310 ANTIQUITIES OF SELBORNE. 



Chester. In 1214, he became lord chief justiciary of England, 

 the first magistrate of the state, and a kind of viceroy, on whom 

 depended all the civil affairs in the kingdom. After the death of 

 John, and during the minority of his son Henry, this prelate took 

 upon him the entire management of the realm, and was soon 

 appointed protector of the king and kingdom. 



The barons saw with indignation a stranger possessed of all the 

 power and influence, to part of which they thought they had a 

 claim ; they therefore entered into an association against him, and 

 determined to wrest some of that authority from him which he 

 had so unreasonably usurped. The bishop discerned the storm 

 at a distance ; and, prudently resolving to give way to that torrent 

 of envy which he knew not how to withstand, withdrew quietly to 

 the Holy Land, where he resided some time. 



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 magnifi- 

 cence 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, 

 i': is not improbable that it wa's 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; arid that -the' 

 situation was retired, with a stream running by it, and sequestered 



