nham, and then over the wild heath,
and through the woods, till at last I came to Hounslow, where I halted
to rest my beast.

As I was leaving that place, there overtook me an important-looking man
with two men-servants, mounted, following him. He seemed friendly
disposed and talkative, and as he too was going to Oxford, we agreed to
join company, and fell into conversation. He asked me my errand and I
replied, truly enough, I went to visit a gentleman at Oxford. He told
me, with not a little bluster, he too went to wait upon a gentleman at
Oxford, but he guessed the varlet would get little joy out of his visit.

"Why," said I, "are you an officer of the courts of law, or a bailiff?"

"Yes and no," said he. "I serve a great master, and go to catch a great
rogue."

Then, being warmed by the ale he had had at Hounslow and my questions,
he told me he was no other than the Bishop of London's man; and that
wind had come to his Grace that some evil-disposed persons had been
issuing a wicked and scandalous libel against the Queen and her bishops
and clergy, and that the arch offender in this bad business was known to
be a certain--he would not say who--at Oxford. He told me how he would
give a finger off his hand to have the rascal laid by the heels, ay, and
the printer too, who had vilely lent himself to the business. He waxed
so fierce and eloquent in defence of the good bishops, that I promised
him, should my urgent errand in any way permit it, he might count on me
to assist him in his righteous hue and cry. For I loathed all that set
itself up to vex our gracious Queen and the peaceful order of her
kingdom. The man commended my loyalty, and we talked of other matters--
he doing the most of it--till we came to Colnbrook, where, finding my
nag slow, and his business being very urgent, he left me and rode
forward; appointing to meet me two days hence at the inn at Iffley,
should I still be of a mind to do him and the bishop a service.

All this talk had made me uneasy, for he had hinted broadly that a close
watch was being kept on all disorderly printers; and I, remembering my
master's press in the cellar, hoped no suspicion might attach to him,
and resolved to warn him when I returned home.

From Colnbrook I rode solitary in the heat of the day. So hot was it
that I was tempted to take off my cloak and lay it across the saddle in
front of me. It was my vanity and the pride of being seen in so brave a
garment