He kept a regular well-ordered family, duly observing 
 the hours of prayer twice in the day, whereat he himself 
 was constantly present when he was at home, with the rest 
 of his officers, chaplains, and servants ; the number of 
 which consisted of above fourscore persons. And he was a 
 good master, friend, and father to them and his dependents. 
 Among the rest of his Chaplains, Dr. Yaughan was one, 
 Archdeacon of Middlesex, and his cousin, and he that after- 
 wards was the worthy and beloved Bishop of London. This 
 Vaughan was a deserving man, and known both for his 
 learning, readiness in preaching, and other godly gifts, in- 
 ferior to few; and long a Prebend of the church of St. 
 Paul's. And being a senior Prebendary made interest with 
 the Dean for the place of a Residentiary in that church, but 
 was several times put by; which troubled not onlv him. 
 but the Bishop too, knowing well his worth. But in April 
 1592, Archdeacon Molins lying in great extremity of sick- 
 ness, and so a Residentiary^ place likely again to become 
 vacant, the Bishop concerned himself for Dr. Vaughan. 
 And that his interest might the better prevail, (divers hav- 
 ing been already recommended to the Dean of Paul's,) he 
 addressed a letter to the Lord Treasurer, being moved in 
 conscience, as he said, lest by too many repulses the worthy 
 man should be discouraged ; praying his favourable assist- 
 ance in this suit ; that it would please him at his [the Bi- 
 
BISHOP AYLMEK. 
 
 195 
 
 shop's] entreaty to send his letters to Mr. Dean on his be- CHAP, 
 half, being then in great hopes, that the success would be X1V " 
 better than it had been : and at the least howsoever it fell 
 out, both his Chaplain and he should acknowledge them- 
 selves deeply bounden to his Lordship's honourable fur- 
 therance given unto them herein. Adding, how he was 
 marvellously troubled for lack of such an one as the Doctor 
 was, to be ready at the Cross to supply the defects there ; 
 which happened divers times in the year by sickness, or 
 negligence of them that were called to preach there. What 
 effect this had, I cannot tell. But herein may be observed, 
 how solicitous the Bishop was for the preferment of those 
 about him ; and what men of learning and merit he enter- 
 tained. 
 
 In fine, Aylmer had all the advantages that both prospe-A man of 
 rity and adversity are wont to contribute to make men wise tunes?"" 
 and good. After much ease and reputation which he en- 
 joyed at the Court, and in the family of a great nobleman, 
 he was thrown out of all his places, glad to escape for his 
 life, to leave his native country, and friends, and plenty, 
 and live a banished man, and carry his life in his hand. 
 And after, when he was restored by the merciful providence 
 of God, and had his share, according to his merits, of ho- 
 nour and wealth again, it was so deeply mixed with sorrow 
 and care, that he could have been heartily willing to have 
 been stripped of all again, for a more private and peaceable 
 life. But his earlier days, which he passed in the Court, 
 seem to have administered the greatest pleasure to him. 
 And by his converse there, he knew well the characters of 
 great and noble persons. For he lived in the Duke of Suf- 
 folk's family, and was the instructor of his incomparable 
 daughter, the Lady Jane Grey. And it may be reckoned 
 one of his felicities, that he had the education of so rare a 
 person both for learning and piety, as well as high birth and 
 fortunes. 
 
 And for her modest carriage, and good zeal to religion, H; s relation 
 this passage may be added concerning her, which Aylmer conc'-m'ii'i- 
 himself mentions somewhere; viz. that he knew a great ^ Lad y 
 
 ° Jain.- Ore v. 
 
 o 2 
 
196 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAP, man's daughter, who having received from the Lady Mary 
 XIV " goodly apparel of tinsel cloth of gold and velvet, laid on 
 with parchment lace of gold, when she saw it, said, " What 
 " shall I do with it ?" " Marry ," said a gentlewoman stand- 
 ing by, " wear it." " Nay," answered she, " that were a 
 " shame to follow my Lady Mary against God's word, and 
 " leave my Lady Elizabeth, which followeth God's word." 
 His oppor- While he thus conversed at Court in King Edward's days, 
 knowing ne could not but take notice of the exemplary behaviour 
 (afte? ady °^ ^ e sa ^ ^' ac 'y Elizabeth. Whereby he was able to give 
 Queen) that character of her when she was young, before the crown 
 Elizabeth. fell tQ jj erj w hich he thought fit at her very first access to 
 the kingdom to write and publish, for the better reconciling 
 of her subjects to her government. And what he wrote 
 was of his own knowledge, as he said. And he wished to 
 God all men knew her as much as he, that they might con- 
 ceive of her the same opinion that he had. He was ac- 
 Roger As- quainted with her first schoolmaster that taught her tongues : 
 cham. a manj he said, very honest and learned. And among other 
 talk which he had with him of her, (for he was, as he said, 
 very curious in questioning, and he [her master] as gentle 
 in answering,) he told Aylmer once, that he learned more 
 of her every day, than she of him : which seemed to 
 Aylmer a mystery, as indeed it was. But because he 
 would not keep him in doubt, thus he expounded it : "I 
 " teach her words," said he, " and she me things. I teach 
 " her the tongues to speak, and her modest and maidenly 
 " looks teach me works to do. For," said he, " I think 
 " she is the best disposed of any in all Europe." Aylmer 
 farther spake of her, that an Italian, who taught her his 
 tongue, told him once, that he found in her two qualities, 
 which were never lightly yoke-feUows in one woman ; name- 
 ly, a singular wit, and a marvellous meek stomach. Aylmer 
 added, that he would have thought that these men had 
 thus commended her because she was their mistress: but 
 by certain knowledge otherwise, he understood that it was 
 the truth ; and that they might have said much more, and 
 not lied. 
 
BISHOP AYLMER. 
 
 197 
 
 This character his conversation in times past in the Court CHAP. 
 
 . . XIV 
 
 enabled him to give of Queen Elizabeth. And by giving 1_ 
 
 this in the most public manner he could, in a printed book, 
 he did a piece of very good service, to reconcile her a due 
 respect in the minds of her subjects ; many of whom,, being 
 led away by the Priests and actors in the late Popish go- 
 vernment under her sister, had no great stomach to receive 
 her. And therefore all the fairest characters, as well as 
 other means to be used, were to be divulged of her. Where- 
 in our Divine did his part, and merited well. 
 
 o3 
 
ADDITIONS. 
 
 the writing hereof, certain things have come to my 
 hands, relating to some particular passages of the foregoing 
 history ; which I have here added, as judging them proper 
 to give some further illustration to it. 
 
