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The Royall Oake of Brittayne

Print
1649 (printed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This satirical print depicts Oliver Cromwell ordering the felling of the Royal Oak of Britain, symbol of the English monarchy. It was made in 1649 during the English Civil War in the year of the execution of Charles I. The image is believed to have been the frontispiece to the book 'Anarchia Anglicana or the history of independency. The second part', by Clement Walker, a pamphleteer and member of Parliament, writing under the pseudonym Theodorus Verax. Although initially sympathetic to Parliament during the Civil War, Walker became disillusioned with Cromwell and believed that he had become a religious radical and despot whose actions had led Britain into anarchy. This print expresses Walker’s unease at developments during this period.

The image is full of references to Oliver Cromwell’s dismantling of the regime of Charles I. Cromwell is shown to the left of the image standing on a sphere suspended over the mouth of hell from which he draws diabolical inspiration. The sphere is inscribed in Latin 'Locus Lubricus' or ‘slippery place’ indicating Cromwell’s precarious position. The print portrays him as a hypocrite, driven by ambition and greed, and various quotes from the Bible link him to notorious biblical figures. Suspended in the branches of the tree are the royal crown, sceptre and coat of arms with the Bible and Magna Carta, and a copy of 'Eikon Basilike', a book supposedly written by Charles I in the days before his execution. The tree is being felled by republican soldiers and its branches gathered by the ignorant multitude. The references are clear that if Cromwell was allowed to continue in his rise to power his rule would result in lawless tyranny.

Clement Walker was arrested for writing 'Anarchia Anglicana' and charged with high treason. However his case never came to trial and he died in the Tower of London in 1651.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleThe Royall Oake of Brittayne (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Engraving
Brief description
'The Royall Oake of Brittayne'; Anonymous; satire of Oliver Cromwell ordering the felling of the Royal Oak of Britain; engraving; England; 1649
Physical description
Engraved print depicting Oliver Cromwell ordering the felling of the Royal Oak of Britain which bears on its branches the Royal coat of arms, the Bible, Magna Carta, statutes, reports, and the book Eikon Basilike. The tree symbolises the monarchy and the regime of Charles I.

Oliver Cromwell, attired in armour, stands to the left of the image on a ball described as a 'slippery place', above the entrance to hell. A group of men assist with felling the tree, using axes, poles and ropes, whilst some pigs feed near the base of the tree.
Dimensions
  • Image height: 17cm
  • Image width: 23cm
  • Paper height: 19.2cm
  • Paper width: 26cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'THE ROYALL OAKE OF BRITTAYNE' (Engraved text at the top of the image.)
Gallery label
This satirical print depicts Oliver Cromwell (1599–1658) ordering the felling of the Royal Oak of Britain, a symbol of the English monarchy. It was made in 1649, the year in which King Charles I was executed during the English Civil War. It was intended as the frontispiece to a book by a writer who feared that Cromwell’s rise to power would lead to chaos and tyranny. (11/09/2017)
Credit line
Purchased through the Julie and Robert Breckman Print Fund
Subjects depicted
Summary
This satirical print depicts Oliver Cromwell ordering the felling of the Royal Oak of Britain, symbol of the English monarchy. It was made in 1649 during the English Civil War in the year of the execution of Charles I. The image is believed to have been the frontispiece to the book 'Anarchia Anglicana or the history of independency. The second part', by Clement Walker, a pamphleteer and member of Parliament, writing under the pseudonym Theodorus Verax. Although initially sympathetic to Parliament during the Civil War, Walker became disillusioned with Cromwell and believed that he had become a religious radical and despot whose actions had led Britain into anarchy. This print expresses Walker’s unease at developments during this period.

The image is full of references to Oliver Cromwell’s dismantling of the regime of Charles I. Cromwell is shown to the left of the image standing on a sphere suspended over the mouth of hell from which he draws diabolical inspiration. The sphere is inscribed in Latin 'Locus Lubricus' or ‘slippery place’ indicating Cromwell’s precarious position. The print portrays him as a hypocrite, driven by ambition and greed, and various quotes from the Bible link him to notorious biblical figures. Suspended in the branches of the tree are the royal crown, sceptre and coat of arms with the Bible and Magna Carta, and a copy of 'Eikon Basilike', a book supposedly written by Charles I in the days before his execution. The tree is being felled by republican soldiers and its branches gathered by the ignorant multitude. The references are clear that if Cromwell was allowed to continue in his rise to power his rule would result in lawless tyranny.

Clement Walker was arrested for writing 'Anarchia Anglicana' and charged with high treason. However his case never came to trial and he died in the Tower of London in 1651.

Bibliographic references
  • p. 178 Ashley, Maurice. The English Civil War. Sutton publishing, 1990 (first published by Thames and Hudson 1974).
  • p. 179 Adair, John. By the Sword Divided: Eyewitness accounts of the English Civil War. Sutton Publishing, 1998 (first published by Century Publishing Co Ltd, 1983).
  • pages 102 and 103 The Print in Early Modern England: An Historical Oversight; Malcolm Jones; published for the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art; 2010
Collection
Accession number
E.217-2002

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Record createdJanuary 15, 2004
Record URL
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