OBSERVATIONS ON A LIBEL. 403 



ties and particulars of her majesty s reign ; wherein 

 I do not say, that we have enjoyed them in a more 

 ample degree and proportion than in former ages, as 

 it hath fallen out in the points before mentioned, 

 but such as were in effect unknown and untasted 

 heretofore. As first, the purity of religion, which is 

 a benefit inestimable, and was in the time of all 

 former princes, until the days of her majesty s father 

 of famous memory, unheard of. Out of which 

 purity of religion have since ensued, beside the 

 principal effect of the true knowledge and worship 

 of God, three points of great consequence unto the 

 civil estate. 



One, the stay of a mighty treasure within the 

 realm, which in foretimes was drawn forth to Rome. 

 Another, the dispersion and distribution of those 

 revenues, amounting to a third part of the land of 

 the realm, and that of the goodliest and the richest 

 sort, which heretofore was unprofitably spent in 

 monasteries, into such hands as by whom the realm 

 receiveth, at this day, service and strength ; and 

 many great houses have been set up and augmented. 

 The third, the managing and enfranchising of the 

 regal dignity from the recognition of a foreign 

 superior. All which points, though begun by her 

 father, and continued by her brother, were yet never 

 theless, after an eclipse or intermission, restored and 

 re-established by her majesty s self. 



Secondly, the fineness of money : for as the 

 purging away of the dross of religion, the heavenly 

 treasure, was common to her majesty with her father 