 Numb. I. Pag. 35. 
 Campion the Jesuit. 
 THE disputations with Campion, that boasting Jesuit, 
 were there spoken of, and the small opinion the Bishop of 
 London had of any good to be obtained thereby, partly in 
 respect of the disputations themselves, wherein commonly 
 not the soundest arguing, but the volublest tongue carrieth 
 away the glory ; and partly because of those flocks of au- 
 ditors of little judgment that would be present; not a few 
 whereof being Campion's well-willers, would not fail to blaze 
 the matter to the Jesuit's praise, and the undervaluing of 
 the Protestant Divines, his antagonists, and their cause. 
 And so in truth it happened. For the stopping of which 
 inconveniencies, the last day's conference was managed by 
 writing, each disputant's arguments, by consent, being set 
 down from their mouths by a person appointed for that 
 purpose, (who was Thomas Norton, a Minister of good 
 account,) and so were the answers likewise. Of these things 
 the same Norton gave the Lord Burghley an account in a 
 letter dated Sept. ult. in these words : " I pray your Lord- 
 " ship to pardon me to say, that I think the course hitherto 
 " taken, either by lack of order, or moderation, or conve- 
 " nient respect of admitting men to be hearers, hath been 
 " but fruitless and hurtful, and subject to great harm by 
 o 4 
 
200 
 
 ADDITIONS. 
 
 " reports. The last time I was a means, by advice, to have 
 " it in some such form as did better content ; and the order 
 " to set down the objections and answers, and to repeat 
 " them written, so as the parties should acknowledge them 
 " to be their own before any answer or reply made unto 
 " them, did greatly satisfy the hearers; being so surely 
 " used, that in the whole day Campion could not complain 
 " that I did him wrong in any one word, but always con- 
 " fessed that his sayings were rightly conceived, and truly 
 " set down. By which, mere confusion was avoided, and 
 " by-talk was cut off : he was hardly driven to the wall : 
 " what he once had granted, he could not resume ; and our 
 " cause is not so subject to false reports of his favourers.' 1 
 
 Numb. II. Pag. 36. 
 ONE Cawood was mentioned there to have been taken up 
 by Bishop Aylmer, for applauding publicly the abovesaid 
 Campion and his learning, in his conferences, to the dis- 
 paraging of the Protestant Divines that disputed with him. 
 There was also another, named Oliver Plucket, (another of 
 the crowd of common auditors,) who openly commended the 
 said Campion, saying, that he had heard him dispute, and 
 thought, in his conscience, that Campion was discreet and 
 learned, and spoke very well : and that he would have con- 
 vinced them that opposed him, if he might have been heard 
 According with indifferency. Which words were laid to his charge in 
 of the fn- h December by the foreman of the Wardmote-inquest of 
 quest, vid. the parish of St. Andrew's, Holborn ; which he owned, 
 p! 6*2. SUrV Whereupon the deputy of the ward, with the said foreman, 
 preferred a bill of information against him to Fleetwood 
 the Recorder. The issue was, that he also was committed. 
 
 Numb. III. Pag. 52. 
 Chop's do HERE we fall into the year 1580, where let me note, that 
 ingfin con- while Aylmer was Bishop of London, the Clergy of the 
 
 vocation. 
 
ADDITIONS. 
 
 201 
 
 province of Canterbury met several times in their Synods : 
 and I make no question so active a man as he was, and so 
 useful as he had shewed himself to be once in a Synod in 
 the first year of Queen Mary, was also very serviceable by 
 his advices and conferences in these ecclesiastical assemblies 
 under Queen Elizabeth, when he bore a greater figure. But 
 I confess I have little to set down of this matter ; only that 
 in the year 1580, when the Convocation began to sit, Ja- 
 nuary 17, our Bishop presided, being deputed by the Arch- 
 bishop of Canterbury, at that time sequestered, and under 
 the Queen's displeasure ; and was at the head of what busi- 
 ness was then done. And in the Convocation that sat in Rights of 
 February 1586, the Bishop complained of the Dean of£°£™ at - 
 Norwich and some others for not preaching at Paul's Cross, 
 according to monition ; it having been of long time custo- 
 mary for the Bishops of London to summon up from the 
 Universities, or elsewhere, persons of the best abilities to 
 preach those public sermons, whither the Prince and Court, 
 and the magistrates of the city, besides a vast conflux of 
 people, used to resort. For the due providing therefore 
 for these sermons, and for the encouragement of the preach- 
 ers that should come up, this Bishop was a great bene- 
 factor. 
 
 Numb. IV. Pag. 104. 
 Dyke the Puritan. 
 WE there left Dyke under suspension from the Bishop, 
 for troubling his auditory with new opinions. For the re- 
 storing of whom to his preaching, mention was made of an 
 earnest petition put up by the parishioners to the Lord 
 Burghley ; which being omitted in the history, I will here 
 give the tenor of it. It set forth, " how they had lived 
 " without any ordinary preaching until within four or five 
 " years. By which want they knew not, as they ought, 
 " what did belong to God, what to their Prince, their 
 " rulers, their neighbours, their families, to bring them up 
 
202 
 
 ADDITIONS. 
 
 " in that obedience and subjection as was meet. Neither 
 * knew they how to keep them from such abuses as were 
 " in common in the world ; so as ignorance and disorder 
 " was upon them and theirs for want of teaching. But that 
 " of late it pleased the Lord to visit them with the means 
 a of their salvation, the ordinary ministry of the word ; and 
 " through the godly endeavour of their very good patroness 
 " the Lady Bacon, [widow of Sir Nic. Bacon, late Lord 
 " Keeper,] at her especial and almost only charge, they en- 
 " joyed Mr. Dyke, a preacher authorized : who, according 
 " to his function, had been painful and profitable ; and both 
 " in life and doctrine had carried himself peaceably and 
 " dutifully among them; so as no man could justly find 
 " fault with him ; except, of malice, some who were evil 
 " disposed persons, and could not abide to hear their faults 
 " reproved, did for that cause set themselves against him, 
 " by slanders and such like practices labouring in all 
 " places to their utmost to discredit him, and to hinder the 
 " course of his ministry : yet none of them all, in the least 
 " shew of evil, were able to touch him. That through his 
 " preaching many had been brought from their ignorance 
 " and evil ways to a better life; to be frequent hearers of 
 " God's word ; willing to every service of the Prince ; ready 
 " to distribute to the poor : and their servants were in 
 " better order and government than in times past." 
 Dyke's an- Then giving his Lordship to understand, " that this their 
 the LonJ iCit " P reacrier was suspended by the Bishop of London ; and 
 Treasurer. " so they were now as sheep without a shepherd ; exposed 
 " and laid open to manifold dangers, even to return to their 
 ** former ignorance and cursed vanities. That they were no 
 " better than their fathers, who in the absence of their good 
 " guides corrupted themselves, and were soon turned out 
 " of the way which God prescribed them. That the Lord 
 " had spoken it, and therefore it must needs be inviolably 
 " true, Where there is no vision, the people perish. And 
 " that they having had some experience of his [the Lord 
 " Burghley's] honourable care heretofore in the like case, 
 " (for with all thankfulness they acknowledged, that through 
 
ADDITIONS. 
 
