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CHURCH AND STATE UNDER THE TUDORS

one really worthy of the name. But while most of these men, filled with love and admiration of Bullinger, Martyr, and some other of the Swiss leaders of reform, were content to enjoy their friendship and imbibe their doctrines, a few others—of whom Whittingham (afterwards Dean of Durham) was the most notable—became enamoured of their discipline as well, and, bringing their passion for it also back to England with them, laid the foundation of the Puritan movement, and of all its momentous results.

Mary died on November 16, 1558, and the total result of her reign had been misery to herself and disgrace and wretchedness to her country. She had ascended the throne, little more than five years before, amidst all but universal joy and gratulation. Her subjects, apparently, moved by that curious sympathy so constantly shown to monarchs, rejoiced to see her emerge from the clouds of undeserved misfortune which had surrounded her early life, and, themselves smarting under the selfish government of Edward's Council, indulged freely in all those vague and groundless hopes which so often usher in the beginning of a new regime. In those few years all was changed, and the rejoicings which proclaimed the accession of Elizabeth were more than half due to the relief felt at having escaped from Mary's tyranny.