Satirical engraving regarding Sir Giles Mompesson, 1621

The Description of Giles Mompesson late Knight censured by Parliament the 17th of March, Anno 1620.

The British Museum on-line collection catalogue describes the engraving:

'The three scenes in this print show Giles Mompesson insulting the landlady of the Bell Inn, who defends herself with a spit; fleeing from a gaoler; and as a lame and penniless exile in France, limping on crutches, ruing his folly in taking on a monopoly; he is followed, in the background, by Sir Richard Empson and Edmund Dudley, the hated extortionate ministers of Henry VII; below the moral is pointed in four verses. 17 March 1621'.

Sir Giles Mompesson was married to Katherine St.John, sister to Sir John St.John 1st Bt (d1648) of Lydiard Park. He was deeply unpopular in the country, and considered a notorious criminal on account of his being awarded lucrative monopolies by James I. The king created numerous monopolies as a way of raising money. Sir Giles benefited from regulating inns & alehouses as well as the gold thread industry. This type of cronyism and patronage was a contributory factor leading to the British Civil War.

The British Museum engraving is the earliest known British satirical print concerned with a parliamentary political issue.