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| | Catholic History, THE SERAPH, September 1999, Vol XX No 1 |
 | | Till late in the middle ages tiara was a synonym of mitra, a bishop's miter, regnum being the word for crown (Ducange, sub voc.). |
 | | In early times the use of the term was not restricted as at present; thus, the well known letter of the Church of Smyrna, describing the martyrdom of Polycarp, is headed Epistolë egkuklikos, a circular letter; and the same designation was given by St. Cyprian to his letters on the Lapsi. |
 | | A PAPAL Brief is a letter issuing from the Court of Rome, written on fine parchment in modern characters, subscribed by the Pope's Secretary of Briefs, dated "a die Nativitatis," and sealed with the Pope's signetring, the seal of the Fisherman. |
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