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Heraldic Seals on the TRANSUMPTUM BULLARUM of CLEMENT X
SEALS ON THE TRANSUMPTUM BULLARUM OF CLEMENT X This document from the Apostolic chancery dated October 1 1674 is a good example of Vatican diplomatic customs before the reforms of Leo XIII in 1878. The most important texts of the pontifical court are usually those with a leaden seal in the form of a bubble on which are engraved the effigies of Saint Peter and Saint Paul as well as the name of the reigning pope on the reverse. Several pontifical bulls are stored in the Canadian Episcopal archives. Library and Archives Canada has two one from Nicolas V dated August 18 1453—the oldest stored in Canada—and another from Clement XI naming Monseigneur de Mornay coadjutor bishop of Quebec in 1713. Some official acts can also be sealed with the Ring of the Fisherman a seal representing Saint Peter fishing in a boat and engraved with the name of the reigning Sovereign Pontiff. This ring the oldest mention of which dates back to 1265 is destroyed upon the death of every pope. Although the original apostolic letters erecting the diocese of Quebec have disappeared the transumptum bullarum of the bull has two paper seals affixed to the wax. The fragility of this technique often explains why the seal is poorly preserved and not very legible. Heraldic description: The legend of the seal is as follows: G(…) GASPAR(…) S(anctae) R(omanae) E(cclesiae) PRESB(iterus) CARD(inalis) (DE) CA(p) PIN(r) O S D N (p) PRODAT Stamped with a pontifical hat the escutcheon is divided into quarters. 1 and 4 are azure with six silver stars set three two and one with a border indented azure (Altieri). In 2 and 3 are three bends embowed. This seal is without a doubt that of Cardinal Paluzzo Paluzzi Altieri Degli Albertoni (1623-1698) made Cardinal Nephew (nipote) by Pope Clement X (Emilio Altieri). This role which today would be the equivalent of the Vatican Secretary of State allowed Cardinal Altieri to administer the Church during Clement X’s old age. It was abolished by Pope Innocent XII. The second mark on the paper is a seal that is not a coat of arms and bears no insc ription which makes identification difficult. - Heraldic Seals on the TRANSUMPTUM BULLARUM of CLEMENT X
SEALS ON THE TRANSUMPTUM BULLARUM OF CLEMENT X This document from the Apostolic chancery dated October 1 1674 is a good example of Vatican diplomatic customs before the reforms of Leo XIII in 1878. The most important texts of the pontifical court are usually those with a leaden seal in the form of a bubble on which are engraved the effigies of Saint Peter and Saint Paul as well as the name of the reigning pope on the reverse. Several pontifical bulls are stored in the Canadian Episcopal archives. Library and Archives Canada has two one from Nicolas V dated August 18 1453—the oldest stored in Canada—and another from Clement XI naming Monseigneur de Mornay coadjutor bishop of Quebec in 1713. Some official acts can also be sealed with the Ring of the Fisherman a seal representing Saint Peter fishing in a boat and engraved with the name of the reigning Sovereign Pontiff. This ring the oldest mention of which dates back to 1265 is destroyed upon the death of every pope. Although the original apostolic letters erecting the diocese of Quebec have disappeared the transumptum bullarum of the bull has two paper seals affixed to the wax. The fragility of this technique often explains why the seal is poorly preserved and not very legible. Heraldic description: The legend of the seal is as follows: G(…) GASPAR(…) S(anctae) R(omanae) E(cclesiae) PRESB(iterus) CARD(inalis) (DE) CA(p) PIN(r) O S D N (p) PRODAT Stamped with a pontifical hat the escutcheon is divided into quarters. 1 and 4 are azure with six silver stars set three two and one with a border indented azure (Altieri). In 2 and 3 are three bends embowed. This seal is without a doubt that of Cardinal Paluzzo Paluzzi Altieri Degli Albertoni (1623-1698) made Cardinal Nephew (nipote) by Pope Clement X (Emilio Altieri). This role which today would be the equivalent of the Vatican Secretary of State allowed Cardinal Altieri to administer the Church during Clement X’s old age. It was abolished by Pope Innocent XII. The second mark on the paper is a seal that is not a coat of arms and bears no insc ription which makes identification difficult.
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[1] de exprimendo vero annuoque valore, ac de unionibus committendis ad partes vocatis quorum interest,
ac Lateranensis conciii novissime celebrati, uniones perpetuas nisi in casibus a jure permissis
fieri probibentis, ac quibusvis apostolicis, necnon in synodalibus, provincialibus et generalibus
conclus editis et edendis constitutionibus, quibus omnibus, etiamsi de lUis eorumque totis teno-
[5] ribus specifica et expressa, ac de verbo ad verbum, non autem per clausulas generales idem impor-
tantes, expressio ad hoc servanda foret, illis alias in suo robore permansuris, hac vice dun-
taxat specialiter et expresse derogamus, ceterisque contrariis quibuscumque. Nulli ergo omnino
hominum liceat hanc paginam nostrae erectionis, institutionis, suppressionis, extinctionis,
unionis, in corporationis indulti, reservationis, concessionis, assignationis, decreti et dero-
[10] gationis infringere vel ei ausu temerario contraire. Si quis autem hoc attentare praesumpserit,
indignationem omni potentis Dei ac beatorum Petri et Pauli apostolorum ejus se
noverit incursurum. Datum Romae apud Sanctam Mariam Majorem, anno Incarnationis
dominicae milesimo sexcentesimo septuagesimo quarto, kalendis octobris, pontificatus nostri anno quinto.
Pro eminentissimo Domino Cardinale BARBERINO summatore I CIAMPINUS Loco + Plumbi I Castellus Qui-
[15] bus quidem litteris diligenter visis atque perlectis, praesens transumpti instrumentum confeci, ut illi stetur
firmiterque credatur et plenarie fides adhibeatur in judicio et extra illud, perinde ac si litterae originales
exhiberentur aut ostensae forent. Actum ut supra praesentibus ibidem DD. Antonio Desverneys
et Amaldo Guillaud testibus, ad praemissa vocatis specialiter, atque rogatis. Episcopum
Praeinsertae litterae apostolicae cum suo originali revisae concordant.
[20] Jacobus de Pressis, Officialis Deputatus.
G. Card. Prodatarius
Ita est Innocentius a Laurentiis Cancellariae
Apostolicae Secretarius Deputatus
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