165. T h e P a s sa g e o f t h e S c h e l d t f o r c e d .
■g-f November, 1708.
The Lion of the United Provinces, I., within a wattled fence.
Leg. n e s c i v s . f e r r e . iv g vm . E x . l i b e r t a s . p a t r i a e . Same
as Nos. 153, 156.
Rev. The Genius of the Scheldt reclining, r., and amazed to
see a Cock flying away from a Lion; soldiers in the distance
flying. Leg. iactabas . qvondam . cantando . fv g a s s e . l e o -
n em . (You once boasted to have put the Lion to flight by your
crowing.) Ex. f l w iv s . s c a ld is . sv p e r a t v s . h o s t e . a s p i -
c ie n t e . d . 26 . nov . 1708. (The Scheldt forced in view of the
enemy, 26 Nov. 1708.)
1‘45. Yan Loon, Y. 115.
MB. lead. Hague, lead. M. Van der Chijs, M.
Very rare.
The French, failing in the relief of Lille, determined to
seize upon Brussels, and had posted themselves along the
banks of the Scheldt from Tournay to Ghent, and spent three
months in fortifying their positions. 'Marlborough, however,
by feints and stratagems, diverted and deluded them, and
passed the river at two places, above and below Oudenarde,
almost without resistance, inflicting upon the enemy the loss of
much baggage and of about 800 men. A lion is said to be
frightened at the crowing of a cock. France had often used
this idea upon medals recording supposed advantages obtained
by the Gallic Cock over the British or Belgian Lion. (See Yan
Loon, II. 392.)
166. B r u s s e l s r e l ie v e d . November, 1708.
Bust of the Elector of Bavaria, r., laureate, hair long and
tied with riband, in armour and mantle fastened with brooch
on the shoulder. Leg. a u s p ic i is . maxim : em a n . e l : bavar.
(Under the auspices of Maximilian Emanuel, Elector of Bavaria.)
Below, i. s. (Jan Smeltzing ?)
Rev. The Elector, as a general, viewing the defeat of his
troops; above, a crown suspended between him and the sun of
France, which shows to him only its shaded side. Leg. n o n .
d i a d em a . s e d . v m b r a . (Not a diadem, but a shadow.) Ex.
SCHELLENBERGIVM . HOCHSTET . RAMEL . ET BRUX . HAC IPSUM
l a u r e a . d o n a n t . (Schellenberg, Hochstadt, Ramillies, and Brussels
present him with this laurel.)
2*15. Van Loon, Y. 116.
MB. electrotype from Hague, At. Extremely rare.
This satirical medal was struck in Holland. The obverse, if
by Jan Smeltzing, must have been executed many years previous
to this date; the reverse is probably by Nicolas Chevalier, and
jeers at the Elector of Bavaria for the signal defeats he had
sustained at the places mentioned. The troops destined for the
siege of Brussels, amounting to 15,000 men, were placed under
the command of the Elector, but within two hours after he
heard that Marlborough had passed the Scheldt, he drew off his
army, leaving behind him his wounded men, cannon, and baggage.
Louis XIV. had induced the Elector to make common
cause with him against the Allies by the promise of erecting
his Electoral dominions into a kingdom, to be called Franconia.
This shadowy crown he is now contemplating.
167. B r u s s e l s r e l ie v e d . Ag- November, 1708.
A bear running, r., with wings attached to its feet. Leg.
EUGENII . UMBRA . PEDIBVS . ADDIDIT . ALAS. (The shadow of
Eugene added wings to his feet.) Ex. postqvam . d ir u it r v it .
(As soon as he had destroyed, he ran away.)
Rev. Victory, running rapidly, I., holds out a javelin and a
laurel wreath towards a city, Brussels. Leg. obstabat . s t r e -
n ua . v ir t u s . (Active valour interposed.) Ex. g a l l is fu g a t is
o b s id . so lu ta b r u x e l . 28 , no v em b . MDCcviii. (The French
put to flight, the siege of Brussels raised, 28 Nov. 1708.)
l -45. Yan Loon, Y. 116.
Hague, lead. Extremely rare.
As a bear runs away to avoid the stings of the bees whose
hive it has destroyed, so the Elector of Bavaria ran away with