Obs. [f. FONT sb.1 + STONE.] The stone font used in baptism.

1

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 149. Þet ȝe habbeð et þe fonstan underfonge.

2

1297.  R. Glouc. (1724), 247.

        And of holy vantston þys grete kyng nome,
And ys godfader was in ys Cristendom.

3

c. 1380.  Sir Ferumb., 548.

        Had he beo in crist be-leued, & fulled in holi fanston,
A betere kynȝst þan he was preuid liuande nas þer non.

4

1426.  Audelay, Poems, 11.

        This foreward furst we mad at the fonsston,
  To-fore owre fader faythely that folowed in ray,
To forsake syr Sathanas his werkus everychon,
  And become Cristen men to byleve in God veray.

5

1594[?].  Greene, Selimus, Wks. 1881–3, XIV. 267. I wil bring my godfathers and godmothers, and they shal swear it vpon the font-stone, and vpon the church booke too.

6

1682.  R. Burton, Admirable Curiosities (1684), 121. I have been with my Lord Cardinal Pool, and he hath made me as clean from my Sins as I was at the Font-stone, and he hath also appointed me to publish unto you the Bull of the Popes Pardon.

7

1830.  Scott, Demonol., v. 147. Offering her plenty of every thing if she would but deny Christianity, and the faith she took at the font-stone.

8