How A German Became King of England: A Medallic History of Religious Conflicts in Britain

2016·41.8 MB·English

by  Benjamin Weiss

How A German Became King Of England:
A Medallic History Of Religious Conflicts In Britain
by
Benjamin Weiss
e was born in Hanover, Germany,
H and could hardly speak a word
of English. So how in the world
could George Louis, Elector of
Hanover, become king of England?1
To answer this question we must review
briefly the role religion played in selecting
the British monarchs, in particular how
the competition between Catholics and
Protestants shaped the history of Great
Britain. As has been done in the past,
in publications on the use of medals as
instruments for studying religious and Figure 1.
racial bigotry (Jones, 1982; Jones, 1983; Centennial of John Calvin’s Return to Geneva
by Sebastian Dadler, Germany, 1641, Silver struck medal, 55 mm
Weiss, 2008; Attwood, 2009; Attwood
Ref: Wiecek 109; Goppel 77; Forrer I, 321; Clain-Stefanelli,1974, p. 226; Maué 46; Weiss,
and Powell, 2010; Weiss, 2011; Harding,
BW363 (Image from Weiss Collection)
2011; Weiss, 2014; Weiss, 2015), we
will use historical and commemorative Calvin from Noyen in the Picardy, Pastor
the sovereignty of England and making
medals, issued contemporaneously of the Church of Geneva.” On the reverse
Henry ‘the only supreme head of the
with the events portrayed, as vehicles is Fame blowing on a trumpet holding
Church of England,’ a momentous event
and primary sources of information to an open book. The right leg rests on a
that ushered in the English Reformation.
explore these religious intrigues. plinth. The inscription around translates
as, “Teaching and Virtue Make Men The establishment of Henry as head of the
THE ORIGIN OF THE CATHOLIC- Shine Even after Death.” Church of England was commemorated
PROTESTANT CONFLICT in 1545 by the issuance of a gold medal,
HENRY VIII AND THE TUDOR thought to be the first medal made in
The dispute between Catholics and DYNASTY Britain (Figure 2). The legend in Latin
Protestants for control of the monarchy around the edge of the obverse is divided
started in earnest in England during Henry, like most Christians at that by royal emblems and translates as,
the reign of Henry VIII and continued time, was raised as an observant Roman “Henry VIII, King of England, France2
for more than a century. At the time Catholic and in 1509 married the Spanish and Ireland, Defender of the Faith3,
of Henry’s birth in 1491, the Protestant princess, Catherine of Aragon, daughter and under Christ, the Supreme Head
Reformation had not yet begun, having of Queen Isabella I of Castile and King on Earth of the Church of England and
been launched in Germany by Martin Ferdinand II of Aragon, also Catholics. Ireland.” On the reverse can be seen the
Luther in 1517 and having later spread same message in Hebrew and Greek, the
Catherine bore Henry a daughter, Mary
throughout Europe by John Calvin other two languages of the Bible, thereby
Tudor, who would ordinarily be next
and other early Protestant Reformers. providing religious legitimacy to Henry
in line to inherit the throne had she not
Although he never visited England, as head of the Church of England.
had the fatal “flaw” of being a female
Calvin’s ministry and writings had a
powerful impact on the course of the at a time when there was no established Like Catherine, Henry’s second wife
English Reformation. precedent for a woman to accede to the Anne Boleyn also failed to bear him a son.
English monarchy. Because Catherine Although they did have a daughter, the
A medal by Sebastian Dadler, one of the could not conceive the son that Henry future Elizabeth I, Elizabeth’s monarchy
foremost seventeenth century engravers, craved for his heir, Henry determined to did not begin for more than a decade, long
commemorating the centennial of John divorce her. The Pope, however, forbade after Henry executed Anne on trumped-
Calvin’s return to Geneva in 1541, the divorce. Henry broke with the up charges of sexual indiscretions, and
following his exile from his native church in Rome, divorced Catherine and married Jane Seymour.
country of France, is shown in figure married Anne Boleyn. As a result, the
1. On the obverse is a bust of Calvin, Pope excommunicated Henry, prompting Jane Seymour gave Henry a son, Edward,
the translated inscription reading, “John Parliament to pass laws proclaiming who was raised a devout Protestant and
12 March / April 2016
reverse shows Mary personified as Peace,
near scales implying Justice. The legend
translates as, “Sight to the Blind, Peace
to the Timid.”
