the shoulder: she is draped. Leg. g v l . & m a r i a . d . a .
m . b r . f r . & h i b . r e x . & r e g i na. On truncation, d . d r a p .
(D. Drappentier.)
Rev. William, habited as a Roman Emperor, and seated in
state, holds the Christian standard surmounted by a naval
trophy. Before him stands Minerva, who presents a medal to
poets below, near a rostral column. Behind him Fame sounds
his praise, having her hand on a shield inscribed, e x p . . b r i t .
(The Expedition to Britain), as the subject of the eulogy. On
the ground are the arms which he has taken off. The dais is
inscribed, l ib e r a l : r e g in . e r u d it o s . (The liberality of the
King to learned men.)
Edge, g l o r ia e t f e l ic it a s n o v i aasocu. (The glory and
felicity of the new age.)
1*8. Rapin, xi. 7. Van Loon, IV. 40.
MB. Af. JR. Hague, Ar. Leyden, AT. Very rare.
These medals, which vary in weight, and are said to have
been struck only in gold, were presented by William to poets,
who had distinguished themselves by their poems commemorative
of the expedition to Britain. They were distributed in
the month of February, during the King’s visit to Holland.
The specimen in silver in the British Museum is inscribed on
the edge with the name of g e r r it ie * h a rm e n s . Chevalier
(Hist, de Guillaume III. p. 209) figures a medal similar to
the above, but larger, and with the positions on both sides
reversed.
187. C a p it u l a t io n o f M o n s . ^ Aprff» 1691.
Bust of Louis XIV., r., laureate, in armour and mantle
fastened with brooch on the shoulder. Leg. lvd o v icv s . magnvs .
r e x . c h r is t ia n is s im v s . Below, r . (Henri Roussel.)
Rev. Inscription, M o n t ivm V r b s B e l g . m v n it is . H an .
CAPVT, MENSE MART . A L vD . M . OBSESSA, ET INTRA XVI . DIEM
EXPVGNATA, CONSIL®™ H A G E C . MALE CONIVR . P r INC . ET Ar AV .
P R . MINAC1TER ADVOLANTE, VlCTORI LAVDEM, ET OPTATVM PEr
a c t is I m p e r i i s . d e c v s a r ro g a v it . m .d c .x c i . (Mons, the chief
fortress of Belgium, the capital of Hainault, besieged in the
month of March by Louis the Great, and taken within sixteen
days, whilst the confederate Princes were wickedly conspiring
at the Hague, and the Prince of Orange was approaching with
threats, has ascribed glory to the conqueror, and the wished-for
honour to victories already obtained.— comp. Hor. Car. IV. xiv.
39, 40.)
• 2'5. Trésor, Méd. Franç. Pt. HI. PI. xxix. 5. Rev.
Num. Beige, 1857, PI. xvii.
MB. Æ. Gotha, Æ. Very rare.
This is not one of the French series of official medals.
Whilst the allies were deliberating on the means of raising a
sufficient force to oppose, the French, and William had gone to
Loo to hunt, Louis XIV. invested Mons in person. On the
receipt of the intelligence William hastened to its relief with a
powerful army : but being delayed by the difficulties of bringing
up his artillery, the city capitulated, -g Ap^h, almost before
his eyes. The terms of the capitulation were so favourable
that it was supposed to have been effected by bribery. The
burghers themselves, upon the governor refusing to surrender,
sounded a parley.
188. C a p it u l a t io n o f M o n s . i ~a5HT> 1691.
Bust of Louis XIV., r., hair long, in armour and mantle
tied in a knot on the shoulder. Leg. Lvdovicvs . magnvs .
r e x . c h r is t ia n is s im v s .. Below, r . (Henri Roussel.)
Rev. Hercules standing, I., holds his club in left hand, and
in outstretched right the shield of Mons, surmounted by a mural
crown : Mons in the distance. Leg. to ta . e v r o pa . s p e c t a n t e .
e t . a d v e r sa n t e . (All Europe beholding and opposing.)- Ex.
MONTES . VRBS . HANN . PRIMARIA EXPVGN . M.D.C.LXXXXI. (Mons,
the capital of Hainault, taken, 1691.) m ola rt . f .
2-75. Med. Louis XIV., fol. 235.
. MB. M.
This is one of the medals belonging to the French official
series. The obverse giyen in the “ Med. Louis XIV.” is, as
usual, different. The fall of Mons, the most important fortress