Seal of Massachusetts

Ojibwe chief who was the model for the present-day seal.[2]

The seal was adopted by the Provincial Congress on December 13, 1780. The shield depicts an "Indian" with bow and arrow; the arrow is pointed downward, signifying peace. A silver star with five points appears next to the figure's head, although this is represented as white on the flag. A blue ribbon (blue, signifying the Blue Hills of Quincy, Canton and Milton) surrounds the shield, bearing the state motto "Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem" This comes from the Book of Mottoes in the Royal Danish Library in Copenhagen, Denmark; written about 1659 by Algernon Sydney, English soldier and politician. It was adopted in 1775 by the Provincial Congress and the literal translation is, "With a sword, she seeks quiet peace under liberty." Although the looser English translation more commonly used is, "By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty." Above the shield is the state military crest: a bent arm holding a broadsword aloft. The sword has its blade up, to remind that it was through the American Revolution that independence was won.

There have been a number of Seals of Massachusetts throughout history. The first seal of Massachusetts Bay Colony showed a nude American Indian with a bush covering his groin. Like the current seal, he held in his hand an arrow pointed down. A scroll came out over his mouth with the words "Come over and help us", emphasizing the missionary and commercial intentions of the original colonists. This legend coming from the Indian's mouth may originate with Acts 16:9: "And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us." (Authorized Version).[4] This seal was used until 1686, shortly after the charter was annulled, and again from 1689-1692.

In 1775 the Revolutionary seal appeared, depicting a minuteman with a sword in his right hand and the magna carta in his left; following the Revolutionary War, the sword would later be incorporated into the crest of the traditional coat of arms. The Revolutionary seal would also mark the first time the Latin motto used by the state today appeared on a state seal, and meant that the colony no longer recognized the authority of the Royal Governor General Thomas Gage. The source is attributed to the letter written by a father of an English soldier and politician Algernon Sidney: "It is said that the University of Copenhagen brought their album unto you, desiring you to write something therein; and that you did scribere in albo these words: 'Manus haec inimica tyrannis ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem'". (Translated, this means "This hand of mine, which is hostile to tyrants, seeks by the sword quiet peace under liberty.") The last words were then written in Sidney's "Book of Mottoes", particularly favored by some in the American colonies. Metrically, the motto is dactylic hexameter.

A stained glass window at the top of the Grand Staircase at the State House shows all the seals used in Massachusetts, including the royal seals of the Governors during colonial days.

• 
  Seal of the Governor of Massachusetts
• 
  Seal of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
• 
  Seal of the Massachusetts Senate
• 
  Alternative seal of the Massachusetts Senate
• 
  Seal of the Massachusetts State Police

• 
  Seal of the Plymouth Colony
• 
  Seal of the Massachusetts Bay Colony
• 
  Seal of the Dominion of New England
• 
  Seal used by the Massachusetts Provincial Congress

• Flag of Massachusetts

• The History of the Arms and Great Seal of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
• Arms of Massachusetts, American Heraldry Society