Joseph Burtt.
Haybands in Seals.—M. A. Lower thinks that Mr. T. Hudson Turner has misapplied his description of the seals in his possession. The seals are not impressed upon haybands, neither do "some ends of the hay or straw protrude from the surface." The little fillet or wreath of hay, about equal in diameter to a shilling, is inlaid upon the pendent lump of wax, and forms the ornament or device of the seal, rather than an integral portion of it, like that in the specimens referred to by Mr. Turner.
M. A. Lower begs, under favour, to add, that the very fact of a Query being inserted in the pages of this invaluable—one might almost say indispensable—publication, implies a candid avowal pro tanto of ignorance on the part of the Querist, who might reasonably expect a plain answer, unaccompanied by any ungracious reflection on the side of the more highly-gifted savant that furnished the reply. As a simple matter of taste, many other correspondents besides Mark Antony Lower may probably object, like the latter's eminent namesake, Mr. Tony Weller, to being "pulled up so wery short," especially in cases where there is a clear misapprehension on the part of the respondent.
Haybands in Seals.—It is impossible for one moment to doubt the correctness of Mr. Hudson Turner's remarks on this question, and I hasten to retract my own suggestions, frankly acknowledging them to be erroneous.
I had always taken the same view as Mr. Turner (for it is very palpable to the eye, and speaks for itself), till diverted from it by one of those sudden fancies which, spite of all caution, will ever and anon unaccountably cross the mind and bewilder the better judgment. To have established my view, these rushes should have been proved to be affixed to deeds of feoffment alone; a point which, at the moment, I overlooked. Even while I write, I have before me a lease granted by the abbey of Denney in the fifteenth century, with a rush in the seal; and Mr. Turner's cited instances of royal charters put an end to all question.
Lest others be led astray by my freak of fancy, without an opportunity of correcting it by Mr. Turner's statement, the proper course for me is to acknowledge myself wrong—palpably, unmistakeably wrong,—Mr. Turner's explanation is the correct one; thanks to him for it—liberavi animam meam.
L. B. L.
NORTH SIDE OF CHURCHYARDS.
(Vol. ii., pp. 93. 253.; Vol. iii., p. 125.)