296 THE ANTIQUITIES 



"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 do whatever else was necessary. 

 Then their proctor, before the witnesses, required Berne's assent 

 in the chapter-house : " qui quidem instanciis et precibus multi- 

 " plicatis devictus," consented, " licet indignus electus," in 

 writing. They therefore requested the bishop's confirmation of 

 their election "sic canonice et solemniter celebrata," &c. &c. 

 Sealed with their common seal, and subscribed and attested by 

 the notary. Dat. in the chapter-house September 5th, 1472. 



In consequence, September 11th, 1472, in the bishop's chapel at 

 Esher, and before the bishop's commissary, appeared W. Wyndesor, 

 and exhibited the above instrument, and a mandate from the 

 bishop for the appearance of gainsayers of the election there on 

 that day : — and no one appearing, the absentees were declared 

 contumacious, and the election confirmed ; and the vicar of 

 Aulton was directed to induct and install the prior in the usual 

 manner. 



Thus did canon Berne, though advanced in years, reassume his 

 abdicated priorship for the second time, to the no small satisfac- 

 tion, as it may seem, of the bishop of Winchester, who professed, 

 as will be shown not long hence, an high opinion of his abilities 

 and integrity. 



LETTER XXII. 



As prior Berne, when chosen in 1454, held his priorship only to 

 1468, and then made a voluntary resignation, wearied and dis- 

 gusted, as we may conclude, by the disorder that prevailed in 

 his convent ; it is no matter of wonder that, when re-chosen in 

 1472, he should not long maintain his station ; as old age was 

 then coming fast upon him, and the increasing anarchy and 

 misrule of that declining institution required unusual vigour and 

 resolution to stem that torrent of profligacy which was hurrying 

 it on to it's dissolution. We find, accordingly, that in 1478 he 

 resigned his dignity again into the hands of the bishop. 



