Thus did the bishop of Winchester a second time appoint a stranger to be prior of Selborne, instead of one chosen out of the chapter. For this seeming irregularity the visitor had no doubt good and sufficient reasons, as probably may appear hereafter.
LETTER XXI.
Whatever might have been the abilities and disposition of Prior Fairwise, it could not have been in his power to have brought about any material reformation in the priory of Selborne, because he departed this life in the month of August, 1472, before he had presided one twelvemonth.
As soon as their governor was buried the chapter applied to their visitor for leave to choose a new prior, which being granted, after deliberating for a time, they proceeded to an election by a scrutiny. But as this mode of voting has not been described but by the mere form in the Appendix, an extract from the bishop’s register, representing the manner more fully, may not be disagreeable to several readers.
Wayneflete Reg. tom. II. pars. ima., fol. 15.
“Reverendo, &c., ac nostro patrono graciosissimo vestri humiles, et devote obedientie filii,” etc.
To the right reverend Father in God, and our most gracious patron, we, your obedient and devoted sons, William Wyndesor, president of the chapter of the priory of Selborne, and the convent of that place, do make known to your lordship, that our priorship being lately vacant by the death of Thomas Fairwise, our late prior, who died August 11th, 1472, having committed his body to decent sepulture, and having requested, according to custom, leave to elect another, and having obtained it under your seal, we, William Wyndesor, president of the convent on the 29th August, in our chapter-house assembled, and making a chapter, taking to us in this business Richard ap Jenkyn, and Galfrid Bryan, chaplains,
