14 THE LIFE OF 



CHAP, the enemies of religion, by falling into controversies among 

 themselves ; and as though Whitgift s 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 ;) &quot; Mr. Aylmer s unseasonable paradox to truth 

 &quot; hath hurt the Church, and yet not advanced his prefer- 

 &quot; ment so much as he hoped.&quot; 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, &quot; That Mr. Aylmer s doctrine was neither 



Guil. Pe- J ,7 j 



tyt. Armig. unseasonable, nor yet a paradox ; but a common true re- 

 &quot; ceived opinion, grounded on the express words of the Scrip- 

 &quot; ture, and received without doubt of all learned writers, 

 &quot; both old and new, and in most seasonable time taught, 

 &quot; men s minds and hearts being so far from due obedience, 

 &quot; and so inclinable to the contrary. And I am fully satis- 

 &quot; fied,&quot; added he, &quot; concerning our Divine, that he had all 

 &quot; the advancement that he looked for ; and that it was great 

 &quot; lack of charity to judge men to do that for advancement, 

 &quot; which they did of conscience and duty.&quot; 



Justice of However Mr. Aylmer lived in great reputation, and was 



and in the one f tne Queen s Justices of the Peace for the county, 



ecciesiasti- anc [ one o f j-jgj. 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 

 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 

 y with the degree only of 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. 



