XXIV.] OF SELBORNE. 233 



Mr. W. Gyfford, S. T. P. aged 57, of the state of Magd. Coll. 

 &c. &c. as before : 



Mr. John Nele, aged 57, proves the articles also : 



Robert Baron, aged 56 : 



Johannes Chapman, aged 35, also affirmed all the five 

 articles : 



Dompnus Thomas Ashforde, aged 72 years " dicit 2 dnm 3 nm 

 4 um articulos in eodem libello contentos, concernentes statum 

 dicti prioratus de Selebourne, fuisse et esse veros." 



W. Eabbys, setat. 40 ann. agrees with Gyfford, &c. 



Then follows the letter from the bishop, " in subsidium pro- 

 bationis," above mentioned" Willmus, &c. salutem, &c. noverint 

 universitas vestra, quod licet nos prioratui de Selebourne, &c. 

 pie compacientes sollicitudines pastorales, labores, diligentias 

 quamplurimas per nos & commissaries nostros pro reformatione 

 status ejus impenderimus, justicia id poscente ; nihilominus 

 tamen," &c. as in the article to " desperatur," dated "in man- 

 erio nostro de Essher, Aug. 3d. 1485, & consec. 39." Then, on 

 the 6th of August, Preston, in the presence of the other proctors, 

 required that they should be compelled to answer ; when they all 

 allowed the articles " fuisse & esse vera ; " and the commissary, 

 at the request of Preston, concluded the business, and appointed 

 Monday, Aug. 8th, for giving his decree in the same church 

 of Essher ; and it was that day read, and contains a recapitula- 

 tion, with the sentence of union, &c. witnessed and attested. 



As soon as the president and fellows of Magdalen College 

 had obtained the decision of the commissary in their favour 

 they proceeded to supplicate the pope, and to entreat his holi- 

 ness that he would give his sanction to the sentence of union. 

 Some difficvilties were started at Rome ; but they were sur- 

 mounted by the college agent, as appears by his letters from 

 that city. At length Pope Innocent VIII. by a bull l bearing 



1 There is nothing remarkable in this bull of Pope Innocent except the 

 statement of the annual revenue of the Priory of Selborne, which is therein 

 estimated at IGQJlor. auri ; whereas Bishop Godwin sets it at 337J. 15s. 6^d. 

 Now a floren, so named, says Camden, because made by Florentines, was a 

 gold coin of King Edward III. in value 6s. whereof 160 is not one-seventh 

 part of 337J. 15*. 6^d. 



VOL. II. H H 