 203 
 
 " his means they had enjoyed this benefit of the word 
 " preached,) they were in their present distress emboldened 
 " to become most humble suitors and petitioners, next after 
 " God, unto his Honour, that in regard of so many benefits 
 " they had by preaching, and in respect of their great loss 
 " now upon them, by want whereof they were spoiled of 
 " their comfort, weakened to God-ward, and made more 
 " unfit for every good service and necessary work ; it would 
 " please his Lordship, in the bowels of his honourable com- 
 " passion, to pity them in their present misery, and to be- 
 " come so favourable unto them, as by his means they 
 " might enjoy their Preacher again." 
 
 To this petition were subscribed the hands of six, and the Who there- 
 marks of twenty-nine : which made the Bishop style them ^ tSwBU** 
 such as were "dubbed with the title of yeomanry" But shop, 
 whatever mean mechanics these subscribers were, upon this, 
 as was specified p. 104, the said Lord despatched his letter 
 to the Bishop in Dyke's behalf. To which in answer the 
 Bishop gave his reasons for suspending of him ; which are 
 there set down : as, that he was but Deacon, and so had con- 
 tinued many years, refusing the other order of Priesthood ; 
 shewing thereby his disaffection to the book of orders of 
 the Church of England : that he lay under the infamy of 
 uncleanness ; and that he was an impugner of the esta- 
 blished way of worship, and preached innovations. To this 
 some time after the said Peer gave this second letter to the 
 Bishop : 
 
 " That he had received his Lordship's letters of the 9th His second 
 " of November, in answer to his formerly written to ifiim Dyke's'be- 
 " in the behalf of Mr. Dyke, Preacher at St. Michael's in half. 
 " St. Albon's. And that he had forborne hitherto to answer 
 " the same upon sundry causes alleged by his Lordship, 
 " that moved him to forbear to restore him, until he [the 
 " Lord Burghley] had more duly informed himself of the 
 " truth of some of those matters. Which if they had been true, 
 " as it seems his Lordship [the Bishop] was informed they 
 tt W ere, lie should not only be of his Lordship's opinion for 
 " his suspension, but think him worthy of further punish- 
 
204 
 
 ADDITIONS. 
 
 " ment. But having, upon due inquisition and knowledge 
 " from the best of that shire, understood, that the foul 
 " matter wherewith he was charged in the open sessions at 
 " St. Albon's, of incontinency, was maliciously informed 
 " against him by a lewd woman, that seemed to have had 
 " the report thereof from one Forster, a gentleman dwelling 
 " in Essex. For he, by his letters written to the Justices, 
 " and openly read in the Sessions-house, utterly denied to 
 " have ever used any such speeches. Whereupon the wo- 
 " man confessing her lewdness in slandering of him, and 
 " asking him openly forgiveness, he sufficiently was cleared 
 " thereof. And truly, my Lord, added he, in that manner 
 " may the best Clergyman in this realm be slandered. That 
 " he did not therefore see, but for that matter his Lord- 
 " ship and all the world (who hereby might hardly con- 
 " ceive of him) ought to be satisfied. 
 
 " And for one other matter, of his not administering the 
 " Sacraments, he being but only Deacon, and having no 
 " cure or charge, whereof to be Minister or Curate, might 
 " not lawfully minister the Sacraments; although being a 
 " Deacon, and so authorized, he might, as before his Lord- 
 " ship's restraint he did, preach to the instruction of the 
 " people. 
 
 " That for other matters, he thought his Lordship had 
 " been over hardly informed against him : which made him 
 " to continue in earnest manner his former request to him 
 " on Dyke's behalf, and to pray him to restore him to his 
 " former place of preaching at St. Michael's; where now 
 " the people lived untaught, and had for a Curate a very 
 " insufficient, aged, doting man. That his Lordship knew, 
 " that magna est messis, et operarii pauci ; i. e. the har- 
 " vest was great, and the labourers few. And that al- 
 " though he might have some imperfections, as the best of 
 " us all are not void thereof, yet in a reasonable sort would 
 " the same be borne withal, being but moved of zeal. 
 " Which made him [the Lord Burghley] the more ear- 
 " nestly to press his Lordship for this man's restitution : 
 " who, he hoped, (if he had heretofore erred by overmuch 
 
ADDITIONS. 
 
 205 
 
 " earnestness,) would hereafter be more advised, and in a 
 " temperate sort carry himself. And for this favour to 
 " him, besides the good the people should receive in their 
 " instruction, he should thank his Lordship for him. But 
 " lastly, that he would not solicit his Lordship in his fa- 
 " vour, if hereafter he should give just cause of any public 
 " offence against the orders of the Church established.'" 
 
 Numb. V. Pag. 105. 
 
 Cartwright the Puritan. 
 
 MENTION was made how Thomas Cartwright and some imprisoned, 
 other Puritans were taken up and brought before the ec- 
 clesiastical Commission, for setting up a new discipline con- 
 trary to that which was established in the Church of Eng- 
 land; and that the said Cartwright, as the chief, being 
 called before the Bishop and other ecclesiastical Commis- 
 sioners, the said Bishop used a certain expostulatory speech 
 to him. To add some further particulars. The names of 
 the rest of these Puritan Ministers, besides Cartwright, dis- 
 posed in the Fleet and other prisons about London, were 
 as follow : 
 
 Humphrey Fen. Edward Lord. The other 
 
 Andrew King. Edmund Snape. ot her pri- 
 
 Daniel Wight. William Proudlove. sons > their 
 
 names. 
 
 John Payne. Melancthon Jewel. 
 
