Armstrong — Some Matrices of Irish Seals. 453 



Matrices of Bishops' Seals. 

 Pre- Reformation. 



Following Dr. W. H. St. John Hope's classification/ Episcopal seals 

 may be divided into the following: — Seals of dignity with their counterseals, 

 private seals or secreta and seals ad causas. The seal of dignity was used for 

 sealing charters and other documents concerning the property of the See, 

 the secretwn was for sealing deeds connected with the bishop's private estate ; 

 and the seal ad causas was used for documents of less importance, such as 

 marriage licenses, testimonials, probates, &c. 



The figures of ecclesiastics on the matrices are too small to give very 

 precise details as to the vestments, &c., worn ; but it may be noted that 

 in several examples the heads of the croziers carried by bishops or abbots 

 assume the Celtic U-shaped form, and also that the bishops carry their 

 crosiers with heads turned inwards or outwards as best suited the design. 

 The early seal-matrices have a loop for suspension, and, as in those times the 

 custody of an official matrix was of the utmost importance, they were, no doubt, 

 often actually worn by persons. When the Vice-Chancellor of Eichard I, 

 King of England, was drowned in the Mediterranean, he was carrying the 

 matrix of the royal seal suspended from his neck.^ 



The seals of dignity are almost invariably pointed oval in shape, this being 

 the form in which the device of the earlier seals — a standing or seated effigy 

 of the bishop — could be most conveniently displayed. The seals of dignity 

 show a considerable evolution of type, the earliest being those which contain 

 the effigy of the bishop without any ornaments or accessories at the sides of 

 the figure. To this class belongs the most interesting bronze matrix of the seal 

 of Carulus, Bishop of Clonfert. This matrix is somewhat worn ; it is pointed 

 oval in shape, with a loop at the top for suspension. It measures 2^ inches 

 by 1| inches. The device is the effigy of the bishop, wearing a mitre and a 

 decorated chasuble. His right hand is raised in the act of benediction, and 

 he holds a crosier with the head turned inwards in his left. (Plate XLIX, 

 fig. 1.) Inscription — 



^ S' CARVLI OLONF€RTNSIS €PI. 



From the style of the matrix it may be placed in the first half of the thirteenth 

 century.' Ware's list of bishops does not give any Bishop of Clonfert of this 



' Proc. Soc. of Antiq. of London, second series, vol. xi, p. 271. 

 - " Chronica Magistri Eogeri de Houedene," vol. iii, p. 105. 

 3 " Caulfield," p. 47, pi. vii, fig. 5. 



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