OF SELBORNE 275 



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 Godstorv, and other religious houses in 

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

 "buried before the high altar in the abbey chul-ch 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." — Edmonson's 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 Selhome ; 

 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.' 



An extract from Reg. Stratford. fVinton. 



P. 4. " Commissio facta sub-priori de Selehoume " 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^° 

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



I Ela Longsfee, countess of Salisiuty, in 1232 founded a monastery at Lacock, 

 in the county of Wilts, and also anotlier at Hendon, in tlie county of Somerset^ in 

 her widowhood, to the honour of the Blessed Virgin and St. Bernard. Camden. 



"^ Thus she survived the foundation of her chantry at Selbome fifteen years. 



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



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



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

 to Canterbury. 



