GOLD AND SILVER PLATE. 493 



The quality of pewter plates and vessels was certified by a 

 stamp impressed on the article supplied. In accordance with 

 a custom which has now in almost all the trades become obso- 

 lete, such a certificate was the duty of the company which 

 represented the trade. The London livery companies owed 

 their origin and continuance to the services which they per- 

 formed, real or reputed, to the goods or manufactures with 

 which their names were identified, and some relics of this tradi- 

 tional or historical service still survive with some of them. 



PLATE. Several entries will be found of silver plate, and 

 one of gold. There are also records of the price of raw silver, 

 and of broken or worn-out plate. The difference between 

 the price of the two represents the price paid for the silver- 

 smith's or goldsmith's art. I have indeed only found one 

 entry of silver bought, apparently to strengthen or repair some 

 existing piece. This is in 1604, when an ounce is purchased 

 at 5?., i.e. at the price of bullion. But there are other prices of 

 broken or worn plate sold. Most of the plate acquired by 

 the Oxford and Cambridge corporations was from gifts, it 

 being a custom (continued till recently) for members of these 

 societies to present plate to the College on taking their de- 

 grees, especially if they were of some fortune. 



In 1598, 1607, 1612 and 1645, broken plate is sold at4^. io//.; 

 in 1608, at 4s. %d. and 4^. \cd. In 1685 plate is sold at 5^., in 

 1688 at 55. 4d. and 5*., not probably because it was spoilt, but 

 because it was out of fashion, or the owners who were making 

 other purchases wished to meet the cost by getting rid of their 

 old stock. The difference then of price between worn or broken 

 plate and new, about yd. an ounce, is the cost of manufacture 

 and stamping. 



Plain manufactured plate, such as silver cups and spoons, 

 was bought at the cheaper rates, at about 5r. 6d. an ounce. 

 Such were the salt-cellar and spoons purchased by Lord North 

 in 1583, and the plate bought by Magdalen College in 158,5 

 and 1586 and subsequent years. But when this corporation 

 bought the 'Magdalen tupp* in 1602 they gave fs. id. an 



