38o 
ANTIQUITIES 
'* Mart'inus Epf. fervus fervorum Dei. DUecfto fllio Priori de 
Suth'vale'^ JVynton'ien. dioc. Salutem & apoftolicam ben. Ad 
audientiam noitram pervenit quam tarn diledi filii prior et 
*' conventus monafterii de Selehurn per Priorem folici gubernari 
ordinis S". Augujlini Winton. dioc. quam de predeceffores eorum 
decimas, terras, redditus, domos, poflcfFiones, %-'imas\ ec 
" quedam alia bona ad monafterium ipfum fpeftantia, datis fuper 
*' hoc litteris, interpofitis juramentis, fadis renuntiationibus, et 
*' penis adjedlis, in gravem ipfius monafterii lefionem nonnullis 
clericis et laicis, aliquibus eorum ad vitam, quibufdam vero 
*^ ad non modicum tempus, & aliis perpetuo ad firmam, vel 
*' fub cenfu annuo conceflerunt ; quorum aliqui dicunt fuper 
*' hiis a fede u])lica in communi forma confirmationis litteras 
impetraffe. Quia vero noftra intereft lefis monafteriis fub- 
" venire — [He the Pope here commands] — ea ad jus et pro- 
prietatem monafterii ftudeas legitime revocare," &c. 
The conduifl of the religious had now for fome time been 
generally bad. Many of the monaftic focieties, being very opu- 
lent, were become voluptuous and licentious, and had deviated 
entirely from.their original inftitutions. The laity faw with indig- 
nation the wealth and poffeffions of their pious anceftors perverted 
to the fervice of fenfuality and indulgence ; and fpent in gratifi- 
cations highly unbecoming the purpofes for which they were 
■3 Shovild have been no doubt Southnvick, a priory under Portfdowi, 
Mr. Barrington is of opinion that anciently the Engliili 'vinea was in almoU: every 
inflance an orchard; not perhaps always of apples merely, but of other fruits; as cherries, 
plums, and currants. Wc ftill fay a plum or cherry-orchard. See vol. III. of 
Archaologia. 
In the inllance above the pope's fecretary might infert vincas merely becaufe they 
v.ere a fpecies of cultivation familiar to him in Italj, 
given. 
