144 THE LIFE OF 



CHAP, more ease by a translation to an easier bishopric, which was 

 12_L__ the thing that of all he most desired ; these favours made 

 a great impression upon the Bishop s grateful heart ; which 

 by letter to the said Lord he soon expressed : &quot; That he 

 &quot; understood by the abovesaid Lord North, how much he 

 &quot; was bound to him, as well for his good opinion of him far 

 &quot; above any thing that was in him, as also for his honour- 

 &quot; able purpose to purchase him some more ease in his old 

 &quot; years, than hitherto it had been his luck to have. That 

 &quot; though he had neither by obsequious attendance, nor by 

 &quot; any manner of recompense, nor by any great signification 

 &quot; of thankfulness, given his Lordship any cause to deal so 

 &quot; favourably ; yet that it might please him to think of him, 

 &quot; [the Bishop,] who, he said, was no good courtier, as one 

 &quot; that could better conceive what and how much he was 

 &quot; bound unto so honourable a friend, than his plain nature 

 &quot; by outward shew did commonly vaunt. But that his 

 &quot; Lordship should find, by God s grace in the end, when 

 &quot; ability served, that he would neither forget his obtain- 

 &quot; ing the archdeaconry of Lincoln for him, nor his honour- 

 &quot; able countenance for him since he came to that restless 

 &quot; sea, [he meant the bishopric,] nor the constant conti- 

 &quot; nuance of his favour and furtherance towards him in his 

 &quot; long lingering hope of remove.&quot; But there was a party 

 at Court against him, that ever obstructed this from taking 

 effect, in how great probability soever it was sometimes of 

 succeeding. 



He called it his burthenous estate in that place, wherein 

 he found himself every day more and more unapt to supply 

 what the place and the time required. But he prayed that 

 God s will might be done, who in mercy in his good time 

 would provide a place for him of more ease, [meaning 

 heaven,] and a man for that room of more ability. And 

 thus in the conclusion composing himself as to this matter, 

 &quot; that though some men sought to hinder the course that 

 &quot; the Lord Treasurer and other of his honourable friends 

 &quot; so favourably followed, yet in the end they should do no 

 &quot; more than God would suffer them.&quot; 



