VII.] OF SELBORNE. 177 



sum of thirty pounds, in trust, to be applied in manner follow- 

 ing ; that is, ten pounds towards the charge of erecting a 

 gallery at the west end of the church; and ten pounds to be 

 laid out for clothing, and such like necessaries, among the 

 poor (and especially among the ancient and infirm) of the said 

 parish ; and the remaining ten pounds to be distributed in 

 bread, at twenty shillings a week, at the discretion of John 

 White, Esq., or any of his family who shall be resident in the 

 said parish." 



On November 12, 1758, Andrew Etty, B.D., became vicar. 

 Among many useful repairs he new roofed the body of the 

 vicarage house ; and wainscoted up to the bottom of the 

 windows, the whole of the chancel; to the neatness and 

 decency of which he always paid the most exact attention. 



On September 25, 1784, Christopher Taylor. B.D., was 

 inducted into the vicarage of Selborne. 



LETTER VII. 



I SHALL now proceed to the Priory, which is undoubtedly the 

 most interesting part of our history. 



The Priory of Selborne was founded by Peter de la Roche, 

 or de Rupibus, 1 one of those accomplished foreigners that 

 resorted to the court of King John, where they were usually 

 caressed, and met with a more favourable reception than ought, 

 in prudence, to have been shown by any monarch to strangers. 

 This adventurer was a Poictevin by birth, had been bred 

 to arms in his youth, and distinguished by knighthood. 

 Historians all agree not to speak very favourably of this 

 remarkable man ; they allow that he was possessed of courage 

 and fine abilities, but then they charge him with arbitrary 

 principles, and violent conduct. By his insinuating manners 

 he soon rose high in the favour of John ; and in 1205, early 

 in the reign of that prince, was appointed Bishop of Win- 

 chester. In 1214 he became Lord Chief Justiciary of England, 

 the first magistrate in the state, and a kind of viceroy, on 

 1 See Godwin, "De Prsesulibus Anglia," folio, London, 1743, p. 217. 

 VOL. II. A A 



