Period Document Study

by The Honorable Madame Elizabeth de Nevell, CE, CW

• Document 1 - Grant to Roland Babington of the manor of Normanton, November 22, 1544
  • Approximately 32" wide and 18" high - as eyeballed through the case.
  • Large Cadels on top line with light pen work drawings around the cadels and forming a top border.  The large Cadel "H" which begins the document has a pen work portrait of King Henry VIII.
  • There is light green and pale yellow cord twisted and sewn into the document which holds the royal seal.  The cording is either 4 cords, or 2 longer cord folded in half.  The cording is sewn into the document in a diamond shape holding closed a flap folded up from the bottom of the vellum.  The four strands are braided together at the bottom of the diamond and hang down about two inches where the large seal is hanging around them.  Seal is about 4" in diameter.  Emerging from the bottom of the seal, are the four strands of cord no longer braided but hanging loosely.
  • Seal was a dark almost black color.
  • On loan from the Keith Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas
• Document 2- 1579
  • Approximately 18" wide and 11" high - as eyeballed through the case.
  • Calligraphy Capital "E" is set off to the side with a large and open indentation in the text as if leaving space for future illumination.  "Elizabeth" and "Queen" were in a thicker text and had ascenders for emphasis.
  • Seal was a dark almost black color.
  • Newberry Wing MS ZW 1.579
• Document 3 - Appointment of Edward North 1559
  •  "Elizabeth" and "Queen" were in cadels for emphasis.   The Queen's signature was over her name where it began the text in the top border space.
  • Horizontal strip was cut out of the document and holding the seal.  The seal obviously had a section broken out of it.
  • Seal was a yellow/amber toned color.
  • On loan from the Keith Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas
• Questions raised by looking at these documents
  • Were documents regularly given with large blank borders around them and then come of the recipients of the documents took them to be illuminated later?  Could this explain why there are so few illuminated documents in existence?
  • How exactly were documents rolled and sealed when using the method with a strip cut in the bottom of the document?