ANTIQUITIES OF SELBORNE. 343 



LETTER XIX. 



STEPE died towards the end of the year 1453, as we may 

 suppose pretty far advanced in life, having been prior forty-four 

 years. 



On the very day that the vacancy happened, viz., January 26th, 

 1453-4, the sub-prior and convent petitioned the visitor "vos 

 unicum levamen nostrum, et spem unanimiter rogamus, quatinus 

 eligendum ex nobis unum confratrem de gremio nostro, in nostra 

 religione probatum et expertem, licenciam vestram paternalem cum 

 plena libertate nobis concedere dignemini graciose." Reg. Wayn- 

 flete, torn. I. 



Instead of the license requested \ve find next a commission 

 " custodie prioratus de Selebourne durante vacatione," addressed 

 to brother Peter Berne, canon-regular of the priory of Selebourne, 

 and of the order of St. Augustine, appointing him keeper of the 

 said priory, and empowering him to collect and receive the profits 

 and revenues and "alia bona" of the said priory ; and to exercise 

 in every respect the full power and authority of a prior ; but to be 

 responsible to the visitor finally, and to maintain this superiority 

 during the bishop's pleasure only. This instrument is dated from 

 the bishop's manor-house in Southwark, March ist, 1453-4, and the 

 seventh of his consecration. 



After this transaction it does not appear that the chapter of the 

 priory proceeded to any election ; on the contrary, we find that at 

 six months' end from the vacancy the visitor declared that a lapse 

 had taken place ; and that therefore he did confer the priorship on 

 canon Peter Berne. " Prioratum vacantem et ad nostram colla- 

 tionem, seu provisionem jure ad nos in hac parte per lapsum 

 temporis legitime devoluto spectantem, tibi (sc. P. Berne) de 

 legitimo matrimonio procreato, &c. conferimus," &c. This deed 

 bears date July 28th, 1454. Reg. Waynflete, torn. I. p. 69. 



On February 8th, 1462, the visitor issued out a power of seques- 

 tration against the priory of Selborne on account of notorious 

 dilapidations, which threatened manifest ruin to the roofs, walls, 

 and edifices, of the said convent ; and appointing John Hammond, 



