338 THE ANTIQUITIES 



imagined that the sacredness of the institution, and the 

 pious motives on which it was established, might have pre- 

 served it inviolate to the end of time — yet it fell, 



" To teach us that God attributes to place 

 No sanctity, if none be thither brought 

 By men, who there frequent, or therein dwell." 



Milton's Paradise Lost. 



LETTER XXV 



Wainfleet did not long enjoy the satisfaction arising 

 from this new acquisition ; but departed this life in a few 

 months after he had effected the union of the Priory with 

 his late founded college ; and was succeeded in the see of 

 Winchester by Peter Courtney, some time towards the end 

 of the year i486. 



In the beginning of the following year the new bishop 

 released the president and fellows of Magdalen College 

 from all actions respecting the Priory of Selborne ; and the 

 prior and convent of Saint Swithun, as the chapter of 

 Winchester cathedral, confirmed the release.^ 



N. 293. " Relaxatio Petri epi Winton Ricardo Mayew, 

 Presidenti omnium actionum occasione indempnitatis sibi 

 debite pro unione Prioratus de Selborne dicto collegio. 

 Jan. 2. 1487. et translat. anno i°." 



N. 374. " Relaxatio prioris et conventus S'' Swithini 

 Winton confirmans relaxationem Petri ep. Winton." 1487. 

 Jan. 13." 



Ashforde, the deposed prior, who had appeared as an 

 evidence for the impropriation of the Priory at the age of 

 seventy-two years, that he might not be destitute of a 

 maintenance, was pensioned by the college to the day of 

 his death ; and was living on tUl 1490, as appears by 

 his acquittances. 



Reg. a. ff. 46. 



" Omnibus Christi fidelibus ad quos presens scriptum 

 1 The bishops of Winchester were patrons of the Priory. 



