Seal Of The Abbey Of Arbroath.

secrated . The four conspirators are approaching St . Thomas in front , and the sword of the foremost descends on his head as he kneels before an altar ( on which is a chalice ) , separating him from the assassins . Behind St . Thomas is a priest , who extends a cross as if to avert the fatal stroke . In the lower part of the seal , but very indistinct , is a figure of a monk kneeling at prayer . The inscription has probably been :

SIGILL , ABBATIS SCB . THOME DE ABIRBR 0 TH 0 C . Appended to the Act o £ Parliament of Scotland settling the Succession of the Crown , A . D . 1371 . General Register House . " 979 . [ p . 173 . ] ARBROATH , THE ABBEY OF . This is a large round seal of excellent design and workmanship , A . D . 1170 . St . Thomas is kneeling before the steps of an altarat the side of which a priest is standing holding a passion

, cross ; the four conspirators are behind the martyr , and the sword of the second descends on his head with such violence that the sword breaks , and part falls on the steps of the altar . The third figure is turning to converse with the one behind . All the four are armed in mascled armour , with surooats , but only three have helmets . The shield of the first figure is charged with a bear rampantthe second with two bendsthus identifing the figures with Fitzurse and

, , y Tracy ; the position of the sword in the hand of the third figure hides the charge on his shield ; but on that of the fourth figure a bordure is quite apparent The whole is represented under three arches ; from the top of the centre one issues a hand , the thumb and two fingers pointing downwards .

SIGILLUM : A [ BBATIS ET CO ] NYENTUS SCI . THOME : MARTYRIS DE ABEBBROTHOT . * 980 . Counter seal of the last . Equall y fine and interesting . A casket or reliquary with the doors thrown open , displaying a beautiful figure of the Virgin sitting , holding in her right hand a branch of foliage , and in her left the infant Jesus , who , as well as the Virgin , is crowned with an open crown . In the background , above the head of the infant , is an estoile . The inscription is unfortunatel y not quite perfect , but from various impressions of this fine seal the following has been completed .-

PORTA SALUTIS AVE . PERTE PATET EXITUS . A . VE : YENIT AB EVA VE . VE QUIA TOLLIS AVE . Detached Seal . Aiddbar Charters . " 981 . [ p . 174 . ] ARBROATH , MATHEW , MONK OF [ in shape a pointed oval ] . A full-length figure of an Abbot , in pontificial vestments , his right hand raised , and his left holding a crozier . On each side is a figure of an angel with the thurible . At the lower part of the seal is a demi-figure of a Monk praying ,

s' p . [ F ?] w . MATHI MONAC . D . ABIRBROTHOT . " The original brass matrix of this seal was found at Arbroath the latter end of last century , and is now in the Museum of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland . " Amongst the ' Common seals of Courts of Justice and burgs of Scotland , ' is given :

" 1149 . [ p . 208 . ] ARBROATH . This [ round ] seal is executed in a very barbarous style . The design is the murder of St . Thomas a Becket , and evidently a copy of the beautiful Abbey seal No . 979 . SAMCTUS THOS . is inscribed at the lower part of the design .

S COMUNITATUS BURGI . DE ABIRBROTHOT . " The original matrix of this seal is in lead , in the possession of Mr . George Sim , Writer , Edinburgh , and certainl y has the appearance of being old ; but from the circumstance that no impression , or even fragment of one , has been yet found appended to any document it may be doubted if it was ever really the seal of the burgh , —it looks more like the attempt of some die-cutter ' s