An old seal was discovered some years ago by accident in the ruins of an
abbey in the south of Ireland, of which the followings is a description.
The workmanship is rude, the material a species of bronze. The impression
consists of a circle of raised spots: on either side are two venerable
human faces, both bearded; there is a rude cross between them. Above them
are the letters--
"S - P - A - S - P - E."
{509} These are supposed to stand for "St. Paul" and "St. Peter." It is
said that this seal was used for the purpose of affixing an impression to
an instrument which pretended to be a Papal Bull: in fact, that it was used
for forging Pope's Bulls. One of the objects of such forgeries (if they
really occurred) would be, to grant dispensations for marriages on account
of consanguinity. Some noble families in Ireland had very ancient Papal
dispensations of this nature. It would often be convenient that
extraordinary despatch should be used in obtaining a dispensation.
Can any of your correspondents compare the seals on those dispensations
with the above, or throw any light on the practice of dispensing with the
ecclesiastical law against consanguineous marriages?