THE ECCLESIASTICAL SEALS OF COBNWALL. 53 



At the time of the Domesday Survey, a College of 

 Priests, described as " Clerici " and " Prassbiteri," 

 were in possession; but their lands had suffered 

 much spoliation, and the whole establishment was 

 soon afterwards suppressed. See Michell (Hist : of 

 St. Neot's, p. 141), &c. 



No seal of St. Neot's in Cornwall is known ; but 

 King Alfred's jewel has been often figured, on which 

 it is supposed St. Neot is shewn. It is thou'^ht that 

 the jewel formed the head of the King's victorious 

 War Standard which, as representing the Saint, was 

 carried before his army into battle. On the border of 

 the miniature is the legend AELFEED MEC HEHT 

 GEWYECAN (Alfred had me wrought). 

 LAUNOELLS (Dedication — St. Andrew ; St. Swithun is also 

 named). It has been alleged that in this parish was 

 a small Priory or Cell belonging to the Augustinian 

 Abbey of St. Nectan, at Hartland in Devon. (For 

 sealsof which see Oliver's Mon: Plate, &c). Whether 

 a cell existed at Launcells, or not, Hartland Abbey 

 held the Church and other projperty there, and 

 doubtless its representative, or some of its members, 

 exercised, from time to time, local supervision. 



Oliver notes that in many places (St. Columb* for 

 instance) property was held and overseen by religious 

 houses without any sub-priory or cell being neces- 

 sarily established. 



It is not supposed that there was any monastic 

 seal of Launcells. 

 Besides the above Priories, Cells, &c., on the mainland of 

 Cornwall, there were the following in isolated positions. 



St. MICHAEL'S MOUNT. The religious foundation here, 

 having been an Alien Priory or Cell of a foreign 

 house (the Abbey of St. Michael in Normandy), with 

 " a Prior moveable ad nutum " afterwards obtained 

 a distinct corporate character, and had " a convent, 

 a Seal, and perj)etual Prior." Eventually it became 

 an Archpresbytery. See R. I. of C. Jl. (vol. 2, p. 1), 

 and Oliver (Mon : p. 28). 

 * See " Addenda " at end of the paper. 



