100 ON BAXON SITUL^l OB BUCKETS. 



their being discovered in the graves of either sex, it seems 

 highly probable that these buckets were used for spoon-meat, 

 and are, in fact, porringers. If it be urged to the contrary that 

 they are of comparatively unfrequent occurrence, it must be 

 borne in mind that time has obliterated all traces of many 

 objects deposited in these graves, and probably, among others, 

 vessels solely of wood. That well-constructed and metal-bound 

 utensils, like those under notice, could only be the property of 

 the wealthy, seems evident from the result of researches in 

 Anglo-Saxon burial places."* 



Now, that these vessels were not used as drinking cups either 

 for ale or mead, we have long been convinced, as the very light 

 structure of the handle would prevent their being lifted thereby 

 for any purpose, and as they would be but clumsy drinking 

 vessels. Nor were they used as porringers for the same reasons. 

 Indeed, such notions could only be entertained by these who are 

 accustomed to consider the Saxons as uncultivated boors. 



If, however, we consider that this people possessed drinking 

 vessels of glass of most elegant shapes, and that these have even 

 been found with the buckets, we shall soon be able to divine a 

 more suitable and refined use for the Saxon bucket. Saxon 

 glasses it is known were rounded at the base, so that they had not 

 a foot to stand upon, that the Saxon drank heartily we know, 

 and that heel-taps were not permitted has been a maxim handed 

 down to us in our own country feasts. We conclude, then, that 

 these buckets had no weight to bear, they were made light and 

 elegant, as their object was simply that of a modern wine 

 cooler, so that when the glass was emptied it was simply inverted 

 in the larger vessel, thus preventing any chance of soiling the 

 table cloth or the table by any lingering drop from the glass. 



We are proud, then, in thus rescuing the Saxon households 

 from the boorish reproach that has been attempted to be cast 

 upon them. 



After all it is not at all improbable that the Saxons adopted 

 this and other refinements from the Romans, as, though we have 



*Remains of Pagan Saxondom, p. 56. 



