did this Pagan Relique last but till the time of Constantine the Great 's Conversion and that he totally abolish'd their impious Rites for until then we meet both that renowned Emperor and his Sons with Radiations and flattered with Consecrations Nor truly was it since wholly so laid aside but that several of his Successors made bold to put them on again and wear them in their Medals and Medalions as far as down to Arcadius Honorius and lower yet among the Greeks where we meet them with a certain Nimbus or Glory about their Heads as in Monkish Manuscripts and antient Altar-Pieces we find the Saints depicted It is indeed reported as if Constantine even after he had embrac'd the Christian Faith ordered the Radiant Crown to be set on that famous Porphyritic Column which he caus'd to be transported to his new Rome from the old and I remember Philostorgius tells us that besides Wax Tapers there was both Victims and Sacrifices offered to it Ex Vales. in Philostorg excerp even by some superstitious Christians but the Credit of that Historian we know is not over-great That they set up lights nay and kneeling before it imploring help and healing of their Infirmities both Photius Theodorit and Nicephorus affirm whilst as to the other the mistake has been discovered that Statue having been made long before by the hand of the famous Phidias to represent Apollo and by no means for that Religious Emperor tho he honored it with his Name after he had caus'd to be inclosed within it as they write some of the Nails which his Mother Helen is we know reported to have miraculously discovered with the real Cross some time before But to dispatch this matter we do not only in Medals meet with Princes Radiant like Gods but with all other circumstances of Deity So Iulian was represented like Serapis and others we find often in their company Apollo in the Reverses of Augustus Domitian with Pallas with Commodus Hercules Hadrian with Romulus Maximianus with Mars Dioclesian with Iupiter c. And as these haughty Emperors so their Empresses Daughters Neeces and Misses to be sure would come in for their share affecting the Garb Attire and Symbola of Goddesses and sometime Priestesses as did Antonia the Wife of Drusus Nero. Pliny mentions an amorous Painter who drew all his Mistresses to represent some Deess for which Iustin Martyr reproaches the Pagans worshipping their Courtezans What would that holy Man now have said to those Christians who not only set up and inthrone their Misses Pictures over their Altars to represent the B. Virgin with the Babe in her Arms but kneel and pay their Devotions to them But so Painters with Poetic liberty Quidlibet Audendi set up and inshrine these fair sinners as so many Idols And thus we have Cleopatra dress'd like Diana Sabina the Wife of Hadrian like to Iuno Faustina with Venus as in another rare Medal we see her mounted upon a Pegasus carrying her up to the Clouds and so of others all of them marks of Deification for such in Medals are those who appear veil'd and with Stars Altars Temples and Eagles perching on them Peacocks the Phoenix Elephants Mules and Chariots drawn by Lions and the like Let us now descend again to the Barbarous The Parthian Armenian and Persian Monarchs had their distinct Crowns some of which resembl'd the Episcopal Miter or Thiara Nor was it new since there are Medals that present us Cesar and others of the Emperors arrogating pontifical Dignity and sacerdotal Offices with their veil'd Heads us'd by both Sexes and not seldom with the Lituus Patera Sistrum Silphium and other sacred Utensils and Characters of Priestly Function and Augurie Mercuries Petasus was wing'd Vulcan and the Cyclops Caps were without brim and Castor and Pollux had a Star by them The Phrygian Bonet was what the Polonians use at present or rather the Venetians Doge Nor seldom meet we both sexes Headed shall I say or Hooded with the spoils of Lions Wolves and Panthers some with the Tusks and Promuscis of an Elephant others in Casks cristed with the Horns of Rams Goats Bulls and other Animals of the Herd which now and then are wing'd denoting fortitude terror sublimity of Mind expedition in Affairs or the Monsters they had subdu'd which