ANTIQUITIES OF SELBORNE 279 



are two sharp-pointed Gothic niches ; one of these probably 

 was the place under which these masses were performed; 

 and there is the more reason to suppose as much, because, till 

 within these thirty years, this space was fenced off with a 

 Gothic wooden railing, and was known by the name of the 

 South Chancel. 2 



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 ; concede et obligo pro me et assigna- 

 tis 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 quod dictorum religiosorum impense et 

 labores levantur ita quod predicto priori vel uni canonicorum 

 suorum super hiis simplici verbo credatur sine alterius honere 

 probacionis; et quod utrique predictorum virorum in unam 

 marcam argenti pro cujuslibet distrincione super me facienda 

 tenear. Dat. apud Wareborn die sabati proxima ante fes- 

 tum St. Marci evangeliste, anno regni regis Edwardi tertio 

 decimo." 3 



But the reader, perhaps, would wish to be better informed 

 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 

 Newburgh, 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 Edward II., by 

 Rosamond. 



Our lady, following the steps of her illustrious mother, 4 " was 

 a great benefactress to the University of Oxford, to the canons 



