XV!.] OF SELBORNE. 209 



seldom be subject to either of these inconveniences, and therefore 

 we must attribute its frequent debts and ernbarrasments, well 

 endowed as it was, to the bad conduct of its members, and a 

 general inattention to the interests of the institution. 



LETTER XVF. 



BEAUFORT was Bishop of Winchester from 1405 to 1447 ; and 

 yet, notwithstanding this long episcopate, only torn. i. of Beau- 

 fort's Register is to be found. This loss is much to be regretted, 

 as it must unavoidably make a gap in the History of Selborne 

 Priory, and perhaps in the list of its priors. 



In 1410 there was an election for a prior, and again in 

 1411. 



In vol. i. p. 24, of Beaufort's Register, is the instrument of 

 the election of John Wynchestre to be prior the substance as 

 follows : 



Richard Elstede, senior canon, signifies to the bishop that 

 brother Thomas Weston, the late prior, died October 18th, 1410, 

 and was buried November llth. That the bishop's license to 

 elect having been obtained, he and the whole convent met in the 

 chapter-house, on the same day, about the hour of vespers, to 

 consider of the election : that brother John Wynchestre, then 

 sub-prior, with the general consent, appointed the 12th of 

 November, ad horam tjusdcm did capitular em, for the busi- 

 ness : when they met in the chapter-house, post missam de 

 Sando Spiritu, solemnly celebrated in the church ; to wit, 

 Richard Elstede; Thomas Halyborne ; John Lemyngton, sac- 

 rista ; John Stepe, cantor ; Walter Ffarnham ; Richard Putworth, 

 relerarius ; Hugh London ; Henry Branipton, alias Brompton ; 

 John Wynchestre, senior ; John Wynchestre, junior ; then 

 " Proposito primitus verbo Dei," and then ympno " Veni Creator 

 Spiritus " being solemnly sung, cum " versiculo et oratione," -as 

 usual, and his letter of license, with the appointment of the 

 hour and place of election being read, alta vocc, in valvis of the 

 chapter-house ; John Wynchestre, senior, the sub-prior, in his 

 VOL. II. E E 



