Hence the institution of the Wafer Great Seal and of the Impressed Wafer Great Seal. This last seal is the same as the wafer, but a document passing under it is merely im pressed with the seal in relief, and no actual wafer is fixed to the document; the Im pressed Wafer Great Seal is chiefly used for writs of summons to Parliament, new peers, etc., election writs for a new Parliament, and on vacancies; writs of supersedeas in
formed one of the articles of his impeach ment. Nowadays, if the Chancellor leaves London, the Great Seal goes with him, and if necessary the travelling-sealer attends the Chancellor for the purpose of actually applying the seal to documents. When the Great Seal is to change hands, the retiring Lord Chancellor goes to the Queen, attended by his purse-bearer, who carries the seal in its purse. The purse is
- «, 2t..
Wax Seal. Reverse. cases of solicitors struck off the rolls who have been commissioners for oaths, etc., etc. [For details of the use of the Great' (silver) Seal, and of the Wafer Great Seal, see Part L of this account.] The Great Seal is not allowed to leave the kingdom without special permission. In 1 52 1 Cardinal Wolsey carried the seal into the Low Countries, and sealed writs with it at Calais : a violation of duty which |
handed to the Queen by the purse-bearer, given back to that official by Her Majesty, and is then handed by the purse-bearer to the incoming Chancellor. In many old illus trations the Lord Chancellor is seen carrying the seal in its purse, but now the Chancellor's purse-bearer performs this part of the high function of transferring the Great Seal of England. Concluded.
