OF SELBORNE 327 



LETTER XXII 



As prior Berne, when chosen in 1454, held his priorship 

 only to 1468, and then made a voluntary resignation, 

 wearied and disgusted, as we may conclude, by the disorder 

 that prevailed in his convent ; it is no matter of wonder 

 that, when re-chosen in 1472, he should not long maintain 

 his station ; as old age was then coming fast upon him, 

 and the increasing anarchy and misrule of that declining 

 institution required unusual vigour and resolution to stem 

 that torrent of profligacy which was hurrying it on to its 

 dissolution. We find, accordingly, that in 1478 he resigned 

 his dignity again into the hands of the bishop. 



Waynflete Reg. fol. ^^. 



Resignatio Prioris de Seleborne, 



May 14, 1478. Peter Berne resigned the priorship. 

 May 16 the bishop admitted his resignation " in manerio 

 suo de Waltham," and declared the priorship void; " et 

 priorat. solacio destitutum esse " ; and granted his letters 

 for proceeding to a new election : when all the religious, 

 assembled in the chapter-house, did transfer their power 

 under their seal to the bishop, by the following public 

 instrument. 



"In Dei nomine Amen," etc. a.d. 1478, Maii 19. In 

 the chapter-house for the election of a prior for that day, 

 on the free resignation of Peter Berne, having celebrated 

 in the first place mass at the high altar " De spiritu 

 sancto," and having called a chapter by tolling a bell, uf 

 moris est\ in the presence of a notary and witnesses 

 appeared personally Peter Berne, Thomas Ashford, Stephen 

 Clydgrove, and John Ashton, presbyters, and Henry 

 Canwood,^ in chapter assembled ; and after singing the 



^ Here we see that all the canons were changed in six years ; and that 

 there was quite a new chapter, Berne excepted, between 1472 and 1478 ; 



