OF SELBORNE 275 



Our lady, following the steps of her illustrious mother, 1 "was 

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

 " of Oseney, the nuns of Godstorv, and other religious houses in 

 " Oxfordshire. She died very aged in the year 1 300, 2 and was 

 " buried before the high altar in the abbey church of Oseney, at 

 "the head of the tomb of Henry D'Oily, under a flat marble, 

 " on which was inlaid her portraiture, in the habit of a vowess, 

 " engraved on a copper-plate." Edmonsons History and Genea- 

 logical Account of the Grevilles, 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 episcopo Win- 

 "toniensi : " " Forma licentie concesse : " " Forma decreti 

 "post electionem conficiendi:" 108. "Modus procedendi ad 

 " electionem per formam scrutinii : " et " Forma ricte presen- 

 "tandi electum." Such evidences are rare and curious, and 

 throw great light upon the general monastico-ecclesiastical history 

 of this kingdom, not yet sufficiently understood. 



In the year 1324 there was an election for a prior at Selborne ; 

 when some difficulties occurring, and a devolution taking place, 

 application was made to Stratford, who was bishop of Winchester 

 at that time, and of course the visitor and patron of the convent 

 at the spot above-mentioned. 3 



An extract from REG. STRATFORD. W'mion. 



P. 4. " Commissio facta sub-priori de Selebourne " by the bishop 

 enjoining him to preserve the discipline of the order in the con- 

 vent during the vacancy made by the late death of the prior, 

 ("nuper pastoris solatio destituta,") dated 4*. kal. Maii. ann. 2 do 

 sc. of his consecration, [sc. 1324.] 



1 Ela Lortgspee, countess of Salisbury, in 1232 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. Bernard. CAMDEN. 



2 Thus she survived the foundation of her chantry at Selborne fifteen years. 



About this lady and her mother consult Dugdale's Baronage, I. 72, 175, 177. 



Dugdale 1 ^ Warwickshire, I. 383, Leland's Itin. II. 45. 



s Stratford was bishop of Winchester from 1323 to 1333, when he was translated 

 to Canterbury. 



