Note 088 Thomassin (Discipline de l'Eglise, tom. ii. 1. ii. c. 1-8, p. 673-721 ) has copiously treated of the election of bishops during the five first centuries, both in the East and in the West; but he shows a very partial bias in favour of the episcopal aristocracy. Bingham (1. iv. c. 2) is moderate; and Chardon (Hist. des Sacramens, tom. v. p. 106-128) is very clear and concise.

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Note to Chapter 20 of DECLINE & FALL by Gibbon