TIONAL LAW.] a term in Nor man French, literally signifying
leave to elect,' which is appropriated to the king's writ or
licence to a dean and chapter to elect a bishop, at the time of
the vacancy of the see. The right of nominating to bishoprics
was in most countries of Europe enjoyed by the tem poral
princes, with little opposition from the ecclesiastical
authorities, until the eleventh century, when a contest began
between the popes and the princes of Europe, which, in the next
century, ended in the princes surrendering this power to the
clergy. Father Paul ( Trea tise of Benefices, c. 24) says that
between A. D. 1122 and A.D. 1145 it became a rule almost
everywhere established, that bishops should be chosen by the
chapter. In England, by the constitutions of Cla rendon, A.D.
1164, the election was vested in the chapters, subject to the
king's ap probation of their choice. The right of election was
afterwards surrendered to the chapters by a charter of King
John, by which however he reserved to himself, am