Protestantism in England From the Times of Henry VIII - James Aitken Wylie

of the Protestant worship. That her advance was
slow, that her acts were sometimes inconsistent,
and even retrogressive, that she excited the hopes
and alarmed the fears of both parties by turns, is
not much to be wondered at when the innumerable
perils through which she had to thread her path are
taken into account.
The first alteration which she ventured upon
was to enjoin the Litany and the Epistle and Gospel
to be read in English, and to forbid the elevation of
the Host. This was little, yet it was a turning of the
face away from Rome. Presuming on the queen's
reforming disposition, some of the more zealous
began to pull down the images. Elizabeth bade
them hold their hand; there were to be no more
changes in worship till the Parliament should
assemble. It was summoned for the 27th of
January, 1559. Meanwhile all preaching was
forbidden, and all preachers were silenced, except
such as might obtain a special license from the
bishop or the Council. This prohibition has been
severely censured, and some have seen in it an
assumption of power "to open and shut heaven, so
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