488 



On Gaufres or Wafer Irons. By J. G. Winning. 



There are two pairs shewn on the photograph from which the 

 figures were drawn. The loose pair were exhibited at a meeting 

 of the Hawick Archaeological Society in 1863, and were said to 

 have been found at Chapelhill, Branxholme, near to the site of 

 the old chapel. The length, including the plates, is 2 feet 6 

 inches ; the plates are 6 inrhes by 4. " They consist of two flat 

 plates of iron 6 inches long and 4 broad, with long handles, 

 hinged so as to press the plates against each other like pincers. 

 One of the plates bears six counter-sunk dies of a circular shape, 

 and about an inch in diameter, each bearing the initial letters 

 I H C, with olive leaves and other emblematical devices. This 

 ganfre (v. gauffrc) or baking utensil " was used for making the 

 consecrated wafers given by the priest on sacramental occasions." 

 "It is not unlikely that the rude-looking tool may have manu- 

 factured wafers, not only for Hawick Church, but also for many 

 other of the numerous chapels in the neighbourhood. In using 

 it, the plates were heated, aud then greased to prevent adhesion, 

 after which the paste was placed between them ; they were then 

 closed, and after a few moments on a clear fire, it was lifted off, 

 and the wafers were ready. Similar utensils are still used in 

 this and other countries." [Hawick Arch. Soc. Trans., Sept. 

 1863, p. 51.] 



The other pair appear to be of more recent origin. There is 

 no information as to where they came from. There are no letters 

 or devices on them. The length of the pair is 2 feet 8 inches, 

 and the plates are 4| inches by 5. 



[The Wafer Irons were drawn by Mr John Dickson, Duns, 

 from a photograph supplied by Mr Winning. The only symbol 

 distinguishable in the photograph on one of the dies,was a cross.] 



In regard to the Sacred Trigraph I H C on the Gauffre of 

 Chapelhill, in the Transactions of the Hawick Archaeological 

 Society for October 1863, Dr Murray says the Greek form of 

 Jesus is I H C Y C 



I E S U S Eoman form ; 

 and that C was an old form of S, both in the Latin and 

 Greek alphabets ; and that the Greek form was contracted into 

 I H C or I H S. The latter contraction then got the fanciful 

 meaning of standing for " Jesus Hominum Salvator," whereas it 

 was simply the contraction for the name of " Jesus ;" and he 