 The place where the Commission sat, when Cartwright 
 was brought before them, was the Bishop's chamber. Where 
 he was secretly called on Saturday afternoon, without any 
 warning aforehand, to prevent, as was said, the cumbrance 
 that the coming in of such as favoured him might occasion. 
 And for the satisfaction of any who might be desirous to 
 understand how these proceedings went, I will set down the 
 remainder of the conference of the Bishop and the other 
 Commissioners with Cartwright at this meeting, as I have 
 it from an authentic paper. 
 
206 
 
 ADDITIONS. 
 
 The con- The Bishop having delivered himself, according as was 
 tween the shewn in the history, Cartwright began to speak, but Mr. 
 with°othe Attorney John Popham, another of the Commissioners, 
 Commis- took the speech from him, and made a long discourse. The 
 Cartwright 1 e ^ ect - whereof was to shew, how dangerous a thing it was, 
 Mr. Attoi- that men should, upon the conceits of their own heads, and 
 to him' eeCh y et unc ^ er c °l° ur of conscience, refuse the things that have 
 been received for laws of long time. And that the oath [to 
 answer to certain interrogatories] that was tendered was ac- 
 cording to the laws of the land ; which he commended above 
 the laws of all other lands : yet so, that because they were 
 the laws of men, they carried always some stain of imper- 
 fection. Also, that he was now to deal with Mr. Cartwright 
 in two points : one was, the peace of the land, which was 
 broken by him and others, through unlawful meetings, and 
 making of laws : the other was, the justice of the land, 
 which he and others had offended against, in refusing the 
 oath now tendered : which, as he said, was used in other 
 courts of the land. Neither was there any, in his conscience, 
 learned in the laws, that did judge it unlawful. So exhort- 
 ing Mr. Cartwright to take the oath, the rather for that he 
 being aged should have more experience, and with it more 
 wisdom than the others, he made an end of his speech. 
 The Bishop After this, the Bishop requiring Mr. Cartwright to take 
 puts him t j le oat j, ] le desired that ere he came to the oath, he might 
 
 upon taking ' 7 ° 
 
 the oath; be received to answer the grievous charges which were 
 
 (iechnes'. e given partly against him apart, and partly against him with 
 others, by Mr. Attorney ; but especially by his Lordship. 
 Whereunto the Bishop answered, that he should not answer 
 to any thing but oidy to the oath, whether he would take 
 it, to answer the Articles which he had seen. And Mr. 
 Cartwright replying, that it was a hard course to give open 
 charges, and the same very grievous, and yet to shut men 
 from all answer of them. The Bishop willed him, first to 
 answer touching the oath ; and then he should be admitted 
 
 His answer to answer the charges which had been made upon him. Mr. 
 
 ticieT Af Cartwright following the order the Bishop had appointed 
 him, answered, that the Articles being the same that tbey 
 
ADDITIONS. 
 
 207 
 
 upon oath would examine him of, which he had seen hefore, 
 he had already made answer to them, drawing them forth 
 out of his bosom ; and withal offered to be sworn unto it ; 
 and that he coidd not make any further answer. Whereof 
 when they demanded the reason, his answer was, that lie had 
 laid the chief strength of his refusal upon the law of God ; 
 secondly, upon the laws of the land : which in some men's 
 judgment, professing the skill of the laws, did not warrant 
 such proceeding. But seeing that he heard Mr. Attorney 
 affirm as he did, and that he had no eyes to look into the 
 depth and mysteries of the law, he would most principally 
 rely, and stand at this present, upon the law of God. 
 
 Then Dr. Lewin spake, and said, that he would be glad Dr. Lewin's 
 that Mr. Cartwright should understand, that he was greatly ^m. Ch t0 
 deceived in that he called this oath the oath cx officio ; The oath ex 
 whereas it was by express words derived from the authority "ff""- 
 of the Prince by a delegate power unto them. Wherefore 
 that he had need to take heed, lest in refusal of this oath 
 he refused that which the Prince authorized. Which speech 
 the Bishop greatly commended ; and willing Mr. Cartwright 
 to take heed unto it, lest by refusal of this oath he should 
 directlv oppose himself to the authority of the Prince : Mr. 
 Cartwright answered first, that in calling it an oath ex 
 officio, he did it by warrant of this court, using no other 
 language therein than the Bishop himself, that so called it, 
 and another of the High Commission that was not then 
 present, who called it the oath of inquisition. The Bishop 
 denied that he had done so. But Mr. Cartwright appeal- 
 ing therein to the testimony of those which were present, 
 he was silent. Secondly, Mr. Cartwright alleged, that he 
 had seen commissions from her Majesty, wherein there was 
 no mention of proceeding by corporal oath. Then Dr. 
 Bancroft interrupting him, Mr. Cartwright desired that he 
 might make an end of his answer. But Dr. Bancroft say- 
 ing, that Mr. Cartwright might speak if he would, and that 
 himself would keep silence ; Mr. Cartwright answered, that 
 he would give him place, and proceed after with his answer, 
 if he remembered it. So Dr. Bancroft said, that the High Bancroft's 
 
 ° speech to 
 him. 
 
208 
 
 ADDITIONS. 
 
 Commission had been altered, as occasion of time, persons, 
 and other circumstances required. And that it was true 
 indeed that the former Commissions had not inserted into 
 them the clause of proceeding by oath : but that there were 
 some men, discontented with the State, had sought curiously 
 into these things, and observed them. And that Mr. Cart- 
 wright had taken them from them. 
 Some de- Hereupon there fell some jar betwixt the Bishop and 
 between' the Dr - Bancroft ; the Bishop affirming that he liked not that 
 Bishop and saying of the Doctor, and the Doctor making it good, and 
 croft. not afraid to profess it. But the Bishop said, that he had 
 been Commissioner this thirty years, partly in Lincoln, and 
 partly in London, and had always that clause of the oath 
 inserted. His fear being, as it seemed, lest they [the Com- 
 missioners] having used the oath always, and having no 
 Commission, [warranting it,] but now of late, should be 
 thought to be in the prcemunire, for that they had used it 
 so many years without warrant. 
 Cart- Then Mr. Cartwright said, that he had a hard point re- 
 
 argument maining °f his answer to Dr. Lewin and the Bishop : which 
 against this was, that although they might, by words of her Majesty's 
 oath. Commission, proceed by oath, yet it followed not, that there- 
 fore they might proceed by oath without any to accuse, 
 without any limitation, and without reasonable time of de- 
 liberation and advice what to answer. And therefore he 
 which refuseth not simply to swear, but to swear in such 
 sort as they required, was not, as is said, directly opposite 
 herein to the Queen's authority. Hereof there was some 
 debating concerning the difference of this oath from the 
 oaths tendered in other courts; Mr. Cartwright alleging, 
 that although in other courts the words of the oath were 
 general, yet that indeed it was restrained to some particular 
 matter, which the deponent knew before he took the oath. 
 And that himself, in title of hospital lands, [wis:, the hospi- 
 tal in Warwick, where he was Master,] before certain Com- 
 missioners, had taken the oath which is accustomably given 
 in other courts. 
 
