Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 9.djvu/455

 ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS. 859 The Bishops of Enachdunc, in Galway, were very frequently employed by those of Winchester, in this capacity. In Bishop Woodlock's Roi^istcr, fol. 336, verso, the following entry occurs : " Ordines cclehrati per f rat rem Gilbertuni, D.G. Enachdunensem Episcopum, vice et auctoritatc vencrahilis patris, doniini Ilenrici, D.G. Wynton' Episcopi, in ccclesia conventus do Suthwerk, die Sahbati, qua cantatur * sitientes.' Videlicet, Kal. Marcii, A.D. 1314." The original matri.t of the seal of Gilbert, Bishop of Enachdunc, was in existence in 1797, in the possession of a person at Coventry, who, under the signature " 2," communicated an impression to the " Gentleman's Magazine."^ It is remarkable that several Irish episcopal seals are in existence, in the Museum of the Royal Irish Academy and other collections, but no example appears to have been noticed of the original matrix of a seal of any English prelate, still preserved. The seal in question is of pointed-oval form, and presents a figure of the Virgin holding the infant Saviour, and standing within a purfled canopy or niche ; beneath is the upper part of a mitred figure, with hands upraised. This matrix very probably still exists, although the fact has not been ascertained. Gilbert had been elected in 130G by the Dean and Chapter, without royal license; and having paid 300?. for the king's pardon, he retained possession, not- withstanding the complaints of the Archbishop of Tuam to the Pope. He exercised episcopal functions in several parts of England, as a suffragan, having granted indulgences at the church of Kingsbury, Warwickshire, and Nether Cerne Abbey, Dorset, where he dedicated an altar. (Hutchins, vol. ii., p. 289.) Gilbert, Bishop of Enachdunc, occurs in Wharton's list of " Chorepiscopi diocesis Wigorniensis," under the year 1313. In the year after the death of the before-mentioned Simon, Bishop of Achonry, William of Wykeham issued the following commission to Henry, Bishop of Enachdune : " Reverendo in Christo patri ac domino, domino Henrico, Ennachdunensi Episcopo, Willelmus, permissione divind Wynto- niensis Episcopus, salutem et fraternam in domino caritatem. Ad dedicanduni cancellum ecclesia; parochialis de Farnham nostra} dioceseos, et magnum altare in eodcm, de novo constructa, et cetera altaria in eadem ecclesia, si qua dedicatione indigeant, paternitati vestra} liberam tenorc presenciuni concedimus facultatem. In cujus rei testimonium sigillum nostrum fecimus his apponi. Datum in manerio nostro de Essher, xxiiii'" die raensis Junii, A.D. Mcccxcix., et nostrte consecrationis xxx"." On the 6th of September, in the following year, the same prelate was commissioned, in the same terms, to dedicate the chancel and altars of the chapel of Bentley, annexed to the mother church of Farnham. After his death, which must have taken place not long after, I find his successor, .John, Bishop of Enachdune, employed by the same prelate to administer holy orders in the chapel of his manor of South Waltham, on the 23rd of December, 1402. The date of the dedication of the chapel of Bentley enables us to correct an inaccuracy with regard to Bishop Henry, in Archdeacon Cotton's " Fasti," for it shows beyond doubt that he was still living in September, 1400 : the Archdeacon makes the date of the appointment of his successor uncertain, leaving the unit in blank, thus, (139 — ). It certainly could not have taken ^ Gent. Mag. vol. Ixviii.. part i., p. 29.3. engraver, but there can be little doubt that The inscription seems somewhat blundered it may be assigned to the prelate above- or erroneously given by Mr. Urban's named.