374 
A N T I Q^U I T I E S 
family expenfe, could poflibly run in debt widiout fquanderlng, 
their revenues in a manner incompatible with their fundion. 
Religious lioufes might fometimes be diftreffed in their revenues 
by fires among their buildings, or large dilapidations from ftorms, 
&c. ; but no fuch accident appears to have befallen the Priory at 
Selborne. Thofe fituate on public roads, or in great towns where 
there were (brines of faints, were liable to be intruded on by travel- 
lers, devotees, and pilgrims ; and were fubjed to the importunity 
of the poor, who fwarmed at their gates to partake of doles and 
broken viduals. Of thefe difadvantages fome convents ufed to 
complain, and efpecially thofe at Canterbury ; but this Priory, from 
it's fequeftered fituation, could feldom be fubjed to either of thefe 
inconveniencies, and therefore we muft attribute it's frequent debts 
and embarraffments, well endowed as it was, to the bad conduit 
of it's members, and a general inattention to the interefts of the 
inftitution. 
LETTER 