divers Hero's and Emperors would be represented by in imitation of Alcides the brawny Commodus fancying himself descended from him Iupiter Hammon and others of the Gods and Goddesses For as to Horns which at this day but to name alone in Spain would indanger ones Life but which the most illustrious of the German Families and noblest bear so frequently on their Cimiers and Crests it seems the Cornuted Head was no such Character and Mark of Ignominy as the learned Spanheim shews in that Passage of his excellent Work De usu Praestantia Numismatum which tho not so very pertinent to our Argument is yet very entertaining and worthy a curious Reader To conclude and before we leave the Imperial Diadem we shall find some even among our Saxon Kings wearing the Regal Circle after the manner of the Greeks Edward the Confessor had of early days a Barr'd Crown but most conspicuous is that of Edward the Fourth How would a neighbour Monarch have boasted this whose Predecessor Lewis the Twelfth had but a single Bar Arch'd over his Crown about the year 1500 wearing only a Cap or Bonnet before as testifie his Coins stamp'd at Milan Genoa Naples c. till he Marry'd our Henry the Eighths Sister who afterwards Espoused Charles Brandon Henry the Third brought the clos'd Crown into Poland soon imitated by the Swedes Philip of Spain took it not till after his Marriage with Queen Mary of England and Maximilian Grandfather to Charles the Fifth and Great Grandfather of Philip first wore an Arch over a Ducal Coronet A little after which Iames the Fourth upon his Marriage with Margarite Daughter to our Henry the Seventh Barr'd the Crown of Scotland and the Kings of Denmark not until after Christian IV. made his Brotherly Visit to our King Iames the First But that of Portugal was first worn by Iohn Bragança late Father to the most Serene and virtuous Queen Dowager From all which instances it appears that the Monarchs of England were of the First in Christendom that pretended to the Arched Crown And as for the French till their First Francis they were for the most part contented with an open Flowry Bordure only little different from the Ducal Coronet which some of the Saxons had of Silver and others wore the copped Helmet as Cnutus the Great Miter-like But more of Crowns see in a Disseration of M. de Cange Whilst by the way we cannot but take notice of what we meet with in the famous Donative pretended to be from the Great Constantine wherein among other particulars which Impostors would obtrude on the World for authentic but which has unluckily discover'd the fraud this is one
Sieges Expeditions Truces Peaces Alliances Negotiations Discoveries Colonies Adventures Plantations Companies and Improvements of Arts and Manufactures In a word nothing Memorable has escap'd the Medal nor what of other Countries that have had any relation to them Sometimes to the Honor of their Nation useful and full of profitable Diversion Verily a Curiosity together with the Historical Discourses upon them worthy both the Collection and Cabinet of the Curious To proceed therefore with their Reverses We have there represented besides Heads and Effigies all that has fall'n out of Great and worthy the notice of History frequent Events referring to most Actions not of Europe only but of both the Indies and the whole World in any sort relating to I think the most Industrious People in it For instance They have Medals of the very first occasion of their Revolt and Emancipation from the Tyranny and Oppression of Philip II. under which they groan'd upon his endeavouring to introduce the Inquisition and in order thereunto erecting new Bishopricks and Tribunals infringing their antient Immunities and Constitutions And how from that contemptuous Name of Geux and Vagabonds to High and Mighty they in less than a Century asserted their Rights and Liberties against all the Power and Policy of then the most potent and formidable Monarch of Christendom We have in the Reverse of their Medals their Original Confederation and Union with Utrecht their early application and submission to Queen Elizabeth for her Protection the Cautionary Towns and Fortresses made over to and Garrisoned by her with their Râ—â—ddition