reverse of this medal was suggested by Charles II. himself.
Strangways was born at Melbury in 1615, commanded a regiment
of horse in the King’s service in the West, was persecuted
by the Parliament, heavily fined, and imprisoned in the Tower
with his father. They are said to have suffered in the royal
cause to the extent of £30,000. At the Restoration he represented
Dorsetshire in Parliament, and was intimate with Pepys,
who mentions him several times in his Diary. Notes on this
medal are given in the Arch. Journ. XXIII. p. 127. The dies
are in the British Museum.
178. A t t em p t e d B e l e a s e oe C h a r l e s I. 1648.
Full-length figure of Charles I., crowned, seated facing on
throne, holding sceptre and orb, and surrounded by a number
of people, all kneeling; below, n . b . s . (Nicholas Burghers
sculpsit.) Leg. carolvs . d ’ . g ’ . mag’ . b r i ’ . r e x . &. catho’ .
FIDEI . VERTV . INVINCUB . DEF*. r e l e v a b i t . o p r e s s o s . (C ta rlG S , by
the grace of God, King of Great Britain and Defender of the
Catholic Faith through his invincible virtue, will raise up the
oppressed.)
Rev. A battle scene, in the midst Prince Charles on horseback,
I . ; above, Eye of Providence appearing amid clouds and
rays, with the inscription, acvtvs . e s t . d e i . ocvlvs. (Piercing
is the Eye of God.) Leg. In two circles,. carolvs . ca ro l i .
NECNON . SEREN1SSIM® . MARL® . ELLIVS . WALL!® . PRINCEPS .
CORNVBLE . DVX . SCOTI® . SALOMONIS . IACOBI. GAT .T.T® . MARTI® .
HENRICI. NEPOS . ET . VXRTVTVM . LLLORVM . COMES . DEBELLABIT .
r e b e l l e s . anno . d o ’ . 1648. (Charles, son of Charles and
also of the very serene Maria, Prince of Wales, Duke of
Cornwall, grandson of James the Solomon of Scotland [and]
of Henry the Mars of France, and their fellow in virtue, will
put to flight the rebels. 1648.) Below, n i . b v r g h e . s c v l p .
(Nicholas Burghers sculpsit.)
Border of buds on both sides.
2'4- (See Woodcut.)
MB. lead. Unique ?
This piece is cast and was executed by Nicholas Burghers, a
medallist of German origin, who lived at Oxford and held the
178. Attempted Release of Charles I.
post of engraver to that University. It was issued in 1648 during
the period of the so-called Second Civil War, when a general