OF SELBORNE. 587 



terras, redditus, domos, possessiones, vineas 3 , et quedam 

 alia bona ad monasterium ipsum spectantia, datis super 

 hoc litteris, interpositis juramentis, factis remmtiation- 

 ibus, et penis adjectis, in gravem ipsius* monasterii 

 leskmem, nonnullis clericis et laicis, aliquibus eorum 

 ad vitam, quibusdam vero ad non modicum tempus, & 

 aliis perpetuo ad firm am, vel sub censu annuo conces- 

 serunt; quorum aliqui dicunt super hiis a sede apfica~ 

 in communi forma confirmationis litteras impetrasse. 

 Quia vero nostri interest lesis monasteriis subvenire 

 [He the Pope here commands] ea ad jus et proprie- 

 tatem monasterii studeas legitime revocare," &c. 



The conduct of the religious had now for some time 

 been generally bad. Many of the monastic societies, 

 being very opulent, were become voluptuous and licen- 

 tious, and had deviated entirely from their original 

 institutions. The laity saw with indignation the wealth 

 and possessions of their pious ancestors perverted to 

 the service of sensuality and indulgence, and spent in 

 gratifications highly unbecoming the purposes for which 

 they were given. A total disregard to their respective 

 rules and discipline drew on the monks and canons a 

 heavy load of popular odium. Some good men there 

 were who endeavoured to oppose the general delin- 

 quency; but their efforts were too feeble to stem the 

 torrent of monastic luxury. As far back as the year 

 1381 Wicklifie's principles and doctrines had made 

 some progress, were well received by men who wished 

 for a reformation, and were defended and maintained 

 by them as long as they dared ; till the bishops and 

 clergy began to be so greatly alarmed, that they pro- 



3 Mr. Harrington is of opinion that anciently the English vinea was in 

 almost every instance an orchard ; not perhaps always of apples merely, 

 but of other fruits ; as cherries, plums, and currants. We still say a 

 plum or cherry-orchard. See Vol. III. of Archaeologia. 



In the instance above the pope's secretary might insert tineas merely 

 because they were a species of cultivation familiar to him in Italy. 



[Orchard, properly speaking, is merely a garden : q. d. wort-yard. 

 E. T. B.] 



