BISHOP AYLMER. 39 



&quot; so he continually would make full the measures of his C H A P. 

 &quot; own mercies in his heart, &c.&quot; This great esteem had the IV 

 learned Clergy for him. 



But the Bishop was as little liked of the Puritans. For One Wei- 

 as he roundly executed his office in reclaiming or suppress- the 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 by 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 the Commissioners, without the Bishop, because it 

 was his own cause. The Bishop was not a little moved to Complains 

 be so used in his discharge of the Queen s Commission ; of ll 

 which made him think it convenient to let the Lord Trea 

 surer know it, and to countenance their prosecution of this 



