216 THE ANTIQUITIES [LETT. 



The staurum, or live stock, is quite ridiculous, consisting 

 only of "2 vacce, 1 sua, 4 hoggett. et 4 porcell." viz. two cows, 

 one sow, four porkers, and four pigs. 



LETTER XIX. 



STEPE died towards the end of the year 1153, as we may 

 suppose pretty far advanced in life, having been prior forty- 

 four years. 



On the very day that the vacancy happened, viz. January 26, 

 1453-4, the sub-prior and convent petitioned the visitor "vos 

 unicum levamen nostrum, et spem tmanimiter rogamus, quatinus 

 eligendum ex nobis unum confratrem de gremio nostro, in nostra 

 religione probatum et experteiu, licenciam vestram paterrialem 

 cum plena libertate nobis concedere dignemim graciose." Reg. 

 Waynflete, torn. i. 



Instead of the license requested we find next a commission 

 " custodie prioratus de Selebourne durante vacatione," addressed 

 to brother Peter Berne, canon-regular of the Priory of Selebourne, 

 and of the order of St. Augustine, appointing him keeper of the 

 said Priory, and empowering him to collect and receive the 

 profits and revenues, and " alia bona " of the said Priory ; and 

 to exercise in every respect the full power and authority of a 

 prior ; but to be responsible to the visitor finally, and to maintain 

 this superiority during the bishop's pleasure only. This instru- 

 ment is dated from the bishop's manor-house in Southwark, 

 March 1, 1453-4, and the seventh of his consecration. 



After this transaction it does not appear that the chapter of 

 the Priory proceeded to any election : on the contrary, we find 

 that at six months' end from the vacancy the visitor declared 

 that a lapse had taken place ; and that therefore he did confer 



antequam in ecclesiam procederent, crines peoterent. E quibus colligitur 

 monachos, tune temporis, non omnino tonsos fuisse." Du Fresne. 



The author remembers to have seen in great farm houses a family 

 comb chained to a post for the use of the hinds when they came in to their 

 meals. 



