Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 9.djvu/407

 'Ef)t ^rcftaeoloQ-ical 3)ournaL DECEMBER, 1852. ON THE ASSAY MARKS ON GOLD AND SILVER PLATE.' ON THE ASSAY MARKS OF THE PROVINCIAL TOWNS. We now come to the concluding portion of our subject, viz., the consideration of the Provincial Assa}^ Marks on Plate. On this head, however, there is less to be said than might be supposed, and much has been anticipated in a work recently published, intituled " The Assay of Gold and Silver Wares," by Arthur Ryland, Esq. To complete the subject, however, it will be desirable to give a brief account of them. In 1423, by statute 2nd Henry VI., the cities of York, Newcastle, Lincoln, Norwich, Bristol, Salisbury, and Coventry, were appointed to have " divers Touches."" But with the exception of Norwich, I find no trace of any of them having exercised the authority thus conferred upon them, notwith- standing most, if not all, had guilds or fraternities of gold- smiths established in them. Indeed, it is very likely that they did not, else it would hardly have been necessary to reappoint them by statute in 1 700, to have the assay of plate. These cities were most probably selected for Touch towns on account of mints existing in some or all of them, as that was the reason for their selection in 1700. In Norwich, plate was made, assayed, and marked, at an early period, and specimens among the plate belonging to the corporation exist of the date 1.567. The distinguishing mark is an escutcheon mth the arms of the city of Norwich, viz., a castle in chief above a Hon passant in base. An annual letter seems also to have been used, for on two pieces of plate of 1567, a Roman C is found, and on one of 1568, there is ' Coatinued from p. 246. VOL. IX. TT