380 EXAMPLES OF ^rEDI^VAL SEALS. service were required to show sufficient cause, and to produce a pass sealed with the kincc's seal, specially appointed for the purpose, as follows : —
- It is ordained and enacted, that no servant nor labourer, be he man
or woman, shall depart at the end of his term out of the Hundred, Rape, or Wapentake, where he is dwelling, to serve or dwell elsewhere, or by colour to go from thence in Pilgrimage, unless he bring a letter patent containing the cause of his going, antl the time of his return, if he ought to return, under the kings seal, which for this intent shall he assigned and delivered to the keeping of some good man (J'a.^Vi/n prodhomme, orig.) of the Hundred, Rape, Wapentake, City, or Borough, after the discretion of the Justices of the Peace, to be kept and lawfully to make such letters when it needeth, and not in any other manner, by his own oath ; and that about the same seal there sliall be written the name of the County, and overthwart the said seal the name of the Hundred, Rape, or Wapentake, City, or l>orough." '■' It were needless here to give at length the further provisions of this enactment. Any servant or labourer who might he found vagerant without a sealed letter or pass, was to be placed in the stocks, and to find surety for his return to his service. No person, moreover, might harbour such servant unprovided with a pass, nor for more than a night, even with that testimonial. No person might demand more than a denier, or penny, for making, sealing, and delivering a pass of this description. No doubt can exist as regards the accuracy of Mr. Cooper's explanation of the seals now brought before our readers. Some of them, it will be observed, are more distinctly characterised as " Le Seal le Roi," since the royal crown is placed over the name of the Hundred ; whilst all are strictly in accordance with the direction — " quentour le dit seal soit escript Ic noun del Countee, et a travers du dit seal le noun del dit hundred, rape, wapcntak, citee, ou burgh." Some delay probably occurred in carrying into ctfect the provisions of the Statute of Cambridge. Mr. Cooper has called our attention to the writ addressed to the SheritT of Wiltsliire, and tested at Westminster, March 10, 14 Rich. II. (1301). Similar writs were, in all probability, addressed to other Sheriffs. After reciting the provisions of the Statute, the writ proceeds as follows : — " Nos volentes statutum predictum execucioni debitc deniandari, tibi precipinms, districcius quo possumus injungentes, quod omnibus aliis pretermissis, et excusacione quacumque cessante, (juoddam Sigilluin nostrum dc Auriealco, ))r() ([uolibet Ilundredo, Kapa, et Wapentachio Comitatus ])redicti, fieri et fabricari, et eirca dictum Sigillum nomen ejusdcni Comitatus, ac ex transverse dicti Sigilli noinen hujusniodi Hundredi, Ka|ie vel Wapentaehii, scrilii, et Sigillum illud eiini sic faeiiim et fabrieatum fuerit alieiii .lustieiariorum nostrorum ad j)aci'iii nostram in Comitatu jiredieto eonservaiidam assignatoniin iiberari facias, ut ipse hujusmodi higilium alicui ])robo homiiii de dietis liimilredo, Rapa, Wa[>entachio, Civitate, et Hurgo liberarc valeut, custoiiii ii(hmi jiixta for nmm Statuti predicti," ite.' No seal of this de.scriijtiuii has liitlurto been noticed, bearing the name of any City or liorough. W. S. W. and A. W. ' .StiiliiloM of tho Kwilin, vdl. ii. iij). .I."!, RhIIh of riulinnuiit, A]ii>ciiilix to tlio .'jfi. S«ftt. 12 Kir. II. reign of Ificliar.l II., vol. iii. p. ■lO.'i, b. ' flnu-^ II nil- II. Ill l:;, |Tiiit<'l in
