VI.—Post-Reformation Ecclesiastical Seals of Durham1

C.H. Hunter Blair

doi:10.1017/S0261340900013394

VI.—Post-Reformation Ecclesiastical Seals of Durham1

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 19 July 2011

C.H. Hunter Blair

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This Society published in vol. lxxii of Archaeologia an illustrated description of the almost complete series of the seals of the bishops of Durham, from William of St. Calais (1081) to Cuthbert Tunstall (1559), preserved in the treasury of the dean and chapter of Durham. This paper with the ensuing catalogue is an attempt to record the seals of later date belonging to the see and to the cathedral church of Durham, up to the abolition of what remained of the palatinate powers of the bishops in 1836. The writer thought that this would be a comparatively easy task but it has not been so, for after an exhaustive search in all likely places, the result has been disappointing; examples have been difficult to find, some of the bishops are not represented at all and others only by their great seals in chancery. The only examples of episcopal seals of dignity which have been found later than that of Barnes (pi. xiv, no. 2) are that of Cosin (pi. xvi, no. 3) and those of Trevor, Egerton, and Barrington (pi. xvii).

Type: Research Article
Information: Archaeologia , Volume 77 , 1928 , pp. 165 - 178

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0261340900013394 [Opens in a new window]
Copyright: Copyright © The Society of Antiquaries of London 1928

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^{page 169 note 1} Blazoned both for church and see with the field azure, the cross gold and the lions silver.

^{page 169 note 2} Cast, B.M. Seal Catalogue, no. 2496.

^{page 169 note 3} Grant by William Flower, Norroy, at Auckland 3 July, 1575 (MS. Ashmole, 834, fo. 12; see also Durham Visitation, ed. Foster, p. 254). On 15 Feb. 1560 Sir Gilbert Dethick granted him the following: silver a cross patonce voided gules on a chief vert three suns in splendour gold (B.M. Add. MS., 14295, fo. 24). I know no example of the use of this shield. The arms in the text were on his brass in Durham Cathedral (Dods. MS. 45, fo. 81).

^{page 169 note 4} Cast, B.M. Seal Catalogue, no. 2484.

^{page 169 note 5} Cast, B.M. Seal Catalogue, no. 2502.

^{page 170 note 1} Confirmed by Sir Gilbert Dethick, Robert Cooke, and William Flower, 23 April 1571.

^{page 170 note 2} By William Flower, Norroy, 4 April 1580 (B.M. Ashmole MS., 834, fo. 35). Quarters I and IV of this shield are the ancient arms of Barnes of Lancashire. This last shield, but quarterly of three as illustrated, was on his brass at Durham (Durham Monuments, vol. v, Newcastle Records Series, p. 111).

^{page 170 note 3} The writer thinks he has seen an illustration of Hutton's great seal, but has lost the reference.

^{page 170 note 4} Grant by William Flower, Norroy, 1 May 1584 (B.M. MS. Ashmole, 858, fos. 237–8).

^{page 170 note 5} Proceedings, xi, p. 80, and illustration opposite.

^{page 170 note 6} These shields were both used by the family of Williams of the Principality of Wales, who claimed to be descended from the family of Avene (British Armorials, pp. 93, 549). The bishop's family was originally named Williams and came from Flint, N. Wales. John Williams, recorder of Flint, 10 Edw. IV, married the daughter of Edward Matthews. Their son Sir George Matthews assumed his mother's name and arms (Hutchinson's Durham, i, 472).

^{page 170 note 7} Greenwell Deeds, no. 351, 16 Jan. 1609–10 (Newcastle Public Library).

^{page 171 note 1} Recorded at the Visitation of Durham in 1615 by Richard St. George, Norroy (ed. Forster p. 186).

^{page 171 note 2} Attached to charter dated 30 Sept. 1620 (Proceedings Soc. Ant. Newc., 2nd ser., x, 306).

