306 ANTIQUITIES OF SELBORNE. 



At this juncture a very small part of Palestine remained in the 

 hands of the Christians ; they had been by Saladine dispossessed 

 of Jerusalem, and all the internal parts, near forty years before ; 

 and with difficulty maintained some maritime towns and garrisons ; 

 yet the busy and enterprising spirit of de Rupibus could not be at 

 rest ; he distinguished himself by the splendour and magnificence 

 of his expenses, and amused his mind by strengthening fortresses 

 and castles, and by removing and endowing of churches. Before 

 his expedition to the east he had signalised himself as the founder 

 of convents, and as a benefactor to hospitals and monasteries. 



In the year 1231 he returned again to England ; and the very 

 next year, in 1232, began to build and endow the priory of Selborne- 

 As this great work followed so close upon his return, it is not im- 

 probable that it was the result of a vow made during his voyage : 

 and especially as it was dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Why the 

 bishop made choice of Selborne for the scene of his munificence 

 can never be determined now ; it can only be said that the parish 

 was in his diocese, and lay almost midway between Winchester and 

 Farnham, or South Waltham and Farnham ; from either of which 

 places he could without much trouble overlook his workmen, and 

 observe what progress they made ; and that the situation was 

 retired, with a stream running by it, and sequestered from the 

 world, amidst woods and meadows, and so far proper for the site of 

 a religious house.* 



The first person with whom the founder treated about the 

 purchase of land was Jacobus de Achangre, or Ochangre, a gentle- 

 man of property who resided in that hamlet ; and, as appears, at 

 the house now called Oakhanger-house. With him he agreed for 

 a croft, or little close of land, known by the name of La liega, or 

 La lyge, which was to be the immediate site of the priory. 



De Achangre also accommodated the bishop at the same instant 

 with three more adjoining crofts, which for a time was all the 

 footing that this institution obtained in the parish. The seller in 



* The institution at Selborne was a priory of black-canons of the order of St. Augustine, 

 called also canons- regular. Regular-canons were such as lived in a conventual manner, 

 under one roof, had a common refectory and dormitory, and were bound by vows to 

 observe the rules and statutes of their order : in fine, they were a kind of religious, whose 

 discipline was less rigid than the monks. The chief rule of these canons was that of 

 St. Augustine, who was constituted bishop of Hippo, A.U. 395 ; but they were not brought 

 into England till after, the Conquest : and seem not to have obtained the appellation of 

 Augustine canons till some years after. Their habit was a long black cassock, with a 

 white rochet over it ; and over that a black cloak and hood. The monks were always 

 shaved ; but these canons wore their hair and beards, and caps on their heads. There 

 were of these canons, and women of the same order called Canonesses, about 175 houses. 



