language in the public prayers should be confined to the Litany, the Lord's Prayer, and the Creed. This step was perhaps rendered necessary by the eagerness to reform which was exhibited by certain persons desirous of entering on controversial subjects, and anxious to get rid of every thing which offended them, without waiting for the dilatory process of legal enactments. The queen, however, possessed far too much sense to permit such tumultuary alterations, and her own conduct was characterised by firmness as well as prudence. She began her political career by trying to gain the good opinion and affection of all her subjects; and the condescending propriety of her personal manner contributed greatly to produce this desired effect. She readily presented herself to the eyes of all orders, and assumed a demeanor, which, though rather theatrical, was very taking with the multitude. When, for instance, she was proceeding on her way to the coronation *, (A. D. 1559,) a character in one of the city pageants, representing Truth, presented her with an English Bible, she kissed it, and with both her hands held it up, and then laid it upon her breast, and greatly thanking the city for that present, said she would often read over that book.

g. 403. (Jan. 15.) She was crowned by Oglethorp, bishop of Carlisle, as none of the other Roman catholic bishops would consent to take part in the ceremony t. They foresaw the influence which her reign must probably have on religion ; and being most of

* Strype's An. i. 43. + Ibid. i. 73.

sioners, whose jurisdiction had bounds as indefinite as the supremacy itself. An oath too was imposed on all persons holding or taking any office, and most severe and unreasonable penalties affixed to the refusal of it. During the whole of the debate on this act, the strongest opposition was shewn on the part of the Roman catholic bishops, who advocated the cause of civil liberty, being naturally adverse to opinions so much at variance with what they had lately professed, and which were at the same time likely to eject them from their preferments.

g. 404. Nor were the temporal interests of the queen forgotten; for besides having the tenths and first-fruits restored to her, she was allowed to take possession of any ecclesiastical lands or property belonging to vacant sees, and to transfer an equivalent from such impropriations as were vested in the crown, a law which gave occasion to many exchanges seriously detrimental to the bishoprics; and it is hardly to be doubted, that the intention of those who passed the bill corresponded with the effects produced by it*; for who was likely to examine scrupulously into the fairness of the exchange while the preferment was vacant, and the appointment of the successor vested in the hands of the very authority which pillaged the benefice a ?

a So well aware of the evil tendency of this law were the bishops who were first consecrated, that they offered the queen to raise for her an income of a thousand marks, if she would stop these exchanges; but their application was ineffectual. Strype's Grindal, p. 49.

* Statutes of the Realm.