their deplorable and cruel Sufferings after their first Governor Philip Emanuel Duke of Savoy and Governes's Margarete Dutchess of Parma Cardinal Granvil under that fierce and truculent Alvarez de Toledo Duke of Alva his Son Frederic Don Lovis de Requesens Don Iohn of Austria the Arch-Duke Matthias the Princes of Parma Count Mansfield Arch-Duke Albert Clara Eugenia the Cardinal Infanta the late Fran. de Mela Leopoldus Monterey and the rest They represent the Executions and Catastrophes of Count Egmont and Horn the several Massacres which follow'd the Heroical Acts of Prince William of Nassau his Assassination the Effigies and Exploites of those who pursued that great Persons Victories what was or rather indeed what was not done during the Government of the Duke of Alenson and our Earl of Leicester the wonderful Successes and Triumphs of Grave Maurice Henry Frederic William the Second and Third the Renowned Princes of Orange even to the late stupendious Revolution We have in the Reverses of their Medals the Surprizes of Brill which was their first Exploit and Harlem the memorable Siege of Leyden the Stratagem at Breda Sluce Bergen-op-zoom Bois le Duc Venlo Ruremond Sas de Gand Hulst the later Siege of Maestricht c. the famous Leagures and Battles of Ostend Newport Seneff with the Heads and Pourtraits of Sir Francis and Horatio Veres and other English Hero 's their brave Exploits and Successes against Don Iuan Parma Spinola and others the most renowned Captains and Commanders of that Age. There is a Medal of Prince William the Second's March to Amsterdam and of whatsoever else has fall'n out of Remarkable for more than an hundred years past But these for being acted in their own Country I mention together not forgetting such Exploits as their Medals have Consecrated to their Renown abroad upon the Sea and in other Lands as a Reverse of the famous Battel of Lepanto the bold Action at Damiata in Egypt the Naval Fight in Eighty Eight upon our dispersion of that Invincible Armada with that other signal Combat in An. 1639. their surprizing of the Spanish Plate Fleet several Contests with ours during the late Rebellion with their Admirals Trumps de Ruyters Opdams c. Engagements with the Duke of York Prince Rupert Duke of Albemarle and Earl of Sandwich worthy a kinder fate and to our reproach their Insult at Chatham and Action at Bergen Relief of Denmark and Copenhagen when streightned by the Swedes there is a large Medalion of de Ruyters Exploits in Sicily Succours formerly yielded to other Princes their Allies as during their Peace with Albert and Isabel in the affair of Cleve and Iuliers they stampt Medals of the late Incursions and Excursions of the French An. 1673. since the Peace of Nimegue and several other Treaties and Conventions since that general one at Munster and what pass'd with that Martial Bishop Groningen Narden Breda the Triple League and several others with Foreign Princes and Potentates There is a Medal asserting their Liberty of Commerce of their Expeditions to the Eastern Indies by the Cape of Good Hope in sum of their Circum-Navigations of the whole Terrestrial-Terraqueous World penetrating to the Antipodes and even to the sight of both the Poles Others of their Wars with the Indian Monarchs the Establishment of both East and West India Companies their Colonies Cities Forts Factories in the Moluccas Iavan Ceylon and other Spice Islands their Fisheries and Adventures at Nova Zembla and attempts on the North west Passages of their Expeditions and Success of Prince Maurice in Brasile In short there 's not a Discovery Colony Munition Plantation Negotiation Factory or Scale of Commerce City Citadel State-house Bourse Church Hospital sumptuous Edifice Harbor Canal or the like Public Charge but they shew in Medal Witness those struck of the Erection of Leiden and other Cities into Schools and Universities the Effigies of their famous Professors and Countrymen renown'd for their Learning Souldiers Statesmen Medals of the Authors of several Inventions Arrogating the Arts of Printing Painting in Oyl Mills and Machines their veliferous Chariot and other great and useful Things They struck Medals of several Triumphs and