Mary Tudor was succeeded to the throne
by Elizabeth I, the daughter of Henry and
Anne Boleyn. Elizabeth reestablished
Protestantism and in 1559 passed the Act
of Supremacy, which revived the anti-
papal statutes of Henry VIII and declared
Elizabeth supreme Governor of the
Church. Plots to murder Elizabeth and
Figure 2. replace her with a Catholic — namely,
Henry VIII, ‘Defender of the Faith,’ as Head of the Church of England Mary, Queen of Scots (Mary Stuart), the
by Henry Basse, England, 1545, Gold struck medal, 54 mm
daughter of King James V of Scotland
Ref: Eimer 26a; MI i, 47/44; Evelyn 88, IV
(Image courtesy of Christopher Eimer) — resulted in Mary’s eventual execution.
A pivotal event in Elizabeth’s reign was
who inherited the crown at Henry’s death.
England’s defeat of the Spanish Armada,
However, Edward died of tuberculosis at
Catholic Spain’s mighty maritime fleet,
the age of sixteen years after willing the
for which a medal was issued in 1588
crown to Northumberland’s daughter-
(Figure 4). This medal was made at a
in–law, Lady Jane Gray, in a failed
time at which Elizabeth’s and England’s
attempt to exclude his Catholic
power was particularly strong — after
half-sister, Mary Tudor, from the
the death of some of Elizabeth’s Catholic
monarchy. As Edward did not
enemies, including Mary, Queen of
marry and had no issue, in 1553
Scots, and following the neutralization
Mary Tudor became Queen of
of Catholic France and the Vatican.
England, France and Ireland, as
Mary I. Mary ascended to the The medal, shown in figure 4, depicts
throne because although male a bust of Elizabeth, full face, bedecked
primogeniture had been the practice in jewels and holding a scepter and orb.
in England, it was not the law; i.e., The legend translates as, “No Other
women were not explicitly barred from Circle in the Whole World More Rich.”
inheriting the crown in England, as they The reverse shows a tree uninjured by
were in France at that time. lightning and wind, with sea monsters
below, the legend reading, “Not Even
Mary I, a devoted Catholic, married
Dangers Affect it.”
Philip II of Spain, a union that was
opposed by those who objected to THE STUART DYNASTY
her marrying a Catholic. Mary
determined to reestablish papal As Elizabeth had no offspring, the next
authority and restore Catholicism in line to the throne was James I (James
to England. She revived heresy VI of Scotland), the son of Mary, Queen
laws and ordered the murder of of Scots, and her second husband, Henry
many citizens who had converted Stuart, Lord Darnley, making James the
to Protestantism, earning her the first of the Stuart dynasty. Both Mary
appellation ‘Bloody Mary.’ and Darnley were great-grandchildren
of Henry VII of England through
A gold medal of Mary, engraved
Margaret Tudor, the older sister of Henry
by the Milanese medallist Jacopo da
VIII. Although Mary and her husband
Trezzo, is shown in figure 3. On the
were Roman Catholics, there is some
obverse one can see a half-length figure
controversy about James’ beliefs, the
of Mary Tudor, bedecked in jewels,
consensus being that James was not only
the legend reading “Maria I, Queen of Figure 3.
Protestant but actually opposed the Pope
England, France and Ireland, Defender Mary Tudor State of England
by Jacopo da Trezzo, England, and wrote vehemently against Roman
of the Faith.” Despite her persecution of
Gold cast medal, 69 mm Catholicism.
Protestants during her reign, the medal’s Ref: MI i, 72/20; Eimer 33; Scher 54
(Image courtesy of Morton and Eden)
March / April 2016 13
Figure 5. The Gunpowder Plot
Unattributed engraving of Guy Fawkes and fellow conspirators of the Gunpowder Plot, 1605
(Mary Evans Picture Library)
being from France and England (the lily,
the symbol for France and the rose for
England). The legend on the reverse,
around the Hebrew Jehovah, “Thus, the
Keeper of James Has Not Slept,” is taken
from Psalms, “He That Keepeth Thee
Will Not Sleep,” again using Scriptures
to magnify its impact.
