Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 7.djvu/38

iS REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 41. justifying Cranmer's opinion of such bodies that 'they were good vianders, and good for nothing else ' and a clergy among whom the only men who had any fear of God were the unmanageable and dangerous Puritans, the Church of England was doing little to make the Queen or the country enamoured of it. Torn up as it had been by the very roots and but lately replanted, its hanging boughs and drooping foliage showed that as yet it had taken no root in the soil, and there seemed too strong a likelihood that, notwithstanding its ingenious framework and comprehensive formulas, it would wither utterly away. ' Our religion is so abused/ wrote Lord Sussex to Cecil in 1562, 'that the Papists rejoice; the neuters do not mislike change, and the few zealous professors lament the lack of purity. The people without discipline, utterly devoid cf religion, come to divine service as to a May- game ; the ministers for disability and greediness be had in contempt; and the wise fear more the impiety of the licentious professors than the superstition of the erroneous Papists. God hold his hand over us, that our lack of religious hearts do not breed in the mean time his wrath and revenge upon us.' L Covetousiiess aurl impiety moreover were not the only dangers. The submission of the clergy to the changes was no proof of their cordial acceptance of them. The majority were interested only in their benefices, which they retained and neglected. A great many con- 1 Sussex to Cecil, July 22, 1562 ; from Chester : Irish M-SS. Rolls House.