omplacency by telling them that he
could understand the king's mind in the matter and that of Archbishop
Baldwin, himself a Cistercian; but that they, the canons, had not acted
freely. They ought to choose a ruler whose yoke and ways they could
abide, and, moreover, they ought not to hold their election in the Court
or the pontifical council, but in their own chapter. "And so, to tell
you my small opinion, you must know that I hold all election made in
this way to be absolutely vain and void." He then bade them go home and
ask for God's blessing, and choose solely by the blessing and help of
the Holy Ghost, looking not to king's, bishop's, nor any man's approval.
"That is the only answer to return from my littleness. So go, and God's
good angel be with you." They begged him to reconsider it, to see the
king or the archbishop; but the prior was inflexible, and they left the
Guest House in wonder not unmixed with delight. The king's man was not
the pet boor they had taken him for, but single-eyed, a gentleman, a
clever fellow, and a good churchman. The very men who had cried out that
they had been tricked now elected him soon and with one consent; and off
they post again to Witham.

This time he read the letters first, and then heard their tale and
expressed his wonder that men so wise and mannerly should take such
pains to court an ignoramus and recluse, to undertake such unwonted and
uncongenial cares, but they must be well aware that he was a monk and
under authority. He had to deal not with the primate and chief of the
English Church in this matter, but with his superior overseas, and so
they must either give up the plan altogether or undertake a toilsome
journey to the Charterhouse; for none but his own prior could load his
shoulders with such a burden. In vain they argued. A strong embassy had
to be sent, and sent it was without delay, and the Chartreuse Chapter
made no bones about it, but charged brother Hugh to transfer his
obedience to Canterbury; and thus the burden of this splendid unhappy
See was forced upon the shoulders which were most able to bear the
weight of it.

One would be glad to know what Henry thought of it all, and whether he
liked the tutoring his courtiers got and were about to get. The humour,
shrewdness, tact, and piety combined must have appealed to his
many-sided mind and now saddened heart. He had lost his heir and was
tossed upon stormy seas, so perhaps he had small leisure to spare for