572 ANTIQUITIES 



This visitatio is of considerable length, and cannot be 

 introduced into the body of this work 3 ; we shall there- 

 fore take some notice, and make some remarks, on the 

 most singular items as they occur. 



In the preamble the visiter says " Considering the 

 charge lying upon us, that your blood may not be 

 required at our hands, we came down to visit your 

 Priory, as our office required : and every time we re- 

 peated our visitation we found something still not only 

 contrary to regular rules but also repugnant to religion 

 and good reputation." 



In the first article after the preamble " he commands 

 them on their obedience, and on pain of the greater 

 excommunication, to see that the canonical hours by 

 night and by day be sung in their choir, and the masses 

 of the Blessed Mary, and other accustomed masses, be 

 celebrated at the proper hours with devotion, and at 

 moderate pauses ; and that it be not allowed to any 

 to absent themselves from the hours and masses, or to 

 withdraw before they are finished." 



Item 2d. He enjoins them to observe that silence to 

 which they are so strictly bound by the rule of St. Au- 

 gustine at stated times, and wholly to abstain from 

 frivolous conversation. 



[Item 3rd. That whereas, although in health, they 

 have many times neglected the celebration of masses, 

 and have thereby defrauded the souls of the founders 

 and other benefactors ; he enjoins them to confess fre- 

 quently, and devoutly to celebrate mass, as well for the 

 living as the dead, as often as may be. If any impedi- 

 ment occur to prevent the celebration they are to report 

 it within three days to the prior ; who is also required 

 to search diligently every month into breaches of this 

 rule, and to punish the delinquents.] 



3 It was printed entire in an Appendix to the first edition : but as the 

 principal items have been abstracted in the text by Gilbert White, and as 

 the heads of the remaining items are now given [between brackets] by the 

 editor, it has been judged unnecessary to reprint on this occasion, verba- 

 tim, an article of such considerable length. E. T. B. 