Figure 4. Elizabeth I — Dangers Averted:
Defeat of the Spanish Armada
by Nicholas Hilliard, England 1588, Gold
cast medal, 53 mm x 61 mm
Ref: Eimer 61Aa; MI i, 154/130 Figure 6.
(Image courtesy of Christopher Eimer) The Gunpowder Plot by Unknown artist.
Netherlands, 1605, Silver struck medal, 30 mm.
Ref: Eimer 86; MI i, 196/19; van Loon II, 22;
Med. Hist, 30/7
The Gunpowder Plot
(Image courtesy of Christopher Eimer)
Because of his purported anti-Catholic
views, a group of enraged English The historical importance of the
Catholics, including Guy Fawkes, shown Gunpowder Plot is evidenced by the fact
here in a contemporary engraving (Figure that Guy Fawkes Day was celebrated over
5), attempted to assassinate James and his a century later as Pope Day in colonial
family by blowing up the House of Lords. Boston, with parades and burned effigies Figure 7. James I, Naval Reward
The plot, which has become known as the of the pope, and it is still observed in Executed by an unknown artist, England, c.1620,
Gunpowder Plot of 1605, failed. This led some towns in Britain with parties, Silver cast medal, 42mm x 49 mm
to renewed reprisals against Catholics fireworks and exploding gunpowder. Ref: Eimer 101A; MI i, 233/96.
(Image courtesy of Christopher Eimer)
and the execution of Guy Fawkes for his
A medal of James I, likely a naval reward
role in this conspiracy.
medal, is shown in figure 7. On the caused by the Protestant Reformation.
The failed Gunpowder Plot and the obverse is a three-quarters bust of James, It is noteworthy that James, being king
expulsion of the Jesuits from Holland was with the usual inscription: James, by the of both England and Scotland (as King
commemorated in Protestant Holland in Grace of God, King of Great Britain, James I of England and King James VI of
1605 by the issuance of a medal shown France, and Ireland. The design on the Scotland), combined the two thrones for
in figure 6. The snake on the obverse, reverse inscribed, May it Stay Safe Among the first time. As such, he was head of
situated among lilies and roses, represent the Waves, is thought to symbolize the both the Church of England and Church
the intrigues of the conspirators as state of the nation after the disturbances of Scotland.
14 March / April 2016
Figure 8. Execution of Charles I
by Unknown artist, ca.1649, oil on canvas
(Image from National Galleries Scotland)
In the New World, James may be James died in 1625 and was succeeded The English Civil Wars
remembered as the monarch who, in by his son Charles. When Charles
These and other clashes with Parliament
1607, established the first permanent married Henrietta Maria, the Catholic
precipitated the English Civil Wars led
English community in the Americas, sister of Louis XIII of France, it raised
by those in Parliament (Roundheads)
the Jamestown settlement in the Colony renewed fears of a Catholic succession
who sought a constitutional monarchy to
of Virginia. Globally, James is perhaps to the throne among the Puritan leaders
replace the absolutist monarchy sought
best known as having sponsored the in Parliament. Charles had other
by Charles I and his followers (Cavaliers
translation of the Bible for the Church of disagreements with Parliament as well,
or Royalists).
England that was to bear his name, the such as his insistence on the ‘divine right
Authorized or King James Version of the of kings’ and his attempts to impose Oliver Cromwell, who entered the English
Bible. Begun in 1604 and completed in Anglican Liturgy on Scotland. These Civil War on the side of the Roundheads,
1611, this version of the Bible became the latter events triggered the Bishops’ Wars, emerged as the military and political
most widely printed book in history. which, in turn, served as a prelude to the leader of the rebels and established the
English Civil Wars.
Figure 9.
