To William's advisers, perhaps, more than to the Church itself their precipitation is due; for had they not, at the outset of the reign, suggested large changes in the liturgy suspicions then aroused might well have slumbered.

As it was, the question of the royal supremacy immediately came into view and the clergy spared no effort to meet the issue so raised.

And this they felt the more bitterly because the upper house of Convocation, two-thirds of which were William's nominees, naturally inclined to his side.

Both under William and Anne the dispute continued, and the lower clergy shrank from no opportunity of conflict.

They fought the king, the archbishop, the upper house.