After 1301 such extra sealing almost disappears, but there are some very late instances. Humfrey Earl of Stafford and Perche, 1438, placed on the back of his splendid seal a smaller one--the Stafford arms on a heater shield, within a decoration of three Stafford knots, but without any inscription (_Archæologia_, vol. xxxviii); and some of those large and pretentious seals mentioned as appearing 1450-1475 were used with small counterseals. Many ecclesiastical communities used counterseals, also the old Cinque ports and other ancient boroughs. Ancient official departments too, such as the Norwich Staple, 1272-1307: these having begun, of course continued their use as an established form. SECRETA were usually small, and inscribed "Secretum." The first I have noticed is that of Seherus de Quenci, created Earl in 1210--"Secretum Comitis Wintonie." (Spelman's _Aspilogia_, p. 67.) John de Busli, however, is even a little earlier; "Secretum Johannis de Bueli" (_The Earls of Eu_, by Chester Waters, p. 33). * * * * * After a careful examination I have come to the conclusion that no regulations restricted their use, but counterseals and secreta were adopted or not, according to taste. Some regarded them as an accession of dignity, and some as a safeguard: there seems no doubt it was for the second reason that that signet was placed, in 1529, on the back of the Dartford Priory Seal (see p. 60); and I find another instance, where a seal of the same Priory, in 1534, had as a counterseal the impression of a small signet with the letters I F, being apparently the initials of Isabel or Joan Fane, the prioress at that time. It will give some idea as to the prevalence of counterseals if I say that to the Baron's letter, 1301, are appended ninety-five seals of the principal nobility. Seventy-nine have no counterseals: to sixteen such are attached; namely, eight of the same size as the seals, and eight greatly smaller. Two of these smaller ones are not inscribed (William de Brehouse and Simon de Montacute), and one only is called "Secretum" (Walteri de Teye). I think this shows they were less commonly used in 1301 than about 1250. MANTLINGS FROM THE SIXTEENTH TO THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. It is somewhat difficult to treat distinctly of the mantlings prevailing since the beginning of the sixteenth century; but as they afford indirect evidence of date, I venture to draw up the following short description of their variations; and I do so with some diffidence, in the hope that fellow-students may add to my feeble effort, and that thus we may presently arrive at a perfect and dated scheme of these changes.