612 ANTIQUITIES 



duced two witnesses, viz. Dominum Thomam Ashforde 

 nuper priorem dicti prioratus, et Willm. Rabbys litera- 

 tum, who were admitted and sworn, and examined as 

 the others, by the commissary ; " tune & ibidem assis- 

 tente scriba secrete & singillatim ;" and their deposi- 

 tions were read and made public, as follows : 



Mr. W. Gyfford, S. T. P. aged 57, of the state of 

 Magd. Coll. &c. &c. as before : 



Mr. John Nele, aged 57, proves the articles also : 

 Robert Baron, aged 56 : 



Johannes Chapman, aged 35, also affirmed all the 

 five articles : 



Dompnus Thomas Ashforde, aged 72 years " dicit 

 2 dum 3 um 4 nm articulos in eodem libello contentos, con- 

 cernentes statum dicti prioratus de Selebourne, fuisse 

 et esse veros." 



W. Rabbys, setat 40 ann. agrees with Gyfford, &c. 

 Then follows the letter from the bishop, " in subsi- 

 (1 iu in probationis," abovementioned "Willmus, &c. 

 salutem, &c. noverint universitas vestra, quod licet nos 

 prioratui de Selebourne, &c. pie compacientes sollicitu- 

 dines pastorales, labores, diligentias quamplurimas per 

 nos & commissarios nostros pro reformatione status 

 ejus impenderimus, justicia id poscente ; nihilominus 

 tamen," &c. as in the article to " desperatur," dated 

 " in manerio nostro de Essher, Aug. 3d, 1485, & consec. 

 39." Then, on the 6th of August, Preston, in the pre- 

 sence of the other proctors, required that they should 

 be compelled to answer ; when they all allowed the 

 articles " fuisse & esse vera ;" and the commissary, at 

 the request of Preston, concluded the business, and 

 appointed Monday, August 8th, for giving his decree 

 in the same church of Essher; and it was that day read, 

 and contains a recapitulation, with the sentence of 

 union, &c. witnessed and attested. 



As soon as the president and fellows of Magdalen 

 College had obtained the decision of the commissary in 

 their favour, they proceeded to supplicate the pope, and 



