ANTIQUITIES OF SELBORNE. 341 



of Jerusalem, and all the internal parts, near forty years before ; 

 and with difficulty maintained some maritime towns and gar- 

 risons : yet the busy and enterprising spirit of de Rupibus could 

 not be at rest ; he distinguished himself by the splendour and 

 magnificence of his expenses, and amused his mind by strength- 

 ening fortresses and castles, and by removing and endowing of 

 churches. Before his expedition to the east he had signalized 

 himself as a founder of convents, and as a benefactor to hospitals 

 and monasteries. 



In the year 1231 he returned again to England; and the very 

 next year, in 1232, began to build and endow the PRIORY of 

 SELBORNE. As this great work followed so closa upon his re- 

 turn, it is not improbable that it was the result of a vow made 

 during his voyage ; and especially as it was dedicated to the 

 Virgin Mary. Why the bishop made choice of Selbome for the 

 scene of his munificence can never be determined now : it can 

 only be said that the parish was in his diocese, and lay almost 

 midway between Winchester and Farnham, or South Waltham 

 and Farnham ; from either of which places he could without 

 much trouble overlook his workmen, and observe what progress 

 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.* 



The first person with whom the founder treated about the 

 purchase of land was Jacobus de Achangre, or Ochangre, a gen- 

 tleman 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 in- 

 stant with three more adjoining crofts, which for a time was all 

 the footing that this institution obtained in the parish. The 



* The institution at Selborue 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. 1). 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 cap 

 on their heads. There were of these canons, and women of the same order called Cauonesses, 

 about 1/5 houses. 



