Some sixty years ago it was found that many of the seals of the charters of Canterbury Cathedral were covered with or had attached to them pieces of silk. Silk at this period, owing to the researches of such scholars as Francisque Michel, Fischbach, and Lessing, was beginning to attract the attention of scholars, artists, and archaeologists. The silks attached to the seals of Canterbury were seen to be interesting or at least unusual. They were taken from the seals, to which as a matter of fact they were detrimental rather than protective, with a view of preserving both seals and bags. Later on, cleaned and restored as far as possible to their original colours, they were placed in glass cases, where they can now be seen and studied.