THE ANTIQUITIES OF SELBORNE 233 



and, prudently resolving to give way to that torrent of 

 envy which he knew not how to withstand, withdrew 

 quietly to the Holy Land, where he resided some time. 



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 enter- 

 prising spirit of de Rupibus could not be at rest ; he distin- 

 guished 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 improbable 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 

 Farnhanty 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. 1 



1 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 dormitary, 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.D. 395 : but they were not brought into England till after the conquest : 

 and seem not to have obtained the appelation of Augustine canons till some years 

 after. Their habit was a long black cassock, with a white rocket over it : and over 

 VOL. II. 2 G 



