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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