LETTER XII 



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 per- 

 formed 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 benefactress, 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. 1 

 In the east end of the south aile there 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 gothic 

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

 chancel. 2 



1 A chantry was a chapel joined to some cathedral or parish church, and en- 

 dowed with annual revenues for the maintenance of one or more priests to sing 

 mass daily for the soul of the founder, and others. [G. W-] 



2 For what is said more respecting this chantry see Letter III. of these Anti- 

 quities. Mention is made of a Nicholas Langrish, capellanus de Selborne^ in the 



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