The queen, in a letter to the archbishop, signified her hope that the consultations of the clergy might be of use to repress the attempts of loose and profane persons.
She sent a license under the broad seal, empowering them to sit and do business in as ample a manner as ever had been granted since the reformation.

They were ordered to lay before the queen an account of the excessive growth of infidelity and heresy, as well as of other abuses, that necessary measures might be taken for a reformation.

The bishops were purposely slighted and overlooked, because they had lived in harmony with the late ministers.

A committee being appointed to draw up a representation of the present state of the church and religion, Atterbury undertook the task, and composed a remonstrance that contained the most keen and severe strictures upon the administration, as it had been exercised since the time of the revolution.

Another was penned by the bishops in more moderate terms; and several regulations were made, but in none of these did the two houses agree.