534 ANTIQUITIES OF SELBORNE. 



was so much in earnest, we may be assured that he had nothing 

 in view but to correct and reform what he found amiss ; and was 

 under no bias to blacken, or misrepresent as the commissioners of 

 Thomas Lord Cromwell seem in part to have done at the time of 

 the Reformation.* We may therefore with reason suppose that 

 the bishop gives us an exact delineation of the morals and 

 manners of the canons of Selborne at that juncture ; and that 

 what he found they had omitted he enjoins them ; and for what 

 they have done amiss, and contrary to their rules and statutes, he 

 reproves them ; and threatens them with punishment suitable to 

 their irregularities. 



The visitatio is of considerable length, and cannot be introduced 

 into the body of this work ; we shall therefore refer the reader to 

 the Appendix, where he will find every particular, while we shall 

 take some notice, and make some remarks on the most singular 

 items as they occur. 



In the preamble the visitor says <c Considering the charge 

 lying upon us, that your blood may not be required at our hands, 

 we came down to visit your priory, as our office required : and 

 every time we repeated our visitation we found something still not 

 only contrary to regular rules but also repugnant to religion and 

 good reputation.'* 



In the first article after the preamble " he commands them on 

 their obedience, and on pain of the greater excommunication, to see 

 that the canonical hours by night and by day be sung in their choir, 

 and the masses of the Blessed Mary, and other accustomed masses, 

 be celebrated at the proper hours with devotion, and at moderate 

 pauses ; and that it be not allowed to any to absent themselves 

 from the hours and masses, or to withdraw before they are finished." 



Item 2nd. He enjoins them to observe that silence to which 

 they are so strictly bound by the rule of Saint Augustine at stated 

 times, and wholly to abstain from frivolous conversation. 



Item 4th. "Not to permit such frequent passing of secular 

 people of both sexes through their convent, as if a thoroughfare, 

 from whence many disorders may and have arisen." 



* Letters of this sort from Dr. Layton to Thomas Lord Cromwell are still 

 extant. 