magnificent Pomps on sundry occasions setting forth the Reception and Marriage of the unfortunate Frederic Prince Elector and Lady Elizabeths Landing at Flushing another when the King and Queen of Bohemia took their sad flight after the decretory Battel of Prague they caused Medals to be made of the Refuge which they gave to Mary de Medices Mother of so many Crown'd Heads when she had none to shelter her own Of the Nuptials of Prince William the Second with the Daughter of England another of the generous Entertainment which they gave our late King Charles the Second at Breda and of his Transportation into England at his Restoration To these succeed their Medals of the late Duke of Monmouths Invasion the Birth of the Prince of Wales of our Bishops confinement in the Tower of London as formerly I had found one in memory of the Gun-Powder Conspiracy a delivery for ought I know wholly neglected by us who were most concern'd with any lasting Record of this nature or bare Inscription The late stupendious Expedition and Descent at Torbay is celebrated in a large Medalion as is likewise the Recess of King Iames II. and the Coronation following They stamp'd a Medal upon the memorable Siege of London-Derry in Ireland with sundry
of Allectus to corroborate our Claim and antient Right see the Learned Selden's Mare Clausum lib. II. cap. 25. There was another of Henry V. and Queen Mary of less Value which likewise bare the same Shield and a Cross in the midst of a Ship Reverse St. Michael and the Dragon but neither of these or of the former have I seen in Silver There was also Golden Money stamp'd at Paris and in Normandy by the same Henry bearing the Angel's Salutation of the Blessed Virgin but for that they contain nothing of Medal I pass them over Another goodly Medal of the same Metal as I am assured but have not seen and of considerable Value bearing the Effigies of King Henry * Who first 〈◊〉 the Arms of France in Silver as Ed. III. did in Gold VII and his Queen joyning hands with this Verse Iungimus optatas sub Amico saedere dextras the Reverse was not told me Medal II. His Son and Successors Effigies half Fac'd which was neither usual in his Coins or Picture arm'd in Bust a flat Bonnet on his Head a Ducal Coronet in a void Place behind HENRICUS VIII ANG FRAN. ET HIB REX Reverse A pensile Cataracta or Portcluse and Coronet between the Chains SECURITAS ALTERA with relation to his locking up the Seas as was also afterwards on the Coin made for the East-India Company This Medalion was stamp'd both in Gold and Silver at what time Henry had the Emperour Maximilian in Pay and Militating under his Banner Henricut Barlandus in Chron. Belg. at the taking of Tournay from Lewis XII of France Ann. 1513. as the whole Triumph is incomparably set forth in that inestimable Painting of Hans Holbein still fresh and at large among his Majesty's Pictures at Whitehall Of the same date we find another of Iames IV. of Scotland Medal III. With his Effigies in Bust Arm'd about him the Order of St. Michael crown'd with a Crown of two Bars IACOBVS IIII. DEI. GRATIA REX SCOTORVM Reverse A Doric Column upon a Bank or Rock near the Sea having on its Capitol a Ianus or two-headed Figure twin'd with Laurel regarding opposite Capes or Promontories jetting into the Sea Over the Biceps VTRVNQVE Which Medal was it seems coin'd in that fatal Year this young Prince was together with a great slaughter of Scotish Nobility slain Invading England during the absence of our Henry then upon that famous Expedition above-mention'd A Fourth is indeed that truly Remarkable one being a Medalion with the Effigies of Henry half-fac'd in his usual Bonnet Furr'd Gown and invaluable Collar of Rubies sold since abroad to give the Royal Family Bread Medal IV. The Legenda taking up a double Circle HENRICVS OCTA ANGLIAE FRANC. ET HIB REX FIDEI DEFENSOR ET In the second inner Circle IN. TERR. ECCLE ANGLI ET HIB SVB. CHRIST CAPVT SVPREMVM Note That the Circles made into four equal parts have the Rose Portcluse Fleur-de-Lys and Harp crown'd Reverse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Londini 1545. I omit the Henry Noble little different from that of Henry the Third Edward VI. Of King Edward