It was necessary to be quite sure, in the first place, as to the law of the English Church. With our knowledge of that secure, we obtain a clearer perception of the whole situation and a key to the changes that ensued. We are concerned here, not with the ultimate issue between the sacerdotium and the regnum—which was to be the master of the other—for this does not concern English history at this time; but with the more immediate issue, arising in every country—which was to be the master of the ecclesiastical officials. It might seem obvious that, if the Pope was acknowledged to be Head of the Church, he had the first claim to their obedience. But this was not so obvious to a generation brought up in the contrary tradition, and accustomed to the idea that obedience was due to the ruler ordained of God. In a contest of two powers for their allegiance, the bishops and their subordinates had ultimately a deciding voice; the law of the Church was bound to weigh heavily in their decision, so that it was all-important to discover what actually was the law to which they adhered.

While the attitudes of both Pope and king were clear and consistent throughout, the attitude of the bishops soon became clouded and confused. At first, indeed, they were whole-heartedly on the side of the king. They adopted the traditional standpoint, and they supported him both from conviction and from motives of interest.