No. I.
Seal of New Netherlands
This is the first public seal of the Province, and is thus described; Argent , a Beaver , proper;Crest) a Coronet; Legend , Sigillvm. Novi. Belgii. In a paper by Van der Donck entitled , 11 Fur-ther observations on the Petition of the Commonalty of New Netherland,” it is stated, that NewNetherland was called a Province, because it was invested by their High Mightinesses with thearms of an Earl. 1 The engraving is copied from an impression of the seal in the office of theSecretary of State. 2 It was in use until 1664, and afterwards, we presume, under Gov. Colve in1673, 4.
II.
Seal of the Duke of York.
This is a copy of the Royal arms of the House of Stuart which Burke thus describes Quar-terly, first and fourth, France and England quarterly; second, or, a lion rampant, within a doubletressure, flory counter flory, gu. Scotland; third, az. a harp, or, stringed, ar. Ireland . 3 Motto ,!< Honi. soit. qui. mal. y pense.” Legend , Sigill. Provine Novi. Eborac. Crest , a Coronet com-posed of crosses and fleur de lis, with one arch; which, Burke adds, the Duke of York wasdirected to use, by a Royal Warrant dated 9th Feb. 1662. There are several impressions of thisseal in the first Vol. of Land Papers, in the Sec’y’s office. They are incumbent, but those to thePatent of Renselaerwyck (1685,) and to the charter of the city of Albany (1686,) are pendant.The earliest impression in the Sec’y’s office is to a patent dated 20th August, 1670, and from thefact that the patents issued by Governor Nicolls are sealed only with his signet, it is inferred thatthe Great Seal now reproduced was received in October, 1669, at the same time as the seal pre-sented by Gov. Lovelace to the city of New York . 4
III.
We have not been able to find an impression of this seal, the Warrant for which bears date 14thAugust, 1687. It is described therein as having <£ on the one side our Royal effigies on Horsebackin Arms over a Landskip of Land and Sea, with a Rising Sun, and a Scrole containing this motto,Aliusq : et Idem. And our Titles round the circumference of the said Seal; There being alsoengraven on the other side Our Royal Arms with the Garter , Crown, Supporters and Motto, withthis Inscription round y e Circumference Sigillum Provincial Nostra; Novi Eboraci etc., inAmerica .” 5 Despatches of the above date were received in New York on the 21st Novemberfollowing. 6 In the year 1688, Sir E. Andros was commissioned governor of all the ColoniesfromMaine to New Jersey, inclusive. By his instructions the provincial Seal of New York , authorizedthe preceding year, was ordered to be broken and defaced, and “ the Seal appointed for the said
1 Hol. Doc. IV. 39. 2 Land Papers, I.
4 Valentine’s Manual of the Com. Counc. of N. Y. for 1849. 343.
5 Lond. Doc. V. 139. 6 Counc. Min. V. 213.
3 Burke’s Encyc. of Heraldry, Royal Armory.