244 ST. Michael's mount. 



is the only one hung. A bell at Gulval bears the same 

 date as this, and the peculiar shape of the figures suggests 

 that they were cast by the same man, probably John 

 Pennington, of Exeter, who did much good work in his 

 day. 

 There are in the chapel seven large silver altar candlesticks 

 said by those best able to judge to be of Spanish make and to 

 date from the end of the 17th century. There are also two of 

 the same date, but of English make, whose prickets have been 

 replaced by silver sockets. These latter are of exceptional 

 beauty, and I do not recall having ever seen any like them 

 elsewhere, and, indeed. Lord St. Levan tells me that competent 

 critics pronounce them to be unique. They carry no mark of 

 any kind, as is also the case with a large silver salver of similar 

 ornamentation. The Communion cup is a very pretty specimen of 

 the common Elizabethan type, six inches high, with the engraved 

 band of two fillets interlacing each other, the space between 

 being filled with a foliage scroll. Its date-marks are London, 

 1571-2. The sacred monogram has been engraved on this cup at 

 some more recent time. With the exception of this cup, which 

 was purchased by Lord St. Levan in recent years, as a thank- 

 ofEering in connection with an incident in his own family, the 

 whole of the chapel plate was placed here by a former Sir John 

 St. Aubyn, in 1811. In 1547 (as we learn from Chantry 

 Certificate, Roll 9) the chapel possessed ornaments valued at 

 30s., plate and jewels weighing 22 ozs., besides a chalice weighing 

 8 oz., and 2 cwt. of bells. 



Behind the altar, inserted in the reredos erected by the 

 present Lord St. Levan, is a small alabaster bas-relief of 

 singulai" beauty and interest, representing the head of St. John 

 Baptist in a charger ; on the returned sides of the reredos are 

 two others equally interesting, that on the south representing 

 Pilate washing his hands, that on the north the service of the 

 Mass. These three are probably 15th century work, and like 

 most work of that time full of spirit. On the central panel may 

 be seen very faintly inscribed the letters Sci Johis, B** which 

 doubtless form part of the legend Caput Sci Johis Baptiste. 

 This panel is of especial interest, as an exceptionally fine 

 specimen of a class of objects, the intention of which is not 



