him, What man dost thou honour? Which is thy ideal of a man; or
nearest that? So too of a People: for a People too, every
People, _speaks_ its choice,--were it only by silently obeying,
and not revolting,--in the course of a century or so. Nor are
electoral methods, Reform Bills and such like, unimportant. A
People's electoral methods are, in the long-run, the express
image of its electoral _talent;_ tending and gravitating
perpetually, irresistibly, to a conformity with that: and are,
at all stages, very significant of the People. Judicious
readers, of these times, are not disinclined to see how
Monks elect their Abbot in the Twelfth Century: how the St.
Edmundsbury mountain manages its midwifery; and what mouse or
man the outcome is.




Chapter VIII

The Election


Accordingly our Prior assembles us in Chapter; and, we adjuring
him before God to do justly, nominates, not by our selection, yet
with our assent, Twelve Monks, moderately satisfactory. Of whom
are Hugo Third-Prior, Brother Dennis a venerable man, Walter the
_Medicus,_ Samson _Subsacrista,_ and other esteemed characters,--
though Willelmus _Sacrista,_ of the red nose, too is one. These
shall proceed straightway to Waltham; elect the Abbot as they
may and can. Monks are sworn to obedience; must not speak too