ANTIQUITIES OF SELBORNE. 381 



had formed the chapter, and had requested and obtained license 

 to elect, but had unanimously conferred their power on the 

 bishop. In consequence of this proceeding, the bishop taking 

 the business upon himself, that the Priory might not suffer 

 detriment for want of a governor, appoints the aforesaid T. Fair- 

 wise to be prior. A citation was ordered as above for gainsayers 

 to appear October 4th, before the bishop or his commissaries at 

 South Waltham ; but none appearing, the commissaries admitted 

 the said Thomas, ordered him to be installed, and sent the usual 

 letter to the convent to render him due obedience. 



Thus did the bishop of Winchester a second time appoint a 

 stranger to be prior of Selborne, instead of one chosen out of the 

 chapter. For this seeming irregularity 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 Sel- 

 borne, because he departed this life in the month of August 

 14/2, 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 dis- 

 agreeable to several readers. 



WAYNE FLETE REG. torn. II. pars i ma , fol. 15. 



"Reverendo &c. ac nostro patrono graciosissimo vestri hu- 

 miles, et devote obedientie filii," &c. 



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 con- 

 vent 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 llth, 1472, having committed 



