332 THE ANTIQUITIES 



[Peter Berne, re-elected by scrutiny in - 



[Resigns again in 1478.] 

 lohn Sharper [Sharp] alias Glastonbury - H78- 



[Canon-reg. of Bruton, elected by the bishop by 



compromise.] 

 [Thomas Ashford, canon of Selborne, last prior elected 



by the bishop of Winchester, some time in the year 1484, 



and deposed at the dissolution.] 



LETTER XXIV 



BISHOP WAYNEFLETE'S efforts to continue the Priory still 

 proved unsuccessful ; and the convent, without any canons, 

 and for some time without a prior, was tending swiftly to 

 its dissolution. 



When Sharp's alias Glastonbury's, priorship ended does 

 not appear. The bishop says that he had been obliged to 

 remove some priors for male-administration : but it is not 

 well explained how that could be the case with any, unless 

 with Sharp ; because all the others, chosen during his 

 episcopate, died in their office, viz. Morton and Fairwise ; 

 Berne only excepted, who relinquished twice voluntarily, 

 and was moreover approved of by Wayneflete as a person 

 of integrity. But the way to show what ineffectual pains 

 the bishop took, and what difficulties he met with, will be 

 to quote the words of the libel of his proctor Radulphus 

 Langley, who appeared for the bishop in the process of 

 the impropriation of the Priory of Selborne. The extract 

 is taken from an attested copy. 



" Item that the said bishop dicto prioratui et personis 

 ejusdem pie compatiens, sollicitudines pastorales, labores, 

 et diligentias gravissimas quam plurimas, tarn per se quam 

 per suos, pro reformatione premissorum impendebat : et 

 aliquando illius loci prioribus, propter malam et inutilem 

 administrationem, et dispensationem bonorum predict! 

 prioratus, suis dementis exigentibus, amotis ; alios priores 



