3838 Notes on the Church Plate of North Wilts. 
as in most others, the original sellers of the plate got very little for 
their bargain. It is worth noting, too, that the happy ending to 
these adventures of a chalice was entirely due to the fact that it had 
been seen and a rubbing of the inscription upon it taken by Mr. 
Cripps, the author of “ Old English Plate,” in 1876. Without this 
its existence and identity could not have been established :—a singular 
piece of evidence of the practical value of enquiries such as are being 
carried on at present in Wilts. 
A certain amount of plate, of course, has been stolen—as I believe 
was that of Melksham ; and in such a case it is seldom indeed that 
it returns so happily to its rightful owners as did the plate of Broad 
Hinton in the middle of the eighteenth century. This plate consists 
of a chalice, a paten, an almsdish, and two very large flagons, given 
by the “worshipful and religious William Glanville Esq.,” son of 
Sir John Glanville, the Speaker of the Short Parliament, in the 
year 1677, of the perfectly plait and massive character usual at 
that date. These vessels were kept in the parish chest in the 
Church until one Tuesday morning they were found to have dis- 
appeared. Accordingly the Salisbury Journal of February 9th, 1766, 
contains the following notice :— 
“Whereas the Chancel of the Parish Church of Broad Hinton in the County 
of Wilts was on Monday night or early on Tuesday morning last broke open, 
and two large Flagons. a Patten, and a Bason with the following inscription on 
each of them: ‘Given by the worshipful and religious William Glanville Esq. in 
the year 1677,’ a Challice with a cover with the following inscription: ‘ Be- 
longing to the Parish Church of Broad Hinton,’ were feloniously taken and 
carried away from and out of the Parish Chest there ; therefore if any person 
will discover the person or persons who committed the said Felony, or Sacrilege, 
so as he or thev shall be convicted thereof, shall receive of the Churchwardens of 
the said Parish of Broad Hinton a reward of 10 guineas to be paid on the con- 
viction of such offender or offenders ; and if the said Plate or goods or any part 
thereof shall be offer’d to sale or to be pawned, the person or persons to whvia 
the same may be so offer’d are desired to stop the same and give notice thereof 
to the said Churchwardens and they shall be entitled to the same reward. 
Epwakp HopEins, | Chuo aunts 
JOHN DRAPER 
Tradition asserts that, this advertisement proving of no avail, the 
churchwardens determined to go down to Corsham and consult a 
“cunning man” of much renown and known to be skilled in all 
