Plates 1.58-1.60: Lancaster Duchy Office Seals, Part B
Plate 1.58 depicts ten seals of varying sizes and shapes within a decorative border of columns, acanthus, and garland swags (the most lavish border of the series). The seals are arranged in four tidy rows seemingly according to size. Plate 1.59 displays seven seals, mostly large format, in a slender architectonic frame with acanthus leaves. The organization of the seals on this print is asymmetrical to accommodate the very large great seal of Cardinal Wolsey at the top. Plate 1.60 contains engravings of an impressive eleven seals with its border. Although the framework of slender columns and vine scroll is delicate, the plate generally appears cramped with the seals and captions placed very close to one another. An added caption at the top of Plate 1.60 records that these seals were part of a specific collection (that is, they should be considered a set) in the Augmentation Office. The records of the Augmentation Office were related to revenues accrued by the Crown following the Dissolution of monasteries, colleges, and chantry chapels in the 1530s and 1540s. Now in The National Archives, these records were kept in a building near the Court of the Exchequer at Westminster until 1793. Plate 1.60 includes several fragmentary seals, which is relatively uncommon among seals engraved for Vetusta Monumenta, while other seals on the plate were clearly in pristine condition at the time of production.
Across all three plates, most of the seals were represented as being attached to documents thanks to the inclusion of the parchment tags. In fact, many of the captions underscore that the seals were attached to deeds, indicating both the sender (the sealer) and recipient of the document and, at times, including the date of the document’s sealing. The majority of seals on these three plates are monastic or corporate, with just a few personal or privy seals.
Objects:
On Plate 1.58, From Top Left to Bottom Right:
1. Reverse of the Seal of the Abbot of Waltham Holy Cross (dated 1253), Label A
2. Obverse of the Seal of the Abbot of Waltham Holy Cross (dated 1253)
3. Counterseal of the Abbot of Waltham Holy Cross (1250s), Label B
4. Obverse of the Seal of the Priory of St. Bartholomew, Smithfield (near London, 14th–16th centuries)
5. Reverse of the Seal of the Priory of St. Bartholomew, Smithfield (near London, 13th–14th centuries)
6. Seal of Henry of Lancaster, Earl of Derby (14th century), Label C
7. Seal of John of Chelmesford (date unknown), Label D
8. Unknown Seal (dated 1310), Label E
9. Seal of the Abbey of St. Mary, Sherborne (Dorset; 16th century)
10. Seal of the Corporation of Newcastle-upon-Tyne (13th century)
On Plate 1.59, From Top Left to Bottom Right:
1. Great Seal of Cardinal Wolsey, Cardinal College, Oxford (now Christ Church College, before 1529)
2. Silver Seal Matrix of Thomas Wolsey, Archdeacon of Northampton (1680–1707)
3. Obverse (?) of the Seal of John [Crane], Abbot of St. Martin’s, Battle (Sussex; 14th century)
4. Reverse (?) of the Seal of John [Crane], Abbot of St. Martin’s, Battle (Sussex; 14th century)
5. Seal of Roger [de Pont L'Évêque], Archbishop of York (dated 1154)
6. Seal of Stephen Sukirkeby (dated 1250), Label A
7. Counterseal of Roger [de Pont L'Évêque], Archbishop of York (12th century), Label B
On Plate 1.60, From Top Left to Bottom Right:
1. Seal of the Priory of St. Mary of West Acre (Norfolk; 16th century)
2. Counterseal of the Priory of St. Mary of West Acre (Norfolk; 16th century)
3. Seal of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster (16th century)
4. Obverse of the Seal of Thomas Taylor, Abbot of Robertsbridge (Sussex; 16th century)
5. Reverse of the Seal of Thomas Taylor, Abbot of Robertsbridge (Sussex; 16th century)
6. Reverse of the Seal of the Abbey of SS Mary and Edward, Shaftesbury (Dorset; 16th century)
7. Seal of the Abbey of Denham (Norfolk; 16th century)
8. Obverse of the Seal of the Abbey of SS Mary and Edward, Shaftesbury (Dorset; 16th century)
9. Seal of the Priory of St. Nicholas, Burscough (Lancashire; 14th–16th century)
10. Seal of the Abbey of St. Peter’s, Chertsey (Surrey; 16th century)
11. Seal of the Abbey of Abbotsbury (Dorset; 16th century)
Transcription:
Plate 1.58, Top: C
Plate 1.58, Seals:
Reverse of the Seal of the Abbot of Waltham Holy Cross (dated 1253):
Label: A / Counter Seal to another Deed of the ABBOT of Waltham. A°. Dni. 1253
Legend: + HOC : CARTE : FEDVS : CVM:/TOVI : FIRMAT : HAROLD’
Obverse of the Seal of the Abbot of Waltham Holy Cross (dated 1253):
Label: The Seal appendant to a Deed from the Abbot of WALTHAM to Hu:NEVIL
Legend: + HOC. EST. SIGILL’ ECCLSIE SANCTE CRVCIS DE WALTHAAM
Counterseal of the Abbot of Waltham Holy Cross (1250s):
Label: B / Another Counter Seal of the ABBOT of Waltham.
