No. 78,

WILLIAM III.

PLATE 12, No. 2.

Obv. Bust of William III., r., laureate, hair long, in decorated armour with straps on the shoulder, and mantle fastened with brooch on the shoulder.

Leg. IN. PIAM. MEMORIAM GVLIELMI. REGIS. 3 (In dutiful memory of
King William III.).

Rev. The harp of Ireland crowned, and surrounded by a deep border of flags, drums, cannon, and other implements of war.

Oval, 2.45 by 1.95 inches. Gold, Unique.

Ring for suspension.

The Medal is in the British Museum.
Med. Ill. vol. ii. p. 219, No. 545.

This, as a memorial medal, does not come strictly within the scope of this work. It is, however, of a distinctly military character, and was evidently intended for a decoration. The following is a quotation from Medallic Illustrations, vol. ii. p. 220:

This piece consists of two plates united by a rim, and suspended to a ring. The obverse, probably by Jan Luder, is cast and chased, and the reverse is engraved. This badge formerly belonged to John James Scott, Esq., who was descended from Jeremiah Scott of Ballingarry, co. Tipperary, himself a descendant of the Scotts of Scot's-Hall, Kent. Jeremiah Scott accompanied William III. to Ireland, and for services rendered at the Battle of the Boyne received a grant of land in Ireland. In the Memorials of the Family of Scott of Scot's-Hall, 1876, p. 261, it is stated "that Jeremiah Scott received a gold medal from King William III., now in the possession of J. J. Scott." This badge is supposed by the Scott family to be the medal referred to: but this cannot well be, as it is dedicated to the pious memory of William, and therefore could not have been executed before the King's death.'

No. 79.

MR. ROBERT CASON, 1689.

CHAIN AND MEDAL.

ADMIRALTY OFfice (York BuildINGS), Monday morning, 15th July, 1689. 'That a letter be writ to the Lords of the Treary to give the Usuall Orders. That the Chaine & Meddall wch his Maty is pleas'd to give to Mr Robt Cason Ma" of a

Collyer called the Richards Advice of Ipswich, as a marke of his Mats Favour, & Reward for the said Cason's makeing a stout defence against two French Privateers and protecting the other Collyers in his Company, may be Delivd to the said Mr Cason.'

"YORK BUILDINGS, Fryday Post Meridian, 26th July, '89.

'A letter writ to the Navy Board for Payment of Fifty pounds to Thomas Neal Esq' Master of the Mint, being for a Chaine and Medall for Mr Robt Cason Mar of the Richards Advice of Ipswich, which his Maty is pleased to order him as a mark of his Favour for the brave Defence he made against two French Privateers. That they the Navy Board alsoe make an Estimate in due forme of the charge of the said Chaine and Medall, for the regular provideing money for it.

'A letter writ to Thomas Neal Esq' Master of the Mint for provideing a Chaine and Medall for Mr Robert Cason as aforesaid, signifying that Order is sent to the Navy Board for makeing out Bills for payment of 50li for the service aforesaid, and hat the said Chaine and Medall be sent to Us for delivering it according to his Mats pleasure.'

'ADMIRALTY OFFICE, Monday the 5th of August, 1689.

'Upon reading the Navy Boards letter of the date hereof bringing an Estimate of the charge of a Meddall and Chaine Amounting to £50 to be given Mr Robt Cason Commander of the Richards Advice of Ipswich in consideration of his courage and valour in defending himself and other Collyers from two French privateers-Ordered, That the said Estimate (signed by this Board) be transmitted by the Navy Board for soliciting the money from the Treãry.'

'ADMIRALTY OFFICE, Munday, 17 February, 1689 (1688).

'Protection for Robert Cason Mar of the Richard's Advice with 16 men for 6 months in consideration of his haveing defended himselfe & severall other Colliers from two French Privateers.'

No. 80.

MR. LEECH, 1689.

CHAIN AND MEDAL.

'AT THE ROBES CHAMBER at Whitehall Sunday the 19th Janry, 1638 Evening.

'Present.

'The King's Most Excellent Majesty (& 4 Lords or others of the Admiralty). Resolved That a Medall be given to one Leech, Mar of a Merchant Ship which came from Jamaica for his well defending his Ship from a French Privateer.'

'ADMIRALTY OFFICE, Friday, 28th of March, 1690.

'Order for a Chaine & medall to be given to Mr Leech, Mar of a Merchant Ship that came from Jamaica, who well defended his Ship against the French,'

The following extracts from the Admiralty Minutes show that for the several services referred to, Griffith, Lyde, Young, Nicholls, and Hinds received Gold Medals and Chains; and Codnell, Wright and Hughs, Gold Medals. The medals appear to have been of £20 value, and the chains of from £30 to £10.

