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Of other things or archaeological interest in our chuches we can but indicate a few. The humour of our gargoyles and crockets is very marked though they are mostly very rudely carved. When architecture was the only 'book' that most people could read it provided for their amusement as well as their instruction. Just as people with a sense of humour are generally also more lofty-minded than the over-serious, so the buildings in which a humorous element is found are also as a rule the finest and most elevating. Grave and gay are mingled in life and properly found together in art.

At Michaelstow Dr. Cox has pointed out the remains of an anchor-hold in the north wall.*

Cornwall has several interesting examples of church plate. There are Elizabethan communion cups** at Broadwood, Constantine, Crantock, St. Erme, St. Genys, St. Issey, Jacobstow, St. Kew, Kilkhampton, Mabe, St. Mabyn, Manaccan, St. Michael's Mount (a recent acquisition), Morwenstow, Perran-an-worthal, Perranuthnoe, Sancreed, Stythians, Towednack, Trevalga, Wendron, St. Winnow. There are patens of that date (without cups) at St. Agnes, Devoran, Duloe, Launceston, (St. Mary Magdelene). At Menhenoit are two beautiful flagons (resembling sack jugs) of 16th century mottled Lambeth stoneware mounted with collar and lid of silver dated in one case 1578 and in the other 1581.*** At St. Kew is a glass egg-shaped bowl with silver mounts of 1598. At St. Mabyn is a standing cup of silver surmounted by a stauette (1576), now used as a communion cup. At Mabe is a beautiful tazza of 1577 weighing 11 oz. 6 cwts with a beautiful fillet and scroll of the time, and in the centre a head of Medusa. It was presented to the church by l. Worth, probably the man who purchased Tremough in that parish in 1703. This use of secular vessels for sacred purposes was not uncommon.

 

Of later date the following (amongst others) are noteworthy: a tall hanap with steeple and figure (1617) and a pair of tall flagons (1619) at Bodmin; a pair of flagons (1640), a large paten

(1705), and a pair of collecting basins with handles (1743) at St.

 

* 'The Guardian', 4 Sept., 1901

** The italics indicates the absence of paten cover. This list is not entirely compiled

from personal observation.

*** On similar stoneware jugs by the same maker (Eston) see Cripps 'Old English Plate'