An example of a seal, wax, and parchment

Medieval land charters, such as those in our collection at the University of Guelph, were not only signed, but also sealed with wax to verify and validate the contents of these documents. These waxen seals can tell us much about political alliances and positions of nobles in court. Waxen seals came into popularity near the beginning of the First War of Scottish Independence, because such seals solidified the authenticity of the document and its signature, as each noble seal was unique for each noble family. This in turn allows us to distinguish which family issued and signed off on the charter. Waxen seals allowed for a more concrete and long-lasting form of agreement, lowering the chances of dispute or forgery in cases of land ownership and transfer. 

XS5 MS A002 1542

Folded charter with seal of King James V confirming the barony of Pentland to William Sinclair (d. 1602). Scotland, 25 August 1542.  In Latin. Ink on parchment and wax seal, diameter 110 mm. University of Guelph, Archival and Special Collections (XS5 MS A002 1542).

Waxen seals were the principal method of legitimizing documents in Western Europe from the eleventh century onwards. As literacy emerged in Scotland and preferences shifted from oral traditions towards the use of charters to record legal and business transactions, waxen seals were adopted by monarchs, the nobility, and lastly by commoners. Seals became vital to the acceptance of legal records such as wills, landholdings, and contracts in Scottish courts by the mid-thirteenth century.

 This charter was granted by King James V and confirms the barony of Pentland to William Sinclair. The seal affixed to the charter has heraldic imagery on both sides that is reflective of the royal seals used since the time of James I. Intricately designed, the obverse of this seal shows the king “in majesty” (on his throne), flanked by two coats-of-arms. The reverse of the seal displays another common image utilized by monarchs: a warrior on horseback. King James V is identified in the legends on both sides of the seal.