which by old right belonged to his custody : and then breaking up the conference, the barons returned with the abovenamed charter to London.* • M. Paris fiere adds;-" King John, wishing that these things should bo on a more secure footing, sent to pope Innocent, asking him to grunt tlufavour of confirming tins by his hull ; anil as he hail become an obedient vassal of the pope, and an apostolic king, he soon obtained what he wanted in the following form : * Innocent, bishop, exe,, to all his venerable brothers and all his beloved («m*, the prelates of the churches throughout England, health and the apostolic blessing. \Vc worthily laud the magnificence of the Creator, who is terrible and wonderful in his counsels on the sons of men, for that, when he has once taught us our weakness by causing the storm to blow, he lias again said to the winds, IVaee, be still, and has suffered the sailors to enter the desired port. Whereas a great controversy has long existed between the sovereign and the priesthood of England, not without much danger and loss, concerning the elections of prelates, however by the wonderful working of Mini to whom nothing is impossible, and who breathes where he wishes, our well beloved John, the illustrious king of the English, has, of his own free will, and hy the common consent of his barons, for the salvation of the souls of himself, his predecessors, and his successors, liberally granted to us and confirmed by his letters, that henceforth in all and singular the churches and monasteries, both cathedral and conventual, of al! Kngland, the elections of all prelates whatsoever, whether the superior or inferior, shall be for ever free. W e therefore, in ratification thereof, hy the apostolic authority and hy these present letters, ratify and confinn this grant to you, and, by your means, to the churches and your successors, as we have seen it contained in the said letters of the king; and, for better security and in lasting memory of this grant, we have caused the aforesaid letters of the king on this matter to bo united to these presents; the tenor of these letters is as follows:—" John, by the grace of Cimi, king of Kngland, lord of Ireland, duke of Normand) and Aquitaine, and count of Anjou, to the archbishops, bishops, ear!**, Itarons, knights, bailiil's, and all to whom these letters shall come, greeting. Whereas, under (ìod's favour,a full arrangement has been, by the voluntary consent of both parties, come to between us and our venerable fathers Stephen archbishop of Canterbury, primate of nil Kngland and cardinal of the holy Roman church, William bishop of London, Kustaee of KI\, Ciiles of Hereford, John of Hath and (îlastonbury, and Hubert of Lincoln, concerning their losses and property which was confiscated at the time of the interdict, we wish not only to give satisfaction to them as far as lies in our power with God's assistance, but also wholesomely and advantageously to provide for the whole church of Kngland for ever. Therefore, whatever custom nuiy have been hitherto observed in the Knglish church in the times of oursclf and our ancestors, nnd whatever ri^ht we may hnve hitherto claimed for ourselres, henceforth in each and all of the churehos and monasteries of England, conventual and cathedral, the* ciVi-ttone of prelate* shall be free for ever, of whatever order they may be, superior as well as inferior ; saving to us and our heirs the custody of the vacant churches and monasteries, which belongs to us. W e nlao promise that we will not hinder,