seal of John, as earl of Mortaine, of the close of the twelfth century, subsequent to 1170; on its reverse is the impression of an antique gem with the legend, ✠ secrɛtvm ioŋannis[1].
The wax used in taking impressions of seals during the eleventh and twelfth centuries appears to have been generally white; there are a few examples of red wax, but the colour seems to have been only applied superficially, and is usually more or less volatilised. Towards the end of the twelfth century green wax became very common; the colouring matter pervading the whole substance of the material; and it may be remarked that seals of this colour are in all instances better preserved than those of white or red; owing probably to the improved composition of the wax rather than to any other cause.
On reviewing the seals of the first period we see in them all the defects common to archaic art of whatever kind: poverty of invention, a want of imitative power, and a rude and superficial execution.
The introduction of heraldic insignia at the close of the twelfth century had the natural effect of producing a large class of seals exclusively armorial in character, and it is remarkable that from this date a decided and progressive improvement may be traced in the design and execution of personal seals. At the commencement of the thirteenth century the legal necessity for these instruments was thoroughly established, and it is obvious that there must have been at that time, as in our own, a large number of persons who would
- ↑ Badly engraved in Sandford's Genealogical History, &c. p. 55. Numerous impressions of it are extant. There is a very fine one in the muniment room of Oriel College, Oxford. The next in point of date, I believe, is on the reverse of the seal of Seiher de Quincy, afterwards earl of Winchester, (Cart. Antiq. B. M. xxii. 9,) of the time of John, ante 1210; it is a kite-shaped shield charged with his arms, without a legend. The obverse of this seal is curious, as presenting a mounted knight riding to the left, a position very rare on English seals; it may be remarked on the seal of Helias de Albeniaco, (Cart. Antiq. Ib., 45, B. 27,) circa 1180. This arrangement is not uncommon on foreign seals, for example, on the bullæ of the kings of Castile and Leon; see a charter of Alphonso XI., dated 1360, (Add. Ch. B. M. 6334.) The seal of Seiher de Quincy is also worthy of attention as an early, perhaps the earliest, instance of horse-furniture being decorated with armorial bearings; but all the seals of this great baron are remarkable for their beautiful execution, particularly those made after his creation as earl of Winchester. I should observe, before closing this note, that there is preserved in the British Museum, an impression of a seal and counter-seal (secretum) supposed to be of Robert, surnamed Le Bossu, earl of Leicester, who died in 1167; I have not yet had an opportunity of examining it, and therefore cannot vouch for the evidence on which the conjectural date is founded. It may possibly be the seal of Robert Blanchemains, his son, who died in 1190.