Charles I Memorial
by Heinrich Reitz, Saxony, 1649,
Silver cast medal, 75 mm
Ref: Eimer 159; MI i, 350/209; Platt and Platt I, 259
(Image courtesy of Christopher Eimer)
March / April 2016 15
Commonwealth of England. As a Commonwealth Period
‘commoner’ he was designated, not
Many medals were issued to
as King, but as “Lord Protector of
commemorate the rule of
the Commonwealth of England,
Oliver Cromwell during the
Scotland and Ireland.” He was a
Commonwealth Period, one of
Puritan who strongly believed
which is shown in figure 10. It
in what he called ‘liberty of
was executed by Thomas Simon
conscience,’ and accordingly had
to commemorate Cromwell’s
a generally tolerant view toward
elevation to the Protectorate. The
other Protestant groups. Cromwell
obverse inscription around his bust
prevailed over the Royalists, Charles
Figure 10. Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector reads, “Oliver, by the Grace of God,
surrendered, was tried for treason, and in by Thomas Simon, England, 1653,
Protector of the Republics of England,
1649 was beheaded as a tyrant and public Silver struck medal, 39 mm
Scotland and Ireland.” The reverse
Ref: Eimer 188a; MI i, 409/45; van Loon II, 367
enemy to his people. His son, the future
(Image courtesy of Christopher Eimer) shows a lion supporting the shield of the
Charles II, escaped into exile.
Protectorate, the shield bearing the Cross
Figure 8 shows a contemporary painting One such medal, executed in Saxony by of St. George, Cross of St. Andrew and
of the execution of Charles I in front Heinrich Reitz, the younger, bemoans an Irish harp. The legend repeats a not
of the Banquet Hall. It is thought to his execution (Figure 9). The obverse uncommon sentiment, “Peace is Sought
be based on eye-witness accounts and shows conjoined busts of King Charles by War.”
contemporary engravings. The inset and his wife Queen Henrietta Maria. On
Another medal, issued in Holland,
pictures on the left show Charles as he the reverse can be seen Charles’ severed
specifically to note the ‘commoner’
appeared at his trial, and below, Charles head, crown and scepter lying beneath a
ancestry of Oliver Cromwell, is shown
walking to the scaffold. Those on the seven-headed monster, symbolizing the
in figure 11. On the obverse Cromwell
right show the moments immediately intensity of the animosity of Charles’
is seen being crowned between two
after the execution: the axeman holds up enemies who urged his beheading. The
soldiers. A cartouche, below, is inscribed
Charles’s severed head while spectators legend around reads, “Alas, what a mad-
“Oliver Cromwell, Protector of England,
hurry to dip their handkerchiefs in ness this is of the rabble!,” expressing the
Scotland and Ireland 1658.” The reverse
royal blood. The central image, dismay of Charles’ supporters for what
shows the Neopolitan, Tommaso Aniello
with the swooning woman, hints at a the ‘rabble’ has done. (The seven- head-
(Masaniello), being crowned between
parallel with the crucifixion of Jesus ed monster may derive from the wild
two sailors. A cartouche, below, is
of Nazareth. (Description taken from beast with seven heads, which represents
inscribed “Masaniello, Fisherman and
nationalgalleries.org) the worldwide political system, as intro-
King of Naples 1647.”
duced in Revelation 13:1).
More than a dozen medals were issued
This medal was inspired by the rise to
to memorialize the gruesome death of
prominence of these two commoners,
Charles I, some from England and some
something considered remarkable
from continental Europe.
in the 17th century: Ol-
iver Cromwell and
Tommaso Aniello.
Figure 11.
Oliver Cromwell and Masaniello
by O. (Wouter) Müller: England/ Italy, 1658,
Silver cast medal, 70 mm
Ref: M.I. i, 432/78; Eimer 198; Jones, “Art of the Medal,” 51/110;
Med. Hist. Engl. 64/10; Weiss, BW178
(Image from Weiss Collection)
16 March / April 2016
Figure 12. The crowning of
Tommaso Aniello, Embarkation of Charles II Charles II in 1660
called Masaniello, was and His Court at Scheveningen on
as King of Great Britain,
His Restoration to England
a fisherman, turned Neapolitan
by Pieter van Abeele, Dutch/England, 1660, France and Ireland formally ushered
revolutionist, who led a revolt of the
Silver cast medal, 70 mm in the Restoration of the Monarchy in
lower classes. The reverse of this medal Ref: Med Ill, i, 455/44; Van Loon II 462; Eimer England. His reign was marked by great
compares Masaniello’s revolt with that 210; Scher (1997), 33/20; Weiss, BW410
societal tragedies, such as the Great
(Image from Weiss Collection)
of Cromwell’s in England, which like
Plague of London in 1665 and The Great
that of Cromwell’s, was short lived. Of
Fire of London in 16664, as well as by
further interest, is the artist’s rendition (His Majesty Departed from Holland
protracted political and religious unrest.
of the two figures, who are depicted as by Scheveningen to His Own Kingdom,
Not the least of these was the continuation
having a striking physical resemblance. in the year 1660, 2 June). The reverse
of the long-standing Catholic-Protestant
legend, IN NOMINE MEO EXALTABITUR
hostilities.
