From Rochester I should go a long pilgrimage to St. David's in Wales, save I must bait, a little out of my way, at four new bishoprics, erected by King Hen. 8, of famous memory; and therefore I hope not ordained to be dissolved of a Henry the Ninth, of future and fortunate expectation. I say I will but bait, especially at Oxford, lest I be baited if I stay too long, for I know this discourse is to some, as unguis in ulcere.<455>

            This bishopric being but 66 year since erected, had two bishops in 26 year, and then continued void 21 year; what time, of pure devotion to the leases that would yield good fines, a great parson recommended Doctor Underhill<456> to this place, persuading him to take it, as in the way to a better; but God knows, it was out of his way, every way. For ere his first fruits were paid, he died (as I heard, at Greenwich) in much discontent, and poverty. Yet his preferrer<457> (to seem to do some favour to the university of Oxford, for recompense of the spoil done on the bishopric of Oxford,) erected a new solemn lecture there at his own charge, which Doctor Reynolds did made; at which lecture I happened once to be present with the founder, where we were taught nihil et non,<458> as elsewhere I have at large showed to your Highness. But though the many-headed beast, the multitude, was bleared with this bounty; yet the scholars that were more nasuti, oculati, et cordati, ["sharp-smelling, keen-sighted, and wise"[TN] did smell, and see, and say, "that this was but to steal a goose, and stick a feather." And, indeed, this was the true theory and practice of puritanism; one, impugning the authority of bishops secretly, by such lectures; the other, impoverishing their livings openly, by such leases.

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