ANTIQUITIES OF SELBORNE. 
341 
of Jerusalem, and all the internal parts, near forty years before ; 
and with difficulty maintained some maritime towns and gar- 
risons : yet the busy and enterprising spirit of de Rupibus could 
not be at rest ; he distinguished himself by the splendour and 
magnificence of his expenses, and amused his mind by strength- 
ening fortresses and castles, and by removing and endowing of 
churches. Before his expedition to the east he had signalized 
himself as a founder of convents, and as a benefactor 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 re- 
turn, 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 gen- 
tleman of property who resided at that hamlet ; and, as appears, 
at the house now called Oakhanger-house. With hira he agreed 
for a croft, or little close of land, known by the name of La liega, 
or La lyge, which was to be the immediate site of the Priory. 
De Achangre also accommodated the bishop at the same in- 
stant with three more adjoining crofts, which for a time was all 
the footing that this institution obtained in the parish. The 
* The institution at Selborne was a priory of Black Canons of the order of St. Augustine, 
called also Canons-Regular. Regular Canons were such as lived in a conventual m^iuner, 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. Ther« were of these canons, and women of the same order called Canonesses, 
about 1/5 houses. 
