OF SELBORNE 307 



In Item 17th the prior and canons are accused of 

 suffering, through neglect, notorious dilapidations to take 

 place among their manerial houses and tenements, and 

 in the walls and enclosures of the convent itself, to the 

 shame and scandal of the institution; they are therefore 

 enjoined, under pain of suspension, to repair all defects 

 within the space of six months. 



Item 1 8 th charges them with grievously burthening the 

 said Priory by means of sales, and grants of liveries^ 

 and corrodies.* 



The bishop, in Item 19 th, accuses the canons of neglect 

 and omission with respect to their perpetual chantry- 

 services. 



Item 20th. The visitor here conjures the prior and 

 canons not to withhold their original alms, " eleemosynas " ; 

 nor those that they were enjoined to distribute for the 

 good of the souls of founders and benefactors : he also 

 strictly orders that the fragments and broken victuals, 

 both from the hall of their prior and their common 

 refectory, should be carefully collected together by their 

 ekemosynarius, and given to the poor without any diminu- 

 tion ; the officer to be suspended for neglect or omission. 



Item 23d. He bids them distribute their pittances, 

 "pitancias,"* regularly on obits, anniversaries, festivals, etc. 



Item 25th. All and every one of the canons are here- 

 by inhibited from standing godfather to any boy for the 

 future, "ne compatres alicujus pueri de cetero fieri 

 presumatis," unless by express license from the bishop 



'^ " Liherationes, or liberaturae; allowances of corn, etc. to servants 

 delivered at certain times, and in certain quantities, as clothes were 

 among the allowances from religious houses to their dependants. See 

 the corrodies granted by Croyland abbey." — Hist, of Croyland, Appen- 

 dix, No. XXXIV. 



" It is not improbable that the word in after-ages came to be con- 

 fined to the uniform of the retainers or servants of the great, who were 

 hence called livery servants." — Sir John CuUum's Hist, of Hawsted. 



^ A corrody is an allowance to a servant living in an abbey or priory. 



* " Pitancia, an allowance of bread and beer, or other provision to any 

 pious use, especially to the religious in a monastery, etc. for augmenta- 

 tion of their commons." — Gloss, to Kennet's Par. Antiq. 



