A History of Caricature and Grotesque in Literature and ArtWright, Thomas
History
A History of Caricature and Grotesque in Literature and Art
Wright, Thomas
Caricature -- History
In fact, the picture represents Presbyterianism--Jack
Presbyter--holding the young king's nose to the grindstone, which is
turned by the Scots, personified as Jockey. The following lines are put
into the mouths of the three actors in this scene:--
_Jockey._--I, Jockey, turne the stone of all your plots,
For none turnes faster than the turne-coat Scots.
_Presbyter._--We for our ends did make thee king, be sure,
Not to rule us, we will not that endure.
_King._--You deep dissemblers, I kow what you doe,
And, for revenges sake, I will dissemble too.
Charles's defeat and flight from Worcester furnished materials for a
much more elaborate caricature than most of the similar productions
of this period, and of a somewhat singular design. It was published
on the 6th of November, 1651, and bears the title "A Mad Designe; or
a Description of the king of Scots marching in his disguise, after
the Rout at Worcester." A long, and not unnecessary, explanation of
the several groups forming this picture, enables us to understand it.
On the left Charles is seated on the globe "in a melancholy posture."
A little to the right, and nearly in front, the bishop of Clogher is
performing mass, at which lords Ormond and Inchquin, in the shapes of
strange animals, hold torches, and the lord Taaf, in the form of a
monkey, holds up the bishop's train. The Scottish army is seen marching
up, consisting, according to the description, of papists, prelatical
malignants, Presbyterians, and old cavaliers; the latter of whom are
represented by the "fooles head upon a pole in the rear." The next
group consists of two monkeys, one with a fiddle, the other carrying
a long staff with a torch at the end, concerning which we learn that
"The two ridiculous anticks, one with a fiddle, and the other with
a torch, set forth the ridiculousness of their condition when they
marched into England, carried up with high thoughts, yet altogether
in the darke, having onely a fooles bawble to be their light to walke
by, mirth of their own whimsies to keep up their spirits, and a
sheathed sword to truste in." Next come a troop of women, children,
and papists, lamenting over their defeat. Two monkeys on foot, and one
on horseback, follow, the latter riding with his face turned to the
horse's tail, and carrying in his hand a spit with provisions on it.
It is explained as "The Scots Kings flight from Worcester, represented
by the foole on horseback, riding backward, turning his face every way
in feares, ushered by duke Hambleton and the lord Wilmot." Lastly,
a crowd of women with flags bring up the rear. It cannot be said
that the wit displayed in this satire is of the very highest order.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account