100 Relics of Malmeshury Ahhey. 



Perpendicular tower and broach, still remain perfect, and since 

 the fall of the western tower, has acted as a campanile to the 

 abbey. 



Edward A. Freeman. 



Plate II. Seals. The Convent Seal, as appendant to a Deed 

 of the last Abbot in the Augmentation Office. It repre- 

 sents the B. V. Mary and child, between St. Peter and 

 St. Paul. Below is an Abbot. On the dexter, the shield 

 of France and England ; sinister, a griffin segreant. To 

 whom the latter refers is uncertain : but as one of the 

 principal Inns in the town bore in Aubrey's time the 

 sign of " The Griffin," it was probably the device of 

 some patron or benefactor. This seal has been engraved 

 in Moffiitt's Malmesbury, p. 97, in Bowles's Bremhill, 

 p. 83, in Coney's Seals of Monasteries, and (very inaccur- 

 ately) in " British Topography," the inscription being 

 omitted, and a lion substituted for a griffin. The legend 

 is " Sigillum Commune Monasterii Beate Marie de Mal- 

 mesburi." (The common seal of the Monastery of St. 

 Mary of Malmesbury.) 



A secretum or private seal, used by Thomas (Abbot ?) 

 of Malmesbury, whose name it bears. There were two 

 or three Abbots named Thomas, so that it is difficult to 

 assign the seal to any particular individual. 



A very curious seal, found 26 years ago by a man 

 felling a tree near Malmesburj'^, being shaken out from 

 among the roots. It now belongs to Mr. William Morris 

 of Swindon. The legend is * IE SU • SEL • DEGESE • 

 E lOLIS • E LEL., old French, signifying " I am a seal, 



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