found at Bremeridge Farm, Westbury, Wilts. 1£9 



The Bremeridge specimens bearing the name and arms of Philip 

 the Bold, Duke of Burgundy and Count of Flanders, were not de- 

 vised by that right royal duke nor copied by him from some imagi- 

 nary continental type, but are most interesting examples of an 

 adoption and continuation of the coinage of gold nobles established 

 in Flanders by our Edward III. the next month after the battle of 

 Crecy in 1346. 



The style Dominus, in addition to Comes Flandriae, appears to 

 be a following of Dominus Hiberniae, part of the title of the English 

 kings. 



The putting together for contemplation of a few dates, historical 

 events, and documents, will best illustrate the history of gold nobles, 

 both English and Flemish. 



1327. Although Edward III. from his accession at the age of 

 15 asserted his claim to be King of France, he did not actually take 

 that title till about 1337, after consultation with Van Artevelde 

 and the Flemings. 1 In 1338 his third son Lionel was born at 

 Antwerp, in the Dukedom of Brabant, and was afterwards known 

 as Lionel of Antwerp. Some suppose the name Lionel to have been 

 chosen in allusion to the lion which is the heraldic bearing of the 

 Duke of Brabant. In 1339 Edward formally and regularly took 

 the title of King of France, and quartered his arms with those of 

 France to satisfy the Flemings. 



1340. The victory at sea off Sluys. 



Edward III., as early as 1336, had claimed that "the kings of 

 England were lords of the English Sea on all sides.'" After this 

 victory and the equally splendid one over the Spanish fleet in 1350 

 he was called by his own subjects and others " King of the Sea." 8 



Edward's fourth son John was this year born at Ghent, and hence 

 he was afterwards known as John of Gaunt. 



1343-4. First issue of gold nobles. 



In the following year William de Edington became Bishop of 

 Winchester. He was born at Edington, Wilts, and founded the 



1 Cf. Longman, "Life of Edward III.," vol. i., pp. 124, 156. 

 2 Longman, " Life of Edward III.," vol. i., p. 328, and vol, ii., p. 217. 

 VOL. XXI. NO. LXI. K 



