214 ANTIQUITIES OF SELBORNE. 



week, at the discretion of John White, Esq., or any of his family, who 

 shall be resident in the said parish." 



On November 12th, 1758, Andrew Etty, B.D., became vicar. Among 

 many useful repairs he new-roofed the body of the vicarage-house ; and 

 wainscoted, up to the bottom of the windows, the whole of the chancel ; 

 to the neatness and decency of which he always paid the most exact 

 attention. 



On September 25th, 1784, Christopher Taylor, B.D., was inducted 

 into the vicarage of Selborne. 



LETTEB VII. 



I SHALL now proceed to the priory, which is undoubtedly the most 

 interesting part of our history. 



The Priory of Selborne was founded by Peter de la Eoche, or de 

 Kupibus,* one of those accomplished foreigners that resorted to the 

 court of King John, where they were usually caressed, and met with a 

 more favourable reception than ought, in prudence, to have been shown 

 by any monarch to strangers. This adventurer was a Poictevin by 

 birth, had been bred to arms in his youth, and distinguished by knight- 

 hood. Historians all agree not to speak very favourably of this 

 remarkable man ; they allow that he was possessed of courage and fine 

 abilities, but then they charge him with arbitrary principles, and 

 violent conduct. By his insinuating manners he soon rose high in the 

 favour of John; and in 1205, early in the reign of that prince, was 

 appointed bishop of Winchester. In 1214, he became lord chief 

 justiciary of England, the first magistrate of the state, and a kind of 

 viceroy, on whom depended all the civil affairs in the kingdom. After 

 the death of John, and during the minority of his son Henry, this 

 prelate took upon him the entire management of the realm, and was 

 soon appointed protector of the king and kingdom. 



The barons saw with indignation a stranger possessed of all the power 

 and influence, to part of which they thought they had a claim ; they 

 therefore entered into an association against him, and determined to 

 wrest some of that authority from him which he had so unreasonably 

 usurped. The bishop discerned the storm at a distance ; and, 

 prudently resolving to give way to that torrent of envy which he knew 

 not how to withstand, withdrew quietly to the Holy Land, where he 

 resided some time. 



At this juncture a very small part of Palestine remained in the hands 

 of the Christians ; they had been by Saladine dispossessed of Jerusalem, 

 and all the internal parts, near forty years before ; and with difficulty 

 maintained some maritime towns and garrisons ; yet the busy and 

 enterprising spirit of de Rupibus could not be at rest ; he distinguished 

 himself by the splendour and magnificence of his expenses, and 

 amused his mind by strengthening fortresses and castles, and by 



* See "Godwin de Prsesulibus Anglise." Folio. London, 1743, p. 217. 



