made for its attack. The French commander, La Jonquiere,
was tried for his misconduct in the siege, found guilty, and sent
to prison, and the Spanish commander committed suicide by
leaping from a window.
158. C a p t u r e o e S a r d in ia and M in o r c a , Sept. 1708.
Bust of Anne, I , hair tied in a knot at top of the head, lovelock
behind, in gown with straps on the shoulder, and mantle.
Leg anna . d . g . mag . b r i . f r . e t . HIB . r e g . Same as
No. 114.
Rev. Victory, standing on a conch floating on the sea, &c. •
similar to the preceding.
*9.
H h G I - » Rare.
This is a medalet imitated from the preceding, probably by
the same artist, and struck for use as a counter.
159. C it y o f L il l e t a k e n , i f October, 1708.
Victory, trampling upon Lille and her shield, takes from her
her mural crown. Leg. in sv l a f l a n d r . g a l l is a f o e d e r a t is
e r e p t a . (Lille in Flanders is wrested from the French by the
Allies.) Ex. INDEFESSA VIRTVTE INVICTISSIMI EVGENII SAB
P R iN d P is . m d c c iix . (By the indefatigable valour of the most
invincible Eugene, Prince of Savoy, 1708.)
Rev. Pallas, seated, I., amidst piles of arms, terrifies a
French soldier by the Gorgon shield. Leg. s p e s h o s t ivm
p e r t e r r it o r v m p r a e c is a . (The hope of the terrified enemy
IS CUt Off.) Ex. PRVDENTIA FORTISS . DVCIS MARLEBVRG OBSI-
DIONEM in sv la n ym p r o t e g e n t i s . (By the prudence of the most
valorous Duke of Marlborough protecting the siege of Lille.)
p . h . m . (Philipp Heinrich Muller.)
Edge. SPECTANTE NEC QVICQVAM AVDENTE EXERCITV GALLOR .
MAX . SVB DVCE bv rg v n d . lv d o v ic i n e p . (An immense French
army, under the Duke of Burgundy, grandson of Louis, looking
on, but not attempting anything.)
1-8. Rapin, vi. 6. Van Loon, V. 112. Thes. Num. 830.
■MB. At. Gotha, JR.. Very rare.
In the summer of 1708 it was resolved to undertake the
siege of Lille, the strongest town in Flanders, fortified by
Vauban, who had drawn up a project for its defence, which he
confided to his nephew, who on this occasion was chief engineer.
Marshal Boufflers, distinguished for his skill in the defence of
fortresses, commanded the garrison of 15,000 men. Heavy
cannon, ammunition, and stores of every kind required by the
besieging army could only be obtained by very intricate and
circuitous routes through a country occupied by a very powerful
hostile force. These difficulties, however, were overcome, and the
trenches were opened, ^ August. “ Posterity,” says Feuquiers,
“ will scarcely believe it, though it is an indisputable truth.”
Vendome, who had pronounced this enterprise ridiculous,
determined to raise the siege with an army of 110,000 men,
and for ten days he threatened, and even commenced a cannonade
against Marlborough, who commanded the covering army;
but his efforts were ineffectual, and every resource supplied by
Vauban having failed, the city surrendered, -|-§- Oct.; but the
garrison, consisting of about 5,000 effective men, retired into
the citadel, which the Allies proceeded to invest without delay.
The obverse of this medal points to the indefatigable
valour of Eugene, who conducted the siege, whilst the reverse
commends the prudence and vigilance of Marlborough, who
commanded the covering army, and cut off all the hopes of the
terrified enemy. The inscription on the edge is a retort upon
Louis XIV., who had placed a similar one upon a medal in
1674, after a Dutch armament had fruitlessly threatened the
French coast. (See Van Loon, III. 149.)
160. C it y o f L i l l e t a k e n . October, 1708.
Lille, with her shield, humbly presents her keys to Marlborough
and Eugene, who each hold a lily flower.; behind