47. R o y a l A em s . T i c k e t . 1571 ?
Shield of France and England quarterly within the Garter,
inscribed as usual, h o n i . s o i t . q v i . m a l . y . p e n s e .
No reverse.
•9.
MB. lead.
Cast, and, like the two previous pieces, found in London.
48. R e c o v e e y f b om S m a l l - p o x . 1572.
Bust of Elizabeth, L, crowned, hair parted in front, long
behind, rich dress, ruff small. Leg. p o s v i . d e vm . a d iv to e iv m .
mevm. 1.5.V-2. (I have made God my helper. 1572.)
Rev. A hand from clouds shaking a serpent from the finger
into the fire. Leg. si . d e v s . n o b is c vm . q v i s . c o n t b a . n o s .
(If God he with us, who can he against us.—Rom. viii. 81.)
m. in. Cross crosslet: stops, on both sides, crosses.
1‘8 by 1*1. Med. Hist. vii. 6.
MB. JR. Unique ?
Cast and chased. The device of this medal is taken from
St. Paul’s shaking the serpent into the fire after his shipwreck,
and intimates that the Queen had suffered as little from the
poison of the small-pox as St. Paul had from that of the
serpent. This disease had seized her in 1572, and her anxiety
about her personal appearance is shown in a postscript, in her
hand, to a letter to the Earl of Shrewsbury, dated 22 Oct.
1572, in which it had been stated “ the same (red spots) are
vanished away,” and “ at this day, we thank God we are so
free from any token or mark of any such disease that none can
conjecture any such thing.” “ My faithfull Shrewsbury, let no
grief touch your harte, for fear of my disease, for I assure you,
if my creadid were not greatar than my shewe, ther is no
beholdar wold beleve that ever I had binn touched with suche
a maladye,
your faithefull loving soueraine,
Elizabeth R.”
The type of the reverse of this medal also occurs on one of
Philip II. of Spain. (See Van Loon, II. p. 84.)
49. R e c o v e b y f e o m S m a l l - p o x . 1572.
Bust of Elizabeth, r., hair curled in front, bound behind by
a tiara and jewels, a knot and drop ear-ring, pearl necklace,
open ruff falling back, stiff stomacher, sleeves ornamented with
pearls. Leg. e l i s a b b e g i a n g l i e e a n i b e b . p e im a v e . (Jacopo
Primavera.)
Rev. A hand from clouds shakes a serpent from a finger into
the fire. Leg. n o c e b i t . n i h i l . cv i. n o n . n o c v t s s e . d e b e t .
ACTO. xxvrn. (Nothing will harm him whom nothing should
harm.—Acts, xxviii.)
2-4. Kohler, XXI. front. Heraeus, PI. 22, fig. IV.
MB. lead. Hunter, JR. Extremely rare.
This fine medal is cast and is by Jacopo Primavera, an
Italian artist, who worked chiefly in Prance and the Netherlands.
As Primavera does not appear to have visited England,
this medal was probably executed by him during his residence
in the Netherlands. (See also medal of Mary, Queen of Scots,
No. 52, p. 118.) The reverse of the previous medal may have
been copied from this one. The reference to the Acts is general,
and intended merely to show that the device is prompted by
St. Paul’s shaking off the serpent.
50. R e c o v e b y f b om S m a l l - P o x . 1572.
Another: same, but with reverse plain.
2-55.
MB. lead. Extremely rare.
Cast. This specimen, being somewhat larger in size than
the preceding, is an earlier casting.
51. R e c o v e b y f b om S m a l l - P o x . 1572.
Bust of Elizabeth, r., &c,; same as No. 49.
Rev. Fortune, crowned, holding cornucopia and sceptre, seated,
¿.,ona starry globe. Leg. s em p e k . i n v i c t a . (Always invincible.)
Stops, leaves. Letters and stops engraved.
2.