GARDENS OF CELEBRITIES 



or thicket of growing trees, which belonged to the manor, and being 

 suitable timber for building purposes, was of value. It may 

 possibly have obstructed a view, or been otherwise in the way ; 

 but in touching it the bishop went beyond his province. Again, 

 on the other hand, it is possible that he merely cut down a few of 

 the trees scattered about the park and gardens, to fell which was 

 not quite so inexcusable. The incident in either case seems some- 

 what to indicate a personal concern for the beauty and integrity 

 of the gardens on the part of the Queen. 



Aylmer had been domestic chaplain to the Marquis of Dorset, 

 and tutor to his children, among whom was the Lady Jane Grey. 

 It is this fact that chiefly makes him interesting to us. Like so 

 many of the Reformed clergy, he took refuge on the Continent on 

 the accession of Mary ; but he returned in 1576, and was made 

 Bishop of London by Elizabeth. 



His behaviour during the visitation of the plague in 1578 is 

 deserving of much praise ; but the same cannot be said of his 

 treatment of both Puritan and Papist, and indeed of all whose 

 views differed from his own. Aylmer's friends describe him as 

 being quick-tempered, and free, and blunt in speech ; his enemies 

 declare that he was tyrannical towards inferiors, and " virulent in 

 speech." He was accused of swearing, and of the too frequent 

 use of the phrase "by my faith" an oath innocent enough in 

 our eyes. His latitudinarian views with regard to the Sabbath 

 gave great offence in some quarters, and he was charged with break- 

 ing the commandment to keep the Sabbath day holy. One 

 confesses to have more sympathy with the bishop than with his 

 Sabbatarian critics, for we learn from Strype's " Life of John 

 Aylmer, Lord Bishop of London," that he was blamed for playing 

 his favourite game of bowls on a Sunday. He said, " in excuse, that 

 he did it for the diversion of his mind from care, and for the pre- 

 servation of his health ; he further pleaded in extenuation that he 

 never withdrew himself from service, or the sermon, on the Lord's 

 Day ; that Christ, the best exponent of the Sabbath, had said, 

 ' the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath ; ' 

 that food might be cooked for health's sake on the Sabbath : 

 why not, then, have our healthy bodily exercise on that day ? " 

 And he also argued that in Geneva, and other Protestant resorts, 

 the people refreshed themselves after service was over, with bowls, 



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