was most disastrous to the French, especially at Oudenarde and
Lille. The Sun and Moon are France and her allies, who
were compelled to be spectators and to stand still “ until the
people had avenged themselves upon their enemies.” The Sun,
it will be recollected, was the badge of Louis XIV. The edge
refers to the unanimity of action which existed between Marlborough
and Eugene on this as on all other occasions of their
combined command. Lille was taken by the French in 1667,
and it is now retaken (See No. 160).
171. C it a d e l o f L i l l e t a k e n . 8$ p °^~ 1708.
Gallia seated, facing, bemoans one lily dropped from her
shield which is suspended from a withered tree before her.
Leg. g a l l ia m o e r e n s ob l iltvm d e p e r d it v m . (Gallia, weeping
for her lost Lily.) Ex. in sv l a f l a n d r . cvm c a s t e l l o r e s t i -
tv t a . (Lille in Flanders, with its citadel, restored.)
Rev. View of Lille. Leg. f o e d e r At i s a d itv s in g a l l iam
a p e r t v s . (The entrance into France opened to the Allies.) Ex.
VRBE REDDITA D . 23 . OCT . CASTELLO . D . 9 . DEC . MDCCVIII.
(The City surrendered, 23 Oct.; the Citadel, 9 Dec. 1708.)
Edge, t em p v s v l t i o n i s e s t a d om in o . v i c i s s i t v d i n e m i p s e
t r i b v e t e i . ierem . l i . 6. (This is the time of the Lord’s
vengeance, he will render unto her a recompence.—Jerem. li. 6.)
1*75. Rapin, vi. 10. Van Loon, Vi 119. Thes. Num.
832.
MB. At. Gotha, At. Rare.
This medal was struck at Nuremberg, and is probably the
work of Martin Brunner.
Lille took a lily for her armorial bearing, and was also,
from her importance, called the “ Lily of France,” who therefore
laments the loss of that city, as if one of the lilies was
torn from her own shield. The possession of this place opened
the frontiers of France to the incursions of the Allies, The
edge considers the losses sustained by the French troops as a
just retribution for the tyranny exercised upon Lille while in
their possession.
172. C it a d e l o f L il l e t a k e n , 1708.
Bust of Anne, I., crowned, lovelock on the left shoulder, in
gown fastened with brooch in front. Leg. anna . d e i . gra :
mag : b r : f r a : e t . HiR : r e g in a . Same as Nos. 147, 155.
Rev. A Lion seizes the key and shield of Lille, and wounds
a Cock retreating. Leg. nvnc . tv . g a l l e . f v g is . dum . l e o .
b e l g a . f r e m it . (You, Cock, flee now, when the Belgic Lion
roars.) Ex. in su l a . capta . x x i i i . octob . e t . a r c e . i x .
d e c em b . m d c c v iii. (Lille taken, 23 Oct., and the Citadel, 9 Dec.
1708.)
1*45. Rapin, vii. 4. Van Loon, V. 123.
No specimen of this medal has been met with : it is the work
of Christian Wermuth. The motive of the reverse is derived
from the notion that a Lion is alarmed at the crowing of a
Cock, which was repeatedly adopted upon French medals. (See
Van Loon, II. 392.) To these this is a sarcastic retort, for now
the Cock flees when the Lion roars. The satirical medals by
Wermuth were seized by the local government, and their circulation
prohibited : on this account in many instances no specimens
have been met with.
173. T h e P as sa g e o f t h e S c h e l d t f o r c e d , and t h e
C it a d e l o f L il l e t a k e n . 1708.
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 . FVGASSE . LEONEM. Ex.
FLVVIVS . SCALDIS . SVPERATVS . HOSTE . ASPICIENTE . D . 26 . NOV .
1708. Same as the reverse of No. 165.
Rev. A Lion seizes the key and shield of Lille, and wounds
a Cock retreating, &c.; same as the preceding.
l -45. Rapin, vii. 5. Van Loon, V. 123.
No specimen of this medal has been met with; it is composed
of the reverses of two separate ones. The passage of the
Scheldt and the capture of the citadel of Lille were two events
which occurred within a few days of each other.