VI. I remember not to have seen any Medal save that of his Money which is indeed elegantly stampt though I cannot but think some Memorial must needs have been of that hopeful and virtuous Prince whilst in the mean time other Countries did not fail of taking occasion to celebrate an Exploit of theirs against him in a Medal struck by Henry II. of France when Bulloin was delivered to him V. The Reverse was Andromeda's being freed from the Monster The Words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 upon the unexpectedness of the Surprise But this for not being to our Honour though it concluded in a considerable sum of Money and a Treaty of Marriage intended to be between a Daughter of Henry and Edward I only mention as belonging to the History of his short Reign VI Queen Mary Of Q. Mary there was a very large Medalion struck upon her restoring the Roman Religion her Head is dressed in plain Coiffure as she 's commonly painted with a Lace or Fillet set with Pearls and Precious Stones Inscrib'd MARIA I. REG. ANGL FRANC. ET HIB FIDEI DEFENSATRIX Reverse Represents Peace with a Radiant Crown half-sitting on a Curule-Chair and kneeling on a Cube in her Right hand a Torch setting fire to an heap of Arms and Trophies before a Temple à l' Antique in her Left branches of Palm and Laurel as delivering several People out of a Dungeon covered with smoak and flames under which runs a stream of Water 't is supposed in allusion to that of Psal. lxv Transivimus per ignem aquam eduxisti nos in refrigerium which the Doctors of that Church usually apply to Purgatory CECIS VISVS TIMIDIS QVIES This Medalion is said to have been stampt Ann. 1553. soon after the Defeat of the Duke of Northumberland and the Rising in Suffolk upon which followed her Coronation and at which Solemnity there were scatter'd Ryals of broad Gold The Queen Vested in the Regalia and Inthron'd VII MARIA D. G. ANG FRA. Z. HIB REGINA M.D.LIII. About the Reverse Which is a plain Escutcheon of the Arms of England and France quarter'd and plac'd in the Center of a Rose full blown A. DNO FACTVM EST. ISTVD Z. EST. MIRA IN. OCVL NRIS There are of this Queen divers Coins of Money wherein she is join'd with her Husband Philip II in some whereof he has the Title of Angliae Rex The Reverse Bellerophon killing the Chimera representing the Suppression of the Western Insurrection of Wyat and Carew Ann. 1554. as also that of St. Quintin Ann. 1557. The Angelot of this Queen bears the Arms of England quartered with France the Shield fix'd to a Cross erected in the middle of a Ship at Sea on each side of the Cross M◠58. the Reverse Michael and the Dragon Queen Elizabeth During the long prosperous and prudent Reign of Queen Elizabeth I find very few Medals at which I the more wonder when I consider how many famous Exploits and signal Passages the History of her Life are full of The very first which I have seen and that I think may properly come into this Recension as it concerns the Story of that Renown'd Queen is a Medal of Mary Queen of Scotland 1588. and her Husband whose Effigies are Face to Face a Crown between them VIII FRAN. ET MAR. D. G. R. R. SCOTOR DELPHIN VIEN Reverse Assuming the Arms of England and Scotland in another which I could never light on those of the Dolphin Camden Annal l. 1. which was laid as a Capital Crime to the Charge of that unfortunate Lady another with those of France and Scotland only and a Reverse of the initial Letters of their Names c. with these Words Vicit Leo de Tribu Iuda 1560. which because they little concern us I might pretermit the other being in the Year of Q. Elizabeth's entring
