on the other the figure of an archer, of Cupid drawing a bow,
or an inscription.
At St. Andrews are preserved three silver arrows with
numerous silver medals attached to them. These medals are
all engraved, and are oval or circular in shape. On the most
ancient arrow there are thirty-nine medals, the earliest being
dated 1618. On the second are thirty medals, the first with
the year 1710 and the latest hearing the date 1751. The
medals on these two arrows are described by Lyon in his History
of St. Andrews, Vol. II. p. 202. The third arrow, which
is somewhat smaller in size than the other two, has appended
to it a medal, hearing on the obverse the arms and name of
James, Earl of Montrose, with the date 1628, and on the reverse
an archer drawing a how. It is the earliest in date on the
arrow which appears to have been held by the Earl for three
years, as the next piece in succession hears the initials J . m . l .
and the date 1680. The former of these medals is figured in
Napier’s Memoirs o f the Marquis of Montrose, Vol. I. p. 45.
Mr. Cochran-Patrick (Scottish Medals, p. 198) mentions that
another Toxophilite Society had existed in Kilwinning in
Ayrshire. This Society was, perhaps, the oldest, as, when it
was re-organized in 1688, the minutes of that year state that
the “ papingo ” had been shot for by the inhabitants for more
than two hundred years previously. A silver arrow Was provided
in 1724, to which it became customary to attach yearly
a piece of silver bearing the winner’s name, &c. The number
of these pieces is very large, as the Society existed till quite
recent times.
82. G ib r a l t a r b e s ie g e d , ^ Feb. 1727.
Gibraltar besieged by the Spanish fleet. Leg. v in c e r e avt
m o r i, (To conquer or die.) Ex. Gib r a l t a r o b s e s sa . d . xxn .
f e b r . m d c c x x v ii. (Gibraltar besieged, 22 Feb. 1727.)
,Rev. Inscription, s e d da tv r t e r t iv m m in v s p e r icv lo svm :
ABiRE. ,(But a third and less dangerous alternative is offered,
to retire.) Above, a star; below, a rose.
1*6. (See Woodcut.)
MB. At. Very rare.
The alliance concluded at Hanover in September, 1725,
between England, France, Sweden, and Denmark, and afterwards
joined by Holland, to obviate the effects of the secret
treaties of Vienna formed by the Emperor and the King of
Spain, led to hostilities between England and Spain, which
82. Siege of Gibraltar.
were begun by an attack on Gibraltar. The Conde de las
Torres, with 20,000 men, opened the trenches before Gibraltar
T2 Feb- 1727. The garrison was increased to 6,000 men, and
treated the efforts of the besiegers with great contempt.”
The Spaniards boasted greatly that they would take the place
or die before i t : the garrison gave them another alternative,
to retire; which they did at the end of four months, after
having sustained great losses.
83. S ir I saac N ew t o n . Died, 20 March, 1727.
Bust of Newton, L, hair short, in shirt with open collar
and mantle round the- shoulders. Leg. isaacvs . n ew to n v s .
Below, i. c. (John Croker.)
Rev. Science, with wings on her head, seated', I., leans upon
a table and holds a diagram of the solar system. Leg. f e l ix .
c o g n o sc e r e . cavsas. (Happy in the knowledge of causes.) Ex.
M.DCC.XXVI.