Hall marks on gold & silver plate

INTRODUCTION. xxxv
double roses and enamelled, one weighing 8i ounces, the other 79
ounces. Three other pairs of basins of silver and gilt, of smaller
size. A patte of silver for holy water. Two saucers of silver gilt.
A sacring bell of silver. Two-squared sconce of silver and gilt.
A calefactory, silver and gilt. Two fioles of silver and gilt.
Staves. A staff covered with silver and gilt, with an image of
Our Lady at one end, and an image of St. Hugh at the other. Four
other staves of silver and gilt. And four staves of wood, two of
which have plates of silver.
Pastoral Staves. The head of a bishop's staff, silver and gilt,
with a knop of pearls and stones, an image of Our Saviour on one
side, and an image of St. John Baptist on the other, weighing 18
ounces. The head of a staff, copper and gilt. Two staves for the
same.
Texts of the Evangelists. A text after St. Matthew, covered
with a plate, silver and gilt, and with divers stones. Six other
similar texts. And three texts for Lent and the Passion.
Chrismatory. A chrismatory, silver and gilt, with sixteen
images, enamelled, weighing 26 ounces.
AmfidlcB for Oil. Three ampullae, silver and gilt each with a
cover, and a spoon with an acorn.
Morses.* Seventeen morses, silver and gilt, some set with
stones and pearls, others enamelled.
Serta. Three garlands, silver and gilt, enriched with pearls
and stones.
Such were the holy vessels and utensils of a great church in the
Middle Ages.
After 1534 the work of spoliation commenced, and has been
carried on more or less ever since. First came Henry VIII, who, in
1539-40, suppressed all religious houses throughout the realm, and
of course appropriated tbeir possessions, including their vessels of
gold and silver.
In 1548 Edv'ard VI sent his commissioners throughout the
land, with orders to take all plate, except one, two, or more chalices,
according to the size of the parish. And a few years later further
orders were issued, that " monuments of feigned miracles, pilgr'mages,
idolatry and superstition" were to be entirely done away with
and destroyed. Then it was that churchwardens and incumbents,
feeling that all church property was insecure, sold a good deal of
the Communion plate, and expended the proceeds in the repairs of
their churches and other ways.
Cups made in the time of Edward VI are as rare as pre-
Reformation chalices. At St. Margaret's Church, Westminster,
there are two large silver gilt cups of this date.f At Clapton and
Great Houghton, Co. Northampton, are two beautiful silver gilt
cups, made in 1548 and 1553 respectively ;+ and a few others may
be found throughout the country.
* The motal fastenings of a cape.
t Freshfield's " Communion Plate in the County of London."
t Markham's " Church ^^late of the Countv of Northampton," 1894, pp.
70, 162.