net, and Mr. Strype, whom Mr. N. Pref. p. 15. himself acknowledges the chief Ecclefiaftical Hiftorians of thofe Times; and from the most authentick and applauded Pieces of the Puritans themselves.

Upon the whole, it appears, by this unexceptionable Evidence, that Queen Elizabeth was really a Proteftantthat the wifely fixed upon the best and most comprehenfive Scheme of a reformed Church-That the narrow Platform of the Puritans was liable to ftrong Objections, and would have been attended with many Inconveniencies That it was not Liberty, but a Power to perfecute, which they contended forThat the Queen and Bishops treated them with remarkable Lenity and Favour, and permitted great Numbers of them to enjoy Preferments in the Church, even many of the moft zealous and active of the Party- -That the Disturbances caufed by themselves made it neceffary to require a Conformity Somewhat more regular And afterwards, their violent and outrageous Attempts to fubvert the Conftitution, compell'd the Government to fecure itself, and punish some of them.

What is faid with Refpect to this unquiet and troublesome Behaviour, is not intended as a Charge against every

individual Perfon that went by the Name of a Puritan, but as an Account of the Principles and general Behaviour of the Party; chiefly taken from Writings drawn up with their general Confent or Approbation. Nor is is it pretended, that every Action of every Perfon concerned in the Administration, either in Church or State, was perfectly unexceptionable; and therefore, 'tis no just Objection to the fettled Maxims and Conduct of the Government, to produce in a Course of many Years, fome Deviations from general Rules. There might, on one Hand, be Magistrates, Bishops, or Ecclefiaftical Commiffioners, who were too remifs and negligent, or fome Instances, on the other Hand, where the Reins of Difcipline and Government were held too freight: Inferior Officers likewife might fometimes be exorbitant in their Fees. The fame will happen in all Courts, Civil as well as Ecclefiaftical: But the Constitution is not therefore bad, becaufe a Judge, a Mayor, or a Juftice of Peace, has fometimes acted improperly; or an Attorney or a Bailiff made an extravagant Bill or Demand. It plainly appears, that the general Conduct of the Governors in Church and State was very fuitable to the Times in which they lived, and the Perfons

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Perfons with whom they were engaged. The true Queftion is not, how a particular Man acted in a particular Cafe? but whether the Eftablishment of the Protestant Church of England was founded upon a juft and proper Bafis? and if it was, then they were culpable who endeavour'd to fubvert it, and justly obnoxious to the State, if they endeavour'd that Subverfion by illegal Methods and Violence.

Queen Elizabeth's is univerfally acknowledged to be a very wife and careful Adminiftration. 'Tis therefore no Wonder, that fuch an Administration endeavour'd fo fupport fo good an Eftablishment, not indeed abfolutely perfect, but greatly preferable to any other propofed by its Adverfaries. The Queen and her Miniftry had too great a Regard both for the Intereft of Religion, and the Safety of the State, not to have Some publick Eftablishment; and when they had one, which was the Result of much Confideration, and had now been appointed, the third Time, by the Legiflature, they would not fuffer it to be violently overthrown, without knowing what was to be introduced in the Place of it; or how the Throne it felf could be fafe in fuch an important Alteration.

This is fufficient to fet the Conduct of the Government in a just Light, and to restore the publick Measures to their due Praife; Measures! which brought fo much Honour to that renowned Princefs, who was at the Head of them; which fo effectually established the Proteftant Religion at home, and fo powerfully fupported it abroad; which were fo beneficial to the English Nation, and have been fo justly admired by the best and greatest Men the laft or the present Age has produced.