202 THE ANTIQUITIES [LETT. 



and how much he had at heart the regularity of those institu- 

 tions, of -whose efficacy in their prayers for the dead he was 

 so firmly persuaded. As the bishop was so much in earnest, 

 we may be assured that he had nothing in view but to correct 

 and reform what he found amiss ; and was under no bias to 

 blacken, or misrepresent, as the commissioners of Thomas Lord 

 Cromwell seem in part to have done at the time of the Reforma- 

 tion. 1 We may therefore with reason suppose that the bishop 

 gives us an exact delineation of the morals and manners of the 

 canons of Selborne at that juncture ; and that what lie found 

 they had omitted he enjoins them ; and for what they had done 

 amiss, and contrary to their rules and statutes, he reproves 

 them ; and threatens them with punishment suitable to their 

 irregularities. 



This visitatio is of considerable length, and cannot be intro- 

 duced into the body of this work ; we shall therefore take some 

 notice, and make some remarks, on the most singular items as 

 they occur. 



In the preamble the visitor says " Considering the charge 

 lying upon us, that your blood may not be required at our 

 hands, we came down to visit your Priory, as our office 

 required : and every time we repeated our visitation we found 

 something still not only contrary to regular rules, but also 

 repugnant to religion and good reputation." 



In the first article after the preamble " he commands them 

 on their obedience, and on pain of the greater excommunication, 

 to see that the canonical hours by night and by day be sung in 

 their choir, and the masses of the Blessed Mary, and other 

 accustomed masses, be celebrated at the proper hours with 

 devotion, and at moderate pauses ; and that it be not allowed to 

 any to absent themselves from the hours and masses, or to 

 withdraw before they are finished." 



Item 2d. He enjoins them to observe that silence to which 

 they are so strictly bound by the rule of St. Augustine at stated 

 times, and wholly to abstain from frivolous conversation. 



Item 4th. " Not to permit such frequent passing of secular 



1 Letters of this sort from Dr. Layton to Thomas Lord Cromwell are still 

 extant. 



