XXIV,] 
537 
appear. The bishop says that he had been obliged to remove 
some priors for mal-administration : but it is not well explained 
how that could be the case with any, unless with Sharp ; because 
all the others, chosen during his episcopate, died in their office, 
viz. Morton and Fair wise ; Berne only excepted, who relinquished 
twice voluntarily, and w^as moreover approved of by Wainfleet 
as a person of integrity. But the way to show what ineffectual 
pains the bishop took, and what difficulties he met with, will be 
to quote the words of the libel of his proctor, Eaclulphus Lang- 
ley, who appeared for the bishop in tlie process of the impro- 
priation of the Priory of Selborne. The extract is taken from 
an attested copy. 
"Item — that the said bishop — dicto prioratui et personis 
ejusdem pie compatiens, sollicitudines pastorales, labores, et 
diligentias gravissimas quam plurimas, tam per se quam per 
suos, pro reformatione preniissorum impendebat : et aliquando 
illius loci prioribus, propter malam et inutilem administrationem, 
et dispensationem bonorum predicti prioratus, suis demeritis 
exigentibus, amotis ; alios priores in quorum circumspectione et 
diligentia confidebat, prefecit : quos tamen male se habuisse ac 
inutiliter administrare, et administrasse, usque ad presentia 
tempora post debitam investigationem, &c. invenit." So that he 
despaired, with all his care, — " statum ejusdem reparare vel 
restaurare : et considerata temporis malicia, et preteritis 
timendo, et conjecturandcj futura, de aliqua bona et sancta 
religione ejusdem ordinis, &c. juxta piam intentionem primevi 
fundatoris ibidem habend. desperatur." 
William Wainfleet, Bishop of Winchester, founded his college 
of St. Mary Magdalen, in the university of Oxford, in or about 
the year 1459 ; but the revenues proving insufficient for so large 
and noble an establishment, the college supplicated the founder 
to augment its income by putting it in possession of the estates 
belonging to the Priory of Selljorne, now become a deserted 
convent, without canons or prior. The president and fellows 
state the circumstances of their numerous institution and scanty 
provision, and the ruinous and perverted condition of the Priory. 
The bishop appoints commissaries to inquire into the state of the 
said monastery ; and, if found expedient, to confirm the appropria- 
