ANTIQUITIES OF SELBOENE. 
245 
on the bishop. In consequence of this proceeding, the bishop taking 
the business upon himself, that the priory might not suffer detriment 
for want of a governor, appoints the aforesaid T. Fairwise to be prior. 
A citation was ordered as above for gainsayers to appear October 4th, 
before the bishop or his commissaries at South Waltham ; but none 
appearing, the commissaries admitted the said Thomas, ordered him to 
be installed, and sent the usual letter to the convent to render him due 
obedience. 
Thus did the bishop of Winchester a second time appoint a stranger 
to be prior of Selborne, instead of one chosen out of the chapter. For 
this seeming irregularity the visitor had no doubt good and sufficient 
reasons, as probably may appear hereafter. 
ENCAUSTIC TILES, NOW FORMING THE FLOOR OF THE SUMMER HOUSE 
IN THE FARM HOUSE GARDEN. 
LETTEE, XXL 
Whatever might have been the abilities and disposition of Prior 
Fairwise, it could not have been in his power to have brought about 
any material reformation in the priory of Selborne, because he departed 
this life in the month of August, 1472, before he had presided one 
twelvemonth. 
As soon as their governor was buried the chapter applied to their 
visitor for leave to choose a new prior, which being granted, after 
deliberating for a time, they proceeded to an election by a scrutiny. 
But as this mode of voting has not been described but by the mere 
form in the Appendix, an extract from the bishop's register, representing 
the manner more fully, may not be disagreeable to several readers. 
Wayneflete Eeg. torn. II. pars fol. 15. 
"Eeverendo, &c., ac nostro patrono graciosissimo vestri humiles, et 
devote obedientie filii/' &c. 
To the right reverend Father in God, and our most gracious patron, 
we, your obedient and devoted sons, William Wyndesor, president of 
the chapter of the priory of Selborne, and the convent of that place, do 
make known to your lordship, that our priorship being lately vacant by 
the death of Thomas Fairwise, our late prior, who died August 11th, 
1472, having committed his body to decent sepulture, and having 
