10

HISTORY OF

[COMMONWEALTH.

from the Council of State, that two gold Chains to the value of ,£300 apiece,may be made and given to General Blake 8 and General Monk, as a mark offavour from the Parliament, and a token of their good acceptance of the eminentservices performed by them against the Dutch; and that a Chain to the valueof £ 100 may be made, and given to Vice Admiral Penn, and one of the samevalue to Rear Admiral Lawson, 9 upon the same consideration. That the fourFlag Officers have Chains given them of £40 a piece; and that the former sumof £960 be made up £2000, to be given in Medals amongst the Officers of theFleet, as a mark of the Parliament’s favour and good acceptance of their service,in such manner as the Commissioners of the Admiralty, by advice with theGenerals of the Fleet, shall think fit. 10

These Medals have the same obverse as those given in 1650, except that

a third shield, with the cross of Saint Andrew of Scotland, was added to the

anchor, and on the reverse was a representation of the engagement: but the

Medals given to Generals Blake and Monk, and probably to all the Flag Officers,

were much larger, the charges on them being surrounded by a border formed of

the prow and stern of the enemy’s principal ship with the Dutch colours, masts,

/

guns, &c. together with shields of the Arms of the States. 1 During that battle “ theTriumph” was set on fire, and the danger became so imminent that most of hercrew threw themselves into the sea. By the exertions of the few who remainedthe flames were extinguished ; and it may be inferred from some of these Medalsbearing the inscription, for eminent services in saving y e triumph firedin fight with the dutch in July 1653, 2 that their gallantry was rewardedwith the Medals struck in commemoration of the battle. General Monk issaid to have been Invested with the Medal and Chain by the Protector at agreat dinner. 2

Although there be not any conclusive evidence of the fact, there is reason

8 The Medal given to General Blake, was bought for his late Majesty, King William the Fourth, atthe price of 150 guineas.

9 To the Will of Richard Norton, a Codicil was annexed dated 16 December 1727, written on apaper, in which Sir John Lawson’s gold Chain and Medal were sealed up; t( My brother in law, Mr.John Chichley, being dead, I do give the inclosed gold Medal and Chain, which the Parliament gaveto Sir John Lawson, our grandfather, and I bequeath them to my brother Mr. Richard Chichley.”—Gentleman’s Magazine, Vol. III. p. 62.

10 Commons Journals, Vol. VII. p. 296. and Burton’s Diary, 8vo. Vol. I. p. vii.

1 Medallick History of England, Plate xxm, and Simon’s Coins, Plate xvi. Davies, in his“ History of the Civil Wars,” p. 328, after noticing that Chains and Medals were given to Blake,Monk, Penn, and Lawson, says, other Chains were sent to some of the Flag Captains, and Medals to