BISHOP AYLMER. 147 



had subscribed, he should have free liberty to speak his CHAP. 

 mind. Such was the bold spirit of the man in a just and _ 

 good cause. 



One passage more must be remembered of this reverend He takes 

 man with relation to this Synod; which shewed his pru-itor 

 dence and care for the credit and reputation of himself, and a am - 

 those few Protestants with him that were in the House. 

 For when the Prolocutor after some days would have made 

 a triumph against them on the side of the Papists, and had 

 termed their conferences about the argument of transub- 

 stantiation a disputation ; telling the House that they had 

 three days together answered them, upon promise that they 

 should answer them [the Papists] again, as the order of 

 disputation did require ; &quot; and if they be able to defend 

 &quot; their doctrine, 1 said he boastingly, &quot; let them do it :&quot; 

 Aylmer stood up, and shewed the House how vain a man 

 this Prolocutor was ; affirming, that they never promised 

 any such matter as to dispute, but only to open and testify 

 to the world their consciences. For when they were re 

 quired to subscribe, that which they did was, that they 

 refused, and said, they would shew reasons which moved 

 them that they could not with their consciences do it : as 

 they had partly sufficiently done, and were able to do more. 

 And therefore that it was illy called by them a disputation ; 

 and that they were worthy to be blamed that were the 

 authors of that name. And finally, that they should but 

 encumber themselves, and profit nothing, since the matter 

 was already resolved upon in the House, and determined 

 whatsoever they should do, or dispute to the contrary. 



The next specimen Aylmer gave of his learning, was a His book 

 small but a truly learned piece, called, An Harborowe for ^Jarbo- 



faitlifull and trewe Subjects, against the late blowne Blaste, rough. 

 concerning the Governement of Wemen. Wherin be con 



futed al such reasons, as a Straunger of late made in that 

 behalfe : with a breif e Exhortation to Obedience. Which 

 he wrote in his exile, and near upon his coming over into 

 England, printed in Strasburgh, anno 1559, the Queen 

 being then newly come to the possession of the crown. It 



