ANTIQUITIES OF SELBORNE. 337 



Item 1 8th charges them with grievously burthening the said 

 Priory by means ot sales, and grants ot liveries* and corrodies.f 



The bishop, in Item iQth, accuses the canons of neglect and 

 omission with respect to their perpetual chantry-services. 



Item 2oth. The visitor here conjures the prior and canons not 

 to withhold their original alms, " eleemosynas ; " nor those that they 

 were enjoined to distribute for the good of the souls of founders 

 and benefactors ; he also strictly orders that the fragments and 

 broken victuals, both from the hall of their prior and their common 

 refectory, should be carefully collected together by their eleemosy- 

 narius, and given to the poor without any diminution ; the officer 

 to be suspended for neglect or omission. 



Item 23rd. He bids them distribute their pittances, "pitancias"% 

 regularly on obits, anniversaries, festivals, etc. 



Item 25th. All and every one of the canons are hereby in- 

 hibited from standing godfather to any boy for the future, " ne 

 compatres alicujus pueri de cetero fieri presumatis," unless by 

 express license from the bishop obtained ; because from such 

 relationship favour and affection, nepotism, and undue influence, 

 arise, to the injury and detriment of religious institutions. 



* ' ' Liberationes, or liberaturae, allowances of corn, etc., to servants 

 delivered at certain times, and in certain quantities, as clothes were among 

 the allowances from religious houses to their dependents. See the corrodies 

 granted by Croyland Abbey. Hist, of Croyland, Appendix No. XXXIV. 



"It is not improbable that the word in after-ages came to be confined to the 

 uniform of the retainers or servants of the great, who were hence called livery 

 servants." SIR JOHN CULLUM'S Hist, of Hawsted. 



f A corrody is an allowance to a servant living in an abbey or priory. 



J Pitancia, an allowance of bread and beer, or other provision to any pious 

 use, " especially to the religious in a monastery, &c., for augmentation of their 

 commons." Gloss, to Kennefs Par. Ant. 



The relationship between sponsors and their god-children, who were 

 called spiritual sons and daughters, was formerly esteemed much more sacred 

 than at present. The presents at christenings were sometimes very consider- 

 able : the connexion lasted through life, and was closed with a legacy. This 

 last mark of attention seems to have been thought almost indispensable : for, in 

 a will from whence no extracts have been given, the testator left every one of 

 his god-children a bushel of barley." SIR JOHN CULLUM'S Hist, of Hawsted. 



" De Margaretae filiae regis primo^enitas, quam nliolam, quia ejus in bap- 



