In relation to his
ecclesiastical superiors he was respectful but independent. The
bishop in his diocese was not what he has become since the Concordat,
an absolute sovereign free to appoint and remove at will nine cur?s
out of ten. In three vacancies out of four, and often in fourteen out
of fifteen,[69] it was not the bishop who made the appointment; the
new incumbent was designated sometimes by the cathedral chapter or
corporation; again, by a collegial church or corporation; again, by
the metropolitan canon or by the abb? or prior, the patron of the
place; again, by the seignior whose ancestors had founded or endowed
the Church; in certain cases by the Pope, and, occasionally, by the
King or commune. Powers were limited through this multiplicity and
inter-crossing of authorities. Moreover, the, canon or cur? being
once appointed he possessed guarantees; he could not be arbitrarily
dismissed; in most cases, his removal or suspension required a
previous trial according to prescribed formalities, accompanied with
an examination, pleadings, and arguments before the officialit? or
ecclesiastical court. He was, in fact, permanently placed, and very
generally his personal merit sufficed to keep him in his place.
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