OF SELBORNE. 329 



In Item 12th he forbids the canons in office to make their 

 business a plea for not attending the service of the choir ; 

 since by these means either divine worship is neglected or 

 their brother-canons are over-burdened. 



By Item 14th we are informed that the original number of 

 canons at the Priory of Sellorne was fourteen ; but that at this 

 visitation they were found to be let down to eleven. The 

 visitor therefore strongly and earnestly enjoins them that, 

 with all due speed and diligence, they should proceed to the 

 election of proper persons to fill up the vacancies, under pain 

 of the greater excommunication. 



In Item 17th. the prior and canons are accused of suffering, 

 through neglect, notorious dilapidations to take place among 

 their manerial houses and tenements, and in the walls and en- 

 closures of the convent itself, to the shame and scandal of the 

 institution ; they are therefore enjoined, under pain of 

 suspension, to repair all defects within the space of six 

 months. 



Item 18th. charges them with grievously burthening the 

 said Priory by means of sales, and grants of liveries* and 

 corrodie*.* 



The bishop, in item 19th, accuses the canons of neglect and 

 omission with respect to their perpetual chantry-services. 



Item 20th. 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 col- 

 lected together by their eleemosynarius, and given to the poor 



e "' Liber at tones, or liberatura, allowances of corn, fcc. to servants deli- 

 " vered at certain times, and in certain quantities, as clothes were among 

 "the allowances from religious houses to their dependants. See the 

 " corrodics granted by Croyland abbey" 



Hist of Croyland, Appendix, N 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. 



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



