A James I silver beaker, maker's mark AI over WT, possibly for Alexander Jackson & William Tyler (Mitchell p.222), London, 1624

One of the coats of arms is that of Farington (or Farrington), with a mark of difference (a martlet) impaling Talbot, for William Farrington (1537-1610), fourth son of Sir Henry Farrington M.P. (1471?-1549/51) of Farington, Leyland and Worden, Lancashire (by his second wife, Dorothy), who was married to Anne (1538-1622), daughter of Sir Thomas Talbot M.P. (1507/08?-1558) of Bashall, Yorkshire and Rishton and Lower Darwen, Lancashire. The other coat of arms is that of Farington (or Farrington), with a mark of difference (a martlet), as above.

Of the four engraved mottos on this beaker, rendered in somewhat eccentric Latin, two are below the coats of arms. The first of these (Farington/Farrington) reads, 'IGNAVIS SEMPER FERIA’ [i.e. Ignavis semper feriae sunt] (The idle are always on holiday); the second (Farington/Farrington impaling Talbot) reads, ‘TALIS VITA FINIS ITA’ (His end matched his life; or, As is the life, so is the end).

The other two mottos, engraved on ribbons between the coats of arms, are, ‘LUXSURIA ET GOLA CAVIAS’ (You should guard against extravagance and greed), and ‘EBRUETAS [Ebrietas] VICTORI RADIX’ (Drunkenness is the root of vice).

The work of this partnership of goldsmiths is uncommon: a 1620 communion cup and paten are recorded at St. Peter le Poor in London and a paten of the same date at St Helen's.1 Jackson's 1989 edition lists a cup marked for 1623.

Note

1. E. Freshfield, The Communion Plate of the Churches in the City of London, London 1894, p.124.