246 ANTIQUITIES OF SELB011NE. 



requested, according to custom, leave to elect another, and having 

 obtained it under your seal, we, William Wyndesor, president of the 

 convent on the 29th of August, in our chapter-house assembled, and 

 making a chapter, taking to us in this business Richard ap Jenkyn, 

 and Galfrid Bryan, chaplains, that our said priory might not by means 

 of this vacancy incur harm or loss, unanimously agreed on August the 

 last for the day of election ; on which day, having first celebrated mass, 

 " De sancto spiritu," at the high altar, and having called a chapter by 

 tolling a bell about ten o' the clock, we, William Wyndesor, president, 

 Peter Berne, Thomas London, and William Stratfeld, canons, who 

 alone had voices, being the only canons, about ten o' the clock, first 

 sung " Veni Creator," the letters and license being read in the presence 

 of many persons there. Then William Wyndesor, in his own name, 

 and that of all the canons, made solemn proclamation, enjoining all who 

 had no right to vote to depart out of the chapter-house. When all 

 were withdrawn except Guyllery de Lacuna, in decretis Baccalarius, 

 and Robert Peverell, notary-public, and also the two chaplains, the 

 first was requested to stay, that he might direct and inform us in the 

 mode of election; the other, that he might record and attest the 

 transactions ; and the two last that they might be witnesses to them. 



Then, having read the constitution of the general council " Quia 

 propter," and the forms of elections contained in it being sufficiently 

 explained to them by De Lacuna, as well in Latin as the vulgar tongue, 

 and having deliberated in what mode to proceed in this election, they 

 resolved on that of scrutiny. Three of the canons, Wyndesor, Berne, 

 and London, were made scrutators ; Berne, London, and Stratfeld, 

 choosing Wyndesor ; Wyndesor, London, and Stratfeld, choosing Berne ; 

 Wyndesor, Berne, and Stratfeld, choosing London. 



They were empowered to take each other's vote, and then that of 

 Stratfeld ; " et ad inferiorem partem angularem " of the chapter-house, 

 "juxta ostium ejusdem declinentes," with the other persons (except 

 Stratfeld, who stayed behind), proceeded to voting, two swearing, and 

 taking the voice of the third, in succession, privately. Wyndesor voted 

 first; "Ego credo Petrum Berne meliorem et utiliorem ad regimen 

 istius ecclesie, et in ipsum consentio, ac eum nomino," &c. Berne was 

 next sworn, and in Hke manner nominated Wyndesor ; London nomi- 

 nated Berne; Stratfeld was then called and sworn, and nominated 

 Berne. 



" Quibus in scriptis redactis," by the notary public, they returned to 

 the upper part of the chapter-house, where by Wyndesor " sic purecta 

 fecerunt in communi," and then solemnly, in form written, declared the 

 election of Berne ; when all, " antedicto nostro electo excepto, appro- 

 bantes et ratificantes, cepimus decantare solemniter ' Te Deum lauda- 

 mus,' et sic canentes dictum electum ad majus altare ecclesie deduximus, 

 ut apud nos est moris. Then Wyndesor electionem clero et populo 

 infra chorum dicte ecclesie congregatis publicavit, et personam electi 

 publice'et personaliter ostendit." We then returned to the chapter- 

 house, except our prior ; and Wyndesor was appointed by the other two 

 their proctor, to desire the assent of the elected, and to notify what had 

 been done to the bishop ; and to desire him to confirm the election, and 



