"Disparibus meritis pendit tria Corpora lignis
Gesmas et Desmas, medius Divina Potestas."
A. B. R.
[Our correspondent is right in supposing that Gesmas and Desmas are the names traditionally assigned to the two malefactors, and which occur in the Old Mysteries, &c. Desmas is that of the Penitent Thief. These names are, we believe, mentioned in the Pseudo-Gospel of Nicodemus; and some particulars of the legend, we believe, but we cannot just now ascertain, are preserved in Molan. De Pictur. Sacris, 1. iv. c. 9.]
Satirical Medal.—1. I shall be glad to obtain some information respecting a curious medal in my possession, bearing—
Obv. "Ecclesia perversa tenet faciem diaboli, 666." A face in profile, crowned with the tiara: turned round, the same face becomes that of the devil.
Rev. "Sapientes stulti aliquando." A head with a cardinal's cap, which reversed becomes a face surmounted with a fool's cap and bells.
The medal is of silver, nearly the size of a crown piece; and from the form of the letters is, I suppose, about two hundred years old.
John I. Dredge.
[This curious medal, which is figured in Rigollot's Monnaies des Fous (Pl. iv. fig. 10.), and the reverse of which has been engraved by Tilliot (Fête des Foux) as the seal of the Mère Folle of Dijon, is a satirical medal issued by the Protestants. Their opponents retorted, or provoked its issue, by one which Riggolot has also figured (fig. 11.): which has on one side the head of Calvin, crowned with the tiara, &c. (which, when turned, becomes that of the Devil), and the words "Joan. Calvinus Heresiarch. pessimus;" and on the reverse a Cardinal's head, which is turned into a fool's head, with the motto "Et Stulti, aliquando sapite."—Psalm xciii.]