instrument being thus made to give its name to the whole. Of "debenture"
I think there is little doubt that it may be similarly explained. Those
Record Offices which possess the ancient accounts and vouchers of
officers of the royal household contain numerous "debentures" of the
thirteenth, but far more of the fourteenth, century. In this case the
_initial_ is the chief operative word: those relating to the royal
wardrobe, commencing "Debentur in garderoba domini regis," being in fact
merely memorandums expressing or acknowledging that certain sums of
money "are owing" for articles supplied for the use of that department.
It is well known that the royal exchequer was, at the time these
documents were executed, often in great straits; and it seems to me
scarcely doubtful that these early "debentures" were actually delivered
over to tradesmen, &c., as security for the amount due to them, and
given in to be cancelled when the debts were discharged by the Exchequer
officers.

There is a remarkable feature about these ancient "debentures" which I
may perhaps be permitted to notice here, viz., the very beautiful seals
of the officers of the royal household and wardrobe which are impressed
upon them. They are of the somewhat rare description known as
"appliqué;" and at a time when personal seals were at the highest state
of artistic developement, those few seals of the clerks of the household
which have escaped injury (to which they are particularly exposed) are
unrivalled for their clearness of outline, design, delicacy, and beauty
of execution.

Allowing for the changes produced by time, I think sufficient analogy
may be found between the ancient and modern uses of the words "imprest"
and "debenture."