A History of Conferences and Other Proceedings Connected with the Revision of the Book of Common Prayer (Electronic book text)

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. Excerpt from book: Section 3CHAPTER I. textit{The revision of the Liturgy in the reign of Elizabeth. T71LIZABETH succeeded to the throne on the 17th J-J of November, in the year 1558; and the earliest, Us it was the most important, of her duties appears to have been to provide for the peculiar condition of the 5 Church. Although neither of the two great religious parties had as yet reason to look for her unqualified support, each of them was willing to interpret in its own favour the line of strict neutrality, which the queen thought it prudent to adopt. The Romanists were in 10 all the places of power and influence, and were not only left in the quiet occupation of them, but had also discovered that there were many circumstances, connected with the character of Elizabeth and the security of her crown, which would make her desirous of 15 retaining their good opinion. The protestants, on the other hand, had the best reason for believing her private sentiments to be in accordance with theirs, and were publicly supported by those eminent men, who were known to be in possession of her confidence. 20 Under these impressions the utmost exertions were made on both sides to improve their respective advantages. Disorder naturally ensued; and the queen, anxious to maintain her reputation for neutrality, and to take no decisive step in favour of either party, untile5 the whole question had been fully examined, issued a proclamation,0 commanding " all maner of her subjects, as well those that be called to ministery in the Church, as all others, that they do forbear to preach or teach, or to gyve audience to any maner of doctrine 5 or preachyng, other than to the gospels and epistels, commonly called the gospel and the epistel of the day, and to the Ten Commaundements in the vulgar tongue, without exposition or addition of any maner sen...