AN ENGLISH LATE 16TH CENTURY SILVER ECCLESIASTICAL SEAL MATRIX
CIRCA 1589, UNMARKED
Estimate: £1,000 - £1,500
Auction: Silver & Objets de Vertu | Wednesday 4th March at 10am
Description
The navette shaped matrix the outer border inscribed +SIGILLVUM+F+I+CANCELLARI+IET+VICARII+GENERALIS+EPISCOPI+BRISTOLIENSIS 1589’, with seated figure within pillars on a tiled floor with motto IVRE ET AROVITATE, below the figure an armorial shield flanked by the date 1589, the matrix with steel backing
Dimensions
8.7cm long, 5.6cm wide, 303g
Provenance
The Matrix Collection.
Footnote
Heraldry
The engraved arms of the See of Bristol and Fletcher for Right Reverend Richard Fletcher Bishop thereof 1589 – 1593
Notes
While the arms to the matrix relate to Right Reverend Richard Fletcher Bishop of Bristol 1589 - 1593, who translated to Worcester 1593 – 1595 and London 1595 – 1596 the sela its self if not his Bishops seal but that of his Chancellor acting on his behalf.
It seem his Chancellor, therefore the holder of this seal, was a relation by the name of Francis James Fletcher was born around 1559 son of John James Fletcher of Little Ore, Staffordshire. He was educated at All Souls College from 1577 to 1581, he was awarded Batchelor of Canon Law in 1583, D.C.L in 1588, Advocate of Doctors Common 1592. He held the position of Chancellor of the Diocese of Bristol from 1587 until 1603.
He held various positions from Grays Inn (1606), Master in Chancery (1614) chancellor of diocese of Bath and Wells and of London, Member of Parliament for various constituencies from 1593 – 1611 before his death in 1616.