Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 11.djvu/319

 ORIGIXAL DOCUMEXTS. 277 lifetime had given to Ralph in token of his future elevation to the episcopate.* It has hccn already observed that there is reason to think it was customary to deliver up bishops' seals to their metropolitans, to obviate the risk of their falling into improper hands. One of the constitutions of Cardinal Otho, in the Council of London, a.d. 1237, comprises injunctions regarding the seals of archbishops, bishops, abbots, ttc, and the diligent care for their safe custody.* It is remarkable that no precaution is enjoined to prevent the improper use of seals after the death of any dignitary or official ; and we have not found anything stated by Lyndwood or other writers on subjects of this nature, to show the practice in regard to epis- copal seals." A striking evidence of the necessity which must have existed for strict precautions in such matters is presented by the discovery of leaden matrices in the silt of the Thames, which were fabricated, there can be little doubt, for some dishonest purpose. They bear the names of Alexander, Bishop of Lincoln, 112.3-1147 ; William de St, Barbara, Bishop of Durham, 1143-11.54 ; and Robert, Archbishop of Canterbury, either Robert Kil- wardby, 1272, or Robert Winchelsey, 1294. These curious reliques appear to be contemporary with the times of those prelates : they are preserved in the Museum of London Antiquities formed by Mr. Charles Roach Smith.'' At Durham it was customary to break the bishops' seals on their decease, and to offer them to St. Cuthbert. As early as 109.5, on the death of AVilliam, first of the name, the record occurs — " audita morte istius statim fracta fuerunt ejus sigilla et sancto Cuthberto oblata. ""^ A similar entry is made on the death of subsequent bishops, it being occasionally stated that the breaking of the seals took place on the day of the interment, and it is recorded that of the broken seals of Richard de Bury, who died 1345, a silver-gilt chalice was formed by Richard de Wolveston, the feretrarius , and appropriated to the altar of the Baptist. On the under side of the foot was inscribed a distich, commencing thus — " Hie ciphus insignis fit Praesulis ex tetra signis." These seals were, it may be supposed, usually of silver. It is remarkable that although several matrices still exist of the seals of Scotch, Irish, and Welsh bishops, no example has been noticed, as we believe, of the seal of any English prelate, preserved to the present time. Foreign episcopal seals occasionally occur. W. S. W. AXD A. W. '' Anglia Sacra, vol. ii. p. 2D0. portion of the seal of a deceased Pope kins' Concilia ; appended also to Lynd- de Sigillis, p. 15. wood, edit. 1 ?!', p. 67. ' Catalogue of the Museum, p. 14.5. ^ At the present time the seals of ^ Ornamenta Willielmi Episcopi primi. bishops are transmitted, on their decease, Wills and Inventories, published by the to Lambeth, where they are broken up. Surtees Society, Part I., p. 1. See other Maskell, Monum. Ritualia, Vol. III., p. Uke entries, passim. l.^.^. It was the practice to break the * Ibid, p. 26.
 * Constitutiones Domini Othonis, Wil- which had his name ou it. Heineccius