276 THE ANTIQUITIES 



P. 6. "Custodia Prioratus de Selebume vacantis," committed 



by the bishop to Nicholas de la , a layman, it belonging to the 



bishop "ratione vacationis ejusdem," in July 1324, ibid, "nego- 

 "tium electionis de Seleboume. Acta coram Johanne Episcopo, 

 "&c. 1324 in negotio electionis de fratre Waltero de Insula con- 

 " canonico prioratus de Seleboume," lately elected by the sub-prior 

 and convent, by way of scrutiny : that it appeared to the bishop, 

 by certificate from the dean of Alton, that solemn citation and 

 proclamation had been made in the church of the convent where 

 the election was held, that any who opposed the said election or 

 elected should appear. — Some difficulties were started, which the 

 bishop over-ruled, and confirmed the election, and admitted the 

 new prior sub hac forma : — 



" In Dei nomine Amen. Ego Johannes permissione divina, &c. 

 " te Walterum de Insula ecclesie de Seleboume nostre dioceseos nos- 

 " trique patronatus vacantis, canonicum et cantorem, virum utique 

 " providum, et discretum, literarum scientia preditum, vita moribus 

 " et conversatione merito commendatum, in ordine sacerdotali et 

 " etate legitima constitutum, de legltimo matrimonio procreatum, 

 " in ordine et religione Sancti Augustini de Seleboume expresse pro- 

 " fessum, in spiritualibus et temporalibus circumspectum,jMre nobis 

 "hac vice devoluto in hac parte, in dicte ecclesie de Seleboume 

 " perfectum priorem ; curam et administrationem ejusdem tibi 

 " in spiritualibus et temporalibus committentes. Dat. apud Sele- 

 " bourne XIII kalend. Augusti anno supradicto." 



There follows an order to the sub-prior and convent pro obe- 

 dientia : 



A mandate to Nicholas above-named to release the Priory to 

 the new prior : 



A mandate for the induction of the new prior. 



LETTER XIV. 



" In the year 1373 Wykeham, bishop of Winchester, held a visitation 

 " of his whole diocese ; not only of the secular clergy through the 

 "several deaneries, but also of the monasteries, and religious 

 " houses of all sorts, which he visited in person. The next year 

 " he sent his commissioners with power to correct and reform the 

 " several irregularities and abuses which he had discovered in the 

 " course of his visitation. 



" Some years afterwards, the bishop having visited three several 



