456 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



of benediction, and in his left he holds au ai'chbishop's cross. The figure is 

 seated in a canopied niche, with screen? work at the sides. Beneath, under a 

 rough arch, is the half-figure of a bishop with a mitre, and carrjing in his left 

 hand a crosier, which is turned inwards, his right hand being raised in 

 benediction. (Plate XLIX, fig. i.) Inscription — 



Sigillu &ni jobis epi l^Mitrencis. 



Tliis was the seal of John Mothell, a.d. 1426-1458,' an Augustinian Canon 

 of the Abbey of Kells, Co. Kilkenny. The cutting of the design is rough, 

 but it appeal's to be a genuine matrix. It was acquired by the Academy 

 about 1849. 



The last matrix of this class is that of Eichard Lang, Bishop of Kildare, 

 1464-1474.- This matris is bronze, and most elaborately carved. It is pointed 

 oval, measures '6^ by 2f inches, and has a pierced handle. The design repre- 

 sents the Virgin between two figures, all standing under hea^oly canopied 

 niches. The figure on the right has been thought to be St. Conlaedh, the 

 first bishop of the See, and that on the left St. Bridget. St. Conlaedh is 

 represented wearing a mitre and chasuble. He holds a long, cross-ended 

 stafi" in his right hand, and apparently has the other raised in benediction. 

 St. Bridget is surmounted by a halo, and carries a crosier turned outwards. 

 Beneath is a Bishop with a crosier, gazing up in adoration at the saints. 

 (Plate XLIX, fig. 6.) The design of this matrix is remarkable ; and I do 

 not know any English or foreign example quite like it. The lettering of 

 the inscription is debased, and most difficult to read. It runs — 



^ Sigillum ricar5ii t»aren(:e Episcopi Xatig. 



The order of the words has been inverted, and the name Lang is cut in a 

 kind of rustic character, and larger than the rest of the inscription ; instead 

 of stops the words have sprigs of foliage between them. This seal is described 

 (from an impression) but not illustrated in the "British Museum Catalogue,"' 

 where it is put down as " A doubtful seal." 



There is only one pre-Eef ormation matrix of a secretum in the Academj-'s 

 collection, and that is the private seal of Stephen Brown, Bishop of Eoss, 

 succeeded 1402.* The matrix is bronze, and circular, a shape usual for 

 seals of this class. It measures 1^ inches in diameter, and has a handle 

 ending in a pierced trefoil. The device is the bishop's arms within two 



1 "Caulfield," p. 36, pi. tu, Bg. 1 ; B.M. C, p. 707, pi. xii, fig. 17, 361 ; Cotton, op. cit., 

 Tol. 1, p. 380. f , f . 6 , , , i' , 



' Cotton, op. cit., Tol. ii, p. 229. 



^B.M.Cp. 709. 



* Cotton, op. cit., Tol. i, p. 352 ; " Caulfield," p. 3i, pi. vi, fig. 14. 



