{"product_id":"oliver-cromwell-great-seal-of-the-lord-83209","title":"Oliver Cromwell, Great Seal of the Lord Protector - c.1655 - Commonwealth - Historical Wax Seal Stamp","description":"\u003cp\u003eBased on the Great Seal commissioned for Oliver Cromwell in 1655 and engraved by Thomas Simon, this design depicts Cromwell in armour, mounted on horseback and holding the reins and a baton. His personal heraldic arms appear beside him, with a town and river landscape in the background.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFollowing the execution of Charles I in 1649, England became a Commonwealth. Cromwell became Lord Protector in December 1653, exercising authority over England, Scotland and Ireland. In 1655, a new Great Seal was commissioned, replacing the earlier Commonwealth imagery of Parliament with the traditional representation of a ruler on horseback. Although Cromwell was offered the crown in 1657, he declined the title of king.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Protectorate's heraldry combined the crosses of St George and St Andrew, the Irish harp and Cromwell's personal lion. Its motto was PAX QUAERITUR BELLO, meaning “Peace is sought through war”.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Latin legend around the seal reads:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOLIVARIVS DEI GRA REIP ANGLIÆ SCOTIÆ ET HIBERNIÆ \u0026amp;c PROTECTOR\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTranslation: “Oliver, by the grace of God, Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland, etc.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEach stamp is made of solid brass, fitted with a wooden handle and presented in a velvet pouch.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA quotation from Cromwell's speech to Parliament in January 1654\/5:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“I look at the People of these Nations as the blessing of the Lord: and they are a People blessed by God.”\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"NobleSeals","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58073575424340,"sku":"HIS-ENG-1655-CROMWELL-R-50MM","price":50.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0927\/6352\/1364\/files\/il_fullxfull.8774236422_m063_7d603bf9-20d9-43f5-9ae8-76f96ff8c432.jpg?v=1793556525","url":"https:\/\/nobleseals.co.uk\/de\/products\/oliver-cromwell-great-seal-of-the-lord-83209","provider":"NobleSeals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}