348 ANTIQUITIES OF SELBORNE. 



LETTER XXI. 



WHATEVER might have been the abilities and disposition of 

 Prior Fairwise, it could not have been in his power to have brought 

 about any material reformation in the priory of Selborne, because 

 he departed this life in the month of August, 1472, before he had 

 presided one twelvemonth. 



As soon as their governor was buried the chapter applied to their 

 visitor for leave to choose a new prior, which being granted, after 

 deliberating for a time, they proceeded to an election by a scrutiny. 

 But as this mode of voting has not been described but by the mere 

 form in the Appendix, an extract from the bishop's register, repre- 

 senting the manner more fully, may not be disagreeable to several 

 readers. 



WAYNEFLETE REG. torn. II. pars i ma ., fol. 15. 



" Reverendo, &c., ac nostro patrono graciosissimo vestri humiles, 

 et devote obedientie filii," &c. 



To the right reverend Father in God, and our most gracious 

 patron, we, your obedient and devoted sons, William Wyndesor, 

 president of the chapter of the priory of Selborne, and the convent 

 of that place, do make known to your lordship, that our priorship 

 being lately vacant by the death of Thomas Fairwise, our late 

 prior, who died August nth, 1472, having committed his body to 

 decent sepulture, and having requested, according to custom, leave 

 to elect another, and having obtained it under your seal, we, 

 William Wyndesor, president of -the convent on the 29th of August, 

 in our chapter-hduse assembled, and making a chapter, taking to 

 us in this business Richard ap Jenkyn, and Galfrid Bryan, chaplains, 

 that our said priory might not by means of this vacancy incur harm 

 or loss, unanimously agreed on August the last for the day of elec- 

 tion ; on which day, having first celebrated mass, " De sancto 

 spiritu," at the high altar, and having called a chapter by tolling a 

 bell about ten o' the clock, we, William x Wy n desor, president, Peter 

 Berne, Thomas London, and William Stratfeld, canons, who alone 

 had voices, being the only canons, about ten o' the clock, first 



