A few years since there was published a _History of the Parish of
Attleburgh, in Norfolk_, by the then rector, Dr. Barrett. It is a very
handsome volume in quarto, and reflects great credit upon the learning and
taste of the reverend editor.
What I wish more particularly to allude to is an engraving of the seal of
William de Albini, who was called "William with the Strong Hand;" of whom
Dugdale records, that having distinguished himself at a tournament
appointed by a queen of France, then a widow, she became so enamoured of
him that she offered him marriage. But he, having plighted his troth to
Adeliza, widow to {453} King Henry I. of England, refused her. In revenge
for this refusal, the queen of France inveigled him into a den in the
garden, where was a fierce lion. Being in this danger, he rolled his mantle
about his arm, and putting his hand into the mouth of the beast, pulled out
his tongue by the root; followed the queen to her palace, and gave it to
one of her maids to present to her. Returning to England with the fame of
this glorious exploit, he was forthwith advanced to the earldom of Arundel,
and for his arms the lion given him.
Amongst the many illustrations in Dr. Barrett's book is the seal of this
William de Albini, representing a knight on horseback, in the usual style
of such knightly seals; but in front of the knight is a young lion, and
under the feet of the horse some sort of animal of the lizard kind.
In elucidation of this seal, there is a long and elaborate note, with
remarks by Mr. Hawkins of the British Museum, with a view of showing that
the device on this seal alludes to the story of his combat with the lion.
The attempt to establish this point appears to me amusing; for there seems
nothing on the face of the seal different from the usual seals of royal and
knightly rank in ancient times.
It strikes me, that the true interpretation of this device, and the
introduction of the lion and the lizard-like animal under the horse's feet,
may be found in the 13th verse of Psalm xci.:
"Thou shalt go upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon
shalt thou tread under thy feet."
I should like to learn from some of your correspondents, whether this
Psalm, or this portion of it, was used in the solemnities attendant on the
installation of a knight, which would tend much to confirm my conjecture.