BISHOP AYLMER. 63 



Aylmer had indeed a cause depending now before the CHAP. 



Queen and Council, upon some complaint as it seems for 



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 ; &quot; My good Lord, I cannot but honour you for car- 

 &quot; rying yourself with so great equity before her Majesty in 

 &quot; my late cause. You have so won my heart, (though God 

 &quot; is my witness you had it before,) that you shall be the 

 &quot; man to whom I will trust, (under God,) whom I will only 

 &quot; choose for my judge in all cases, and honour as my most 

 &quot; noble friend at all times ; and in some part be thankful, 

 &quot; as I may, but never as you deserve. 11 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 

 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 



