ANTIQUITIES OF SELBORNE. 215 



removing and endowing of churches. Before his expedition to the east 

 he had signalised himself as the founder of convents, and as a bene- 

 factor to hospitals and monasteries. 



In the year 1231 he returned again to England ; and the very next 

 year, in 1232, began to build and endow the Priory of Selborne. As 

 this great work followed so close upon his return, it is not improbable 

 that it was the result of a vow made during his voyage : and especially 

 as it was dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Why the bishop made choice 

 of Selborne for the scene of his munificence can never be determined 

 now ; it can only be said that the parish was in his diocese, and lay 

 almost midway between Winchester and Farnham, or South Waltham 

 and Farnham ; from either of which places he could without much 

 trouble overlook his workmen, and observe what progress they made ; 

 and that the situation was retired, with a stream running by it, and 

 sequestered from the world, amidst woods and meadows, and so far 

 proper for the site of a religious house.* 



The first person with whom the founder treated about the purchase 

 of land was Jacobus de Achangre, or Ochangre, a gentleman of property 

 who resided in that hamlet ; and, as appears, at the house now called 

 Oakhanger-house. With him he agreed for a croft, or little close of 

 land, known by the name of La liega, or La lyge, which was to be the 

 immediate site of the Priory. 



De Achangre also accommodated the bishop at the same instant with 

 three more adjoining crofts, which for a time was all the footing that 

 this institution obtained in the parish. The seller in the conveyance 

 says, " Warantizabimus, defendemus, et sequietabimus contra omnes 

 gentes;" viz., " We will warrant the thing sold against all claims from 

 any quarter." In modern conveyancing this would be termed a 

 covenant for further assurance. Afterwards is added " Pro hac autem 

 donacione, &c., dedit mihi pred. Episcopus sexdecem marcas argenti in 

 Gersumam : " i. e., " the bishop gave me sixteen silver marks as a 

 consideration for the thing purchased." 



As the grant from Jac, de Achangre was without date,t and the next 

 is circumstanced in the same manner, we cannot say exactly what 

 interval there was between the two purchases ; but we find that Jacobus 

 de Nortun, a neighbouring gentleman, also soon sold to the bishop of 

 Winchester some adjoining grounds, through which our stream passes, 

 that the priory might be accommodated with a mill, which was a 

 common necessary appendage to every manor ; he also allowed access 



* The institution at Selborne was a priory of black-canons of the order of 

 St. Augustine, called also canons-regular. Regular-canons were such as lived in 

 a conventual manner, under one roof, had a common refectory and dormitory, 

 and were bound by vows to observe the rules and statutes of their order : in fine, 

 they were a kind of religious, whose discipline was less rigid than the monks. 

 The chief rule of these canons was that of St. Augustine, who was constituted 

 bishop of Hippo, A.D. 395 ; but they were not brought into England till after the 

 conquest ; and seem not to have obtained the appellation of Augustine canons till 

 some years after. Their habit was a long black cassock, with a white rocket over 

 it ; and over that a black cloak and hood. The monks were always shaved ; but 

 these canons wore their hair and beards, and caps on their heads. There were of 

 these canons, and women of the same order called Cauonesses, about 175 houses. 



+ The custom of affixing dates to deeds was not become general in the reign of 

 Henry III. 



