VII.] 



OF SELBORNE. 



woods and meadows, and so far proper for the site of a religious 

 house. 1 



The first person with -whom the founder treated about the 

 purchase of land was Jacobus de Achangre, or Ochangre, a 

 gentleman of property who resided at that hamlet ; and, as 

 appears, at the house now called Oakhanger House. With him 

 he agreed for a croft, or little close of land, known by the name 

 of La Liega, or La Lyge, which was to be the immediate site 

 of the Priory. 



De Achangre also accommodated the bishop at the same 

 instant with three more adjoining crofts, which for a time was 

 all the footing that this institution obtained in the parish. The 

 seller in the conveyance says "Warantizabimus, defendemus, 

 et aequietabimus contra omnes gcntcs ; " viz. " We will warrant 

 the thing sold against all claims from any quarter." In modern 

 conveyancing this would be termed a covenant for further 

 1 1 Durance. Afterwards is added "Pro hac autem donacione, 

 \-c., dedit mihi pred. Episcopus sexdecem marcas argenti in 

 Gersumam : " i.e., " the bishop gave me sixteen silver marks as 

 a consideration for the thing purchased." 



As the grant from Jac. de Achangre was without date, 2 and 

 the next is circumstanced in the same manner, we cannot say 

 exactly what interval there was between the two purchases; 

 but we find that Jacobus de Nortun, a neighbouring gentleman, 



1 The institution at Selborne was a priory of Black Canons of the order 

 of St. Augustine, called also Canons Regular. Regular Canons were such as 

 lived in a conventual manner, under one roof, had a common refectory and 

 dormitory, and were bound by vows to observe the rules and statutes of their 

 order : in fine, they were a kind of religious, whose discipline was less rigid 

 than the monks. The chief rule of these canons was that of St. Augustine, 

 who was constituted Bishop of Hippo, A.D. 3.95 : but they were not brought 

 into England till after the conquest ; and seem not to have obtained the 

 appellation of Augustine canons till some years after. Their habit was a 

 long black cassock, with a white rochet over it ; and over that a black cloak 

 and hood. The monks were always shaved : but these canons wore their 

 hair and beards, and caps on their heads. There were of these canons, and 

 women of the same order called Canonesses, about one hundred and seventy- 

 five houses. 



! The custom of affixing dates to deeds had not become general in the 

 reign of Henry III. 



