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became lord chief justiciary of England, the first magistrate 

 in the state, and a kind of viceroy, on whom depended all 

 the civil affairs in the kingdom. After the death of John, 

 and during the minority of his son Henry, this prelate took 

 upon him the entire management of the realm, and was 

 soon appointed protector of the king and kingdom. 



The barons saw with indignation a stranger possessed of 

 all the power and influence, to part of which they thought 

 they had a claim ; they therefore entered into an association 

 against him, and determined to wrest some of that authority 

 from him which he had so unreasonably usurped. The 

 bishop discerned the storm at a distance; and, prudently 

 resolving to give way to that torrent of envy which he 

 knew not how to withstand, withdrew quietly to the Holy 

 Land, where he resided some time. 



At this juncture a very small part of Palestine remained 

 in the hands of the Christians : they had been by Saladine 

 dispossessed of Jerusalem, and all the internal parts, near 

 forty years before ; and with difficulty maintained some 

 maritime towns and garrisons : yet the busy and enter- 

 prising spirit of de Rupibus could not be at rest; he 

 distinguished himself by the splendour and magnificence of 

 his expenses, and amused his mind by strengthening 

 fortresses and castles, and by removing and endowing of 

 churches. Before his expedition to the east he had 

 signalized himself as a founder of convents, and as a 

 benefactor to hospitals and monasteries. 



In the year 1231 he returned again to England; and 

 the very next year, in 1232, began to build and endow the 

 Priory of Selborne. As this great work followed so close 

 upon his return, it is not improbable that it was the result 

 of a vow made during his voyage ; and especially as it was 

 dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Why the bishop made 

 choice of Selborne for the scene of his munificence can 

 never be determined now: it can only be said that the 

 parish was in his diocese, and lay almost midway between 

 Winchester and Farnham, or South Waltham and Farn- 

 ham ; from either of which places he could without much 

 trouble overlook his workmen, and observe what progress 



