Scotland, July, 1624 CE. This is really fascinating piece of history, especially for those interested in Scotland! This is a legal document, a single handwritten page on vellum, that records a charter from King James VI of Scotland, who was also King James I of England and Ireland, assigning the lands of Williamshope, Selkirk, to Patrick Murray. Attached to the document as a sign of its authenticity and the authority of its creator is a dark green wax impression of the Great Seal of the Realm (see more below). Although Williamshope no longer appears on maps, it was an estate between Caddonfoot and Yarrow, in the Borders south of Edinburgh. Sir Patrick Murray, son of Sir Gideon Murray of Elibank (near Williamshope), later became the 1st Baronet of the Baronetage of Nova Scotia (a scheme devised by James in 1624 to settle the plantation of the province by creating baronets who would fund colonists for two years). The land grant here, from four years before Murray become a Baronet, emphasizes his position as a member of the landed gentry. The wealth continued: in 1643, Murray become Lord Elibank of the Peerage of Scotland, of Ettrick Forest in the County of Selkirk. Size: 24.5" W x 18" H (62.2 cm x 45.7 cm)

The Great Seal of the Realm is a powerful symbol of the monarchy and each monarch chooses the design; the one here, which is well preserved, was the second Seal for James. Following the death of Queen Elizabeth, who left no heirs, James VI of Scotland ascended to the thrones of England and Ireland by virtue of being her first cousin twice removed. Upon this Union of the Crowns, James changed his Seal to reflect his new position. This seal was used from 1603 until his death in 1625. The front of the seal shows the armored King mounted on a horse, with a closed crown on his head and holding aloft a sword in his right hand. There is a fleur-de-lys and a portcullis in the background. The legend around this side of the seal reads: Deus judicium tuum Regi da (Lord grant judgment to your King). The reverse shows a shield bearing his arms: the Scottish lion rampant, the English three lions rampant and the fleur-de-lys of France, and the harp of Ireland. Above the shield is the King's crown, and around it are the collars of the Order of the Thistle, Scotland's knightly order, and the Order of the Garter, the English knightly order. The legend around the edge of the seal reads Jacobus Dei gratia magni Britanie Francie et Hiberni Rex (James by the grace of God King of Britain, France and Ireland).

cf., Charters Issued Under the Great Seal of Scotland, D216.

Provenance: Ex-Bastiaan collection, acquired at Artemis Gallery in 2004

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#115373

Document has been kept folded, so there is wear to regularly exposed portions, but the interior, with the writing, is in beautiful condition, with all writing visible and, given knowledge of epigraphy and Latin, easy to read, with minimal fading to the ink. The seal is attached by a strip of vellum and is about 75% intact, with some edges broken off but the design on both sides very clear.