ENGLISH MEDALS.—WILLIAM III. AND GRANDVAL.
In "N. & Q.", (Vol. iv., p. 497.), S. H. alludes to the case of Grandval, who was to attempt the life of King William, and likewise to the plot to assassinate him four years afterwards. In my collection of medals relating to English history, I have two silver medals struck to commemorate these events. I beg to send you a description of them for insertion, if you consider them of sufficient interest.
No. I.—Bust to the right; flowing hair and ample drapery: legend, "WILHELMINUS III., D. G. MAG. BRIT. FRANC. ET HIB. REX." Reverse, a monument, or pedestal, on the top of which is the naked body of Grandval, and a man about to dissect it; on each side is a fire-pot, to burn the entrails, and pikes, on which the head and four quarters are stuck; between two pikes, on the right, is a gibbet. An inscription in Latin is on the pedestal to this effect:
"Bartholomew de Grandval, a murderer, bribed by the money of Louis, convicted of parricide, and suffered the most severe punishment for having attempted to assassinate William III., King of Great Britain; his head and quarters exposed to be a frightful monument of his sacrilege, and of the perfidy of the French."
Exergue: "XIII. Augst 1692."
No. II.—Bust to the right; flowing hair: legend, "WILHELMUS III., D. G. MAG. BRIT. FRANC. ET HIB. REX;" the breast and shoulders covered by half of a shield, on which is written in Hebrew characters the name "Jehovah," and round it, in Latin, thus "He whom I shield is safe." Reverse: Six women, emblematical of Conspiracy, armed with daggers, snakes, and torches, in dancing attitudes, ready to attempt the king's life, and are withheld by cords issuing from a cloud, held by an invisible hand, which encircle their necks and faces. The legend is to this effect: "An invisible hand withholds them." Exergue: "1696, Boskam F."
W. D. HAGGARD.
Bullion Office, Bank of England.