Legend: + [A]NTE SIGILV[M] SCE CRVCIS DE WALTHAM
Obverse of the Seal of the Priory of St. Bartholomew, Smithfield (near London, 14th–16th centuries):
Label: The Priory Seal of St. Bartholomew near LONDON in Com. Midds.
Legend: * SIGILLVM [COMMVNE PRIOR] ET COVENTVS SCI BARTHOLOMEI LONDON
Reverse of the Seal of the Priory of St. Bartholomew, Smithfield (near London, 13th–14th centuries):
Label: Reverse of the Seal of the Priory of St. Bartholomew, Smithfield: The Counter Seal of St. Bartholomew / The Priory Church in a Ship
Legend: CREDIMVS ANTE DEVM PROVEHI PER BARTHOLOMEVM
Seal of Henry of Lancaster, Earl of Derby (14th century):
Label: C / A Grant from Hen: de Lancaster Earl of DERBY to Tho: WAKE
Legend: NAT. IMAGO. IVSSA. IOHIS. AGO
Seal of John of Chelmesford (date unknown):
Label: D / John de Chelmesford
Legend: S. IOHIS. DE HELMERE
Unknown Seal (dated 1310):
Label: E / Ano.Dni MCCCX
Legend: Legend is missing.
Seal of the Abbey of St. Mary, Sherborne (Dorset; 16th century):
Label: Abbey Seal of st. MARY de Sherborne in Com. De Dorset
Legend (incorrect on plate): + SIGILLV SCE M[ARIE SCYBVRNE]NSIS.Æ[CC]LEÆ:
Seal of the Corporation of Newcastle-upon-Tyne (13th century):
Label: The Seal of the Corporation of Newcastle upon Tine
Legend: SIGGIL : COMVNE : BVRGENSIVM : NOVI : CASTELLE
Plate 1.58, Bottom: The Reverses of these Seals mark’d A.B.C.D.E are from Gems.
Plate 1.59, Top: D
Plate 1.59, Seals:
Great Seal of Cardinal Wolsey, Cardinal College, Oxford (now Christ Church College, before 1529):
Label: The Great SEAL of CARDINAL WOLSEY for his College in OXFORD
Legend: SIGILLV . COE . COLLEGII . THOME . WVLCY . CARDINAL . EBOR . I . AGALIA A . LATERE . LEGATI .
Silver Seal Matrix of Thomas Wolsey, Archdeacon of Northampton (1680–1707):
Label: Thomas Wolsey S.T.P. Arch Deacon of Northampton / a Silver Matrix
Legend: ◉ SIGILLVM THOME ◉ WOLSEY S.T.P. ◉ ARC’HI . DIACONI ◉ NORTHAMPTON
Obverse (?) of the Seal of John [Crane], Abbot of St. Martin’s, Battle (Sussex; 14th century):
Label: Seal of JOHN Abbot of Battle Abbey in Com Sussex
Legend: SIGIL IOHIS DEI GRA / ABBATIS : DE : BELLOW
Reverse (?) of the Seal of John [Crane], Abbot of St. Martin’s, Battle (Sussex; 14th century):
Label: The Counter Seal of Battle Abbey
Legend: + SIGILLVM CONVENTVS : SANCTI : MARTINI DE BELLO
Seal of Roger [de Pont L'Évêque], Archbishop of York (dated 1154):
Label: Seal of ROGER Arch Bp. of YORK to Furness Abbey Ao.Di. 1154
Legend: SIGILLVM . ROGERI . DEI. GRATIA . EBORACENSIS [A]RCHIEPISCOPI
Seal of Stephen Sukirkeby (dated 1250):
Label: A / Stephen Sukirkeby to ADAM de LACEY Ano. 1250
Legend: + AVE MARIA GRACIA
Counterseal of Roger [de Pont L'Évêque], Archbishop of York (12th century):
Label: B / ROGER Arch Bp. of York a Chimera of 3 Heads
Legend (counterclockwise): CAPVT NOSTRV . TRINITAS EST
Plate 1.59, Bottom: These two Seals mark’d A.B. are from Gems.
