beyng in the meane tyme greuously offended with the Prior, saying: that he was proude and would make Archbyshop whom he lysted, and would be the second Pope in England. &c.

MarginaliaThe kyng sendeth to Rome agaynst the Monkes.Not long after this, as these letters were sent vp to Rome, the kyng sent for Alanus the Prior, and moe of the Monkes, to come to him. Whō he entreateth, desiryng them in gentle speach, MarginaliaThe kynges gentle wordes to the Mōkes.that they would shew so much gentlenes and fauour to him beyng their Lord and kyng, as becommeth his frendes and subiectes to do, as to conferre with þ^e Bishops of the Realme about this matter, and to take some better counsell, so as might redoūde to Gods glory, his honour, and wealth of the publicke state, with other lyke wordes to the same effect.

To whom when the Prior agayne had aunswered with thankes and due reuerence, accordyng to the kynges request, the Byshops and Monkes went to conferre together about the matter. MarginaliaByshops of Englād claime to haue interest in the Election of the Archb. of Canterbury.And first, the Byshops marueled why the Monkes should exclude them out of the election, seyng they were professed and Suffraganes to the sayd Church of Cant: Neither is there any Prince, quoth the Bishop of Bathe, that wil refuse our counsaile. There be some counsailes, sayd the Monkes, whereat you may be called: but as touchyng the doyng of this election, it perteineth nothyng vnto you further then to publish onely and denounce þ^t partie whom we haue chosen. The Byshop of Lōdon then asked, if they had already made any electiō. No election, said þ^e Prior, as yet, but onely we haue denominate þ^e persons. Then haue ye proceded further, quoth he, then ye ought, hauing a commaundement from the Pope not to procede without vs. MarginaliaThe Popes letters cōmaūdyng the Byshops of the Realme with the Prior and Couēt to chuse the Archb.And with that was brought forth the Popes letter, commaundyng that within xl. dayes the Byshops of England, and the Prior, & Couent of Cant. should elect an able and fitte person to be their Archbyshop. About the scānyng of these letters was much a do. The Byshops sayd, they were first named, and therfore ought to haue most interest in this election. The Monkes sayd agayne, that they also were not excluded, and required to haue a transcript of the letter, wherof much doubt was made.

MarginaliaThe kyng separateth the Byshops from the Monkes.After long concertation, when they could not agree, the kyng commyng betwene them both, called away the Byshops from the Monkes, supposing by separatyng the one from the other, to draw both parties to his sentence. MarginaliaThe Monkes wil lose no preeminence of their Church.But that would not be, for the Monkes stifly standyng to their liberties, would lose no preeminence of their Church, still alledgyng how by the auncient priuilegies of the Church of Cant. the Couent should chuse their Pastor and Byshop, and the Prior to publishe and denounce the person. The Byshops agayne replyed, that it was their right to appoint their Archb. and metropolitane, which were Byshops and Suffraganes, and namely the Byshop of London also beyng Deane of the sayd Church of Cant. The kyng then as vmpere betwene them, yet fauouryng rather the side of the Byshops, desired them to agree together in peace. When that would not preuaile, he set þ^e Lord Stuard, and other noble men to entreat the Prior, to draw to some agreement: at least to be contented with this forme of election, which was that the Byshop of London, or some other Byshop should declare the election in these wordes.

MarginaliaThe forme of election of the Archb. set betwene the Byshops and the Monkes of Canterbury.We Byshops, and the Prior and Couent of Christes Church in Cant. with the assent of our Lord our kyng, do chuse such a person to be Archbyshop. &c. or els thus, that þ^e Prior should pronounce forth the election in these wordes, saying: The Byshops of England and I Prior and the Couent of Canterbury, with the assent of our Lord and kyng do chuse such a person. &c.

