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OF 8ELB0RNE, 459 
lineation of tlie morals and maimers of the canons of Sel- 
borne at that juncture : and that what he found they had 
omitted he enjoins them; and for what they have done 
amiss J and contrary to their rules and statutes^ he reproves 
them; and threatens them with punishment suitable to their 
irregularities. 
This visitatio is of considerable length, and cannot be 
introduced into the body of this work ; ^ we shall therefore 
take some notice, and make some remarks, on the most 
singular items as they occur. 
In the preamble the visitor says — " Considering the 
charge lying upon us, that your blood may not be required 
at our hands, we came down to visit your Priory, as our 
office required : and every time we repeated our visitation 
we found something still not only contrary to regular rules 
but also repugnant to religion and good reputation/^ 
In the first article after the preamble — "he commands 
them on their obedience, and on pain of the greater excom- 
munication, to see that the canonical hours by night and by 
day be sung in their choir, and the masses of the Blessed 
Mary, and other accustomed masses, be celebrated at the 
proper hours with devotion, and at moderate pauses ; and 
that it be not allowed to any to absent themselves from the 
hours and masses, or to withdraw before they are finished." 
Item 2d. He enjoins them to observe that silence to 
which they are so strictly bound by the rule of St. Au- 
gustine at stated times, and wholly to abstain from frivolous 
conversation. 
[Item 3rd. That whereas, although in health, they have 
many times neglected the celebration of masses, and have 
thereby defrauded the souls of the founders and other 
benefactors ; he enjoins them to confess frequently, and 
devoutly to celebrate mass, as well for the living as the 
^ It was printed entire in an Appendix to the first edition: but as 
the principal items have been abstracted in the text by Gilbert White 
and as the heads of the remaining items are now given [between 
brackets] by the editor, it has been judged unnecessary to reprmt here, 
verbatim, an article of such considerable length. — Ed. 
