Christopher,
sight unseen, and not being infallible, I would
think that SIGNUM on the badge from Chartres has the meaning of 'seal, signet',
and here is why:
(a) the word 'signum' in connection with the
indication of provenance (AMI) normally occurs on seals,
(b) 'facies' should be taken in the generic meaning
of 'effigy, resemblance, image'. I see no indication of relics in the word
itself, though of course relics may have been involved,
(c) I don't see why the Genitive 'faciei' cannot
mean 'with the effigy'."The seal of the face" means "the seal with the face" of
John.
And by the by, what happened to
your vitriolic spirit? You have been quite tame lately. I miss the vinegar in
your missives, as I miss Bill's levitations; we are all so prim and proper,
where are our insane members (among whom may I be counted...)
Cheers,
Luciana
