Seals of Clergy (2)
As well as their seals of dignity, senior clergy used smaller personal seals in a clerical equivalent of a privy seal or signet. These were used for documents of less weight and moment than those which required their major seal.
			Personal seal of Thomas Beckett, from a facsimile.
			Archbishop Thomas Beckett's personal seal was derived from a carved antique intaglio gem, set with an inscription around it. The figure is supposed to represent a naked figure of Mars or Mercury wearing a helmet, although you would have to have a vivid imagination to work that out from this image. Nevertheless, it is derived from an ancient pagan source rather than Christian imagery.
As in the secular world, the lower ranks of clergy employed a greater diversity of motifs on their seals, with a certain amount of emulation by the middle ranks of the styles of seal of the senior clergy. They range from very simple designs to highly elaborate.
Seal of Richard Ravenser, archdeacon of Lincoln, who died in 1386.
This is a highly elaborate example of the official seal of the archdeacon's office. The Virgin and child stand under an architectural canopy with supporting figures at either side and two angels above. The shield of arms at her feet has three birds in a row along the top, probably a rebus or pun on his name, Ravenser. There are also two birds at the top of the shield.
	A much more modest example, somewhat mutilated, shows a cleric handing out alms to a figure with outstretched hands, indicating the owner's vocation rather than his fancy family connections.
	Seal of Henry de Bluntesdon, archdeacon of Dorset, on a document of 1311 (Westminster Abbey Muniments, No.6227). (From New Palaeographical Society 1910)
		This quaint little seal shows what one can only assume to be a figure of the priest kneeling before the Virgin and child.
		Seal of Alexander de Astelyne, clerk.
The seals of the clergy therefore used either specifically religious symbolism, or imagery of a more secular nature including heraldry, or a combination of both. A 17th century drawing records the seal of Odo, Bishop of Bayeux from 1071 to 1082, now lost. He was also earl of Kent and his seal, as recorded, shows the typical standing ecclesiastical figure on one side, and the standard equestrian motif of the aristocracy on the other.
previous page
Seals
Decoration
If you are looking at this page without frames, there is more information about medieval writing to be found by going to the home page (framed) or the site map (no frames). This site is created and maintained by Dr Dianne Tillotson, freelance researcher and compulsive multimedia and web author. Comments are welcome. Material on this web site is copyright, but some parts more so than others. Please check here for copyright status and usage before you start making free with it. This page last modified 10/2/2005.