 After, Mr. Dr. Bancroft charged him, that he had taken 
 
ADDITIONS. 
 
 209 
 
 this oath twenty years ago ; asking, why it was not as law- Cart- 
 ful now as at that time. Whereunto he answered, that the repifesV 
 case was not alike ; for that then there was but one only J*^? 1 w , as 
 matter for him to be examined of, and the same was known ) ia d once 
 unto him before : also, that he had not so spent his time, the 
 (he thanked God,) but that in so long a space he had 
 learned something, as in some other things, so in this. (He 
 that wrote this relation said, he heard Mr. Cartwright say 
 afterwards, that, had he not been interrupted, he could fur- 
 ther have answered, that he took not that oath twenty years 
 ago, but with exception to answer so far as might well stand 
 with God's glory and the good of his neighbour.) Finally, 
 that by the example of divers Ministers and others refusing 
 this oath before him, he took occasion to search further than 
 otherwise he was like to have done. 
 
 Then Dr. Bancroft said, that for so much as every man And that 
 which had offended another was bound to confess his fault, boimdto 
 and to reconcile himself, he should much more do it to the confess our 
 Prince. Whereunto Mr. Cartwright answering, that the 
 case here was very unlike, and that this general rule did 
 admit some exception ; which seeming strange to Dr. Ban- 
 croft, he required of Mr. Cartwright an instance : who an- 
 swered, that if he had spoken evil to one of a third man, 
 which never came to the knowledge of it, it should not stand 
 well with the rule of charity to open this matter unto the 
 person whom he had wronged ; considering that so he might 
 (likely) break the knots of love, which without that confes- 
 sion might have continued whole. 
 
 Moreover, upon the charge which Mr. Attorney repeated, And that he 
 that Mr. Cartwright and others had holden conferences and heidaln-™ 
 made laws ; Mr. Cartwright answered, that touching that ferencea 
 point his answer was before them, which, being required, i aws . 
 he would confirm upon his oath ; that is, that they never 
 held conferences by any authority, nor ever made any laws 
 by any manner of compulsion, to procure any obedience 
 unto them. Also, that he and others had expressly testified 
 by subscription, that they would not so much as voluntarily 
 and by mutual agreement, one of them without another, 
 p 
 
210 
 
 ADDITIONS. 
 
 practise any advice or agreement that was contrary to any 
 law in the land. Whereunto Mr. Dr. Bancroft replied, that 
 authority they had none, and therefore could not use it; 
 and compulsion needed not, seeing every one, received to 
 their conferences, must subscribe to be obedient to all orders 
 he and others should set down ; so far as if they should set 
 down the sense or interpretation of a place of Scripture, it 
 should not be lawful for any to depart from that ; which, 
 said he, is deposed by three or four. But, said Mr. Cart- 
 wright, he might have ecclesiastical jurisdiction of reproof, 
 suspension, excommunication, degradation, as they had been 
 openly, but most untruly, charged to have done, if either, 
 or others with him, had thought it lawful for them so to do. 
 And for the other point, of their requiring subscription by 
 any that was admitted, much less such a subscription as 
 Mr. Dr. Bancroft spake of, he protested that neither had 
 he so done, nor any that he knew : and that he was ready 
 to make that also good upon his oath. 
 And when Further, Dr. Lewin moved Mr. Cartwright to take the 
 mored oath, and then assured himself that the company would 
 again to take at his hands any reasonable answer. To whom Mr. 
 oath. Cartwright answered, that he could not conveniently give 
 any other answer than that which was before them. To 
 whom when the Bishop replied, that then they would tell 
 him where his answer was short, and required further an- 
 swer : so, said Mr. Cartwright, shall not the oath make an 
 end of the controversy ; which notwithstanding is the proper 
 use of an oath. Against which Mr. Dr. Bancroft excepted, 
 saying, that an oath tended indeed to make an end of a 
 controversy; but that it was strange that Mr. Cartwright 
 said, that it should wholly end a controversy ; albeit Mr. Cart- 
 wright therein alleged no interpretation, but the plain text 
 Bancroft But, (said Mr. Dr. Bancroft,) Mr. Cartwright, think you 
 dangeVof thus to go away in the clouds, or to have to deal with men 
 
 piine ' SCi °^ SO sma ^ j U( *g ment > as not to see wnat i s y our drift ? Do 
 not we know from whom you draw your discipline and 
 Church-government? Do not we know their judgments and 
 their practice ? which is to bring in the further reformation 
 
ADDITIONS. 
 
 211 
 
 against the Prince's will by force and arms. It is well He meant 
 known, how one of the English Church at Geneva wrote a Goodman" 
 book to move to take arms against Queen Mary ; and Mr. 
 Whittingham's Preface before it. And who knoweth not, 
 that the Church of Geneva allowed it ? Also we have seen The disci- 
 the practice in France. Likewise it is written in the Scot- France" 
 tish story, how Mr. Knox moved the nobility of Scotland Scotland, 
 to bring in the Gospel with force against the Queen there ; V a. 
 and likewise well known, that Mr. Calvin was banished 
 Geneva, for that he would have brought in the discipline 
 against the will of the magistrate. Whereunto Mr. Cart- Cart- 
 wright replied, that his meaning was not to hide himself in „pf y h to 
 the clouds touching this matter, as one which had made a tnis - 
 plain and direct denial hereof : wherein if any thing were 
 doubtful, he would make it as plain as Mr. Doctor could 
 set it down. But that he now perceived, that if others were 
 like-minded to Mr. Dr. Bancroft, all purgation of ourselves 
 by oath (which was now required of him and others) should 
 be in vain ; considering, that whatsoever they should de- 
 pose, yet it might be answered, as Mr. Doctor doth, that 
 they knew our drift well enough. Moreover, that he did 
 the reformed Churches great injury, which never had either 
 that judgment or practice he speaketh of, for any thing 
 that he ever read or knew. That he had read the Scottish 
 story, but remembered not that which he spake of. That 
 some particular persons had written from Geneva some 
 such things as he spake of; yet that it was a hard judg- 
 ment to charge the Church of Geneva wiih it : which by 
 an epistle set forth by Mr. Beza, a principal Minister 
 thereof, had utterly disclaimed that judgment. 
 
