LETTER XXII.
As Prior Berne, when chosen in 1454, held his priorship only to 1468, and then made a voluntary resignation, wearied and disgusted, as we may conclude, by the disorder that prevailed in his convent; it is no matter of wonder that, when re-chosen in 1472, he should not long maintain his station; as old age was then coming fast upon him, and the increasing anarchy and misrule of that declining institution required unusual vigour and resolution to stem that torrent of profligacy which was hurrying it on to its dissolution. We find, accordingly, that in 1478 he resigned his dignity again into the hands of the bishop.
Waynflete Reg. fol. 55.
Resignatio Prioris de Seleborne.
May 14, 1478. Peter Berne resigned the priorship. May 16, the bishop admitted his resignation “in manerio suo de Waltham,” and declared the priorship void; “et priorat. solacio destitutum esse;” and granted his letters for proceeding to a new election; when all the religious, assembled in the chapter-house, did transfer their power under their seal to the bishop, by the following public instrument.
“In Dei nomine Amen,” etc. A.D. 1478, Maii 19. In the chapter-house for the election of a prior for that day, on the free resignation of Peter Berne, having celebrated in the first place mass at the high altar “De spiritu sancto,” and having called a chapter by tolling a bell, ut moris est; in the presence of a notary and witnesses appeared personally Peter Berne, Thomas Ashford Stephen Clydgrove, and John Ashton, presbyters, and Henry Canwood,* in chapter assembled; and after singing the hymn
* Here we see that all the canons were changed in six years; and that there was quite a new chapter, Berne excepted, between 1472 and 1478; for, instead of Wyndesor, London, and Stratfeld, we find Ashford, Clydgrove, Ashton, and Canwood, all new men, who were soon gone in their turn off the stage, and are heard of no more. For, in six years after, there seem to have been no canons at all.
