in 8 E. 2. I find that he was one of the Justices of Assize in this County; so likewise in 13 E. 2. As also a Benefactor to the Canons of Kenil∣worth, by granting to them Lx. acres of land and two acres of meadow, lying in Radford-Simelie; and that he departed this world in 20 E. 2. lea∣ving Edmund his son and heir 28 years of age, who did his homage the same year, and had livery of his lands. Which Edmund in 1 E. 3. obtained License from the King, to fortifie his Mannour House here at Langley, with a wall of lime and stone, and to embattle it. In that Record the K. calls him dilectus Clericus noster, yet was he then a Knight; for in a Release bearing date at Chau∣cumbe the same year, whereby Henry de Bereford Parson of the Church of Corson, gave up unto him all his right in this Mannour, as also in Wi∣shaw, he is so stiled; the sealing whereof was some∣what observab••e. In cu••us r••i testimonium (saith the Parson) Sigillum meum apposui; Et quia Si∣gillum meum plurimis est incognitum, Sigillum Ro∣geri Hillari nepotis mei apponi procuravi. Where∣unto were witnesses Sir Gilbert de Elsefield, Sir Sim. de Bereford, Sir Miles de Beauchamp, Sir Iames de Audley, and Sir Iohn de Broughton, Kts. Rog. Hillari, Iohn Dimock and others. Which instance, as it shews of what regard Seals were antiently, so doth it give me an oportunitie to say something as to the original use of them in this Realm, and of the great esteem, wherein they have continued ever since.
That K. Edw. the Confessor, was the first here in England, that ever put Seal to his Charters, is ve∣ry evident; and that he did so in imitation of the Normans, amongst whom he had been educated, is not to be doubted; but till after the Conquest, we have no testimony that they were used here by a∣ny Subject, as Ingulphus manifesteth.—Nam Chirographorū confectionem Anglicanam (saith he) quae antea, us{que} ad Edv. Regis tempora fidelium prae∣sentium subscriptionibus, cum Crucibus aureis, aliis{que} sacris signaculis firma fuerunt, Normanni condem∣nantes, Chirographa Cartas vocabant, & Charta∣rum firmitatem cum cerea impressione, per unius cujus{que} speciale Sigillum, sub instillatione trium vel quatuor testium astantium conficere constituebant. Conferebantur enim prim ò multa praedia nudo ver∣bo abs{que} scripto vel Charta; tantùm cum Domini Gla∣dio, vel Galea, vel Cornu, vel Cratera, & plurima te∣nementa cum Calcari, cum S••rigili, cum Arcu, & nonnulli cum Sagitta; Sed haec initio Regni sui (speaking of Will. the Conq.) posterioribus annis immutatus est iste modus.
But that this use of Sealing was of greater anti∣quity, with the French, I shall exhibite the testi∣mony of a learned person, from whom I have abstracted what follows. Karolus de•• gratia Rex Francorum &c. Notum sit omnibus &c. qualiter vir illustris Rogerus Comes fidelis noster &c. Mo∣nasterium &c. in loco nuncupato Karrofum &c. in pago Pictavense construxit &c. Et ut haec praesens auctoritas nostris & futuris temporibus inviolata perducare valeat, manus nostrae signaculis eam de∣crevimus roborari, & de Annulo nostro jussimus Sigillari (circa An. D. D••Clxix.)
In nomine domini Dei &c. Hludovicus divina ordinante clementia Imperator Augustus, Notum sit &c. Haec verò authoritas, ut nostris futuris{que} temporibus melius credatur &c. manu propria subscripsimus, & de Annulo nostro subter jussimus Sigillari. Dat. &c. An. D. DCCCxiiii.
But I return to England. That our Kings, and all great persons, antiently used their own pictures in the impressions of their Seales, is very evident; Militarie men allways on Horsback, and in the same kind of Armour that they wore, which in the elder times was Male, for the most part, with a Shield on the left Arme and in the right hand a na∣ked Sword: upon which Shields 'tis rare before K. Ric. 1. time, to see any distinct charge, at least such as became hereditary; but after that, it was held a great honour for those whose Ancestors had served in the Holy Warrs, to retain in the same Badges and Marks, which they there bore; so that then they did not only continue them upon their Shields, but to be the better known, had the like depicted upon surcoats of silke, behind and before, which they wore over their Male, as in those ex∣cellent observations made upon Vpton by that learned gentleman, and my singular Friend Edw. Bisshe Esq is made most evident; and as is farther testified by Iohn Rous —Tempore Regis Ioh. (saith he) erant in Sigillis Dominorum, tunicae su∣per loricis, non autem ante: erant autem tunicae longae ad talos. But after this, ere long, divers bore their Armes on fair, large, and deep Shields, in their Seales; and some on the reverse, where the picture on Horsback was on the other side; of which the same Author saith —Circiter annum MCCxviii, Domini, qui in Sigillis more solito habe∣bant Equites armatos cum gladiis, nunc in dorso si∣gillorum Arma sua posuerunt de novo in Scutis. Howbeit, in Edw. 1. days and after, most men be∣gan to leave of their pictures on Horsback in their Seals; which custome by degrees declining, was utterly given over in Edw. 3. time; So that our Historian observes—Post captionem Johannis Regis Franciae (an. sc. 1356) Domini at{que} Generosi, relictis imaginibus Equitum in Sigillis, posuerant Arma sua in parvis Scutis.
Now in what reverend esteem this practise of Sealing hath antiently been, may be observed from these testimonies. sc. Of a Charter made by K. H. 1. unto the Abby of Evesham, touching the Hun∣dred of Blackherst, and divers Liberties, it appea∣reth, that being exhibited to K. H. 3. and through rude handl••ng, the Seal cloven in sunder, that the validity thereof might not be lessened, the K. forth∣with caused it to be confirmed (3 Maii 25 H. 3.) with this clause—Ne igitur praefata Carta, oc∣casione fissurae praedictae, processu temporis ab aliquo possit haberi vitiosa, hac praesenti Charta nostra dux∣imus testificandum, quod praedictum Sigillum sanum & integrum recepimus: Statuentes per hanc Car∣tam nostram, & pro nobis & haeredibus nostris fir∣miter percipientes, quod praedicta Cartae avi praefati Henrici avi nostri, nichilominus esse idem robur, & omnem eandem efficaciam habeat imperpetuum, quod haberet si Sigillum integrum esset & indivi∣sum, sicut fuit quando praefatus Abbas eam nobis liberavit.
And for counterfaiting another man's Seal ob∣serve what punishment was antiently used. Rex Vice comiti Oxon: Mandamus tibi quod Anketil∣lum Manvers, qui captus fuit pro falsina Sigilli Ro∣berti de Veteri ponte, abjurare facias terram nostram; & ipsum postea sine dilatione mittas ad mare, per a∣liquos de tuis, qui videant quod exeat à terra nostra &c. T. Rege apud Clipston 27 Martii. Nay so tender was every man in those times, of his Seal, that in case he accidentally had lost it, care was ta∣ken to publish the same, least another might make