 With this the Bishop took them up, and asked Mr. Cart- The Bishop 
 wright once again, whether he would take the oath ; and ™ * k *f £"rt- 
 upon his refusal, commanded an act thereof to be entered, wight's re- 
 Then Mr. Cartwright putting the Bishop in mind of his 
 promise of leave to answer the charges which were given 
 against him, he answered, that he had no leisure to hear 
 his answer : and if he would answer, he should do it by a 
 private letter to the Bishop. 
 
 p 2 
 
212 
 
 ADDITIONS. 
 
 The Arti- 
 cles charged 
 
 fellows. 
 
 had r?a U di"s ° ne thin S beside Mr> Dr Bancroft undertook to affirm 
 answers, there; that her Majesty had read Mr. Cartwright's answer 
 to the Articles : which although it were abruptly brought 
 in, yet it was esteemed that his meaning was thereby to sig- 
 nify, that her Majesty, notwithstanding the knowledge of 
 that answer, would have this severe proceeding against him. 
 And this was the sum of what was done at that sitting. 
 
 But since we have not yet seen fully what the crimes 
 were that Cartwright and his fellows were accused of, I 
 shall add here the effect of the principal matters in the bill 
 of complaint against them ; viz. 
 
 " That there had been of late set forth by some seditious 
 against " people, a government of the Church by Doctors, Pastors, 
 andTs 5 " " Elders > Deacons, and such like. 
 
 " With a new form of Common Prayer and Administra- 
 " tion of the Sacraments, and discipline for the Church, 
 " comprised in a book entitled, Disciplina Ecclesice Sacra, 
 " Dei verbo descripta : and other books and pamphlets of 
 " like nature. 
 
 " That the defendants had unlawfully and seditiously 
 " assembled themselves together concerning the premises. 
 
 " And had in those [assemblies] treated of, and con- 
 " eluded upon, sundry seditious Articles, in allowance of 
 " the same books, and of the matters therein contained. 
 
 " Unto which Articles the defendants had in some of 
 " those assemblies submitted themselves and subscribed, 
 " and put part thereof in execution. For which misde- 
 " meanors they had been called in question before the High 
 " Commissioners: where they refused to take the oath 
 " ministered to them, to answer to such Articles as they 
 " were to be examined of on her Majesty's behalf concern- 
 " ing the same. 
 
 " Of all which a bill had been exhibited by direction 
 " from the Lords into the Star-chamber against the defend- 
 " ants. In which bill was also contained, that they, under 
 " colour and pretence of discipline and charity, did derive 
 " to themselves power to deal in all manner of causes what- 
 " soever ; and had moved and persuaded sundry her Ma- 
 
ADDITIONS. 
 
 213 
 
 " jesty's subjects, to refuse to take any oath to answer to 
 " any matter that might concern any the unlawful doings 
 " and proceedings of them, their brethren, and teachers." 
 
 Lastly, I will subjoin the process of this business, with Thc P r °- 
 
 i/» • , t,i i-ii t ceedings 
 
 the interrogatories, and how matters stood with them J une w ith them. 
 23, 1591. 
 
 To the former bill the defendants in their answer have How the 
 confessed their denial to take the oath before the Commis- ^'puritans 
 sioners ; and for the rest of the most material matters have stood, 
 made an uncertain and insufficient answer. 
 
 Which being referred by the Court to the consideration 
 of the Chief Justices, Chief Baron and Mr. J ustice Gawdy, 
 they advising thereof, did set down wherein their answers 
 were insufficient, and that they ought to answer the same 
 particularly and directly. 
 
 This notwithstanding, they made their answer in effect in 
 many points as imperfect as before; and in some points 
 oppose themselves against the report of the Judges, that 
 they ought not to answer them. 
 
 Whereupon interrogatories were ministered unto them 
 upon the parts of the bill. Whereof they answer not at all 
 the most part, and the principal interrogatories. 
 
 Hereupon, the consideration thereof being by the court 
 eftsoons committed to the said Judges; and they to set 
 down wherein and which of the interrogatories ought to be 
 better answered, and that the same should be answered ac- 
 cordingly. 
 
 The defendants being thereupon eftsoons examined upon interroga- 
 these interrogatories according to the direction, do notwith- put t0 
 standing still refuse to answer them. As namely these : 
 
 " Where the said assemblies were made ; when, and how 
 " often. 
 
 " Who were at the same assemblies as well as themselves. 
 " What matters were treated of in the same assem- 
 blies. 
 
 " Who made or set forth, corrected or reformed, the said 
 " book of discipline, or any part thereof. 
 
 " Who subscribed, or submitted themselves to the same 
 p 3 
 
214 
 
 ADDITIONS. 
 
 " book, or to the Articles therein concluded, besides the 
 " said defendants. 
 
 " Whether in a Christian monarchy the King is to be 
 " accounted among the governors of the Church, or amongst 
 " those which are to be governed by Pastors, Doctors, or 
 " such like. 
 
 " Whether in a well-ordered Church it is lawful for the 
 " Sovereign Prince to ordain orders and ceremonies apper- 
 " taining to the Church. 
 
 " Whether ecclesiastical government, established by her 
 " Majesty's authority within the Church of England, be 
 " lawful, or allowed by the word of God. 
 
 " Whether the Sacraments ministered within her Ma- 
 " jesty's dominions, as they be ordained by the Book of 
 " Common Prayer to be ministered, be godly and rightly 
 " ministered." 
 
 Numb. VI. Pag. 113. 
 Upon the THE Bishop being now four days deceased, the Dean and 
 death P the Chapter of St. Paul's claimed a privilege upon his death, 
 Dean and and during the vacation of his bishopric ; which was, to 
 dainfthe en j°y tne temporalties of the bishopric, paying yearly 100Z. 
 temporal- for the same : and that by an old charter, given to the Cor- 
 poration by King Edward II. And so made their suit to 
 the Lord Treasurer Burghley; who accordingly ordered 
 Fanshaw, an officer in the Exchequer, to examine the char- 
 ter, and how it had been allowed formerly : which he did, 
 and found it to be of the same effect. And that in King 
 Henry VIII.'s time, upon the translation of Cuthbert ann. 
 Reg. 25. the bishopric being vacant, the Dean and Chapter 
 had the custody of the bishopric and temporalties. And 
 when Stokesley succeeded in that see, the King granted to 
 him all the right and title that he had in the temporalties 
 and rent thereof, which before was had and taken by the 
 Dean and Chapter, and did discharge the Dean and Chapter. 
 The Treasurer being satisfied with this charter and this 
 late precedent, I find that after some time they had the 
 
ADDITIONS. 
 
