358 ANTIQUITIES OF SELBORNB. 
LETTER XIL 
The ladies and daughters of Sir Adam Gurdon were not the 
only benefactresses to the Priory of Seiborne ; for, in the year 
1281, Ela Longspee obtained masses to be performed 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 Seiborne.* 
In the east end of the south aisle 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.f 
The solicitude expressed by the donor plainly shows her pjety 
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 
predicte pecunie annis predictis in parte aut in toto deficere^ 
quod absit ; concedo et obligo pro me et assignatis meis, quod 
Vice-Comes Oxon et qui pro tempore fuerint, per 
omnes terras et tenementa, et omnia bona mea mobilia et immo- 
biha ubicunque in balliva sua fuerint inventa ad solucionem pre- 
dictam faciendam possent nos compellere.'' And again — " Et si 
contingat dictos religiosos labores seu expensas facere circa pre- 
dictam pecuniam, seu circa partem dicte pecunie ; volo quod 
dictcrum religiosorum impense et labores levantur ita quod pre- 
dicto priori vel uni canonicorum suorum superhiis simphci verbo 
credatur sine alterius honere probacionis ; et quod utrique pre- 
• A chantry was a chapel joined to some cathedral or parish church, and endowed with annual 
revenues for the maintenance of one or moie priests to sing mass daily for the soul of the founder^ 
and others. 
t For what is said more respecting this chantry s«« Letter III. of these Antiquities. Mention 
is made of a Nicholas Langrish, capellanus de Seiborne, in the time of Henry VIII. Was he 
chantry-chaplain to Ela Longspee, whose masses were probably continued to the time of the re- 
formation ? More will be said of this person hereafter. 
