n of bishops explain the unreality of the new arrangement, and
divest it of the character of wanton tyranny with which it appeared _prima
facie_ to press upon the Chapters. The history of this statute is curious,
and perhaps explains the intentions with which it was originally passed. It
was repealed by the 2nd of the 1st of Edward VI. on the ground that the
liberty of election was merely nominal, and that the Chapters ought to be
relieved of responsibility when they had no power of choice. Direct
nomination by the crown was substituted for the _conge d'elire_, and
remained the practice till the reaction under Mary, when the indefinite
system was resumed which had existed before the Reformation. On the
accession of Elizabeth, the statute of 25 Henry VIII. was again enacted.
The more complicated process of Henry was preferred to the more simple one
of Edward, and we are naturally led to ask the reason of so singular a
preference. I cannot but think that it was this. The Council of Regency
under Edward VI. treated the Church as an institution of the State, while
Henry and Elizabeth endeavoured (under difficulties) to regard it under its
more Catholic aspect of an organic body. So long as the Reformation was in
progress, it was necessary to prevent the intrusion upon the bench of
bishops of Romanising tendencies, and the deans and chapters were therefore
protected by a strong hand from their own possible mistakes. But the form
of liberty was conceded to them, not, I hope, to place deliberately a body
of clergymen in a degrading position, but in the belief that at no distant
time the Church might be allowed without danger to resume some degree of
self-government.

[686] 25 Henry VIII. cap. 21.

[687] I sent you no heavy words, but words of great comfort; willing your
brother to shew you how benign and merciful the prince was; and that I
thought it expedient for you to write unto his Highness, and to recognise
your offence and to desire his pardon, which his Grace would not deny you
how in your age and sickness.--Cromwell to Fisher: _Suppression of the
Monasteries_, p. 27.

[688] Sir Thomas More to Cromwell: BURNET'S _Collectanea_, p. 350.

[689] Ibid.

[690] Ibid.

[691] More to Cromwell: STRYPE'S _Memorials_, vol. i. Appendix, p. 195.

[692] More to the King: ELLIS, first series, vol. ii. p. 47.

[693] Cromwell to Fisher: _Suppression of the Monasteries_, p. 27, et seq.

[694] _Suppression of the Monasteries_, p.