Flags and Pennants Heraldry in coats of arms, flags, pennants and other forms, was a feature of 17 th century social status. To be able to demonstrate in this way that you were of ancient and noble descent was regarded as significant. The Cromwell family traced their own descent back to the Princes of Powys. The family name was Williams until three generations before Oliver Cromwell was born. The family had a heraldic scroll completed in 1602 that displayed their descent expressed in coats of arms. The scroll is currently at Hinchingbrooke House, home of the Cromwell family until 1627, where it is on exhibition. Oliver Cromwell, from the evidence of the frequency with which heraldic devices are incorporated in ceremonial and formal objects associated with the Commonwealth and Protectorate, did not dismiss their importance. There are a number of objects in the Museum that include some heraldic references, including some of the coins of the Protectorate, and the fragment of the stumpwork coat of arms carried at his funeral in 1658. As part of the recent programme of improvements at the Museum the upper windows are now curtained. This has been undertaken to reduce the amount of harmful natural light falling on Museum objects. They have been hung in such a way that there are no new fixings into the structure of the building. The opportunity has been taken to print onto the curtains some of the significant heraldic devices of the period.
West Windows (opposite the entrance) Left Cromwell s personal coat of arms Cromwell s great grandfather, Richard Cromwell, changed the family surname from Williams to Cromwell, to reflect the patronage of his mother s brother Thomas Cromwell, Henry VIII s Chief Minister. The coat of arms used by Oliver Cromwell, is identical to that used on a seal of his grandfather, Henry, on a document of 1578/9. It reflects the Cromwell s Welsh antecedents, in the devices used. The lion at the top of the arms is holding a diamond ring. This is supposedly a reference to Richard Cromwell catching a ring of King Henry s whilst jousting. The different elements of the coat of arms, confusingly called quarters despite there being six of them, can be read left to right, as follows: Top line left, Lion rampant, Cromwell alias Williams; centre, Caradoc Freichfrais; right, Collwyn ap Tangno, Lord of Efionydd. Bottom line left, Jestyn ap Gwrgant, Prince of Glamorgan; centre, Madoc ap Meredith, last Prince of Powis; right, Murfyn, Lord Mayor of London.
East Window, Right Protectorate Coat of Arms The coat of arms of the Protectorate combines the heraldry of the nation, with that of Cromwell s personal shield. The silver armour helmet, or helm, over the shield, with a lion and crown above it, is based on the heraldic insignia of the previous Tudor monarchy. The lion and dragon supporting the shield are also traditional, but it has been suggested that the dragon is a deliberate reference to Cromwell s Welsh heraldry rather than a random creature of mythology used to replace the unicorn in the arms of King James I. The shield has four quarters. The red cross of St George for England, with the blue saltire of St Andrew for Scotland, and the harp of King David for Ireland. At the centre is the lion of the Cromwell s superimposed over the four national quarters. The motto on the scroll at the foot of the shield is Latin and reads Pax Quaeritur Bello, which translates as Peace is sought by war.
South and North Windows The flags and pennants decorating the south and north windows are all taken from the illustrations in John Prestwich s Respublica published in 1787. The book is a miscellany of material about Cromwell and the Protectorate and includes a full account of the funeral in 1658. For full text look at http://prestwidge.com/river/respublica/ The presence of such a range of devices at Cromwell s funeral is interpreted by some historians as clear evidence of the regal nature of the Protectoral Court. The flags and pennants would most probably have been painted onto silk, and the full accounts for the work undertaken by the Company of Clothworkers appear in Prestwich. South window, left side facing the opposite end to the entrance door. Numbered 1-4, left to right. 1. Cross of St George of England above; Irish harp, or harp of King David below. 2. Saltire of St Andrew of Scotland above; Commonwealth with Cromwell below.
3. Guydon ( a smaller form of flag) with Cromwell family lion and the motto Pax Quaritur Bello above; Cromwell s coat of arms below. 4. Cromwell family rampant lion above; Union or States below. North window, right side facing the opposite end to the entrance door Numbered 5-8, left to right. 5. Standard of England above; standard of Wales below. 6. Standard of Ireland above; standard of Scotland below. 7. Repeats 5 8. Repeats 6