116 Communion Tokens. 



Westerkirk. 



270. E.G. Xo. 168. WESTERKIRK around edge, K in 

 centre. Reverse, as Eskdalemuir E.G. Borders, r. 

 15. Brook 1136. 



See note under Eskdalemuir. 



VL — Extracts from Ancient Records of Dumfries on 

 Things Pertaining to the Sacrament. 



It is somewhat remarkable that not a single specimen of the 

 pre-Reformaticn Gommunion Cup used in Scotland has survi\ed. 

 Two sepulchral chalices and patens of that early period are in the 

 Edinburgh Na:ional Museum of Antiquities. The older chalice 

 is made of war;, and was found in 1845 in the tomb of Bishop 

 Thomas Tulloch when the Cathedral of St. Magnus, Kirkwall, 

 was being repaired. Tulloch filled the See from 1418 to 1461. 

 A pewter chalice of a similar antiquity was found in 1882 in the 

 churchyard of Bervie, Kincardineshire. One common feature of 

 lx)th cups is that the diameter of bowl and foot is almost the same. 

 They are supposed to preserve for us some likeness in shape to 

 the Gommunion cups of the period to which they undoubtedly 

 belong. An exhaustive examination of public records has not 

 only brought to light complete inventories of rich possessions in 

 pre-Reformation Communion plate and jewelled paraphernalia for 

 celebrations of the highest order, but it has revealed the cause of 

 their entire disappearance. Prior to the Reformation these 

 treasures belonged to Town Councils, and when the great change 

 came over the religious government of the country these valuable 

 items were called in, converted into money and applied to any 

 need, secular or otherwise, pressing heavily upon the community. 

 Many a protest, no doubt, would be raised against the sacrilege 

 of applying such holy utensils to secular purposes. Just such a 

 vain protest is found in the Dumfries Sheriff Court Book at 19th 

 November, 1567, where we have the following entry: " Compearit 

 Schir Johne Bryce, vicar of Dumfries, and exponit to the Provost, 

 Baillies, and Counsell of the said burgh thir wordis following: 

 Forsamekill as our ancient antecessauris of Kirkmen and otheris 

 Weill gevin, of lang tyme of befoir, as Maister Roger Garrutheris, 

 Thomas Car, Maister James Hend with the rest of personis 

 owneris of the parsonage and vicarage of Dumfries gave things in 



