350 Notes on the Church Plate of North Wilts. 
Pewter flagons still exist in many places, though almost invariably 
disused now. They are generally heavy, clumsy vessels, but some 
six of them are interesting as belonging to a type which is not 
found in silver in North Wilts. They are very tall tankards, with 
broad spreading base and tapering to a comparatively narrow top 
without any spout. The cover is very high and surmounted by an 
acorn, but their chief peculiarity lies in the handle, which approaches 
the body of the vessel and then recedes again in a double curve. 
The only one which is dated is that belonging now to Malmesbury 
Abbey, which belonged formerly to the destroyed Church of St. 
Paul. This is dated 1736. Others are at Clyffe Pypard, Lydiard 
Millicent, Lydington, Stanton St. Bernard, and Edington. 
I know of no example of an old pewter chalice remaining, but 
patens and alms plates are not uncommon. On the other hand, a 
large number of parishes have plated vessels, especially in the 
neighbourhood of Bradford and Trowbridge. Indeed it is recorded 
of Archdeacon Daubeny, Vicar of North Bradley 1778—1827, that 
he said upon his death-bed, “ Let the communion vessels be plated. 
I have always condemned those who have placed unnecessary 
temptations in the path of their fellow-mortals, and I am anxious 
that the last act of my life should hold out to others no inducement 
to sin.” A laudable and excellent motive doubtless, but for all that 
one cannot help feeling that the quaint and touching inscription on 
the silver paten of Long Newnton expresses a truer aspiration : “ In 
the year of Our Lord God 1691 August 10.* I hope my Lord will 
take this little present well and in good part, because tis my best 
I give to God my heart.” 
In the reaction of the last fifty years towards the Gothic style 
too many of us have seemed anxious to wipe out every trace of the 
seventeenth and eighteenth cénturies altogether—whether in archi- 
tecture, wood-work, or plate ; but, after all, those centuries do form 
a part of the history of our nation and our Church, and the men 
who lived in them did sometimes, at least “ give to God their best ” 
and surely, unless there is really urgent cause to the contrary, their 
offerings should be respected and preserved. If new plate is given, 
well and good; use it if it seems more convenient, but at least let 
