376 ANTIQUITIES OF SELBORNE. 



LETTER XIX. 



STEPE died towards the end of the year 1453, as we may sup- 

 pose pretty far advanced in life, having been prior forty-four 

 years. 



On the very day that the vacancy happened, viz. January 26, 

 1453-4. the sub-prior and convent petitioned the visitor "vos 

 unicum levamen nostrum, et spem unanimiter rogamus, quatinus 

 eligendum ex nobis unum confratrem de gremio nostro, in nostra 

 religione probatum et expertem, licenciam vestram paternalem 

 cum plena libertate nobis concedere dignemini graciose." 



Reg. Waynflete, torn. I. 



Instead of the licence requested we find next a commission 

 " custodie prioratus de Selebourne durante vacatione," addressed 

 to brother Peter Berne, canon-regular of the priory of Selebourne, 

 and of the order of St. Augustine, appointing him keeper of the 

 said priory, and empowering him to collect and receive the profits 

 and revenues, and " alia bona " of the said priory ; and to exer- 

 cise in every respect the full power and authority of a prior j but 

 to be responsible to the visitor finally, and to maintain this 

 superiority during the bishop's pleasure only. This instrument 

 is dated from the bishop's manor-house in Southwark, March 1, 

 1453-4, and the seventh of his consecration. 



After this transaction it does not appear that the chapter of 

 the Priory proceeded to any election : on the contrary, we find 

 that at six months' end from the vacancy the visitor declared that 

 a lapse had taken place ; and that therefore he did confer the 

 priorship on canon Peter Berne. "Prioratum vacantem et ad 

 nostram collationem, seu provisionem jure ad nos in hac parte 

 per lapsum temporis legitime devolutu spectantem, tibi (sc. P. 

 Berne) de legitimo matrimonio procreate, &c. conferimus," &c. 

 This deed bears date July 28, 1454. 



Reg. Waynflete, torn I. p. 69. 



On February 8, 1462, the visitor issued out a power of seques- 

 tration against the Priory of Selborne on account of notorious 

 dilapidations which threatened manifest ruin to the roofs, walls, 

 and edifices of the said convent ; and appointing John Ham- 

 mond, B. D. rector of the parish church of Hetlegh, John 

 Hylling, vicar of the parish church of Newton Valence, and Wal- 

 ter Gorfin, inhabitant of the parish of Selborne, his sequestrators, 

 to exact, collect, levy, and receive, all the profits and revenues of 



