ANTIQUITIES OF SELBORNE. 
215 
removing and endowing of churches. Before his expedition to the east 
he had signalised himself as the founder of convents^ and as a bene- 
factor to hospitals and monasteries. 
In the year 1231 he returned again to England ; and the very next 
year, in 1232, began to build and endow the Priory of Selborne. As 
this great work followed so close upon his return, it is not improbable 
that it was the result of a vow made during his voyage : and especially 
as it was dedicated to the "Virgin Mary. Why the bishop made choice 
of Selborne for the scene of his munificence can never be determined 
now ; it can only be said that the parish was in his diocese, and lay 
almost midway between Winchester and Farnham, or South Waltham 
and Farnham ; from either of which places he could without much 
trouble overlook his workmen, and observe what progress they made ; 
and that the situation was retired, with a stream running by it, and 
sequestered from the world, amidst 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 land was Jacobus de Achangre, or Ochangre, a gentleman of property 
who resided in that hamlet ; 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 Jyge, 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 omnes 
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 hac 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,t and the next 
is circumstanced in the same manner, we cannot say exactly what 
interval there was between the two purchases ; but we find that Jacobus 
de Nortun, a neighbouring gentleman, also soon sold to the bishop of 
Winchester some adjoining grounds, through which our stream passes, 
that the priory might be accommodated with a mill, which was a 
common necessary appendage to every manor ; he also allowed access 
* The institution at Selborne was a priory of black-canons of the order of 
St. Augustine, called also canons-regular. Kegular-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. 395 ; but they were not brought into England till after the 
conquest ; and seem not to have obtained the appellation of Augustine canons till 
some years after. Their habit was a long black cassock, with a white rocket 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 175 houses. 
t The custom of af&xing dates to deeds was not become general in the reign of 
Henry III. 
