Four hundred clergy abandoned their preferment because James ruled by Divine Right; and they could not in conscience resist even his iniquities.

An able tract of 1689[10] had collected much material to show how integral the doctrine was to the beliefs of the Church.

Had William's government, indeed, refrained from the imposition of the oath, it is possible that there might have been no schism at all; for the early Nonjurors at least--perhaps Hickes and Turner are exceptions--would probably have welcomed anything which enabled the avoidance of schism.

Once, however, the oath was imposed three vital questions were raised.

Deprivation obviously involved the problem of the power of the State over the Church.