for any other great Persons in this Queens Reign than which none since it was a Nation had greater and wiser men managing Publick Affairs I find one onely Medal with the Arms of Sackvil within the Garter c. Superscribed T. SACKVIL B. D. BUCH Ang. Thes. Eq. Aurat Reverse There was another of R. Cecil Ld. Treas also with a Reverse of his Arms only a Lyon SEMPER FIDELIS 1602. in which Year that most Renowned Queen departed this Life and made room for her Successor King Iames I. The first Monarch of Great Britain whom we behold in his Imperial Robes Ihrone and Titles JACOBVS D. G. MAG BRIT FRAN. ET HIB REX Reverse the Arms of Great Britain placed in the middle of a large Rose just like to that we described already of Q. Mary and with the same Inscription which I therefore omit it was coin'd in Gold only and sometimes though rarely receiv'd as Money Another in Silver XVIII the King's Effigies depicted in a narrow taling Band a Laurel about his Head Bust Arm'd JAC. I. BRIT CAE AVG. HAE CAESARVM CAE D. D. Reverse a Lyon Rampant Crown'd holding a Beacon on fire in his Paw a Wheat-sheaf in his left ECCE PHAOS POPVLIQ SALVS This Medal is said by Scaliger to have been scattered as a Largess at his Coronation Scaligerandâ— but was afterwards it seems call'd in and re-coin'd whether for the Caesar Caesarum which that Critic a little ridicules or for what other Cause I pretend not to judge XIX Effigies JACOBVS DG MAG BRIT FRAN. ET HIBâ— REX Reverse HENRICVS ROSAS JACOBVS REGNA alluding to the Union of the two Houses of York and Lancaster represented by the Red and White Rose on which Iohn Owen bestows a Witty Epigram Lib. 3. Effigies JAC. I. TOTIVS INS BRIT IMP. ET FRANC. ET HIB REX Reverse The Kings Arms Crown'd JVGI CONCORDIA FLORENT Another in Silver XXI The King on Horseback JACOBVS SEXTVS REX SCOTORVM Reverse a Hand from Heaven holding a Sword pointing up to a Crown with that Worthy Saying of the Emperour Trajan delivering a Sword to the Pretor PER. ME. SI MEREOR IN. ME. But this I suppose must have been struck in Scotland as perhaps might that which follows being the only Medal I have seen of that Hopeful and Beloved Prince Henry XXII Effigies in full-Face Arm'd to the Bust. HENRICVS PRINCEPS Reverse his Arms with the Label and Coronet over it Beams out of the Clouds FAX MENTIS HONESTAE GLORIA agreeable to his Magnanimous and Princely Mind XXIII This Medal of his Mother Queen Ann for the Elegancy of the Dress and that it is Rare c. ANNA D. G. REGINA MAG BRIT FR. ET HIB FILIA ET SOROR REGV DANIAE Reverse the Arms of Denmark with two Scutcheons of Pretence under a Coronet About the Circle ASTVTIA FALLAX TVTIOR INNOCENTIA XIV CHARLES the First His Effigies Crown'd Vested in the Garter Robes Collar and Ruff. CAROLVS I. D. G. MAG BRITAN FRAN. ET HIB REX Reverse An Arm out of the Clouds arm'd and holding a Sword DONEC PAX REDDITA TERRIS Exurge CORON 2. FEB 1626. Being for ought I have seen the onely Inauguration-Medal XXV The King's Effigies as in the former CAROLVS I. DG ANG SCOT FRAN. ET HIB REX FIDEI DEFâ— Reverse The Atchievement or Arms of his Kingdoms in the same Escutcheon In another joyn'd to it the Arms of France Crowned between the Points or Base of the Shield the Queen's Cypher Crown'd HENER MAR. BORBON D. G. MAG BRIT FRAN. ET HIB REG. XXVI The King in his Ruff George in a Ribbon about his Neck looking on the Queen drest in her Hair curl'd up short with something like a knot of Ribbons on the top about her shoulders a Band or Gorget plaited and standing up spred like a Fan a Necklace of Pearl another rope of Pearl above hanging down before her Breast Clouds and a Glory over their heads CH. MAG ET HEN. MA. BRIT REX ET REG. Reverse Cupid strewing Flowers Roses and Lilies Clouds and Rays above Exurge 1625. About the Circle FVNDIT AMOR. LILIA MIXTA ROSIS This appears to have been a Nuptial Medal There is yet one more struck three Years after which since by the Date it might perhaps have been upon Occasion of an Expedition for the relief of Rochel I here subjoin XXVII Effigies K. Charles I. in complete Armor on Horseback much like our fairest Half-Crown Pieces of his Reign the Inscription alter'd O. REX DA. FACILEM CVRSVM Reverse The Arms of England Scotland France and Ireland within an Oval Shield crown'd the Year of our Lord 1628. About the Circle ATQVE AVDACIBVS ANNVE COEPTIS upon a second Attempt to have reliev'd that City fatal to the Great Duke of Buckingham To this I subjoin another small Medal XXVIII The King Bust bare-headed in his Ruff. CAR. D. G. ANG SCO FRAN. ET HIB REX Reverse the Scepter and Trident lying cross and bound together by a loose Knot REGIT VNVS VTROQVE Another XXIX Effigies Naked to the Breast crown'd with Laurel his left Lock of Hair appearing as then the Mode was to wear it longer than