C =7 i So far was QueenElizabeth thought from being in love with Popery, that, as Mr. Rapin tells us, " a great Dif-Rapin, E,ir> " ficultywas thrown in the Way of theirait " Declaration of the Houfe of Lords " in favour of Elizabeth. And this " was, that all England, and particu- " larly the Houfe of Lords, made Pro- " feffion of the Roman Catholick Re- " ligion ; and that it was almoft out of all Doubt, that Elizabeth was a " Proteflant in her Heart." The Bi- Chops and Catholick Lords perfuaded themfelves that Elizabeth would find it a difficult Undertaking to change the eftablith'd Religion, ihou'd her Inclina- tions to fuch a Change beever%firang; fo firm, in their Opinion, was the Foun- dation upon which Popery flood, that they thought the attempting any Alte- ration would bring her into Di/turban- Rapin's Hift. ces that might be attended with heribid' Ruin. This was the State of Affairs, as to Religion ; the Nation univerfally fPopifh ; not only the Bithops and Cler- gy, but all the Privy-Counfellours, judges, and other publick Officers, were the molt bigotted Papifls, and chofen into Place for that very Reafon. 'Twas with great Difficulty they got a Ann. Vol l Bifhop to crown theQueen, and at Taft?' 291 it was one in a See no more confidera- C ble
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