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 

 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. 



&quot; Mine humble duty in all due sort premised. My very 

 &quot; honourable good Lord, the constant report of your Lord- 

 &quot; ship s religious and just disposition in all affairs whatso- 

 &quot; ever, hath emboldened me (by nature timerous) to solicite 

 &quot; your Honour in a word or two for mine own self. May 

 &quot; it therefore please your Lordship to understand, that I, 

 &quot; being Parson of Much and Little Hadham in Hartford- 

 &quot; shire, have a year since (or thereabout) commenced suit 

 &quot; against some of Little Hadham (who may happly be your 

 &quot; Lordship s tenants) for tyth of underwoods, by all law to 

 &quot; me due. This very name of suit, though it might with 

 &quot; some persons fore-condemn me, either as covetous or con- 

 &quot; tentious ; yet dare I mention it unto your Honour, whose 

 &quot; upright judgment righting many, will never admit that 

 &quot; prejudice should wrong me or any. 



&quot; First therefore I protest in the sight of the Heart s only 

 &quot; Searcher, that not any sinister affection, but necessities 

 &quot; forceable compulsion, hath urged hereunto. Secondly, 

 &quot; whereas it may be thought, that my beginning this suit 

 &quot; with some of your Lordship s tenants may imply want of 

 &quot; due regard in me towards your Honour, I (upon my for- 

 &quot; mer protestation) assure your Lordship, that these men 

 &quot; being the first, who (after demaund of tyth) were first to 

 &quot; me presented, as those that carried their woods; not leaving 

 &quot; their tyth, they were, not voluntate mea electi, but so-rte 

 &quot; sua relicti, et oblati to the first trial of this suit. Thirdly 

 &quot; and lastly, mine humble suit unto your Lordship is, that 

 &quot; though your tenants may expect your honourable patron- 

 &quot; age, (which as their Lord you may afford them without 

 &quot; wrong-doing unto any,) yet it would please you (of that 

 &quot; religious integrity which tyeth the souls of all good men 

 &quot; unto you) to reserve for me (your Lordship s poor, true, 



18 



