ANTIQUITIES OF SELBORNE. 351 
PEPPER xX Ps. 
As Prior Berne, when chosen in 1454, held his priorship only to 
1468, and then made a voluntary resignation, wearied and disgusted, 
as we may conclude, by the disorder that prevailed in his convent ; 
it is no matter of wonder that, when re-chosen in 1472 he should 
not long maintain his station; as old age was then coming fast 
upon him, and the increasing anarchy and misrule of that declining 
institution required unusual vigour and resolution to stem that 
torrent of profligacy which was hurrying it on to its dissolution. 
We find, accordingly, that in 1478 he resigned his dignity again 
into the hands of the bishop. 
WAYNFLETE REG. fol. 55. 
Resignatio Prioris de Seleborne. 
May 14,1478. Peter Berne resigned the priorship. May 16, the 
bishop admitted his resignation “ in manerio suo de Waltham,” and 
declared the priorship void ; “et priorat. solacio destitutum esse ;” 
and granted his letters for proceeding to a new election ; when all 
the religious assembled in the chapter-house, did transfer their 
power under their seal to the bishop, by the following public 
instrument. 
“In Dei nomine Amen,” &c. A.D. 1478, Maii 19. In the chapter- 
house for the election of a prior for that day, on the free resignation 
of Peter Berne, having celebrated in the first place mass at the high 
altar ‘‘ De spiritu sancto,” and having called a chapter by tolling a _ 
bell, z¢ moris est; in the presence of a notary and witnesses ap- 
peared personally Peter Berne, Thomas Ashford, Stephen Clydgrove, 
and John Ashton, presbyters, and Henry Canwood,* in chapter 
assembled ; and after singing the hymn “‘ Venz Creator Spiritus, 
cum versiculo et oratione ‘ Deus gui corda,’ declaratque licentia 
* Here we see that all the canons were changed in six years; and that there was quite a 
new chapter, Berne excepted, between 1472 and 1478 ; for, instead of Wyndesor, London, 
and Stratfeld, we find Ashford, Clydgrove, Ashton, and Canwood, all new men, who were 
soon gone in their turn off the stage, and are heard of no more. For, in six years after, 
there seem to have been no canons af all. 
