Page:William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England (3rd ed, 1768, vol I).djvu/397

 Ch. 11. dipoal of his diocean bihops, if not filled within ix months. And the arch-bihop has a cutomary prerogative, when a bihop is conecrated by him, to name a clerk or chaplain of his own to be provided for by uch uffragan bihop; in lieu of which it is now uual for the bihop to make over by deed to the arch-bihop, his executors and aigns, the next preentation of uch dignity or benefice in the bihop's dipoal within that fee, as the arch-bihop himelf hall chooe; which is therefore called his option : which options are only binding on the bihop himelf who grants them, and not his ucceors. The prerogative itelf eems to be derived from the legatine power formerly annexed by the popes to the metropolitan of Canterbury. And we may add, that the papal claim itelf (like mot others of that encroaching fee) was probably et up in imitation of the imperial prerogative called primae or primariae preces; whereby the emperor exercies, and hath immemorially exercied, a right of naming to the firt prebend that becomes vacant after his acceion in every church of the empire. A right, that was alo exercied by the crown of England in the reign of Edward I ; and which probably gave rie to the royal corodies, which were mentioned in a former chapter. It is alo the privilege, by cutom, of the arch-bihop of Canterbury, to crown the kings and queens of this kingdom. And he hath alo by the tatute 25 Hen. VIII. c. 21. the power of granting dipenations in any cae, not contrary to the holy criptures and the law of God, where the pope ued formerly to grant them: which is the foundation of his granting pecial licences, to marry at any place or time, to hold two livings, and the like: and on this alo is founded the right he exercies of conferring degrees, in prejudice of the two univerities. Rh