PROCEEDINGS. of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland

Transcription

1 PROCEEDINGS of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland Our full archive of freely accessible articles covering Scottish archaeology and history is available at National Museums Scotland Chambers Street, Edinburgh Charity No SC

2 XII. NOTICE OF COMMUNION CUPS FROM DUIRINISH, SKYE, WITH NOTES ON OTHER SETS OF SCOTTISH CHURCH PLATE, OF WHICH SPECIMENS WERE EXHIBITED. BY NORMAN MACPHERSON, LL.D., SHERIFF OF DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY, PROFESSOR OP SOOTS LAW, UNIVER- SITY OF EDINBURGH, V.P. S.A. SCOT. Having heard from the Rev. Roderick Morison, minister of the parish of Kintail, formerly

3 NOTICE OF COMMOTION CUPS FEOM DUIKINISH, SKYE. 399 to have been made prior to the close of the seventeenth century; and indeed I have continued the inquiry down to 1745, after which date Scottish taste cannot

4 400 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, JUNE 14, might therefore expect

5 NOTICE OF COMMUNION CUPS FROM DUIRINISH, SKYE. 401 may be assigned. The common feature of all these cups is that the base is almost as large, and the same shape as the bowl. The two lying at the side of the heads of priests, one from the West Coast and one from

6 Fig. 4. Tombstone of a Prior of lona. Fig. 5. Tombstone at lona.

7 NOTICE

8 404, PEO'CEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, JUNE 14, The well-known Rorie More, a leading chief in the days of James VI., whose chequered career shows frequent periods of. strained relations with

9 Figs.

10 406 PEOCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, JUNE 14, of the lands of Talisker, in the parish of Bracadale. He commanded a large detachment of Skye men at the battle of Worcester. He frequently appeared at the Court of Charles II. after the Eesfcoration, and he too was knighted. The introduction of the Mackay stag's head into the arms engraved on the cups points to this Sir Eoderick as the probable donor, as he married a daughter of Lord Eeay, and is the only member of the Dunvegan family known to have married a Mackay. 1 It is strange that another remarkable cup of the same type belonged to the chief of the other great sept of the Macleods, viz., Macleod of Lewis. This

11 Fig. 9. Communion Cup, Perth.

12

13 NOTICE

14 410 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, JUNE 14, which it appears that in'1587 they were already in possession of communion cups. These could

15 facture, NOTICE OF COMMUNION CUPS FROM DUIKINISH, SKYE. 411

16 412 PROCEEDINGS,

17 induced NOTICE QF COMMUNION CUPS FROM DUIEINISH, SKYE. 413

18 414 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, JUNE.14, The cathedral plate and many of its other treasures were sent to Strathbogie

19 over-gilt," NOTICE OF COMMUNION CUPS FROM DUIRINISH, SKYE. 415

20 416 PROCEEDINGS

21 NOTICE OF COMMUNION CUPS FKOM DUIEINISH, SKYE. 417 say that communion cups might not have been of wood. As long ago as the Council of Tribur, St Boniface said that in ancient days the chalices were of wood and bishops of gold a saying often since repeated with modifications. As we cannot boast of chalices of gold, we must hope that

22 418 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, JUNE 14, Dunblane has cups of great severity (fig. 20) of the same style, but dating only from 1702, Strange

23 NOTICE OF COMMUNION CUPS FEOM DUIRINISH, SKYE. 419 When there were so many altars there must necessarily have been profusion

24 420 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, JUNE 14, kirk;" shortly, a large part of it, what space remained after providing

25 NOTICE

26 422 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, JUNE 14, Johnne Lyndsay, was deacon in 1617 and 1618; while George Crawfurd was appointed in 1615 and 1616, in 1621 and 1622, and again in 1633 and Thus James Davidson was appointed deacon in 1813 and 1814, again in 1819 and 1820, again in 1831 and Sometimes, however,

27 NOTICE

28 424 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, JUNE 14, " In January 1618, it was proposed to have new cups and plates for the communion service. ' The Session,' say the minutes, ' thooht it maist meit that thair

29 NOTICE OF COMMUNION CUPS FROM DUIRINISH, SKYE. 425

30

31 Figs.

32 428 PROCEEDINGS

33 NOTICE

34 430 PROCEEDINGS

35 Fig.

36 432 PROCEEDINGS OF

37 NOTICE

38

39 Fig.

40 Figs.

41 Fig. 46. Forgan (1652). Fig. 47. Craig (1682). Fig. 48. Wemyss (1673).

42 Fig. VAROCH OTIRENCIW SBE.KJ&94

43 / ' e7 THE PASlffjI OF WLCIRTH HE IS NOT HERE BUTHf V J \SALTPRESTO1 y v Fig. 52. Applegarth (1710). Fig. 53. Mouswald (1723). Fig. 54. Prestonpans (1696).

44 440 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, JUNE 14, 1886.

45 NOTICE

46 442 PEOCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, JUNE 14, Besides the flagons for holding the wine before being poured into the cups, there are smaller flagons or ewers used for the baptismal water. Probably the largest of the former is the great flagon of St Giles', 15 inches high, which

47 NOTICE

48 a

49 NOTICE OF COMMUNION CUPS FROM DDIRINISH, SKYB. 445 weight also of the new. May the parish, which had the spirit to purchase these beautiful vessels, long prize and appreciate them! Not merely

50 446 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, JUNE 14, " I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord." " Calicem argenteum ecclesise Banchriensi reliquit Alexander Kcedus medicines doctor