340 ANTIQUITIES 



When Waynflete came to the see he found prior Stype, alias 

 Stepe, still living, who had been elected as long ago as the 

 year 1411. 



Among my documents I find a curious paper of the things 

 put into the custody of Peter Bernes the sacrist, and especially 

 some relics: the title of this evidence is "N, 50, Indentura 

 " prioris de Selborne quorundam tradit. Petro Bernes sa- 



" cristse, ibidem, ann. Hen. VI. una cum confiss. ejusdem 



" Petri script." The occasion of this catalogue, or list of 

 effects, being drawn between the prior and sacrist does not 

 appear, nor the date when ; only that it happened in the reign 

 of Hen. VI. This transaction probably took place when 

 Bernes entered on his office; and there is the more reason to 

 suppose that to be the case, because the list consists of vest- 

 ments and implements, and relics, such as belonged to the 

 church of the Priory, and fell under the care of the sacrist. 

 For the numerous items I shall refer the curious reader to the 

 Appendix, and shall just mention the relics, although they are 

 not all specified ; and the state of the live stock of the monas- 

 tery at that juncture. 



" Item 2. osculator. argent. 



" Item 1. osculatorium cum osse digiti auricular. S h . Jo- 

 hannis Baptistce.* 



" Item 1. parvam crucem cum V. reliquiis. 



" Item 1. anulum argent, et deauratum St. Edmundi? 



" Item 2. osculat. de coper. 



" Item \.junctorium St. Ricardi? 



9 How the convent came by the bone of the little finger of Saint John 

 the Baptist does not appear; probably the founder, while in Palestine, 

 purchased it among the Asiatics, who were at that time great traders in 

 relics. We know from the best authority that as soon as Herod had 

 cruelly beheaded that holy man "his disciples came and took up the 

 " body and buried it, and went and told Jesus." Matt. iv. 12. Farther 

 would be difficult to say. 



* November 20, in the calendar, Edmund king and martyr, in the 9th 

 century. See also a Sanctus Edmundus in Godwin, among the archbishops 

 of Canterbury, in the 13th century ; his surname Rich, in 1234. 



u April 3, ibid. Richard bishop of Chicliester, in the 13th century ; his 

 surname De la Wich, in 1245. 



Junctorium, perhaps & joint or limb of St. Richard; but what particular 



