foundation. Whatever was the principle upon which it had been
founded, there seems no doubt that during the interim which elapsed
before a bishop was placed in charge some elementary form of
government was carried on by a succession of elected presidents. This
body was either composed of secular clergy, who were distributed
throughout the diocese, living as priests in charge of parishes _in
saeculo_, or it was a foundation supported by those who lived according
to a _regula_. The regulars were those who lived together, having
vowed obedience to some particular form of rule. These were unmarried
men, who used one building, property, refectory, and dormitory of the
institution in common. Not all of these were ordained, as there were
among them lay brothers as well as those who were priests. But the
seculars--those in the world--were not subject to rules and conditions
such as these. Many, as priests living in their parishes, were married
men.

After the consecration of Eadberht and his installation as Bishop of
Selsea, the cathedra, or episcopal chair, was occupied successively by
twenty prelates. The period during which these held office, including
the few intervals when for a time the see remained vacant, extended
over about three hundred and seventy years. Little is known of these
bishops further than that their signatures are to be found attached to
various charters. These were all called Bishops of the South Saxons.

#Aethelgar# was Bishop of Selsea in 980. He had been a member of
the monastic colony at Glastonbury, near Wells. After occupying the
see for about eight years, he succeeded Dunstan as Archbishop of
Canterbury.

Bishops #Ordberht# and #Aelmer# were bishops after Aethelgar;
and then the next prelate of importance was #Aethelric#, who was a
Benedictine of Christ Church, Canterbury. He was learned in the
ancient laws and customs of his country, and when a very old man acted
as one of the arbitrators appointed to settle the differences which
had arisen between Lanfranc and Odo, Earl of Kent. Aethelric had been
consecrated by Stigand, Archbishop of Canterbury, who was removed from
the Primacy by William the Conqueror to make room for Lanfranc, his
own nominee.

The see of Selsea was governed by three other bishops till William
appointed one of his chaplains to the office. This was #Stigand#
(1070-1087), but not that Stigand (the Primate) who at the same royal
bidding had to make room for Lanfranc. It was