Signo Dicti Collegii: Instruction for a Fourteenth-century Corporate Badge for the College of Trinity Hall, Cambridge

摘要

The 1350 foundation statutes for the College of Trinity Hall, Cambridge, contain unique provisionsnfor a corporate signum or badge. The badge was specifically assigned to the college by its founder,nWilliam Bateman, Bishop of Norwich (1289–1355). Over time Bateman’s personal arms replacednthis signum in identifying the college and its property. The badge is often called Bateman’s personalnbadge, but this is not supported by the statutes of the college or by the evidence of the badge’s use innsurviving books in the college library. The instructions for the college signum and its specific functionnin the marking of the college’s books represents an interesting development in the indicationnof corporate, rather than personal, ownership using heraldic insignia. This paper discussesnBateman’s instructions for the college signum and the evolution of the Trinity Hall arms.