Carlisle

Carlisle Cathedral was founded c.1122 by Henry I and Archbishop Thurstan as part of a programme of church building and reform in the north.  It was staffed by the Augustinian canons of Carlisle Cathedral Priory - the only Austin cathedral in England.  The first prior was Aethelwold (sometimes called Adelulf), who had been both prior of Nostell and Henry I's chaplain.  Carlisle was Arrouaisian (they followed the observances of Arrouaise - like many Irish priories).

Being on the Borders, Carlisle was a target of many Scottish raids and attacks, leading at one point to the temporary dispersal of brethren to other monasteries while the priory was rebuilt.  There's a good article on fourteenth-century Carlisle here, and it's this century we're going to for the seal.

The seal is from about 1303 (Birch).  Above is a photo from the VCH; left is a drawing from the Transactions of the Cumberland & Westmorland Arch. Soc., really to give you the advantages and disadvantages of drawings and photographs.  Probably like botany, if you really want to get to know your seal, you should draw it!

This is a splendid seal.  It's round (obviously), with the BVM holding (it looks like feeding) the Child between a couple of censing angels (see, for more of these, the Canterbury third seal.)  Below is a cathedral, which could be Carlisle or could be just fantasy - it's symmetrical with three lancets and a trefoil (lovely number symbolism), which suggests to me that it's fantasy.  However, the crenellations below are probably not:  the Priory no doubt was somewhat fortified, although not enough to stop the marauding Scots.  The arch is a lovely detail:  two more trefoils, and in the middle a vesica (pointed oval) with the cross in.  Underneath it, the bishop (sinister) and the prior (dexter) pray.  The cross suggests that they are praying not just to the BVM and Babe but to the altar of the Cathedral; directly underneath the Child, it gives a picture of the whole life of Christ, and emphasises his innocent sacrifice.  Nice!

+ SIGIL’ ECCLESIE • SANCTE • MAR[IE KARLELO]LI.

Birch also notes 'a small pointed oval counterseal, perhaps of Adam de Warwick, the Prior.'  Warwick was prior c.1284-1304.  Birch's description continues:  'Impression of an antique gem : a winged Fortune or Minerva, helmeted, full-length, in profile to the left, in the field a faintly engraved inscription:  — DIVS F . . .'  You can read about the use of ancient gems in (12th-century) seals here.
The counterseal has two shields of arms:  in chief, three bars, in base, fretty.  Apparently the Medieval Dictionary of Arms is online, but I can only seem to find volume 2, which is Bend-Chevron, so no good!  (I'm beginning to feel the want of a library now.  I hope one opens again soon.)  The inscription is + SIGILLVM • FRISINGTON (Frizington).

This is a bit of a mystery.  None of the priors around then was from Frizington, from their surnames.  Three later 12th-century priors have no surnames, but they are a little early for shields - not impossible, but unlikely.  Frizington itself seems to have been a one-horse-village.  Further research needed here!