II. Whether the Keeping of a Seal, were in the Chancellorship under the Saxons.
FOR that Principal part of the Office, or that other Of∣fice joyned with the Chancellorship, the Keeping of the Seal; If the common Opinion were cleer, that under the Saxon State no Seals were here used, then were it vain to think of it as of that time. But there is yet remaining an Old Saxon Charter of King Edgar,* beginning, A Orthodoxo∣rum vigoris Ecclesiastici monitu creberrime instruimur, &c. to the Abbey of Persore, wherein divers Lands are given, and there remains in the Parchment plain signes of three Labells by the places cut for their being hanged on: and of the self∣same Page 3 Charter a testimony also as ancient, that the Seals were, one of King Edgar, the second of St. Dunstan, and the third of Alfer Ducis Merciorum. That testimony is in a Letter from Godfrie Archdeacon of Worcester to Pope Alexander III. writing of that Charter, and the Authority of it: Noverit, saith he, Sanctitas vestra, verum esse, quod conscripti hujus scriptum originale in virtute Sanctae Trinitatis sigilla tria, trium personarum autenticarum, ad veritatem, triplici confirmatione commendat; Est autem Sigillum primum illustris Regis Edgari; secundum Sancti Dunstani Cantuariensis Archiepiscopi; tertium Alferi Ducis Merciorum; sicut ex diligenti literarum impressa∣rum inspectione evidenter accepi. And it's reported by those which have searched the Records of St. Denys Church in France, there remain two Charters, the one of one Offa, the other of one Edgar, with Seals annext; the one of which I have seen cast off in Lead, and is about the breadth of a Shilling thick, and having a face on the one side. Likewise amongst the Chartae Antiquae, divers being reckoned cum Si∣gillo, others sine Sigillo; one is cum Sigillo of King Cnout, nei∣ther is there any colour of doubt but that the Confessor had his Seal, for the Print yet remains in part to be seen. But not∣withstanding these singular examples of Kings Sealing in the Saxons times, it's most certain it was not a thing common then; neither could any in the Chancellorship be denomina∣ted from Keeping the Seal, nor in any other Office. Cu∣riosity in some particular occasion swayed more in it, than any Custom;* Although we admit those before mentioned for true, which may well be doubted, in regard of the frequent fraud and ignorance in committing it, which in the elder times possess'd the Church-men. But for the Confessor's Seal, that was without scruple certain, and thence may we confi∣dently derive the Great Seal of England.
