ANTIQUITIES OF SELBORNE. 



245 



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. 



ENCAUSTIC TILES, NOW FORMING THE FLOOR OF THE SUMMER HOUSE 

 IN THE FARM HOUSE GARDEN. 



LETTER XXI. 



WHATEVER might have been the abilities and disposition of Prior 

 Fairwise, it could not have been in his power to have brought about 

 any material reformation in the priory of Selborne, because he departed 

 this life in the month of August, 1472, before he had presided one 

 twelvemonth. 



As soon as their governor was buried the chapter applied to their 

 visitor for leave to choose a new prior, which being granted, after 

 deliberating for a time, they proceeded to an election by a scrutiny. 

 But as this mode of voting has not been described but by the mere 

 form in the Appendix, an extract from the bishop's register, representing 

 the manner more fully, may not be disagreeable to several readers. 



WAYNEFLETE REG. torn. II. pars i mR ., fol. 15. 



" Reverendo, &c., ac nostro patrono graciosissimo vestri humiles, et 

 devote obedientie filii," &c. 



To the right reverend Father in God, and our most gracious patron, 

 we, your obedient and devoted sons, William Wyndesor, president of 

 the chapter of the priory of Selborne, and the convent of that place, do 

 make known to your lordship, that our priorship being lately vacant by 

 the death of Thomas Fairwise, our late prior, who died August llth, 

 1472, having committed his body to decent sepulture, and having 



