220 rOGER OF WE.N'DOVER. [A.D . 1200. sons, the prior and monks of the chureh of Canterbury, as to the right of choosing the archbishop; you setting forth that, not only by common right but also by old custom, you ought to make the election of the archbishop conjointly with them ; and they, on the contrary, answering that, by a common right and special privilege, as also by an old and approved custom, they ought to elect the archbishop of Canterbury without you ; on the cause of dispute being lawfully argued by proper agents before us, we have carefully heard what both parties have set forth in our presence. Your party has set forth both decrees and examples, bringing forward also some witnesses, and showing testimonials by which you attempted to prove that you had chosen three metropolitans conjointly with them ; whilst it was proved by letters and evidence that you in another place and at another time had not made elections of this kind without them. But the witnesses brought forward on the. part of the monks have legitimately proved that the prior and convent of the church of Canterbury have, from times long past up to this time, made elections of bishops in their chapter-house without you, and have obtained confirmation of those elections from the apostolic see. By us and our predecessors it is laid down in the book of our privileges, that, at the decease of an archbishop of Canterbury, no one should he appointed to his place by any fraud or violence, but one whom the majority of the monks of sound judgment shall in the Lord according to the provisions of the holy canons determine to elect. Therefore, having heard, and chnrly understanding all that hits been alleged to us, since it plainly appears by your own assertions, that you ought not to make an election without them, and when the monks are excluded from it your election is not valid; and also that an election of the monks made without you, inasmuch as it was worthy of being confirmed by the apostolic sec, was valid, and since in either case it must of necessity be confirmed, we, by the common advice of our brethren, for ever impose silence on you as to the right of choosing an archbishop, and by this our definitive decree absolve the monks of Canterbury from all attack and annoyance on the part of you and your successors ; and also by our apostolic authority, decree that the monks of the church of Canterbury and their successors shall in future elect an arch