 215 
 
 temporaries let and consigned to them by the Queen, upon 
 the consideration of 1000/. a year; (computing the 100/. in 
 Edward II.'s time worth 1000/. now.) And afterwards, 
 upon the admission of Richard Fletcher to be Bishop^ the 
 Treasurer demanded an account of the Dean and Chapter 
 of their receipts of money and rent ; which they sent him 
 in ; that is, from June 5, 1594, to January 24 ensuing : in 
 their paper calling themselves custocles episcopatus ac om- The De »n 
 nium temporalium ejusdem, quamdiu idem episcopatus va- mstoc/T/ 1 " 
 cavit. And it was computed that they were to pay, accord- viscopatus. 
 ing to their account, (after the rate of 1000/. per ann.) for 
 the temporalties, for the time they held them, 320/. 11$. 
 And the Queen wrote her letters to them to restore the al- 
 location thereof to the reverend Father Richard Fletcher ; 
 whom she had nominated for Bishop. 
 
 Numb. VII. Pag. 127. 
 MANY persons of note of the Aylmers in England had The Ayi- 
 been there spoke of : but as the name had flourished here i re iand. 
 at home, so it spread itself considerably in the neighbouring 
 kingdom of Ireland ; where the Aylmers were settled time 
 out of mind. Their first coming thither is uncertain ; pro- 
 bably two hundred years ago, and more. The first we 
 meet with of that stock there, was Richard, (a great name 
 in the family,) being the ancientest person taken notice of 
 in a visitation book (remaining in the library of the college 
 near Dublin) of Molineux, sometime Ulster King of Arms 
 of Ireland : which Richard perhaps was the son of that 
 Richard of Norwich, who had been Mayor of that city; 
 and is said in his monumental inscription to be procerum de Vid. p. \ts. 
 stipite natus. The abovesaid Richard married Katherine, 
 daughter of Petit, of Piersetown in the county of Meath. 
 Whose son and heir married Margaret, daughter of Bar- 
 tholomew Bath, of Dullardstown in the county of Meath, 
 Esquire. By whom he had Bartholomew Aylmer, of Lyons 
 in Kildare. Who married to Margaret, daughter of Chevers 
 p 4 
 
216 
 
 ADDITIONS. 
 
 of Maston in the county of Meath, Esquire. And had two 
 sons, Sir Garret of Dullardstown, Chief Justice of the 
 Common Pleas anno 1535. and married Alson, daughter 
 of Fitz Garald of Athlone. His other son (who was the 
 elder) was named Richard ; married to Jenet, daughter of 
 Twee, Alderman of Dublin. And from these two brothers 
 the family branched out numerously into the Aylmers of 
 the Lyons and of Dullardstown : and intermarried into the 
 best houses in the counties of Meath and Kildare. As the 
 last named Richard had Richard, that married Eleoner, 
 daughter of James Lord Slane. Their son Thomas mar- 
 ried Alson, daughter of Thomas Cusack, Knight, Lord 
 Chancellor of Ireland anno 1550. who had issue, Bar- 
 tholomew married to Cicely, daughter of Robert Pipho, 
 and Jenet, daughter of Viscount Gormanston. Their son 
 was Thomas, that took to wife Mabil, daughter of Peter 
 Barnwel, Knight. The other brother, Sir Garret, or Gereld, 
 that was Chief Justice, (as is abovesaid,) had Bartholomew, 
 and he James, and James Nicolas, and he Christopher, and 
 Christopher Richard; who married the daughter of Sir 
 Robert Dillon, Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, 
 and died anno 1635. He left (besides other sons and 
 daughters) James, that matched to Johanna, daughter of 
 Christopher Lord Killeen. 
 
 From the other house, viz. of the Lyons, came Christo- 
 pher, a sober, wise, and studious man ; who, living in the 
 times of the civil wars, shewed his loyalty to King Charles L 
 by giving him his assistance, and afterwards by suffering 
 exile for him in Spain. This Christopher married a daughter 
 of Matthew Plunket, Lord of Lowth : whose issue was Sir 
 Gerald, the eldest, and Matthew, now living, appointed 
 Admiral to the royal fleet sent into the Straits : where he 
 did faithful service to his great honour and reputation : 
 now Governor of Deal castle, and one of the Barons in 
 Parliament for the Cinque Port of Dover : the inhabitants 
 of which place hold themselves much obliged to him for 
 procuring the late act for the repairing of Dover pier, a 
 matter of such importance to the whole nation. 
 
ADDITIONS. 
 
 217 
 
 In short, this family of the Aylmers of Ireland is related 
 to the noblest and best houses in the counties of Meath, 
 Dublin, and Kildare; as the Lutterels, the Fitz-Geralds, 
 the Fitz-Moris, Cusacks, Dillons, Fitz-Simons, Piphos, Chi- 
 vers, Plunkets, Flemmings, Husseys, and others. And 
 Camden, reckoning up the best families of English extrac- in his Bri- 
 tion in Meath, specifies the Fitz-Geralds, the Ougans, tanma " 
 De la Hides, Walshes, Boisels, Whites, Suttons, and 
 among the rest the Aylmers. 
 
 Numb. VIII. Pag. 130. 
 THAT unequal marriage, for the solemnizing whereof a The stolen 
 licence was obtained out of the Bishop's Faculty Office, was ™* Lady 
 mentioned to have been complained of at Court, and occa- Dorothy 
 sioned blame to the Bishop. The particulars of it, omitted with sir 
 in the history, were as follow. The parties were Sir™ 0 ™* 5 
 Thomas Parrot and the Lady Dorothy Devereux, daughter 
 to the Earl of Essex, of right noble and ancient blood : 
 which lady at that time lived with Sir Henry Cock, Kt. 
 in the parish of Broxburn in Hertfordshire : where, getting 
 into the parish church, they were married by a strange 
 Minister, whom they had procured, two men guarding the 
 church door with their swords and daggers under their 
 cloaks, as the rest of the company had, to the number of 
 five or six. One Green was then Vicar of the parish, to 
 whom that morning repaired two persons. One of them 
 told him that he was a Minister, and a Bachelor of Divi- 
 nity, and had been a Preacher of long time ; and asked him 
 for the key of the church door, which must be opened to 
 him, for he had a commission, whereupon he was to examine 
 certain men, and to swear them : and therefore asked him also 
 for the Communion Book. The Vicar told him it was locked 
 up in the vestry, and he could not come by it : but instead 
 thereof he offered him a Latin Testament. But the other 
 said, that would not serve his turn. Coming to the church 
 he found it open, and Sir Thomas and the lady ready to 
 