the other and which Fashion his Majesty kept till the Civil War began CAROLVS I. D. G. ANGL SCOT FR. ET HIB REX Reverse Three Crowns in a Knot of as many Bowes VNIT AE INVICT AE Another XXXI Effigies Crown'd in the Garter Robes wearing a Falling Band which new Mode succeeded the cumbersom Ruff but neither did the Bishops or Iudges give it over so soon the Lord Keeper Finch being I think the very first CAROLVS D. G. SCOTIAE ANGLIAE FR. ET HIB REX In this Scottish Coronation Medal are both the Orders that of the Garter and of the Thistle Reverse HINC NOSTRAE CREVERE ROSAE by that prudent Match of Margarite Daughter of Henry VII Married to Iames IV. of Scotland Uniting the White and Red Roses Exurge CORON 18. lunii 1633. To this I add another in whose Reverse is the Thistle only as growing out of the Ground XXXI After which returning out of Scotland we see the King on Horseback Crown'd and in complete Armor pointing with his Commanding-staff to a Providential Eye in the Clouds CAROLVS AVGVSTISS ET INVICTISS MAG BRIT FRAN. ET HIB MONARCHA Reverse The Sun in his Meridian over the City of London SOL. ORBEM REDIENS SIC REX ILLVMINAT VERBEM 1633. We do not Insert such Medals as were struck upon the Nuptials of the Lady Mary Daughter of England and her Illustrious Husband Son of the Valiant Wife and Fortunate Henry Frederic Prince of Orange c. hapning in those Intervals already set forth But return to this Triumphant Medal representing this glorious Cavalcade following not many years after which my self beheld with the Universal Acclamations of then the Happiest People under Heaven A short Parliament following and a too long one after it shewed quam breves Populi Romani amores and
Instruments and Workmen followed which calls to mind how in almost the like Circumstance the late French King Lewis XIII did not think his Mint secure from these wicked Practices until he had hous'd it in the Louvre which that great and worthy Minister and Virtuoso Monsieur de Noyers plac'd in the same Apartment with the Royal Printing-House that as my * Monsieur Freart Author adds he might allie together Two of the most universal and most permanent Monuments of Kings Books and Money spreading themselves over all Nations and remaining for many Ages The excessive Abuses found in the Years 1635 and 39. both in the Title and Weight of the greatest part of the Coin as well of several other Countries as France which had been changed or destroyed stood in need of timely Reformation Nor was it possible to remedy it on the sudden without putting Commerce into very great Disorder and was therefore for a while conniv'd at But as this dexterous and publick-spirited States-man order'd it he well knew how to derive the greatest Advantage to the Benefit of the People and Honor of the King by Politickly permitting and indeed authorizing the Abuse which could not else have been so easily encounter'd whilst in the mean time it invited those of all the neighbouring Countries and States in hope of Gain to Transport into France all their Light Gold and Silver which they had and which remained there by reason of its being decried a few Months after bearing now the Arms of France and Effigies of Lewis le Iust by that noble Conversion which he order'd to be made of it Whilst this strange Matter was united to ours he also sought out and discover'd prompt and easy Expedients of giving it that excellent Form which since it bears Curing at the same instant and by the same Remedy both the present Inconvenience and that to come Thus we see that its just and equal Roundness the Grenetis which is about it and the Politure which is on the flat of every Piece not only defends it from the Clipping the File and Operation of Strong-Waters but even renders its Imitation in a manner impossible to our False Coiners so as we may affirm of this Money that it is the most Artistly contriv'd and the most commodious that was ever us'd in Commerce there being stamp'd in less than four Years time above an Hundred and Twenty Millions and that after fifteen or sixteen Years that the War had lasted and the Kingdom seemed to have been utterly exhausted c. Perhaps this Passage of which I gave Account more than thirty