between the two
religions as wide as possible, and to make the frequenting of Protestant
churches appear highly criminal in the Catholics.[**] These practices,
with the rebellion which ensued, increased the vigilance and severity of
the government; but the Romanists, if their condition were compared with
that of the nonconformists in other countries, and with their own
maxims where they domineered, could not justly complain of violence or
persecution.

* Camden, p. 459.

** Walsingham's Letter in Burnet, vol. ii. p. 418. Cabala,
p. 406.

The queen appeared rather more anxious to keep a strict hand over
the Puritans; who, though their pretensions were not so immediately
dangerous to her authority, seemed to be actuated by a more unreasonable
obstinacy, and to retain claims, of which, both in civil and
ecclesiastical matters, it was as yet difficult to discern the full
scope and intention. Some secret attempts of that sect to establish a
separate congregation and discipline, had been carefully repressed in
the beginning of this reign;[*] and when any of the established clergy
discovered a tendency to their principles, by omitting the legal habits
or ceremonies, the queen had shown a determined resolution to punish
them by fines and deprivation;[**] though her orders to that purpose had
been frequently eluded, by the secret protection which these sectaries
received from some of her most considerable courtiers.

But what chiefly tended to gain Elizabeth the hearts of her subjects,
was her frugality, which, though carried sometimes to an extreme, led
her not to amass treasures, but only to prevent impositions upon her
people, who were at that time very little accustomed to bear the burdens
of government. By means of her rigid economy, she paid all the debts
which she found on the crown, with their full interest; though some
of these debts had been contracted even during the reign of her
father.[***] Some loans, which she had exacted at the commencement
of her reign, were repaid by her; a practice in that age somewhat
unusual;[****] and she established her credit on such a footing, that no
sovereign in Europe could more readily command any sum which the public
exigencies might at any time require.[v] During this peaceable and
uniform government, England furnishes few materials for history; and
except the small part which Elizabeth took in foreign transactions,
there scarcely passed any occurrence which re