5es. Sc^j •A. Z? V^//*^ jLa*/jfy sf ^Jjfam^* / «? ^/V>7-. /7z^ 's^^ty^ -- y '^ / / *'^ / 7 - *RotaOetotitomif Oftnlv fM Ctdw zamckwrfcan IdtiSftQ ucImuc l)Acm«a"pfcttr| C1IX7I COmfirnuac cfaiu j VWuftc c 6cSc-HCOttifiinjMiirr,So i fee <\£l£)C i y^H ma a 1 tnoindnf W €rc ^o lpfi ^ mibie Crrmcft? emmedf . 1 itvdrof VitmStttt! ^ j^^TtitHd^ca rcU^inTrtrtx <^<faaceruffy ^tarcftreV^i J ftc uu tefomWinoMico *fut& tfzian* uia; tttCTSzmrcr .])CC on?U ICOticc(tiMbcbi^Ctlt»re <&£ nice. M v attuta djeme pjcrm ma tnec c pyj «ttltM^ yarf m tuxcf i oimmn |«miru tne^.Jfflf - y DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE IMPRESSIONS FROM ANCIENT SCOTTISH SEALS, lloiial, aSaromal, ©cdcsiastical, anO itUmtcipal, EMBRACING A PERU)]) FROM A.D. 109-1 TO THE COMMONWEALTH. TAKEN EROM ORIGINAL CHARTERS AND OTHER DEEDS PRESERVED IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ARCHIVES. BY HENRY IAIKG, EDINBURGH. EDINBURGH—MDCCCL. (INLY ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY COPIES PRINTED FOR SALE. EUINUUHGI1 : I. CUNM.Wil.E, PIllXlliK lu I1LK MAJBSTV. TO THE PRESIDENTS AND MEMBERS OF THE BANNATYtfE AND MAITIAND CLUBS AND TO ITS OTHER SUPPORTERS THIS VOLUME IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED BY HENRY LAING. LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS.' His Royal Highness Prince Albert. The Earl of Aberdeen. Dr. "Walter Adam, Edinburgh. Archaeological Association of London. The Duke of Buccleuch and Qdeensberry. Sir Thomas Makdougall Brisbane, of Brisbane, Bart. The Hon. George Frederick Boyle. Charles Baxter, Esq., Edinburgh. Henry B. Beaufoy, Esq., South Lambeth. John Bell, Esq., Dungannon. Miss Bicknell, Fryars, Beaumaris. W. H. Blaauw, Esq., London. Rev. Dr. Bliss, Principal of St Mary's Hall, Oxford. Rev. Dr. Bloxam, S. M. Magdalen College, Oxford. A. J. Dennistoun Brown, Esq., Edinburgh. George Burnett, Esq., Edinburgh. The Earl of Cawdor, Cawdor Castle. The Hon. Lord Cockburn, Bonaly. Sir James Carnegie, Bart., Kinnaird Castle. Richard Campbell, Esq., of Auchinbreek. Patrick Chalmers, Esq., of Auldbar. Rev. Peter Chalmers, A.M., Dunfermline. Thomas Constable, Esq., Edinburgh. James Gibson Craig, Esq., F.R.S.E. Mrs. James Gibson Craig, Edinburgh. 1 A few remaining Copies of the Catalogue may lie had, price Two Gv Mr. H. Laing. LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. David Cowan, Esq., Edinburgh. Sir Archer Denman Croft, Bart. Rev. G. H. Dashwood, Stowe, Bardolpli. Robert Davis, Esq., York. Edward S. Dendy, Esq., Rouge Dragon, Arundel Castle. Miss Dickson, Hassendenburn. Charles Dolman, Esq., London. Henry Drummond, Esq., M.P., Albury, Surrey. John Ddndas, Esq., Edinburgh. The Earl of Egllnton. Mrs. Elliot, Sen., Binfield Park, Berks. Joseph Walter King Eyton, F.S.A. Lond. and Scot. The Lord Farnham. James Ferguson, Esq., Landscape Painter, (Edinburgh,) Helmsley. G. Grant Francis, Esq., Burrows Lodge, Swansea. William Fraser, Esq., Edinburgh. Gilbert J. French, Esq., Bolton. The Earl of Gosford, Gosford Castle. Sir W. G. Cuming Gordon, of Altyre and Gordonstone, Bart. Miss Stirling Graham, of Duntrune. Rev. John M. Gresley, Over Seile. The Earl of Home, The Hirsel. T. Duffus Hardy, Esq., Record Office, Tower of London. Robert Hay, Esq., of Linplum. Rev. James Henry Hughes, M.A., late Fellow of Magdalen College. Oxford, Chaplain H.E.I.CS. Rev. Dr. Hume, Collegiate Institution, Liverpool. Rev. Hugh Jones, D.D., Beaumaris. T. B. Johnston, Esq., Edinburgh. The Lord Lindsay, Haigh Hall. Sir Thomas Livingstone, of West Quarter, Bart. LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. Mrs. Malcolm Laing, Edinburgh. William Langton, Esq., Manchester. Robert Laurie, Esq., Norroy, College of Arms. Archibald Leckie, Esq., Paisley. Library of the Society of Writers to H. M. Signet. Charles Edward Long, Esq., Traveller's Club, London. Rev. Charles James Lyon, M.A., St. Andrews. The Earl of Morton, Dalmahoy. Alexander Macdonald, Esq., General Register House. Louis Mark Mackenzie, Esq., of Findon, Ross-shire. A. C. Mackenzie, Esq., St. John's College, Oxford. Daniel Macmillan, Esq., London. Sir John Maxwell, of Polloc, Bart. Thomas Moule, Esq., St. James' Palace. James Burn Murdoch, Esq., Edinburgh. John N. Murray, Esq., of Philliphaugh. The Marquess of Northampton, Castle Ashby, President of the Archaeological Institute, London. Mark Napier, Esq., Edinburgh. W. W. Hay Newton, Esq., ofNewton John Gough Nichols, Esq., London. Sir James Ramsay, of Bamff, Bart. Sir James Miles Riddell, of Ardnaruurchan, Bart. Lieut.