I
1490. or even earlier. He entered into the service of Wolsey
for two years, and afterwards into that of Henry VIII., whom
he served in almost every capacity. In 1533 he was made
32. Medal of Thomas Cromwell.
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Secretary to the King, and a
Knight; in 1534 Master of the Rolls; in 1535 Visitor General
of the Monasteries ; in the next year Keeper of the Privy Seal,
Baron Cromwell of Oakham, and Vicar General, and he also
received the Prebend of Blewbury; in 1537 he became Dean
of Wells and a Knight of the Garter; on the 17th April, 1539,
he was created Earl of Essex, and shortly after Lord Chamber-
lain of England. Having, however, advised the marriage of
Henry with Anne of Cleves, and the King being dissatisfied
with his bride, Cromwell was disgraced and beheaded, 28 July,
1540.
The occurrence of the Garter on this medal proves it to have
been made subsequently to the 5th August, 1537, when Cromwell
was elected a Knight of that Order. In 1539 he was succeeded
in the secretaryship by Sir Thomas Wriothesley, so that
it may be presumed that the medal was issued in 1538, and
that the figures indicate the year of the century, and not the
age of Cromwell. The coronet may have been added later.
33. M ic h a e l M er c a to r . 1539.
Bust of Michael Mercator, three-quarters, L, cap on head,
fur cloak, rose attached to a chain round his neck. Leg. a
REGE ANGLORVM PRIMI MILITIS CREATI EX VENLO EFFIGIES. (Portrait
of the first knight created by the King of the English
from Venloo.) m. m. Trefoil slipped and star.
Rev. Incuse inscription, m ic h a e l . mer cator . ® ta t is sv®
x l v i i i . gr at ia . d eo e t r e g i . m .d .xxxtx. (Michael Mercator
at the age of 48. Thanks be to God and the King. 1539.)
Above, star ; below, three trefoils slipped.
1*95. Puteanus, Genealogia Puteansea, Louvain, 1630.
Rev. Num. Beige, V. PI. iv.
MB. At. from the Dimsdale collection. Extremely rare.
As Venloo belonged in 1539 to the Duchy of Guelders, it
might have been surmised that the honour conferred on Michael
Mercator was due to the negotiations then in progress for the
marriage of Henry VIII. with Anne, sister of the Duke of
Cleves and Guelders; but from documents it would seem that