278 THE ANTIQUITIES 



is, ten pounds towards the charge of erecting a gallery at 

 the west end of the church ; and ten pounds to be laid out 

 for cloathing, and such like necessaries, among the poor 

 (and especially among the ancient and infirm) of the said 

 parish : and the remaining ten pounds to be distributed in 

 bread, at twenty shillings a week, at the discretion of John 

 White, esq. or any of his family, who shall be resident in 

 the said parish." 



On November 12, 1758, Andrew Etty, B.D , became 

 vicar. Among many useful repairs he new-roofed the 

 body of the vicarage-house ; and wainscoted, up to the 

 bottom of the windows, the whole of the chancel ; to the 

 neatness and decency of which he always paid the most 

 exact attention. 



On September 25, 1784, Christopher Taylor, B.D., was 

 inducted into the vicarage of Selborne. 



LETTER VII 



I SHALL now proceed to the Priory, which is undoubtedly 

 the most interesting part of our history. 



The Priory of Selborne was founded by Peter de la 

 Roche, or de Rupibus,^ one of those accomplished foreigners 

 that resorted to the court of king John, where they were 

 usually caressed, and met with a more favourable reception 

 than ought, in prudence, to have been shown by any 

 monarch to strangers. This adventurer was a Poictevin 

 by birth, had been bred to arms in his youth, and distin- 

 guished by knighthood. Historians all agree not to speak 

 very favourably of this remarkable man , they allow that 

 he was possessed of courage and fine abilities, but then 

 they charge him with arbitrary principles, and violent 

 conduct. By his insinuating manners he soon rose high in 

 the favour of John ; and in 1205, early in the reign of that 

 prince, was appointed bishop of Winchester. In 12 14 he 



1 See Godwin de Praesulibus Anglia. Folio. London, 1743, p. 217. 



