One of three cups made for Sir Nicholas Bacon (1509-79)in 1574 from the Great Seal of Mary I. It was a "perk" of office for the Lord Chancellor & Keeper of the Great Seal to keep the obsolete seal of the deceased monarch once it had been defaced and usual to have commemorative items made up from the silver. Bacon had 3 cups made, one for each of his sons, to be passed down as heirlooms.