ABSTRACT
The majority of the elections conducted during this period were characterized by features that were not required by canon law, but were expected in the English tradition. These customs can be divided into two main categories: rituals and financial practices. For the study of ritual elements, the major sources are narrative accounts of the bishop-making process written by those who were closely associated with the cathedral chapter. Local records are also of great value for the study of electoral finances, with much of the information being derived from episcopal registers, the Worcester sede vacante registers and memoranda of electoral expenditure. Episcopal election was a legal process, for the simple reason that failure to adhere to legal requirements invalidated the process. However, this was only one aspect of the bishop-making process, which also had ritual, spiritual and financial dimensions. Once the conflicting interests and agendas of the various participants were added to the mixture, the process became even more complex.