Plate 1.60, Top: E / Ancient Seals in the Augmentation Office appendant to the Deeds of Surrender TempH.8
Plate 1.60, Seals:
Seal and Counterseal of the Priory of St. Mary of West Acre (Norfolk; 16th century):
Label: The Seal of B. Maria de West acre Com: Norf.
Legend : Legend is missing (frag.)
Counterseal of the Priory of St. Mary of West Acre (Norfolk; 16th century):
Label: and the Counterseal
Legend : +MVNDVS [ABIT] : MVNDVM CONTERE : MUNDUS ERIS
Seal of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster (16th century):
Label: The Seal of JOHN of Gaunt Duke of LANCASTER
Legend: S. PRIVATII : IOHIS : DEI: GRA : REGIS : CASTELLE : ET LEOIONIS : DUCIS : LANCASTRIE
Obverse of the Seal of Thomas Taylor, Abbot of Robertsbridge (Sussex; 16th century):
Label: Seal appendant to a Deed of Surrender by Thomas Taylor Abbot of Roberts brigge in Com. Sussex
Legend: S. COE : ABBATIS : ET CON/VENTVS: DE : PONTE : ROBTI
Reverse of the Seal of Thomas Taylor, Abbot of Robertsbridge (Sussex; 16th century):
Label: The Counterseal
Legend: [HEC : PRESEN]S : CELLA : DOMVS : EST : DE : MATRE : PVELLA
Reverse of the Seal of the Abbey of SS Mary and Edward, Shaftesbury (Dorset; 16th century):
Label: A Seal of Schefton Abbey
Legend: SALVE STELLA MARIS TV NOBIS AVXILLARIARIS GEMMA PVELLARIS REGIA DONA PARIS
Seal of the Abbey of Denham (Norfolk; 16th century):
Label: Seal to a Deed of ye Abbey of Denham Com. Norfolk.
Legend: + SIGIIL . ABBATIS : ET CONVENT : DEI : DERH
Obverse of the Seal of the Abbey of SS Mary and Edward, Shaftesbury (Dorset; 16th century):
Label: The other side of the Seal to a Deed of the Abbot of Shefton
Legend: SIGILL’ SCE MARIE ET : SCI : EDWARDI REGIS ET MARTIRIS : SCHEFTONIE
Seal of the Priory of St. Nicholas, Burscough (Lancashire; 14th–16th century):
Label: Priory Church of Burscough.
Legend (incorrect on plate): SIVILLVM SANCTI NICHOLAI [DE B] (CASS)TVDE
Seal of the Abbey of St. Peter’s, Chertsey (Surrey; 16th century):
Label: Seal to a Deed of Surrender by the Abbot of St. Peter. of Chertsey
Legend (incorrect on plate): +SIGILLVM . SANCTI PETRI CER[O]TIZÆ[CL]E
Seal of the Abbey of Abbotsbury (Dorset; 16th century):
Label: Seal of the Abbey of Abbotsbury in Com. Dorset.
Legend (mostly illegible): SIGILV ……..ABBATI ….
Plate 1.60, Bottom: Sumptibus Societatis Antiquaria Lond. 1741.
Translation:
Plate 1.58, Seal Legends:
Reverse of the Seal of the Abbot of Waltham Holy Cross (dated 1253), Label A
Legend: Harold grants this treaty with Tovi.
Obverse of the Seal of the Abbot of Waltham Holy Cross (dated 1253)
Legend: This is the seal of the Waltham Holy Cross Church
Counterseal of the Abbot of Waltham Holy Cross (1250s), Label B
Legend: Counterseal of the Waltham Holy Cross Church
Obverse of the Seal of the Priory of St. Bartholomew, Smithfield (near London, 14th–16th centuries)
Legend: Seal of the Alien Priory and Convent of Saint Bartholomew in London
Reverse of the Seal of the Priory of St. Bartholomew, Smithfield (near London, 13th–14th centuries)
Legend: We believe before God carried by Bartholomew
Seal of Henry of Lancaster, Earl of Derby (14th century), Label C
Legend: I achieve the ordered image of the Nature of John
Seal of John of Chelmesford (date unknown), Label D
Legend: Saint John of Chelmesford
Unknown Seal (dated 1310), Label E
Legend: Legend is missing.
