ANTIQUITIES OF SELBORNE 305 



Waltham," and declared the priorship void; "et priorat. sola- 

 cio destitutum esse ; " and granted his letters for proceeding 

 to a new election ; when all the religious, assembled in the 

 chapter-house, did transfer their power under their seal to the 

 bishop, by the following public instrument : 



" In Dei nomine Amen," etc., A.D. 1478, Maii 19. In the 

 chapter-house for the election of a prior for that day, on the 

 free resignation of Peter Berne, having celebrated in the first 

 place mass at the high altar " De spiritu sancto," and having 

 called a chapter by tolling a bell, ut moris est ; in the presence 

 of a notary and witnesses appeared personally Peter Berne, 

 Thomas Ashford, Stephen Clydgrove, and John Ashton, pres- 

 byters, and Henry Canwood, 1 in chapter assembled; and after 

 singing the hymn " ' Veni Creator Spiritusj cum versiculo et 

 oratione 'Deus qui corda ; ' declaratque licentia Fundatoris et 

 patroni ; futurum priorem eligendi concessa, et constitutione 

 consilii generalis que incipit ' Quia propter' declaratis: viisque 

 per quas possent ad hanc electionem procedere," by the de- 

 cretorum doctorem, whom the canons had taken to direct them 

 they all and every one "dixerunt et affirmarunt se nolle ad 

 aliquam viam procedere ; " but for this turn only, renounced 

 their right, and unanimously transferred their power to the 

 bishop, the ordinary of the place, promising to receive whom 

 he should provide; and appointed a proctor to present the 

 instrument to the bishop under their seal ; and required their 

 notary to draw it up in due form, etc., subscribed by the 

 notary. 



After the visitor had fully deliberated on the matter, he pro- 

 ceeded to the choice of a prior, and elected, by the following 

 instrument, John Sharp, alias Glastonbury. 



Fol. 56. PROVISIO PRIORIS per EPM. 



Willmus, etc., to our beloved brother in Christ, John Sharp, 

 alias Glastonbury, Ecclesie conventualis de Bruton, of the order 

 of St. Austin, in the diocese of Bath and Wells, canon regular 

 salutem, etc., " De tue circumspectionis industria plurimum 

 confidentes, te virum providum et discretum, iiterarum scientia, 

 et moribus merito commendandum," etc. do appoint you 



91 



