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1 of 253523 objects
The Description of Windsor Castle
Wood-cut | 26.5 x 36.7 cm (image) | RCIN 700097
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A woodcut with a panoramic view of Windsor Castle, seen from the North, with three figures burnt at the stake in the centre of the composition.
Inscribed at the top of the page: "The Description of Windsore Castle". Below it, in a cartouche: "The condemning of Anthony Person, Marbecke, Testwood, and Filmer, with the burning of the sayd Person, Testwood, and Filmer, vnder the Castle of Windsore, here liuely described. Read pag. 1219. Marbecke saued by the Kynges Pardon". Either sides of the cartouche, the Windsor coat of arm (the stag on top of the castle) and the Royal coats of arms of the Tudor period.
The lower part of the image is divided in three sections: in the left one, seven judges preside over the trial of the four martyrs, and attendants and a clerk observe. Above it, the inscription: "Anth. Person, Marbecke, Testwood, and Filmer, condemned by D. Capon Bishop of Sarum: Fachell geuing iudgement. Pag. 1219.".
In the central section, soldiers lead two martyrs, sitting backward on horseback through a town square with an altar in the middle. Onlookers gather at a distance. Above the image, the inscription: "D. London, and Simons, riding about the market place, with papers on their heades, for periurie, and secrete practising against certaine of the priuy Chamber."
In the right section, a martyr (identified by the inscription as "R. Ockam") stands in a pillory, flanked by soldiers and civilians. Above the image, the inscription: "Robert Ockam standing on the Pillory in the Towne of Newbery, where he was borne, for the like offence. Pag. 1224"
The plate presents two sets of initials: "MD" is on the left hand side, jut below the representation of a boy watching the scene from a tree. The other set "RB" appears on the right hand side, by the right of the martyrdom of Ockam.
This print is possibly from Foxe's Book of Martyrs, whose edition has not been identified.
For a similar view, see RCIN 700096 , with different pages reference.
A similar plate is in the collection of the Bridwell Library in Ohio, which identifies it as from the third and fourth edition, respectively 1576 and 1583. -
Medium and techniques
Wood-cut
Measurements
26.5 x 36.7 cm (image)
28.2 x 37.4 cm (sheet of paper)