234 On the Seals of the Bishops of Salisbury. 
her Divine Son; the Trinity, or at least the Eternal Father holding 
the crucifix, generally, if not always, with a dove to represent the 
Holy Spirit; and the Blessed Virgin holding the infant Saviour, 
herself crowned and sceptred. The previous examples of this latter 
subject are (with one exception, that of Herbert Poor) not crowned 
or sceptred, and it is to be regretted, in my opinion, that the earlier 
and simpler treatment has been set aside up to quite modern times. 
(20.*) In the first of this class the Blessed Virgin is seated side 
by side with her Son onathrone. He is represented in the act of 
blessing, and she with hands joined in prayer. This is the seal of 
Ralph Erghum, 1375, with the legend StquWlum radulpht det 
gracia sarum eptscopt, and is the first in black letter, which 
continues to be the rule up to the Reformation. 
(21) Around seal of John de Waltham, 1388, with the central 
group of the Trinity—the Eternal Father supporting the crucifix - 
between his knees. The dove appears to be issuing from his mouth, 
and lighting upon the Saviour’s head. The seal isa good deal worn 
and the legend is incomplete, so that it is not clear to me whether 
this was the Bishop’s chief seal or only one ad causas, as seems most 
probable, since the seal of dignity is almost always of the pointed 
oval shape and of a larger size. Mr. Hope is convinced that it is a 
secretum, or private seal. 
(22) Richard Mitford’s seal ad causas 1396 is so much like the 
seals of dignity of this date that it may be mentioned here. It has 
the Trinity above, the Blessed Virgin crowned with the infant Jesus 
in the centre, and the Bishop below; on the dexter side the Royal 
arms (France and England quarterly), and on the sinister those of 
Mitford, barry of four indented, as on his tomb. 
(24) Bishop Hallam’s seal has a similar representation of the 
Trinity (much worn) at the top, under which is the Blessed Virgin 
crowned and sceptred, holding the infant Saviour, with rays pro- 
ceeding from the two figures. Two saints, apparently S. Peter and 
S. Paul, stand one on each side, Below is a Bishop praying, with, 
on one side, the fragment of a shield showing the head of a key 
saltire-wise ; on the other shield are his own arms, a cross engrailed 
(with crescent in the first quarter). Unfortunately the legend is 
