324 ANTIQUITIES OF SELBORNE. 
i Bg Ns ie wae ee Ap 0 
THE ladies and daughter of Sir Adam Gurdon were not the only 
benefactresses to the priory of Selborne ; for, in the year 1281, Ela 
Longspee obtained masses to be performed for her soul’s health ; 
and the prior entered into an engagement that one of the convent 
should every day say a special mass for ever for the said benefac- 
tress, whether living or dead. She also engaged within five years 
to pay to the said convent one hundred marks of silver for the 
support of a chantry and chantry chaplain, who should perform his 
masses daily in the parish church of Selborne.* In the east end of 
the south aisle there are two sharp-pointed Gothic niches; one of 
these probably was the place under which these masses were per- 
formed; and there is the more reason to suppose as much, 
because, till within these thirty years, this space was fenced off 
with Gothic wooden railing, and was known by the name of the 
south chancel.f 
The solicitude expressed by the donor plainly shows her piety 
and firm persuasion of the efficacy of prayers for the dead ; for she 
seems to have made every provision for the payment of the sum 
stipulated within the appointed time, and to have felt much anxiety 
lest her death, or the neglect of her executors or assigns, might 
frustrate her intentions.—‘‘ Et si contingat me in solucione perdicte 
pecunie annis predictis in parte aut in toto deficere, quod absit ; 
concedo et obligo pro me et assignatis meis, quod Vice-Comes 
... Oxon et... . . qui pro tempore fuerint, per omnes terras 
et tenementa, et omnia bona mea mobilia et immobilia ubicunque 
in balliva sua fuerint inventa ad solucionem predictam faciendam 
possent nos compellere.” And again—‘‘Et si contingat dictos 
religiosos labores seu expensas facere circa predictam pecuniam, 
seu circa partem dicte pecunie ; volo qoud dictorum religiosorum 
* A chantry was a chapel joined to some cathedral or parish church, and endowed with 
annual revenues for the maintenance of one or more priests to sing mass daily for the soul 
of the founder, and others. 
+ For what is said more respecting this chantry see Letter III. of these Antiquities.— 
Mention is made of a Nicholas Langrish, capellanus de Selborne, in the time of Henry VIII. 
Was he chantry-chaplain to Ela Longspee, whose masses were probably continued to the 
time of the Reformation? More will be said of this person hereafter. ; 
