sometimes met with. Certainly, heraldry is the least objectionable way of commemorating a person without the parade of a name; and whether founder, benefactor, or donor of the Font, Bishop of the Diocese or Lord of the Manor, the compliment was a harmless one and not necessarily dictated by a love of worldly pride or family distinction. Merchants' marks sometimes occur on Fonts. The Tudor rose is constantly found in late examples, but as scarcely a heraldic ornament. A very remarkable appendage to some few Fonts is a small projecting bracket or ledge near the upper part, as exhibited in the woodcut of that from Pittsford, Northamptonshire. Another occurs at Youl-grave, Derbyshire. Its use is altogether uncertain. Some have supposed that was intended to receive. the crewet of holy oil. The position of Fonts varies considerably. The principle however always observable is to place them near a western entrance. A very common site for Early English or Decorated Fonts is on the west side of the nearest nave pier to the left as you enter by the south porch. Sometimes, where there is no north door, the Font is placed against the north wall, as at Oakington and Long Stanton, Cambridgeshire; but this is not very common. Still more rarely is the Font placed in the centre of the church, as at Castle Rising. The usual position of late Fonts is a little to the east of the belfry arch, be-
- See Mr. Poole's Appropriate Character of Church Architecture,
Chap. v. Engraved in Markland's Romarks on English Churches, p. 92. 29
