XIV.] OF SELBORNE. 205 



Item 18th. Charges them with grievously burdening the 

 said Priory by means of sales, and grants of liveries 1 and cor- 

 rodies. 2 



The bishop, in item 19th, accuses the canons of neglect and 

 omission with respect to their perpetual chantry-services. 



Item 20th. The visitor here conjures the prior and canons 

 not to withhold their original alms, " deemosynas ;" nor those that 

 they were enjoined to distribute for the good of the souls of 

 founders and benefactors : he also strictly orders that the frag- 

 ments and broken victuals, both from the hall of their prior and 

 their common refectory, should be carefully collected together 

 by their cleemosynarius, and given to the poor without any dimi- 

 nution ; the officer to be suspended for neglect or omission. 



Item 23rd. He bids them distribute their pittances, " pitun- 

 cias" 3 regularly on obits, anniversaries, festivals, &c. 



Item 25th. All and every one of the canons are hereby in- 

 hibited from standing godfather to any ~boy for the future, " ne 

 compatreR alicujus pueri de cetero fieri presumatis," unless by 

 express license from the bishop obtained ; because from such 

 relationship favour and affection, nepotism, and undue influence 

 arise, to the injury and detriment of religious institutions. 4 



1 " Liberationes, or literatures, allowances of corn, &c. to servants, delivered 

 at certain times, and certain quantities, as clothes were among the allowances 

 from religious houses to their dependants." See the corrodies granted by 

 Croyland abbey. -Hist, of Croyland, Appendix, No. xxxiv. 



" It is not improbable that the word in after-ages came to be confined to 

 the uniform of the retainers or servants of the great, who were hence called 

 livery servants." SIR JOHN CULLUM'S Hist, of Hawsted. 



* A corrody is an allowance to a servant living in an abbey or priory. 



3 " Pitancia, an allowance of bread and beer, or other provision to any 

 pious use, especially to the religious in a monastery, &c. for augmentation of 

 their commons.'' Glots. to Rennet's Par. Antiq. 



* "The relationship between sponsors and their god-children, who were 

 called spiritual sons and daughters, was formerly esteemed much more sacred 

 than at present. The presents at christenings were sometimes very consider- 

 able : the connection ksted through life, and was closed with a legacy. This 

 last mark of attention seems to have been thought almost indispensable : 

 for, in a will, from whence no extracts have been given, the testator left every 

 one of his god-children a bushel of barley." SIR JOHN CULLUM'S Hist, of 

 Hawsted. 



" D. Margarete filioD Regis primogenitor, quam jiliolam, quia ejus in 



