LETTER XIX 



STEPE died towards the end of the year 1453, as we may 

 suppose pretty far advanced in life, having been prior 

 forty-four years. 



On the very day that the vacancy happened, viz., 

 January 26, 1453-4, the sub-prior and convent petitioned 

 the visitor "vos unicum levamen nostrum, et spem 

 unanimiter rogamus, quatinus eligendum ex nobis unum 

 confratrem de gremio nostro, in nostra religione probatum 

 et expertem, licenciam vestram paternalem cum plena 

 libertate nobis concedere dignemini graciose." Reg. 

 Waynflete, torn. I. 



Instead of the license requested we find next a 

 commission " custodie prioratus de Sele bourne durante 

 vacatione," addressed to brother Peter Berne, canon-regular 

 of the priory of Selebourne, and of the order of St. Augustine, 

 appointing him keeper of the said priory, and empowering 

 him to collect and receive the profits and revenues and 

 "alia bona" of the said priory; and to exercise in every 

 respect the full power and authority of a prior ; but to be 

 responsible to the visitor finally, and to maintain this 

 superiority during the bishop's pleasure only. This instru- 

 ment is dated from the bishop's manor-house in Southwark, 

 March i, 1453-4, and the seventh of his consecration. 



After this transaction it does not appear that the 

 chapter of the Priory proceeded to any election ; on the 

 contrary, we find that at six months end from the vacancy 

 the visitor declared that a lapse had taken place ; and that 

 therefore he did confer the priorship on canon Peter Berne. 

 "Prioratum vacantem et ad nostram collationem, seu 



provisionem jure ad nos in hac parte/^ lapsum temporis 



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