8
HISTORY OF
[COMMONWEALTH.
an anchor and cable, having two shields suspended from the stock, one chargedwith the cross of Saint George, and the other with the harp of Ireland, underthe appropriate word, meruisti ; and on the other side, is a representation ofthe engagement, inscribed, service done against six ships july y. xxxiand august y. 1, 1650. 1 Two other Naval Medals were about the same timeengraved, the larger of which will be again noticed; but the other, which wasvery small, contained the same obverse as that just described, and on the reversethere is a representation of the Parliament.
On the 3rd of September 1650, Cromwell defeated the Scottish Army atDunbar; and on the 10th of that month, the House of Commons “ ordered thatit be referred to the Committee of the Army, to consider what Medals may beprepared, both for officers and soldiers, that were in this service in Scotland;and set the proportions and values of them, and their number; and present theestimate of them to the House. 2 The celebrated engraver, Simon, was sent toCromwell, in Scotland, to consult with him upon the device for this Medal, andin his letter “to the Committee for the Army,” dated Edinburgh, 4th February1650-1, Cromwell thus expressed his wishes on the subject: “ It was not a littlewonder to me to see that you should send Mr. Symonds so great a journeyabout a business importing so little, as far as it relates to me, when as if mypoor opinion may not be rejected by you, I have to offer to that which I thinkthe most noble end, to wit, the commemoration of that great mercy at Dunbar,and the gratuity to the army, which might better be expressed upon the Medal,by engraving as on the one side the Parliament, which I hear was intended, andwill do singularly well, so on the other side an army, with this inscription overthe head of it, the lord of hosts, which was our W ord that day; whereforeif I may beg it as a favour from you, I most earnestly beseech you, if I may doit without offence, that it may be so; and if you think not fit to have it as I' offer, you may alter it as you see cause, only I do think I may truly say it willbe very thankfully acknowledged by me, if you will spare the having my effigiesin it.” 3 Notwithstanding Cromwell’s modesty, the Medals given for the Battle
1 “ Medallick History of England,” Plates xxm. xxix; and “Simon’s Medals, Coins,” &c.Plate xvi.
2 Commons Journals, vol. VI. p. 465.
3 Simon’s Coins, &c. by Vertue, Ed. 1780, p. 74*. The remaining part of Cromwell’s letter, was arecommendation of Simon for the office in the service of the Commonwealth, which had been held byNicholas Briott.