Seal of the Abbey of St. Mary, Sherborne (Dorset; 16th century)
Legend (incorrect on plate): Seal of the Church of Saint Mary Sherborne
Seal of the Corporation of Newcastle-upon-Tyne (13th century)
Legend: Seal of the Corporation of Newcastle
Plate 1.59, Seal Legends:
Great Seal of Cardinal Wolsey, Cardinal College, Oxford (now Christ Church College, before 1529)
Legend: Seal of the Common College of Thomas Wolsey, Cardinal of York, lately Papal legate
Silver Seal Matrix of Thomas Wolsey, Archdeacon of Northampton (1680–1707)
Legend: Seal of Thomas Wolsey, Professor of Sacred Theology, Archdeacon
Obverse (?) of the Seal of John [Crane], Abbot of St. Martin’s, Battle (Sussex; 14th century)
Legend: Seal of John, by the Grace of God, Abbot of Battle
Reverse (?) of the Seal of John [Crane], Abbot of St. Martin’s, Battle (Sussex; 14th century)
Legend: Convent Seal of St. Martin from Battle
Seal of Roger [de Pont L'Évêque], Archbishop of York (dated 1154)
Legend: Seal of Roger, by the Grace of God, Archbishop of York
Seal of Stephen Sukirkeby (dated 1250), Label A
Legend: Hail Mary of Grace
Counterseal of Roger [de Pont L'Évêque], Archbishop of York (12th century), Label B
Legend (counterclockwise): Our Head is the Trinity
Plate 1.60, Seal Legends:
Seal of the Priory of St. Mary of West Acre (Norfolk; 16th century)
Legend is missing.
Counterseal of the Priory of St. Mary of West Acre (Norfolk; 16th century)
Legend: The world went away : to bruise the world : You will be the world.
Seal of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster (16th century)
Legend: Privy Seal of John, King, of Castille and León, by the grace of God, Duke of Lancaster
Obverse of the Seal of Thomas Taylor, Abbot of Robertsbridge (Sussex; 16th century)
Legend: Seal of the abbot and common convent of Robertsbridge
Reverse of the Seal of Thomas Taylor, Abbot of Robertsbridge (Sussex; 16th century)
Legend: This is the temple and house for the mother and daughter.
Reverse of the Seal of the Abbey of SS Mary and Edward, Shaftesbury (Dorset; 16th century)
Legend: Hail star of the sea, you, our auxilliary, gem of girls, give a fortress of equals.
Seal of the Abbey of Denham (Norfolk; 16th century)
Legend: Seal of the abbot of god and the convent of Denham
Obverse of the Seal of the Abbey of SS Mary and Edward, Shaftesbury (Dorset; 16th century)
Legend: Seal of Saint Mary and Saint Edward, King and Martyr of Shaftesbury
Seal of the Priory of St. Nicholas, Burscough (Lancashire; 14th–16th century)
Legend: Seal of Saint Nicholas at Burscough
Seal of the Abbey of St. Peter’s, Chertsey (Surrey; 16th century)
Legend (incorrect on plate): Seal of Saint Peter at Chertsey
Seal of the Abbey of Abbotsbury (Dorset; 16th century)
Legend (mostly illegible): Sigil… of the Abbot…
Commentary by Laura Whatley: Like Plates 1.53-1.54, the circumstances for the production of Plates 1.58-1.60 were outlined in the Minute Book of the Society of Antiquaries of London (SAL) in 1736. A special committee of SAL members was appointed to visit the Duchy of Lancaster and other record offices, examine seals discovered by the antiquarian John Anstis (1669-1745), and determine if any were “curious” and “worthy” enough for the Society to publish as engravings (SAL Minutes: I.148). Based on a final report, the committee identified a large body of important attached seal impressions, most of which were held in the Duchy of Lancaster record office. George Vertue, the SAL’s official engraver, was sent to the various record offices in order to produce sketches of the seals. He was instructed to “draw and engrave” the seals and to give to the clerk in each office one guinea for the privilege (I.195). The seals depicted on Plates 1.58 and 1.59 were predominantly (save two, so far as can be determined) from the Duchy of Lancaster, whereas most of the seals on Plate 1.60 were from the Augmentation Office at Westminster. Indeed, the minutes make clear that along with seals in the Duchy of Lancaster, the appointed committee also examined boxes of sealed documents in the Augmentation Office as part of their mission (I.190). As noted above, these documents were specific to King Henry VIII’s Dissolution of monasteries, colleges, and chantries in the 1530s and 1540s, which means that the impressions engraved on Plate 1.60 from this office can be dated to the first half of the sixteenth century (granted, the original matrices used to make the impressions could be much earlier in date, which is often the case with monastic and corporate seals).
