Three of the Forty-two Articles of Religion of Edward were dropped, [Sidenote: The Thirty-nine Articles 1563] thus making the Thirty-nine Articles that have ever since been the authoritative {330} statement of Anglican doctrine.

Thus it is true to some extent that the Elizabethan settlement was a compromise.

It took special heed of various parties, and tried to avoid offence to Lutherans, Zwinglians, and even to Roman Catholics.

But far more than a compromise, it was a case of special development.

As it is usually compared with the English Dissenting sects, the church of England is often said to be the most conservative of the reformed bodies.