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Altar plate, associated with James VII (II of England)

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from Abbey Church of Holyrood, Edinburgh

Altar plate, associated with James VII (II of England)
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These are the surviving pieces of the altar plate used in James VII's Roman Catholic chapel at the Abbey Church of Holyrood in Edinburgh. Most of the items were bought in London in 1686 by the Lord Chancellor of Scotland, the Earl of Perth.

The group consists of a monstrance; ciborium; incense burner, incense boat and incense spoon; chalice and paten; and sanctus bell. All these pieces, except the spoon, bear James VII's royal cipher. The bell and spoon were made in Edinburgh.

In 1688, during the 'Glorious Revolution', a mob destroyed the chapel's furnishings. Some of the altar plate was saved by a priest who escaped with it to a predominantly Roman Catholic district in Banffshire. The pieces were subsequently dispersed.

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