Cromwell’s rule ended with the
CORNU EIUS. PSAL[mo]. 89 (In My
Restoration of the Monarchy in 1660
Name Shall His Horn Be Exalted; Psalms In an effort to preserve royal power,
in the person of Charles II, the son of
89:240) uses a passage from the Bible to Charles antagonized many in the largely
Charles I.
lend religious strength to his return to Protestant community by accepting
Restoration of the Monarchy England and his restoration to the throne. secret subsidies from his cousin, Louis
XIV of France, the Sun King, in exchange
Following the death of Cromwell in 1658,
for promoting Roman Catholicism.
the demand for the restoration of royalty
To this end, in 1672, Charles issued a
increased. Charles II, son of Charles I,
Royal Declaration of Indulgence, which
invaded London and forced Parliament to
attempted to introduce religious freedom
dissolve. In order to regain the monarchy,
for Catholics and Protestant dissenters.
Charles issued the Declaration of Breda,
The English Parliament was not so
in which he promised religious toleration
inclined and forced him to withdraw
and amnesty for his enemies. Parliament
it. Perhaps to dissuade Charles’
agreed to the Declaration, and in 1660
further attempts at religious toleration,
Charles left Scheveningen, a port city in
accusations were raised that Catholics
Holland, and triumphantly returned to
were scheming to kill the king; one of the
England, as is shown in the medal by the
more notorious of these slanders became
Dutch artist Pieter van Abeele (Figure
known as the Popish Plot.
12). Like others by this medallist, this
medal is made of two embossed plates, The Popish Plot
chased and united by a broad rim.
In 1678, Titus Oates, a renegade Anglican
On the obverse is a bust of Charles, full priest, fabricated the so-called Popish
facing, with his usual titles. The reverse Plot, falsely accusing a group of Catholics,
depicts his fleet under sail; above, Fame particularly Jesuits, of conspiring to
with a trumpet and scroll inscribed, massacre Protestants. He also asserted
SOLI DEO GLORIA (To God Alone that they planned to assassinate King
the Glory). Below, a shell inscribed Charles II and replace him with his
in script, S[yne]. M[ajesteyt]. is uit Figure 13. Roman Catholic brother James. As a
Hollant van Scheveling agfevaren naer Engraving of a pilloried Titus Oates result of his accusations, a number of
fyn Coninryken A[nn]. 1660 Juni 2. (Wikipedia) Catholics were tried and executed.
March / April 2016 17
Oates was ultimately accused of of the decree in order to authenticate
manufacturing this tale, and after a it). The legend translates as, “Such
lengthy trial, he was found guilty of Could Religion Do.” On the edge
perjury. A contemporary engraving of the medal (not visible) is an
(Figure 13) shows the punishment inscription that reads, “The
meted out to Titus Oates for this Christian Atlas Sustains the
crime. Faith with a Broken Neck,” which

Medallic Illustrations interprets as:
Several forms of propaganda were
Figure 14. Godfrey is compared to Atlas, who
issued during this period to support
Popish Plot by required his whole vigor and strength to
Oates’ calumny, including the commemorative George Bower, England, 1678,
sustain the world, while Godfrey sustained the
medal illustrated in figure 14. The obverse of Silver struck medal, 36 mm
true faith with a broken neck.
this medal shows a janiformed head, composed Ref: Eimer 260a; MI i, 579/252
(Image courtesy of Christopher Eimer)
of a Jesuit (a Roman Catholic order of priests), James II and the Catholic ‘Problem’
wearing a biretta, and a monk, wearing a cowl,
On the death of Charles II in 1685, his brother
with the legend asking, “Why So Fickle.” The
James II ascended to the monarchy. James’
five faces on the reverse represent members of
religious proclivities were more complicated
King Charles’ cabinet, who were sometimes
than those of Charles. Several years before
referred to as the CABAL, an acronym for their
James’ accession to the throne, he had married
names (Lord Clifford, Lord Ashley, Duke of
Anne Hyde, a Protestant who bore him two
Buckingham, Lord Arlington and the Duke of
daughters — later these two would become
Lauderdale (Eimer), and a word still used today
monarchs in their own right as Anne, Queen
to mean ‘a secret political clique or faction’.
