BISHOP AYLMER. 189 



But to return to our Bishop : as he was somewhat hasty CHAP, 

 and quick in his temper, as we have heard, so he was quick * 



and sharp in his discourse ; and his expressions were min- Shar P in his 



11 i TI discourse. 



gled with pungency and pleasure. When he was arguing 

 with Knox, in respect of his book against the reign of wo 

 men, whereby he touched hard upon Queen Elizabeth, he 

 had these words; &quot; It is a great enterprise, and, as they 

 &quot; say, no ball-play, to pull a Queen s crown off her head ; 

 &quot; and especially such an one as many ages have not seen.&quot; 



When the same author had pretended Scripture against 

 the rule of women, he said in general, &quot; I must say to 

 &quot; them all in general, that the Scripture meddleth with no 

 &quot; civil policy, further than to teach obedience. And there- 

 &quot; fore whatsoever is brought out of the Scripture concern- 

 &quot; ing any kind of regiment, is without the book pulled into 

 &quot; the game-place by the ears, to wrestle whether it will 

 &quot; or no.&quot; 



Speaking concerning the marriage of Queen Mary to His words 

 King Philip, so unfortunate to England, he used these J^ 1 &quot;* 

 words ; &quot; Cyrus, that noble Persian, sent to Thomaris, Mary s 

 &quot; Queen of the Massagetes, for marriage. To whom she KingPhilip; 

 &quot; made answer, that she knew his meaning was to marry 

 &quot; her kingdom, and not her. Which answer if Queen 

 &quot; Mary had given to Philip, Calais, Hammes, and Guisnes 

 &quot; had not been lost ; nor the good Lady, her sister and our 

 &quot; Sovereign, so left in the briers ; beset about on every side 

 &quot; almost with mighty enemies, impoverished and robbed of 

 &quot; her common treasure, and her subjects so fleeced, that 

 &quot; they must scrape near the bones that will get any 

 &quot; more.&quot; 



Mentioning Queen Mary s Parliament, that took the And the 

 Pope s absolution from Cardinal Pole on their knees, he J^? re _ 

 said, &quot; They stooped upon their marrow-bones to receive ceiving ab- 

 &quot; the Devil s blessing, brought them by Satan s apostle, fro^Car- 

 &quot; the Cardinal.&quot; d&quot; 1 Pole. 



When certain arguments were brought, dressed and flou 

 rished over, to prove an error, and he was taking them into 

 examination, &quot; I will,&quot; said he, &quot; turn the arguments out 



