The Comic History Of England Collection (#2)

Hackney Coachman, 1897. Creator: John Leech
Hackney Coachman, 1897. Caricature of a London jarvey or jarvie, the driver of a 19th-century hackney coach. This was a hireable vehicle with two horses and six seats

Henrys Tent, 1897. Creator: John Leech
Henrys Tent, 1897. A miserable-looking King Henry VIII holding an umbrella. From " The Comic History of England" by Gilbert Abbott A Beckett, with satirical illustrations by John Leech

On the wane, 1897. Creator: John Leech
On the wane, 1897. The Moon as a letter C, with a caricature of a man with a bandaged nose, possibly Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658)

Harry, the English Apollo, 1897. Creator: John Leech
Harry, the English Apollo, 1897. An obese King Henry VIII portrayed as a roly-poly toy. From " The Comic History of England" by Gilbert Abbott A Beckett

Cromwell playing at Leap-frog with his Children, 1897. Creator: John Leech
Cromwell playing at Leap-frog with his Children, 1897. Caricature of Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658) who served as Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland

Perkin Warbeck Reading his Confession, 1897. Creator: John Leech
Perkin Warbeck Reading his Confession, 1897. Pretender to the English throne Perkin Warbeck is ridiculed as he sits in the stocks

One of the Protectors Tea Parties, 1897. Creator: John Leech
One of the Protectors Tea Parties, 1897. Satire on Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658) who served as Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 1653 until his death

A Young Pretender, 1897. Creator: John Leech
A Young Pretender, 1897. Youth in a pointed hat washing up, possibly meant to represent Perkin Warbeck. From " The Comic History of England" by Gilbert Abbott A Beckett

Arrest of Wildman, 1897. Creator: John Leech
Arrest of Wildman, 1897. English agitator Sir John Wildman (c1621-1693) helped to write the first " Agreement of the People" in 1647

A Lesson in Constitutional Government, 1897. Creator: John Leech
A Lesson in Constitutional Government, 1897. A child holds its stomach in pain after over-eating. From " The Comic History of England" by Gilbert Abbott A Beckett

Parliament in hot water, 1897. Creator: John Leech
Parliament in hot water, 1897. Satire on the English Civil War (1642-1648). A soldier pours water from a kettle into a tub containing parliamentary documents

The Skilful Henry, 1897. Creator: John Leech
The Skilful Henry, 1897. King Henry VII balancing his crown on his sword. From " The Comic History of England" by Gilbert Abbott A Beckett, with satirical illustrations by John Leech

Trained Band. Soldier of the Period, 1897. Creator: John Leech
Trained Band. Soldier of the Period, 1897. Caricature of a soldier in the English Civil War (1642-1648). From " The Comic History of England" by Gilbert Abbott A Beckett

An Unwelcome Visitor, 1897. Creator: John Leech
An Unwelcome Visitor, 1897. The taxman portrayed as a wild boar in a top hat. From " The Comic History of England" by Gilbert Abbott A Beckett, with satirical illustrations by John Leech

General in the Parliamentary Army, 1897. Creator: John Leech
General in the Parliamentary Army, 1897. Caricature of a roundhead soldier in the English Civil War (1642-1648). He wears a saucepan for a helmet, and is looking the wrong way through a telescope

Something like Argument, 1897. Creator: John Leech
Something like Argument, 1897. Angry members of a church congregation throw items including a stool at a priest. From " The Comic History of England" by Gilbert Abbott A Beckett

The Member for Huntingdon, 1897. Creator: John Leech
The Member for Huntingdon, 1897. Caricature of Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658) who was elected Member of Parliament for Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire in 1628

Petitioning for a Loan, 1897. Creator: John Leech
Petitioning for a Loan, 1897. Men in 17th century dress, one asking the other for money. From " The Comic History of England" by Gilbert Abbott A Beckett

Bacon. (From a remarkably scarce Print. ), 1897. Creator: John Leech
Bacon. (From a remarkably scarce Print.), 1897. English philosopher, scientist and statesman Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626) became Lord Chancellor in 1618. He is depicted here smoking a clay pipe

