No specimen of this medal has been met with. The positions
on this medal, as figured in the Thes. Num., p. 855,
are reversed : this is probably a blunder on the part of the
engraver, as in No. 153, &c.
^183. G h e n t b e t a k e n . ^ December, 1708.
View of Ghent and the trenches of the besieging army.
Leg. a v to r ita t e e t p o t e s t a t e . (By authority and power.) Ex.
PRVDENTIA FORT . D . MARLB . TRAD . CAROLO IH . GANDAWM
p o s t o b s . s . d ie r . d . 29 . d eo . 1708. (By the prudence of
the valiant Duke of Marlborough, Ghent was surrendered to
Charles III., after a siege of six days, 29 Dec. 1708.)
Rev. m onsr . la m o t t e , the Governor of Ghent, and the
French commanders, humbly present a glove to the Duke of
Marlborough on horseback; in the distance the French garrison,
g a l l . p r ie s ., departing. Leg. ca ro l i . v . im p . a g a l l is
TECHNIS RAPT® ET CAROLO I I I . RESTITVTiE CHIROTHEC®.
(Gloves [or Ghent] of the Emperor Charles V., filched by the
French, and restored to Charles III.)
Edge, m e n s vna sa p ie n s p l v r iv m v ic it m anvs. (One w is e
mind defeated the hands of many.—comp. Polyb. Hist. i . 35.)
1-7. Eapin, vii. 6. Yan Loon, V. 127. Thes. Num. 853.
Lochner, IY. 65.
MB. pewter. Extremely rare.
This medal intimates that Marlborough had obtained Ghent
by his authority and power, whilst the French had obtained it
by trickery. The legend on the reverse refers to the revolt of
the citizens of Ghent in 1539 against Charles Y. of Spain,
when they begged the assistance of France. The puns in
the legend are remarkable and almost untranslatable. The
French name of the town and of a glove give scope to the
medallist and to the herald. The edge also is embellished
with a pun, as the one wise head of Marlborough is considered
superior to the many hands of Ghent, or to the
occupiers of a glove. On the Dec., Count de la Mothe, the
Governor of Ghent, sent word to Marlborough desiring that
some officers of the garrison might have leave to attend him
in ordgr^to arrange the terms for the surrender of the city.
Marlborough returned a blank passport, and on the next day
the capitulation was signed. The garrison marched out with
the usual marks of honour, and was conducted to Tournay.
184. C am pa ig n o p 1708.
Gallia seated, facing, bemoans one lily dropped from her
shield which is suspended from a withered tree before her.
Leg. GALLIA MOERENS OB LILIVM DEPERDITVM. Ex. INSVLA
FLANDR . CVM GASTELLO RESTITVTA. Same as No. 171.
Rev. Between branches of palm and laurel, and surmounted
by a castral and two mural crowns, and two wreaths, is a shield
suspended against a tree and inscribed, s c a ld i tr a ie c t a . vallo
HOST . PERRVPTO . BRVXELL . LIBERAL . DVCE BVRGVND . IN GALL .
fv g a to gandav . e t b r v g is RECEPT. (The Scheldt passed, the
lines of the enemy forced, Brussels relieved, the Duke of
Burgundy driven into France, Ghent and Bruges retaken.)
On one side Victory trumpetB forth these exploits, and on the
other the Genius of the Scheldt tranquilly reposes and admires
the arms, &c., on the ground. Leg. e x p e d it io fo e d e r a t .
FELiciss , f in it a . (The campaign of the Allies most prosperously
concluded.) Ex. m d c c v iii.
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 . ie re ji . i i . 6. Same as No. 171.
1'75. Bapin, vii. 8. Van Loon, Y. 129. Thes. Num. 856.
MB. jB . Very rare.
This medal was struck at Nuremberg, and was probably the
work of Martin Brunner. The obverse and the edge have
already been noticed (See No. 171). The reverse records the
events of the campaign of 1708, of which Marlborough wrote,
“ It is now ended to my own heart’s desire, and the hand of
the Almighty is visible in the whole matter.” Coxe calls it
“ perhaps one of the most scientific occurring in the annals of
military history.” All the events mentioned have been already
noticed except the taking of Bruges, which the French aban