222 On the Seals of the Bishops of Salisbury. 



possess casts of one-fourth of that number. 1 I have before me 

 thirty-six seals, large and small, belonging to twenty-one out of our 

 thirty-four pre- Reformation Bishops, and thirty-three seals belonging 

 to twenty-seven out of the thirty-four post Reformation Bishops, 

 making' a total of sixty-nine — a very considerable number when we 

 calculate the mischances which are apt to befall these objects. But 

 I hope to render the series much more complete. 



To the Church historian the subject is of some interest, especially 

 in regard to the counter seals, as showing the types of devotion 

 which were popular in the centuries immediately preceding the 

 Reformation, and the changes of feeling which succeeded it. To 

 the ritualist (using the term in its proper sense) seals offer certain 

 useful indications of ecclesiastical dress, ornament, and custom, but 

 not, perhaps, as much as might be hoped, owing to the small size 

 of the representations. To the local historian they should be 

 naturally of very high value, especially as the arms figured do not 

 always agree with these given in the books which deal with the 

 subject, e.g., Rev. W. K, Riland Bedford's very useful " Blazon of 

 Episcopacy ; " and in this field they raise many interesting and 

 difficult questions. To the epigraphist the continuous series and 

 development of the lettering ought to be very helpful in determining 

 the epoch of other undated inscriptions. Mr. Hope divides the 

 lettering of his seals as follows : — 



1. 1072 — 1174. Roman capitals which almost insensibly change 



into 



2. 1174—1215. A kind of rude Lombardic. 



3. 1206—1345. Good Lombardic. 



4. 1345—1425. Bold black letter. 



5. 1425 — 1500. Fine close black letter. 



6. After 1500. Roman capitals. 



1 Mr. Hope has kindly explained how this calculation has been made, as 

 follows : — " The calculation of six hundred and seventy-two seals is based (1) on 

 the number of Bishops consecrated between 1072 and 1531, plus (2) the number 

 of times Bishops were translated between those dates, for a new seal was made 

 at each consecration and each translation. This refers to seals of dignity only. 

 Counterseals and secreta did not often bear the name of the Bishop's see, so could 

 continue in use. There are no data from which to calculate the number of seals 

 ad causas, unless we may take it for granted that they followed tho same rule 

 as the seals of dignity." 



