Jefferies, in the character of Atropos, cutting the thread of English Liberty, British Cartoon Print

Print shows King John seated at a small table outside his tent, signing Magna Carta, behind him stand by two bishops. Four men are pulling a rope, the "thread of English Liberty", which is attached to King John's chest and passes through their hands to a spinning wheel operated by William III and beyond where it binds scrolls labeled "Habeas Corpus Act", "Free Elections", "Magna Charta", and "Trial by Juries", it is then taken up by Lord Marshall, here playing the title role, "Jefferies in the character of Atropos", who is cutting the scrolls free, "Bill of Rights" in his hands and "Security of Private Property", "Appeals", and "Killing is Murder" on the ground at his feet. (Source: Stephens)

Includes caption printed below title: "Expla. Magna Charta drawn from the heart of King John; confirmed & perfected by King William, in the Character of Lachesis [i.e., Clotho] at the Spinning Wheel; & Judge Jefferies cutting the Thread, in the Character of Atropos."

Includes four lines of verse from "Pope's Homer": "The Furies that relentless breast have steel'd, / And Curst thee with a heart that cannot yield. / Yet think a Day will come when Fate's decree / And angry Men, shall wreak this wrong on thee."

Mounted on laid paper with watermark across bottom: B HUGHES.

Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires / prepared by Frederic George Stephens, v. 4, no. 4441

Forms part of: British Cartoon Prints Collection (Library of Congress).

john king of england mansfield william murray jeffreys george jeffreys baron william liberty england civil rights spinning apparatus atropos greek deity fates mythology cartoons commentary british engravings old england jefferies character atropos thread english political cartoons vintage images 1770 earl prints 18th century history of england bill of rights united states bill of rights constitution amendment constitution us constitution constitutional amendments earl of greek deity cartoon prints british english liberty ultra high resolution high resolution engraving aristocracy monarchy british monarchy great britain ancient greece library of congress

1600 - 1700

Library of Congress

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