BISHOP AYLMER. Gl 



others to be somewhat touched by his letters for their ab- CHAP. 



VI 



sence. He feared that 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 on Sundays. 

 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 sen ,i s cau _ 

 thing to create more displeasure against them and their tlons to the 

 Commission, and that there might be no occasion of appeal 

 ing from them, the Lord Burghley sent Dr. Lewis, Master 

 of the Requests, to the Bishop, to advise him not to meddle 

 with many matters, by virtue of their Commission, but such 

 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. 



&quot; That he agreed with his Lordship in judgment, as one His answer 

 &quot; by whom he had ever desired to be directed, and would th 

 &quot; be still, if it pleased him to grant him that favour that he 

 &quot; might. For his wisdom, zeal, experience, learning, and 

 &quot; godliness, (he thanked God,) he accounted to be such, 

 &quot; and himself in all such so mean, that he would think him- 

 &quot; self happy to be directed by him. And therefore my 

 &quot; good Lord (as he added) do but let me in such points 

 &quot; know your pleasure, and by God s grace I shall be as 



