478 ANTIQUITIES 



LETTER XIX. 



TEPE died towards the end of the year 1453, 

 as we may suppose pretty far advanced in 

 life, having been prior forty-four years. 



On the very day that the vacancy hap- 

 pened, viz. January 26, 1453-4, the sub-prior 

 and convent petitioned the visitor " vos unicum levamen 

 nostrum et spem unanirniter rogamus, quatinus eligendum 

 ex nobis unum confratrem de gremio nostro, in nostra 

 religione probatum et expertum, licenciam vestram pater- 

 nalem cum plena libertate nobis concedere dignemini gra- 

 ciose." Reg. Waynflete, torn. i. 



Instead of the license requested we find next a commission 

 "custodie prioratus de Selebourne durante vacatione," 

 addressed to brother Peter Berne, canon-regular of the 

 Priory of Selebourne, and of the order of St. Augustine, 

 appointing him keeper of the said Priory, and empowering 

 him to collect and receive the profits and revenues, and 

 "alia bona" of the said Priory; and to exercise in every 

 respect the full power and authority of a prior ; but to be 

 responsible to the visitor finally, and to maintain this supe- 

 riority during the bishop's pleasure only. This instrument 

 is dated from the bishop's manor-house in Southwark, 

 March 1, 1453-4, and the seventh of his consecration. 



After this transaction it does not appear that the chapter 

 of the Priory proceeded to any election : on the contrary, 

 we find that at six months' end from the vacancy the visitor 

 declared that a lapse had taken place; and that therefore 



clerici, antequam in ecclesiam procederent, crines pecterent. E quibus 

 colligitur monachos, tune temporis, non omnino tonsos fuissi." Du 

 Fresne. 



The author remembers to have seen in great farm houses a family 

 comb chained to a post for the use of the hinds when they came in to 

 their meals. G. W. 



