They were, according to the order of the Court, held at Oxford on the 18th day of May, 1643, "to be delivered to wear on the breast of every man who shall be certified under the hands of their commander-in-chief to have done us faithful service in the forlorn hope." These medals were only, it will be seen, given for very distinguished conduct in the field. One bore the Royal image on the obverse, and Prince Charles on the reverse; and the other the bust of Charles on the obverse, with the inscription CAROLUS · D · G · MAG · BRI · FR · ET · HIB · REX, and on the reverse the Royal Arms with the Garter bearing the motto HONI · SOIT · QUI · MAL · Y · PENSE. Both medals were silver and oval in shape, the sizes being respectively 1·7 in. by 1·3 in. and 1·5 in. by 1·2 in. =First Distinguished-conduct Medal.=--The first record we have of the bestowal of a medal for conspicuous conduct in the field is in the award made to an Irish commander who distinguished himself at the Battle of Edge Hill--the first battle of the Civil War, fought on October 23rd, 1642--by the recovery of a Royal standard, and certain military accessories. The gallant soldier, who became Sir Robert Welch, was subsequently presented with an oval gold medal specially cut to the King's orders by the Royal "graver of seals and medals," Thomas Rawlins. The King's instructions, given on the 1st day of June 1643, were to the effect that the medal was to have on the obverse his own figure, and that of his son Prince Charles, and on the reverse a copy of the banner Welch saved at Edge Hill, together with the legend PER REGALE MANDATVM CAROLI REGIS HOC ASSIGNATVR ROBERTO WELCH MILITI. Encircling the busts of the King and his son was the inscription CAROLUS REX MAGNAE BRITANNIAE, FRANCAIE ET HIBERNIAE CAROLUS PRINCEPS. The medal, oval in form, was 1·7 in. by 1·5 in.