ANTIQUITIES OF SELBORNE. 255 



date the 8th of June, in the year of our Lord 1486, and in the second 

 year of his pontificate, confirmed what had been done, and suppressed 

 the convent. 



Thus fell the considerable and well-endowed priory of Selborne after it 

 had subsisted about two hundred and fifty-four years ; about seventy-four 

 years after the suppression of priories alien by Henry V., and about fifty 

 years before the general dissolution of monasteries by Henry VIII. The 

 founder, it is probable, had fondly imagined that the sacredness of the 

 institution, and the pious motives on which it was established, might 

 have preserved it inviolate to the end of time yet it fell 



" To teach us that God attributes to place 

 No sanctity, if none be thither brought 

 By men, who there frequent, or therein dwell." 



MILTON'S Paradise Lost. 



LETTEE XXY. 



WAINPLEET did not long enjoy the satisfaction arising from this 

 new acquisition; but departed this life in a few months after he 

 had effected the union of the priory with his late founded college ; 

 and was succeeded in the see of Winchester, by Peter Courtney, 

 some time towards the end of the year 1486. 



In the beginning of the following year, the new bishop released 

 the president and fellows of Magdalen College from all actions re- 

 specting the priory of Selborne ; and the prior and convent of Saint 

 Swithun, as the chapter of Winchester cathedral, confirmed the 



K 293. " Relaxatio Petri epi Winton, Ricardo Mayew, President! 

 omnium actionum occasione indempnitatis sibi debite pro unione 

 Prioratus de Selborne dicto collegio. Jan. 2. 1487., et translat. 

 anno 1." 



IT. 374, " Relaxatio priorte et conventus Sti. Swithini Winton 

 confirmans relaxationem Petri ep. Winton." 1487., Jan. 13. 



Ashforde, the deposed prior, who had appeared as an evidence for 

 the impropriation of the priory at the age of seventy-two years, that he 

 might not be destitute of a maintenance, was pensioned by the college 

 to the day of his death ; and was living on till 1490, as appears by his 

 acquittances. 



RECJ. A. ff. 46. 



" Omnibus Christ! fidelibus ad quos presens scriptum pervenerit, 

 Richardus Mayew, presidens, &c. et scolares, salutem in Domino. 



" Noveritis nos prefatos presidentem et scolares, dedisse, concessisse, 

 et hoc present! scripto confirmasse Thome Ashforde, capellano, quendam 



at 160 flor. auri ; whereas Bishop Godwin sets it at 337Z. 15s. 6d. Now a floren, 

 so named, says Camden, because made by Florentius, was a gold coin of King 

 Edward III., in value 6s., whereof 160 is not one seventh part of 337J. 15s. 6$d. 

 * The Bishops of Winchester were patrons of the Priory. 



