from the world, amidst woods and meadows, and so far proper for the site of a religious house.*
The first person with whom the founder treated about the purchase of land was Jacobus de Achangre, or Ochangre, a gentleman of property who resided in that hamlet; and, as appears, at the house now called Oakhanger-house. With him he agreed for a croft, or little close of land, known by the name of La liega, or La lyge, which was to be the immediate site of the Priory.
De Achangre also accommodated the bishop at the same instant with three more adjoining crofts, which for a time was all the footing that this institution obtained in the parish. The seller in the conveyance says, "Warantizabimus, defendemus, et æquietabimus contra omnes gentes;" viz., "We will warrant the thing sold against all claims from any quarter." In modern conveyancing this would be termed a covenant for further assurance. Afterwards is added—"Pro hac autem donacione, &c., dedit mihi pred. Episcopus sexdecem marcas argenti in Gersumam: "i.e., "The bishop gave me sixteen silver marks as a consideration for the thing purchased."
As the grant from Jac. de Achangre was without date,† and the next is circumstanced in the same manner, we cannot say exactly what interval there was between the two purchases; but we find that Jacobus de Nortun, a neighbouring gentleman, also soon sold
* The institution at Selborne was a priory of black-canons of the order of St. Augustine, called also canons-regular. Regular-canons were such as lived in a conventual manner under one roof, had a common refectory and dormitory, and were bound by vows to observe the rules and statutes of their order: in fine, they were a kind of religious, whose discipline was less rigid than the monks. The chief rule of these canons was that of St. Augustine, who was constituted bishop of Hippo, A.D. 395; but they were not brought into England till after the conquest; and seem not to have obtained the appellation of Augustine canons till some years after. Their habit was a long black cassock, with a white rocket over it; and over that a black cloak and hood. The monks were always shaved; but these canons wore their hair and beards, and caps on their heads. There were of these canons, and women of the same order called Canonesses, about 175 houses.
† The custom of affixing dates to deeds was not become general in the reign of Henry III.
