<409>When I reflect my thought and eye upon that I have formerly written, and see that I am like to equal, or rather exceed my author in quantity of volume, (taking the proportion of the longest king's reign to that of Queen Elizabeth,) I am the less troubled to think, that for lack of sufficient intelligence, I shall be constrained to do as he hath also done with divers of those former bishops, namely, to obscure and omit the good deserts of some, and to conceal and hide the demerits of others; which if I fortune to do, yet will I neither crave pardon of the one, nor thanks of the other; being to be excused of both by an invincible ignorance. Howbeit, if in these I have, or shall treat of, I have been so plain and liberal, as thereby I may move the spleen of some bishop against me, to write as Bishop Jovius did against Pietro Aretino,<410> whom notwithstanding some Italians call unico & divino, whose epitaph Paulus Jovius made thus, the man being long after alive,

Qui giace l'Aretino, l'amoro Tosco,
Che besthemia ogniuno fuor che Dio,
Seusandoi, con il dire non lo cognosco.<411>

            Which one did put thus into English:

Here lieth Aretine, that poisonous toad,
Whose spiteful tongue and pen (all saints beshrew him,)
Did rail on priest, and prince, and all but God
And said, (for his excuse,) I do not know him.

            I say, if any should follow this humour of Jovius, yet shall he not thereby put me into the humour of Aretine, that answered him. For I reverence all their places, and many of their persons. I know how high their calling is, that may say, pro Christo legatione fungimur:<412> know that next to kings, bishops are most sacred persons, and as it were gods on earth; howbeit, also, some of them have the imperfections of men, and those not prejudicial to the acts of their office. For my part, I would I could speak much good of all, and no ill of any; and say (for mine excuse) I do not know them.

            Accordingly of the bishopric and bishop of Exeter, I can say but little, namely, that it is since bishop Harman's<413> time (as my author noted, pag. 337,) reduced to a good mediocrity, from one of the best bishoprics of England; so as now it is rather worthy of pity than envy, having but two manors left of 22. And I will add thus much to your Highness, that as in public respect I wish and hope you will favour all bishops, so, in a private respect, your Highness should specially favor this bishop, in whose diocese your duchy of Cornwall, and your stannaries<414> are; so the duke may uphold the bishop, and the reverent bishop may bless the duke.

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