of England, Scotland and Ireland, and Mary
The legend reads “Birds of a Feather Flock
II, who shared the monarchy with her husband
Together.” (Janiform refers to the Roman god
William III of England. When James’ wife
Janus, who had two faces looking in opposite
Anne Hyde died, he remarried, this time to
directions: to the future and the past.)
the devoutly Catholic Mary Beatrice (Mary of
The case of Titus Oates became more Modena) (Figure 16).
perplexing and anti-Catholic fervor increased
still further when the English magistrate The medal shows on the obverse the conjoined
Sir Edmundbury Godfrey was found dead. busts of James II and Mary of Modena. The
Godfrey was an Anglican charged to hear the reverse inscription repeats a poem by Archibald
deposition of Oates, and during the hearing Pitcairn, a physician, who was a loyal adherent
appeared to question the validity of Oates’ of the Stuarts. This medal is composed of
Figure 15.
testimony. Shortly thereafter, Godfrey was two pieces of lead, both cast, and according to
Murder of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey
found impaled on his own sword. Further by George Bower, England, 1678, the description in Medallic Illustrations (MI i,
examination revealed marks on his neck, Silver struck medal, 39 mm 612/21), may be unique.
suggesting he was strangled by his own Ref: Eimer 257a; MI i, 577/247
(Image courtesy of Christopher Eimer) Unlike Charles, James II, while supporting
cravat. It was believed the apparent suicide
religious tolerance, maintained a strong
was concocted and the general
adherence to the Roman Catholic
sentiment held was that he was
faith, but his zealous piety
murdered by Catholics.
and his determination to
A medal issued at that impress Catholicism
period (Figure 15) on his subjects was to
shows, on the obverse, prove his downfall. For
two hands strangling within days of James’
Godfrey with his own accession, Protestants
cravat, the legend were rallying around
reading, “Edmundbury the illegitimate son of
Godfrey, by his Death Charles II, James Scott,
Re- Established the State.” First Duke of Monmouth,
Figure 16.
The reverse depicts someone whom they believed should be
Tribute to James II
strangling a prostrate Godfrey, and Queen Mary king. The so-called Monmouth
the murderer being blessed by the Pope by George Bower, England, Rebellion was easily quashed and Monmouth
who is holding a document labeled BVLLO 1685, Lead cast medal, 54 mm was beheaded, as shown in a contemporary
Ref: M.I. i, 612/21; Weiss,
(referring to a Papal Bull, a decree issued by a drawing on a playing card (Figure 17) and by
BW16; Unlisted in Eimer
Pope of the Catholic Church; it is named after (Image from Weiss Collection) the issuance of a medal (Figure 18).
the lead seal (bulla) that was appended to the end
18 March / April 2016
Figure 18.
Death of Dukes of Monmouth and Argyle
by Regnier Arondeaux, England, 1685, Silver struck medal, 61 mm
Ref: Eimer 281; MI, i, 615/27; van Loon III, 307
(Image courtesy of Christopher Eimer)
response, many turned against the King, This was to complicate James’ position
Figure 17.
Execution of Duke of Monmouth with the Protestant Parliament aligning even further, for the mainly Protestant
on Tower Hill Playing Card, 1685 themselves with James’ Protestant populace in England now feared that a
(wikipedia) daughter Mary (Mary was the daughter Catholic dynasty would be established.
of James’ first wife Anne Hyde, a They therefore encouraged the overthrow
A silver medal by the Flemish medallist
Protestant who raised her daughter in the of James and, in 1689, invited the
Regnier Arondeaux, memorializing
same faith), and her husband William of Protestant couple, William III of Orange
the deaths of Monmouth and his co-
Orange, also a Protestant. and his wife Mary (later King William III
conspirator Archibald Campbell, the Earl
and Queen Mary II) to depose James and
of Argyle, is shown in figure 18.
