doned as soon as they knew that Marlborough was in possession
of Ghent. The fortress of Plassendaal was also evaouated by
the Frenoh troops.
Campaign op 1708.
An armed warrior, hearing the banner of Holland and the
shield of England, is seated, I., upon a cannon amidst piles of
captured arms and flags, and plaoes his foot on the shield of
Franoe. Leg.—
DE TROTSHEID VAN DE FRANSEN ALEXANDER
LEGT HIER VERTRAPT VAN BRIT EN NEDERLANDER.
(The pride of the French Alexander lies here, trodden under
foot by the British and the Dutch.) Ex. h e t ia a r m do o v iii
GELUKKIG DOOR DE NEDERLAGE DER PRANSSEN SPAANSE EN
b y e r s e . (The year 1708 prosperous by the defeat of the
French, Spaniards, and Bavarians.)
Rev. Four medallions, with portraits of f r a n s e u g e e n .__
IOHAN HER . V . MARLBURG. A . W . H . V . OUWERKERK.— IOHA .
FRIS . PRINS . v . PR., surrounded by ten cartouches, with representations
of a . o . sc . m is l . (The attempt on Scotland miscarried)
I SLAG BY o u d e n a a r d e . (The battle of Oudenarde); a .
o p . aat m is l u k t . (The attempt on Ath miscarried); t r e f f in g t
w y n n e n d a l . (The action at Wynendale); d e s c h e l d e v e r o -
v e r d . (The Scheldt passed) ; t r e f f in g e b y l e f f in g e . (The
action at Leffinghen); b r u g g e h e r w o n n e . (Bruges retaken);
b r d s s e l o n t s e t . (Brussels relieved) | r y s g ew o n n e . ! (Lille
taken); and g e n t h e r w o n n e . (Ghent retaken.) Leg.__
MEN LOVE EN DANKE GOD EENDRAGTIG MET matyr-iat^
DIE TIENMAAL ONS DEE SLA AN EN WINNEN IN DIT IAAR.
(Let us unite our hearts in thanking God for having enabled
us to fight and conquer ten times this year.)
8. Rapin, vii. 9. Van Loon, V. 181.
Hague, M. (engraved). Brussels, M . Very rare.
Three of the four heroes represented are well known; the
fourth is John William Friso, Stadtholder of Friesland, Prince
of Orange, and Heir-general of William III. He headed the
infantry of the left wing in an impetuous charge at Oudenarde,
which cut off the last opening for retreat to the French army.
At Lille he very greatly distinguished himself, and afterwards
in his successful enterprises against St. Amand and St. Venant.
In 1711 lm-Vras drowned in passing the Meuse in an open boat,
at the age of only twenty-four years. All the events referred to
on the reverse of this medal have already been noticed, with
the exception of the unsuccessful attempt of the enemy to
surprise Ath on the -fy Oct., and their repulse on the -fe Oct.
from before Leffinghen, where the Allies had posted a strong
detachment in order to preserve the communication with Ostend.
In the last engagement the enemy were driven out of their
trenches with heavy loss and compelled for a time to abandon
them. In a renewed attempt on the Oct. the French captured
Leffinghen and held it till the fall of Ghent, when, like
Bruges and Plassendaal, it was hastily evacuated.
186. C am pa ig n o f 1708.
Fame, standing on the bank of the Scheldt, sounds her
trumpet, tramples on a prostrate foe, and holds a map inscribed
Kerkhove Bingen Oudenarde; in the distance are troops crossing
a river, and beyond a view of Oudenarde. Leg.—
FAMAM EXTENDERS FACTIS
HOC VIRTUTIS OPUS. Virgi JEneid.
(To perpetuate renown by deeds, this is the part of virtue.—
Virg. Aen. x. 468, 469.)
Rev. Belgium, in armour, seated, facing, holds a sword
encircled by a serpent and a spear, to which is attached the
shield of Holland: on one side is the Belgic Lion and a cube,
and on the other a truncated column, captured arms, and the
shield of Ghent. Leg. c e d a n t d r u s e t u i c e d a n t t r a j a n e
l a b o r e s . clatid . i . stilich. (Drusus and Trajan, let your exploits
give place to these.—Claud. In I Cons. Stilich. i. 193.) Ex.
GANDAVUM BRUGGE PLASSENDAEL CAPTA .1708. (Ghent, Bruges,
and Plassendaal taken, 1708.)
8. Van Loon, V. 131.