"Hei mihi quod tanto virtus perfusa decore"
"Non habet eternos inviolata dies."
Rev. Phonix amid flames: above, monogram of Queen, crowned, and 1574 engraved roughly; around,
"Felices Arabes, mundi quibus unica phonix"
"Phoenicem reparat depereundo novam"
"O miseros Anglos, mundi quibus unica phonix"
"Ultima fit nostro, tristia fata, solo."
Silver. Size 1·75. Cast and chased.
The legends may indicate the apprehension for the Queen's life occasioned by the severe plague, which visited London in 1574.
21. Defeat of the Spanish Armada, &c., 1588-9. Obv. Bust of Queen in high relief, facing, crowned, wearing high ruff, &c., and holding sceptre; and orb. DITIOR IN TOTO NON ALTER CIRCVLVS ORBE. Rev. Bay-tree uninjured by lightning on inhabited island inscribed, NON IPSA PERICVLA TANGVNT: border of leaves. Gold. Oval. Size 2·35. Cast and chased; with ring for suspension.
This medal records not only the defeat of the Spanish Armada, but also the averting of other dangers which at that time threatened both England and her Sovereign. The Queen of Scots was dead; James of Scotland had been conciliated; the Duke of Guise was dead, and France and the Vatican were baffled. The bay-tree was deemed incapable of injury from lightning.
22-23. Another. Similar: on obverse, bust of Queen, three quarters l., without sceptre and orb, and on reverse, E. R. in field, and no buildings on island. Gold and silver (with original chain). Size 1·9. Cast and chased; with ring for suspension.
24. Another. Obv. Similar: bust of Queen l., with pearls in hair, ELIZABETH. D. G. ANGLIE, &c. Rev. Ark in waves; above, sun. SEVAS (sic) TRANQVILLA PER VNDAS. Silver. Size 2. Cast and chased; with ring for suspension.
This medal refers only to the defeat of the Spanish Armada. The English flag-ship was called the "Royal Ark," which may have suggested the reverse type.
25. Another. Obv. Pope, kings and others seated in council, with eyes bandaged; floor covered with spikes; above, O COECAS HOMINVM MENTES, O PECTORA COECA; around, DVRVM EST CONTRA STIMVLOS CALCITRARE. (Acts ix. 5.) Rev. Fleet driven on rocks; above, VENI VIDE VIVE. 1588; around, TV DEVS MAGNVS ET MAGNA FACIS TV SOLVS DEVS. (Ps. lxxxvi. 10.) Silver. Size 2. Struck. Dutch.
The obverse satirizes the confederation formed against Elizabeth by the Pope, the King of Spain, the Emperor, and others; the reverse represents the defeat of the Armada.
26. Another. Obv. Naval engagement, destruction of Spanish fleet. FLAVIT ET DISSIPATI SVNT. 1588; above, Jehovah, in Hebrew. Rev. Church on rock amid stormy waves; beneath, shield, arms of Prince Maurice crowned. ALLIDOR NON LÆDOR. Silver. Size 2. Struck. Dutch.
The destruction of the Armada was due in great measure to the violence of a storm. As this medal bears the shield of Prince Maurice, it is probable that it was struck by his direction in Holland.
27. Mary, Queen of Scots, 1567? Obv. Bust r., wearing cap with veil, ruff, &c. MARIA STOVVAR REGI. SCOTI. ANGLI. IA. PRIMAVE. Reverse plain. Copper. Size 2·5. Cast. By G. Primavera.3
This medal presents us with a remarkable portrait of Mary Queen of Scots, and is the work of Giacomo Primavera. Its date is uncertain, but judging from other existing portraits of Mary, it was probably executed about the same time as the Morton portrait, which was painted by order of Mary during her imprisonment in Lochleven Castle, 1566-67. There are modern casts of this medal, to which a reverse has been added. (See guide to Italian medals, No. 181.)
28. Richard Shelley, 1577. Obv. Half-length figure r., in armour with cross of Knights of St. John on breastplate. RICARDVS SCELLEIVS PRIOR ANGLIAE AN. A. LXIIII. Rev. Arm issuing from clouds holding shield with crest, arms of Shelley. PRO FIDE SPOLIATI CLYPEVS OBSES. Copper. Size 2·75. Cast and chased. Italian work.
Sir Richard Shelley born in 1514 was a Knight of Malta, Grand Prior of England, and as Turcopelier, took part in the defence of Malta against the Turks in 1565. He died abroad, probably at Venice, where this medal appears to have been executed.
29. Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, 1587. Obv. Bust, three-quarters l., wearing cap and armour much ornamented. ROBE. CO. LEIC. ET IN BELG. GVBER. 1587. Rev. Sheep in flat country, dog leaving them; under dog, INVITVS DESERO; around, NON GREGEM SED INGRATOS. Silver. Size 1·85. Cast and chased. Dutch.
Leicester, being superseded in the command of the combined armies of the English and Protestants of the United Provinces by Maurice second son of the Prince of Orange, left the country in disgust. This and the following medals were probably executed for Leicester before his departure from Holland.
