552 



ANTIQUITIES 



LETTER X. 



THE Priory at times was much obliged to Gurclon and 

 his family. As Sir Adam began to advance in years 

 he found his mind influenced by the prevailing opinion 

 of the reasonableness and efficacy of prayers for the 

 dead ; and, therefore, in conjunction with his wife 

 Constantia, in the year 1271, granted to the prior and 

 convent of Selborne all his right and claim to a certain 

 place, placea, called La Pleystow, in the village afore- 



THK PLKSTOR. 



said, "in liberam, puram, et perpetuam elemosinam." This 

 Pleystow 1 t locus ludorum, or play-place, is a level area 

 near the church of about forty-four yards by thirty-six, 

 and is known now by the name of the Plestor 2 . 



1 In Saxon Plejepcop, or Plesprop; v j z . Plegestow, or Plegstow. 



8 At this juncture probably the vast oak, mentioned p. 8, was planted 

 by the prior, as an ornament to his new acquired market-place. Accord- 

 ing to this supposition the oak was aged four hundred and Unity-two 

 years when blown down. 



