ANTIQUITIES OF SELBORNE 283 



/ 

 This evidence, in the original, is written on two skins of 



parchment ; the one large, and the other smaller, and consists 

 of a preamble, thirty-six items, and a conclusion, which alto- 

 gether evince the patient investigation of the visitor, for which 

 he had always been so remarkable in all matters of moment, 

 and how much he had at heart the regularity of those institu- 

 tions, of whose efficacy in their prayers for the dead he was 

 so firmly persuaded. As the bishop was so much in/earnest, 

 we may be assured that he had nothing in view but (o correct 

 and reform what he found amiss, and was under no bias to 

 blacken or misrepresent as the commissioners of Thomas 

 Lord Cromwell seem in part to have done at the time of the 

 Reformation. 2 We may therefore with reason suppose that 

 the bishop gives us an exact delineation of the morals and 

 manners of the canons of Selborne at that juncture; and that 

 what he found they had omitted he enjoins them ; and for 

 what they have done amiss, and contrary to their rules and 

 statutes, he reproves them ; and threatens them with punish- 

 ment suitable to their irregularities. 



The visitatio is of considerable length, and cannot be intro- 

 duced into the body of this work ; we shall therefore refer the 

 reader to the Appendix, where he will find every particular, 

 while we shall take some notice, and make some remarks on 

 the most singular items as they occur. 



In the preamble the visitor says " Considering the charge 

 lying upon us, that your blood may not be required at our 

 hands, we came down to visit your Priory, as our office required : 

 and every time we repeated our visitation we found something 

 still not only contrary to regular rules but also repugnant to 

 religion and good reputation." 



In the first article after the preamble "he commands them 

 on their obedience, and on pain of the greater excommunica- 

 tion, to see that the canonical hours by night and by day be 

 sung in their choir, and the masses of the Blessed Mary, and 

 other accustomed masses, be celebrated at the proper hours 

 with devotion, and at moderate pauses; and that it be not 

 allowed to any to absent themselves from the hours and 

 masses, or to withdraw before they are finished." 



Item 2nd. He enjoins them to observe that silence to which 



