208 Two Wiltshire Mazers. 



the number of mazers formerly existing in this country, so few 

 should have survived to our time ; but at present only about fifty 

 examples are known, though diligent enquiry would doubtless bring 

 to light a few more. The only essential part of a mazer is its bowl; 

 and the cheaper form, in Use among the poorer classes, would usually 

 be but a plain bowl, while the wealthier folk ornamented their mazers 

 with silver-gilt mounts, or bands, and enamelled medallions, and 

 occasionally with splendid feet and covers. 



Why shallow bowls were preferred to the more convenient cups 

 we cannot say, but that they were used to drink from is not only 

 abundantly proved by contemporary writings, but the mazers them- 

 selves attest the fact. Thus a mazer belonging to Mr. Shirley has 

 inscribed on the band 



3Jtt the name nf the Srfnftfe 

 fflle the fmjj atttr trrtnfte to me. 



And the great York bowl bears grants from two bishops of forty 

 days' pardon, 



" onto all tfio that trrmfctg of thtg copt." 



It is interesting to know that one of the mazers in the collection 

 of Mr. A. W. Franks was formerly used in their frater house by 

 the monks of Rochester, the legend on the band being : — 



+ CIPHVS ♦ REFECTORII ♦ ROFENSIS ♦ PERFRATREM 

 ROBERTVM ♦ PECHAM. 



The date of this example, as shown by the London hall-mark, is 

 1532. It found its way into the Fontaine collection at Narford 

 Hall, Norfolk, where it was sold in June, 1884, for £252, and 

 became the property of the present owner. 



