THE FELICITIES OF QUEEN ELIZABETH. 471 



but then on the other side, not to suffer the state of 

 her kingdom to be ruined under pretence of con 

 science and religion. Out of this fountain she con 

 cluded ; first, that to allow freedom and toleration 

 of two religions by public authority, in a nation 

 fierce and warlike, and that would easily fall from 

 dissention of minds to siding and blows, would bring 

 inevitable ruin to this kingdom. Again, in the new 

 ness of her reign, when there was a general distrust, 

 she singled out some of the bishops of the most 

 turbulent and factious spirits, and committed them 

 to free custody; and this not without the warrant of 

 former laws. As for the rest, either of the clergy or 

 laity, she did not ransack their consciences by any 

 severe inquisition, but rather secured them by a 

 gracious connivancy : and this was the state of things 

 at the first. Neither did she depart from this cle 

 mency, when the excommunication of Pius Quintus 

 came thundering against her, which might both 

 justly have provoked her, and have ministered 

 occasion to new courses ; but howsoever she followed 

 her royal nature still : for as a wise lady, and of a 

 high courage, she was not a whit terrified at the 

 roaring of a bull, being well assured of her people s 

 love and fidelity towards her, as also of the disability 

 of the popish faction within the kingdom to do her 

 hurt if no foreign enemy joined with them. But 

 then, about the three and twentieth year of her 

 reign there followed a mighty change. And this 

 distinction of the times is not any device of mine, but 

 it is expressed in the public acts of that time, and as 



