A Guide to the Exhibition of English MedalsBritish Museum. Department of Coins and Medals
History
A Guide to the Exhibition of English Medals
British Museum. Department of Coins and Medals
Medals -- Great Britain
272. King's conduct towards the Church, 1688. _Obv._ Pedestal
inscribed BRITANNIA; on it, dove, chalice, wafer, rosary
and mitre, and in centre, Bible surmounted by cap inscribed,
LIBERT.: above, hand from cloud with scroll, inscribed, C.
FAGELII EPISTOLA EFFLAGITATA A I. STEWARDO. 1687. _Leg._
LIBERTAS CONSCIENTIÆ HOC MONILI ORNATA. _Rev._ Dog wearing
rosary swallowing book with M. I. (Magnum Juramentum) trampling
on another with L. C. (Libertas Conscientiae) and throwing down
from column ornamented with serpent-band a third with S. R. P.
(Salus Religionis Protestantis) and seals T. P. (Test and Penal
Laws). RES IMMODERATA CUPIDO EST. MDCLXXXVIII. Silver. Size
2·3. Struck. By J. Smeltzing.
Tho Obverse represents the religious toleration of Britain; the Mitre
of the Church of England, the chalice, wafer, and rosary of Rome, and
the dove of the Nonconformists having the free Bible in their centre.
The inscribed scroll refers to the engagement by James of James
Steward, a Scottish lawyer, to write letters to the Pensionary Fagel
with a view to induce William and Mary to approve the abolition of
the Test and Penal Laws. The Reverse symbolizes James devouring his
coronation oath, trampling on the liberty of conscience, and removing
the Test and Penal Laws, which sealed the safety of the state.
273. Trial of the Seven Bishops, 1688. _Obv._ Bust of Sancroft
r., in robes and skull cap. GVIL. SANCROFT ARCHIEPISC. CANTVAR.
1688. _Rev._ Medallions with portraits of the six Bishops; in
centre, another of Bishop of London: stars in field. G. B. F.;
on edge, SI FRACTUS ILLABATVR ORBIS IMPAUIDOS FERIENT RUINÆ.
(Hor. Car. III. 3. 8.) Silver. Size 2. Struck. By G. Bower.
The Bishops who were committed to the Tower for opposing the
declaration of indulgence issued by James, were Sancroft of Canterbury,
Lloyd of St. Asaph, Ken of Bath and Wells, Turner of Ely, Lake of
Chichester, White of Peterborough and Trelawny of Bristol; to these
is added the portrait of Compton of London, who on account of his
opposition to James had been suspended and removed from the Council
table and Deanery of the Chapel Royal.
274. Another. Sancroft and Pleiades, 1688. _Obv._ Same. _Rev._
Seven stars, Pleiades in the midst of the starry heavens. QVIS
RESTRINGET PLEIADVM DELICIAS. IOB. C. 38. Silver. Size 2.
Struck. By G. Bower.
The seven Bishops are likened to the beneficent Pleiades.
275. Another. _Obv._ Jesuit and Monk undermining Church founded
on a rock supported by hand from heaven. THE GATES OF HELL
SHALL NOT PREVAILE. (Mat. xvi. 18.) _Rev._ Seven Medallions of
Sancroft and the six Bishops with Eng. inscr. L. AB. CAN. &c.;
over each, mitre. WISDOM HATH BVILDED HER HOVS SHE HATH HEWEN
OVT HER 7 PILLERS. (_Prov._ ix. 1.) Silver. Size 2·25. Cast and
chased. Dutch, and of very coarse work.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account