Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 9.djvu/365

Rh fourth line. These two conjectures must, however, be determined by the linguist and not by the palæograpber. Still as there are only two or three early inscribed stones in Scotland, and none of them have yet been decypbered, the preceding observations will not perhaps be considered destitute of interest."

Mr. proposed, in a paper read before the Antiquaries of Scotland, May 10, ult., an interpretation of this inscription, noticed in "Gent. Mag.," vol. 37, p. 607.

Mr. read the following observations on the early communion plate used in the Church of England:—

" the course of my researches connected with the subject of the Hall marks on Plate, numerous examples of ancient church plate came under my examination, and my attention being thus directed to the history of our sacramental plate, I observed a most remarkable similarity, I may almost say absolute uniformity, of shape and ornamentation, in all the more ancient chalices used in our churches, a shape and style of ornament totally dissimilar to those used in medieval times, or at present in the Roman Catholic Church. I have therefore been led to investigate the history of the sacramental plate in use in the Church of England, and to communicate the result of my inquiries, as I think it is a subject which has not hitherto received sufficient attention.

"Previous to the Reformation, the sacred vessels used in the celebration of the Holy Sacrament consisted of a chalice, a paten, a ciborium or pyx, in which the Eucharist was reserved, and two cruets to contain the wine and water for consecration. A detailed account and description of these vessels, together with the authorities, is given by Pugin in his 'Glossary of Ecclesiastical Ornaments and Costume;' it will therefore be unnecessary to enter into much detail here.

"The chalice consisted of three parts, the cup or bowl, the stem, which in its middle swelled out into a bulb, called the knop, for the convenience of holding it, and the foot. In the early times when the cup was received by the whole body of the faithful, the chalices were necessarily of very large size, but as in later times the celebrant priest alone received the consecrated wine, the bowl was usually small, though there were also some chalices with large bowls, probably used on particular occasions. The general form of the bowl was that of half an egg, some being nearly hemispherical, like the larger end, others having rather a parabolic form like the smaller end, both, however, without any angle or sharp curve, and equally convenient for being easily and perfectly cleansed. They were at one time often made of glass, crystal, agate, or other precious stone; but these materials, on account of their brittleness, were forbidden, and only gold and silver were allowed to be used. In poor churches the stem and foot was often of metal gilt, but the bowl was ordered always to be of silver. The stem, knop, and foot were frequently adorned with engravings, enamels, or chased work, representing the emblems of the passion, or other sacred subjects, and on one part of the foot there was always a cross, which was held towards the priest at the time of celebration. The circumference of the foot was generally indented to prevent the chalice rolling when set on its side to drain.

"The paten was a small silver platter, slightly sunk in the middle like an ordinary plate, and frequently ornamented in the centre with some sacred device in engraving or enamel.

"With the ciborium we have nothing to do; and the cruets were two