dated July 16, in the same year, which may be taken as corroborative evidence of the statements of Fabyan and Holinshed: the privileges and immunities granted in these charters are so ample as to shew that the king had some special reason for bestowing on the priory an extraordinary measure of his royal bounty and favour.
From this period to the time of Bishop Fox the annals of the priory are entirely destitute of interest. During his episcopate, in the 10th year of Henry VIII., 1519, the priory church was struck by lightning, and during the repairs it fell in. It was restored by public contributions. The sum raised for this purpose was £530. The name of Bishop Fox occurs among the contributors.
This was an ominous foreboding of that more fatal storm which was soon to burst over the priory, and to scatter its inmates for ever. At its dissolution the site was granted to John White, Esq., of Southwick, in consideration of £251. 13s. 4d., from whom it has descended, through the Nortons, to Thomas Thistlethwayte, Esq., its present possessor. Its revenues at the dissolution were valued at £324. 17s. 1012d. in the gross; £257. 4s. 4d. net. The present remains of its buildings consist of little more than foundations of a few walls.
Seal of the Priory of Southwick or Portsea.
Amongst the "Chartæ Antiquæ," preserved in the Augmentation Office, there is a document, dated A.D. 1189, to which an impression of the common seal of the priory is appended. It bears no legend, and exhibits a church, with its porch, nave, and tower. The counter-seal was an intaglio, bearing the device of an eagle, with the legend SPIRAT . VERVM . VICTVS . SPIRAT. Of the ancient matrix of the Southwick seal, now preserved in the British Museum, a representation is submitted to our readers, as an interesting addition to these notices of the priory.