218 
 
 ADDITIONS. 
 
 enter in ; who hindered him by any means from shutting 
 it. But perceiving that they meant to proceed to a mar- 
 riage, he persuaded the strange Minister not to deal herein, 
 wondering how he would intrude himself into his [the Vi- 
 car's] charge ; and then offered to him an injunction against 
 it, and began to read it unto them ; which was to this 
 tenor : 
 
 An mjunc- u n em Yox the avoiding: of inconvenience which some- 
 
 tion about . ° 
 
 licences to " times groweth by licences to marry without the banns 
 marry. (( ( w hich notwithstanding are sometimes reasonably 
 
 " granted,) no man shall be suffered to marry any person 
 " with such licence (the banns not being first orderly pub- 
 " lished) but in the church or chapel where he is Parson, 
 " Vicar, or ordinary Curate ; neither at any other time than 
 " is usual for public and common prayer ; neither except 
 M he do first shew his sufficient licence to the Churchwardens 
 " of the said church or chapel : and either by his own 
 " knowledge, or the knowledge of the said Churchwardens, 
 " be assured, that the parties to be married have thereto 
 " the assent of their parents or other governors." 
 
 But they refused to hear it ; and the strange Minister 
 (whose name was Lewis) told the Vicar he had sufficient 
 authority, shewing him a licence under seal ; which the 
 Vicar offered to read : but before he had read half of it, 
 Sir Thomas snatched it away from him, and offered him a 
 rial to marry him. But he refusing, Sir Thomas bade the 
 other go forward. But the Vicar, when the other began to 
 read, resisted him, and shut the book. Whereupon Sir 
 Thomas thrust him away, and told him he had nothing to 
 do therewith, and that he should answer it for resisting my 
 Lord Bishop's authority. And one Godolphin, one of Sir 
 Thomas's party, took him up, and told him he shewed him- 
 self malicious. Whereupon, after once more forbidding him, 
 he held his peace. Edmund Lucy, Esq. one that lived in 
 Sir Henry Cock's family together with the Lady Dorothy, 
 coming in, plucked away the book from the Minister ; who 
 told him he should answer it, and was in danger of a pre- 
 munire for resisting the Bishop's authority ; and so he went 
 
ADDITIONS. 
 
 219 
 
 forward with his office without the surplice, in his cloak, 
 with his riding boots and spurs, and despatched it hastily. 
 This soon came to the Court : and she being a daughter of 
 one of the ancient noblesse, (though she herself was in the 
 plot,) gave great offence; and Sir Henry Cock, being a 
 Justice of Peace, was commanded to take the examination 
 of the matter, and send it up. And in fine, the Bishop 
 of London underwent much blame for his Faculties. And 
 what followed upon it you may read in the history. 
 
An enumeration of Books, both printed and manuscript, 
 made use of by the Author in compiling this Work, or 
 mentioned in it. 
 
 PRINTED. 
 
 Roger AschairTs Schoolmaster, printed anno 1571. 
 
 His Latin Epistles, printed at London anno 1578. 
 
 Admonition to the People of England : wherein are an- 
 swered the slanderous untruths of Martin the Libeller and 
 others, printed anno 1589. 
 
 An Admonition to the Parliament, by Tho. Cartwright 
 and others, about the year 1570. 
 
 Antipathy of Popish Prelates. By Will. Prin. 
 
 Acts and Monuments of the Church. By John Fox. 
 
 A Blast against the Government of Women. By John 
 Knox. 
 
 A Brief View of the State of the Church. By Sir John 
 Harrington. 
 
 The Book of Canons agreed upon in the Convocation 
 House, anno 1571. 
 
 The Concent. By Hugh Broughton. 
 
 The Discovery of a gaping Gulph, whereinto England 
 is like to be swallowed by another French Marriage. Writ- 
 ten by Stubbs. Printed 1579. 
 
 Decades. By Hen. Bullinger. 
 
 De Disciplina. A book set forth by Puritans anno 
 1574. 
 
 An evident Display of Popish Practices, or patched Pela- 
 gianism. By Hopkinson. Printed anno 1578. 
 De Ecclesia. By Wickliff. 
 Ecclesiastical History. By Tho. Fuller. 
 
AN ENUMERATION OF BOOKS, &c. 
 
 Farewell Sermon at St. Paul's. By Bishop Sandys, anno 
 1576. 
 
 Funeral Monuments. By Weever. 
 
 George Giffard against Barrow the Separatist. 
 
 History of St. Paul's Church. By Dugdale. 
 
 Harborough for faithful Subjects. By John Aylmer. 
 Printed at Strasburgh anno 1559- 
 
 Historia Literaria. By Dr. Cave. 
 
 The Innocency of the Scotch Queen. Writ in French. 
 
 Martin Marprelate. 
 
 A Proof. By Tho. Dorman, Priest. 
 
 Ten Reasons. By Campion the Jesuit. 
 
 A Pamphlet in rhyme against the King of Spain, upon 
 the Defeat anno 1588. 
 
 Mr. Squire's Sermon at Paul's Cross. 
 
 His Sermon at the Assizes at Hertford, Mr. Newce being 
 High Sheriff. 
 
 Stow's Survey of London. 
 
 The Queen's Power in Spirituals. By John Aylmer. 
 
 MANUSCRIPT. 
 Disciplina Ecclesias sacra, Dei verbo descripta. 
 Collections Historical and Genealogical, of Sir George 
 Buck, Kt. 
 
 Several volumes in the Library of the College of Arms. 
 Manuscripts of Sir Henry St. George, Kt. Clarencieux 
 King of Arms. 
 
 Manuscripts in the Paper Office. 
 
 Manuscripts of the Right Reverend Father, the present 
 Bishop of Norwich. 
 
 The Registers of Bishop Aylmer and other Bishops. 
 Epistolae Johannis Foxii Martyrologi. 
 Manuscripta penes me. 
 
 A Visitation Book of Molineux, sometime Ulster King 
 of Arms of Ireland. 
 
 THE END. 
 
Princeton Theological Seminary Librar 
 
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