Vll.] OF SELBORNE 
woods and meadows, and so far proper for the site of a religious 
house.^ 
The first person with whom the founder treated about the 
purchase of hiud was Jacobus de Achaugre, or Ochangre, a 
gentleman of property who resided at that handet ; and, as 
appears, at the house now called Oakhanger House. With him 
he agreed for a croft, or little close of land, known by the name 
of La Liega, or La Lyge, which was to be the immediate site 
of the Priory. 
De Achangre also accommodated the bishop at the same 
instant with three more adjoining crofts, which for a time was 
all the footing that this institution obtained in the parish. The 
seller in the conveyance says " Warantizabimus, defendemus, 
et sequietabimus contra onmes gentes;" viz. "We will warrant 
the thing sold against all claims from any quarter." In modern 
conveyancing this would be termed a covenant for further 
assurance. Afterwards is added — "Pro liac autem donacione, 
&c., dedit mihi pred. Episcopus sexdecem marcas argenti in 
Gersumam : " i.e., " the bishop gave me sixteen silver marks as 
a consideration for the thing purchased." 
As the grant from Jac. de Achangre was without date,^ and 
the next is circumstanced in the same manner, we cannot say 
exactly what interval there was between the two purcliases; 
but we find that Jacobus de Nortun, a neighbouring gentleman, 
1 The institution at Selborne was a priory of Black Canons of the order 
of St. Augustine, called also Canons Regular. Regular Canons were such as 
lived in a conventual manner, under one roof, had a common refectory and 
dormitory, and were bound by vows to observe the rules and statutes of their 
order : in fine, they were a kind of religious, whose discipline was less rigid 
than the monks. The chief rule of these canons was that of St. Augustine, 
who was constituted Bishop of Hippo, a.d. 3.95 : but they were not brought 
into England till after the conquest ; and seem not to have obtained the 
appellation of Augu.dine canons till some years after. Their habit was a 
long black cassock, with a white rochet over it ; and over that a black cloak 
and hood. The monks were always shaved : but these canons wore their 
hair and beards, and caps on their heads. There were of these canons, and 
women of the same order called Canonesses, about one hundred and seventy- 
five houses. 
^ The custom of affixing dates to deeds had not become general in tho 
reign of Henry IIT, 
487 
