Engraving with drypoint of the kings and queens of England, from William I to Elizabeth I. Plate three of seven, with portraits of Henry II, Richard I, and King John. Henry II, at the far left, is pictured standing, wearing a slashed brimmed hat, embroidered robes, and mantle, and holding a sword in right hand and a shield in left. In the centre, Richard I can be seen with his back to the viewer dressed in a helmet, embroidered robes and mantle, holding sword in right hand and shield in left, standing on the body of a dead lion. On the right, King Stephen stands in a crowned hat, embroidered robes and mantle, holding sword in right hand and with shield on left arm. In the background there is a faint landscape, depicting settlements beside a river. Below the figures, Dutch verses and a history of the monarch are printed in letterpress on a separate sheet. Cut down.

This complete series of portraits of English rulers from 1066 until 1584, spans 23 rulers from over five centuries of English history. The figures, designed and engraved by Hendrick Goltzius, proved enduringly popular and were copied by artists and engravers as late as the mid seventeenth centuries. The series comprises of seven sheets printed from eight plates, each depicting two to four figures, with a panoramic landscape in the background presumably representing British topography. In this particular series, below each sheet a secondary sheet with Dutch letterpress is printed below, which outlines the titles, life, and history of the monarch above. The original plates were engraved in 1584, however the completed set with the Dutch text was printed in Harlem a year later in 1585.

Sheet three of seven, for the complete series see RCIN 606396.a, RCIN 606396.b, RCIN 606396.c, RCIN 606396.d, RCIN 606396.e, RCIN 606396.f, and RCIN 606396.g.