Lincoln.
_Haybands in Seals_ (Vol. iii., p. 186.).--In your paper for March 8. I
observe a Query by MR. M. A. LOWER respecting seals. It appears that MR.
LOWER has in his possession one or two seals, temp. Henry VII., which are
impressed on haybands, that is to say, the wax is encircled by a twisted
wisp of hay, or split straw; and, if I rightly understand MR. LOWER, no
device is apparent on the wax, but some ends of the hay or straw protrude
from the surface of it. Under these circumstances MR. LOWER states his
opinion that such seals belonged to mediæval gentlemen who occupied their
time in fattening stock,--simply graziers.
It may be interesting to some of your correspondents, and especially to MR.
LOWER, to know that a few seals, both pendent and impressed on the
parchment itself, within haybands, may be found of as early a date as the
reign of Edward II. From that time the fashion become very prevalent: in
the reigns of Richard II., Henry IV., Henry V., Henry VI., and, indeed,
down to the period of Elizabeth, it was the common practice to secure the
wax impression in this manner. Almost all the impressions of the Privy Seal
of Henry V., called "the Eagle," are made on haybands. It is needless to
give further examples, as they must be well known to all antiquaries who
have studied the history of seals. It is not from the examination of a few
specimens of early seals that a general conclusion is to be rationally
drawn; and it is to be hoped that MR. LOWER may, even yet, be induced to
abandon his singular theory of graziers' seals.