Sinister shield: Az., a harp or, stringed arg., being the Harp of Ireland.
Motto.—God with vs.
Legend.—The Commonwealth of England.
[Proclamations of the Lord Protector, G. 5194.]
The Commonwealth was established in England in 1649, and Oliver Cromwell made Protector. In 1649 Charles, Prince of Wales, was crowned King at Scone, and in the next year at Carlisle. In 1658, on the death of Cromwell, the people of England felt that the Commonwealth had lasted long enough, and in 1660 Charles II. returned among general rejoicings. From a bookbinding point of view the period of the Commonwealth was one of little interest, but on the Restoration, Samuel Mearne raised the standard of English bookbinding to a very high level.
COOTE, CHARLES
Arms.—Arg., a chevron between 3 coots sa. Coote.
Crest.—A coot ppr.