REY Tae a 
WHATEVER might have been the abilities and disposition of 
Prior Fairwise, it could not have been in his power to have brought 
about any material reformation in the priory of Selborne, because 
he departed this life in the month of August, 1472, before he had 
presided one twelvemonth. 
As soon as their governor was buried the chapter applied to their 
visitor for leave to choose a new prior, which being granted, after 
deliberating for a time, they proceeded to an election by a scrutiny. 
But as this mode of voting has not been described but by the mere 
form in the Appendix, an extract from the bishcp’s register, repre- 
senting the manner more fully, may not be disagreeable to several 
readers. 
WAYNEFLETE REG. tom. II. pars 1™., fol. 15. 
“ Reverendo, &c., ac nostro patrono graciosissimo vestri humiles, 
et devote obedientie filii,” &c. 
To the right reverend Father in God, and our most gracious 
patron, we, your obedient and devoted sons, William Wyndescr, 
president of the chapter of the priory of Selborne, and the convent 
of that place, do make known to your lordship, that our priorship 
being lately vacant by the death of Thomas Fairwise, our late 
prior, who died August 11th, 1472, having committed his body to 
' decent sepulture, and having requested, according to custom, leave 
to elect another, and having obtained it under your seal, we, 
William Wyndesor, president of the convent on the 29th of August, 
in our chapter-house assembled, and making a chapter, taking to 
us in this business Richard ap Jenkyn, and Galfrid Bryan, chaplains, 
that our said priory might not by means of this vacancy incur harm 
or loss, unanimously agreed on August the last for the day of elec- 
tion; on which day, having first celebrated mass, “ De sancto 
spiritu,” at the high altar, and having called a chapter by tolling a 
bell about ten o’ the clock, we, William Wyndesor, president, Peter 
Berne, Thomas London, and William Stratfeld, canons, who alone 
had voices, being the only canons, about ten o’ the clock, first 
