LETTER XX 



PRIOR MORTON dying in 1471, two canons, by themselves, 

 proceeded to election, and chose a prior ; but two more 

 (one of them Berne) complaining of not being summoned, 

 objected to the proceedings as informal ; till at last the 

 matter was compromised that the bishop should again, for 

 that turn, nominate as he had before. But the circum- 

 stances of this election will be best explained by the 

 following extract : 



REG. WAYNFLETE, torn. II., pars i ma ., fol. 7. 

 Memorandum. A.D. 1471. August 22. 



William Wyndesor, a canon-regular of the Priory of 

 Selborne, having been elected prior on the death of brother 

 John, appeared in person before the bishop in his chapel at 

 South Waltham. He was attended on this occasion by 

 Thomas London and John Bromesgrove, canons, who had 

 elected him. Peter Berne and William Stratfeld, canons, 

 also presented themselves at the same time, complaining 

 that in this business they had been overlooked, and not 

 summoned ; and that therefore the validity of the election 

 might with reason be called in question, and quarrels and 

 dissensions might probably arise between the newly chosen 

 prior and the parties thus neglected. 



After some altercation and dispute they all came to an 

 agreement with the new prior, that what had been done 

 should be rejected and annulled ; and that they would again, 

 for this turn, transfer to the bishop their power to elect, 

 order, and provide them another prior, whom they pro- 

 mised unanimously to admit. 



382 



