Elizabeth Flaye

Elizabeth Flaye (1587-1673) was one of Exeter’s prominent citizen’s. She is shown wearing the rich clothing of a prosperous Exeter citizen. She has a wide hat made of beaver skin, an almost equally wide ruff around her neck and numerous rings on her fingers.

Her husband, Thomas was an apothecary and alderman. The couple founded six almshouses in Goldsmith Street whose site now lies within the Guildhall Shopping Centre.

There has been much confusion over the identity of her father, who has been variously given as Nicholas or William Spicer, Exeter merchants. It can now be proved that her parents were Christopher and Elizabeth Spicer. Her brother was Nicholas Spicer (1581-1647).