30. Another. Similar: type varied, sheep in hilly country, &c. Silver. Size 1·85. Cast and chased. Dutch.
MEDALS BY STEPHEN OF HOLLAND.4
Table of Contents 31. William, Earl of Pembroke, 1562. Obv. Bust r., in armour, head bare. GVILI. COMES PENNEBROCK. Ao. 1562. STE. H. Rev. Dragon, beside which, allegorical female figure pointing at temple of Virtue. DRACO HIC VER'. VIRTVTVV¯. CVSTOS. Silver. Size 1·75. Cast and chased; with ring for suspension.
William Herbert, statesman and soldier, son of Sir Richard Herbert, elected K.G. in 1548, and created Earl of Pembroke in 1551. He died in 1570. The Earl's badge was a green dragon, which may have suggested the reverse.
32. Edmund Withipoll, 1562. Bust r., in toga, head bare. EDMVND WITHIPOLL. ÆT. 48. 1562. Silver. Size 1·7. Cast and chased. A plaque.
Edmund Withipoll with his father? Paul Withipoll received in 1545 the great tithes of Walthamstow with the manor and rectory, and also the manor of Marks in Essex upon the dissolution of the monastery of St. Helen's.
33. Another. Obv. Bust, three quarters l., wearing bonnet, doublet, &c. EDMVND WITHIPOLL. Æ. 48. STE. H. F. Silver. Size 1·7. Cast and chased. A plaque.
34. Sir Thomas Stanley, 1562. Obv. Bust r., wearing bonnet, doublet, &c. THOMAS STANLEY. ÆT. 50. STE. H. Rev. Shield, arms of Stanley, surmounted by crest, a stag. Silver. Size 1·7. Cast and chased.
Sir Thomas Stanley, third son of Thomas Stanley of Dalgarth in Cumberland, was one of the assay masters of the mint during the reigns of Henry VIII. and Edward VI., appointed controller by Elizabeth, and Master 1573. He died 1576.
35. Richard Martin and his wife Dorcas Eglestone, 1562. Obv. Bust of Martin r., wearing bonnet, cloak, &c. RICHARD MARTIN. ÆT. 28. Ao. 1562. STE. H. Rev. Bust of Mistress Martin l., wearing cap, fur cloak, &c. DORCAS EGLESTONE VX. RICHARD MARTIN. ÆT. 25. Silver. Size 2·25. Cast and chased.
Richard Martin was Lord Mayor of London, 1589, and at various times Warden and Master of the Mint. Died 1617. His wife Dorcas died 1599.
36. Elizabeth, Marchioness of Northampton, 1562. Obv. Bust l., wearing cap, gown, &c. ELIZABET. MARQVI. NORTHAMPTON. STE. H. F. Rev. Faith holding book, and supporting cross. SOLA TVTA FIDES. Ao. 1562. Silver. Size 1·55. Cast and chased.
Elizabeth, daughter of George Lord Cobham, was the second wife of William Parr, Marquis of Northampton.
37. Maria Newce, wife of John Dymock, 1562. Obv. Bust l., wearing cap, gown, &c. MARIA NEWCE VX. IOH¯S DIMOCK. STE. H. Rev. Allegorical female figure holding stag by the horns near a fountain. SICVT CERV'. AD FOTES AQVARV¯. (cf. Ps. 41. 2.) Silver. Size 1·5. Cast and chased.
From the 'visitation' of Hertfordshire 1579 it would appear that this lady was one of the daughters of Clement Newce of Much Hadham, citizen and mercer of London, who died in 1579.
JAMES I. 1603-1625.
Table of Contents 38. James, as King of Scotland. Marriage, 1590. Obv. Bust of King r., laureate, in armour. IACOBVS 6. D. G., &c. Rev. Between I.R. crowned and 6 beneath, thistles surmounted by crown, &c. NEMO ME IMPVNE LACESSET. 1590. Gold. Size 1·6. Cast and chased.
James married in 1590 Anne daughter of Frederick II. King of Denmark.
39. Accession to English Throne, 1603. Obv. Bust of King, three quarters r., laureate, wearing armour, cloak, &c. IAC. I. TOTIVS INS. BRYT. IMP. ET FRANC. ET HIB. REX. Rev. Royal shield, garnished and crowned. IVGI CONCORDIA FLORENT. Silver. Size 1·7. Struck.
On this medal James styles himself Emperor. This is the first instance of an English sovereign assuming the title.
40. Queen Anne (of Denmark): coronation, 1603. Bust of Queen, three quarters l., hair arranged high, wearing lace collar, jewels, &c. Silver. Size 1·4. Cast and chased. A plaque.
The coronation of James and Anne was celebrated on the 25th July 1603.
41. Queen Anne (of Denmark), 1619? Obv. Bust of Queen l., wearing necklace, embroidered gown, &c. ANNA D. G. ANGL. &c. Rev. Pine tree crowned; above, name of Jehovah in clouds: across tree, scroll inscribed, LA MIA GRANDEZZA DALL ECCELSO. Silver. Size 2. Cast and chased.
This medal was probably struck upon the death of the Queen in 1619. The device is an illustration of her motto.
42. Peace with Spain, 1604. Obv. Bust of King, three quarters r., wearing hat crowned, doublet, &c. IACOBVS D. G. ANG. &c. Rev. Peace and Religion with emblems, &c. HINC PAX COPIA CLARAQ. RELIGIO; in ex., A. 1604. Gold. Size 1·45. Struck, with ring for suspension.
This medal was...
