ANTIQUITIES OF SELBORNE 3OI 



therefore the validity of the election might with reason be 

 called in question, and quarrels and dissensions might prob- 

 ably arise between the newly chosen prior and the parties 

 thus neglected. 



After some altercation and dispute they all came to an 

 agreement with the new prior, that what had been done should 

 be rejected and annulled ; and that they would again, for this 

 turn, transfer to the bishop their power to elect, order, and 

 provide them another prior, whom they promised unanimously 

 to admit. 



The bishop accepted of this offer before witnesses ; and on 

 September 27th, in an inner chamber near the chapel above- 

 mentioned, after full deliberation, chose brother Thomas 

 Fairwise, vicar of Somborne, a canon regular of St. Augus- 

 tine in the Priory of Bruscough, in the diocese of Coventry 

 and Litchfield, to be prior of Selborne. The form is nearly 

 as above in the last election. The canons are again enumer- 

 ated ; W. Wyndesor, sub-prior, P. Berne, T. London, W. Strat- 

 feld, J. Bromesgrove, who had formed the chapter, and had 

 requested and obtained license to elect, but had unanimously 

 conferred their power on the bishop. In consequence of this 

 proceeding, the bishop taking the business upon himself, that 

 the Priory might not suffer detriment for want of a governor, 

 appoints the aforesaid T. Fairwise to be prior. A citation was 

 ordered as above for gainsayers to appear October 4th, before 

 the bishop or his commissaries at South Waltham ; but none 

 appearing, the commissaries admitted the said Thomas, or- 

 dered him to be installed, and sent the usual letter to the con- 

 vent to render him due obedience. 



Thus did the bishop of Winchester a second time appoint a 

 stranger to be prior of Selborne, instead of one chosen out of 

 the chapter. For this seeming irregularity the visitor had no 

 doubt good and sufficient reasons, as probably may appear 

 hereafter. 



LETTER XXI 



WHATEVER might have been the abilities and disposition of 

 Prior Fairwise, it could not have been in his power to have 



