294 THE ANTIQUITIES 



Thus did the bishop of Winchester a second time appoint a 

 stranger to be prior of Selborne, instead of one chosen out of 

 the chapter. For cliis seeming irregularity the visitor had no 

 doubt good and sufficient reasons, as probably may appear here- 

 after. 



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 Selhorne, because 

 he departed this life in the month of August 1 472, 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, representing the manner more fully, may not be dis- 

 agreeable to several readers. 



WAYNFLETE REG. torn. II. pars l ma , fol. 15. 



" Reverendo &c. ac nostro patroiio 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 llth, 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-house assembled, and making a chapter, 

 taking to us in this business Richard ap Jenkyn, and Gal/rid 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 the election ; on which day, having first celebrated mass, 

 " De sancto spiritu," at the high altar, and having called a chap- 

 ter by tolling a bell about ten o' the clock, we, William Wyndesor, 



