Professor Colvin’s articles and book give many details of the government of Premonstratensian abbeys and of the relationship between abbeys and the crown.  The following details are selective.

There were just two kinds of chapter: the general and the conventual; no local ones.  General chapter was usually held on St Denis’ day (9th October).  Occasionally the abbot of Prémontré called a general chapter locally:  for example, at Newhouse Abbey in 1192 or 93 concerning the paternity of Leiston Abbey. But no other general chapter was called in England until the late 14th century, when they became the norm after the Great Schism with Prémontré. This practice stopped when relations improved, and there were no more till 1432; Bishop Redman called several between 1471 and 1504. When Welbeck Abbey became head of the order in 1513, general chapters were held there every four years.

All abbots were bound to attend general chapter each year, and might be called on to sing an inaugural Mass, be a visitor, or even be abbot of Prémontré. Provincial chapters were run by select committees called diffinitores.

Elections were held if an abbot had died, voluntarily resigned or been deposed. They were expensive: in 1366 a visit to Halesowen to supervise an election cost £20 4s. 4d. The prior first wrote to the father abbot and sent the abbey’s seal: the father abbot organised the election and attended the funeral if the abbey was near enough. The election was held within one or two months; if it took longer to organise, the house was put in the charge of four canons. There were strict rules governing elections: choices were made according to inspiration (if the choice was unanimous), scrutiny (a majority vote), which was not common, or compromission (the choice of a committee).

The father abbot confirmed the choice, but could quash it if there had been any irregularity: for instance, if the canon had been excommunicated or was under interdiction, or he was illiterate, illegitimate or dishonest. If all was in order, the new abbot was instituted immediately and an inventory was made. The new abbot had to go to the bishop within the year for benediction and formal investiture with staff and ring; he then had to attend the next general chapter. Sometimes a canon from another house was elected, but this was rare: abbots could only transfer to another house with Prémontré’s consent, and could not be moved to a smaller house against their will.

Resignations of abbots were quite common. The pension was fixed by the succeeding abbot with a written contract: there was often free lodging within the abbey, but the departing abbot had 40 days in which to decide where to go. Sometimes they were sent elsewhere as a result of friction; sometimes they were given to a church in the monastery’s gift; sometimes they were pressurised to retire by visitors; sometimes they were deposed because of irregularities such as not accepting visitors.