^{page 171 note 3} He was bishop of Rochester 1608–10, of Lichfield 1610–14, of Lincoln 1614–17, of Durham 1617–28, ot Winchester 1628–32, archbishop of York 1632–40.

^{page 171 note 4} See Hutchinson's Durham, i, 489.

^{page 171 note 5} An adaptation of the ancient arms of Fitz Nele (Parl. Roll of Edw. II). In November 1612 William Camden, Clarencieux, granted him by patent the arms: ermine a lion rampant between three dexter hands couped gules. Crest: a dragon's head gold wounded in the neck gules (B.M. Harl. 6095, fo. 24). A shield apparently never used by the bishop.

^{page 171 note 6} Pedigree, Surtees, Durham, i, xci. Bedford's Blazon of Episcopacy names a grant of 1613; this the writer has not been able to find.

^{page 171 note 7} Described from engraving in Hutchinson's Durham, i, 494.

^{page 172 note 1} Confirmed by William Camden, Clarencieux, Feb. 1605 (B.M. Harl. 6095, fo. 20).

^{page 172 note 2} Cast, Society of Antiquaries of London. Also broken fragment attached to charter of 20 Dec. 1632 (Greenwell Deeds, Public Library, Newcastle, no. 393).

^{page 172 note 3} Cast, from the original matrix at Auckland.

^{page 172 note 4} He was master of Peterhouse 1634–40, installed dean of Peterborough 7 Nov. 1640.

^{page 173 note 1} Ephes., vi, 13 and 17.

^{page 173 note 2} Cast, Society of Antiquaries of London.

^{page 173 note 3} Casts, Society of Antiquaries of London.

^{page 173 note 4} Cast, B.M. Seal Catalogue, no. 2499.

^{page 173 note 5} Upon the use of a coronet by the bishops ot Durham see Herald and Genealogist, viii, pp. 136–8; also Durham Seals.

^{page 174 note 1} This is the same as the seals of all the later palatine bishops, for illustration see plate xvi, nos. 5 and 6.

^{page 174 note 2} Durham Cath. Lib., Longstaffe MS. 44.

^{page 174 note 3} Ibid.

^{page 174 note 4} Attached to a charter granted to the city of Durham, in the custody of Mr. G. A. Carpenter, town clerk of the city.

^{page 174 note 5} Durham Cath. Lib., Raine's MS.

^{page 174 note 6} Ibid.

^{page 174 note 7} Impression at Auckland Castle.

^{page 175 note 1} Durham Cath. Lib., Raine's MS.

^{page 175 note 2} Cast from the matrix B.M. 2500.

^{page 175 note 3} Belonging to Miss Edleston of Gainford.

^{page 175 note 4} For the vacancy following the death of bishop Pilkingtpn on 23 Jan. 1576.

^{page 175 note 5} Durham Treasury, Misc. Chart. 6898, dated 15 Aug. 1672.

^{page 176 note 1} This was made towards the end of the sixteenth century for sealing such writs as were thenceforth to be issued in the county by the crown. The illustrations are from the original press preserved in the Chancery office at Durham. It was used until the time of bishop Barrington when a new die of single faced equestrian type was made; this is not a seal but a stamp to impress documents with ink from a pad.

^{page 176 note 2} Attached to a charter of Richard Cromwell, 3 Mar. 1658, belonging to the writer.

^{page 176 note 3} From a cast of the matrix at Auckland.

^{page 177 note 1} From the original matrix, still used, reproduced by permission.of the dean and chapter.

^{page 177 note 2} From the bronze matrix, belonging to the writer. Upon these courts, see Arch. Journ., Ivi, 85 ff.

^{page 177 note 3} From a sketch in Longstaffe's MS., no. 44 (Cath. Lib. Durham).

^{page 177 note 4} Sketch in Longstaffe's additions to Surtees (Cath. Lib. Durham).

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VI.—Post-Reformation Ecclesiastical Seals of Durham1

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