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Inscribed in graphite, lower left: "Hudibras 7"; lower left: "RNN"

Lettered above image, upper right: "12"; inside image, lower left: "W Hogarth Invt. et Sculp."; below image, lower center: "Hudibras | Encounters the | SKIMMINGTON"; lower left: "This said, they both advanc'd and rode | A Dog-Trot through the bawling Crowd | T'attack the Leader and still prest, | Till they approach'd him Breast to Breast: | Then Hudibras, with Face and Hand, | Made Signs for Silence; which obtain'd | What means (quoth he) this Devil's Procession | With Men of Orthodox Profession? | Are things of Superstitious Function | Fit to be us'd in Gospel Sun-Shine? | It is an Antichristian Opera, | Much us'd in Midnight-times of Popery, | Of running after Self-Inventions | Of wicked and prophane Intentions | To scandalize that Sex, for Scolding, | To whom the Saints are so beholden, | Women, that left no Stone unturn'd, | In which the Cause might be concern'd,"; lower right: "Brought in their Childrens Spoons & Whistles, | To purchase Swords, Carbines, and Pistols; | Drew sev'ral gifted Brethren in, | That for the Bishops would have been | Rubb'd down the Teachers, tir'd and spent | With holding forth for Parlament; | Pamper'd and edify'd their Zeal | With Marrow-Puddings many a Meal; | And cramm'd 'em till their Guts did ake, | With Cawdle, Custard, and Plumb-cake; | What have they done, or what left undone, | That might advance the Cause at London, | Have they...? At that an Egg let fly-- | Hit him directly o'er the Eye, | And running down his Cheek, besmear'd | With Orange tawny-slime his Beard; | And straight another with his Flambeaux, | Gave Ralpho o'er the Eyes a damn'd blow."