Sforza by Rob. Gommersall : London, printed for John Marriott, 1628 [graphic]

The image in the center of the plate shows a fox seated on a throne placed in an outdoor setting, with a city and a river in the background. Behind the fox, a lion holding a flag decorated with the fleur-de-lis, removes the crown from fox's head. In front of the throne lie a few dead sheep while another one is being devoured by a fox. The text added above the image explains that "The following exact copy of a print published in the year 1628 is offered for the amusement of the public with Sir Richard Hill's verses delivered in the House of Commons on Monday the 8th of March 1784, entitling them His Majesty's most gracious answer to the mover [i.e., Fox] of the late humble (...) address."

"A copy of the title-page by T. Cecill to Gomersall's 'The Tragedie of Ludovick Sforza Duke of Millan'. It decorates the centre of a plate engraved with words attacking Fox. A fox seated on a throne holding a sceptre, apparently unconscious of a lion (France) which stands behind him on its hind-legs and removes his crown. The lion (right) holds a fleur-de-lis flag. In the foreground a fox (Sforza) is worrying a sheep; behind is a group of dead sheep. The fox is seated on rising ground beside a river, on the farther shore of which is a closely built town. At the bottom of the design is engraved, 'London. Printed, for John Marriott. 1628. Tho: Cecill. sculp.' Above the design is engraved: 'The following exact Copy of a Print published in the Year 1628 is offered for the Amusement of the Public With Sir Richard Hill's Verses delivered in the House of Commons on Monday the 8th of March 1784, entitling them His Majesty's most gracious Answer to the Mover of the late humble, loyal, dutiful and respectful Address.' Hill's verses are engraved on the left side of the print, with annotations on the right; they are printed in 'Parl. Hist.' xxiv. 743-4. They profess to be George III's answer to the Address to the king to remove his Ministers, moved by Fox on 1 Mar., which the king answered on 4 Mar. Ibid., pp. 699 ff. and 717-18. Hill's line, "All hail to thee Great Carlo Khan!" is annotated: Alluding to the print of Mr Fox riding upon an Elephant in the character of Carlo Khan (see BMSat 6276). North answered Hill saying, "it was exactly that kind of idle nonsense about Carlo Khan, &c, that had misled the weak part of the country so strangely". Ibid., p. 744. Cf. BMSat 6449. In the centre, beneath the print of Sforza, is engraved: 'A Fox thus mounted on a Throne, Would give the People cause to moan, But Freemen will by Englands Laws, Support their King & Pitts great cause.'"--British Museum online catalogue