(Vol. vii., p. 452.)
The curious article of your correspondent SENEX relative to this seal, as
described and figured in Barrett's _History of Attleburgh_, has a peculiar
interest as connected with the device of a man combating a lion.
The first time I saw this device was in a most curious MS. on "Memorial
Trophies and Funeral Monuments, both in the old Churches of London before
the Fire, and the Churches and Mansions in many of the Counties of
England." The MS. is written by Henry St. George, and will be found in
Lansd. MSS. 874. The arms and tombs are all elaborately and carefully
drawn, with their various localities, and the epitaphs which belong to
them; and the whole is accompanied with an Index of Persons, and another of
Places.
At p. 28. this device of a man combating a lion is represented associated
with a shield of arms of many quarterings, showing the arms and alliances
of the royal family of Stuart, and is described as having formed the
subject of a window in the stewards house adjoining the church of St.
Andrew's, Holborn. In the _Catalogue of the Lansdowne MSS._ is a long and
interesting note on this device, with references to the various works where
it may be found, to which I have had access at the Museum, and find them
correct, and opening a subject for investigation of a most curious kind.
The figure of the knight, in this drawing, differs considerably from that
on Dr. Barrett's seal. He is here represented on foot, dressed in the chain
mail and tunic of the eleventh and twelfth centuries, with a close-barred
helmet, with a broad flat crown, such as was worn in France in the time of
Louis IX., called St. Louis. The lion is in the act of springing upon him,
and he is aiming a deadly blow at him with a ragged staff, as his sword
lies broken at his feet. The figure is represented as fighting on the green
sward. From a cloud over the lion proceeds an arm clothed in chain mail,
and holding in the hand, suspended by a baldrick, a shield bearing the arms
of France (modern[3])--Azure, three fleurs-de-lis or. On a scutcheon of
pretence in the centre, Argent, a lion ramp. gules, debruised with ragged
staff, proper. This device forms the 1st quarter of the quarterings of the
Stuart family.
In this device there is no figure of a lizard, dragon, or chimera,
whichever it is, under the horse's feet, as represented in the seal of
D'Albini.
I could much extend this reply, by showing the antiquity of this device,
which by a long process of investigation I have traced as connected with
the legendary songs of the troubadours; but I think I have said sufficient
for the present, in reply to SENEX.
In addition to the above, I may mention a seal of a somewhat similar
character to that of D'Albini, representing a knight on horseback, with his
sword in his hand, and his shield of arms, which are also on the housings
of the horse, under whose feet is the dragon: on the reverse is the {553}
combat of the knight with the lion. The knight is holding his shield in
front, and holding his sword in his left hand. This seal is that of Roger
de Quincy, earl of Winchester, and appended to a deed "M.CC. Quadrigresimo
Quinto." It occurs in Harl. MSS. 6079. p. 127.