220 



THE ANTIQUITIES 



[LETT. 



William Stratfield, canons, also presented themselves at the 

 same time, complaining that in this business they had been 

 overlooked, and not summoned ; and that therefore the validity 

 of the election might with reason be called in question, and 

 quarrels and dissensions might probably arise between the newly 

 chosen prior and the parties thus neglected. 



After some altercation and dispute they all came to an 

 agreement with the new prior, that what had been done should 

 be rejected and annulled ; and that they would again, for this 

 turn, transfer to the bishop their power to elect, order, and 

 provide them another prior, whom they promised unanimously 

 to admit. 



The bishop accepted of this offer before witnesses ; and on 

 September, 27, in an inner chamber near the chapel above-men- 

 tioned, after full deliberation, chose brother Thomas Fairwise, 

 vicar of Somborne, a canon-regular of St. Augustine in the 

 Priory of Bruscough, in the diocese of Coventry and Lichfield, 

 to be prior of Selborne. The form is nearly as above in the last 

 election. The canons are again enumerated ; W. Wyndesor, 

 sub-prior, P. Berne, T. London, W. Stratfield, J. Bromesgrove, 

 who had formed the chapter, and had requested and obtained 

 license to elect, but had unanimously conferred their power 

 on the bishop. In consequence of this proceeding, the bishop 

 taking the business upon himself, that the Priory might not 

 suffer detriment for want of a governor, appoints the aforesaid 

 T. Fairwise to be prior. A citation was ordered as above for 

 gainsayers to appear October 4th, before the bishop or his 

 commissaries at South Waltham ; but none appearing, the 

 commissaries admitted the said Thomas, ordered him to be 

 installed, and sent the usual letter to the convent to render 

 him due obedience. 



Thus did the Bishop of Winchester a second time appoint 

 a stranger to be prior of Selborne, instead of one chosen out 

 of the chapter. For this seeming irregularity the visitor had 

 no doubt good and sufficient reasons, as probably may appear 

 hereafter. 