1 In the Dictionary of National Biography, 1890, p. 326, there is a Memoir of Richard Griffith, by Professor J. K. Laughton, in which it is stated that he was a Captain in the Navy, and died 1719. In 1691 he was commander of a small merchantman, or pink, the Tryall, which was captured by a French privateer, and which he recaptured in the night by the aid of a boy named Codnell or Codner, clapping on the hatches, and overpowering and throwing overboard the sleeping watch. For this exploit he was ordered by their Majesties a gold chain and medal, and appointed Captain of the Mary galley, 22nd April, 1692. The boy also received a medal [Griffith to Burchett, 14th June, 1701; Admiralty Minutes, 2nd December, 1692]. At La Hogue the Mary galley was tender to the Admiral, and was sent the first express to the Queen with the news of beating and burning the enemy's ships, 'for which,' wrote Griffith nine years afterwards, 'her Majesty ordered me a Royal Bounty of £300, which as yet I have not received.'

2 There is a Pamphlet by Robert Lyde (B. M., E 1972 [9]) entitled 'A True and exact account of the retaking of a ship called the Friends' Adventure of Topsham from the French; After She had been Taken Six Days, and they were upon the Coasts of France with it Four Days. When one Englishman and a Boy set upon seven Frenchmen, killed two of them and brought the Ship and them safe to England. Their Majesties' customs of the said Ship amounted to 1000£ and upwards. Performed and written by Robert Lyde mate of the same Ship. London, 1693.'

This pamphlet gives a very minute account of the voyage, capture and retaking of the Friends' Adventure. Lyde's mind was much inflamed against the French by reason of having on the previous voyage been captured by them with his ship, a pink of Topsham, and most cruelly treated at St. Malo.

On the present occasion he sailed on 30th September, 1691, for Oporto, and on the return voyage, February 29th, 1692, was overtaken by a French privateer. They took out all the crew and the master, leaving only Lyde and the boy on board, and putting seven Frenchmen in their places. Lyde tried to get the boy to help him for

From the Minute of 17th March, 1696, it is gathered that Codnell or Codner, whose appointment as a volunteer in a royal ship was ordered in a Minute of 18th March, 1692, had given satisfaction, and was deemed worthy of a gratuity of a hundred pounds, and promotion to the rank of Lieutenant. The same Minute also lends colour to the statement in Robert Lyde's pamphlet (see footnote below) that Codner was the leading spirit in the recapture of the Tryall.

ADMIRALTY OFFICE, Wednesday Evening, 16 March, 169}.

'A lře to be writt to Com Greenhill to use meanes for examining the French Prisoners now at Falmouth, about the retakeing the Tryall of London from O Porto John Codnell the Boy belonging to the said Ship prest on board one of their Mats Ships.'

'ADMIRALTY OFFICE, Fryday Evening, 18th March, 169).

Rd Griffiths Mar of the Tryall of London from O Porto, & John Codnell his boy attending were called in. Ordd that the Mar be appointed a Lieutent in one of their Mats Ships, & the Boy a Volunt & £10 to buy him Cloaths &c. & their further reward for their good service to be laid before the Queen.'

'ADMIRALTY OFFICE, Monday Evening, 28th March, 1692. 'The Capt" & Boy wch retook ye Pinck [Tryall] from the French to be here Friday in yo evening.'

'ADMIRALTY OFFICE, Fryday Evening, 1st Aprill, 1692.

'The matter concerning Capt1 Gillam & Mr. Battine to be reported to ye Cabinett Councill.

'As also ye Accot recd from Plym° of the ffrench Prison's that were taken in ye Ship Tryall wch was retaken by the Mar & Boy.'

some time without effect, for the lad seems to have been of a timid disposition, but at last he got him up to the mark, and they fought the Frenchmen with vigour, and got them at last all below except one, whom they set at the helm with the boy over him armed with a blunderbuss, and, after various adventures, got safe to Topsham. The story ends with:-By the favor of an Honorable Person I was introduced to the Right Noble the Marquis of Carmarthen who recommended my Case to her Majesty, who was pleased as a token of Her extraordinary Favor to Order me a Gold Medal and a Chain and recommended me to the Right Honorable the Lords of the Admiralty for preferment in the Fleet which I am now attending the Honorable Board for . . .'

Advertisement on the last leaf of the pamphlet :

'Whereas there has been a report industriously spread abroad that it was the Boy that persuaded me to retrieve ourselves; This is to satisfie the Reader, that that Report was maliciously Reported of me, and was not true; for it was the Boy of another ship called the Trial of 50 tons that did drive his master to fall upon five Frenchmen, and accordingly they did, and overcame them and brought their ship into Falmouth; for which the master was immediately made Commander of the Mary gally; and I that had used the sea thirteen years, did but desire the command of a Fire Ship.'