James I on his way to England, 1897. Creator: John Leech
James I on his way to England, 1897. King James travels from Scotland to accede to the English throne. (James (1566-1625) was King of Scotland as James VI from 1567

Making an End, 1897. Creator: John Leech
Making an End, 1897. An inkwell in the shape of a hat, with a pair of legs disappearing into the ink. From " The Comic History of England" by Gilbert Abbott A Beckett

The Blue Bonnets coming over the Border, 1897. Creator: John Leech
The Blue Bonnets coming over the Border, 1897. Scots in tartan kilts, wearing Victorian womens bonnets. The blue bonnet was actually a type of soft woollen hat more like a tam o shanter

A Figure for a Crown, 1897. Creator: John Leech
A Figure for a Crown, 1897. Rear view of a king, possibly George III, putting on a crown in the mirror. From " The Comic History of England" by Gilbert Abbott A Beckett

The Victor of Blenheim, 1897. Creator: John Leech
The Victor of Blenheim, 1897. English soldier and statesman John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough (1650-1722) commanded the British and allied forces in the War of the Spanish Succession

William III. out Hunting, 1897. Creator: John Leech
William III. out Hunting, 1897. Caricature of King William III of Great Britain and Ireland (1650-1702) riding an exhausted horse

Captain Fisher doesn t think he can do it at the price, 1897. Creator: John Leech
Captain Fisher doesn t think he can do it at the price, 1897. Possibly a caricature of English poet and soldier Captain Payne Fisher (1616-1693)

Experiments in Science, 1897. Creator: John Leech
Experiments in Science, 1897. A man in 17th-century dress running away from an explosion. From " The Comic History of England" by Gilbert Abbott A Beckett

Arrest of Lord Howard of Escrick, 1897. Creator: John Leech
Arrest of Lord Howard of Escrick, 1897. William Howard, 3rd Baron Howard of Escrick (c1626-1694), was arrested in connection with the Rye House Plot of 1683

Judge Jeffreys, 1897. Creator: John Leech
Judge Jeffreys, 1897. George Jeffreys, 1st Baron Jeffreys of Wem (1645-1689), also known as The Hanging Judge, became notable during the reign of King James II

Charles is informed of a plot against his precious life, 1897. Creator: John Leech
Charles is informed of a plot against his precious life, 1897. Caricature of King Charles II of England (1630-1685) surrounded by his spaniels

The Balance of Power, 1897. Creator: John Leech
The Balance of Power, 1897. An elephant, possibly representing King Charles I of England, balances on a tightrope holding a spear

One, Two, Three, and Under, 1897. Creator: John Leech
One, Two, Three, and Under, 1897. Satire on the English Civil Wars (1642-1648) - a skeleton and Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658), with bulbous nose, having a sword fight

The Barebones Parliament, 1897. Creator: John Leech
The Barebones Parliament, 1897. Satire on English politics during the 1650s. Barebones Parliament, which came into being on 4 July 1653

A Matter of Business, 1897. Creator: John Leech
A Matter of Business, 1897. A man dressed as a 17th-century cavalier (possibly King Charles I), reaches in his pocket for money

Charles I. does not know which way to turn, 1897. Creator: John Leech
Charles I. does not know which way to turn, 1897. King Charles I of England (1600-1649) looks perplexed. From " The Comic History of England" by Gilbert Abbott A Beckett

Cavalier and Roundhead, 1897. Creator: John Leech
Cavalier and Roundhead, 1897. Satire on the English Civil War (1642-1648) - sword fight between King Charles I, ( Cavalier ) and Oliver Cromwell, ( Roundhead )

His Gracious Majesty Charles I, borrowing money, 1897. Creator: John Leech
His Gracious Majesty Charles I, borrowing money, 1897. King Charles I of England (1600-1649) is shown picking a pocket. He introduced various unpopular methods of raising funds

