THE CHVRCH-HISTORY OF BRITAINE.Anno. Regin Eliza. 1.SECTION. I.CENT. XVI.Anno. Dom. 15591. FOr the first six weeks the Queen,Her slow but sure pace of Reformation. and her wife coun∣cell, suffered matters to stand in their former state, without the least change, as yet not altering but consulting what should be altered. Thus our Savi∣our himself coming into the Temple, and finding it profaned with sacriledge, when he had looked round about upon all things,Mar. 11. 11.departed for the evening, content∣ing himself with the survey of what was amisse, and deferring the reformation thereof till the next morning. but on the firstHolinshed 1. year of Q. Elizabeth pag. 1172. of January following being Sunday, (the best new-yeers-gift that ever was bestowed on England) by vertue of the Queens Proclamation, the Letanie was read in English, with Epistles, and Gospels, in all Churches of London, as it was formerly in her Graces own Chappel.2. But some violent Spirits,The forward∣ness of pri∣vate men in publique re∣formation va∣riously censu∣red. impatient to attend the leisure (by them counted the lazinesse) of authority, fell before hand to the beating down of superstitious Pictures and images, and their forward zeal met with many to applaud it. For Idolatry is not to be permitted a moment; the first mi∣nuite is the fittest to abolish it. All that have power, have right to destroy it, by that Grand-charter of Religion, whereby every one is bound to ad∣vance Gods glory. And if Soveragns forget, no reason but Subjects should remember their duty. But others condemned their indiscretion herein: for though they might reforme their private persons and families, and re∣fraine to communicate in any outward act, contrary to Gods word, yet publique reformation belonged to the Magistrate, and a good deed was by them ill done for want of a calling to do it. However, the Papists have no cause to tax them with over-forwardness in this kinde, the like being done by them, in the beginning of Queen Maries raigne; whilst the laws of King Edward the Sixth stood as yet in full force, when they prevented authority, as hath beenSee 6. Cent. 2 part. pa∣ragraph. formerly observed thus, those who are hungry, and have meat afore them, will hardly be kept from eating, though Grace be not said, and leave gi∣ven them by their superiours.0