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Archiver > ESSEX-UK > 2003-03 > 1047425009


From: Patricia Sloan <>
Subject: RE: Writs of Provy Seal
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 2003 15:23:29 -0800
In-Reply-To: <002801c2e80d$15aa5ae0$68790650@ColleenMorrison>


Well, the word Provy is almost certainly a mis-transcription of "Privy".

The word and the context it is used in makes me think that it would be some
senior level of government - probably Cabinet level. The executive level of
Cabinet (the Prime Minister and the senior ministers) are often referred to
as the "Privy Council" - not sure about Britain anymore, but definitely in
Canada.

My guess is that John Dyse was given a pardon in respect of some significant
crime, that could only be pardoned at a Privy Council level. Could have been
some kind of political offense around disloyalty to one group in power and
when that power shifted, the new group liked what he was doing, and pardoned
him. Could also have been murder - who knows. But it certainly involved
something that was not just your garden variety theft of a chicken or
whatever.

The term "Order in Council" is probably the modern equivalent of "Bill of
the Privy Seal".

This is just guesswork, based on my career in the Canadian government. There
may be someone on the list who knows exactly what it means in terms of
English political structures.

Pat in Vancouver

-----Original Message-----
From: Colleen [mailto:]
Sent: March 11, 2003 12:31 PM
To:
Subject: Writs of Provy Seal

Hello Everyone,

I've found a reference to a John Dyse, pardon Jun 1591 under the PCC,
Bills of Provy Seal (Signet Bills). Can anyone hazard a guess as to what
this might be?

Thanks for your help.

Colleen

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