Great Seal of James II in brown wax, attached with braided metal thread ribbon, 15cm diameter, losses

wrapped in a later paper note ink inscribed: Sir Wm Trumbull Ambassador at Paris & Constantinople From 1685 to 1690

together with fragments of another seal

Ombersley Court, Worcestershire

Sir William Trumbull (1639–1716) was considered by Charles II as a possible Secretary of State, but he was eventually offered the office of Secretary of War in Ireland, which he turned down. Nevertheless, he was knighted in 1684, and in 1685 was made Clerk of the Deliveries of the Ordnance. Through the favour of the Trelawny family, he entered Parliament as MP for the Cornish borough of East Looe 1685–1687. Charles II died a few days later and Trumbull had to relinquish the clerkship when he was sent by James II, against his own wishes, as envoy extraordinary to France. Trumbull was a friend of both John Dryden and Alexander Pope. Trumbull was the great-grandfather of Mary, Marchioness of Downshire and Baroness Sandys.