OF SELBORNE. 323 



respecting this benefactress, of whom as yet he has heard no 

 particulars. 



The Ela Longspee therefore above-mentioned was a lady of 

 high birth and rank, and became countess to Thomas de New- 

 Intrghj the sixth earl of Warwick: she was the second daughter 

 of the famous Ela Longspee, countess of Salisbury, by William 

 Longspee, natural son of king Henry II. by Rosamond. 



Our lady, following the steps of her illustrious mother/ 

 " was a great benefactress to the university of Oxford, to the 

 " canons of Oseney, the nuns of Godstow, and other religious 

 " houses in Oxfordshire. She died very aged in the year 

 " 1300, x and was buried before the high altar in the abbey 

 " church of Oseney, at the head of the tomb of Henry J? Oily, 

 " under a flat marble, on which was inlaid her portraiture, in 



" the habit of a vowess, engraved on a copper-plate." 



Edmonsorfs History and Genealogical Account of the Grevillcs, 

 p. 23. 



LETTER XIII. 



THE reader is here presented with five forms respecting the 

 choosing of a prior ; but as they are of some length they must 

 be reserved for the Appendix; their titles are N. 108. 

 " Charta petens licentiam elegendi prelatum a Domino epis- 

 " copo Wintoniensi :" " Forma licentie concesse:" " Forma 

 " decreti post electionem conficiendi:" 108. " Modus pro- 

 " cedendi ad electionem per formam scrutinii :" et " Forma 

 " ricte presentandi electum." Such evidences are rare and 

 curious, and throw great light upon the general monastico- 

 </, -xiastical history of this kingdom, not yet sufficiently 

 understood. 



u Ela Longspee, countess of Salisbury, in ] 232 founded a monastery at 

 Lacock, in the county of Wilts, and also another at Hendon, in the county 

 of Somerset, in her widowhood, to the honour of the Blessed Virgin and 

 St. Her HU nl. CAMDEN. 



x Thus she survived the foundation of her chantry at Sclborne fifteen 

 years. About this lady and her mother consult Lugdales Baronage, I. 



72, 176, 177. Dttfffatfi \Yarwickshire, I. 383, Leland's Itin. II. 45. 



Y2 



