File:LVPL-7FFE42 (FindID 401523).jpg

English: A cast lead papal bulla of Boniface VIII, (1294-1303). On the obverse are Saint Peter and Saint Paul beneath an inscription reading SPASPE, an abbreviation for St. Paul and St. Peter. St. Paul is on the left of the seal looking right, depicted with a long pointed beard. St. Peter is on the right facing left and has a rounded face with beard and hair formed of pellets. Both faces are contained within beaded borders and separated from one another by a crozier. The entire obverse has a border of pellets.

This bulla has been examined by Dr Tim Pestell (Curator of Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery) who said the following: "The lead bulla has been badly damaged to its obverse due to heavy pitting and abrasion, rendering the surface inscription almost indecipherable. However, enough survives of a few letters to reconstruct their former selves, enabling identification. The reverse is again well worn but clearly depicts the pelleted aureoles containing SS Peter and Paul, the legend SPA APE above. The form of these heads allows the bulla to be dated to sometime between 1254/61 when the bullae of Alexander IV first appeared using this particular reverse die, and 1458/64 when Pius II's bullae finished using this design with Peter and Paul.

The initial letter of the first line has a straight left-hand element, as does the right-hand element of the final letter. However, the crucial letter is the first of the second line which is clearly an F. This means the bulla can only be of a Boniface. There were two popes called Boniface between 1254-1464, namely Boniface VIII (1294-1303) and Boniface IX (1389-1404). Both use the inscription BONI/FATIUS but that of IX uses a vertical line of triple dots before the initial B and after the final S. The spaces where these elements would have been placed on the present bulla are relatively undamaged and there are no signs of them. Equally important, the F of Boniface VIII employs more clear vertical bars to the ends of the horizontal strokes of F, as seen on this bulla, and an angular downward stroke to the left of the following A. Both these elements can be seen clearly on this bulla.

It remains to comment on the condition of the bulla. This may well simply be the result of its time in the ploughsoil. However, it seems to be more bashed and perhaps even cut on the obverse than the revers, which appears simply worn. The possibility therefore exists that the obverse had been deliberately damaged or slighted, perhaps to help erase the name of the issuing pope. This may have been in part to cancel the seal to safeguard against fraud. A similar defacing of the obverse of the bullae has been noted elsewhere, notably on a bulla of Innocent VI from Strumpshaw, Norfolk".

The papal bulla is a formal seal of office used by the Popes to stamp and authenticate documents produced by the papal curia. Dr Tim Pestell has commented: "Papal bulls came as two basic types, according to the contents of the document: Tituli, or "Letters of Grace", essentially granted or confirmed rights, conferred benefices or promulgated statutes. They generally had their lead bullae attached with cords of silk. Mandamenta, or "Letters of Justice" were mandates that conveyed papal orders, prohibitions or injunctions, and had their bullae attached by hemp threads".