GREAT SEAL OF MARYLAND. 83
flowers and grass growing. The entire figure was admirably
designed and full of life. On the circle surrounding this
side of the seal was this inscription: Caecilius Absolutus
Dominus Terrae Marine et Avaloniae Baro de' Baltemore. On
the reverse was Lord Baltimore's hereditary coat-of-arms.
The first and fourth quarters represented the arms of the
Calvert family, described in heraldic language as paly of
six pieces, or and sable, a bend counter-changed. The sec-
ond and third quarters showed the arms of the Crossland
family, which Caecilius inherited from his grandmother,
Alicia, daughter of John Crossland, Esquire, of Crossland,
Yorkshire, and wife of Leonard Calvert, the father of George,
first Lord Baltimore.
The coat is quarterly, argent and gules, a cross bottony
counter-changed. Above the shield was placed an earl's
coronet; above that a helmet set full-faced; and over that
the Calvert crest, two pennons, the dexter or the other
sable, staves gules, issuing from a ducal coronet. The sup-
porters upon this seal were a plowman and a fisherman,
designated respectively by a spade and a fish held in the
hand. The motto was that adopted by the Calvert family,
Fatti maschii parole femine. Two interpretations exist of
this motto—"Womanly (Courteous), words and manly deeds,"
and "A woman for words and a man for deeds." Behind
and surrounding both shields and supporters was depicted
an ermine lined mantle, and on the circle, about this side
of the seal, were the words; "Scuto bonae voluntatis, tua coro-
nasti nos. "
THE THIRD SEAL.
During the sway of the Royal Governors, from 1602 to
1715. other seals came into use. Upon the obverse were the
royal arms of England, with this inscription upon the border:
Gulielmus III, et Marie II, Dei Gratia Mag. Brit. Fran. et
Hiber. Rex et Regina Fidei Defensores.. On the reverse was
the royal cypher, surmounted by a crown, and these words
upon the circumference: Sigillum Provinciae de Maryland, in
America. This seal continued in use until 1706, when it was
returned to England.
THE FOURTH SEAL.
The next seal was adopted by the Council September 22,
1706, and no description appears to be extant.
THE FIFTH SEAL.
This appears to have been, after Lord Baltimore had the
Province restored to him, in 1715. simply the seal of the
|
|