Bulla

A ead bulla, or papal bull, found along the foreshore. A bulla was originally a circular plate or boss of metal, so called from its resemblance in form to a bubble floating upon the water (Latin bullire, to boil). In the course of time the term came to be applied to the leaden seals with which papal and royal documents were authenticated in the early Middle Ages, and by a further development, the name, from desingating the seal, was eventually attached to the docuent itself. This did not happen before the13th century and the name null was only a popular term used almost promiscuously for all kinds of intruments which issued from the papal chancery. This is a complete lead papal bulla of Pope Alexander III, c. 1159-81. On the obverse are the busts of St Paul and St Peter, each within a beaded border. Above the busts is the inscription SPA SPE. The reverse has the inscription of the pope ALEX/ANDER/PP.III. This dates the bull to between 1159-1181. Alexander III was the pope who excommunicated Henry II in 1170 after the death of Thomas a Becket, but we have no idea what document this would have been attached to.