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A.D. 1235.] PREACHING THE CRUSADE. (7-3 ventual assembly then obtained the king's permission to choose a fresh abbat; and, on the day following tho Annunciation of St. .Mary, tliey, with all due solemnities, elected John prior of Hertford, one of their professed monks as the pastor of their souls, who was pre sented to the king on Palm Sunday and favourably received by him. Some of the monks and clerks of that church, whose special duty it was, were then sent to the court of Home, to obtain a confirmation of the election, which they procured without any difficulty, and returned to their own country with the apostolic blessing.* On the day following the Nativity of St. Mary, which was Sundiiy, the said abbat elect received the benediction as abbat from Roger bishop of London; and during the interval preceding this the abbey with all its appurtenances remained, hy the king's kindness, under the charge of the monks, without cessation of the rights of hospitality. In this year the Jews obtained from the Roman pontili the privilege of not being ill treated by kings or princes in the way of extorting money from them, or of being imprisoned. About the same time, when Easter was approaching, Peter • I'aris here says :— " Moreover there was approved a form and method of proceeding in the election, find all wondered that, amongst so many heads, there should be the same opinion, and that the assent wns unanimous; whence it was said by many at the court of Rome, and even by the pope himself, that it was not without the will of the Holy Spirit that it was arranged, ' l'Or the multitude had but one heart and one soul.' And that it may be known to our readers, wc give the following mode of electing an abbat at the church of St. Alban's. Three or four confessors (inasmuch as they know the hearts and dispositions of each) are ordered, by virtue of the Holy Spirit, to choose twelve elect brothers of the convent, faithful and learned men, who are to choose from amongst themselves, or from the convent of the church, or from the cells, one fit brother for abbat. In order that their election and deliberations may not be invalid, they hold letters from nnd under the sea! of the convent, engaging to receive unanimously nnd willingly, and without opposition, the one whom those twelve shall elect. This mode of proceeding was much commended and admired hy the supreme pontiff and all who heard it, nnd the examination having been held, the election was confirmed by the apostolic authority. Hut as the pope wns not clearly satisfied as to the character of the elect, he sent orders to the bishops of Ely nnd London, to make a strict examination as to the character of the abbat elect, and confirm him in the nbbat's chair, with the benediction, and to instai him in the management of all the spiritual and temporal affairs ot the kingdom. Tbe said abbat elect therefore, after the examination had been taken, on the Nativity of St. Mary, which was on Sunday, received the benediction as abbat from Roger bishop of London, for they could not both attend, as ordered by the apostolic see. The abbat elect, being installed with due solemnity, then before the altar read closed and scaled letters, such as wo never saw before, concerning the journeys of the apostles, and visiting their threshold every three years, which we heard with due respect. But this is more fully related hereafter."

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