By J. E. Nightingale, F.S.A. 



375 



South Newton. The communion plate at present in use was 

 presented to the parish when the Church was restored a few years 

 ago. There is, however, preserved at the Vicarage the old Elizabethan 

 Chalice. This has no cover and is ornamented with the usual strap- 

 work decoration of the period. The date-mark is 1576. 



Salisbury Cathedral. In the treasury are preserved, as in 

 some other English Cathedrals, several small chalices and patens, 

 generally of pewter or some other base metal, that have been found 

 at different times in the graves of ecclesiastics. The most important 

 of these is a Chalice and Paten, silver -gilt, of the form prevailing 

 in the thirteenth century. The height of the chalice is 4f in., the 

 bowl flat, the knop vertically ribbed, the round foot ornamented 

 with bold leafage radiating from the stem. The paten is 4iin in 

 diameter, the sunk portion is cusped and has a circular medallion in 

 the centre, engraved with a hand giving benediction, the two fore- 

 fingers being raised. A portion of the foot of the chalice is gone, 

 as well as some parts of the rim of the paten. Some pieces of metal 

 have also been added to strengthen the stem. With these exceptions 

 both are well preserved, and they certainly seem to have been made 

 for use. 



The communion plate now in use is all of a later period than the 

 Reformation. The earliest piece is a silver-gilt Flagon with cover 

 and handles, measuring J3in. in height, without any ornament. 

 The date- mark is the Lombardic capital letter I., indicating the 

 year 1606. On the bulb are engraved the arms of the See and 

 Eccssa Sarin. On the domed cover are the initials of the donor, 

 I.L.j together with his coat of arms Gules, a Jesse erm. between two 

 wolves passant argent. These no doubt refer to John Lowe, Esq., 

 who, with Lawrence Hyde, was counsel for the Church, and ap- 

 pointed one of the quorum in the charter of James I., 1612 (vide 

 Hatcher's " Sarum/"\ Appendix, p. 784). The form of this early 

 flagon is globular with high neck and broad bell-shaped foot, some- 

 what in style of the earlier cruets, and not adapted to contain much 

 wine. Mr. Cripps, in his " Old English Plate,''' gives an illustration 

 of a good example belonging to Cirencester of the date 1576, and 



