280 THE ANTIQUITIES 



they made ; and that the situation was retired, with a 

 stream running by it, and sequestered from the world, 

 amidst woods and meadows, and so far proper for the site 

 of a religious house. 1 



The first person with whom the founder treated about 

 the purchase of land was Jacobus de Achangre, or Ochangre, 

 a gentleman of property who resided at that hamlet ; and, 

 as appears, at the house now called Oakhanger-house. 

 With him he agreed for a croft, or little close of land, 

 known by the name of La liega, or La lyge, which was to 

 be the immediate site of the Priory. 



De Achangre also accommodated the bishop at the same 

 instant with three more adjoining crofts, which for a time 

 was all the footing that this institution obtained in the 

 parish. The seller in the conveyance says " Warantizabimus, 

 defendemus, et aequietabimus contra omnes gentes" ; viz. 

 "We will warrant the thing sold against all claims from 

 any quarter." In modern conveyancing this would be 

 termed a covenant for further assurance. Afterwards is 

 added "Pro hac autem donacione, &c. dedit mihi pred. 

 Episcopus sexdecem marcas argenti in Gersumam " : i.e. 

 " the bishop gave me sixteen silver marks as a consideration 

 for the thing purchased." 



As the grant from Jac. de Achangre was without 

 date, 2 and the next is circumstanced in the same manner, 



1 The institution at Selborne was a priory of Black-Canons of the order 

 of St. Augustine, called also Canons-Regular. Regular-Canons were 

 such as lived in a conventual manner, under one roof, had a common 

 refectory and dormitory, and were bound by vows to observe the rules 

 and statutes of their order : in fine, they were a kind of religious, whose 

 discipline was less rigid than the monks. The chief rule of these canons 

 was that of St. Augustine, who was constituted bishop of Hippo, 

 A.D. 395: but they were not brought into England till after the 

 conquest; and seem not to have obtained the appellation of Augustine 

 canons till some years after. Their habit was a long black cassock, with 

 a white rocket over it; and over that a black cloak and hood. The 

 monks were always shaved ; but these canons wore their hair and beards, 

 and caps on their heads. There were of these canons, and women of the 

 same order called Canonesses, about 175 houses. 



2 The custom of affixing dates to deeds was not become general in the 

 reign of Henry III. 



