304 THE ANTIQUITIES 



for which he had always been so remarkable in all matters 

 of moment, and how much he had at heart the regularity 

 of those institutions, of whose efficacy in their prayers for 

 the dead he was so firmly persuaded. As the bishop was 

 so much in earnest, we may be assured that he had nothing 

 in view but to correct and reform what he found amiss ; 

 and was under no bias to blacken, or misrepresent, as the 

 commissioners of Thomas Lord Cromwell seem in part to 

 have done at the time of the reformation. 1 We may 

 therefore with reason suppose that the bishop gives us an 

 exact delineation of the morals and manners of the canons 

 of Selborne at that juncture ; and that what he found they 

 had omitted he enjoins them ; and for what they had done 

 amiss, and contrary to their rules and statutes, he reproves 

 them ; and threatens them with punishment suitable to 

 their irregularities. 



This visitatio is of considerable length, and cannot be 

 introduced into the body of this work ; we shall therefore 

 refer the reader to the Appendix, where he will find every 

 particular, while we shall take some notice, and make some 

 remarks, on the most singular items as they occur. 



In the preamble the visitor says " Considering the 

 charge lying upon us, that your blood may not be required 

 at our hands, we came down to visit your Priory, as our 

 office required : and every time we repeated our visitation 

 we found something still not only contrary to regular rules 

 but also repugnant to religion and good reputation." 



In the first article after the preamble " he commands 

 them on their obedience, and on pain of the greater 

 excommunication, to see that the canonical hours by night 

 and by day be sung in their choir, and the masses of the 

 Blessed Mary, and other accustomed masses, be celebrated 

 at the proper hours with devotion, and at moderate pauses; 

 and that it be not allowed to any to absent themselves from 

 the hours and masses, or to withdraw before they are 

 finished." 



Item 2d. He enjoins them to observe that silence to 



1 Letters of this sort from Dr. Layton to Thomas Lord Cromwell are 

 still extant. 



