INSCRIPTION ON ANCIENT ALMS-BASINS.

Mr. Editor,--In the parish church in which I officiate are preserved
four ancient and curious alms-basins, of latten; They appear to be of
Flemish workmanship, and, from inventories of the church goods, made
at different times, we may gather that they were given for their
present use during the seventeenth century. They represent:--1. The
Martyrdom of St. Sebastian; 2. The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin;
3. The Temptation in Eden; and 4. The Spies bearing the Grapes. Around
each of these subjects is a legend in foreign characters, "DER.
INFRID. GEHWART." I have submitted this inscription to antiquaries
and German scholars in vain; it still remains a puzzle. It has been
suggested that it may have been only an arbitrary mark of the maker.
Is this probable? If not, will you, or one of your readers, give the
interpretation to

CLERICUS?

Nov. 8, 1849.

[We have much pleasure in inserting the foregoing QUERY, and
trust that many of our correspondents will follow the example of
_Clericus_, by furnishing us with copies of the inscriptions on
any ancient church plate in their possession, or which may come
under their notice. A comparison of examples will often serve to
remove such difficulties as the present, which perhaps may be read
DERIN FRID GEHWART, "Therein Peace approved;" _Gewären_ being used
in the sense of _Bewähren_, authority for which may be found in
Wackernagel.]