61. B ir t h o f P r in c e J am e s c om m em orat ed in H o l l a n d .
1 6 8 8 .
Bust of James II., I., laureate, hair long, in mantle across
the breast; beneath, a rose. Leg. ia c o b u s i i d . g . b r it a n -
n ia r um im p e r a t o r . Before and after legend, a star.
Rev. The Queen in bed nursing an infant. Leg. f e l ic it a s
pu b l ic a. (Public happiness.) Ex. ob f e l ic i s s : m . b r it :
p r in o : n a t iv : 20 iu n : 1688 ig : v it u s e q : b . o . marc :
d ’a l b y v il l e e t sa : rom : im p : a pu d ba t : a b l e g : e x t :
c . c. (On the most happy birth of the Prince of Great Britain,
20 June, 1688, Ignatius White, Knight of the Blessed Cross,
Marquess of Albeville and of the Holy Roman Empire, Ambassador
Extraordinary in Holland, caused this medal to be
struck.)
2-35. Med. Hist, xxxvi. 6. Van Loon, II I. 843.
MB. Ht. Not rare.
This medal was executed in Holland, and is the work of
Jan Smeltzing. The English Ambassador is described by
Burnet as “ One White, an Irishman, who had been long a
spy of the Spaniards. And when they did not pay his appointments
well, he accepted of the title of Marquis d’Albeville
from them in part of payment. And then he turned to the
French, who paid their tools more punctually.” He announced
the birth of the young Prince with great ceremonies to the
States, gave a splendid entertainment, erected a triumphal
arch, and a fountain flowing with wine for the entertainment of
the populace, and concluded the evening with a grand display
of fireworks. A solemn mass had been celebrated in the
morning.
5 2 . B ir t h o f P r in c e J am e s . 1 6 8 8 .
Truth, her head radiate, tramples upon a serpent, and
opens the door of a cabinet, inscribed, iac : f r a n c ed u a r d :
s u p p o s it : 20 iu n i i 1688. (James Francis Edward, supposititious,
20 June [N. S.], 1688.) Within the cabinet appears
a Jesuit standing on a ladder and supporting through the top
a cushion, on which is seated the young Prince holding in one
hand a pyx, and with the other placing a crown on his head.
A puff of wind is blowing away some feathers from the
cushion, and threatens the young Prince. In the distance, the
Dutch fleet approaching. Leg. sic n o n h e r e d e s d e e r u n t .
(Thus heirs will not be wanting.)
Rev. The Trojan horse, wearing a saddle-cloth inscribed,
Lib e r t , con® s in e iu ram : e t l e g : p. (Liberty of conscience
without the oath and penal laws.) The girth is inscribed a s t u .
(By craft.) In the distance, a burning city, Troy. Leg. eq u o
nunquam t u c r e d e BRiTANNE. (Briton, never trust to' the
horse.—comp. Virg. Aen. ii. 48.)
2*3. Med. Hist, xxxix. 3. Van Loon, III. 345.
MB. Æ. Athole, At. Gotha, 2Et. Copenhagen, Æ.
Cassel, 2R. Rare.
This medal was struck in Holland by Jan Smeltzing, at the
instigation of those who were led to believe that by some means
or other an heir to the crown would be forthcoming ; and it is
intimated that Father Petre, the King’s confessor and chief
adviser, with the Jesuits, was the contriver of a supposititious
heir. Thé fleet is that which the Prince of Orange was at the
time collecting, sufficient to ensure his claim to the English
throne, and at the same time to secure the Netherlands from
invasion. The reverse cautions the people from relying upon
the King’s specious offer of liberty of conscience and general
toleration, and warns them by bringing before their eyes the
fate of Troy.
5 3 . B i r t h o f P r i n c e J a m e s . 1688.
Aglauros opening the basket discovers Erichthonius with
his dragon ta il; roses and thistles lie around. Two women
run away in fright. Leg. in fa n t em q u e v id e n t , a p po r r e c -
tum q u e draco n em . (And they see the child and the dragon
stretched out.'—Ovid, Met. ii. 561.) m. m. Cinquefoil.
Rev, A drooping withered rosebush with two flowers; at a
little distance from its roots springs a young sucker. Leg.