274 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 



Priorem soliti gubernari ordinis S li - Augustini Winton. 

 Dioc. quam de predecessores eorum decimas, terras, red- 

 ditus, domos, possessiones, vineas^ et quedam alia bona 

 ad monasterium ipsum spectantia, datis super hoc litteris, 

 interpositis juramentis, factis renuntiationibus, et penis 

 adjectis, in gravem ipsius monasterii lesionem nonnullis 

 clericis et laicis, aliquibus eorum ad vitam, quibusdam 

 vero ad non modicum tempus, & aliis perpetuo ad 

 firmam, vel sub censu annuo concesserunt ; quorum aliqu, 

 decunt super hiis a sede aplica in communi forma confir- 

 mationis litteras impetrasse. Quia vero nostra interest 

 lesis monasteriis subvenire [He the Pope here com- 

 mands] ea ad jus et proprietatem monasterii studeas 

 legitime revocare," &c. 



The conduct of the religious had now for some time 

 been generally bad. Many of the monastic societies, being 

 very opulent, were become voluptuous and licentious, and 

 had deviated entirely from their original institutions. The 

 laity saw with indignation the wealth and possessions of 

 their pious ancestors perverted to the service of sensuality 

 and indulgence, and spent in gratifications highly un- 

 becoming the purposes for which they were given. A 

 total disregard to their respective rules and discipline drew 

 on the monks and canons a heavy load of popular odium. 

 Some good men there were who endeavoured to oppose 

 the general delinquency ; but their efforts were too feeble 

 to stem the torrent of monastic luxury. As far back as 

 the year 1381, Wickliffe's principles and doctrines had 

 made some progress, were well received by men who 

 wished for a reformation, and were defended and main- 

 tained by them as long as they dared ; till the bishops and 

 clergy began to be so greatly alarmed, that they procured 

 an act to be passed by which the secular arm was em- 



1 Mr. Harrington is of opinion that anciently the English vinea was in almost 

 every instance an orchard ; not perhaps always of apples merely, but of other 

 fruits ; as cherries, plums, and currants. We still say a plum or cherry-orchard. 

 See vol. iii. of Archaeologia. 



In the instance above, the Pope's secretary might insert vineas merely because 

 they were a species of cultivation familiar to him in Italy. [G. W.] 



