THOMAS DE ROS SEAL

MS 2223/368
MS Short Title THOMAS DE ROS SEAL
Text SIGILLU[M]: THOME: D[OMI]NI: DE: ROOS. + :DE :YTRULUOUS(?): DE :HAMELAK: DE :VALIBUS: + :DE :DAUSBENEY; SEAL OF THOMAS DE ROS, 10TH BARON, WITH HIS ARMS
Description MS in Latin on copper alloy, England, 1430-1431, 1 circular face seal matrix, diam. 6,5 cm, 1 line in black-letter script, a central shield with the arms of Roos surmounted by a peacock, two shields of arms on each side, arabesque ornament in the background composed of foliage, tendrils, and bunches of grapes, inner border with small quatrefoils, plain outer border, flat reverse with a mark where the original handle has been removed.
Context An impression of the seal, dated 1431, is described by Birch, vol. 3, p. 451, no. 13,091. Compare the small motto seal of Thomas, Lord de Roos (Ellis P1962).
Provenance 1. Thomas de Ros (1430/1431-1464); 2. Quaritch, London.
Commentary The elaborate heraldic seal of Thomas de Ros, Lord Ros (1427-1464). The 10th Baron succeeded to the title while still a minor in 1430 on the death of his father in France in the service of Henry VI. He himself fought in the Wars of the Roses, serving under Henry VI (he fought at the first battle of St. Albans, 22 May 1455, considered the commencement of the civil wars) and Edward IV. In 1464 he was one of a force of Lancastrians in the company of Henry VI which was defeated at Hedgley Moor. He was captured in a wood, taken to Newcastle, and executed on 17 May 1464. For details see G.E.C., vol. XI, pp. 105-6.
Published Manuscripts in The Schøyen Collection, ed.-in-chief, Prof. Jens Braarvig. vol. IV: Medieval seal matrices. Ed. by Richard Linenthal and William Noel. Oslo, Hermes, 2004.
Place of origin England
Dates 1430-1431