BISHOP AYLMER. 187 



&quot; points, (whereof I make no account,) but in that by your CHAP. 



&quot; words and countenance my government is hindered. For IV 



&quot; when such words shall pass from you, that such and such 



&quot; things be not of the substance of religion ; that the eccle- 



&quot; siastical jurisdiction (which you yourself by statute have 



&quot; confirmed) is mere Papal ; that you would such and such 



&quot; should preach, which are disturbers, &c. it cannot be, my 



&quot; Lord, but three words from your mouth hujus generis 



&quot; shall more embolden them and hinder our labours, than 



&quot; our toil and moil shall in many years be able to help and 



&quot; salve. These are the things, my Lord, that do discou- 



&quot; rage me, and make me weary, that on the one side we 



&quot; shall be bawled on by them ; and not backed nor counte- 



&quot; nanced by such great magistrates as you are : and there- 



&quot; with for my part so oppressed with business, (enough for 



&quot; any three,) without either help, reward, or thanks, it must 



&quot; needs make us desperate, as by my writing you may see 



&quot; I am. For I cannot live this life, nor joy greatly in my 



&quot; state, where I always toil tanquam in pistrino, and dwell 



&quot; in suspicion of your good-will, &c. I have a clear con- 



&quot; science that I ever deserved well at your Lordship s hand, 



&quot; and never ill. And therefore, whatsoever shall happen, I 



&quot; stand clear before God. 11 



But as he would be thus hot sometimes, so his heat 

 would be soon over, and he would recall himself, and bring 

 himself into a cooler temper ; as he did in the conclusion 

 of all this expostulatory epistle with the Treasurer ; which 

 ran after this tenor : &quot; I know this is no time to hold your 

 &quot; Lordship thus long, but that very grief of mind makes 

 &quot; me to deal with your Lordship as Job did with God ; to- 

 &quot; ward whom, in his passion, he sometimes forgat himself. 

 &quot; So I may seem to pass the limits of my duty. But if it 

 &quot; may please you with this to forgive and forget all the 

 &quot; rest, I shall be as ready to seek your favour as any man s 

 &quot; alive : which if I cannot obtain, there is one above that 

 &quot; will one day reprove you and chide you. Thus God 

 &quot; bless your Lordship as I would be blessed myself.&quot; This 

 was writ in May 1579- 



This letter shews us Bishop Aylmer s grief, and some- 



