338 Notes on the Church Plate of North Wilis. 



as in most others, the original sellers of the plate got very little for 

 their bargain. It is worth noting, too, that the happy ending to 

 these adventures of a chalice was entirely due to the fact that it had 

 been seen and a rubbing of the inscription upon it taken by Mr. 

 Cripps, the author of " Old English Plate," in 1876. Without this 

 its existence and identity could not have been established : — a singular 

 piece of evidence of the practical value of enquiries such as are being 

 carried on at present in Wilts. 



A certain amount of plate, of course, has been stolen — as I believe 

 was that of Melksham ; and in such a case it is seldom indeed that 

 it returns so happily to its rightful owners as did the plate of Broad 

 Hinton in the middle of the eighteenth century. This plate consists 

 of a chalice, a paten, an almsdish, and two very large flagons, given 

 by the " worshipful and religious William Glanville Esq.," son of 

 Sir John Glanville, the Speaker of the Short Parliament, in the 

 year 1677, of the perfectly plain and massive character usual at 

 that date. These vessels were kept in the parish chest in the 

 Church until one Tuesday morning they were found to have dis- 

 appeared. Accordingly the Salisbury Journal of February 9th, 1766, 

 contains the following notice t — 



" Whereas the Chancel of the Parish Church of Broad Hinton in the County 

 of Wilts was on Monday night or early on Tuesday morning last broke open, 

 and two large Flagons, a Patten, and a Bason with the following inscription on 

 each of them : ' Given by the worshipful and religious William Glanville Esq. in 

 the year 1677/ a Challice with a cover with the following inscription : ' Be- 

 longing to the Parish Church of Broad Hinton,' were feloniously taken and 

 carried away from and out of the Parish Chest there ; therefore if any person 

 will discover the person or persons who committed the said Felony, or Sacrilege, 

 so as he or they shall be convicted thereof, shall receive of the Churchwardens of 

 the said Parish of Broad Hinton a reward of 10 guineas to be paid on the con- 

 viction of such offender or offenders ; and -if the said Plate or goods or any p. ' 

 thereof shall be offer'd to sale or to be pawned, the person or persons to whom 

 the same may be so offer'd are desired to stop the same and give notice thereof 

 to the said Churchwardens and they shall be entitled to the same reward. 



Edward Hopkins, j churchwardens >> 



John Deaper ) 



Tradition asserts that, this advertisement proving of no avail, the 

 churchwardens determined to go down to Corsham and consult a 

 " cunning man 99 of much renown and known to be skilled in all 



