ANTIQUITIES OF SELBOKNE. 
239 
298. Pope Martin's bull touching the revoking of certaine things 
alienated from the Priory of Seleburne. Pontif sui ann. i. 
" Martinus Eps. servus servorum Dei. Dilecto filio Priori de Suthvale* 
Wyntonien, dioc. Salutem & apostolicam ben. Ad audientiam 
nostram pervenit quam tarn dilecti filii prior et conventus monasterii 
de Seleburn per Priorem soliti gubernari ordinis Augustini Winton, 
dioc. quam de predecessores eorum decimas^ terras, redditus, domos, 
possessiones, vineas,t et quedam alia bona ad monasterium ipsum 
spectantia, datis super hoc litteris, interpositis juramentis, factis 
renuntiationibus, et penis adjectis, in gravem ipsius monasterii 
lesionem nonnullis clericis et laicis, aliquibus eorum ad vitam, 
quibusdam vero ad non modicum tempus, & aliis perpetuo ad 
firmam, vel sub censu annuo concesserunt ; quorum aliqui dicunt super 
hiis a sede aplica in communi forma confirmationis litteras impetrasse. 
Quia vero nostra interest lesis monasteriis subvenire [He the Pope 
here commands] ea ad jus et proprietatem monasterii studeas legitime 
revocare/' &c. 
The conduct of the religious had now for some time been generally 
bad. Many of the monastic societies, being very opulent, were become 
voluptuous and licentious, and had deviated entirely from their original 
institutions. The laity saw with indignation the wealth and possessions 
of their pious ancestors perverted to the service of sensuality and 
indulgence, and spent in gratifications highly unbecoming the purposes 
for which they were given. A total disregard to their respective rules 
and discipline drew on the monks and canons a heavy load of popular 
odium. Some good men there were who endeavoured to oppose the 
general delinquency ; but their efibrts were too feeble to stem the 
torrent of monastic luxury. As far back as the year 1381, Wickliffe's 
principles and doctrines had made some progress, were well received 
by men who wished for a reformation, and were defended and main- 
tained by them as long as they dared, till the bishops and clergy began 
to be so greatly alarmed, that they procured an act to be passed by 
which the secular arm was empowered to support the corrupt doctrines 
of the church ; but the first Lollard was not burnt until the year 1401. 
The wits also of those times did not spare the gross morals of the 
clergy, but boldly ridiculed their ignorance and profligacy. The most 
remarkable of these were Chaucer, and his contemporary Eobert 
Langelande, better known by the name of Piers Plowman. The 
laughable tales of the former are familiar to almost every reader; 
while the visions of the latter are but in few hands. With a quotation 
from the Passus Decimus of this writer I shall conclude my letter ; 
not only on account of the remarkable prediction therein contained, 
which carries with it somewhat of the air of a prophecy ; but also as 
it seems to have been a striking picture of monastic insolence and 
* Should have been no doubt Southwick, a priory under Portsdown. 
t Mr. Barrmgton is of opinion that anciently the English vinea was in almost 
every instance an orchard ; not perhaps always of apples merely, but of other 
fruits ; as cherries, plums, and currants. We still say a plum or cherry-orchard. 
— See Archceologia, vol iii. 
In the instance above, the Pope's secretary might insert vineas merely because 
they were a species of cultivation familiar to him in Italy. ' 
