English: Reproduction of the medieval seal of Liverpool. The inscription reads Sigill. Conmvne Borge'si. d. Leverpol, i.e. Sigillum Commune Burgensium de Liverpool—common seal of the burgesses of Liverpool. The bird (forerunner of the Liver bird) is probably meant to be the eagle of St John, and is thus a reference to the borough's founder King John, as are the star-and-crescent and planta genista badges depicted. The scroll reads Ioh'is, i.e Iohannis. The original seal matrix, which probably dated to the 13th century, was lost at the taking of the town by Prince Rupert in 1644.