354 ANTIQUITIES 



[Peter Berne, re-elected by scrutiny in 1472,] 



[resigns again in 1478.] 

 lolm Sharper \_Sharp~\ alias Glastonbury - 1478. 



[Canon-reg, of Bruton, elected by the bishop by com- 

 promise.] 



[ Thomas Ashford, canon of Selborne, last prior elected 



by the bishop of Winchester, some time in the year 1484, 

 and deposed at the dissolution.] 



LETTEE XXIV. 



BISHOP Wayneflete's efforts to continue the Priory still proved 

 unsuccessful ; and the convent, without any canons, and for 

 some time without a prior, was tending swiftly to it's dissolu- 

 tion. 



When Sharp's, alias Glastonbury' 's, priorship ended does 

 not appear. The bishop says that he had been obliged to re- 

 move some priors for male-administration : but it is not well 

 explained how that could be the case with any, unless with 

 Sharp; because all the others, chosen during his episcopate, died 

 in their office, viz. Morton and Fairwise ; Berne only excepted, 

 who relinquished twice voluntarily, and was moreover ap- 

 proved of by Wayneflete as a person of integrity. But the 

 way to shew what ineffectual pains the bishop took, and what 

 difficulties he met with, will be to quote the words of the libel 

 of his proctor Radulphus Langley, who appeared for the bishop 

 in the process of the impropriation of the Priory of Selborne. 

 The extract is taken from an attested copy. 



"Item that the said bishop dicto prioratui et personis 

 " ejusdem pie compatiens, sollicitudines pastorales, labores, et 

 " diligentias gravissimas quam plurimas, tarn per se quam per 

 " suos, pro reformatione premissorum impendebat : et ali- 

 " quando illius loci prioribus, propter malam et inutilem ad- 

 " ministrationem, et dispensationem bonorum predictiprioratus, 

 " suis demeritis exigentibus, amotis ; alios priores in quorum 

 " circumspectione et diligentia confidebat, prefecit : quos 

 (c tamen male se habuisse ac inutiliter administrare, et admini- 



