Oliver Cromwell, 1657-59
2nd great seal
By Llinos Thomas
The Great Seal gave the sovereign’s authority to all important documents. On the front was the monarch on the throne, and on the reverse, on horseback. Seals were attached to documents either by silk cords, or strips of parchment as here. It is ironic to see from this seal in the Rothamsted collection, that Cromwell, who had sought to abolish the monarchy by executing Charles I and appointing himself Lord Protector, adopted the same tradition.
This page was added on 05/10/2009.
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