324 THE ANTIQUITIES 



the visitor had no doubt good and sufficient reasons, as 

 probably may appear hereafter. 



LETTER XXI 



WHATEVER might have been the abilities and disposition 

 of prior Fairwise, it could not have been in his power to 

 have brought about any material reformation in the Priory 

 of Selborne, because he departed this life in the month of 

 August 1472, before he had presided one twelvemonth. 



As soon as their governor was buried the chapter applied 

 to their visitor for leave to choose a new prior, which being 

 granted, after deliberating for a time, they proceeded to an 

 election by a scrutiny. But as this mode of voting has not 

 been described but by the mere form in the Appendix, an 

 extract from the bishop's register, representing the manner 

 more fully, may not be disagreeable to several readers. 



WAYNFLETE REG. torn. II. pars i ma , fol. 15. 



" Reverendo &c. ac nostro patrono graciosissimo vestri 

 humiles, et devote obedientie filii," etc. 



To the right reverend Father in God, and our most 

 gracious patron, we, your obedient and devoted sons, 

 William Wyndesor, president of the chapter of the Priory 

 of Selborne, and the convent of that place, do make known 

 to your Lordship, that our priorship being lately vacant by 

 the death of Thomas Fairwise, our late prior, who died 

 August nth, 1472, having committed his body to decent 

 sepulture, and having requested, according to custom, leave 

 to elect another, and having obtained it under your seal, 

 we, William Wyndesor, president of the convent, on the 

 29th of August, in our chapter-house assembled, and 

 making a chapter, talcing to us in this business Richard 

 ap Jenkyn, and Galfrid Bryan, chaplains, that our said 



