Abmstjjong — Some Matrices of Irish Seals. 467 



and Child, subjects connected with the lives of the Saints to whom the 

 establishment was dedicated, or purely architectiiral representations. 



To the first division — i.e. seals with the name of the abbot or prior — 

 belongs the matrix of John Kennedy, Abbot of Bangor, Co. Down. The 

 matrix is stated to have been found in the ruins of Saul Abbey, Co. Down.^ 

 There are no details as to its acquisition in the Academy's register, but 

 it appears to have been considered as the original matrix. It is bronze, 

 with a pierced handle, and is worn at the ends. It is pointed oval in 

 shape, and measures l|f by If inches. The device represents the figure of the 

 abbot wearing a chasuble, and holding in his left hand a U-shaped crosier, 

 his right being raised in benediction. He stands in a finely carved Gothic 

 niche, with tabernacle work on each side. Below is a shield with the arms 

 of Kennedy, a chevron between three crosslets fitchy ; the shield also shows a 

 chief, but possibly this is an ornament;, and not part of the arms. Behind the 

 shield is a crosier. (Plate L, fig. 10.) Inscription — 



s. K. PUIS : JOhjAnis xanoDY abis na bargor. 



The style of the matrix belongs to the fourteenth century. The name of 

 John Kennedy has not been preserved in the records of the Abbey of Bangor ; 

 but Dr. Lawlor has pointed out a reference to him, dated March 26, \ 395, in the 

 Eotulus Clausus of 18 Eichard II. (No. 31, p. 154, "Eotulorum Potentium et 

 Clausorum Caneellariae Hiberniae Calendarium," 1828.) 



Hearing there was another matrix of this seal at Bangor Castle, Co. Down, 

 I communicated with Mr. H. 0. Lawlor, of Belfast, who kindly compared an 

 impression of the Academy's matrix with an impression from it, and informed 

 me they are absolutely identical. The fact of there being two matrices 

 absolutely identical caused me to conclude at once that one of them was a 

 cast of the other. On a recent visit to the British Museum I had the 

 opportunity of showing the Academy's matrix to Sir Hercules Eead. I am 

 sorry to say he did not think very well of it on account of certain details in 

 the lettering, etc. 1 am therefore inclined to think that the specimen in the 

 Academy's collection is a cast made probably at the time the matrix at 

 present at Bangor Castle was found. It must be remembered that the 

 custody of a matrix in early times was a matter of great importance ; and it 

 is unthinkable that there could be two absolutely identical matrices in use 

 at the same time.' 



1 D.P.J. , 1832, p. 205. 



^ " The severe punishment of abjuration of the realm is on record as having been inflicted for 

 counterfeiting the seal of another person : and when a matrix was lost the owner gave public notice 

 of the fact, lest the tinder, or the thief, might turn it to his own purposes ; and at his death it was 

 It.I.A. PKOC, VOL. XXX., SECT. C. [67] 



