484 ANTIQUITIES 



summoned ; and that therefore the validity of the election 

 might with reason be called in question, and quarrels and 

 dissensions might probably arise between the newly chosen 

 prior and the parties thus neglected. 



After some altercation and dispute they all came to an 

 agreement with the new prior, that what had been done 

 should be rejected and annulled; and that they would again, 

 for this turn, transfer to the bishop their power to elect, 

 order, and provide them another prior, whom they promised 

 unanimously to admit. 



The bishop accepted of this offer before witnesses ; and 

 on September 27, in an inner chamber near the chapel 

 above-mentioned, after full deliberation, chose brother 

 Thomas Fairwise, vicar of Somborne, a canon-regular of St. 

 Augustine in the Priory of Bruscough, in the diocese of 

 Coventry and Litchfield, to be prior of Selborne. The form 

 is nearly as above in the last election. The canons are 

 again enumerated; W. Wyndesor, sub-prior, P. Berne, T. 

 London, W. Stratfeld, J. Bromesgrove, who had formed 

 the chapter, and had requested and obtained license to elect, 

 but had unanimously conferred their power 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 visiter 

 had no doubt good and sufficient reasons, as probably may 

 appear hereafter. 



