178 



THE ANTIQUITIES [LETT. 



whom depended all the civil affairs in the kingdom. After 

 the death of John, and during the minority of his son Henry, 

 this prelate took upon him the entire management of the 

 realm, and was soon appointed protector of the king and 

 kingdom. 



The barons saw with indignation a stranger possessed of all 

 the power and influence, to part of which they thought they 

 had a claim ; they therefore entered into an association against 

 him, and determined to wrest some of that authority from 

 him which he had so unreasonably usurped. The bishop dis- 

 cerned the storm at a distance ; and, prudently resolving to 

 give way to that torrent of envy which he knew not how 

 to withstand, withdrew quietly to the Holy Land, where he 

 resided some time. 



At this juncture a very small part of Palestine remained in 

 the hands of the Christians : they had been by Saladin dis- 

 possessed of Jerusalem, and all the internal parts, near forty 

 years before ; and with difficulty maintained some maritime 

 towns and garrisons ; yet the busy and enterprising spirit of cle 

 Kupibus could not be at rest ; he distinguished himself by the 

 splendour and magnificence of his expenses, and amused his 

 mind by strengthening fortresses and castles, and by the improv- 

 ing and endowing of churches. Before his expedition to the East 

 he had signalized himself as a founder of convents, and as a 

 benefactor to hospitals and monasteries. 



In the year 1231 he returned again to England; and the 

 very next year, in 1232, began to build and endow the PRIORY 

 of SELBORNE. As this great work followed so close upon his 

 return, it is not improbable that it was the result of a vow 

 made during his voyage ; and especially as it was dedicated 

 to the Virgin Mary. Why the bishop made choice of Selborne 

 for the scene of his munificence can never be determined now : 

 it can only be said that the parish was in his diocese, and lay 

 almost midway between "Winchester and Farnham, or South 

 Waltham and Farnham ; from either of which places he could 

 without much trouble overlook his workmen, and observe what 

 progress they made ; and that the situation was retired, with a 

 stream running by it, and sequestered from the world, amidst 



