LETTER XVI 



BEAUFORT was bishop of Winchester from 1405 to 1447 ; 

 and yet, notwithstanding this long episcopate, only torn. i. 

 of Beauforfs Register is to be found. This loss is much 

 to be regretted, as it must unavoidably make a gap in the 

 history of Selborne Priory, and perhaps in the list of it's 

 priors. 



In 1410 there was an election for a prior, and again 

 in 1411. 



In vol. i. p. 24, of Beauforfs Register, is the instrument 

 of the election of John Wynchestre to be prior the substance 

 as follows : 



Richard Elstede, senior canon, signifies to the bishop that 

 brother Thomas Weston, the late prior, died October i8th, 

 1410, and was buried November nth. That the bishop's 

 license to elect having been obtained he and the whole 

 convent met in the chapter-house, on the same day about 

 the hour of vespers, to consider of the election : that 

 brother John Wynchestre, then sub-prior, with the general 

 consent, appointed the I2th of November ; ad horam ejusdem 

 diet capitular em, for the business : when they met in the 

 chapter - house, post missam de sancto Spiritu, solemnly 

 celebrated in the church ; to wit, Richard Elstede ; 

 Thomas Halyborne ; John Lemyngton, sacrista ; John Stepe, 

 cantor ; Walter Ffarnham ; Richard Putworth, celerarius ; 

 Hugh London, Henry Brampton, alias Brompton \ John 

 Wynchestre, senior ; John Wynchestre, junior ; then " Pro- 

 posito primitus verbo Dei," and then ympno " Veni Creator 

 Spiritus" being solemnly sung, cum "versiculo et oratione," 



as usual, and his letter of license, with the appointment 



270 



