300 ANTIQUITIES 



The barons saw with indignation a stranger possessed of all 

 the power and influence, to part of which they thought they 

 had a claim ; they therefore entered into an association against 

 him, and determined to wrest some of that authority from him 

 which he had so unreasonably usurped. The bishop discerned 

 the storm at a distance ; and, prudently resolving to give way 

 to that torrent of envy which he knew not how to withstand, 

 withdrew quietly to the Holy Land, where he resided some 

 time. 



At this juncture a very small part of Palestime remained in 

 the hands of the Christians : they had been by Saladine dis- 

 possessed of Jerusalem, and all the internal parts, near forty 

 years before ; and with difficulty maintained some maritime 

 towns and garrisons : yet the busy and enterprising spirit of 

 de Rupibus could not be at rest ; he distinguished himself by 

 the splendour and magnificence of his expenses, and amused 

 his mind by strengthening fortresses and castles, and by re- 

 moving and endowing of churches. Before his expedition to 

 the east he had signalized himself as a founder of convents, 

 and as a benefactor to hospitals and monasteries. 



In the year 1231 he returned again to England ; and the 

 very next year, in 1232, began to build and endow the PRIORY 

 of SELBORNE. As this great work followed so close upon his 

 return, it is not improbable that it was the result of a vow 

 made during his voyage ; and especially as it was dedicated to 

 the Virgin Mary. Why the bishop made choice of Selborne 

 for the scene of his munificence can never be determined now: 

 it can only be said that the parish was in his diocese, and lay 

 almost midway between Winchester and Farnham, or South 

 Waltham and Farnham; from either of which places he could 

 without much trouble overlook his workmen, and observe what 

 progress they made ; and that the situation was retired, with 

 a stream running by it, and sequestered from the world, 

 amidst woods and meadows, and so far proper for the site of 

 a religious house/ 



y The institution at Selborne was a priory of Slack- Canons of the order 

 of St. Augustine, called also Canons- Regular. Regular- Canons were such 

 as lived in a conventual manner, under one roof, had a common refectory 