MarginaliaThe Byshops and Monkes could not agree about þ^e forme of election.Vpon this þ^e Prior sayd, he would conuent with his Couent. Who with much ado were content to graunt to the kynges desire, but afterward beyng required to put downe the same in writyng, that they refused todo: yet notwithstandyng relented at last to the kyng. But when the Byshops made excuses for the absence of their felow Byshops, so the matter for that tyme stayd. And the kyng sendyng home the Monkes agayne to their house in peace, MarginaliaThe election of the Archb. differred to þ^e moneth of Decēber. an. 1184.differred that busines to a further day, which was till the first of Decemb. commaūdyng the Prior with his felowes the same day not to fayle but to bee at London about the chusing of the Archbyshop.

As the day prefixed came, the Prior with his company were also present, who giuyng attendance all that day and the next day also folowyng, so were driuen of till the thyrd day after. At length the Lord Stuard with other nobles of the realme, were sent to them from the kyng, to declare, that where as the kyng before had diuided the Byshops from the Monkes, that they both might haue their election by them selues after þ^e forme of a Bill which was put downe in writyng: MarginaliaThe kings message to the mōkes of Cant. to agree and ioyne with the Byshops.now the minde of the kyng was, that the Monkes takyng an other way, should ioyne with the Byshops, and so hauing the matter in talke together, should procede ioyntly in the election.

Agaynst this, many thinges were alledged by the Prior and his mates, complainyng much vpon the Byshops, which sayd that the Byshops had euer holden with the kyngs against þ^e liberties of their Church and Archbyshops. As first they stode agaynst Anselme, for kyng William: Thē agaynst Theobalde for kyng Steuen: After that agaynst Tho. Becket for kyng Henry: And after hym dyd supplant the election of Rich. their Archb: And now agayne went about to practise and worke agaynst this their election present &c. At last the Prior with his felowes concludyng, desired they might speake with the kyng him selfe. Who eftsoones commyng to them, MarginaliaThe kings wordes to the mōkes of Cant.willed them as good men to be contented, and to go talke with the Byshops about the election, promising that whom they agreed vppon, he also would graunt his assent to the same. To whom when the Prior agayne had obiected the writynges that before were made: truth it is sayd þ^e king, such writinges were made, but I neither may, nor will go agaynst the counsaile of my Realme: and therfore agree, sayd he, with my Bishops and Abbats, and remember, that the voyce of the people is the voyce of God.

MarginaliaThe Monkes of Cant. compelled against their willes to ioyne with the Byshops touchyng the election of the Archb.Vpon this the Prior with his Monkes seyng no other remedy, went to þ^e Byshops, to cōferre accordyng to þ^e kynges request about the electiō. Who then were wylled by þ^e Byshops to nominate whom they would, and the Bishops would likewise name theirs. So that whē the Prior with his cōplices had named three after theyr chusing, the Byshops sayd they would nominate but one, & so did, which was the Bishop of Worcester: willyng the Prior to go home, and to conferre with his Couent about the same. To whom shortly after the Byshops sent certeine Priestes to signifie to the Couent, that they, according to þ^e Popes letters, should repayre to the Byshops concernyng the election of the Archbyshop, also to declare moreouer to them, that the persōs whom they had named were good men, but he whom they had nominated was a more worthy man, whom they both had nominated, and also would elect. The Monkes marueling hereat, sent two Monkes, with the Archdeacon of Cant. to the kyng.

MarginaliaBishops of the realme make their election of the Archb. without þ^e monkes of Cant.This done, immediatly after the returne of the Priestes, the Byshops caused all the Bels of the Citie to be ronge, and Te Deum to be song for the Archb. new elect. Wherof when the ij. Monkes brought tydynges to the Couent at Cant. what was done at London, they were all in a maruelous dumpe. The kyng hearing this and perceauyng the stifnes of the Mōkes, in al hast sent messēgers to Cant. with gentle wordes to will the Prior to come to the kyng, and certifie hym of the purpose of his Monkes. Vnto whom the Prior eftsoones being come, declareth in þ^e name of the whole Couent, that in no case he nor the Monkes would ne-