Years since in a Dedication to his late Majesty Charles II. might have been taken notice of the Instance being so pregnant and so like our present Case But as some Kings and Emperors were Famous for their Care in reforming these Abuses Aurelianus calling in all the Counterfeit Money and giving out New to obviate the growing Mischief and Confusion so there were others as Infamous for their not only neglecting it but for doing worse in not only conniving at them but who did themselves vitiate and debase their own Coin Such of old among the Romans after the Age of Commodus whose excesses had so debauch'd the People were those from Gordian to the Posthumi when they began to pervert the Standard which so long as that Wise and Glorious Empire religiously maintain'd it in all its Purity Nat. Hist. lib. VI. C 22. Quod pares pondere denarii essent in â—â—ptiva pecunia cum diversae imagines indicarent à pluribus factos did infinitely prosper so as Pliny speaking of the Island of Taprobane tells us that the most Barbarous Nations at vast distance held friendly Commerce and Correspondence with the Romans looking upon them as just and worthy People from the constant Value Goodness and Integrity of their Money But no sooner did they once give way to the adulteration or raising of their Money beyond its real worth but the Government it self grew degenerate and soon fell after it Nor is there a more fatal Symptom of Consumption in a State than the Corruption and Diminution of the Coin under which denomination I comprehend all other Practices on the Species however dignified by Names and Character The very Truth is to put a King's Title or Effigies to unweighty Money and not of authentic Value is as we said to render the Prince himself a Faux Monoyeur or as the Learned * Recher L VI. C. 21. Pasquiers Expression is donner un souflet au Roy and bouffet Majesty Thus Henry VI. diverted or perverted rather by the mean and beggarly Shift of Alchymy and other Sophistications endeavour'd to supply his Extravagances as after him another profuse Henry of ours until his Renouned Daughter by more wholsome Counsel reforming it reduc'd the Standard to the Purity of Edward the Fourth But it was our First Edward who first of all establish'd the English Sterling from its ambulatory and uncertain Motion and Value and which all the wiser States of Christendom did imitate afterwards This calls to mind another Edward that most hopeful and incomparable Prince the Sixth of that name who having as yet hardly arriv'd to the Thirteenth Year of his Age upon Consideration of the miserable Plight to which his profuse Father had brought the Coin took such Care and Pains to inform himself of the State and Condition of the Mint Exchange and Value of Money and to Regulate those Matters as by turning over the * Original in the Cotton Library and now published in Hist. Reformat Book II. Part II. Iournal written in his own Hand I find among other grave and serious Remarks he did so far exceeding either the usual Capacity or Years of an Age so Immature as it reproaches those who being much more Advanc'd minded nothing but trifling childish or vicious Diversions To step a little back again to the History of these depraved Customs abroad It was about the Reign of Charles the Simple that most of the Great ones especially Governours of Provinces Castles and principal Cities took on them to Coin and looked upon the Priviledge as it were hereditary and independent for so did they sometimes here in England too tho' it lasted not long but the Mischief became so insupportable by reason of the Corruption that when the King would have abrogated the cause of the Abuse he found it so very difficult that he was fain to give it over and content himself with a small proportion to discharge the Mintage and this was thought not a little Progress 'T is in the mean time evident as to that of France they might thank themselves and their perpetual Quarrels with England from the very Reign of their Famous St. Lewis and above all that of Philip the Fair and Charles IX when we endanger'd France as it now does us which mov'd them to debase and yet to inhance the Value of their Coin to the unspeakable loss of the