Page:White - The natural history of Selborne, and the naturalist's calendar, 1879.djvu/351

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T 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 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 Selborne.* 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,†