|
Gentleman's Magazine 1849 part 1 p.259
of the like number of lights, but of Early Perpendicular
style. Above the upper set of sculptures are inscriptions in
Latin in old characters, that extend round the bottom of the
bowl. They have been deeply cut; but so few of the letters
are now legible that nothing can be learnt from them, though
probably they had reference to the subjects rudely
sculptured in raised figures on each of the compartments or
faces in the head. On the first of these faces is a
representation of the tree of life. The second, upon a
triangular shield, displays the emblems of the crucifixion.
The third face represnts the wod proceeding out of the mouth
of the Almighty to all parts of the world. The fourth
symbolizes the Trinity. The fifth is difficult to decypher,
but some appearances like vine leaves may be traced. The
sixth, within a triangular shield, has Aaron's rod, and in
the corners are smaller shields of the same shape, that on
the dexter base of the larger shield being charged with the
armorial bearings of the Multons, lords of Egremont and
Cockermouth; but the one next the sinister base is not to be
deciphered with precision. The seventh face represents the
tree of knowledge of good and evil, with the tempter of
mankind in the form of a dragon passing through the trunk,
the meaning of which rudely executed symbols are by the
intelligent sexton of the church quaintly construed to be,
"the effects of a good sermon cut through, and rendered to
no avail, by the Devil." On the eighth face, within an
escutcheon of triangular form, are the royal arms of England
as borne by Edward III.; and in the corners are two smaller
shields, that next the dexter base of the royal achievement
being charged with the armorial coat of Gilbert Umfreville,
Earl of Angus; while the other, next the sinister base,
shows the arms of the Lucys, successors to the Multons in
the lordships above named. From these various architectural
and heraldic devices it has been inferred that the font is
as old as the reign of the chivalric sovereign above named,
and that it was given to the church by the Earl of Angus and
his wife Maud, the lineal descendant of Alice de Romeli, and
sister and sole heiress of Anthony Lucy, feudal lord of the
barony of Egremont and seignory of Cockermouth.
(To be continued.)
|