SEAL

The use of seals is of the highest antiquity, and one of the earliest forms was the signet ring. In Egypt impre ions of seals were made in fireclay and attached to documents by slips of papyrus and the Romans made them in clay, bees’-wax, and; (in the time of the empire) in lead. In the days of Const an tine flat metal seals, called bullae, were used. The metals employed were gold, silver, and lead, and the bullae were attached to documents by silk or woollen bands. The leaden seal was adopted by the popes. The western monarchs used bullae up to the 16th century; the use of bees’-wax was introduced by the Normans; and sealing-wax was invented in the 17th century. English documents are still legally sealed, but the true voucher to which alone importance attaches is the signature. There are three seals used officially in England, by, or in the name of, the sovereign—the great seal, privy seal, and signet. There is a similar set for Scotland.