ANTIQUITIES OF SELBORNE. 36i 
In the year 1324 there was an election for a prior at Selborne; 
when some difficulties occurring, and a devolution taking place, 
application was made to Stratford, who was bishop of Winchester 
at that time, and of course the visitor and patron of the convent 
at the spot above-mentioned.* 
An extract from Reg. Stratford. Winton. 
P. 4. Commissio facta sub-priori de Selebourne" by the 
bishop enjoining him to preserve the discipUne of the order in 
the convent during the vacancy made by the late death of the 
prior, (" super pastoris solatio destituta,") dated 4th. kal. Maii. 
ann. 2do. sc. of his consecration, [sc. 1324.] 
P. 6. " Custodia Prioratus de Seleburne vacantis," committed 
by the bishop to Nicholas de la , a layman, it belonging to 
the bishop "ratione vacationis ejusdem," in July 1324, ibid, 
"negotium electionis de Selebourne. Acta coram Johanne Epis- 
copo, &c. 1324 in negotio electionis de fratre Waltero de Insula 
concanonico prioratus de Selebourne," lately elected by the sub- 
prior and convent, by way of scrutiny : that it appeared to the 
bishop, by certificate from the dean of Alton, that solemn citation 
and proclamation had been made in the church of the convent 
where the election was held, that any who opposed the said elec- 
tion or elected should appear. Some difficulties were started, 
which the bishop overruled, and confirmed the election, and 
admitted the new prior sub hac forma : — 
" In Dei nomine Amen. Ego Johannes permissione divina, &c. 
te Walterum de Insula ecclesie de Selebourne nostre dioceseos 
nostrique patronatus vacantis, canonicum et cantorem, virum 
utique providum, et discretum, literarum scientia preditum, vita 
moribus et conversatione merito commendatum, in ordine sacer- 
ad inquirenda vota singuloriim constitutos, secreto* et singillatim requisiti ; tandem publicato 
srrutinio et facta votoriim colectione inventum est, majoreiu et seniorem partem tocius capituli 
dicte ecclesie in f'ratrem S. de B. dicte ecclesie canonicum unanimiter et coiicorditer concencisse; 
vel sic, quando inventum omnes canonicos dicte ecclesie preter duos in fratrem, A. D. quibus 
statim majori parti eligendum adquiescenter : frater k. supprior ecclesie memorate, juxta potes- 
tatem sibi a toto conventu traditam, vice consociorum suorum et sua ac tocius conventus, dictum 
fratrem S. de B. in priorem ejusdem ecclesie elegit, sub hac forma ; *'Ego frater supprior con- 
veutualis ecclesie beate Marie talis loci, potestate et auctoritate mihi a toto conventu dicte ecclesie 
tradita et commissa, quando, puplicato scrutinio et omnibus circa hoc rite peractis, inveni ma- 
jorem et partem seniorem tocius capituli nostri in fratrem S. de B. virum providum unanimiter 
concencisse, ipsum nobis et ecclesie nostre, vice tocius conventus, in priorem eligendum; et 
eidem electioni subscribo ; cui election! omnes canonici nostri concencerunt, et subscripserunt.'* 
— "Ego frater de C. pvesenti electioni concencio, et subscribo." Et sic de singulis electoribus 
in cujus rei testimonium sigillum capituli nostri apponi fecimus ad presentes. 
* Stratford was bishop of Winchester from 1323 to 1333, when he was translated to Canterbury. 
