them, a mortar, balls, &c. Leg. l i l i i s d is c e b p t is l il iv m
captvm. (The lilies [of France] plucked, Lille taken.) Ex.
EVGENIO OBSIDENTE, MABLBOEVG : PBOTEGENTE, GALLO SPECTANTE
insvl ze captze . m d c c iix . x x in . o c t . (Whilst Eugene besieged,
Marlborough protected, and the Frenchman looked on, Lille was
taken, 23 Oct. 1708.) Monogram of m b . (Martin Brunner.)
Rev. Plan of Lille and its fortifications. Leg. v b b s antiqva
b e d it m v l to s dom in ata PEE annos . Virg. (The ancient city
returns, having been enslaved for many years.—comp. Vira
Aen. ii. 363.)
Edge, n e c m in o b e s t v ib t v s , qvam q v z e e e e e , fa c ta t v e b i .
(Nor is there less virtue in defending than in acquiring.—comp.
Ovid, De Arte Am. ii. 13.)
1-7. Eapin, vi. 7. Yan Loon, V. 112. Thes. Num. 827.
MB. At. Very rare.
The lily is the armorial bearing of Lille, and of France,
hence this punning legend. Lille was taken by the French in
1667, and confirmed to them by the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle
in 1678. It was now restored to its ancient masters. The
edge jeers at the French for having surrendered, intimating
that they had not shown as much courage in defending the city
as they had in acquiring it. It would have been fairer to admit
that they had shown even more skill and courage in the defence
than in the acquisition of the place. The enemy beat a parley
22 October [N. S.], and yielded up the gates to the Allies on the
following day.
161. C it y o f L il l e t a k e n . October, 1708.
A statue of Louis XIY. on a pedestal decorated with the
shield of France, crowned, and his badge, a meridian sun :
behind him, Victory, who takes the laurel wreath from his
brows. Leg. a v f e e t . n o n d a t . (She is taking away, not
giving.)
Rev. Gallia, dropping her shield and an empty cornucopia,
flies terrified at the hostile approach of Marlborough and
Eugene; who, in the dress of Roman warriors, are throwing
down a figure of Terminus. Leg. h a n n ib a l a n t e p o e t a s .
(Hannibal at the gates.) Ex. v ik t v t i in v ic to e vm h e e o vm
FELICITEK INTEK GALL : FINES BEPVLSO BELLO CAPTA INS . D .
23 . o ct . 1708. (To the valour of the invincible heroes, the
war being happily driven back within the boundaries of France,
Lille taken, 23 Oct. 1708.)
1-7. Rapin, vi. ,8. Van Loon, Y. 112.
MB. JR. Extremely rare.
This medal is unsigned: but it appears to have been executed
by Martin Brunner. The statue of Louis XIV. is that which
stood in the Place des Victoires in Paris, and the legend is an
answer to a sarcastic question asked when it was erected, “ Is that
Victory giving or taking away the laurel wreath ?” “ Hannibal
is at the gates ’’ was an expression used by Roman nurses to
terrify into obedience naughty children. The name of Marlborough
is said to have answered the same purpose in France.
By the capture of Lille the Allies broke down the boundaries
of France, raising supplies, and levying contributions within
her territories. Terminus was the Roman divinity who presided
over boundaries and frontiers.
162. C it y o f L il l e ta k e n . - I f October, 1708.
Bust of Anne, I., hair hound with pearls, lovelock on each
shoulder, necklace, in gown and mantle fastened on the left
shoulder with brooch. Leg. On a scroll, anna . d . g . mag .
BE . FB . ET . HIB . BEG.
Rev. The city of Lille besieged: in the foreground are
Eugene and Marlborough on horseback, each holding a marshal’s
staff, and directing the attack; on the right are tents
with the flags of the commanders. Leg. On a scroll, insvlze
captze . 1708 . 23 . OCT. (Lille taken, 23 Oct. 1708.) Monogram
of m b . (Martin Brunner.)
1'85. Rev. Num. Beige, 1878, PI. vii. 26.
M. Hohn, Wiesbaden, lead. Extremely rare.
This medal, which commemorates the taking of the city of
Lille, was executed at Nuremberg by Martin Brunner. It is
very possible that, as only one specimen is known, and that in