flagons, are perfectly plain, being formed of a single depression, and having a narrow flat rim, without the usual moulding on the edge.

John Sandiford, the donor of these four flagons and two patens, was Borough Reeve of Manchester in 1676-7, and for many years took a prominent part in the municipal administration. He was, apparently, a man of wealth, to judge by this valuable presentation to the Collegiate Church. He died in 1710, his will being proved at the Chester Probate Court that year.

ALMS DISH, 1715.

This is a large, massive, and plain dish, 16 inches in diameter, and formed of a single hollow depression, with moulded edge, to a flat, broad rim. It bears the inscription: "The gift of Mrs. "Elizabeth Cartwright, Widdow, to ye Collegiate Church of Manchester. Anno Dom., 1715." The hall marks are so worn as not to be clearly decipherable, traces of the leopard's head and a portion of the date letter only being visible. This is also of the Britannia standard.

66

It has not been ascertained who the donor was, one source of information- the Court Leet Records not being available, as they are missing for a period covering the year of the presentation. The church registers might, however, possibly throw some light upon the personality of Mrs. Cartwright and her family.

CHALICE, 1874.

This chalice is of the usual modern ecclesiastical style, in imitation of the medieval chalices. It is of silver gilt, and was presented to the cathedral by an unknown donor, to perpetuate the memory of Canon Richson. It bears the hall marks of

66

the London assay office for the year 1875, and is inscribed: "In loving memory of Charles "Richson, Canon of the Cathedral. Born March 7th, 1806. Died May 15th, 1874. 'He that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet "shall he live and whoso liveth and believeth "in Me shall never die.''

BEAKER CUPS.

These cups, four in number, were, a few years ago, presented to the cathedral, by Earl Egerton of Tatton. They are alike in every detail, and are silver, but bear no hall marks. They are without handles, cover, or feet, and have a diameter at the bottom of 3 inches, standing 4 inches high, and a bell lip, having a diameter of 3 inches. They are decorated with interlaced strap work, foliated, and having a bundle of arrows at the centre intersection of the engraved strap work.

66

As to these cups, the following appeared recently in the Manchester Guardian, from the pen of Canon Residentiary Edward L. Hicks:-"They belonged (as their engraved inscriptions testify) to the Scots Church of the Scots Factors at Campvere, "in the Netherlands, for which they were made in "' 1620. This was the first church outside of Scotland which had direct connection with the Mother Church at home. This Scottish Factory "was broken up in 1795. The beaker-shape is "said to be a common form of communion cup in "the Netherlands, and also in the north-east of "Scotland. This is accounted for by the consider"able trade which existed for centuries between "Aberdeen and the Netherlands. The four cups "now in the Manchester Cathedral are an interesting example of this connection."

II. PRESTON CHURCH.

The plate belonging to the Parish Church of Preston consists of the following 12 articles :

Previous to the year 1705 the plate of the Church. would appear to have been of base metal. In the Church-book is recorded, under date 25th April, 1659 The XXIV decided to provide for the "necessary uses of the church, minister, and congregation these ornaments and materialls." (Inter alia). "Two silver bowles with covers, weighing 34 oz. 4 dwt., costing £9 11s. 2d." Again, in 1660, "ffyve pewter fflagons to be used

at the tyme of the sacrment." In 1675 it is recorded. The five pewter flagons being now by "use worn out they be exchanged for new ones. "and three new plates of best pewter to be pro"vided for sacrament and it is ordered that they "be decently and well kept for the future and not "lent abroad to any funerals or emploied in any "common services." The latter part of the foregoing throws a curious light upon the practice of lending church plate, and accounts for the pewter flagons being "by use worn out" in fifteen years.

The only other entry in the Church-books relating to the plate is contained under date 1696, when the clerk (Joseph Barnes) was allowed 1 1s. out of the church accounts for taking charge of the communion plate. The plate here referred to could only, of course, be a pewter communion service, as there is no record of any other being in existence. until the year 1705, notwithstanding the decision

of the xxiv, of the 25th April, 1659, to purchase "two silver bowls with covers." In any case, whether purchased or not, they are not now in

existence.

FLAGON AND PATEN, 1705.

This portion of the plate is inscribed on each piece-The gift of the Right Hon. John, Lord Gower, Baron of Stitnam, 1705.”

The flagon is of the usual shape, much in vogue at the beginning of the eighteenth century, and stands inches high, and has engraved the monogram IHS, surrounded by rays and surmounted with

a cross.

The paten is 6 inches in diameter and of plain pattern, the engraving being similar to that of the flagon. It stands on a slight foot, 1 inches in height and 2 in diameter.

The donor of this, the oldest plate in the possession of the Parish Church, was Sir John LevesonGower, fourth Baronet, a member of an ancient and distinguished family. He was elevated to the peerage as Baron Gower of Stittenham, Co. York, 16th March, 1703, and died in 1709. He married Lady Catherine Manners, daughter of John, first Duke of Rutland, who survived him. At the time of the presentation of the cup, and during the Guild of 1702, he was resident in Preston, and held the office of Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. He is described in the Roll of Inn Burgesses as "Rt. Hon. Sir John Levison Gower, Bt., Chancellor of the County Palatine and Duchy of "Lancaster." He was appointed to that office in the first year of the reign of Queen Anne, on the 12th May, 1702, and held the position until the 10th June, 1706. Although the duties appertaining to the office of Chancellor are now merely nominal, they were not always so. At the time of Baron

6.

Gower being Chancellor, he sat as Judge of the Lancaster Duchy Court, held at Westminster, a branch of which was held at Preston, and called the Court of the County Palatine of Lancaster, for the trial of any causes relating to the revenue of the Duchy. At this period Preston, besides being the centre of the legal business of the county, and the place where the county business was then, as now, transacted, was the residence of many families of note, who had "Town-houses." Amongst these may be mentioned Sir Christopher Greenfield, James, Duke of Hamilton, The Earl of Derby, Sir Thos. Stanley, Bart., Nicholas Starkie, Attorney General for the County, Sir Cyril Wych, John Weddell, Vice-Chancellor of the County, Sir Gervase Elwes, Bart., Prothonotary of the County, Sir William Robinson and Edward Hyde, Esq., of Preston, cousin of Queen Anne, and afterwards Earl of Clarendon.

As to the Gower family, it may be interesting to note the succession of John, Lord Gower :1745 His son, John Leveson-Gower, was created Viscount Trentham. 1786: His son, Granville Leveson-Gower, was created Marquis of Stafford and K.G. 1833 His son, George Granville Leveson-Gower, created Duke of Sutherland. In 1841 he assumed the surname and arms of Sutherland-George Granville Sutherland LevesonGower-from whom the present Duke is descended. The present title is Earl and Baron Gower, Viscount Trentham, Marquess of Stafford, and Duke of Sutherland.

FLAGON AND TWO PATENS, 1708

These articles all bear the following inscription, in script characters: "The gift of Madame Margery Rawstorne, Widdow, of Preston, to the "Church of Preston, 1708."