OF SELBORNE. 595 



good effects ; for in it are to be found bills of repairs to 

 a considerable amount. 



By this evidence also it appears that there were at 

 that juncture only four canons at the Priory 2 ; and that 

 these, and their four household servants, during this 

 sequestration, for their clothing, wages, and diet, were 

 allowed per ann. xxx lib.; and that the annual pension 

 of the lord prior, reside where he would, was to be x 

 lib. 



In the year 1468, prior Berne, probably wearied out 

 by the dissensions and want of order that prevailed in 

 the convent, resigned his priorship into the hands of the 

 bishop. 



REG. WAYNFLETE, torn. i. pars i ma , fol. 157. 



March 28, A. D. 1468. 



" In quadam alta camera juxta magnam portam ma- 

 nerii" of the Bishop of Wynton " de Waltham coram 

 eodem rev. patre ibidem tune sedente," Peter Berne, 

 prior of Selborne, " ipsum prioratum in sacras et vene- 

 rabiles manus," of the bishop, " viva voce libere resig- 

 navit:" and his resignation was admitted before two 

 witnesses and a notary public. In consequence, March 

 29th, before the bishop, in "capella manerii sui ante 

 dicti pro tribunal! sedente, comparuerunt fratres " Peter 

 Berne, Thomas London, William Wyndesor, and Wil- 

 liam Paynell, alias Stretford, canons regular of the Priory, 

 " capitulum, et conventum ejusdem ecclesie facientes ; 

 ac jus et voces in electione futura prioris dicti prioratus 

 solum et in solidum, ut asseruerunt, habentes ; " and 

 after the bishop had notified to them the vacancy of a 

 prior, with his free license to elect, deliberated awhile, 

 and then, by way of compromise, as they affirmed, una- 

 nimously transferred their right of election to the bishop 



2 If Bishop Wykeham was so disturbed (see Notab. Visitatio) to find 

 the number of canons reduced from fourteen to eleven, what would he 

 have said to have seen it diminished below one third of that number? 



QQ2 



