THE ANTIQUITIES OF SELBORNE 283 



The bishop accepted of this offer before witnesses ; and 

 on September 27, in an inner chamber near the chapel 

 above mentioned, after full deliberation, chose brother 

 Thomas Fairwise, vicar of Somborne, a canon-regular of 

 St. Augustine in the Priory of Bruscough, in the diocese of 

 Coventry and Litchfield, to be prior of Selborne. The form 

 is nearly as above in the last election. The canons are again 

 enumerated ; W. Wyndesor, sub-prior, P. Berne, T. London, 

 W. Stratfeld, /. Bromesgrove, who had formed the chapter, 

 and had requested and obtained license to elect, but had 

 unanimously conferred their power on the bishop. In 

 consequence of this proceeding, the bishop taking the 

 business upon himself, that the priory might not suffer 

 detriment for want of a governor, appoints the aforesaid 

 T. Fairwise to be prior. A citation was ordered as above 

 for gainsayers to appear October 4th, before the bishop or 

 his commissaries at South Waltham ; but none appearing, 

 the commissaries admitted the said Thomas, ordered him to 

 be installed, and sent the usual letter to the convent to 

 render him due obedience. 



Thus did the bishop of Winchester a second time appoint 

 a stranger to be prior of Selborne, instead of one chosen 

 out of the chapter. For this seeming irregularity the visitor 

 had no doubt good and sufficient reasons, as probably may 

 appear hereafter. 



