XXVIIL REPORT. 
“©7732. In exchange between an old silver cup and salver for a silver 
plate, 2s, 2d.’ 
In the Hayfield churchwardens’ book is the following :— 
“©1784. Exchanging the silver cup, 12 shillings.” 
The melting down of comparatively modern plate of a bad and awkward 
design into more seemly shapes is much more excusable than the sale or ex- 
change of really old plate. As an instance of this may be mentioned the 
Church Plate of S. Peter’s, Derby, which in 1857 was remodelled into its pre- 
sent good shape from a chalice of 1666, and from a paten and flagon of 1686. 
But even a change of this sort should not be effected without very grave 
reason. 
The issue of such a volume on Church Plate as that projected by our Society 
will go far to prevent any further recourse to the crucible by clergy or church- 
wardens under the mistaken zeal of preferring ‘‘new lamps” to old. Let it 
not be thought that I exaggerate the danger even now accruing to the few 
really old specimens that our county retains. It was only in January, 1881, 
that Mr. Wilfred Cripps, the great authority on English plate, wrote thus to 
the Guardian :— 
“‘ There was hardly a parish in which some relic of Elizabethan times did not 
exist only a few years ago ; but year by year many are consigned to the melting 
pot, or rather to the private cabinet of some wealthy silversmith, who is very 
glad to give a country clergyman the small amount its weight in silver coin 
comes to for a curiosity which, though it loses half its interest by being re- 
moved from the Church to which it has belonged ever since it assumed its 
present form in the early years of the reign of Elizabeth, is nevertheless still well 
worth preserving. I have heard of one being parted with lately, and the few 
shillings it produced spent in hymn books ; of another exchanged for a chalice 
of electro-plate ; of a third being sold because the incumbent thought it old- 
fashioned. Each of these had been the property of the parish for more than 
300 years, and more than this, was probably made of the very silver of a still 
more ancient chalice, and re-cast into its present shape at the Reformation, in 
deference to Puritanical intolerance.” 
Let me briefly revert to one or two other matters of interest with regard to 
our post-Reformation plate. Chalices are occasionally found in sacred use 
that were originally intended for secular purposes, and afterwards presented to 
the Church. Let me give four Derlyshire instances. The beautifully en- 
graved cup of Derwent Chapel, 1584—5, from the style of the ornaments, was 
undoubtedly of secular origin, The engraving is thus described by the present 
Vicar :— 
“* Four staves, resting repectively on a seal; a starfish and other fish, sur- 
rounded by seaweed ; a turtle ; a starfish and other fish, surrounded by sea- 
weed. The four staves are ornamented at middle and top with 
