306 ANTIQUITIES OF SELBORNE. 
At this juncture a very small part of Palestine remained in the 
hands of the Christians; they had been by Saladine dispossessed 
of Jerusalem, and all the internal parts, near forty years before ; 
and with difficulty maintained some maritime towns and garrisons ; 
yet the busy and enterprising spirit of de Rupibus could not be at 
rest ; he distinguished himself by the splendour and magnificence 
of his expenses, and amused his mind by strengthening fortresses 
and castles, and by removing and endowing of churches. Before 
his expedition to the east he had signalised himself as the founder 
of convents, and as a benefactor to hospitals and monasteries. 
In the year 1231 he returned again to England ; and the very 
next year, in 1232, began to build and endow the priory of Selborne- 
As this great work followed so close upon his return, it is not im- 
probable that it was the result of a vow made during his voyage : 
and especially as it was dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Why the 
bishop made choice of Selborne for the scene of his munificence 
can never be determined now; it can only be said that the parish 
was in his diocese, and lay almost midway between Winchester and 
Farnham, or South Waltham and Farnham ; from either of which 
places he could without much trouble overlook his workmen, and 
observe what progress they made; and that the situation was 
retired, with a stream running by it, and sequestered from the 
world, amidst woods and meadows, and so far proper for the site of 
a religious house.* 
The first person with whom the founder treated about the 
purchase of land was Jacobus de Achangre, or Ochangre, a gentle- 
man of property who resided in that hamlet; and, as appears, at 
the house now called Oakhanger-house. With him he agreed for 
a croft, or little close of land, known by the name of La liega, or 
La lyge, which was to be the immediate site of the priory. 
De Achangre also accommodated the bishop at the same instant 
with three more adjoining crofts, which for a time was all the 
footing that this institution obtained in the parish. The seller in 
* The institution at Selborne was a priory of black-canons of the order of St. Augustine, 
called also canons-regular. Reguiar-canons were such as lived in a conventual manner, 
under one roof, had a common refectory and dormitory, and were bound by vows to 
observe the rules and statutes of their order : in fine, they were a kind of religious, whose 
discipline was less rigid than the monks. The chief rule of these canons was that of 
St. Augustine, who was constituted bishop of Hippo, a.D. 395 ; but they were not brought 
into England till afterythe Conquest : and seem not to have obtained the appellation of 
Augustine canons till some years after. Their habit was a long black cassock, with a 
white rochet over it; and over that a black cloak and hood. ‘The monks were always 
shaved; but these canons wore their hair and beards. and caps on their heads. There 
were of these canons, and women of the same order called Canonesses, about 175 houses. 
