ANTIQUITIES OF SELBORNE 285' 



threatens the prior and sub-prior with suspension if they do 

 not correct this enormity. 



In Item nth the good bishop is very wroth with some of 

 the canons, whom he finds to be professed hunters and sports- 

 men, keeping hounds and publicly attending hunting-matches. 

 These pursuits, he says, occasion much dissipation, danger to 

 the soul and body, and frequent expense ; he, therefore, wish- 

 ing to extirpate this vice wholly from the convent, " radicibus 

 extirpare" does absolutely enjoin the canons never intention- 

 ally to be present at any public noisy tumultuous huntings ; or 

 to keep any hounds, by themselves or by others, openly or by 

 stealth, within the convent, or without. 6 



In Item I2th 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 overburdened. 



By Item I4th we are informed that the original number of 

 canons at the Priory of Selborne 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 elec- 

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

 the greater excommunication. 



In Item i/th the prior and s canons are accused of suffer- 

 ing, through neglect, notorious dilapidations to take place 

 among their manorial houses and tenements, and in the walls 

 and enclosures 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 1 8th charges them with grievously burthening the 

 said Priory by means of sales, and grants of liveries 6 and 

 corrodies. 7 



The bishop, in Item iQth, accuses the canons of neglect 

 and omission with respect to their perpetual chantry-services. 



Item 2Oth, 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 



