CHARLES II.]

HONORARY MEDALS.

11

to believe that King Charles the Second likewise bestowed Honorary Medalsfor services against the Enemy; and a gold Medal, three inches in diameter,was given to some of the most faithful adherents to the Royal cause duringthe Rebellion, which bore the King’s effigy, with the words rex carolus ii.d. g. mag. Brit. Fran, et HiB., and on the reverse, three Royal Crownswithin a branch of laurel, and another of palm, inscribed propter strenvitatemET FIDELITATEM REBYS IN ADVERSIS . * 2 3

After the defeat of the Dutch Fleet, by James Duke of York, the LordHigh Admiral, in June 1665, a very large Medal was struck, containingthe Prince’s head, inscribed jacobus dux ebor. et alban. dom. magn.admirallus ANGLiiE, and on the reverse, a representation of His Royal High-ness’ ship, with the Royal standard at the main, the Lord High Admiral’s flagat the fore, and the banner of Saint George at the mizen, in action with a fleet,inscribed, nec minor in terris 3 junii 1665. 4 There is, however, nothingto show that this Medal was worn as a Badge of Honour: but it is thoughtthat a small one, of an oval form, with a narrow border of laurel, having theKing’s head and style on one side, and a ship of war on the other, with aflag at the main, charged with the Royal initials, C. R., and inscribed nospenes imperium, was given to sea officers for their conduct in battle. 5

Another, and more important Honorary Medal for Naval services containedthe head and titles of the Sovereign; and on the reverse, a representation of HisMajesty attired as a Roman general, holding a truncheon as if in command,standing on the sea shore, and viewing an engagement between two fleets in thedistance; the inscription on the exergue of which, pro talibus ausis , 6 leavesno doubt that it was conferred upon officers who had distinguished themselvesat sea. The absence of a date renders it impossible to determine whether itwas struck for any particular victory, and its distribution confined to those bywhom it was achieved, or whether, as is more probable, it was, (like themodern Naval Medal,) the general reward of Naval exploits.

several Commanders of Frigates. It would also appear from Manley’s “ History of the Rebellion,”p. 296, that the Medals given on the occasion were confined to Captains.

2 Gumble’s Life of Monk, p. 77.

3 An impression of this beautiful Medal, to which a ring was attached, is in the British Museum.The device of three Crowns frequently occurs on Medals of the reign of King Charles the Second.

4 Medallick History of England, Plate xxix. 5 Ibid, p. 83. Plate xxiv.

6 Plate xxix. Two of those Medals were struck, but they differ from each other only, that one

is much larger though less perfect, and that the ships are in different positions.