-General Sir John Rose, of Holme, Knight. Colonel Hugh Rose, Beyrout. Sir Charles W. A. Ross, of Balnagowan , Bart. The Duke of Sutherland. John Scott, Esq., H.M.C, Leith. George Seton, Esq., Edinburgh. C. K. Sharpe, Esq., of Hoddam. Alexander Sinclair, Esq., Edinburgh. Peter Slater, Esq., Sculptor, Edinburgh. William Smythe, Esq., of Methven. W. A. Stables, Esq., Cawdor Castle. LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. John Stavert, Esq., Burnsgrove. John Stedman, Esq., Bath. T. G. Stevenson, Esq., Edinburgh. Rev. William Stevenson, D.D., South Leith. William Stirling, Esq., of Keir. George Stuart, Esq., Edinburgh. John Stuart, Esq., Aberdeen. Thomas Thomson, Esq., P.C.S. Thomas Thomson, Esq., W.S., Edinburgh. Rev. H. W. Tibbs, M.A., Sheriffhales, Salop. James Toovey, Esq., London. James Turnbull, Esq., Briery Yards. Thomas Turnbull, Esq., Briery Yards. Mrs. Turnbull, Briery Yards. W. B. D. D. Turnbull, Esq., Edinburgh, Sec. Soc. Ant. Scot. Samuel Bliss Turner, Esq., Halesworth, Suffolk. William F. Vernon, Esq., Hilton Park. The Lord Willoughby D'Eresbt. Albert Wat, Esq., Wonham Manor, Reigate. Daniel Wilson, Esq., Edinburgh, J. Linning Woodman, Esq., Edinburgh. Sir Charles G. Young, Knight. Garter. Lieut.-Col. Yule, Edinburgh. PREFACE. There are few subjects of greater value, or of more interest to the diligent inquirer into the early history of our country, than that of Seals This, indeed, is readily admitted by all who have paid the least attention to the subject ; while the best historical works afford evidence that Seals form no unimportant element in archaeological research. The importance of the subject being so generally acknowledged, renders it unnecessary to offer any lengthened introductory remarks with a view to direct attention to the following pages. It is hoped, however, that the following brief remarks illustrating the art may not be considered impertinent or out of place, and though they may contain nothing worthy the attention of such persons whose opportunities of acquiring knowledge have been more favourable than those of the writer, they may yet be read with interest by others who have not paid much attention to it, and may also prove interesting as being the result of the writer's own observations on a subject, the proper treatment of which requires far higher qualifications than he can pretend to claim. The art of engraving Gems or Seals is one that claims the highest antiquity ; and there is abundant evidence that it was known and practised by nations long previous to the period of which we have now any written records. Not only do the numerous gems of the most remote antiquity found in India and Egypt prove this, but we have the unshaken authority of the Holy Scriptures, an authority which it is delightful to see is being- strengthened daily, by the discoveries made by the intelligent and perse- xii PREFACE. vering Layard, of races and nations whose very existence and names had wellnigh been forgotten. It is unnecessary to dwell longer on the art as practised in India and Egypt, than merely to observe that it was evidently held in esteem and importance by the natives of those countries, and arrived at the same degree of perfection with the sister arts of sculpture, painting, and architecture, which, judged by the standard of excellence of modern times, may perhaps be thought defective, yet in their kind were certainly excellent. It was in Greece, in common with all that was beautiful in art, that Gem or Seal engraving attained its highest perfection ; but as the Roman power extended its possessions and influence, the practice of the art was transferred from Greece to the West, and under the Empire we find many works produced equalling in excellence those of the Greek artists. With the decline and fall of the Empire the art suffered also, and though never lost, it lingered on almost in barbarity, till in the general revival of letters and art under the magnificent family of the De Medici, it again rose to perfection, and many works were produced that will bear an honourable comparison with the ancient Masters. These remarks, though perhaps not bearing directly on the particular kind of Seals described in this work, may yet not be unnecessary as pointing out the source, and tracing the progress of the art to the period embraced in it. It is yet undecided at what period the engraving of Metal Seals, to which we are now to confine our attention, was invented, or rather when they became more generally adopted, since it cannot be doubted that the ancients were acquainted with the art of engraving on metals ; the beautiful coins, both of Greece and Rome, are sufficient evidences of the fact, but it does not appear that they extended the practice of it beyond en- graving the die for striking the coin. It seems most probable that the application and extension of the art to Metal Seals may date from a period subsequent to the fall of the Roman Empire, and in the rising kingdom of the Franks ; or it may, as some believe, have arisen at Constantinople, and thence been early adopted by the Franks; but at whatever period PREFACE. xiii or place such Seals may have become generally adopted, there can be no doubt that from the sixth, and during the following centuries, their use became very extensively spread through the continental kingdoms of the north, and, doubtless, the adjacent islands adopted the art and use of Seals not very long thereafter. Leaving untouched the question regarding the use of Seals by the Saxons, we will now confine our remarks to the Seals immediately connected with Scotland.