208 Two Wiltshire Mazers. 
the number of mazers formerly existing in this country, so few 
should have survived to our time; but at present only about fifty 
examples are known, though diligent enquiry would doubtless bring 
to light a few more, The only essential part of a mazer is its bowl; 
and the cheaper form, in use among the poorer classes, would usually 
be but a plain bowl, while the wealthier folk ornamented their mazers 
with silver-gilt mounts, or bands, and enamelled medallions, and 
occasionally with splendid feet and covers. 
Why shallow bowls were preferred to the more convenient cups 
we cannot say, but that they were used to drink from is not only 
abundantly proved by contemporary writings, but the mazers them- 
selves attest the fact. Thus a mazer belonging to Mr, Shirley has 
inscribed on the band :— 
Su the name of the Trinitie 
fille the kup and Drinke to me. 
And the great York bowl bears grants from two bishops of forty 
days’ pardon, 
“onto all tho that drinkis of this cope.” 
It is interesting to know that one of the mazers in the collection 
of Mr. A. W. Franks was formerly used in their frater house by 
the monks of Rochester, the legend on the band being :— 
+ CIPHVS +¢ REFECTORII « ROFENSIS «¢ PERFRATREM 
ROBERTVM + PECHAM. 
The date of this example, as shown by the London hall-mark, is 
1532. It found its way into the Fontaine collection at Narford 
Hall, Norfolk, where it was sold in June, 1884, for £252, and 
became the property of the present owner. 
