352 ANTIQUITIES OF SELBORNE. 



REG. WAYNFLETE, torn. II., pars i ma ., fol. 7. 



Memorandum. A.D. 1471. August 22. 



William Wyndesor, a canon-regular of the priory of Selborne, 

 having been elected prior on the death of brother John, appeared 

 in person before the bishop in his chapel at South Waltham. He 

 was attended on this occasion by Thomas London and John 

 Bromesgrove, canons, who had elected him. Peter Berne and 

 William Stratfield, canons, also presented themselves at the same 

 time, complaining that in this business they had been overlooked, 

 and not summoned ; and that therefore the validity of the election 

 might with reason be called in question, and quarrels and dissen- 

 sions might probably arise between the newly chosen prior and 

 the parties thus neglected. 



After some altercation and dispute they all came to an agreement 

 with the new prior, that what had been done should be rejected 

 and annulled ; and that they would again, for this turn, transfer to 

 the bishop their power to elect, order, and provide them another 

 prior, whom they promised unanimously to admit. 



The bishop accepted of this offer before witnesses : and on 

 September 27th, in an inner chamber near the chapel above-men- 

 tioned, after full deliberation, chose brother Thomas Fairwise, 

 vicar of Somborne, a canon-regular of Saint Augustine in the priory 

 of Bruscough, in the diocese of Coventry and Litchfield, to be 

 prior of Selborne. The form is nearly as above in the last election. 

 The canons are again enumerated; W. Wyndesor, sub-prior, 

 P. Berne, T. London, W. Stratfeld, J. Bromesgrove, who had formed 

 the chapter, and had requested and obtained license to elect, but 

 had unanimously conferred their power on the bishop. In con- 

 sequence of this proceeding, the bishop taking the business upon 

 himself, that the priory might not suffer detriment for want of a 

 governor, appoints the aforesaid T. Fairwise to be prior. A citation 

 was ordered as above for gainsayers to appear October 4th, before 

 the bishop or his commissaries at South Waltham ; but none 

 appearing, the commissaries admitted the said Thomas, ordered 

 him to be installed, and sent the usual letter to the convent to 

 render him due obedience. 



