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OF THE REFORMATION. 265Elizabeth (1571).The English Church, therefore, was distinguished by the peculiarity of its organization in retainingthe higher spiritualorders the archbishops and bishopswith seats and voices in the Upper House. In this mannerthe hierarchy remained interwoven with the constitution;and the question which we are interested in answering here,regards the value and consequences of this institution tothe state.It was the belief, very naturally resulting from the king'ssupremacy, that the hierarchy would prove a firm supportto the throne at its head, which preserved that body a be;liefwhich afterwards furnished the Stuarts with their favouritemaxim " : No bishop, no king." Nevertheless, the connexionasserted in this sentence isby no means so directly evidentas to make it unreasonable to inquire whether it had any truthat bottom, or was merely the product of fanaticism.and their direct inThe political power of the bishops, fluence upon the state through the House of Lords, is too into have been much relied on. If we are, theresignificantfore, to attribute any meaning to the above expression, itmust be this that :by uniting the interests of the heads ofthe church with those of the crown, it was designed, thatnot only their support, but that of the people itself, shouldbe secured. The political importance of the bishops^ therefore, depended upon their influence with the people. Andconsequently, as soon as the schismatics had acquiredstrength, apd formed themselves into a religious,and as sucb,into a political party, experience showed that the bishops,although nominally the props of the throne, were but a feeble support. They fell with and it, they were restored with itAs regardsthe general question,how far the hierarchy ofa state may be called the safeguard of the throne, this mustdepend chiefly upon the spirit of the times since it; by theirinfluence over the minds of the peopleis determined. Intimes of religiousfanaticism this may be very great, and thepermanence of the throne may be inseparably linked withthat of the hierarchy.The progressof events, however, gradually dissolves these ties and the throne of Great Britain;at presentrestsupon very different support from that of thehierarchy, which is neither important, nor inviolable, exceptas forming an integral partof the constitution.