The minutes indicate that three of the seals on Plate 1.60 were from the Duchy of Lancaster, not the Augmentation Office, a distinction not clarified in the captions on the plate itself: 1) the seal of John of Gaunt (seal number 3); the seal of the Abbey of Denham (number 7); and 2) the seal of the Priory of Burscough (number 9). The seals of Denham and Burscough were described following a long list of notable seals made from antique gems in the Duchy of Lancaster office (a clear interest of the committee), many of which Vertue included on Plates 1.53-1.54 (I.192–193). The seal of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster (seal number 3) is not mentioned in the minutes, at least not within the committee’s report on seals. It seems sure, however, that this personal, heraldic seal of John of Gaunt, who died in 1399, was in the Duchy office and not the Augmentation Office. Already familiar with John of Gaunt and his heraldry, Vertue perhaps had personal interest in including the seal on one of the Vetusta Monumenta plates. In the early 1730s, Vertue engraved an honorific portrait of John of Gaunt as king of Castile and Leon, which also included his coats of arms and tomb, for Paul de Rapin-Thoyras and Nicolas Tindal's History of England (1732–33).
In the Augmentation Office, the committee found a total of eight “remarkable” monastic seals for Vertue to draw and engrave plus Wolsey’s great seal for Cardinal College, Oxford (I.193–I.195). Vertue included just five of the monastic seals mentioned in the Minute Book—Priory of St. Mary of West Acre (seals 1 and 2); Thomas Taylor, Abbot of Robertsbridge (seals 4 and 5); Abbey of SS Mary and Edward, Shaftesbury (seals 6 and 8); Abbey of St. Peter’s, Chertsey (seal 10); and Abbey of Abbotsbury (seal 11)—all on Plate 1.60. The other three seals were engraved on different plates in the series. The “seal of surrender” of the Abbey of Abingdon was engraved on Plate 1.53 (number 4), likely because the impression was from a fine antique intaglio gem and fit thematically with the other gem seals on the plate (SAL Minutes I.193).
In the committee’s instructions to Vertue in the Minute Book, they do organize the seals thematically, stating that Vertue should draw and engrave the seventeen seals with impressions from antique gems in the Duchy office as well as two seals of “the same kind” in the Augmentation Office (I.194). The other seal type specifically singled out in the minutes include those seals with “ancient buildings” on them. The committee notes four such seals in the Duchy collection and another eight in the Augmentation Office (I.194). Indeed, ten of the twenty-eight seals on Plates 1.58-1.60 are architectural seals, with the majority, six seals, on Plate 1.60. The seal of the priory of St. Bartholomew, Smithfield, which has an architectural obverse, is on Plate 1.58 (numbers 4 and 5; SAL Minutes I.194). Notably, the committee found Cardinal Wolsey’s seal, which ultimately was engraved at the top of Plate 1.59, to be of a higher quality than the other seals selected for engraving in the Augmentation Office; they actually note that perhaps it should not be on the same plate with the other seals determined worthy of engraving–it was deserving of better company (I.194). The seal was described as a “very noble seal of exquisite workmanship for the age,” and the committee even attributed its design to the court painter Hans Holbein the Younger (d. 1543; I.194).
Interestingly, the committee also seems interested in promoting further study of the seals and of the documents to which the seals were attached. The committee’s report in the Minute Book requests that Vertue include a number for each seal—some sort of identifier or numbering system–so that if “any gentleman” was inclined to write up an account of a deed or make observations about one of the seals, then an easy reference could be made to the seal and plate (SAL Minutes I.195). Vertue did not follow this recommendation, as the plates to not feature a numbering or reference system; rather, Vertue only provided the brief captions above or below each seal.
[Comments on individual seals are forthcoming]
Works Cited:
Society of Antiquaries of London. 1718-. Minutes of the Society’s Proceedings.