In the same year that James imprisoned
assume the monarchy, in what became
Archbishop Sancroft and the seven
On it one can see on the obverse James known as the Glorious Revolution (see
bishops, Mary of Modena gave birth
dressed as a Roman general. He is Weiss, 2014).
to a son, James Francis Edward Stuart,
resting on a pedestal surmounted with
later dubbed ‘The Elder Pretender’. The Glorious Revolution
scepters and emblazoned with a royal
shield. The legend reads, “Let us The hereditary justification for the
Defend our Alters and Scepters.” On accession of William and Mary to
the reverse are the severed heads of the throne of England derives from
Monmouth and Argyle, resting on two their parents. In 1641, William II of
blocks; their decapitated bodies are Orange, a Dutch Republic Stadtholder,
at the feet of Justice, suggesting that married the Princess Royal, Mary
their beheading was an act of justice. Henrietta Stuart, the eldest daughter
Troops flee in the distance. of Charles I of England. At the time
of their marriage, William was 15 and
Continuing his religious campaign,
Mary just 10 years of age (Figure 19).
James had Catholics promoted to high-
status positions and appointed the A medal by the German engraver
‘Bloody Assizes’ to execute, torture Johann Blum, celebrating this
or enslave Protestant rebels, thereby marriage, is presented in figure 20.
ending the Monmouth Rebellion. The obverse shows the young couple
holding hands. Cherubs, beneath
A critical turning point in the reign of
rays emanating from a dove of the
James II came in 1687, when James
Holy Ghost, are holding wreaths of
issued the Declaration of Indulgence,
myrtle. A scene with a palace is in the
which granted religious tolerance
distance. The reverse depicts William
to Catholics and non- conformists.
in the form of Pallas, attended by an
Several prominent bishops in the clergy
archangel with a sword. He tramples
objected to such religious forbearance
upon Bellona, Goddess of War, and
and refused to support James, acts for Figure 19. Betrothal of William II of Orange and
receives an olive branch from Mary in
which Bishop Sancroft and seven of his Princess Royal, Mary Henrietta Stuart
Oil on canvas by Anthony van Dyck, 1641 the character of Peace, accompanied by
fellow bishops were imprisoned in the
(image from Wikipedia) Cupid and Ceres, Goddess of Plenty.
Tower of London (see Weiss, 2011). In
March / April 2016 19
Figure 20.
Marriage of Princess Mary to William of Orange
by Johann Blum, England, 1641, Silver struck medal, 72 mm
Ref: Eimer 137; MI i, 287/100; v. Loon II, 251; Scher 15; Weiss, BW817
(Image from Weiss Collection)
In 1650, Princess Mary gave birth to a in the Year 1654.”) This William married medals, one of the more intriguing of
son, William III of Orange (the future another Mary, the daughter of James II of which, from the iconographic standpoint,
King William III of England). Depicted England. It was this latter couple who is shown in figure 22.
in figure 21 is a medal by the Dutch were invited by prominent Protestant
On the obverse William is depicted
medallist Pieter van Abeele of Mary figures in England to replace Mary’s
as a Roman Emperor, who is seen
and her son. On the obverse is a bust father James II as sovereigns of Great
stomping on the serpent of Discord.
of Mary on a field decorated with roses Britain.
and thistles, the legend reading “Mary, Britannia is shown wearing a triple
In 1688, William III of Orange, crown, representing the kingdoms of
by the Grace of God, Princess of Great
encouraged by a union of English England, Scotland and Ireland. On the
Britain, Dowager of Orange etc.” On
Parliamentarians and backed by a 15,000 armorial shield of Britain is an orange
the reverse is a three-quarters bust of
man army, landed at Torbay, a port on tree (representing William of Orange)
William, as a child of four years of age,
the east coast of Great Britain, along the entwined with roses (Tudor rose) and
wearing a hat decorated with jewelry and
English Chanel. thistles (the floral emblem of Scotland).
ostrich feathers; the bust is surrounded
In the distance are King James and
by a broad wreath of oranges. Below, William’s landing at Torbay was
Father Petre in flight, with Petre carrying
on a ribbon, is written, “William III, by memorialized by the issuance of several
the young Prince James Stuart, who
the Grace of God, Prince of Orange, etc,
Figure 21.
Princess Mary and Prince William (III) of Orange
by Pieter van Abeele, Netherlands, 1654, Silver cast medal, 65 mm
Ref: Eimer 192; MI i, 417/55; v.Loon II 375; Scher 18; Weiss, BW813
(Image from Weiss Collection)
20 March / April 2016