King James disposing of Baronetcies, 1897. Creator: John Leech
King James disposing of Baronetcies, 1897. The practice of awarding baronetcies (hereditary honours) was used by King James I of England (1566-1625) in 1611 as a means of raising funds

The Trio of the Stuarts, 1897. Creator: John Leech
The Trio of the Stuarts, 1897. Charles I, James I and VI, and Charles II. (The Stuart kings: King Charles I (1600-1649), his father King James I and VI (1566-1625)

Admiral of the Time, 1897. Creator: John Leech
Admiral of the Time, 1897. Portly man wearing a Napoleonic hat and an unusual outfit that appears to be made of scales. From " The Comic History of England" by Gilbert Abbott A Beckett

Lord Burleigh, 1897. Creator: John Leech
Lord Burleigh, 1897. Burghley, wearing spectacles, is reading a document. (Sir William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley (1520-1598), was the chief advisor of Queen Elizabeth I)

Honest Jack Tars of the Period, 1897. Creator: John Leech
Honest Jack Tars of the Period, 1897. Sailors in 16th-century ruffs make merry by a cosy fire. One appears to be cooking a pocket watch

Philip and Mary, 1897. Creator: John Leech
Philip and Mary, 1897. King Philip II of Spain and Queen Mary I of England at breakfast. Philip hides behind an anachronistic newspaper, while Mary looks grumpy

Original Beefeater, 1897. Creator: John Leech
Original Beefeater, 1897. Soldier wearing a ruff and carrying a gun. From " The Comic History of England" by Gilbert Abbott A Beckett, with satirical illustrations by John Leech

Shilling of Henry VIII, 1897. Creator: John Leech
Shilling of Henry VIII, 1897. Coin bearing the likeness of King Henry VIII (1491-1597). From " The Comic History of England" by Gilbert Abbott A Beckett

Henry is determined not to be bullied, 1897. Creator: John Leech
Henry is determined not to be bullied, 1897. King Henry VIII takes a swing at a bull with an umbrella. From " The Comic History of England" by Gilbert Abbott A Beckett

A Royal Butcher, 1897. Creator: John Leech
A Royal Butcher, 1897. Large man, probably King Henry VIII, sharpening knives under a sign of the letter T. From " The Comic History of England" by Gilbert Abbott A Beckett

Henry answering Here!, 1897. Creator: John Leech
Henry answering " Here!", 1897. A worried-looking King Henry VIII on his throne. From " The Comic History of England" by Gilbert Abbott A Beckett

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"The Comic History of England" is a whimsical journey through the annals of English history, brought to life by the talented artist John Leech. With his unique blend of humor and satire, Leech transports us to various pivotal moments in time, where we witness both the grandeur and absurdity that shaped this great nation. In "Field of Battle (in a fog) near Barnet, " Leech captures the chaos and confusion of war with his intricate illustrations. We can almost feel the tension as armies clash amidst a dense fog, highlighting the unpredictability of conflict. Moving forward, we encounter "King James rescued from the New River. " Here, Leech showcases his ability to find humor even in unlikely situations. As King James finds himself in an unexpected predicament within London's water supply system, we are reminded that even royalty is not immune to mishaps. Another notable moment depicted by Leech is "Henry VII. And Perkin Warbecks Wife. " Through clever visual storytelling, he explores historical controversies surrounding imposters claiming royal lineage. The juxtaposition between Henry VII's skepticism and Warbeck's wife's desperation creates a humorous commentary on political intrigue. As our journey continues with "Flight of Rookwood, " we witness daring escapes and thrilling adventures unfold before our eyes. Leech masterfully captures these exhilarating moments with dynamic illustrations that leave us eagerly turning each page. Throughout this comic history, Leech also delves into international relations such as in "Hostilities between England and France. " By exaggerating cultural stereotypes and satirizing diplomatic tensions, he sheds light on how politics often devolves into farcical exchanges. We cannot overlook iconic figures like "Good Queen Bess" or "The Second George, " who receive their fair share of comedic treatment from Leech. His caricatures bring these historical personalities to life while adding an element of lightheartedness to their stories.