ANTIQ UITIES OF SELB ORNE. 35 r 



LETTER XXII. 



As Prior Berne, when chosen in 1454, held his priorship only to 

 1468, and then made a voluntary resignation, wearied and disgusted, 

 as we may conclude, by the disorder that prevailed in his convent ; 

 it is no matter of wonder that, when re-chosen in 1472 he should 

 not long maintain his station; as old age was then coming fast 

 upon him, and the increasing anarchy and misrule of that declining 

 institution required unusual vigour and resolution to stem that 

 torrent of profligacy which was hurrying it on to its dissolution. 

 We find, accordingly, that in 1478 he resigned his dignity again 

 into the hands of the bishop. 



WAYNFLETE REG. fol. 55. 



Resignatio Prioris de Seleborne. 



May 14, 1478. Peter Berne resigned the priorship. May 16, the 

 bishop admitted his resignation " in manerio suo de Waltham," and 

 declared the priorship void ; " et priorat. solacio destitutum esse ; " 

 and granted his letters for proceeding to a new election ; when all 

 the religious assembled in the chapter-house, did transfer their 

 power under their seal to the bishop, by the following public 

 instrument. 



" In Dei nomine Amen," &c. A.D. 1478, Maii 19. In the chapter- 

 house for the election of a prior for that day, on the free resignation 

 of Peter Berne, having celebrated in the first place mass at the high 

 altar " De spiritu sancto," and having called a chapter by tolling a 

 bell, ut men's est; in the presence of a notary and witnesses ap- 

 peared personally Peter Berne,Thomas Ashford, Stephen Clydgrove, 

 and John Ashton, presbyters, and Henry Canwood,* in chapter 

 assembled ; and after singing the hymn " ' Vent Creator Spiritusj 

 cum versiculo et oratione ' Deus qui corda;' declaratque licentia 



* Here we see that all the canons were changed in six years ; and that there was quite a 

 new chapter, Berne excepted, between 1472 and 1478 ; for, instead of Wyndesor, London, 

 and Stratfeld, we find Ashford, Clydgrove, Ashton, and Canwood, all new men, who were 

 soon gone in their turn off the stage, and are heard of no more. For, in six years after, 

 there seem to have been no canons at all. 



