Λ. lì. 1203.] ELECTION OE AltCIIBISIIOI'. Of the election of John bishop of Norwich, at the request of the ICmjluh kimj. The monks of Canterbury in the meantime, as soon as they heard that their sub-prior had violated his oath, and had, as soon as he arrived in Flanders, declared that he was elected, thus revealing their secret, were much enraged against him, and immediately sent some of the monks from the convent to the king to ask his permission to choose a pastor who was suited to them; the king immediately and without any hesitation kindly granted their request, and speaking confidentially to them, hinted that the bishop of Norwich was a great friend of his, and that he alone of all the Fnglish prelates was aware of his secrets ; on which account, he asserted, that it would be to the advantage of himself and the kingdom, if they could transfer the said prelate to the archbishopric. He therefore requested of the monks, that they, together with his clerks whom he would send to the convent, would set forth this his request to them, and promised to confer many honours on the convent if they should determine to listen to him. The monks on their return home related the commands of the king to the other inmates of the convent, and they assembled thereupon in the chapter-house, and in order to conciliate the king, whom they had olfended, they there unanimously elected John bishop of Norwich, and at once sent some monks of the convent to the archbishop elect, who was at York managing the king's business, to tell him to come with all haste to Canterbury. The messengers hastened on the prescribed journey, and found the said bishop at Nottingham ; and he at once settled the king's business and hurried to the southern provinces, where he met with the king, and they set out together for Canterbury. On the following day, a great multitude assembled in the metropolitan church, and the prior of Canterbury, in the king's presence, openly announced to all the election of John de (irai bishop of Norwich; then the monks taking him up curried him to the great altar chanting the "T e Deuiu," and finally placed him in the archiépiscopal chair. After all this ceremony the king put the archbishop elect into possession of all properly belonging to the archbishopric, and all returned to their homes ; and thus in this election a new kind of error was made, worse than the former one, as the result plainly shows.